Visit Skywatch Friday to see the beauty and wonders of the world's most magnificent skies. It's always an amazing show and all brought to you by Skywatchers from all over the planet.
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Visit Skywatch Friday to see the beauty and wonders of the world's most magnificent skies. It's always an amazing show and all brought to you by Skywatchers from all over the planet.
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The docks of the Tampa Waterside Marriott Hotel on Garrison Chanel were packed with "go-fast" boats gathered for a "fun run" by the West Coast Powerboat Club of Florida. Headquartered near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, the go-fast boat owners and guests were partying up a storm in Tampa with music, food, drink and lots of good looking people. A blast!! 
Which would you choose? The delightful and fine handling Hunter sailboat or the exceptional Ocean Sportfishing and Cruising Yacht that sits beside her?
73 degrees, light clouds and a brisk breeze. Could January and Tampa's winter weather get any nicer than this?
The sky over our beautiful city is still solid gray and wintry-looking. Although it's not cold at all (I hate looking at that national weather map and seeing how cold other parts of the country are today), it does look though as if it'll snow at any minute. Notice that every slip has a boat snugly tied up and covered against the "nasty" winter day. Even a scene like this one with the water, yachts and the homes and buildings on Harbour Island has a dreary, sullen look without the glorious, blazing sunshine.
The Tampa Riverwalk beckons bikers, hikers and folks out for a quiet evening stroll through Contanchobee Fort Brooke Park. The dock juts out into Garrison Channel and closes the distance to Harbour Island and some very fine restaurants. That's Amore is on the left side of the circle - the palms encirled with the festive lights mark the circle - and over the bow of the boat on the right side is Cafe Dufrain. I recommend them both and yes, you could tie your boat up and have dinner inside or outside on their patios. After, enjoy coffee and desert while watching the lights of Tampa's skyline. Tonight was especially quiet on the water and the Riverwalk was very inviting.
I was losing the light fast as the sun slid down the face of the buildings and cast shadows across the still water. Lights were coming on at The Shops of Harbour Island on the right and the Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown. In the center is the bridge to the island. The night air was humid but not a breath of wind even caused a ripple on the water.
Another hot and
humid day comes to an end as evening slowly becomes night along Tampa's waterfront. The lights have come up along the Tampa Riverwalk and are just beginning to glow on the bridge to Harbour Island. Diners are enjoying the waterfront patio at Jackson's Bistro at Knight's Point and the yacht Mango Man, out of Tierra Verde, is at its dock for the night. All is well.
Can you make out the sweet little lighthouse on the right? It stands oh so proudly but wishes this view didn't shout industrial park. It would seem that it is engulfed by equipment and is smack in the middle of a less than ideal location. Well, the camera can certainly deceive, even lie to us at times. Right? Let me tell you a bit about what seems to be the lighthouse's unfortunate and less than desirable location. First, it is not sitting smack in the midst of ship repair cranes, boat lifts, fuel tanks and mechanical equipment of every size and description. It's actually on its own narrow point of land at the tip of one of Tampa's most desirable pieces of real estate - Harbour Island. (Yes, I've shown small parts of the island in previous posts and written about its excellent views of the city and superb location. The island can boast of two really good restaurants that I recommend Cafe Dufrains and That's Amore Italian.) The lighthouse - and I would guess its owners have given it a name - is a special architectural folly, if you will, at the home of one of Tampa's most generous families, the Baileys, widely known for their philanthropy through the Bailey Foundation. The 13,000 square foot home they designed and had built sits on the tip of the island in a gated section called The Pointe. It's an exclusive section of home owners who enjoy the proximity to Tampa's downtown, its exclusive address, and walled and gated security. Not only does their exquisite home feature the lighthouse but its own 100,000-gallon swimming pool. The entire home was said to cost between $4-million and $6-million. Harbour Island, which used to be a very totally forgettable eyesore so close to downtown, a dusty, dirty island of railroad tracks and loading docks for phosphate, was transformed (not overnight) into a wealth of homes, condos, apartments, shops and amenities such as restaurants, bars and office buildings. All of this within walking distance of downtown. Two bridges connect the city to the island but it remains a world unto itself. Jogging trails, playground, boat docks and lush landscaping announce you've arrived in a bit of paradise. From its earliest start as a planned development in 1971, it has gone through many lives and grand ideas to arrive at the totally transformed and highly desirable address it is today. When you look at the lighthouse, all of the other things you see are across Sparkman Channel, a very wide, 40 foot+ deep channel which is directly accessible from the Gulf of Mexico. Once a ship slides under the 175 foot height of the Skyway Bridge, they enter Tampa Bay. Many ships are headed for the lighthouse's neighbor, Tampa Ship, LLC, just across the channel. It has got to be fun to watch the traffic right in your backyard. A company which has a long history in Tampa, Tampa Ship employs over 500 men and women in building, inspecting and repairing ships of almost any size. The really huge lifts to the left of the lighthouse and building are for accommodating ships of up to 907 feet...three times the length of an American football field. The building is 600 feet long and 145 feet wide and 115 feet high - that can contain a mighty big ship. The lifts can handle over 800 tons. So, is the dear lighthouse surrounded by ruffians and tough characters. Yes and no. Just a leap across the channel is a giant ship repair facility. To the other side across Seddon Channel is Davis Islands, a beautiful place to live. The lighthouse celebrates two worlds. A special companion, a folly of sorts, to a multi-million dollar home. Its other world? What every lighthouse has always been asked to do. Shine its beacon for ships and sailors looking for land, comfort and safe passage. It excels in every respect. Now, what is its name?
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What is one to do when it rains every day? I know many of our friends in other countries, and in a beautiful city such as Seattle, Washington, can go on and on with long lists of dozens of rainy day activities. They deal with it nearly year-round. Me? It's Tampa. Florida. The Sunshine State. Where bright blue skies and oppressive heat are the daily norm. But the rain? I can well remember a morning in Venice, trying to cross the bridge and visit Peggy Guggenheim's house, and enjoy her incredible collection of modern art. The rain soaked walkways and passageways from St. Mark's were so under water that ankle deep puddles, torn umbrellas and pants soaked to the knee were the result. But, here's the kicker, my photos as we crossed the Ponte dell' Accademia over the canal to the buildings, boats and people were outstanding. The clarity. The colors. So unbelievable and memorable. Some of my best ever. Now, the equipment (and I) were soaked but the results that day from the bridge work because of the weather. Rainy gray skies are often the perfect measurable neutral gray which result in excellent color fidelity. The brilliance of the colors isn't affected by the color of the sky. Now please understand, I am not complaining about our rain. We need it so bad. But the lack of sunshine, constant drizzling and thunderstorms do get to your mood. Is it blue, melancholy, depressing? Or contemplative and good for the mind and soul to not be ravished to a crisp by the heat and sun every minute of the day. The constant downpours over the past several days mean a light jacket and umbrella are at hand, and in use. This evening I met a friend for drinks at a terrific restaurant on the water. I darted in and out parking the car and was clearly reminded of making my way to Peggy's house in Venice and the fun of not quite dodging or escaping the deluge that frequently consumes that magnificent city. Tampa is not Venice. But from time to time it's nice to be reminded of the colors that surround us and the comforting nature of a good, hard rain.
The evening could not be more inviting. As the sun begins to set and drop fiery orange into the Gulf, shadows envelop the buildings on Harbour Island and grow long down on the dock. The Lucky Lady II is ready to take us all out into some of Florida's most delightful weather. No rainfall at all (which is not a good thing as we really are experiencing a severe drought and water for our lawns and shrubbery is restricted. Hard to imagine in a state almost surrounded by water everywhere.) This channel leads out past the Mediterranean- style homes on Davis Islands and then the open bay, Skyway Bridge and the Gulf. It would be a perfect evening for drinks and dinner of fresh Florida Grouper, jumbo shrimp and succulent scallops - blackened, fried or broiled to taste. Throw in hush puppies, fries and a salad of lettuce, sliced tangerines, pears and red onions sprinkled with ground pepper and pecans. As we place the napkin in our lap, and push off on our virtual departure from the dock, Bon Appetit and smooth sailing.
