I am a 34 yr old, single girl with a dog. I am looking to move to Tampa from Sarasota and am wondering the best places to live. I have been thinking about Hyde Park, Channelside and Ybor City. Any suggestions?

For fun, Ybor, Hyde Park, and Channelside each have offer plenty of bars and restaurants to choose.  But you didn’t ask about that.  I believe the rents are about the same in all three places as well.

Ybor has the reputation of being extremely unsafe, but in my opinon, is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.  Having said that, it can get a bit scary at times.  I probably wouldn’t recommend it for a single woman.

Channelside might be a bit more secure, but I am not sure where those residents walk their dogs.

Hyde Park might be your best bet.  Hyde Park has an active night life, a couple of parks, and a couple of the restaurants even allow dogs in the outside patio areas.

Sticks readers may know of even better neighborhoods for you, and I’m sure they’d be happy to share their thoughts with you in the comments!

By the way, the St. Pete Times has an old map of local dog parks – may come in handy for you and Rover.

She has been reading the newspapers, doing lots of searches on Google, and chatting with various locals about what they can expect.  Along the way, someone suggested she send us a question for Ask-A-Tampan, so she did:

Hi,

I am working on a project to try to understand the culture of Tampa for a company that will be moving to your city. I’ve found the information on your blog to be very helpful but would love to [learn more]. For example, I can’t really get a handle on what Tampans do for recreation. I’d assume it’s an outdoorsy culture of people who visit the beach a lot – but I haven’t found evidence of this.

Thanks in advance,

Sarah

Hey Sarah!  Thanks for writing.

And you are a bit off in your assumptions.  We go to the beach every OTHER day, when we are not at Busch Gardens.   In addition, a recent poll here asks “what is Tampa?” and thus far the answer is that we are “stuck in traffic” between “strip clubs and strip malls.”

No – it’s not really that bad.

In a nutshell, lightning gave this place its name, while treasure-seeking pirates gave us a story.  The train and sunshine brought us to Tampa, and cigars, call centers, and tourists kept us working.  Water activities, pro sports, and ‘dancers’ offer options for entertainment, and traffic keeps us from getting too much of any of it.

We do have a lot of water around here, so fishing is a popular recreation, as is boating in general.  There are thousands of golfers to play our many golf courses.  We do love our day trips, too.

Which reminds me – your peeps will all need cars.  Oh, and pedestrians / bicyclists die at a high rate here.

We all hate the bugs, but they come with the territory.  As do gators (the critters AND the alumni).  Heavy Metal used to be the theme music, and Goth was the look some time ago.  Pink Flamingos are somewhat cool, Jimmy Buffett is not.

For day one, suggest your clients start with a plate of strawberries or a big glass of Florida orange juice out in East Hillsborough County, and spend the rest of the morning soaking in the history of Ybor City.  For lunch, grab a cuban sandwich (pressed), and then take a walk down Bayshore Boulevard.  Make your way across the bay to St. Pete for some arts and great people watching, and head to Clearwater Beach for sundown.  Get yourself a cold beverage and unwind from the stress-free day.

I know that Sticks of Fire uses the term Tampan, but I have seen more references to using the word Tampanian to describe a resident of Tampa.  I need the proper term for academic use, but is it simply a matter of preference?  Thank you!

Hey Lindsey!  Thanks for contacting us!  And, what a great question.  Basically, what is the demonym for people from Tampa?

The old joke was that we must be “tampons,” because the Bucs were good for only one period.  But why not Tampine, Tampite, Tampanese, Tampi, Tampaner, Tampish, Tampard, Tampic, Tampese, Tampino, Tampiot, Tampegian, or Tampling?  Believe it or not, some folks actually refer to us as “Tampians.”

I have heard that “Tampan” is the proper name for one born or currently living in Tampa, but many folks say “Tampanian” in order to avoid any suggestion that they might be called a Tampon.

Online discussions debating Tampan vs. Tampanian bear this out, and the Urban Dictionary (edited by anyone) cuts to the chase and just says we are Tampanians.

But these are all just opinion (plus, we went with “ask a TAMPAN,” so I went looking elsewhere.

According to the Free Dictionary and dictionary.com, a tampan is “a venomous South African tick.”  But if you ask the Textile Museum, a “tampan is a small, rectangular cloth used in areas of Southern Sumatra in Indonesia.”

According to Wikipedia, the Kota Tampan site in the Lenggong valley of Malaysia may be the earliest known site of human inhabitation.  The culture at Kota Tampan is referred to as Tampanian.

Back in Tampa, Florida, Wikipedia says:

The Trafficante family was credited for creating the language known in the old mafia days as “Tampan.” Tampan was a language of an Italian/Spanish dialect. It was spoken by the Mob mainly because the police could not understand the language.”

In addition, there is a Tampania Avenue (not tampaniaN) in the city, but I have no idea where that name came from.

All of this is fun stuff, but getting us no closer to an answer, so I’ll leave it up to you readers to help us out.  And by the way, I’d like to hear from all Tampa Baymians – St. Petersburgers, Clearwatarians, Lutzlings and Largoids alike.

Subject: I have a Question for Ask-a-Tampan.

Message:     Is there a place in Tampa or the surrounding area that one can have dinner and make art? There is a place in Panama City called How Great Your Art and was wondering if there was something similar.

I used to live in Clearwater, still have family there and come back often. I have been to the place in PC and had a really good time. I was looking for something similar to do with my friends when I come down to visit.

Well, I found the website for the place in Panama City – check it out at http://www.howgreatyourart.com/ Here’s the general idea:

Do you have artistic ability?  No?  GREAT!
Do you like to have fun?  Yes?
Experience something different!

Here’s how it works.  Look at the schedule to see locations, paintings, dates, and times.  Come for a painting only for $35.00 per person or dinner from the menu at Sweet Tease or Shades At The Loop, or catered dinner from Carpe Cuisine at our Lincoln Center location.  Call 850-215-4442 to reserve your experience.  Enjoy whatever beverage gets your juices flowing.  Relax and have fun!
Then, one of our talented artists will walk you, step by step,  through creating a unique painting.  You will be amazed at what you’ve created even if you have NO ARTISTIC ABILITY!

So – anyone know a place like this a bit closer than Panama City?

I have heard of a rumored bridge from Ballast point to the Apollo beach area that was tossed around as an idea for a few years back in the early part of the 20th century.  Ultimately it was never built because the Port Authority would not approved another bridge blocking the port.  At least that is the story that I have heard.  Does anybody have any other information on a bridge from Tampa to Apollo Beach?

Although a google search provided plenty of information on the new Sunshine Skyway, the old Sunshine Skyway, the Howard Frankland, and the Courtney Campbell Causeway, we found nothing on a proposed road bridging Apollo Beach with Ballast Point.  However, it does sound familiar, or perhaps I’m thinking of suggestions of direct links between Ruskin and St. Petersburg.

Anyway, I’m hoping Sticks’ readers may remember something about this?  If you do, let us know in the comments.

Does anyone know where I can buy cuban sugar cookies (from a bakery on Armenia Ave or La Terisita etc) and have them shipped to me in Tucson AZ?

YUMMMmmmmm…  Cuban Sugar Cookies…   Torticas de Morón…

Of course, when you are looking for authentic Cuban bakeries, Tampa is the place to go.  Unfortunately, niether La Teresita nor La Segunda has a website that I could find.  Alessi Bakeries has a website, but you cannot order anything online. You can reach Alessi at 813.879.4544, and La Teresita at 813.879.9704.

But did you know that you can make ‘em yourself?  Here is a recipe for Torticas de Morón.

Anyone have experience with shipping cuban sugar cookies across the US?  Who do you contact?

Hello Tommy Duncan,
You are being contacted via sticks of fire by Holly P.
Holly P. has provided the following information so you may contact them:
Reason: I have a Question for Ask-a-Tampan.
Message:
I am 28 old. I am wondering is there any adult chess class offered in tampa bay area? I am a totally biginner, never played chess before but pretty much interested.
Thank you.

A quick google search brings us to the Centro Ybor website, which tells us that the International Bazaar offers a place to play chess every Friday night, and that lessons are given for free!!

Come and play at the International Bazaar
Fridays from 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Enjoy Chess for all ages and levels, we also teach Chess for Free
Enquire about our Grand MasterChallenge $500.00 prize
(Chess (all levels), Backgammon, Cribbage, Dominos, Mahjong & Cards)

If anyone knows of other places where adults can learn how to play chess, let us know, would ya?

Can you sum up Tampa in a nutshell? What is the city like politically, socially, etc.? Is it forward thinking? What’s the housing situation like? City planning? Public transportation? Traffic? If you were explaining Tampa to someone who you wanted to move there, what would you tell them?

My family lives in Lithia; I live in Seattle and have been a lifelong Northwesterner. I have an impression of the Tampa area, but I believe there is much more to it than what I’ve seen. All I’ve seen is from my family’s point of view. (I’ve seen urban sprawl, McMansions, gated communities, teens driving Hummers, and lots and lots of shopping malls.) But out of the corner of my eye, I’ve seen some things that lead me to believe Tampa might be a great city. Do Tell!!!

Give us your nutshell description of Tampa in the comments.

Ok let’s see if I can jog the memory of some Tampa people.

I am looking for the name or location of a park in the Tampa area from the late 60’s to very early 70’s.

I remember as a small child being at a picnic or gathering at a park on the Hillsborough River. Very possibly could have been a cook out for the American Legion. Anyway, the park had these small round raised stone ponds with troughs running between them. I can remember to this day being totally fascinated by the ponds and the little fish in them. But I cannot remember exactly where I was. Does anyone have a clue what park I was at?

I know that Kiley Park in downtown Tampa had raised troughs with running water, but I don’t recall any fish being inside them. Not to mention that Kiley Park did not exist as that in the early 1970’s…

It sounds like something that may have been at Lowry Park. Do any of you have any ideas?

Hi, I have a question to ask.

Do you use a service to spray/fertilize your lawn? If so, do you like them? And if you don’t mind, how much does it cost per visit? And of course, what is the company’s name. Any other details or information would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve been a ChemLawn customer in the past, but they piss me off to no end. So I’d like to avoid them if at all possible.

Thank you in advance,
Jeff

Well, Jeff, I do have a “lawn,” but there’s really not much “grass” in it. Oh, the front is passable, and is green a good 60% of the time, while the back yard is sand, dead weeds, live weeds, and more dead weeds. Or rather, they play dead and come back to life just after a rain. The grass stays dead.

The service I use is called “yes, dear, I’ll finally get around to mowing today – maybe.” Obviously, you want a better solution. But I just don’t know.

Do any of you readers use a lawn service? Would you recommend them? Are they local or chain/franchise? Leave us a comment, and maybe eventually I can get some grass to grow in the back yard.