Bob Murphy wrote:
> Oh, lordy. Kakki in Florida? I think maybe she's getting a >little bit too
proactive about this whole recount thing...
Ha! I'm back on the left coast after a demanding but very enjoyable biz
trip to Tampa. I'd never really seen much of Florida outside of stopping
over in the Miami airport a couple of times. I was completely wide-eyed and
enchanted with both Tampa and St. Petersburg - ahhh. It was very gorgeous,
clean, and the weather was stunning. These cities are beautiful. My high
point, of course, was getting to hook up with Jerry Notaro last night! I
drove across that lonnn-g causeway to St. Pete listening to incredible
Celtic music on 88.5 - Tampa's answer to L.A.'s KCRW - and landed at Jerry's
fantastic art-filled tropical abode that would be yet another PERFECT
locale for a Jonifest ;-) Jerry took me on a tour of the city and I was
gaga at every turn. So many neighborhoods and sections of the town with an
eclectic mix of architecture from the turn of the century to the 50s has
been renovated and restored and is alive and thriving. There are wonderful
cafes, performance places, art galleries and interesting shops everywhere.
We had a great dinner at a wonderful little cafe with an outdoor patio that
reminded me a bit of Les Deux Cafes Florida Beach style. It was all
wonderful and the clean air and great company did me good. I'm sorry I did
not have more time there to party more with Jerry and see Jimmy and Ed, and
I'm also sorry I didn't realize until too late that Maurice also lives close
by! Ah well, there's always a chance I might have to return for work, so
maybe next time. What a nice area - wow. I also forayed over to Ybor City,
a small area originally settled by Spanish and Cuban immigrants which has
been restored and is a hot spot in Tampa. Lots of cigar shops and bars,
live jazz and blues, art and great restaurants. It reminded me of a
mini-Nawlins. I found a great shop there where I dropped the bulk of my
tourist dollars on martini glasses, and martini themed-napkins, Christmas
cards and ornaments - ah, the mother lode! ;-D
Thanks again to Jerry and let's start planning that Fest, eh?
;-)
Kakki
