Tampa's Ybor City: Cigars, Chickens and Charm

Although I’ve been living in the Tampa Bay area for almost two years, I just visited Ybor City for the first time this weekend. Ybor City is an historic neighborhood a bit northeast of downtown Tampa.

From Belfast, Maine to Hollywood, Florida, I love cute, historic downtown areas. Here in Florida, and probably other sunny places, there have been attempts to create outdoor malls that mimic the feel of a vibrant downtown.  Although I love CityPlace in West Palm Beach, to me, a good downtown has some history.

Ybor does have an outdoor mall area called “Centro,” with a Muvico, an Improv, and many restaurants. Centro blends effortlessly into the historic area. Centro also boasts a stop on TECO Line, Tampa’s electric streetcar transportation system.

Named after a cigar manufacturer, Ybor City was founded in the 1880s. For more than fifty years, immigrants from Spain, Cuba and Italy lived and worked there together, primarily in the cigar industry.

Today, Ybor City is recovering from the urban blight that has claimed so many once-prosperous neighborhoods.

The afternoon I visited, I met friends at the Blind Tiger, a coffee shop in a building that was once a speakeasy.  In the park was a festival honoring the Cuban sandwich.

Of all the new things I have discovered since moving to Florida, the Cuban sandwich is perhaps the most disappointing. It contains a pickle, and very little else worth mentioning.  The Cuban Sandwich Festival, however, was a lot of fun.

One look at Ybor City’s website will tell you there is always something happening here. Mediterranean food, art galleries, museums, shops and nightclubs line the colorful streets. Live music drifts from courtyards and open-air stages, even in the afternoon.

The rich culture of Ybor City is evident in it’s architecture and its museums. The part of the Ybor City vibe I didn’t expect was the chickens! In the convenient parking lots were colorful roosters and chickens, obviously at home in the city streets.

While so much of Florida is jokingly called “God’s Waiting Room,” Ybor City is youthful. Co-working opportunities and open mics provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and artists.

If you are interested in art, culture, history, food or fun, Ybor City has everything you might want, and chickens, too!

Dancing with Daleks: Time Lord Fest in Tampa

This Sunday I met a mechanical dog, danced with some Daleks and hung out with the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. I purchased an original t-shirt (“Optimus Time”) from the artist himself, met some authors, and attended a costume contest judged by Robert Allsopp, prop designer for both the classic and new Dr. Who.

I did all this in a bizarre storefront event venue in a Tampa shopping plaza. The neighboring bar (sporting a sign that said “Welcome, Time Lords”) and the Mr. Empanada were happy to serve the motley crew of Doctors, Companions, Tardis’ and Daleks, whose cleverly decorated vehicles filled the plaza parking lot. Inside the venue, fans of BBC’s “Dr. Who” eschewed the empanadas for fish sticks and custard, fish and chips and “Hot K-9s.”

The whole scene reminded me of Grateful Dead tour in the 1980s.  All of a sudden, a freaky group of fans in weird clothes with unusual bumper stickers can bring magic to the most mundane of places.

Where was I? It was Ken Spivey’s “Time Lord Fest 2014,” of course.

The venue, Tampa’s Event Factory, was a fanciful and surreal place to hold such a timey-wimey event.  Behind the strip mall doors is a glittery, Styrofoam-looking medieval castle resplendent in fairy lights and bountiful fake flowers. There is an enchanted forest, a Camelot-style courtyard and many sumptuous ballrooms. One might find it either cheesy or breathtaking, but one would have to admit the kitsch added to the ambiance of Time Lord Fest.

One of the things I love about Dr. Who is its diverse audience. Because Dr. Who is a fifty-year old institution; the Doctor has fans of all ages. Dr. Who, and its spinoff, Torchwood, both reflect real inclusivity without being preachy.

That inclusivity showed itself in some of the cosplay. There were recognizable Doctors and Captain Jacks wearing skirts, and folks of all ethnicities playing people of many species. The youngest Tardis I saw was three months old; the oldest was much older than I am.

There were an impressive number of panel discussions and presentations. I especially enjoyed the guest of honor, Robert Allsopp. I was a bit disappointed with the panel discussion of “Supernatural and Occult Elements in Dr. Who.”

The panelists were personable, intelligent and interesting. Two of the three panelists were horror writers. For them, supernatural and occult elements are tools for creating horror stories and nothing more. The discussion may have gotten more informative. I left; frustrated that is was about “scary” storylines and not the occult elements in Dr. Who at all.

I was hoping to hear about true occult symbols and themes used in Dr Who, such as the tarot reading received by the Seventh Doctor. Next years’ Time Lord Fest could use a real occultist who also happens to be a Whovian. I can tell you for sure we exist.

It feels weird for me to be such a fan of a TV show. I don’t even watch broadcast TV! I have often accused big media companies of taking creativity out of the hands of common people and giving it only to the select few. Yet Time Lord Fest was an awesome display of individual and original creativity. Dr. Who, and the rest of fandom, inspires costumes, music, stories and art. Time Lord Fest wasn’t just about a TV show, it was a celebration of art and creativity.

I worry sometimes about the thin line between fan art and copyright infringement. On the other hand, I was thrilled to see so many people inspired by fifty years of Dr. Who.

The final events of the day included a performance by the Ken Spivey Band. The interesting thing about this three-person line-up is they have some actual and impressive musical cred.

I love that the Ken Spivey Band plays “Time Lord Rock,” and that “Time Lord Rock,” or “Trock,” is an actual genre.  I would love to hear more songs inspired by Dr. Who.

The Dalek Dance was one of my favorite moments of Time Lord Fest.

Next year, I’ll come in costume. For the final event, I’d like to see fewer chairs, and more dancing; because if you have a chance to dance with Time Lords, Daleks and other aliens, you definitely should.

Awesome Breakfast in Tampa!

I love going out for breakfast, but I don’t really like eggs, or most standard American breakfast food.

Thank goodness we found Brunchie’s!

Conveniently located on Dale Mabry in Carrollwood, Brunchie’s serves breakfast and lunch. Their extensive menu is a delight to read, but it might take some time to make a choice!

Brunchie’s has plenty of healthy options that include some vegan and gluten-free fare. They also have some unusual dishes for culinary adventurers, like “duck bacon.”  Brunchie’s offers all sorts of eggs benedict dishes and pancake and waffle dishes for those who want a treat. I appreciate niceties like real maple syrup, and an assortment of teas - Brunchies has all that and more.

This restaurant gets busy, especially on a Sunday morning. Get there early, or be prepared to wait. Since there is no place like Brunchie’s anywhere, it is probably worth the wait.

Skipper’s Smokehouse

I have been to my share of restaurants, nightclubs and cafes in many parts of the world. This is why it is no small thing when I say that Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa, FL is by far the coolest, most unique establishment I have ever visited.

Skipper’s is a fish-shack sort of a restaurant and bar. The only food I have eaten there so far is one deep-fried mushroom, which was awesome. I assume I will try a meal there before too long.

Skipper’s has many small buildings that connect one to another, leaving an open-air area in the middle, which is the music venue. There are huge trees that seem to be incorporated into the structures and provide something of a ceiling for the music venue. I would probably choose not to see a band in the rain.

The way it is set up you can have a meal and hear the music without paying the cover for the band, but if you want to be in front of the band and on the dance floor, you pay the seven dollar cover.

The prices, overall, seem very reasonable – especially after five years in South Florida where everything is overpriced.

I was at Skipper’s last Thursday to get my Grateful Dead fix. Every Thursday is Grateful Dead night at Skippers, featuring Uncle John’s Band. Yes, they rock.

One of the things that makes Skipper’s so unusual is that they have a live band every night of the week. I haven’t known a club to do this since Toad’s Place in New Haven before Connecticut raised the drinking age to 21.

Skipper’s is decorated in graffiti art. Even the (clean) women’s room has inspirational graffiti scrawled in the stalls.

One of the oddest (and most fun) thing I noticed at Skippers were a rack of guest hoops. Yes, if you want to hoop to the music, go for it.

The scene Thursday night was tremendously cool. Under the canopy of trees and stars children, young adults and senior citizens danced together. Vendors in the back sold tie dyes and jewelry. People watched the band while munching on fish, fries and wings.

All I can say is I can’t wait for next Thursday.