Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

It’s been a busy couple weeks around here, what with my roommate Jennifer getting engaged, other friends getting married, Devil Rays news, and what have you. This past weekend alone was a fine vignette of episodes that make you kind of appreciate how nice it can be to live here sometimes.

It all started with the phenomenal support Thursday for the Rays’ uniform/branding unveiling which was, to use an accurate and inescapable cliché, fun for the whole family. (See my photo gallery here or check out their promo video and the arrival of the “new” Raymond mascot.) I didn’t stick around for the Kevin Costner concert, but it seemed that most of the 7,000+ attendees were there for some hard-rockin’ action. Yet I was impressed by how many of the Rays took time off from their offseason to come by and model for the fans — and don’t get me started on the news leaked the next day about a new stadium.

Saturday brought the wedding of my friends Brian and Melissa; the ceremony was lovely, and the folks at Maggiano’s surprised me with their attention to detail (i.e. drinks) and terrific food — confirming for me that restaurants can beat caterers at their own game. Things didn’t go so smoothly at the Tampa Doubletree, where no fewer than three of my friends were given rooms (and keys to them) that were already occupied. I’m pretty sure that’s about the worst thing you can do when running a hotel. Personally, I don’t mind if someone barges in on me while I’m in my skivs watching Countdown with Keith Olbermann but I understand that upsets some people.

Sunday, though, was a treat, as I was finally able to catch the curtain-closer of Jobsite Theater’s Gorey Stories. The Grapefruit Gal looked at the program and said scornfully, “You brought me to a musical?” Yet her skepticism was quickly dispersed by David Jenkins’ wonderfully-directed cornucopia of the macabre, and I found it quite unlike anything I would consider boring. The G-Gal liked the costumes, the makeup, and the set design, and I liked Katrina Stevenson’s legs. It was a winner all around!

We topped it off with a visit to my local pizzeria, the Clearwater Country Pizza Inn; I was as skeptical about a Greek-Italian joint as I was about Giorgio de Chirico (Rene Magritte, please) but the quad-cheese pizza is pretty good and the baklava is a great deal at only $2.50.

I know I’ve had my criticisms for aspects of Bay life, but sometimes a fairly mundane weekend can remind you of the little things that give us advantages over, well, places where I’ve lived before. Like Ohio.

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