Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

“Free is for me!” is and has always been my motto.

I like to cut coupons and look for bargains all day long! In a sense, this is the only reason we get to do what we do and not owe thousands in credit card debt.

On weekends I like to keep busy but I don’t want to hand over my entire paycheck to do so. I have gone on wild weekends and spent a small fortune but then the regret kicks in on Sunday night. Of course, there have been a few exceptions where we had so much fun it was worth every dime!

With all that being said I scour over many different lists of things to do in the Bay area to find the ones that look fun and will not cost a ton. This week we have the little one - and our niece to keep busy as well - so we are looking for kid friendly. No, not martini hour!

I already knew about the Rays Fan Fest (free) so that is on the agenda and I found two more free events to run by as well. Here’s all the information, enjoy and have a great weekend!

The Rays Fan Fest is Saturday, February 23 from 10am-5pm at Tropicana Field and has free admission and free parking. A team autograph session will take place throughout the entire event and the Rookie, Jim Morrison will be present. You can tryout to star in a Ray’s commercial; I have two of the cutest kids so this should be a shoe in! Kids and adults will be able to run the bases and there will be several other on the field activities for everyone. You can go to the Rays website for all the details on the event and of course how to purchase season tickets at a discount during the event. http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/fan_forum/fan_fest.jsp

Ybor City’s Fiesta Day is also on Saturday, February 23 from 10am-6pm in Ybor City. I think I can do both of these if I start real early! First to Gunn Hwy to pick up the niece, shoot over to St. Pete for the athletic portion of the day. Then on the way home stop off in Ybor for a free sample of Spanish food for dinner then home! This event looks like a lot of fun there will be a parade of flags from Cuba, Germany, Italy and Span. There is an annual flan fest to determine who makes the best flan, the contest begins at noon and winners will be announced at 2:30pm. Complimentary Cuban bread, Spanish Bean soup and Cafe Con Leche will be given out to visitors! There will be music, children’s activities and the fresh market place will be huge this week with vendor’s, artists and more! Stop by the CC Event Productions website for all the details at http://www.cc-events.org/fiestaday

Olde Hyde Park Village is hosting their 19th annual art festival this Saturday and Sunday, Feb 23 & 24 from 10am-5pm. Thank goodness it is on Sunday too, because I want to go again this year. I always enjoy strolling around Hyde Park for their festivals. There will be a lot to look at with all the artists displaying their work of sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photography and much more. The shops will be open and nearby Kate Jackson Park has one of the nicest playground areas for the children. You can look at Howard Alan Events website for all the information on this event and others they promote at http://www.artfestival.com.

Whatever YOU do, I hope you have a great weekend!

Michelle Sampson wrote:

I’d like to Ask a Tampan:”Where are the best places to eat in the East Tampa / Orient Park areas? We like vegetarian, organic, fresh, local, healthy fare and haven’t found much. There is a REAL need for this type of place in the area, and a local grocery too! This part of town often gets overlooked, but it’s a great place to live and we want to attract more to the area and
support what’s already here.”

Hmmm. Well, I am very familiar with that area and there aren’t too many Vegetarian restaurants in what is considered East Tampa. It is still an area going through “gentrification.”

There are many, many options surrounding the USF campus as well as in Seminole Heights (275 & Hillsborough), which is just a stones throw from your front door.

Grass Roots, for one, is located at 2702 N Florida Ave (813) 221-7668. They have an amazing selection of Organic, Vegan meals. They also offer an extensive Raw food menu. Saigon Bay (Vietnamese) is located at 2373 E Fowler Ave. They make a mean Tofu Bun. Pure Veg Mirch Masala (Indian) is located at 2311 E Fowler Avenue. I’ve been told there isn’t a bad dish on the menu.

As for Organic markets, this is Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace at 11301 North 56th, just south of Fowler Ave.

You can also stay in touch with your natural side by keeping up with Vegetarian Restaurants.net. They list a whole bunch of places all over Tampa. You never know when you may be in North Tampa and need a Sprout fix. There is also Vegetarian USA with an even more extensive list of Restaurants and Markets.

Keep us posted on your findings, and if our readers know about any I’ve missed, I’m sure they can help us out in the comments.

With today’s highly important Presidential Primaries, I began to ponder “What IS American cuisine?”

We, The United States Of America, were founded by British settlers; however, this land we love was already home to Native Americans and had been for hundreds of years. Shortly before those three fleeing vessels ran aground on Plymouth Rock, Dutch settlers had already made homes along the North Eastern shores, presently known as New York and even before that, Spaniards were following the trail of a popular explorer, Christopher Columbus. Already, our pre-country was a melting pot of culture and flavors.

Let’s bring it up to present day. The good ole US of A is filled with more ethnicities, more religions, and more traditions than any country in the world, making for a culinary cornucopia of flavors and textures.

So how does one answer the question “What IS American cuisine?” with certainty? Okay, everyone think about this and before second-guessing yourself, blurt out the answer. Its okay to say it out loud, no one will think you are crazy and while you are at it, list it below. What did you say? Apple Pie? Hot Dogs? Chili? Hamburgers?

Well, in honor of voting day, I liked to share an old family recipe for what I think is truly American cuisine. Fried Chicken. Go home Tuesday night, proudly wearing your ‘I Voted’ sticker and fry up this American tradition, calories be damned. And even if you don’t make this recipe, VOTE!

Southern Fried Chicken

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Another week and we have earned another dollar, so let’s go spend it around town. Courtesy of Weekly Options, here are a few of the Pirate Events in Tampa for you to attend and enjoy for a few bucks!

25 Jan. Friday - Rough Riders Gasparilla Eve Annual Party – 6-11pm at Embassy Suites 513 S Florida Ave. Tampa. Buffet, dancing, music and more. 35$.

A Fabulous Buffet Will Be Served From 6:30 to 9:30 and music by Otis and the Old School Band. Rough Rider Members are free and guests are $35.00 per person which includes buffet and two drink tickets per person. Payment due in advance and reservations are required. Call Club Secretary Iris with credit card info at 813-248-1898.

26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla 11am - ? Downtown Tampa

The pirate invasion of Tampa will begin at 11am in the south end of Tampa Bay and then docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1pm. At that time the Mayor will have to hand over the key to the city. With the key to the city in hand they will begin the parade of pirates down Bayshore Blvd.

26 Jan. Saturday - Gasparilla Pre-Parade Brunch – 10am-Noon at the University of Tampa Plant Hall West Verandah 401 W. Kennedy Tampa.

Join UT alumni & friends for the annual Gasparilla Brunch on Saturday, January 26th from 10 AM until noon. Enjoy an all you can eat breakfast buffet, an open bar, and free parking while you get ready for the parade. Tampa Alpha Members and children under 5 are free, $35 per adult guest in advance ($40 at the door), $10 for children ages 6 to 13 in advance ($15 at the door), Children 5 and under are free.

26 Jan. Saturday – Gasparilla Invasion Brunch - 10am-1pm at the Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St. Tampa.55$ adults, 45$ child.

This event includes a buffet brunch, live entertainment and a reserved seat with the best view of the invasion. Pirates from the Ye Mystic Krewe will return to this location after the invasion to get a bite to eat with you. You must have a reserved ticket and to do so call 813-353-8108 before 2pm Monday – Friday before the 26th.

26 Jan. Saturday – TBT Pirate Invasion Party – 10am-2pm poolside at Westin Harbour Island 725 South Harbor Island Blvd.

Drink specials, music and a fantastic view of the Gasparilla Invasion. 25$ advance, 15$ general admission. MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND! Arrive early for best parking options. The bridge crossing over to Harbour Island will close at 9:30 a.m. The Westin Harbour Island does not provide free parking. The Pirate Fest Buffet will be included with the purchase of a VIP ticket/ VIP table only. All other food and drinks can be purchased on site. Tickets after Jan. 24: VIP, $35 General Admission: $25 for reservations and details call (727) 893-8602

Whether you eat at one of these events or not make sure you do eat before you start the drinking part of this great parade! The list of things to remember have already been posted here at Sticks so read over them, pick your seating area or venue and have fun!

Thanks to an idea some modern journalists are kicking around, I’m going to start keeping office hours at local eateries. So, on Sunday, Tampans can find me at the Panera Bread on the corner of Fowler and Bruce B. Downs.

I will be at the location from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; anyone with a story they’d like to tell is welcome to join me in breaking bread (literally). Eventually I’ll have cards printed up to bring with me, but in this initial meetup / office hours experiment, I’m only going to have my notebook with me.

In the next few weeks, I plan to have more meetups / office hours at different locations and times. If anyone has a story they’d like to tell but can’t make it on Sunday, please let me know through my email, wendylbolm (at) gmail.com.

Everyone is welcome. If any other bloggers / journalists in the area would like to join me, please come and enjoy. I will be wearing a very bright, yellow, patterned satin shirt.

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.

Is that anchovy on that pizza?

You might want to check, if it’s pizza from Papa Roni at 7013 North Himes in Tampa. What Florida restaurant inspectors say they found there is probably not what you have in mind when you order pizza with “everything.”

Let a state inspection report from June 20, 2007 speak for itself:

Observed dead roaches on premises. Observed over 20 dead roaches on food storage shelves, prep table shelves, inside food storage boxes, inside reach-in cooler, in butter used for food preparation. Establishment has no licensed pest control at the current time.

Observed rodent activity as evidenced by rodent droppings found. While conducting a joint callback, Chris Damico and Rich Decker noted rodent droppings in establishment. Over 100 rodent droppings were observed on food storage shelves, utensil storage shelves, on top of newly delivered food boxes, on floors, prep table bottom shelves, on single use take-out items.

Notice the words “joint callback?” According to state records, inspectors gave Papa Roni the once over about a month earlier when they issued a warning for 28 “critical violations.” For instance? Handwash sinks missing from restrooms and inaccessible to employees at all times; food stored on the floor; paint and chemicals stored next to food.

Still hungry? Inspectors said there was no thermometer easily visible in the reach-in cooler. They reported soil residue in storage containers, “build up of soiled material on mixer head,” “potentially hazardous food held more than 24 hours not properly date-marked after opening,” and the list goes on.

We called Papa Roni on Friday. A man who identified himself as Brian hung up on us the first time. We called back. He didn’t dispute state inspection results but said any building as old as the one occupied by Papa Roni is bound to have rodents and insects crawling about.

In the butter, Brian?

He invited us to come see for ourselves that the place is not filthy. Thanks, but no thanks. We certainly hope the place is cleaned up, but we aren’t restaurant inspectors, just eaters. And even though the latest entry on Papa Roni’s state record indicates compliance, we’re inclined to let history be our guide.

Papa Roni’s inspection history is long and unappetizing. Look it up at Fined Dining on GoToTell.com. Here’s the search tool. Then check the map of 50 most-fined restaurants since 2005 to see how it compares with other heavily fined places around the state. You don’t have to look far. Want more details? Go to the state search tool and look up Papa Roni in Tampa by name.

State records show total fines against Papa Roni since Jan. 1, 2005 roughly tripled in September. That’s because the state landed hard with a jumbo fine of $13,950. Records show the fine was ordered Sept. 25 for 30 violations on June 21.

Brian said the state’s listed fine is inaccurate. “Normally, when you respond they knock it down.”

Oh! Well, in that case make it a large with the works. Hold the roaches and no rodent dots, please.

A year ago, Alex Pickett wrote about SYSCO foods. The thrust of the article is that much of your dining out experience is affected by this huge conglomerate of food service, and that SYSCO keeps on growing and growing.

SYSCO — an acronym for Systems and Services Company — is North America’s largest food distribution company and has more of an impact on our food supply than nearly any other company in the country.

Well, they are growing again. They got the ok for $5 million in incentives from Pasco and Zephyrhills to build a new distribution center there.

According to the August 17 edition of SYSCO’s Market Update, much of the foods this time of year come from Mexico, Canada, and California. In addition to some domestic farms, vegetables are imported from Peru, Guatamala, British Columbia, and Chile. Florida is mentioned once; Florida lemons will be harvested later this month.

SYSCO “The Future Of Foodservice” can be found at http://www.syscowcf.com/index.htm