Start the vote this weekend! VOTE NOW
For 20 years creative loafing has been presenting the best of the bay. For many of these years, Seminole Heights has been representing on one form or another; Best burger (three coins), Best neighborhood, etc. It’s that time again. This year, they are doing it a bit different and breaking the categories up into 4 group.
- People, Places and Politics
- Food and Drink
- Arts and Entertainment
- Goods and Services
And new this year: When you vote, you can choose to be entered to win one of many great prizes, including tickets to CL’s Best of the Bay party, Serj Tankian at Mahaffey Theater, Reel Terror Film Festival, DVDs, gift certificates from local restaurants and more.
Be sure to vote for your favorite; CLICK HERE TO VOTE
On that note. The weekend forum is open! Until Monday, have a great weekend
Tagged as Creative Loafing, Seminole Heights
Categorized as uncategorized
we have a lot to vote for:
BEST NEW RESTAURANT: Ella’s
Best Bargain Restaurant: Three Coins
Best Pizza: Stephanos, Cappys or Ellas
Best Burger: Ella’s or Three Coins
Best Cuban: Nani’s
Best Seafood: Blue Sea
Best Soul Food: Soul Food Sunday’s
Best Vegetarian: Viitals
Best BBQ: Smokin A’s, Wholly Smokes or Ellas
Best Mexican: El Taconazo
Best Breakfast: Three Coins
Best Brunch: Ella’s
Best Bakery: Viitals or Muriccio’s
Best Drunk Eats: El Taconazo
Best Neighborhood Bar: The Independent
Best Dive Bar: Corner Club
Best Neighborhood: Seminole Heights
Best New Building: Ella’s
Best Local Columnist: Kathy Steel
Best Local Blogger: Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog
Best Park: Rivercrest Park
Best Vintage Clothing Store: Sherry’s Yesterdaze
Best Hair Salon: GingerSnips
Best Gym: Urban Fitness
Be sure that everyone list the names all the same so you don’t get 50 different versions of the same company. This will ensure that all votes count. For example if you vote for Best Neighborhood be sure to vote for “SEMINOLE HEIGHTS” not Old Seminole Heights, OSHNA, OSA, HTNA, Hampton Terrace, South Seminole Heights, Southeast Seminole Heights, Historic Seminole Heights, etc. If everyone votes for the same name all votes will go to the same.
Other ones to be careful are
Sherry’s Yesterdaze (not Sherry’s vintage)
Ella’s or Ella’s Folk Art Cafe
Blog is Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog (Not Big Blue)
Mexan is El Taconazo (not the Taco Bus)
I worked for CL last year and was really hard to determine what votes counted for what nominee. Sometimes we just guessed and hoped we got the writers intention. THe problem is if it is something the system/team was not familiar with they would put a vote for the unknown and it would not count in the overall tally.
#1: Best Salon: Forever Beautiful, Elizabeth Graham, Florida Ave. http://www.foreverbeautiful.us/
Don’t forget to vote for
The Ronda Storms Award for Worst Local Politician: PAM IORIO
For those supporting Bob Buckhorn. I got this email today.
Our Daddy’s 52nd birthday is coming up and we’d love for you all to be there!
When: Tuesday, July 27th
Where:Mise En Place
442 W. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 110
Tampa, Florida 33606
Time: 5:30 – 7:30
R.S.V.P. or purchase advance tickets online by clicking here or replying to this e-mail.
If you wish to just RSVP on-line and pay at the door, please enter the number of guests into the quantity box under tickets (next to the RSVP only – Pay at the door option) and click submit.
Parking is available on Grand Central Avenue.
See you there!
Grace & Colleen Buckhorn
Visit our Website:
Bobs For Jobs!
http://www.bobbuckhorn.com
Eff Forever Beautiful, and Elizabeth Graham.
She tried her best to stop the Independent from opening and lost her a$$ over it.
I, for one, am happy.
6 – not quite the case but whatever floats your boat. I believe she just wanted the same restrictions that were placed on her liquor license to apply to the license for the Independent – kinda like a level playing field……
The Taco Bus has not been El Taconazo for abotu 15 months now.
http://www.tampatacobus.com/2009/04/taco-bus-has-new-name-but-same-great.html
The Taco Bus has not been El Taconazo for about 15 months now.
http://www.tampatacobus.com/2009/04/taco-bus-has-new-name-but-same-great.html
The Taco Bus has not been El Taconazo for about 15 months now.
tampatacobus.com/2009/04/taco-bus-has-new-name-but-same-great.html
I supported Elizabeth. I found it very odd that a bar just a few blocks south could have very different rules. To me it was not fair. I still mourn the loss of the Bistro. There was no food in the area as good as hers. Every single plate was an amazing flavor. To me her problem was service and management. She had some of the dumbest servers I have ever encountered in my life. OMG they were on the verge of painful. Her chefs were always excellent and the quality of food could not be touched. The presentation was spot on. I hope to see her reopen some day.
has anyone ever used 1800petmeds? Were they good? Bad? Would you recommend? My vet continues to get higher and higher!
I have used them to buy flea and heartworm pills. I haven’t had any problems and delivery was super quick.
Sam
the last time I compared pricing, my vet Harris Animal Clinic on Hillsborough was about $2 higher so I just went oevr and got it and was done that day.
10- she won’t reopen. She did not close because she was losing money – she sold because she did not want to be running a restaurant long term – her focus is the salon.
We finally stopped going to Harris. Their prices kept going up and they kept forcing unnecessary test. Last year we left and our new vet was half the cost. Would have love to kept dollars here but could not afford to.
Thumbs-up for both 1800PetMeds & DrsFosterSmith. Regular delivery on both is quick.
Recc going online and check them both out, usually one will be running a special on what I need.
Recently 1800PetsMeds notified me of a credit twrd next purchase based on previous spending
Of the two, 1800Petmeds usually gets my call -the other is my backup.
1800petmeds.com
drsFosterSmith.com
I have visited Forever Beautiful on four different occassions and have never had a quality service. I would love to support a local salon but not if the product is sub par. Twice I had a mani/pedi and my polish bubbled immediately while in the salon. The first time they fixed it immediately and the second time, was told they could fix it but it “would be a while” until she got back to me. I had already been in the salon for over an hour and couldn’t stay. Elizabeth was standing right there the entire time and didn’t say anything. The least I expected was credit towards another service. Nope. My husband went there to get his hair cut. Elizabeth cut his hair but left several time during the cut to answer her cell phone, get a drink, talk to another worker, etc. She barely spoke to my husband during the entire appt. I will continue to drive to South Tampa to get an acceptable salon/spa experience. Maybe since she no longer runs the Bistro she can improve the quality of her salon.
Can anyone recommend a good electrician with experience in our old, plaster-walled homes?
20 Dennis Scruggs – lives on Central in an old house himself. Powerhouse Electric. his cell 690-5135.
Great electrician, Randy Alvarez. 813 317-4843. Replaced the knob and tube in our 1927 house and brought it all up to code. Very thorough and keeps things clean. He can tread the new wire behind the lathe and plaster by drilling a minimal number of holes in the walls. Most of the holes were covered with Spackle. Some holes needed a little more attention, but all in all a great job at a good price. The 2 other contractors I had called quoted higher prices, told me to expect horrendous damage, and we would have to vacate the house for a week, at least.
Alex there are two other places salons in town you should try if you haven’t. One is Ginger Snips which located right next door to Starbucks and they are open on Monday now. The second is Hair Performance which is located at the north bound entrance to 275, instead of getting on the interstate stay to the right and the saloon is right there is a very stylish bungalow.
I know Ginger Snips is a full saloon not sure about Hair Performance, check them out and let us know how your experience is.
Alexis sorry not Alex
There was an article in Todays Tampa Tribune about the high speed rail and some of the “plans” for the hub downtown. One of the plans include creating a welcome feeling under the interstate at Franklin street. Maybe they should come look under the instate at Hillsborough and 275. Here neighbors and Big Blue worked so hard to have the fence removed and create a more welcoming entrance. Instead FDOT moved the fence, sort of, and sprayed killer on the weeds. now it has a bunch of dead weeds 2 feet tall coming out of the concrete. Much of the garbage that had collected over the years still sits along the sidewalks. I have never seen such shoddy work or a lack of pride in their work. My husband says that each job within the state requires different people. So those that removed the fence don’t get paid to pick up the garbage so they dont, and those who get paid to pick up the garbage don’t get paid to remove the weeds, and those who are paid to spray weeds don’t get paid to remove them and so on. All I can say is it does look slightly better but still has a way to go.
I would like to see if other neighbors would be willing to volunteer a Saturday morning to go up there and complete the job correctly. We could spend a few hours cleaning, scraping the weeds from the concrete and possible putting in some landscaping. I would be willing to help organize if others would be willing to volunteer some time.
I did read article where Tribune blasted Kevin White. On Friday they had an article that White had most money. It also pointed out that most of his were large donations. I am going Goddard. I am sick of Career politicians. I want new. Miller has been around forever as has his wife.
There was an article also about Publix versus Sweetbay. I used to shop for my family exclusively at our little Publix. But since the Sweetbay on MLK remodeled it is pretty nice. The Tampa Tribune had an article about pricing Sweetbay versus Publix. Every single week Sweetbay won for lowest pricing. I switched a while back after getting very frustrated with the Publix produce selection, or lack thereof. If they did have a particular produce it was never ripe. You would have to shop days in advance if you ever wanted to eat the produce. Sweetbay has excellent produce selection and is always ripe and tasty. My only grip with Sweetbay is they don’t enforce parking so they always have the cars parked in the fire lanes. They have security so you think they would stand out front and have people move their cars. Over the past few months they have really improved their seafood department as well. If you haven’t tried them recently you need to venture down to check them out.
Count me in 24..Hopefully new faces will turn up and participate.
I have gone to Hair Performance for the last year and am very pleased with the service.
13, 14, 15 Why not get a discount AND support a local effort to lower euthanasia in YOUR county. Buy your meds at ACT, Animal Coalition of Tampa: actampa(dot)com
They ship, have specials, you can also go pick up in South Tampa. You will help support their low cost, high volume Spay/Neuter clinic. You are also welcome to volunteer there.
As for vet care, Avalon Hospital, next to Stephano’s Pizza on Florida is amazing. Dr. Roy is excellent and the pricing is reasonable. They have late hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, closed Thursday, open on Saturday till 2. I have been going there for 30 years now. First it was Dr. Hall, then Dr. Ghaboor and now Dr. Roy. Many years ago, when I had no money, Dr. Ghaboor took in my cat and treated it for a week for free. At Avalon, your pet comes first.
27 Serious? I must have gone into a different Sweetbay than you do. Employee attitude out the yingyang and overall dirty is my impression. Publix works for me every time.
Local electrician, Manny Gutierrez. Lives in SH and works on old homes, has replaced lots of knob and tube. Is fair, honest and reasonably priced. 813.727.9568 or mfgutierrez@tampabay.rr.com. Lots of local references available.
NEIGHBORS BEWARE: We always hear that TPD does not have the man power or patrol cars to better serve our neighborhood with regards to drugs and prostitution. This morning as I was taking the kids to school, they have dozens of officers conducting speed traps at Florida and Hillsborough. They are lined up hiding behind the White Brick Building on the SE corner and as cars come down Hillsborough they are pulling them over in mass. Watch your speed! Spread the word!
I guess its the end of the month and they have a lot of quotas to meet since the manhunt took so many offices off task for a week. I just gassed up at circle K. You can see a steady stream of motorcycle cops, unmarked cars as well as patrol cars doing laps up the back. Literally one ever 30 seconds. It’s ridiculous. Is there no real crime in the city? They are shooting out of the alley. Someone will get hit if not careful. They need to put about half those officers on the quad swad and help rid this hell hole of drugs.
#25- I’d like to donate a big rose bush and some crotons ,if you need them. Of course you and your volunteers will have to dig them and move them to the interstate site. What a great idea.
I had no idea Big Blue was responsible for this. Thanks for all your hard work.
They all just took off and headed out in a steady line. I guess their shift just ended.
TECO’s Tree butchers came by and slaughtered the trees along the front of the house. In doing so they trampled all of the landscaping in the flower beds. Has anyone else had this problem?
37 you need to call TECO at 223-0800. Good luck getting someone live on the phone. You will need to go through about 6 or 8 layers of automation which is very frustrating. You can fight to make them replace or pay for the damaged plants.
37 – You should also call Kathy Beck at the city’s Parks Dept. In addition to leaving doorhangers on residences, TECO is supposed to inform her office of streets where they will be cutting so that the city can insure that the cuts are made in the least intrusive manner. Kathy’s contact info is:
Kathy Beck
Natural Resource Coordinator
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
kathy.beck@tampagov.net
813 – 274-5158
37 if those beds are in the right of way then it is not going to be worth your time to complain to TECO.
Luckily, they aren’t in the right-of-way. I have already spoken with TECO and they have opened a claim for the flowerbeds as well as the cutting of half of the tree. I am not sure what kind of training these trimmers. With ours it looks like they split the tree in half cutting only half of the tree off. I am concerned that in a storm the weight would make it much easier to fall over.
Wow, TECO tree cutting. That was prez Jeff’s big issue. Guess he made a big dent in the problem. He was as serious in that effort as he was being a Than rep. I’ll guess he must have made at least 2 or 3 of the monthly meetings in the last year and a half. Guess that’s why they replaced and kicked out Randy as THAN rep, they thought they would replace him with someone more competant.
#42, Jeff? Randy? Must be past TECO management. Sounds like an issue with leadership of TECO. Who is now in charge of their tree trimming efforts since Jeff and Randy are no longer in charge (and “Than”?)? We need to talk with TECO. I hope ya’ll can contact TECO about the tree trimming issue if those guys are no longer with TECO. Sounds like they are running rampant butchering our trees.
The city, in partnership with THAN, will be starting a tree-watch program along the lines of neighborhood watch. Hopefully, this will create procedures so that inappropriate and illegal tree trimming/removal activities will be responded to on an expidited basis.
44 any time TECO tree trimming happens it is inappropriate and illegal. Why don’t you just get their trimming schedule and call the city.
The city had their chance when the TECO franchise agreement was signed but they backed down in the best interest of TECO and not the city so why would their tree-watch program have any impact?
45 – There is already a procedure in place for TECO to inform the city of their trimming schedule. When there are issues with the TECO trimming the city takes action to hopefully prevent miscues in the future. Unfortunately, as noted by 46, at this point the city has very little leverage over TECO. You can blame the Mayor for that. When asked what leverage she would have after the city signed the franchise agreement, she stated, and I quote, “I have been assured by the highest levels of TECO management that they will work with the city to resolve any issues.” When those in the room laughed at this statement, she got defensive and took offense (and trust me, you don’t want to be in the room when Iorio takes offense). But in the end she got her agreement. And in the end those questioning her judgement regarding TECO were proved correct. It was a hollow victory, to say the least.
42 – It’s good to see the Starbucks crew are still using every opportunity to spread the hate. Hater’s gonna hate.
#48. This is not hate. It is the simple and completely accurate truth.
48 – It’s unfortunate to see the pot-luck crew still living with their heads in the sand.
#25- I went ahead and dug up that big bushy rose bush for the project that you and your volunteers are putting together. What should I do with it? Are you putting your landscaping in this Saturday? It’ll look so perty down at that ugly Interstate. I haven’t heard anything from your hard working Big Blue activists. You’re the best, but what do I do with the bush?
51- I would suggest you put it in a pot where it can be watered for several months while the details are worked out or you can offer it to a neighbor.
Just voted in the Poll. Go Big Blue.