Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

This is JESSIE…

Jessie is a gorgeous, affectionate 8-year old domestic short-haired kitty who has been stuck at Hillsborough County Animal Services since before last year’s trick or treaters went strolling.

Why did someone give her up? We don’t know and can’t find any reason. She’s wonderful, even gives kisses and all. Someone, please take her away! Call (813)744-5660 or visit her (not on Sunday!) at the shelter at 440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa (a little east of Adamo).

This adopt-a-pet post could be sponsored by you. Find out more about sponsorship opportunities, or leave your contact info in the comments!

You might remember we wrote about Buddy & Bear way back in December.

Hillsborough County Animal Services reports that Buddy and Bear are still in the system:

Take a look at the photos of Buddy & Bear.

He is 9 years old and 60 lbs. Mom is 11 and 40 lbs. They are both chowchow mixes rescued by Hillsborough County Animal Services. They were left in the yard after their owner died unexpectedly and were in horrible condition but VERY sweet and docile.

A big THANKS goes to ALMOST HOME PET RESORT (yes, they do grooming!) of Valrico for giving them a doggie-spa day and making them gorgeous again.

The dogs are very socialized, and just need a special home for their remaining days TOGETHER. Yep - that means they need to go home as a pair.

The dogs have been relocated to our adoption partners at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on Armenia. They are offering a special rate for these sweeties, too.

Call (813) 876-7138.

This adopt-a-pet post is sponsored by Downtown Dogs. Visit Downtown Dogs in Hyde Park Village to get your pet (or Buddy & Bear!) some special treats.

From our good friend, Eric Sturm: 

Are you in the mood to be pampered this evening? If so head over to the Tampa Club tonight for the Young Professional Mixer. This is an opportunity for you to engage in conservations with other young professionals. Mingle with hundreds of attendees in the lavish treatment of the Tampa Club with a breath taking view of downtown Tampa, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drink specials (my favorite part, drink specials woo hoo!). $2 beers, $4 wine and mix drinks, martini specials are being worked on but no guarantee yet. Who doesn’t love talking business slight tipsy?

The Tampa Club is located at 101 E. Kennedy Blvd #4200. It will cost you 5 bucks to get in but parking is complimentary. It starts (now!) at 5:30 and ends at 7:30. Hurry and RSVP to renate@thetampaclub.com, and head right over!

One Hundred Million Served 

In addition to a partnership with Sticks of Fire, you may know that the Tampa Marketing Company also has agreements with TampaForums, TampaGold.com, SoHoTampa.com, and a couple more.  Combined, it looks like those sites will reach 100,000,000 page views - yeah, one hundred million! - for the year of 2006!

At Your Service

Along with the holiday season, we are going to celebrate that milestone this Tuesday, December 12 at the 42nd St. Bistro.  All of you readers, writers, and lurkers are invited to join us on Tuesday and help yourself to free hors d’oeuvres, live music (two great bands!), and cash bar.  There will also be free goodie bags for those that get there the earliest (once they are gone, that’s it)!

Serviceman Returns

In addition to all that, there will be a great guest of honor.  US Airman, Sticks contributor, and local internet superstar Smitty is back from a tour of duty in Africa.  If for nothing else, come out and welcome Smitty home and buy the guy a beer.

Get more information from your personal invitation to the party, and we will see you Tuesday at 6pm at the Bistro!

For once, there is stuff to do at night in downtown Tampa.  Beginning at 6pm tonight, head over to Curtis Hixon Park for Lights on Tampa.  Artist Janet Echelman will illuminate the Poe Parking Garage.  It should be pretty cool.  There will also be live music and food vendors.  I’m just not sure the park has streetlamps.  That presentation ends at 8pm, just as Art After Dark gets cranked up.

It’s anime night at Art After Dark.  Enjoy an evening of anime films, a Japanese tea ceremony, geishas, the art of origami, Japanese floating lanterns and a lot more at the Tampa Museum of Art.  It will cost you 10 bucks if you are not a member of the art museum, and there is a cash bar.

Through performing comedy shows, Comics Reaching Out raises money for charitable and community related organizations.  On Sunday November 12th @ 6pm at the Coconuts Comedy Club in Clearwater, Comics Reaching Out will showcase Eric DeRise and O.C with James Vernon as the Master of Ceremonies.  All proceeds will benefit S.A.F.E. Society of Florida, a non-profit organization committed to helping at risk animals and homeless pets.

Tickets are $12.50 and you can aquire them by:

Mailing your check to Jean Pirnat 1910 Groveland Road  Palm Harbor, FL  34683.  Jean can mail your tickets or they can be held under your name and picked up at the door the night of the show.  You can purchase the night of the show…if not “sold out”.

All checks or money orders are to be made out to S.A.F.E Society of Florida.

Don’t forget - the Jim “Kimo” West concert (sponsored by Sticks of Fire) is this Saturday night at the Kapok Special Events pavillion.  Drinks will be flowing, and many of you will listen to music you are not used to hearing around here.  So we’ve concocted a top ten (plus one) list of tidbits about Jim with which you can amaze and impress your friends:

1. Jim “Kimo” West produced the music track for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s smash hit, “White and Nerdy.” This song is currently #2 on iTunes!
2. Jim “Kimo” West has won widespread praise for his latest Slack-Key release, “Slack Key West.” Richard Bennett of the Mark Knopfler Band says: “Slack Key West, Jim’s latest album, is a record that is beautifully performed, written and recorded and shows Jim expanding the role of slack key guitar playing. It’s been said often that there are really only two kinds of music; good and bad. Jim West makes good music.”
3. “Slack Key West” is getting airplay on WMNF!
4. Jim “Kimo” West is from right here in Tampa! He attended King High School and USF! He was a co-founder of Tampa’s first all-original progressive rock band, Mythril! Similar to Clang some 15-20 years later, Mythril was centered around the USF Music Department, and even occasionally featured USF faculty members Hilton Jones and Art Woodbury.
5. Jim “Kimo” West recently was awarded the “LA Treasure” award by the Los Angeles Dept of Cultural Affairs for his efforts in bringing slack key guitar to a wider audience.
6. Jim West has recorded and toured with “Weird Al Yankovic” for over 20 years, earning 3 Grammys in the process.
7. Jim “Kimo” West will appear on “The Tonight Show” November 2 with Weird Al.
8. Jim “Kimo” West was a co-founder and engineer at the legendary Hitmakers Studio here in Tampa.
9. Jim “Kimo” West snuck into the USF Music Department to record an album in the 70’s.
10. Jim “Kimo” West has been on The Simpsons!
11. Jim “Kimo” West’s 70’s band, Mythril, developed a huge following performing at USF’s “Head Theatre,” a weekly on-campus event. Psychedelic images were projected on a huge screen while the band played their otherworldly music.

The music will be soothing and the drinks will be flowing.  Get your tickets now!

Join ACT (Animal Coalition of Tampa) on Saturday, November 4th, 2006 from 8am until 01pm for the 6th Annual Stride for Strays walk at Al Lopez Park, located at 4900 N Himes Av.

Funds raised are earmarked for the effort to end pet overpopulation in our community.

Besides the walk, you and your pet can participate in other events like: flyball, frisbee, tail painting, a pet wash, and contests for best trick, pet/owner look alike, and more!  There will be entertainment (TBA) and of course PRIZES! 

Walkers can register now for a fun filled day with your pet!

They are still looking for Vendors to participate too.