February 12, 2009 If You Can't Read This, Please Keep Reading...

If you are at Burger King and you find yourself needing a picture menu, how exactly is this sign going to help you?

January 30, 2009 The Naked Cowboy Exposed

Tampa was fortunate enough during Super Bowl week to score a visit from one cool guy, the Naked Cowboy. And by cool, I mean really cold, since he was the only cat standing around in his tighty-whities on this chilly January night. Chilly for us Floridians, but probably pretty comfortable for this New York boy. His theme song, "I'm the Naked Cowboy" is Grammy worthy, and the fact that he insists that you grab his tushy, while he is grabbing yours, is a nice bonus. One thing you may not know about him: he is also an ordained minister, and performs marriages in Times Square for as little as $500. 

February 5, 2009 A Fairly Good Combination

It's that time again... The 2009 Florida State Fair has arrived. Personally, this is one of my favorite times of the year (second only to the Hudson Beach Snail Festival). I mean, where else can mullets, midgets, "as seen on TV" gimmicks, and deep fried everything-under-the-sun exist is such harmony?

And if the question of "what will be this year's most absurd, artery-clogging fair food" has been keeping you awake at night since last March, like it has me... then you may want to try laying off the coffee before bedtime. 

What WILL the 2009 tasty treat be? Could anything be better than a fried Oreo, powdered up like a beignet? And, after all, what IS there left to fry...we've already seen the fried Twinkie, the fried PB&J Uncrustable, fried cookie dough, fried Pepsi, a fried Snickers bar and Reese's PB Cup.... what could possibly top these items? A fried margarita, maybe? 

Surprisingly, this year's delight isn't fried at all (sorta)...(insert drumroll) The 2009 most scrumptiously obnoxious fair treat is...

Bacon Dipped in Chocolate! (insert sound of angels singing)

Now I have to admit, I love bacon almost as much as I love chocolate... so this news did not make me grimace as it has with almost everyone else I know. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure how I lived this long without trying it (or maybe I lived this long because I didn't try it...) Regardless, this mouth-watering, taste sensation of a treat is deliciously wonderful, and you should definitely try it before writing it off as something that could, in theory, kill you on the spot.

You can thank the really nice folks at Mavric's Chocolate Barn located just inside Gate 2, for introducing us to this amazing treat. One order is $2.50. They have other wonderful chocolate creations there, as well.

That's all for now...I'm off to my cardiologist!

January 12, 2009 Lights on Tampa

"Lights on Tampa is a public/private partnership that combines Tampa's commitment to the arts, technology, and education with excellence and free access. This biennial event puts the spotlight on Tampa through outdoor installations by major contemporary artists created from both "low" and "high" tech materials."

There is no better time to take a walk around Tampa at night then right now. Lights on Tampa will run through February 1st.

To print a map of the installations, click here.

To interact with the Tampa Public Mood Ring installation, click here.

Revamp Fort Brooke 

Ft. Brooke Parking Garage, South Facade

Ecstatic City (Tampa)

Tampa Convention Center and adjacent locations

Slurb

St. Pete Times Forum (Parking Garage, East Facade)