Davis Islands Today

Bayshore Gardens
by Vicki Pollyea

As one drives through any neighborhood these days, the number of dueling political signs is simply amazing. Stories of stolen or destroyed signs are heard from all sides of the political spectrum. During this period of intense national political debate, emotions have been running hotter than I ever remember.

Expression of one’s opinion opens that person to attacks. Respectful political discourse seems to be even less common in this election. Perhaps it is due to the economic stress so many are experiencing, or perhaps it is the fatigue of such long campaigns. Either way, it seems that we are no longer able to engage in respectful political discussions.

It seems important to remember during this politically divisive time that well-meaning citizens often differ on the great questions that confront our nation. But we must remember that it is an important part of being an American; expressing one’s opinions while respecting those of others.

The primary reality is that when we wake up on Wednesday, November 5 – no matter who wins this election – we will still be members of our community who live and work with our neighbors. I look forward to the days after the election when we can again be respectful of our differing views but join together to work on protecting our community, our schools, our neighborhoods, and our city.

Especially if these financial times continue, working together to enhance our neighborhoods and investing in our own community are going to be very important. Whether it is participating in a coastal cleanup, volunteering at a school, or assisting with your neighborhood association – your time, energy and positive efforts working together are going to be even more vital in the future.

I look forward to that day in November when the snipe signs are down, we can again be neighborly and work together for the good of our neighborhoods and city.

In Community,
Vicki Pollyea

Restaurant Review
by Vanessa Daniel

Settled in a nearly 90-year-old-building in the historic South Tampa, you will find a new restaurant and bar appropriately titled “The Bungalow.”

Built in 1919, the former home is as comfortable a place as you will find in any Tampa establishment. On my first visit to the new establishment in the old building, we were immediately welcomed by friendly waiters, and seated in the main dining room. This room included new classic-looking wood floors and familiar brick walls which help replicate the ambiance of dining in your own home.

The casual atmosphere at the place has already proven itself to loyal patrons as the place to go for inimitable Florida cuisine with friends or family, and is also a great setting for a couple of beers while watching your favorite college football game on one of the many plasma TVs in the bar.

We pulled out the menu, which owner Andy Alvarez teamed up with the talented Chef Frank (who previously studied under the executive chef at the Harbour Island renowned restaurant Café Dufrain) to create a very reasonably priced layout of items which augment a heavy Caribbean and local influence. Many entrees boast fresh seafood options such as their cilantro crusted ahi tuna ($14.95) – served rare and drizzled in an avocado lime cream sauce; or their seafood fra diablo ($15.95) – mahi, grouper, and shrimp sautéed in garlic and wine and tossed in a spicy marinara sauce served over linguini.

We first contemplated appetizers such as Guinness gator bites ($7.95) which are served deep fried with your choice of bbq or tartar sauce; and their fresh fish tacos ($7.95), but could not pass up the chipotle spiced conch fritters ($6.95) – six large conch fritters, slightly battered and deep fried and composed mostly of conch meat and very little breading. We also sampled the back country gator chowder ($3.50/cup) – a heavy cream based soup with chunks of gator meat, potatoes, bacon, carrots, a hint of Worcester sauce and many other tantalizing seasonings.

The Jerk marinated chicken ($9.95) is a must try entrée – two succulent baked pieces of chicken topped in a Creole mustard honey glaze served on a platter with a medley of grilled vegetables and yucca fries. As if the amount of food on the one dish wasn’t enough to share, we also ordered the traditional English fish & chips. For a chance to taste some of their other side options, we substituted the “chips” for their macaroni and cheese – a delicious blend of 4 white cheeses served creamy style in a steaming hot crock. But be sure to leave room in your belly so you can try one of their daily dessert options such as their key lime sponge cake or their velvety crème brûlée.

We applaud owners Andy Alvarez, Peter Alvarez, and Ryan Quinn and manager Bryce Quinn on choosing a non-traditional style restaurant which has brought even more variety to the already diverse South Tampa neighborhood.

As Andy says, “The Bungalow takes an ordinary restaurant setting and produces an environment where anyone can unwind after a long day at work, dine over lunch with business partners, or let loose on the weekend watching a game or having some drinks with friends.”

With plans to open an outside deck within the next few weeks, you can also list The Bungalow as a spot to dine al fresco in the cool fall breeze.

Visit The Bungalow at 2202 W Kennedy Blvd.
www.thebungalowtampa.com

Galleries and Studios open their doors for extended hours on the First Saturday of every month.

Meet local artists and start your holiday shopping early by touring Historic Ybor City’s diverse art scene Saturday, November 1st, 2008, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m., at the first Saturday Ybor ARTWALK.

Seventeen participating venues offer exciting new gallery displays and opportunities to visit working artist studios along 7th Av. In addition to the free gallery and studio offerings, round out your cultural afternoon with a visit to the Frank V. Giunta Museum at the Italian Club and the Ybor State Museum, or stay late for a wonderful dining experience at one of Ybor City’s many fine restaurants.

New this month at the First Saturday ARTWALK: The Ybor Art Colony, an eclectic group of emerging artists celebrates diversity this month with two new artists who recently joined the Colony. The ROMEO Gallery will open a new show titled “Godfather ONE” by nationally recognized artist David O’Keefe, and The Hoffman-Porges Gallery is featuring abstract expressionist works of Tampa artist, John Fitzgerald.

Free parking is available on Ybor’s streets until 9 p.m. and for a small hourly fee in any of the city garages. The ARTWalk Guide can be picked up at any participating gallery or other Historic District venues and shops.
We look forward to your support of the artists who exhibit and sell their work.

On the Street

Whaley’s Plaza

SOHO continues to evolve. The plaza where Whaley’s Market formerly did business now has quite a few vacant spaces, which have been drawing a lot of attention. Several recently expelled Hyde Park Village tenants have been looking at those sports and others in the area.

With sadness, we have to report the closing of Charlie’s Wine Cellar in Whaley’s Plaza. Charlie’s is a story of changing America. Charlie’s was a nice, convenient, neighborhood wine store that simply couldn’t compete with the big chains and big dollar facilities. Their upstairs room was fantastic, but when they tried live music, the big dollar guys from the writers/recording industry came in and wanted fees that were just too large for a small, local place. So the music stopped.

A wide range of wines and tasting events were launched, and had been drawing a good crowd. Then a big discount wine store or two came along and cut prices and provided a selection that was hard to compete with. Charlie’s had recently tried a lunch menu, but couldn’t get it going. And when Whaley’s Market closed, the lack of traffic to the plaza was apparently the final straw. We wish Glynn well in his endeavors. He and Dixon were great fixtures in SOHO.

Hyde Park North

We want to highlight the new Hyde Park North project. Formerly known as West End, this complex will include 340 condos, 79 townhomes, 550 rental apts, and 25,000 square feet of retail space. The development is nearing completion of the first phase. A large part of this project is complete. Sales Manager Mark Campbell indicated that a Grand Opening is going on now, with model spaces open for viewing. Additionally, there is a large model center just north of Kennedy at Rome Avenue. You can also get more information about the project at www.hydeparknorth.com

For more than two years, we have been shouting from the roof tops about the various changes coming immediately North of Kennedy – from the University of Tampa to Armenia Avenue area. In addition to Hyde Park North, you will soon be able to visit a new Starbucks, the Walmart Market, the Bungalow restaurant, and more. And we continue to hear of plans for a lot more over the next few months.

And yes, the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory Project is moving forward, and we expect construction to start in 2009.
Publix’s Greenwise Market Will Not Open In SOHO

The race to see who opens first between the Walmart Family Market on W. Kennedy and the Greenwise Market by Publix at Azeele and Armenia looks like it has been won by the Walmart team. Both stores worked fast to get shelves stocked and ready.

The Walmart Family Market is very clean and extremely spacious. The large aisles feel great and make shopping easy. Meanwhile, the Greenwise Market plans an opening in early November.

SOHO is SOHO

Admittedly we have a parochial attitude about the South Howard Avenue (SOHO) area, but when we noticed the interstate billboards advertising the upcoming Greenwise opening in HYDE PARK, we feel slighted as SOHO residents. SOHO has a clear identity and even the city of Tampa signs (in front of the Sweetbay on Swann) indicate very clearly the difference between SOHO and Hyde Park. But for some reason, Publix/Greenwise doesn’t get it. SOHO residents might wish to shop at Sweetbay since it is in SOHO and Greenwise claims to be in Hyde Park. Or these days, maybe you’ll take a trip to NORTH HYDE PARK, where the Walmart Market is about to open. What do you think?

Paws for Thought

By Jennifer Fadal

It is that time of year again when if you haven’t already, you are searching for that ever so perfect Halloween costume.  You probably have a party or two you plan to attend, so you are busy looking online, creating your own or visiting your local party store for yourself, your kids and yes… even your pet!

I certainly remember driving my mom crazy at age four or five as I desperately wanted to be Wonder Woman and all of the stores were sold out.  I thought my Wonder Woman Underoos would suffice. But alas, I wasn’t allowed out the door!

I digress.

Yes, many folks dress their pets for Halloween which usually is quite comical and whether the pets like it or not, it certainly gives us a good laugh!  Others aren’t quite so involved with pets and Halloween, but whatever your level of participation, please keep the following pet safety tips in mind:

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Wine Tasting is just the first Big Party in Stageworks’ new neighborhood: The Channel District!

Friends of Stageworks are hosting a Wine Tasting on Saturday, November 1 to help raise money to build out donated space for their new theatre at Grand Central at Kennedy.

Wine Design, the Channel District’s wine and gift shop is supplying the wine, and to add to the festive atmosphere there will be entertainment by local favorite Rick y Cona. You know him from Stageworks’ “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and M.A.D. Theatre’s “Bat Boy.” Local restaurant Zelda’s will provide the food and District Design is providing the art work.

Proceeds from the event go toward building the second floor of the theatre to house Stageworks acclaimed Rainbow Tribe Outreach Program for At Risk Youth.

“Stageworks uses theatre to change the lives of children at risk, one by one,” says Anna Brennen, Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Stageworks. “We develop workshops and shows to teach anger management, anti-bullying, empowerment, pride in heritage, AIDS prevention, energy conservation, and much more to youth who are in the juvenile justice system, the Tampa Housing Authority, and at risk schools and neighborhoods. We need a home to work on expanding our programs to meet the need out there as well as have a place to bring the kids to after school, on weekends and during the summer. ”

Mark Alma, Board Member of Grand Central at Kennedy and the Stageworks Board can’t wait for the theatre to open. “I am ready to have entertainment here in the Channel District not only for myself, but to help create the dream of establishing the Channel District as an entertainment district,” says Alma. “And I am especially touched by the Outreach Program because I was an at-risk kid 20 years ago. I wish I had a theatre company to help me along.”

The event will bring together local vendors and dwellers of the Channel District in a community wide event. Local vendors are contributing items to the Silent Auction including Dominique of Rustic Steel, Jill Lifsey of District Design and Frederico and Victoria from Argentine Tango Dance Studio. Surrounding condos such as Seaport Apartments and Grand Central at Kennedy will have displays at the event as well as the architectural drawings of Stageworks’ new theatre to be built at Grand Central at Kennedy.

The event is Saturday, November 1, from 6 to 9pm at the Bayside Building, 1105 E. Twiggs St., at the corner of Twiggs and Meridian. Parking is free. Entry is a $25 donation to the building fund.

Reservations requested at stageworks[at]earthlink.net. For information call event organizer Mark Alma, Stageworks Board Member at 813-484-6160.

Garden Club Green Thumb

by Irene Potter

If there is one negative quality of gardeners, it would be that we tend to invest a great deal of our energy into the future; we’re forever waiting for a seed to sprout, a flower to bloom, or a transplanted clipping to root.

In fact, a good amount of the work we do in the garden has little to do with the here and now, but more to do with what’s coming next season.

Do you find yourself doing this in your day to day life too?

A few days ago while at the Garden Club, one of my club colleagues pointed out that the orange and yellow ixora plants have been stunningly gorgeous this summer! Everywhere they are planted is an explosion of star shaped flowers; how happy they must be to bloom for us!

I sheepishly admitted that I hadn’t actually noticed, and instead had been too caught up in the over abundance of weeds this summer. Have you been caught up with the weeds in your life too?

On a walk through the village this weekend, I noticed a charming purple petunia hanging gingerly onto life in a flower box planter at Estella’s.  All of the other petunias had long since yielded to the August and September sun, but for some reason, this stalwart little plant bloomed in spite of the heat. I overlooked the ghostly remnants of the other plants that hadn’t quite made it, and marveled at nature’s resiliency. Would you choose to persevere when those around you had long ago called it quits?

Life and nature become what we perceive them to be. Planning for the future is a necessary and prudent thing, but not at the expense on missing out on today. There will always be weeds in the garden, but an incredible showing of ixora blooms happens only occasionally.  And in the midst of summer despair, an impetuous purple petunia blooms.

As a society, we focus a great deal of our energies on personal improvement, which tends to focus on pulling the weeds, or removing the thorns. Instead, why don’t we nurture the flowers in our “garden of life”-won’t bigger, stronger blossoms overshadow those weeds?  It wasn’t that long ago, before they became so popular with trendy California chefs, that herbs were considered weeds, too! It is truly what we perceive to be life’s imperfections that make it really interesting.

Come join us at the Davis Islands Garden Club! We’re hosting a seasonal demonstration on Autumn Floral Design with Bess Treadwell on Wednesday, October 1st at 10 a.m. You do not have to be a club member (or even know a club member) to attend!

This month, take a closer look at your own garden-admire those orange ixoras; compliment the white crape myrtles, and just maybe, some of those noxious weeds in your life may just start to wither on their own.

Irene Potter was born and raised on Davis Islands, and is the first vice-president in charge of membership for the Davis Islands Garden Club.  Learn more about the Garden Club at www.digclub.org

PHOTO CAPTION:  Star shaped blooms of an ixora super king