baywinds adult learning center
Ronald Teunis wrote in to ask a tampan about a blast from the recent past:
There was once in Tampa a group or organization that provided numerous classes in many areas. They had a small handout that listed many of them and who to contact to enroll. One was focused on learning how to use county records in Hillsborough County, another for Pinellas. Others dealt with matters like beading, dating and other interests.
Does anyone remember this group, individual or organization, of the various classes that were once offered?
Ah, Yes. I think you are talking about The Baywinds Adult Learning Center. They offered “classes” such as “How to Flirt,” “Mountain Climbing 101,” “You Can Do Voiceovers,” “How to be a Private Eye.” “Releasing the Inner YOU,” “You can do ANYTHING,” and how can we forget the “Scavenger Hunt in a Limo” class. Doing a quick google search, I also found:
- Bill Billingsley of Bill’s Pen Shop is a professional calligrapher and taught such classes at Baywinds.
- Shirley M. Williams served as a seminar leader for Baywinds on “Conquering Your Fears - Unlocking Your Greatest Potential”.
- Zoshua Zintel, or just Zoshua, taught Hermetic Kabbalah, Tarot & Astrology at Baywinds.
- RhondaK taught you “100 Ways to be Happy & Single in Tampa Bay.”
- Michelle Passoff: “LIGHTEN UP! Free Yourself From Clutter“
- John Nagy: “Coaching for Success“
Alas, Baywinds is no more. The adult learning center closed in 2004.
Did you take any of these classes?
Tags: ask a tampan, education, entertainment, names, tampa
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February 1st, 2007 at 10:21 am
I’m sad to hear that Baywinds has closed. I loved looking at their catalog/schedule and dreaming about all the exotic things I was going to learn.
I took a couple of classes for work about 5 or 6 years ago: one about probate and trust laws in Florida and one about financial planning for non-accountant types.
February 1st, 2007 at 10:37 am
I took a Lotus 123 computer class in 1988. The instructor and others in class were a blast!!
February 1st, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Hey Tommy,
AOL Digital City is running this post uncredited today.
Just FYI
February 1st, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Two actually under the header “The Latest from Sticks of Fire”
February 1st, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Actually taught a few courses there. One on bromeliads and orchids when Baywinds was located on Westshore, then a couple of HTML and MS Office classes after its move to Fletcher. Towards the end they couldn’t meet the payroll. Sad.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Oh, I’m crushed! Found this site because I was looking for Baywinds. (Do you think one of their last catalogs is worth anything?) Looking to find a course on creative writing or getting published- guess I’ll have to go back to college. I’ll miss Baywinds, they had a great concept.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Yes, I do remember Baywinds and its founder, Dena Grumman well, especially her trademark Love Bug with a canoe on the the roof.
Took several classes there, from Doing Your Will (On the Cheap) to Dinner Parties.
It was a terrific place. Perhaps we did not know then what a great asset we had in Tampa Bay.
Wish you well Dena, wherever you are. Fair Seas and Following Bay-Winds to you.
July 5th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I am very sad to learn that baywinds is closed. I read online somewhere that July 31st they would be moving to N dale mabry, was this a foiled plan? Does anyone know where to go to take classes? any kind of classes. ???
August 7th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
hey everybody! I’ve worked with Sticks of Fire over the years and was pleasantly delighted when I landed on your blog while researching Dena Gruman, formerly of Baywinds. I took some classes with Baywinds while Dena operated it and was oh, so sad when she sold it and Baywinds ultimately vaporized. But alas, an opportunity has presented itself to me and I am organizing a venue similar to Baywinds, hopefully with standards and creativity similar to Dena’s.
If anyone is interested in teaching a class, knows how to get a hold of Dena (her # is unpublished) or is willing to share an old copy of the Baywinds catalog with me, I would be eternally grateful and hopefully repay one in a manner acceptable to him or her (e.g.free class of their choice). As with Baywinds, teachers would be paid. Location is an amazing old 2,700 sq. ft. feed store in Ybor City which has been converted into a ten-room amazing facility including stage, recording equip., potter’s wheels, kiln,snack bar and tons more! Please contact me with questions or catalog. Have a wondeful day in your neighborhood! Peace … Kim DeFalco
August 13th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Kim did you open up yet? I would love to come visit. thanx christina
soslios1@aol.com
August 13th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I would also love to find out info about classes similar to what baywinds offered if one opens again in Tampa. My email address is doneright@verizon.net
August 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Hello,
Glad to see that there are several other people who have an interest in getting another program together similar to what Dena had going on with Baywinds…I’ve attended several of them and enjoyed every one of them…Just today, I tried the internet to see if I could locate them for a friend, after all these years…Please let me know if you’ve started and where?
I took classes there while they were at both locations in Hillsborough County…Now I am living in Madeira Beach, and Pinellas County could use an organization similar to Baywinds too…BRING IT ON!
September 12th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I,too, was a Baywinds fan, and while just searching for it, sadly discovered that it is no more. I took a Native American philosophy course, a screenwriting course, and a couple others. It was a great concept, and great fun. Let us know, Kim, when your program in Ybor is operational!
September 13th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Kim, I have a copy of Jan/Feb/Mar 2004 catalog. Saved it for “someday”. Now retired with time and energy to explore new ideas was looking forward to taking advantage of opportunities offered in it and am disappointed that Baywinds no longer exists.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:37 am
If anyone hears of Baywinds reopening or a like venue, please let me know. I took a past life regression course and would like to do it again!