Urban Corridor

UC Tampa - Feb 2010 Edition Part 2

2010-02-17T07:20:00.001-08:00

In This Issue

1. Food News: Get Greece-y. Moon Waxes. Bistro Wanes.
2. Davis Islands Dog Park Scheduled For Grooming
3. Walk into Ybor’s Secret Past
4. Seminole Heights Bicycle Club's Hub-Grub Bike Ride
5. Ride A Dragon - Tampa Dragon Boat Races

6. News & Rumors ... and much more!

Food News: Get Greece-y. Moon Waxes. Bistro Wanes.

2010-02-17T06:22:00.001-08:00

The Bungalow Bistro of Seminole Heights will soon be home to The Refinery.

Seminole Heights ‘Bistro’ gets Refined
The Bungalow Bistro of Seminole Heights (5137 N. Florida Ave.) has been sold to Greg and Michelle Baker of Cooks-n-Company (a personal chef service). While currently still being operated under the “Bistro” moniker and menu, Greg stated the couple is planning to launch an entirely new restaurant, The Refinery, and menu by March 2009.

Click here to read full story.
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China Moon shines on Heights & West Tampa
China Moon New York Style Chinese Food is now open at 1900 W. Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Blvd. for take out and delivery to residents of West Tampa, Wellswood, Seminole Heights, Riverside Heights and other nearby areas.

Click here to read full story.
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Shout Out for Channelside’s new Taverna Opa

Following UC Tampa’s exclusive story of Taverna Opa coming to downtown’s Channelside Entertainment Complex, the Greek restaurant is now open in the former Grille 21 location (underneath the old Margarita Mama’s).

Click here to read full story.

Davis Islands Dog Park Scheduled For Grooming

2010-02-17T06:15:00.001-08:00

Davis Islands' famous dog park about to get a makeover.

DAVIS ISLANDS - Every dog has its day - so why not spend it at the beach?

The popular Davis Islands dog park, the city's first with a beach, soon will undergo improvements.

The narrow strip of beachfront with magnificent views of downtown Tampa was made available a decade ago through an easement from the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which assured the dog park would not interfere with operations at nearby Peter O. Knight Airport.

The 1.9-acre fenced site, however, has lost beach sand through the years. The city plans to replenish 200-plus feet of the sandy coastline, but not before erosion safeguards are in place.

Read full story here.

Walk into Ybor's Secret Past

2010-02-17T06:09:00.001-08:00

Walk into Ybor City's secretive past.

YBOR CITY - City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena and social media strategist Julia Gorzka have launched a new historical, self-paced audio walking tour of Ybor City, called “Secret City Walks.” Tampa’s poet laureate, James Tokley narrates the tour’s recording, which can be purchased cheaply online as an MP3 download.

To read full story, visit www.uctampa.com.

Seminole Heights Bicycle Club's Hub-Grub Bike Ride

2010-02-17T06:03:00.001-08:00

Event Flyer

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The Seminole Heights Bicycle Club invites all to tour the neighborhood's restaurants via bicycle. At each stop, riding participants will have the get the chance to check out some of the area's favorite haunts and munch on a quick snack before heading off their next destination.

When:
February 27, 3-5:30pm

Read full article here.

Ride A Dragon

2010-02-17T05:58:00.001-08:00

Dragon Boat Racers (2009)

DOWNTOWN - Tampa’s Dragon Boat Races will take place in downtown Tampa’s Garrison Channel, May 1, 2010 and the Tampa Independent Business Alliance (TIBA) is forming a race team to participate in it and the 2011 World Dragon Boat Races (also hosted by Tampa).

See full article and photos here.

Gimme Seven! New Restaurants Rolling into the Urban Corridor.

2010-02-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Old location of Big John's Alabama BBQ.

URBAN CORRIDOR – The new year appears to have brought with it a flurry of restaurants for downtown Tampa and its nearby, Urban Corridor neighborhoods. Seven dining establishments, some with names familiar to the area, some not, have either opened or are expected to open by the end of March.

West Tampa: Green Iguana Bar & Grill, a local’s hangout on Ybor City’s Seventh Avenue, is taking over the old Stadium Bennigan’s Bar & Grille location (2520 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.). This will be the company’s seventh Bay Area location with a full bar and open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. According to its website, the new location will “open soon;” however sources indicate “by the end of March.” Updates are available on the Green Iguana Twitter site: http://twitter.com/thegreeniguana.

Downtown: The Urban Cantina is set to open in downtown Tampa (200 E. Madison Ave.) by the end of February. The owner is reported to be Christopher Rivas, who is a resident of nearby SkyPoint Condominiums, where he was once reported to be opening a Mexican restaurant called Azteca. Those plans fell through, but from visual inspection of the new location, it clearly appears to be built out, fitted with tables and dining ware, and days away from opening. www.urbancantina.com

Sono Café will open February 6 inside the new Tampa Museum of Art. It will overlook the banks of the Hillsborough River and be accessible by everyone through an admission-free entrance. The café will seat 75, including waterfront tables, and offer menu items in accordance with the “Slow Food Movement.” The owners of downtown’s Mise en Place Restaurant will operate the café.

Already open is International Café, a lunchtime eatery open five days a week at 601 E. Twiggs St.

East Tampa: Big John’s Alabama BBQ is set to open at nearly the same spot (5707 N. 40th St.) as its old, demolished location (which happened because of a city road expansion project). For the many fans of the 40-year-old establishment, their wait will be over early February.

Ybor City: Gallery Rasika has opened on Seventh Avenue in the former location of L’Olivier Cabaret. It features modern Indian fusion dishes inspired from an “age old approach to dining,” according to its website. Much like tapas bars, guests are encouraged to choose a variety of appetizers and entrees and share them with their dining companions. www.galleryrasika.com

Heights Areas: Greg and Michelle Baker, the owners of Cooks-n-Company (the personal chef service), are planning to open a brick and mortar restaurant in Seminole Heights. Although a verbal agreement has been made for the couple to take over an existing “turn key” location, a contract has yet to be signed.

Once official, the Bakers hope to open The Refinery by the end of February, which will feature a large selection of small, “bigger than most tapas” plates made from locally grown ingredients when possible.

See original posting at www.uctampa.com.

A Serious Art Attack - Don’t Bypass Downtown’s 2010 Arts & Entertainment

2010-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Live entertainment sets up on lawn of the Tampa Bay History Center. See entire article's photo album here.

DOWNTOWN - This year, Downtown’s long ailing arts and entertainment scene is set to receive a shot in the arm. In it will be a guaranteed cure composed of a mix of grassroot initiatives and the buds of a blooming arts district.

“I’ve no need to pine away [to be in cities like] New York, now that there’s so much happening in downtown Tampa,” says Andrea Graham, chairperson for Stageworks Theatre—which, in January, will break ground on its permanent home in the Channel District. “Downtown’s where it’s at!”

And there are literally thousands and millions of reasons for all A&E lovers to get excited.

Tampa’s urban core has nearly 120,000 sq-ft of roof-covered A&E space under construction, representing $75 million in fundraising and investment—a substantial amount of which has been directed to the new “River Arts District.”

This budding district is particularly exciting to Maryann Ferenc, chairperson of Tampa Bay & Company (Hillsborough County’s tourism corporation).

“With great energy already in Tampa, I believe that the new [construction] here will provide that energy a perfect place to coalesce,” says Ferenc.

This district includes the already well-established David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, which was recently renamed after entertaining more than 10 million guests for over 20 years under the moniker: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

About two-tenths of a mile south of the Straz are the soon to be completed Tampa Museum of Art and Glazer Children’s Museum. The structures sit side-by-side on the grounds of the six-acre Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, which has recently received a $15 million facelift and is a featured stop on another new downtown attraction, the Tampa Riverwalk (a 2.2-mile walkway that touches seven parks and five museum campuses).

After a more thorough examination, we see that there will be at least 25 major downtown A&E events/venues to enjoy in 2010. This is a good sign that our urban core is recovering quickly from its past deficiencies; and a clear indicator that downtown is now experiencing symptoms of a serious Art Attack…one that’s just too good for you to bypass.

#1 - TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART
Opening Feb. 6, 2010 • Curtis Hixon Park
TMA’s sad, dated little building is no more and has made way for a new, 66,000 sq-ft, cutting-edge facility. The façade of the $32 million structure will double as a public art piece and be illuminated by tens of thousands of programmed LED lights. Inside the museum, eight 1,700 sq-ft galleries will don innovative translucent fabric ceilings and polished stone floors and surrounding a 60’ high atrium that points up to 16 skylights.

The museum’s inaugural exhibit will focus on Henri Matisse’s printmaking and will display 170 of his works (including paintings and sculptures)—thus making it Tampa Bay’s first-ever, large Matisse show.

#2 - GASPARILLA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
March 6-7, 2010 • Curtis Hixon Park
Celebrating its 40th year, this outdoor event is nationally recognized as one of country’s best art festivals. Approximately 300 artists (carefully selected from 1,000 applicants) will compete for a share of $75,000 in cash awards, while more than a quarter-million art lovers browse and buy the showcased paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, prints, jewelry and more.

#3 - DRAGON BOAT RACES
May 1, 2010 • Garrison Channel
Nearly 70, 20-person teams will paddle their long, narrow, dragon-festooned boats through downtown’s waterways in a frantic race to the finish line. An accompanying, daylong festival will also take place simultaneously at the nearby Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park and Marriott Waterside.

#4 - GLAZER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Opening Fall 2010 • Curtis Hixon Park
Next door to TMA, the soon-to-open 53,000 sq-ft Children’s Museum—meticulously designed to provide a safe, stimulating and playful learning environment—will yield 175 “little hands”-on exhibits (in 12 themed areas), as well as five classrooms for workshops and family-friendly programs.

#5 - STAGEWORKS THEATRE
Opening Fall 2010 • 1208 E Kennedy Blvd
While the smallest of downtown’s arts construction projects, this theatre company has raised nearly $1 million to build itself an 8,000 sq-ft, 155-seat permanent home. It will be housed on the bottom floor of the Channel District’s Grand Central @ Kennedy Condominiums—a residential and retail development complex that has donated space for the project.

#6 - TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER
Opened 2009 • 801 Old Water Street
Nestled on the north bank of downtown’s Garrison Channel is found a 60,000 sq-ft, still-new, hub of history. Inside, visitors interact with exhibits and view maps, photos and film, as they travel 12,000 years into the past to meet the prominent people, places and events that shaped Tampa into the city it is today.

MORE DOWNTOWN A&E

Institutions
07 Henry B. Plant Museum
08 University of Tampa Scarfone/Hartley Gallery
09 David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
10 Jobsite Theatre
11 The Patel Conservatory
12 Opera Tampa
13 Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
14 Tampa Theatre
15 Tampa Firefighters Museum
16 City of Tampa Police Museum
17 TECO Public Art Gallery
18 Kotler Art Gallery at John Germany Library
19 American Institute of Architects Gallery
20 American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship
21 The Florida Aquarium

Events & Installations
22 City of Tampa Public Art – Lights on Tampa
23 Gasparilla International Film Festival
24 Clip Film Festival
25 Jewish Film Festival

Read original posting at www.uctampa.com.

UC Tampa - Feb 2010 Edition Part 1

2010-02-02T12:54:00.001-08:00

In This Issue

-A SERIOUS ART ATTACK

-NEW RESTAURANTS ROLLING IN

-CELEBRATE THE BUNGALOW

-HALT! ARMORY BACK TO MARKET

-PRO BASKETBALL IN TAMPA

-NEWS & RUMORS ... and much more!

Armory Goes To Market (Again)

2010-01-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

West Tampa's Fort Homer Hesterly Armory. See more photos here.

WEST TAMPA/SOUTH TAMPA - Heritage Square LLC, which three years ago won the bid to develop West Tampa’s Fort Homer Hesterly Armory site into a mix-use residential and retail campus, has withdrawn from the project. Christine Duffy, associate director of corporate communications and PR for Intelident Solutions, the owner of Coast Dental Services Inc. (and primary backer of Heritage Square) refused to cite a reason.

Read More Here.

American Basketball Association announces Tampa Bay expansion

2010-01-30T00:33:00.001-08:00

DOWNTOWN - The American Basketball Association (ABA) has announced it will add a team in Tampa Bay for the 2010-2011 season.

"This is the first of 10 ABA teams that will be owned and operated by SEP (Sports Equity Partners) in the Southeast,” stated Joe Newman, ABA’s CEO. "We are very happy to be returning to the Tampa area.”

Additional markets will be named shortly.

The yet to be named team is expected to begin play in November at a to-be-determined home court location. ABA officials have indicated their interest in building a future, permanent sports arena in Tampa Heights area (which is adjacent to downtown, on the north side of Interstate 275).

Read more here.

Survey guaging Enthusiam & Need for a Downtown Area Supermarket

2010-01-30T00:19:00.000-08:00

Will downtown Tampa soon have a supermarket?

DOWNTOWN & YBOR CITY - The Tampa Downtown Partnership (TDP) is conducting a survey to solicit input in support of a future grocery store to serve the people of downtown Tampa and Ybor City. Residents of – and employees in – these and their nearby neighborhoods are encouraged to complete the survey and ask their friends, neighbors and co-workers to do the same.

There are two separate surveys, one for employees in the aforementioned neighborhoods, and one for their residents. (Those people who work and reside in and near these areas are welcome to fill out both.)

Read More Here.

We're Just Ribbon You

2010-01-14T13:03:00.001-08:00

Centro Ybor is on its way to losing its day time, ghost town reputation. That's because within the last six months it has welcomed four new businesses into its facilties: Tribeca ColorSalon, Joffrey’s Coffee, Wear Me Out and Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grill. Read details here.

a FRESH look

2010-01-13T09:58:00.001-08:00

FRESH look: The recently released film "FRESH" - a documentary about people working to provide healthy, nutrient-dense foods via sustainable practices - will be playing at Ella's Folk Art Café on Jan. 24, 2010. More info here.

Pizzaiolo Bavaro Documentary

2009-12-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

UC Tampa Magazine just posted a new, exclusive, behind-the-scenes documentary on how the authentic Neapolitan dishes are crafted at downtown Tampa's much talked about Pizzaiolo Bavaro. Click here to see it!

Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille

2009-12-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Hamburger Mary’s (1600 E 8th Ave), a gay-friendly burger chain, is now open. Described as an “open-air bar and grille for open-minded people,” Mary’s is on the 2nd Floor of Centro Ybor in the former DISH location. 11am-11pm, M-Sun. Read more here.

Independent Beer Hall's Grand Opening, Sat (12/5), 4pm-1am

2009-12-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

FREE BEER/BBQ! All UC Tampa Magazine fans are cordially invited to enjoy a free beer and some BBQ at the Independent Beer Hall's (in Seminole Heights) official Grand Opening on Saturday (12/5/09), from 4pm-1am. Live music starts at 5pm! RAIN OR SHINE. See specifics here: http://bit.ly/IndieGO

UC Tampa Finalist for Downtown Tampa's Urban Excellence Awards

2009-12-02T13:17:00.001-08:00

Double Time: (Urban Corridor) For the 2nd year in a row, UC Tampa Magazine has been selected as a finalist for downtown Tampa's "Urban Excellence" awards. Winners to be announced Dec 2 at the St Pete Times Forum and will be honored for: Leadership, Innovation, Hard Work, Talent & Community Spirit. Read more here.

Urb Your Enthusiasm - Nov/Dec '09 Issue of UC Tampa Magazine

2009-11-19T04:11:00.000-08:00

In This Issue

URB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
WHAT IS TAMPA'S URBAN CORRIDOR?
PIZZAIOLO BAVARO RESTAURANT
THE INDEPENDENT BEER HALL
YOUR UNIQUE, LOCAL SHOPS & RESTAURANTS
NEWS & RUMORS
CHOOSING FAVORITES
STAYING CONNECTED
& MUCH, MUCH MORE

DID YOU KNOW?

2009-11-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

UC Tampa Magazine serves South Tampa and five other major downtown centric areas within Tampa’s city limits. We’re also 100% locally owned and independently produced, unlike other magazines, such as South Tampa Magazine, which is produced by a joint venture that includes Virginia-based Media General (NYSE: MEG)*—the same corporate giant behind The Tampa Tribune.

So the next time you look to invest your hard-earned ad budget, we hope you’ll think “UC Tampa” first, knowing that as we promote your local business, your ad dollars aren’t headed to Virginia or the bank accounts of stockholders.

For rates and more information on how to advertise in UC Tampa, call (813) 389-8116 or email ads@UCTampa.com.

*South Tampa Magazine is produced by Rain Publishing Group—a joint venture between Media General and Fourthdoor Creative Group. UC Tampa Magazine proudly has no affiliation with either.

The Independent (10/01/09)

2009-10-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS: (Seminole Heights) The opening of The Independent beer hall has been delayed slightly, but they are hoping to have a “soft” opening within the next 14 days. Its new exterior sign (which was put up today), plus the recent opening of Ella’s Folk Art Café, are undeniable symbols that Seminole Heights' FloNeHi retail & dining district is coming into its own. (For the record, FloNeHi = FLO-rida ave, NE-braska ave and HI-llsborough ave.) CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES.

UC Tampa Magazine Sept/Oct 2009

2009-09-26T06:43:00.001-07:00

WHAT'S HAUNTING YBOR?
The Ghostly Side of Ybor City ... Pg. 18

A HAND UP, NOT OUT
The Freecycle Network ... Pg. 06

A FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD HAUNT
Gaspar's Grotto Bar & Grill ... Pg. 24

NEWS&RUMORS
18 Bites of Neighborhood Gossip ... Pg. 12

FIT FOR PRINT: PART 2
The Goal ... Pg. 08

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Our Fave 5ive ... Pg. 28

See complete version online at:
www.UCTampa.com

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UC Tampa Magazine July/Aug 2009

2009-07-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

See complete version online at
www.UCTampa.com.

READY. SET. GO!
Kids In The Corridor

HEALTH&WELLNESS
Fit For Print

GREEN&EARTH
Helping Hands

FOOD&DRINK
West Tampa's Food History

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive

NEWS&RUMORS
What's Happening In Your Neighborhood?!

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UC Tampa Ad Specifications

2009-06-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

UC Tampa is a 8.25" x 5.25", full-color, high-gloss magazine. (FYI - UC Tampa is also available online at www.UCTampa.com.) If you are designing an ad for the magazine, please send a high-resolution pdf or jpg that complies to the following specifications (all sizes are in inches):

Two Page Spread
w/bleed - 11 x 8.75
w/o bleed - 10.5 x 7.875

Back Page Ad Space
w/bleed - 5.75 x 6.25

Full Pg
w/bleed - 5.75 x 8.75
w/o bleed - 4.875 x 7.875

1/2 Pg Horizontal
w/bleed - 5.75 x 4.325
w/o bleed - 4.875 x 3.875

1/2 Pg Vertical
w/bleed - 2.875 x 8.75
w/o bleed - 2.375 x 7.875

1/3 Pg Horizontal (only)
w/o bleed - 4.875 x 2.55

1/4 Pg Horizontal
w/bleed - 5.75 x 2.325
w/o bleed - 4.875 x 1.875

1/4 Pg Vertical
w/bleed - 2.875 x 5.325
w/o bleed - 2.375 x 4.875

1/8 Pg Vertical (only)
w/o bleed - 2.375 x 1.875

Completed ads should be emailed to: ads@UCTampa.com. If you have questions, please contact Jay McGee at (813) 389-8116.

Kid(s) Photo Contest Ends May 31

2009-05-28T13:43:00.001-07:00

Enter your child(ren)’s photo in UC Tampa’s (formerly New Heights) Kids Play Photo Contest by this Sunday, May 31, 2009, and you may win your family up to $450 in prizes!

The child(ren) in the winning photo will also receive a professional photo shoot, courtesy of South Tampa’s award-winning Andi Diamond Photography. Plus, one picture from that shoot will be selected as UC Tampa’s Cover Photo for its July/Aug 2009 issue. Your child(ren) will be famous!

Prizes
1st Place:
* $350 Gift Certificate for a “The Little Gym” Birthday Party Package
* $100 Gift Certificate for Pipo’s – The Original Cuban Café
* Child(ren)’s Professional Photo Shoot
* Picture on UC Tampa’s Cover

2nd-5th Place:
* $100 Gift Certificate for Pipo’s – The Original Cuban Café
* Winning Picture printed inside UC Tampa’s July/Aug Issue

EMAIL YOUR CONTEST ENTRY TO: KidsPlay@UCTampa.com today!
Deadline for entries, May 31, 2009!
Winners will be notified by mid-June 2009.
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Did You Know? UC Tampa is preparing to launch multiple social networking initiatives in July! Sign up early and be the first to get our most up-to-date news, rumors and articles. Three great options are currently under construction:

1) www.UCTampa.com
2) Facebook
3) Twitter

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition

2009-05-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition (formerly New Heights Magazine)
See complete version online at www.UCTampa.com.

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WIN UP TO $450 IN PRIZES!
Kids Play Cutest Photo Contest
Send us your cutest photo of your child(ren) and you could win up to $450 in prizes and see your child(ren) on the next cover of UC Tampa!

OPPORTUNITIES N.O.K.
The "North of Kennedy" Business Boom

GREEN&EARTH
Home Detox

FOOD&DRINK
Downtown's The Tampa Club

PEOPLE&PLACES
Working Out At The Gem

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive

NEWS&RUMORS
What's Happening In Your Neighborhood?!

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URBAN CORRIDOR (UC) = Downtown, Heights Areas, South Tampa, Ybor, The Islands, West Tampa & surrounding areas.

New Heights Magazine - Mar/Apr 2009 Edition

2009-03-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Just Released!

The March/April 2009 Edition of:
New Heights Magazine
Highlighting Tampa's Historic Urban Corridor

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* Check Out The New Online Format *

Kids at Play Cover Photo Contest

Health & Wellness: Biking for the Rest of Us

Home & Family: España en Tampa

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tampa Twilight Criterium & Festival

Heights Heighlights: Signs of the Times - Neon Tampa's Bright Ideas

Food & Drink: Long Live the Herbivores (Grass Root Organic Restaurant)

Green & Earth: Free Rain

Arts & Events: The Fave 5ive

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

Urban Corridor = Downtown, Heights Areas, South Tampa, Ybor, The Islands, West Tampa & surrounding areas.

New Heights Magazine - Jan/Feb 2009 Edition

2009-01-27T07:38:00.002-08:00

Just Released!

The Jan/Feb 2009 Edition of:
New Heights Magazine
Highlighting Tampa's Historic Urban Corridor

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*** Check Out The New Online Format ***

Health & Wellness: Posed for Greatness

Home & Family: A Gothic Tampa Romance

Neighborhood Spotlight: Downtown Tampa

Heights Heighlights: A Taste of Tampa -and- Devilishly Delicious

Food & Drink: Cafe con Lech -and- Drowning with Flavor

Green & Earth: Revelations in Insulation

Arts & Events: Gasparilla Festival of Arts

News & Rumors: Hear it through the Grapevine.

Urban Corridor = Seminole Heights, Downtown, Hyde Park, Channel District, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Ybor City, Ybor Heights, Davis Islands, Tampa Heights, The Heights, VM Ybor & surrounding areas.

Health & Wellness – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:38:00.001-08:00

Posed for Greatness: East Comes North
By Raubi Perilli

For many years, yoga lovers from all corners of the Urban Corridor (UC) have made a regular trek to the west side of downtown’s Lotus Room or Yogani – perhaps Tampa’s most popular yoga studios – to practice their discipline in a class setting. The two locations are extremely popular, drawing upwards to 30 or more students for some sessions.

For those who live on the north side of downtown or prefer slightly smaller class sizes, there’s now a new option – Jai Dee Yoga and Wellness Studio. It’s located in a restored Seminole Heights bungalow, just north of the intersection of Florida and Hillsborough Avenues.

Inside the quaint studio, furniture is minimal, lights are low and shoes are banned. It’s a serene atmosphere that Jai-Dee’s owner. Gwen Hanner, says is “designed to allow for thoughtful mediation and relaxation.”

Gwen is a licensed mental health counselor and hypnotherapist who has been practicing in Seminole Heights (the neighborhood where she lives) since 1995. She’s also training at Tampa’s Prana Vinyasa to become a teacher of yoga, which she has practiced since her childhood (when she used to mimic poses she saw in her mom’s yoga pocketbook).

Gwen’s dedication to the eastern healing art grew stronger and more intimate during her college years. That’s when she began using yoga – which is recognized as a rehabilitation tool for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other ailments – as a drug-free alternative to help her overcome crippling anxiety attacks that surfaced after the sudden passing of her father. With focused, regular sessions, her symptoms quickly subsided and within two years were no more.

It’s Gwen’s first-hand experience that continues to encourage her to embrace not only yoga’s mental philosophies, but its physical philosophies as well.

“While yoga helped me through an anxious, difficult point in my life, it’s been a wonderful, low-impact way for me to stay physically fit,” says Gwen.

The physical aspect of Yoga is achieved by positioning the body in asanas (i.e., postures), which are designed to strengthen, tone and align the body. Each posture promotes healthy blood flow by directing and pushing it to the tissues of organs and glands.

"I particularly like Halasana or the Plough pose," says Gwen. "It's a very calming pose and the thing I love most about it is how I can feel it warm up my kidneys with oxygen rich blood."

The mental portion of Yoga relies heavily on breathing techniques and meditation. It subsides thoughts, encourages clarity of the mind and evokes body awareness.

There are many types of yoga: Iyengar, Jivamukti, Bikram, Kundalini, Ashtanga Yoga and more. But while each comes with its own set of poses and benefits, they all end one way.

“Savasana, or corpse pose, is the finishing touch of the yoga practice,” explains Gwen. “It’s an important relaxing posture designed for rejuvenation.”

“Many people, including myself, have had Savasana bring about a deeply joyful or blissful meditative experience where the mind becomes empty and expands to a non-dualistic state of consciousness,” she continues. “There are no thoughts; only an experience full of mind-body joy.”

This is a state of mind some students take years to achieve. To be able to “let go” of your thoughts takes practice, but as Lao Tzo, the father of Taoism, stated, “the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

Gwen believes that first step to clarity for many locals will be Jai Dee, as it’s the first yoga studio to open in its area. She’s also brought in the expertise of over 10 experienced yoga instructors to help it happen.

For first-timers, Bari Ruck’s “Introduction to Basic Yoga” class is likely the wisest choice. Bari takes her time to provide a simple (yet detailed) step-by-step overview of basic poses and postures, as well as the history of yoga’s multi-layered world. The 10-year vet does it with a calm demeanor that makes learning easy, comfortable and – most importantly – fun.

More than Yoga
From Buddhist Chanting to Tai Chi, Jai-Dee Yoga & Wellness Studio offers much more than yoga. To find out more about upcoming classes and workshops, or to read bios about Jai-Dee’s instructors, visit www.JaiDeeYoga.com.

Where It's At.
[sh] Jai Dee Yoga and Wellness Studio
5803 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 231-2311
www.jaideeyoga.com

Where Are Others?
[hp] Lotus Room Yoga Studio
1101 W. Kennedy Blvd.
(813) 254-6777
www.yogalotusroom.com

[hp] Yogani
1112 W. Platt St.
(813) 251-9668
www.yogani.com

Try Something New!
[sh] Living Harmony Healing Center
4203 N. Central Ave.
(813) 892-6909
www.myspace.com/livingharmony

[sh] Urban Fitness
4705 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 232-5952.
www.urbanfitnesstampa.com

Story Side Bar: The UC Explorer

Raubi Perilli graduated from the University of Tampa's Writing Department and has lived in the UC’s downtown, Davis Islands and Hyde Park areas. She recently joined the New Heights staff as an Explorer and will be touring the places in the UC that you’ve always wanted to try, but have yet to do so.

Watch for Raubi’s first-hand stories in upcoming issues and if you’d like her to visit an unusual or unknown type of business or event, please email your suggestions to editor@NewHeightsMag.com.

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Home & History – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:37:00.004-08:00

A Gothic Tampa Romance
By Maureen J. Patrick

As Valentine’s Day approaches, New Heights sought to offer its readers Tampa’s most famous tale of love in the Urban Corridor. To narrate the piece, we once again reached out to the President of the Tampa Historical Society, Maureen J. Patrick. Without further ado, we introduce you to love story that has transcended racial bigotry and the grave: the saga of William and Nancy Ashley.

During the 1870s, Tampa fit right into the grim landscape called “the Florida frontier.” By the last third of the nineteenth century it had survived – barely – four yellow fever epidemics, all three Seminole Wars, two storms (that virtually wiped the settlement off the map) and the complete dismantling of its civic infrastructure by Reconstruction. It had taken three tries to incorporate a town government and make it stick. The municipal treasury was so small a group of locals reached into their own pockets to furnish the Town Hall. (Purchased were a small table, six chairs, an inkstand, two candlesticks, some record books, and a sandbox for the tobacco spitters.)

Tampa had no rail service, no paved roads and no buildings over three stories in height. The only way to cross the Hillsborough River was either a single-plank footbridge or a ferry, so the town clung to the east bank. Sand was ankle deep everywhere and almost none of the buildings were painted.

It was the least likely place for a classic romance to bloom, but one did. It had all the traditional elements, too: a man of power and prestige, a woman far beneath him on the social ladder, a loyal friend, a lingering deathbed scene and a relic of lost love. Let me start from the beginning. Once upon a time …

… there was man of power and prestige: William Ashley. Ashley was one of Tampa’s most illustrious pioneer citizens. The Virginian had come to Tampa in 1837, at age 42, and began clerking for the Army trading post at Fort Brooke. Ashley, a go-getter, became prominent enough that by 1847 a street was named after him. (Yes, he’s that Ashley.)

Elected Clerk of the City in 1856, Ashley participated in many of the town’s important civic and social affairs. His first house along the River was blown away in the Hurricane of 1848, but Ashley rebuilt what was, for the time and place, a grand home.

Like other power brokers in early Tampa, William Ashley was wealthy and white. And like many others from that era and social class, William Ashley was a slave owner.

Ashley’s only slave (that we know of) was Nancy. In the fashion of slaves elsewhere, she took her owner’s surname, and was generally – and legally – known as Nancy Ashley. In most cases, the practice denoted ownership and little more, but in the case of William and Nancy Ashley, the story was far more complex than the legal records display.

For Nancy, it was a story that began and ended with her owner. That was common for slaves. Once removed from Africa, they and their descendants often became anonymous features in the New World landscape. They labored on the plantations, in the cities, on the farms, bridges and railways that gave the American dream physical form, but their names and histories were more often than not buried – along with their used, broken bodies – in the land they built.

Even so, not every slave owner was viewed as a demon in the era. Master-slave relationships were frequently complicated and unconventional – none more so than the relationship of William and Nancy.

In slave inventories before and during the Civil War, Nancy is listed in Ashley’s household as a slave. After Emancipation, Nancy’s location remained the same, but census lists record her occupation as “cook.”

William never married. After a long illness, he died. There is some debate about his death date, but reliable data places it at 1871. He was interred at downtown’s Oaklawn Cemetery (Morgan and Harrison Streets.) Nancy died a year after William. In death, she was probably – to most locals – no more than she had been in life: a woman of no importance. The Ashley deaths, like their unconventional domestic arrangement, caused no public stir in what was then a growing, busy and increasingly unromantic Tampa.

Enter the loyal friend. Throughout his time in Tampa, William Ashley’s best friend was John Jackson. Jackson, an Irish immigrant, had been assistant city engineer of New Orleans before coming to Tampa in 1843.

As successful as Ashley in his new environs, Jackson made the city’s first formal survey and plat, had a street named after him (yes, he’s that Jackson), and – like Ashley – lost his first house in the Hurricane of 1848. Jackson later served under the Deputy General of the U.S., John Westcott, in surveying much of Central Florida, which was then mostly wilderness populated by mosquitoes, snakes and militant Seminole Indians.

John Jackson – Dublin native, industrious pioneer, daring surveyor, wealthy Tampan – was also William Ashley’s executor. And as unusual as the request was for the era, upon Nancy’s death and in accordance to his friend’s instructions, Jackson opened the Ashley grave at Oaklawn Cemetery and placed Nancy’s body within.

We must reconstruct the scene in imagination, since no written record of the event survives. Was it done surreptitiously; sadly, in the half-light of dusk? Or done boldly, in sunshine and vindication? Whatever the tone of the action, it was done.

The end? Not quite. There was no point then – just as there is no point now – in rehashing the tortured political issues surrounding William and Nancy’s life and love. The law said that for some number of years William owned Nancy, that she was his property, as much and as little as a horse or a gun or a chair. But when you stand at Oaklawn and read the couple’s epitaph, you may say, as they did, that love owns the heart.

Here lies
Wm. Ashley and Nancy Ashley
Master and Servant
Faithful to each other in that relation
In life in death they are not separated
Stranger consider and be wiser
in the Grave all human distinction
of race or caste mingle together
in one common dust.

To commemorate their fidelity in each other
This stone is erected by their Executor
John Jackson
1873

Find Out More History!
[uc] Tampa Historical Society
www.tampahistoricalsociety.org

[uc] Historic Guides
www.historicguides.com

[uc] Tampa Bay History Center
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

[wt] West Tampa History (1892 -1925)
www.socialtampa.com/westtampa

[yb] Ybor City Museum
www.ybormuseum.org

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:37:00.003-08:00

Downtown Tampa: Busy Winter Ahead!

For residents and visitors of Tampa’s Urban Corridor (UC), this winter is an excellent time to be downtown. From unique retailers to mainstream sports, from arts and concerts to stage shows, from motorcycle ice racing to parades, you can enjoy as many wonderful experiences as you can handle.

The fact that two of the city’s biggest 2009 events – the Super Bowl and Gasparilla – will be happening within the same week is only amplifying the excitement!

Even though the Feb. 1 NFL championship game at Raymond James Stadium is just to the west of the Urban Corridor, the UC is Super Bowl Headquarters for the NFL and the national media (with downtown being of particular note).

You can find all the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee’s official event listings at www.TampaBaySuperBowl.com, but the following are our top selections for downtown winter fun:

At “Lights on Tampa” (www.lightsontampa.org), which is running until Feb. 2, artists have set up large-scale light installations for free night viewing at five sites in south downtown. “Lights” kicked off with a public shindig Jan. 10 and will shine every night of the event until 12 a.m.

“NFL History from Getty Images,” a 30-photo collection of iconic NFL images, is being held Jan. 22-Feb. 28 at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 200 N. Tampa St., Ste. 130 (www.fmopa.org; $4). On Wednesday, Jan. 28, 8:15 p.m., FMOPA is also hosting a four-course dinner ($84, 813-229-6028) at The Tampa Club, 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 4100. Mario Prosperino, Getty sports league manager, will speak and several random attendees will receive photos at show’s end.

The busiest performance venue south of Washington DC is the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl. The Broadway plays, concerts, local productions and other events it brings to the city draw more than half a million patrons annually. Check out the center’s schedule at www.tbpac.org.

On Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m., the “Legends for Charity” dinner (www.legendsforcharity.com; $150) will honor ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd. “Boomer” Berman will receive the Pat Summerall Award during the dinner, which will be emceed by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of ESPN’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning.”

Downtown’s new pride and joy is its $40 million Riverwalk (on the east bank of the Hillsborough River). It’s about one-third complete, with an additional 15 percent under construction. The colorful ribbon of walkway links several parks and provides amazing views of Tampa’s riverscape. The Friends of the Riverwalk (www.friendsoftheriverwalk.com) offers free walking tours on most Saturdays.

Another “signature” for the city opened in late 2008: the Tampa Downtown Market (www.tampadowntownmarket.com). It’s held in Lykes Gaslight Square Park, at Kennedy Boulevard and Tampa Street. Open Fridays through May, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., its more than 30 vendors have reported strong sales of produce, pasta, honey, breads and other foods; as well as jewelry, soaps, perfumes, crafts and more. With tempting aromas and sweet music wafting through the downtown air, the Market is a pleasure for all the senses.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Montreal Canadians in just one of dozens of 2009 NHL hockey games the Lightning play before April 9 at the St. Pete Times Forum (www.stpetetimesforum.com, $15-$225), 401 Channelside Dr.

The Forum will also be hosting a series of other events, including Professional Bull Riding featuring the world’s top 45 bull riders (www.prbnow.com, $11.75-$101.75) Friday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.; Xtreme International Ice Racing and its wild racers who circle a frozen indoor track while riding motorcycles, 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8 ($12-$20); and the Harlem Globetrotters 2009 World Tour, (www.harlemglobtrotters.com, $20-$96), Feb. 27, 7 p.m.

The Gasparilla Invasion (www.gasparillapiratefest.com) has been a Tampa tradition since 1904. On Saturday, Feb. 7, the ship and rebellious crew of fictional pirate, Jose Gasparilla, will “capture” Tampa at midday, easing north through Hillsborough Bay to eventually dock at the Tampa Convention Center. It’s a sight to see, as it’s escorted by a flotilla of thousands of rowdy sailors aboard private boats.

Next comes the 2 p.m. “Parade of the Pirates,” as 130-plus units – floats and marching bands, plus Shriners on minibikes, politicians in convertibles, pirates on foot and more – amble three miles down Bayshore Boulevard and on into downtown. Hundreds of thousands of folks attend and grab beads and trinkets flung from floats by ugly pirates and their beautiful women.

On the night of Feb. 7, the Pirate Fest Street Festival takes place in south downtown Tampa, with several stages, an entertainment midway, and tens of thousands of revelers. The fest continues late into the night.

Gasparilla is more than a parade. It involves many other activities, including the Gasparilla Extravaganza; the official kickoff that’s held on Saturday, Jan. 24, noon-7:30pm on Bayshore Boulevard (www.gasparillaextravaganza.com, free). This booze-free family event includes the Children’s Gasparilla Parade and the “Piratechnic” Extravaganza (a massive fireworks show).

Also, the Ybor City Naval Invasion is at noon, Sunday, Jan. 25, behind the Florida Aquarium, 705 Channelside Dr., at the S.S. American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship (free). The faux battle pits the Ybor City Navy versus Jose Gaspar’s invading pirates. Beware the loaves of hurled Cuban bread!

If music acts are more your thing, the St. Pete Times Forum has three very big names coming. On Jan. 28, Celine Dion’s “Taking Chances” tour ($46.75-$152.75) comes to town; on Jan. 29, The Eagles “Long Road Out of Eden” tour ($47/75-$187.75) stops by; and Billy Joel & Elton John go “Face 2 Face” on March 5 ($54.25-$179.75).

And last but not least, one of the country’s premier outdoor art events – the free Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (www.gasparilla-arts.com) – will be held Sat-Sun, March 6-7. Read more about it in New Heights’ Arts & Events section (pg. 32).

Story provided by the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Heights Heighlights - Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:37:00.001-08:00

A Taste of History: The Tampa Cuban Sandwich

It’s not just the city’s fine, hand-rolled cigars that put us on the map; there’s another handcrafted indulgence that is original Tampa – the Cuban Sandwich. By peeling back its many layers, you discover the ingredients for the spirit of the Urban Corridor (UC): rich traditions, proud families and a shared heritage. When pressed together, the combination forms a strong community with a bright future and prideful past. New Heights now introduces you to two families of artisans who (for generations) have been making history … one Cuban Sandwich at a time.

Cuba’s version of the Cuban Sandwich, by contemporary definition, evolved from “mixto” sandwiches that Cuban workers carried with them to work during the early 1900s. The mixtos were simple: basic cold cuts between two slices of bread. The concoction quickly arrived in Ybor City as Cubans migrated to Tampa for jobs and other opportunities that were created by its booming cigar industry. Once here, they mingled and shared ideas with migrants from Spain and Italy and a lunchtime Tampa original was created.

Cuban bread is to this day the foundation of any real Cuban Sandwich. Its origins are humble and stem from the late 1800s, when Cuba was fighting for its independence from Spain. With times tough – and Cuban families hungry – the country’s bakers started spreading their dough thin to create long loaves of bread that could be rationed into small slices. Though today’s bread loaves found in Cuba are more full and round, Tampa’s version is made in the same manner as it was during the sparing days of Cuba’s revolution.

On the meatier side, the roast pork on the Tampa sandwich is also of Cuban influence. Spaniards added glazed honey ham, while salami was the Italians’ contribution. It’s up for debate how the perfect double handful is finished, but the most common acceptable complements are Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. There’s even a proper layering order between the bread bed (from bottom to top): ham, pork, salami, cheese, pickles and mustard (which is spread only on the sandwich’s top slice).

If you don’t know what’s in your perfect, authentic Cuban Sandwich, there are plenty of restaurants in the Urban Corridor to begin your search. However, many locals claim that two partnering Tampa families have found it for you. One is the Faedo’s, who serve up traditionally-made, old country loaves of Cuban bread from their Mauricio Faedo’s Bakery; the other is the Hernandez’s, who – at their Pipo’s “The Original Cuban Café” locations – top the bread with slow-roasted pork the rest of the puzzle’s eatable pieces.

It’s What’s Inside
As he dishes out steaming-hot roast pork (which had undergone 48 hours of marinating and 12 of slow heat), Danny Hernandez sings out customers’ first names across the countertop of the South MacDill Avenue Pipo’s. He follows up with questions far more sincere than the typical “how are you today?”

“How’s Donna doing, Dr. Greco,” Danny sincerely inquires. “And how about James?”

The room he stands in is full and alive with lunchtime conversation and laughter; no one bothers to be too quiet. Patrons step away from the café’s counter with heaping plates of Cuban goodness – roast pork, black beans, Spanish rice and platanos – to find their seat in the family dining room where friendly neighbors and strangers are breaking bread together.

Danny’s parents, Ramon Sr. and Sinarah, moved to the states from Cuba in the mid-1960s. Working with a friend from Cuba, they opened El Dragon de Oro in West Tampa (Armenia Avenue) – a Chinese Cuban restaurant. After selling their interests in El Dragon (1975), Ramon and Sinarah made history by opening their first Pipo’s (1979) on Town-n-Country on Hillsborough Avenue. (At home, Ramon was affectionately known as “Pipo,” an endearing nickname for “father.”) In what was the first Cuban café, the loving couple served up old family recipes and rich espresso.

Danny remembers working at that location with his family as a child; just as well as he remembers two sets of stern words from his father, Big Pipo: “Go to school,” and “Get out of the kitchen.”

Danny did just that. He served in the navy and finished school at the University of South Florida. But upon graduation, he went right back into the kitchen after buying his first store (in Countryside Mall) and converting it into a Pipo’s.

“It’s in my blood,” Danny says. “To represent my father’s name every day, while giving people a great taste of Tampa.”

At age 37, Danny has opened eight Pipo’s restaurants across central Florida and owns three of them today. Each location is distinct in character and staffed by it owner’s family members – a time-tested formula for success, as validated by loyal customers who’ve been coming back to Pipo’s since it opened its doors for business.

“People gravitate toward what they know and what makes them feel good,” Danny says. “Especially during down, economic times like these.”

“That’s why we do everything the same way we have for the past three decades,” Danny continues. “Mom and Dad are still in charge of quality control. We’re not here to mass-produce. We’re cherishing age old traditions done in my family’s name – and I refuse to cheapen either.”

Danny, with a devotion that’s intrinsic to West Tampa’s cultural fabric, has used the same vendors for many years to supply Pipo’s its recipes’ staples. He’s done so because he not only trusts the products, but he trusts the people who stand behind them. He’s friends with the son in the family who provides his stores’ rice and beans. And Danny attributes the sweet-smoothness of Pipo’s Café con Leche to the espresso blend they order from Naviera Coffee – an authentic Cuban product roasted on Ybor City’s famous 7th Avenue.

One of his most fierce product loyalties is Mauricio Faedo’s Bakery and its legendary bread. The Hernandez and Faedo families have a long history of friendship, partnership and respect for each other’s expertise. So it’s no twist of fate that the string of buildings where the West Tampa Pipo’s (Armenia Avenue) resides was once a bakery and home of the Faedos (until 2005). Danny can still remember meeting the Faedo’s back when he used to play on the streets of West Tampa as a child. (Back then, the Hernandez’s were still running El Dragon de Oro, which was just two blocks away.)

Still at the heart of that location’s kitchen can be found a gigantic, 1950s-era stainless steel oven – the very one that the bakery’s namesake, Mauricio, began his legacy. It’s the metallic mother and grandmother of more than a million bread loaves Faedo’s bakers have handmade over the years.

The non-coincidence is an example of the overlapping Tampa history that continues to inspire Danny to preserve his family’s little piece; and is what motivates him to give back to his hometown.

“It’s one of the greatest things we aspire to do here,” he says of Pipo’s. “Allow people to enjoy their meal at their leisure, and get a taste of the city’s original food and history at the same time.”

A Living Tradition
Driving into its parking lot, a crew of men who are busy at work can be seen just behind a “Hot Bread Now” sign that hangs in one of several oversized windows. The neon sign glows bright red; a clear signal to those in-the-know that warm-from-the-oven, Mauricio’s loaves are ready and waiting.

Stepping inside the 5600 sq.-ft. bakery, one is overwhelmed by an intoxicating scent of fresh baked bread; which is being gently stirred by large, overhead fans. The aroma is satisfying and comfortable.

The crew members all stand behind long tables; baking craftsmen lined up and hand-flopping, folding and rolling doughy globs into thin, long cylinders. The scene is reminiscent of what it must have been like in the cigar factories of Ybor City’s past. And like a great Ybor cigar, Faedo’s Cuban bread is pure, true Tampa.

Michelle Faedo – a Tampa native and daughter of Mauricio – remembers working in her father’s bakery when she was just nine-years-old. Michelle still works there; as do her parents, uncle, brother and sister. The business is a family affair that celebrates her dad’s Spanish roots and her mom’s Cuban lineage. And Mauricio continues to reinforce the message that the path to life’s success is paved with honesty and hard work.

“It’s a work ethic that’s proven itself from the beginning,” Michelle says. “It’s what kept my dad focused running trials on recipes until he found a delicious combination of ingredients that just can’t be beat by supermarket breads,” Michelle says. “We don’t use animal lard and we don’t use preservatives.”

The work ethic/recipe combination is likely why Faedo’s is recognized as the “bakery of choice” for more than 90 percent of the area’s eateries that offer Cuban bread. And while they deliver their taste of Tampa all over the Bay area – from Clearwater to Pasco County (and even Orlando) – their longest standing clients can be found close to where Faedo’s has always called home; the Urban Corridor.

Its popularity keeps the bakery’s phone ringing nearly non-stop with new orders. (Michelle personally takes many of them and all are jotted down by hand – a personal touch on which Mauricio insists). Walk-ins orders are brisk, too; occasionally causing lines to stretch out the front door. As for the order requests, those are varied. Sometimes people will ask for 12-foot-long loaves, but the requests for one to a hundred, standard 36-inch loaves are far more common.

No matter the order, Faedo’s can likely fulfill it. And all are usually done by the store’s standard baking process. Under the supervision of a head master baker, batter is mixed into dough, weighed per ounce and steamed for 30 minutes. Once the bread brigade members get their hands on it, they turn the dough into raw loaves and place them in rows on metal trays. As they do, they lay a palmetto leaf along the center length of the waiting loaf (it allows the dough to open properly during baking).

Full metal trays are slid into large rolling racks, which – once full – are guided into massive, walk-in ovens. These are the baking basics that have been perfected over three decades. (The made-from-scratch recipe has gone unaltered for two and a half of them.)

When asked how she would best describe her family’s bakery, Michelle looks past the dough and oven and towards the front of the store where three children could be seen outside looking in as the bakers worked away.

“It’s those big windows in the front, which allow the public to see that we’re open to them,” she says. “Everyone is invited to come by – any time of day or night – and watch our team practice its trade.”

“Faedo’s has always been this open and friendly and we’ll always welcome our community,” she continues. “After all, the Urban Corridor is not just where we are … it’s who we are.”

Where’s It At.
[sh] Mauricio Faedo’s Bakery
5150 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 237-2377

[hp] Pipo’s Cafe
411 S. MacDill Ave.
(813) 871-5252
www.pipos.com

[wt] Pipo’s Cafe
3501 N. Armenia Ave.
(813) 876-7476
www.pipos.com

Where Are Others?
[yb] Columbia Restaurant: Ybor City
2117 E. 7th Ave.
(813) 248-4961
www.columbiarestaurant.com

[wt] West Tampa Sandwich Shop
3904 N. Armenia Ave.
(813) 873-7104

Try Something New!
[yb] Teatro On Seventh
1600 E. 8th Ave.
(813) 248-9400
www.teatroonseventh.com

[sh] Cappys Pizzeria
4910 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 238-1516

[sh] Bungalow Bistro
5137 N Florida Ave
(813) 237-2000
www.bungalowbistrotampa.com

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Heights Heighlights Side Bar - Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:36:00.003-08:00

Have-Another-Tampa: Devilishly Delicious

If you’ve lived in Tampa for any length of time, you’ve likely had yourself a Deviled Crab. But did you know that it was invented in Ybor City?

During the Great Depression, Ybor residents sensibly fed themselves with meals made of ingredients that were cheap and readily available. At the time, two of the easiest to come by were the not-so-great pieces of crab and leftover, stale Cuban bread. When the two were mixed together and deep fried, the Deviled Crab was born.

Although the Ybor original started off more like a small croquette, it began to grow plump as the era’s continued economic despair spurred families to waste nothing and to stretch any food scraps to feed as many mouths as possible.

Street vendors eventually started selling the deviled crab throughout Tampa; some using wooden boxes strapped to bicycles to hold and transport their wares.

The Depression faded, but the area’s taste for the Deviled Crab did not. If you haven’t tried one yet, it can be sampled very inexpensively at most Cuban and Spanish restaurants throughout Tampa.

Note: “Deviled Crabs” share no similarities with other deviled foods, such as Deviled Eggs. That makes the term an English misnomer. The Spanish name, Croqueta de Jaiba, if far more accurate. It simply translates to "Crab Croquette."

Make Your Own!
The following is just one, sure to be disputed, way to make your own Deviled Crab.

Deviled Crab Cakes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
• 1 lb Crabmeat
• 2 tb Green onion; chopped
• Butter
• 2 tb Prepared mustard
• 2 tb Flour
• 1 ts Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 c Light cream
• 1/8 ts Hot pepper sauce
• 1/2 c Soft fresh bread crumbs
• 1/2 ts Salt
• 1/4 c Green pepper; minced
• 1 c Fine, dry Cuban Bread crumbs

Instructions
Leave crabmeat in large lumps. Melt 1 tbsp butter; stir in flour. Gradually stir in cream. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and thick. Remove from heat. Add Cuban Bread crumbs, green pepper, onion, and seasonings. Add crabmeat and mix lightly. Place dry bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Put a large spoonful of crab mixture on the crumbs, sprinkle dry crumbs on top, and shape into a cake. Do not pack. Repeat, making 8 cakes in all. Heat 2 tbsps butter in a large heavy skillet, and sauté cakes lightly, adding more butter as needed.

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Food & Drink – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:36:00.001-08:00

Not Your Average Joe: Café con Leche
By Jacklyn Walling

For the Starbuck-types in the world, drinking a morning coffee is often no more than a means to help get their day started – a cup of indulgence that’s part of an a.m. routine.

But for the patrons of the Urban Corridor’s many Cuban and Spanish cafes, the roasted brew means quite a bit more. It’s a breakfast staple accompanied with spirited conversation and reflections of days gone by.

As for their brew of choice … it’s as exotic as any Italian latte or cappuccino, just served in a small cup, instead of a big corporate box. Of course I refer to the city’s best-selling beverage: Café con Leche.

Café con Leche, which translates to "coffee with milk" in Spanish, is just what it sounds like: strong coffee mixed with scalded milk in approximately a one to one ratio. (Sugar is added according to taste.) As for which brand of coffee Tampans’ like best, it varies per drinker; but Ybor City’s Naviera Coffee and Miami’s Café Bustelo are common favorites.

At the famous La Teresita Restaurant in West Tampa, I sat with Raoul Zayas, a Tampa native and area high school teacher, as we both sipped our own cups of the coffee/milk combo. As we chatted about the beverage, his eyes started to glisten as he brought up memories of times he had shared with his parents, grandparents and brothers.

“My brothers and I would dunk our Cuban toast in it for breakfast,” Zayas said of a Café con Leche-dip ritual that’s persevered through generations. “And our parents would always wonder why we were all so jacked up every morning.”

Despite getting “jacked” by the caffeine concoction, the Zayas family considers it a comforting beverage. For example, when Raoul’s brother recently called him to report a bad day, Raoul’s prescription was one pair of warm socks for the feet, and one cup of hot Café con Leche for the stomach … “just like our grandmother used to tell us.”

Drinking Café con Leche is also a time to talk politics amongst friends. A good place to see (or better yet, “hear”) this high volume exchange of ideas in action is West Tampa’s El Gallo de Oro (The Golden Rooster), a Cuban mom and pop restaurant that’s been serving up Cuban joe for more than 25 years.

Owner (aka “king of the coop”), Gustavo Orama, told me that he sees the same people every day he opens the store. One by one they file in, place their same order, find their same seat and begin to debate their political viewpoints. (Long-time patrons need not worry about ordering … Orama has their orders memorized.)

Orama enjoys the sameness. “For me, it’s all I know. It’s about gathering every day for our cup of coffee. Café con Leche brings friends together.”

Whether you take your Café con Leche with a spoonful of sweet family memories or prefer it with straight political talk, it’s easy to tell in either case that Tampa’s drink of choice is not your average joe. We invite you to sound out about your Café con Leche preferences and memories by visiting the New Heights blog: newheightsmag.blogspot.com.

Try A Cup!
[wt] El Gallo De Oro
4007 Fiesta Plz.
(813) 873-8008

[wt] La Teresita Restaurant
3246 W. Columbus Dr.
(813) 879-4909
www.lateresitarestaurant.com

[yb] La Tropicana Café
1822 E. 7th Ave.
(813) 247-4040

Try Something Else!
[dt] Cafe Hey
1540 N. Franklin Ave.
(813) 221-5150
www.myspace.com/cafehey

[dt] Indigo Coffee
514 N. Franklin St., Ste. 102
(813) 849-2233
www.drinkindigo.com

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com.

Food & Drink – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:35:00.001-08:00

Drowning in Flavor: Water Unique Sushi Restaurant
By Michelle Baker

I was in need of Water (the Japanese-inspired sushi restaurant) as I stepped into 1015 S. Howard Ave, but what I saw seemed more like a mirage. There was a Water sign on the outside of the building. There were Water signs on the inside of the building. And the Water logo was on all the menus. So why was I in standing in Ciccio & Tony’s Italian Restaurant?

Upon being seated, I asked my waiter what was up. He informed me that the owners of C&T (Jeff Gigante, James Lanza and Luis Flores) and Water are one in the same. And although the Hyde Park C&T has been a local favorite since opening in 1996, when Water opened in 2005, it failed to garner as much attention. The solution? Combine the two into one ultimate nosh spot.

Realizing that I had indeed found my destination, I (always being the optimist) prepared myself for a bad meal. I mean, this was the flagship of SoHo chains … and a chain-gang-girl I am not. Yeah, I know I sound snobby. But having an executive chef husband at home ,who uses our kitchen to churn out made-from-scratch Foie Gras, Truffles and other gastronomical delights, has made me a little spoiled.

My level of enthusiasm took another dive when I saw the sheer size of the menu. If you’re a food geek like me, you’ve certainly heard Kitchen Nightmares’ Chef Gordon Ramsey scream at meek and bewildered restaurant owners who create menus longer than five pages. Well, Ramsey would blow a gasket if he saw the eight-pager (not counting the night’s special menu) that I was holding. Why? Because typically, a restaurant that offers too many selections is unable to properly maintain their quality. Key word, “typically.”

It took me a good 10 minutes to decide on an appetizer, which wasn’t a bad thing because my server’s attention had been diverted elsewhere. When he returned, I placed my order for the special, Tempura Edamame ($5.50), only to be told it was sold out. I was forced to switch to my back-up plan, Water Guacamole ($7.50) and the Tuna Poki Water Bowl ($8.50).

With an uncanny timing, as my waiter walked away from my table the restaurant’s lights dimmed and I could hear a low, relaxing soundtrack with a club-bump vibe circulating through the room.

The glass of wine I ordered ($6-$7) came out first, accompanied by some delicious Parmesan Focaccia Bread and a dip of Balsamic Vinegar and Herb Oil. Both were followed quickly by half of my first course: the Water Guacamole.

Served with light and crispy circular Fried Wonton Chips (fanned in a heaping bowl of green goodness), the guac was easily big enough to be a meal on its own. My first bite punched my tongue with an odd citrus flavor, which almost certainly was Yuzu (a Japanese fruit). The follow up swing landed with another note of acid, possibly rice wine vinegar. Then the knock out blow came in the form of a tad bit of heat; possibly Sriracha chili paste, combined with little tomato and shallot. It was refreshing, perfectly creamy and packed with a powerhouse of flavors I would’ve never thought to pair with guacamole.

It was so good that I had to stop myself short of licking the bottom of the bowl. And as strange as the dish may sound, it actually makes a lot of sense when you remember that Avocado is commonly served on sushi … So why not make guacamole?

As I diverted my attention to the Tuna Poki Water Bowl that had arrived nearly unnoticed during my bout with the chips, I saw it was a simple bowl of Sticky Rice, Julienned Jicama (a cross between an apple and a potato), marinated and cubed (raw) Tuna, black Sesame Seeds and a little Cilantro garnish.

Upon tasting it, I didn’t get the same 1-2-3 punch to the kisser as I did from its predecessor, but had I tried it first, it may have been a different story. But in any case, the Water Bowl was exactly as it should have been. The Tuna was very fresh, firm and well marinated with various Asian staples, including ponzu, soy and rice wine vinegar. The sticky rice had that familiar nutty note; and as for the jicama, it pairs well with any form of raw tuna. Despite placing second to the guac, the dish was good … really good.

Choosing my entrées for the night came a little easier than my 10-minute mull over the appetizer menu. They were to be a Spicy Diablo Clear Roll ($12) and a Volcano Nori Roll ($12).

I had to try the Clear Roll, as Water has developed a reputation for them (in part by using rice paper instead of the Nori (seaweed paper) wrapping of traditional sushi). To that point, my initial thought was, “big deal, it’s a spring roll.” But the experience I was in the midst of had changed my mindset to one of a percolating anticipation.

As for why I chose the Volcano roll, there’s a simple answer: it’s one of my favorite of the cooked sushi rolls. It’s usually spicy, creamy and flavorful. Water’s menu indicated that their version included a warm seafood dip; a twist that I thought was intriguing. Well, maybe “intriguing” is the wrong word; perhaps “repulsive” was better suited. But I had to do it. Water had already won me over twice.

My server – who had gone from ok, to good, to fantastic – brought the rolls to me on a small, beautiful platter. The Diablo was presented as a tail-like arch, sliced eight very large pieces. Meanwhile, the eight-pieced Volcano was equally robust and mounted in an artful explosion of seafood dip. Both sat on a plate drizzled delicately with Sriracha aioli and a kabayaki glaze (a sweet soy sauce reduction).

I first dove into the Diablo Clear Roll, which seemed to be missing something. It was surrounded by sticky rice, but I couldn’t find a trace of rice paper. It didn’t matter to me. Once again, the tuna was fresh and firm; tightly wrapped with diakon sprouts (a Japanese radish) and just enough tempura fried onions for a perfect contrast of soft and crunchy. As if this weren’t enough, the entire roll was laced with the fire red jewels of sushi, tobikko (flying fish row). The Sriracha aioli added a slightly spicier depth, which rounded out the roll. It was also nutty, creamy, crunchy, salty and a little sweet. Sushi lovers take note; the Diablo may be the perfect spicy tuna roll.

After the Diablo making for a perfect 3-0 start, I no longer had reservations about smearing a huge piece of Volcano Roll with the previously reviled seafood dip. With a bite, it was bliss … a taste explosion of crab, cucumber, avocado, scallions, cream cheese, crispy tempura onions, wonton flakes, kabayaki glaze and Sriracha aioli (which had been drizzled on the roll), as well as the dip’s delicate, creamy mixture of cooked fish and crab. It was sensational. No, make that sin-sational!

Since I was on a roll (ugh – puns!), I reluctantly ordered more food. “Reluctantly,” because my stomach was beyond the point of full. I knew I didn’t want to continue the gluttony, but neither did I want to stop it. I gave in … but only after being subjected to a parade of temptations floating by me on the way to apparently not-so-full diners: pasta bowls ($11.75-$14.95), pizzas ($4.95-$10.75), unique salads ($5.50-$6.95), stir-frys ($9.25-$13.95), lettuce wraps ($9.95-$12.95) and more.

It was the Brazilian California Bowl (all bowls $9.45) that was my ultimate downfall. Although it came from the Ciccio & Tony’s side of the house, I just had to know how it looked, smelled and tasted.

It was served in a gigantic, beautiful bowl and I could smell a slight waft of cumin and scallion omitted from the steam that came out of it. Peering inside revealed blackened chopped chicken, black beans, avocado, corn, sour cream, cheddar cheese and crispy lettuce; all lying atop a bed of steamed yellow rice.

The chicken was seasoned very well with a little heat behind it; while the accoutrement of South Western-styled vegetables was cooked just right (not under, not over). Topping off the bowl was a Mexican-style guacamole (just as flavorful as its Asian-inspired cousin), a fresh chucky pico de gallo (or salsa, as they called it) and sour cream. I’d never believe it was indigenous to Brazil … but who cares?

If you can’t tell by now, my life pretty much revolves around food. I own a personal chef and catering company with my husband. I’m a weekly food writer for the Tampa Tribune. And I’m a food stylist and a highly-read food blogger. It’s for these reasons that I am often asked by Tampa newcomers where my favorite places are to eat. Inevitably, I often choke up a small Mom and Pop in one of my favorite, non-hot-spot neighborhoods. This is because I’ve never believed a hot spot could live up to its name.

I am both regretful and happy to say that I’ve been wrong. I now stand humbled by Water/Ciccio & Tony’s. It’s not a mirage. The restaurants’ impeccably high quality of food, atmosphere and service come together to form the perfect place for any date night, family function, business lunch or simple hangout.

Water Unique Sushi Restaurant
(part of Ciccio & Tony’s)
1015 S. Howard Ave.
(813) 251-8406
www.CiccioAndTonys.com

Rating: 4 ½ HP Stickers

Read More at www.NewHeightsMag.com

Green & Earth – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

From Pink to Green: Revelations in Insulation
By Charles Haynie

Tampa’s Urban Corridor (UC) is awash with beautiful houses that were constructed nearly 100 years ago. Back then, the days before home insulation and air conditioning were exceptions – not norms – these Bungalows, Arts & Crafts and Victorians were designed and built to maximize natural ventilation to help regulate the temperatures of their living spaces. The concept was as common sense then, as it is outdated today.

While nearly every UC home now has some form of A/C installed (be it a window unit or central heat & air), the same is not true when it comes to insulation. The reason for this is unclear, but with the green movement (and the cost of electricity) on the rise in Tampa, many UC homeowners are discovering the value and benefits of insulating their houses’ walls, attics and even floors.

According to Warm Magazine, installing insulation in an average-sized home can save a family up to 40 percent on their cooling & heating costs. Or to put it another way, a non-insulated home loses its owners about 40 cents out of every dollar they spend to keep room temperatures comfortable. Based on these figures, within five years of insulation installation, the family will recoup their spend.

If you are planning on using the area’s cooler winter months to tackle a hot attic insulation project, you’re likely to see some surprising, new products when you pick out supplies. This is because insulation doesn’t just come in pink anymore ... it now comes in green.

Standard Insulations
Perhaps the two simplest and most economical types of insulation are rolls of fiberglass (aka itchy, pink stuff) and air-blown cellulose.

Fiberglass: Itchy, pink stuff that’s very effective and hard to beat for its price (about $.07 an inch). It covers well in homes that have fairly open attics and is installed simply by unrolling each batt (i.e., roll) between the beams of the ceiling, walls and floor.

Cellulose: Shredded recycled material (e.g., newsprint) that’s manually air-blown into the nooks, crannies and open spaces via a special machine (that can be rented at many major hardware stores). Cellulose is priced the same as fiberglass – but unlike the pink stuff, it tends to matte down over the years and can lose some of its effectiveness.

Extreme-Green Insulations
There are many extreme-green insulation options gaining popularity, with two garnering particular attention for their eco-friendliness. The first is made from what you eat; the other from what you wear.

BioBased® Insulation: Made from soybeans, this spray foam is very effective at insulating open and obstructed spaces. The foam fills gaps and also acts like a noise barrier (helpful when living near busy city streets). It comes in a variety of densities and – depending on the one you choose – a relatively thin coat may provide more insulation effectiveness than the bulky, standard alternatives. It’s important to note that BioBased Insulation is not a DIY project, but a quick Google search will reveal many local companies that provide the product and service.

Recycled Denim Insulation: If there’s such a thing as “flashy celebrity” when it comes to today’s insulation market, it’d have to be cotton insulation made from recycled denim blue jeans. It and its green aspects have gotten a lot of attention from the press and the Hollywood elite. (It can be found in the homes of many movie and television stars, such as Ed Begley, Jr. (Pineapple Express) and Adrian Grenier (HBO’s Entourage).

There are a few brands of denim insulation (UltraTouch is one), but each is basically the same. They all come in cushy blue rolls that can be easily installed by most DIY-ers. (Rolled out like fiberglass, minus the itching.) It also provides similar, per-inch insulation effectiveness as the pink stuff.

As it seems to be with most products that are better for the environment, denim and soybean-based insulation are a little pricier (15-20+ percent) than the standard options. This means you may undergo a little more pain in the pocket for the initial purchase and install. But, if you find these green choices a little out of your budget, it’s important to remember that – based on its virtue of saving energy – any insulation is green insulation … and far better than none at all.

About the Author
Charles Haynie is a mechanical engineer and eco-friendly furniture builder. He is always happy to discuss sustainable design at Tampa Street Market (www.TampaStreetMarket.com), a green furniture and retail shop he owns and runs with his wife, Amy.

More Home Suggestions

[sh] Bali Bay Trading Co
4218 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 238-3295
www.balibaystores.com

[sh] Sherry’s YesterDaze
Vintage Clothing & antiques
5207 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 231-2020
www.yesterdazevintage.com

[uc] Sun-Biz Solar Solutions
6208 Bayshore Blvd.
(813) 837-4219
henry@sunbiz-solar.com

[ww] Vivant House
909 W. Hillsborough Ave.
(813) 232-0491

Read More at: www.New HeightsMag.com

Arts & Events – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:33:00.000-08:00

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, one of the top-rated outdoor fine arts and crafts shows in the country, returns to downtown Tampa March 7–8, 2009 for a weekend filled with outstanding art, visiting artists and free entertainment.

Considered one of Florida’s premier cultural events, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts ranks among the leading juried festivals nationwide that feature both fine arts and crafts. Each year, a select number of accomplished artists and rising stars from around the globe are chosen to participate in the show and vie for cash awards upward to $15,000.

Throughout its 39-year history, the Gasparilla Festival has attracted outstanding artists who have amassed numerous awards and honors throughout their careers and who now have works included in permanent collections of major museums.

In 2008, the Gasparilla Festival broke into the ranks of the Top 25 U.S events of its kind, according to the leading arts source, Sunshine Artist, “America’s Premier Art and Craft Show Magazine.”

When the festival returns to the Urban Corridor in 2009, nearly 300 national and international award-winning, acclaimed artists (typically chosen from more than 1,000 applicants) will be exhibiting their original works throughout downtown’s Lykes Gaslight Square Park and along Franklin Street. The works will include ceramics, digitals, drawings, fibers, glass, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, printmaking, sculptures, watercolors and woods. Food and drink vendors will also be onsite, as will live musical entertainment.

The festival is free and open to the public, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday (March 6-7, 2009).

Where It’s At.
[dt] Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Lykes Gaslight Square Park & Franklin Street
(813) 876-1747
www.gasparilla-arts.com

Where Is More?
[cd] Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Dr.
(813) 273-4000
www.flaquarium.org

Try Something New!
Visit these UC neighborhood-focused websites for a complete up-to-date list of local event locations, dates and times.

READ MORE AT: www.NewHeightsMag.com

News & Rumors – Jan/Feb 2009

2009-01-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

Get Set. Go! Tampa will host a day of bike racing through its downtown streets on March 21, 2009. The 1st Annual Downtown Tampa Twilight Criterium & Festival will include a free family fun ride in addition to Junior to Pro 1-2 level competitions. To register for the event, visit www.BikeReg.com.

Achtung, Baby! Two partners are currently scouting downtown Tampa for a location to open an “authentic” German restaurant.

Worth a LOOK!: artLOUD! Sculpture, a display of more than 15 outdoor, kinetic sculptures, was unveiled on January 23 in downtown Tampa. The displayed art are the winning pieces in a contest for local artists that was sponsored by Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Tampa Bay, the City of Tampa and other local businesses and organizations (see full list on bottom of page 30). The sculptures can be found on Franklin and Tampa Streets and Florida Avenue.

Want A Recount? StoryCorps, a team of people who record history as told by average Americans, visited Ybor City in December and January. Local residents recounted hours of memories about the Urban Corridor and the recorded footage will be sent to Library of Congress, broadcasted by National Public Radio and Tampa’s WMNF 88.5FM, and available for your review at the Ybor City State Museum. For more info, call the museum at (813) 247-1434 or visit www.storycorps.net.

Down To Earth. There is a large, organic urban garden planned for the VM Ybor area. We know the details, but have been asked not to print them yet. But if you want more info, please email us: editor@NewHeightsMag.com

Hold That Order. Although originally planned to happen by February 1, the neighborhood’s restaurant boom is postponed until spring. The reasons for the delay are varied, but none are unusual for remodeling or new construction projects. The six pending restaurants are: Richy’s Themes Sports Lounge, Ella’s, Sangria’s Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant, LeRoy’s Gastro Pub,
Myoumi Sushi Bar and The Independent.

Bus Stop. Diana Kennedy, author of 12 cookbooks and known as the Julia Childs of Mexican food, will hold a book signing Feb. 14, 5:30pm at El Taconazo (aka Taco Bus) and Feb. 15, 2pm at Hyde Park’s Inkwood Books. She will also host a cooking class at Taco Bus on Feb. 14 at 5:30pm. For more information, email dianakennedytampa@me.com.

Pop the Cork! Early January, wine industry veteran, Dave Kendall, and MacDinton’s Irish Pub owner, Barry O’Connor, opened Cork at 406 S. Howard Ave. It offers many wines by the bottle (prices vary) and 18 by the glass ($7- $14). Beer is also served, as is Italian- style tapas. (813) 251-4433 | www.corktampa.com

Preservatives Added. A new blog was recently launched that focuses on the preservation of historic structures and neighborhoods in Tampa. You can visit it at http://tampapreservation.blogspot.com.

READ MORE AT: www.NewHeightsMag.com

New Heights | mid-Nov '08/mid-Jan '09

2008-11-23T12:46:00.001-08:00

SPECIAL EDITION: 2009 Guide to the Urban Corridor
Mid-Nov '08/Mid-Jan '09 • Vol. 1, Edt. 6
See this newsletter online at: www.newheightsmag.com/newsletter
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NEIGHBORHOOD SECRETS
In this SPECIAL EDITION, New Heights uncovers your neighborhood's secrets - its many, one-of-a-kind retail shops, restaurants and art venues that you've been missing out on. (Complete with news and rumors of what's to come in '09!)

We then answer the question, "What is the Urban Corridor?", and take a look back at NH's first year accomplishments.
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FOOD & DRINK
They're fresh, they're convenient and they're close. Join NH as we check out the UC's truly "Super" Markets.

Afterwards, enjoy a new dining experience while feeding your local economy; when you try one of the many independent restaurants listed in our Buyer's Guide.
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ARTS & EVENTS
Internationally known gallerist, Erika Schneider of Tampa Heights' Bleu Acier, examines Tampa’s Art Scene.

Then NH shows you how to explore the local art community and find out what's happening in your neighborhood.
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UC BUYER'S GUIDE
Prepare to get your (local) shop on with this issue of NH - just in time for the holidays and the New Year. You'll discover over a hundred reasons why not to make the trip to the giant malls and "-marts" of the suburbs.
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NEWS & RUMORS
Is it Real or Rumor? From the Newsline to the Grapevine, New Heights goes myth-busting to bring you the latest scoop!

In this Issue: NH lists more than 60 rumors and news clips about what's happening near you.
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Newsletter sponsored by:* Rover Done Over Mobile Pet Grooming * Grafx Design * SunBiz Solar * Greener Pixels Print Media Design
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Urban Corridor = Seminole Heights, Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, Channel District, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Ybor City, Ybor Heights, Davis Islands, Tampa Heights, The Heights, VM Ybor & surrounding areas.