Tampa's Dog Park Extraordinaire

This is one of Tampa's new dog parks that are a treat for dog and dog owner alike. This one in downtown's Curtis Hixon Park in front of the Tampa Museum of Art has a shaded area, running water, artificial turf (a bit hot for the pooch when the temp rises) and lots of cool things for big and little dogs to explore. Right on the Hillsborough River, it is a popular and fun place to bring fido.

Eames Rocking Chair for Tiny Rear-Ends

This is a miniature verison of a “RAR” rocking chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950. The actual rocker, constructed of fiberglass, steel and birch wood, was manufactured by Zenith Plastics Company, and distributed by the Herman Miller Furniture Company. This very small copy, 1/6 scale, is just 4.5 inches tall. The attention to detail is jaw-dropping. Each rocker is carefully hand assembled and custom built right down to the miniature screws and hand woven fabrics. The attention to detail is incredible. The cost of an original 60+ year-old Eames RAR rocker is about $3,500; the museum gift shop has several of the miniatures for sale and this one will set you back $170. A bargain!!

You can see an original right now at A Hundred Years - A Hundred Chairs. Masterworks from the Vitra Design Museum, the current exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art. (Click HERE to visit online.) Plastic, wood, metal, leather and lots of great plastic creations fill the gallery. The rocker looks delicate but is as soild as a rock[er]!!


The wall displays feature drawings, sketches, ads and brochures that help educate and guide you through the interesting history. All of them are on loan from the Vitra Design Museum located in Weil am Rhein, Germany (to visit Vitra click HERE). The museum holds the estates of designers like Charles and Ray Eames, and the main building was designed by architect Frank Gehry. This exhibit, up until September 16th, is well worth seeing.

What Are We Seeing?

Can you spot the moorish-style minarets of the Tampa Bay Hotel, today's University of Tampa. This view across the Hillsborough River was taken from the open balcony of the Tampa Museum of Art.

PUNCH Boxing: A Fit Body Without The Fight

Hiden away on the street just south of Kennedy Boulevard, near the University of Tampa and east of Mise en Place Restaurant, PUNCH is a popular fitness regimen. Quoting from their website HERE: "PUNCH Boxing for Fitness mirrors an actual boxers training regimen with three minute rounds separated by one minute breaks BUT without the fight. Utilizing heavy bags, gloves, jump ropes, shadow boxing, speed bags, stretching, all of this together with a high intense AB workout is guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life! The workouts build cardio endurance and muscle tone. The concept is unique in that it teaches proper stance and punching form while also offering techniques for a full body workout. Classes are taught in a group setting to boost participation and intensity. Our goal is to get you a boxers athletic body without the fight."

Life's Good At Channelside! Is He Staring At Me?

The shops and restaurants at Channelside Bay Plaza in Tampa's Channel District were busy today. The storms and heavy wind and rain of last week are all but forgotten as we return to our gorgeous blue skies and temps in the mid 80s. Delightful. Is this little fellow staring at the man with the camera?? To visit Channelside Bay Plaza online click HERE.

Winged Warrier Slays Passing Traffic

Name the Fresh Fruits and Veggies Market (Plus Clothing Donations)

Tropical Storm Waves Crash The Party

Tropical Storm Debby began to move inland north of Tampa at Cedar Key as the waves she left behind crashed over the seawall along Bayshore Boulevard. Flooding closed the boulevard for almost its entire length yesterday as canoes and kayaks took over from car traffic. Only picture takers and news crews ventured out today to take a look at the unusually high wave action. (Yes, I was soaked from the rain and flooding...the camera kept on ticking!)

Tornado and Hurricane Weather Updates

This is what regular television looks like when the National Weather Service and local stations break in (to the Spanish Grand Prix auto race) with storm warnings and a Tornado Warning for our area. I'm inside to stay dry and relax while the soon-to-be Hurricane Debby builds in strength west of us in the Gulf of Mexico. Local television stations make sure we pay special attention by commandeering our TV set and beeping and blaring warnings. (The red, orange and yellow areas on the map indicate different levels of rain intensity - it's a very wet mess right now.)

Is It Delicious Pizza?

Organic: Eye, Ear, Nose...or not?

One Way to the American Way!

Flat Tires Fixed with Smiles

Over 40 And Not Aging: 1970s Ford Bronco

It's A Cover Up

The School Bell Rings

Intrepid 400 Powered By The Stars and Stripes

A customized, center console, 40-foot Intrepid built specifically for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. Powered by triple Yamaha 300s, they can push this workhorse to 62 mph. Note the custom paint scheme in a graphic wrap featuring a proud bald eagle against the stars and stripes. A magnificent and powerful statement.

Not Messing Around! Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Boat

This Hillsborough County Fire Rescue boat is a 27-foot Vigilant. It’s a pilot house walk-around originally designed for anti-terrorist missions and surveillance…perfect for Tampa’s and the county’s harbor, bays, rivers and channels. Featuring Boston Whaler’s unsinkable Unibond construction, it’s one tough workhorse and vital to its mission in Florida’s waterways. It’s powered by twin 300-hp Mercury outboards. The manufacturer, Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) builds the “safest, longest lasting, most dependable boats for special operations, combat, law enforcement, homeland security, fire/rescue and workboat applications.” Learn more about the Vigilant and Brunswick’s other specialized models HERE.

U. S. Coast Guard Zodiac Rescue Boat

Far Out Space Travelers Welcome

Ain't Got A Clue. Your Guess?

20% Off New Clients

Lush, Florida landscaping: NOT!

American Hot Rod In Primer Gray

Be Prepared to Stop...and WAIT

Tampa's Magnificent Sky

Water Fountain

Florida Girls In Proper Equestrian Attire

These Florida girls really were unloading six horses from a trailer in 80+ degree heat just off the bridge to Anna Maria Island. It was my wife who asked, Where are the saddles? Saddles? I asked. I don't think saddles will help. But look at those incredible horses.

Lazy Florida Living!

Farm Fresh Chicken Coop...Market?

Winged monster in Tampa park

This giant winged monster (see 2009 post HERE) is in Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park along side Garrison Channel in Tampa's downtown. The Dragon Boat races have just ended and the monster was there in tribute and celebration.