Roland Manteiga: Conscience of the community

Roland Manteiga (1920–1998) was the owner and publisher of La Gaceta newspaper in Tampa's Ybor City. A trilingual tab paper, it is still a weekly must read by everyone who's anyone...or wants to know all that's happening in Tampa and Hillsborough County. To learn more about the statue and the colorful and exciting life and times of Manteiga, click HERE.

Dueling Leotards and Hair Gel

Mighty Sturdy Electric Standup Vehicle and Environmentally Friendly, Too.

This secuity officer in Ybor City is ridng a T3 Series electric standup vehicle (ESV) from T3 Motion of Costa Mesa, CA. It's pretty cool and the lights were even flashing like on a police squad car. And, it's might sturdy!!

This from their corporate website: "The T3 Series is a zero-gas-emission, clean-energy innovation that is simple, intuitive and economical to operate. With significant breakthroughs in its proprietary power management and propulsion system, this performer delivers high "mpg" equivalent, long battery run time, short recharge time, and plug 'n play battery modules.

It is highly stable with a low center of gravity, offers wide visibility for the driver elevated on an 9-inch platform, strikes a commanding presence, can access restricted spaces including elevators and narrow corridors, handles curbs easily, and is highly agile with a zero-degree turning radius. And it's very quiet.

The T3 Series is designed to enhance patrols to save driver energy and increase response times. Lockable, onboard storage is easily accessible. For maximum flexibility, two swappable battery packs mean virtually no downtime. And, with dramatically fewer parts than gasoline-powered vehicles, the T3 Series is high on reliability and low on maintenance. Not to mention an operating cost of around 10 cents per day.

The T3 Series is truly the next generation in green personal transportation solutions."

Hairless, Armless but Great Anatomy

He's a shrimp. Get over it!

If I ever open my own restaurant, I will have to call it SHRIMP...I'll drop the "& Co." part as unnecessary and because it'd detracts from the shrimp, which will be all that's on my menu. In a thousand different recipes and variations, but none of that & company stuff. There won't be any company to keep my shrimp happy but yours and mine. Eating them will bring them great pleasure. I'm certain. So, we drop the pretense and simply add typical and expected Florida and Gulf Coast sides such as cole slaw, sauce (if you insist), fries, lemon and gallons of sweet tea. Oh, and I guess napkins if you must get fancy. Lots of 'em, too. Now just 'cause there isn't anything but shrimp doesn't mean you'll go hungry. Just imagine a platter piled, I'm saying piled high with fried shrimp. How 'bout 18 or so. Is that a good start or what.

I better stop here before I eat the dog or cat...they are beginning to look a lot like shrimp. A little batter, quick frying and they'll do. Help! I'm going nuts. (Dr. Porter the dog just scooted under the table.) Take me to Shrimp & Company. It's All-You-Can-Eat-Night!!

Alaskan TACOs? What's next, Fresh Nebraska Fried Shrimp?

Ybor City has its share of places to eat ranging from the family-owned Columbia Restaurant, with over a century of history and tradition, down to by-the-slice pizzerias that feed the hungry masses at late hours and offer huge quantities of cold brew. They each have their place and cater to diners and partygoers at different hours and days of the week (Ybor really comes alive when many of us are tuning in to the late TV news.) I imagine I could find practically any cuisine if I looked or asked around. As many times as I've walked or driven by Mema's Alaskan Tacos, I've never tried their food, but always questioned the name. Alaskan Tacos?? I've eaten tacos in Mexico, California and practically every state of the USA, but haven't visited Alaska, yet, so I haven't had the pleasure of ordering their tacos. So, looking at their name, you may wonder as I have what it is exactly. If you look online most everything is there along with an explanation for even the strangest place, event and food. So, in looking at food review sites, I found a ton on Mema's Alaskan Tacos. And I found my answer, sought of, in a 2004 post at Roadfood.com, from the owners. "Hello! My name is Sean and I am the proprietor of Mema's Alaskan Tacos. This unique Southwestern style of cooking tacos was taught to my grandmother and perfected in Alaska. As I have been cooking and enjoying these tacos all my life, I decided that it would be the perfect food to share with Tampa. We offer five wonderful tacos, each made with top grade ingredients. The beef is made with 85% lean ground chuck. We use boneless chicken breast for our chicken tacos. We buy our grouper fillets and fresh gulf shrimp from local suppliers for use in our seafood tacos. For you vegans out there, we have a veggie taco that satisfies as well as any meat taco. ... See you soon! Sean Godin - President, Mema's Alaskan Tacos"

Then this post followed right after: "I can 100% say that these tacos are THE BEST! I, too, have been eating them all my life. You have to stop by Mema's if you're in Tampa/Ybor City and try an original Alaskan taco. They're not like any taco you've had before - Mema's secret recipe, originating in Alaska and passed down through generations. Enjoy! Shellie Harnetty, Sister of Sean Godin"

It's the definitive explanation I was looking for and straight from the horse's mouth (and his sister to back him up.) No bias there. Blame it all on their sweet grandma. (I know my grandmother didn't perfect her recipes in Juno or Anchorage.)

So, if I wanted my taco filled with shrimp, and not from Nebraska but from more local waters, this is the place. If you want native Alaskan food, I think you'll have to go there and ask around. Happy eating blubber fans!!

Casitas in the NIGHT

These little cottages in Ybor City, called casitas, are two of seven built for cigar workers' families. They are located on 9th Avenue at 18th Street on the block facing Centennial Park. They are brightly lit against Tampa’s night sky and are part of the Ybor City Museum State Park, which includes the museum (click HERE) housed in the Ferlita Bakery building (a neighborhood bakery established by Italian immigrants in 1896), and the museum’s garden (which is used for many events including weddings.) Three of the casitas were built around 1895. Originally located on 5th Avenue, the casitas were moved in 1976 to this location. Architecturally, they are known as “modified shotgun” houses and were built from Florida pine with cypress or cedar wood shingles. This style of house consists of three rooms in a row with doorways was popular throughout the rural Southern United States and was a popular house in the early years of Ybor City.

Quoting from the Ybor City Museum website, “This house had many design features particularly suited to conditions in Florida. Until 1910 these and similar houses lacked city sewer hook-up or indoor plumbing, and many were without electricity until the early 1920s. Casitas rented for $1.50 to $2.50 a week or could be purchased from $400 to $900, depending on size. By allowing workers to deduct house payments from their wages, Vicente Ybor and other cigar manufacturers contributed to the stability and security of the work force in Ybor City, and eased the hardships of immigration ...” Visit the museum website HERE for more of this fascinating story.

An unstable foundation for worship

I think this old wood structure was moved to this tiny lot. The brick foundation peers look new so my guess is they wanted to relocate the building to this street and did the preparation work before the move. Now they have to hook up electrical, gas and other utilities, and of course construct a new porch and steps front and back. Overall it appears to need quite a bit of work to the roof, walls and windows. I hope it's worth all the time and effort - even if they got it for free. From seeing the cross above the front door it might have been a small church office or maybe even a Sunday school building. It's only about 500 square feet. It needs a lot of hours and dedication before it can be used again. The project would be perfect for a volunteer team if it is a church that owns it. I wish the new owners great success.

Monochrome Weekly: Ybor's Cigar Factory

This is the original cigar factory built by Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1886. Ybor brought cigar-making to Tampa in 1885 after growing tired of labor unrest at his factory in Key West, Florida. He bought 40 acres of land northeast of Tampa and took advantage of the area's port and later the railroad. It was the beginning of Ybor City's meteoric rise to prominence as the Cigar Capital of the World. Today, it is part of a complex called Ybor Square which contains offices and a restaurant. Cuban patriot and hero Jose Marti came to Tampa in 1891 and in his speeches to the Cuban community rallied support of his homeland’s independence from Spain. His speech on the steps of this factory helped raise money and gained strong support for the cause. The small park dedicated to Jose Marti, that I featured HERE, is directly across the street.

Go see more of the world in black, white and grays at Monochrome Maniacs!

A Colorful History Unlike Any Other: Ybor City in all its glory

Tampa has muralists of all levels of artistic ability, creativity and seriousness. (I well know that other cities throughout the world can also rightly lay claim to some real talented wall artists...even subway cars!) I like discovering these works of art as I wander through our streets and neighborhoods. I've found that if I go out specifically to find one chances are very good I won't even find badly spray-canned graffiti. Many of these handpainted murals are fun and colorful and aren't really meant to engage the viewer or to teach in a serious way. They are light and decorative and most succeed in bringing a smile to our faces. I've posted some in the past that adorn convenience stores, auto repair garages and restaurant/bars. The brighter the color and more attractive the graphic design the better. In most cases the artist (and I hope the owner of the building) is trying to draw our attention and promote the business. Some are in locations that make no sense and are comical and inexplicable at the same time. To me, the sillier and more whimsical the better.

In May I posted a mural, HERE, celebrating the history of West Tampa. Like that large mural in MacFarlane Park, this mural representing Ybor City is treated with respect and even reference for the history it depicts so well. With great color and style the artist presents highlights from the rich history of Tampa's Latin neighborhood. In many ways Ybor City has a far more interesting history than does Tampa. This handpainted piece is facing west so it will be on your left as you enter Ybor through the iron gateway on 7th Avenue at Nick Nuccio Parkway. Tobacco leaves, cigar workers and factories serve as the backdrop and anchors for the painting as workers handroll cigars on the left side, and el Lector, the reader, his arm raised and pointing as he reads to them from a Spanish or Cuban newspaper, is to their right and above. The bespectacled Lector, very important to the cigar workers, was educated, well paid and greatly respected. He kept the factory workers informed of labor issues, world and local events, and even read novels. (Go in close to him to see the powerful way he is painted.) The flag of Cuba flies to his right. Scenes of Ybor in the 1920s show cars of that era and a trolley. Jose Marti, the hero of Cuban independence from Spain, who I featured HERE, is the mustachioed gentleman to the left of center. The entire mural is surrounded by handpainted tiles affixed to the wall. I'm glad I found this one, hiding in plain sight as they say, and will keep my eye out for more. Serious or plain silly, I love my murals.

Cephas West Indian Restaurant in Ybor City dishes up heaps of Jamaican delicacies and a touch of the Caribbean right here in Tampa

As fun and extensive as the menu may be for the Cephas West Indian Restaurant on East Fourth Ave. in Ybor City, nothing can touch the incredible exterior of the restaurant. It is wild and colorful beyond belief. Cepha Griffin owns this Caribbean/Jamaican restaurant and is extremely proud of the reputation he has built. It is impossible to drive by without noticing the place as it literally screams at you for attention. I understand that the Jerk Chicken is very good and that delicious veggies are in abundance and are a big favorite. To experience Jamaica and the flavors of the islands it doesn't get more authentic than this. Located just 3 blocks south of Ybor's 7th Avenue, it is hard to miss. They do have take-out if you're overdressed in black-tie and want to enjoy your soul food, oxtail or curry goat at home. Cepha's is decidedly casual and a delight to both the eye and the stomach.

This Green Iguana serves burgers and beer. No, not iguana burgers!

This mighty green beast must be 25 feet long. If I had backed away to capture his entire length you would see that he covers half the roof of this popular spot, The Green Iguana Bar & Grill, on South Westshore. The Green Iguana is an apt name for this fun, palm-laden, very Florida-like place. (With that giant monster over your head, what would you call your establishment?) The little lizard perched on the big one's rear leg, you have to look closely to see him, is probably only four feet long. Just a tiny guy. The Green Iguana, around the Tampa area for over 18 years, has six locations in Tampa, St. Pete and right on 7th Avenue in the heart of Ybor City. That's the location I know best and have enjoyed many times while sitting at a table laden with appetizers, mouthwatering burgers and icy Guinness. It's one of the best spots to watch the world of Ybor pass by. (Just get a table out front on the sidewalk; it doesn't get any better.) Their website has a tall-tale that tries to explain their name and its significance. The legend of the Green Iguana begins, "Years have passed since that fateful trip, but the man remembers it like yesterday." I can speak for two locations but I'm sure each one has the same welcoming feel, delicious food, good service and live music that doesn't interrupt but instead adds to the fun of the place. I had never noticed the slithering giant iguana before, believe it or not, I think because he is so big , and on the roof, I missed him as I headed to the food and drink. (That's my excuse, OK?!) He is big! And serves monster burgers that I strongly recommend. The legend that goes with the naming doesn't hint at why the burgers are so good. Check it out.

Let's Go Greek on Ybor's 7th Avenue

There is a wide variety of fine restaurants, bars and shops along 7th Avenue, the historical main street in Tampa's Ybor City. Best known for its exquisite Spanish cuisine like that found at the century-old, family-owned Columbia Restaurant, there are menus and dining experiences to match anyone's hunger from a fast lunch of an award-winning Cuban sandwich to an evening of fine dining, music and dance. Depending on the time of day, a younger crowd may arrive closer to 10pm to find a bit louder music to fit their taste and fun bars where they can mix and compare tattoos. This lunchtime scene of the Acropolis Greek Tavern right on 7th shows the casual, comfortable feel and welcoming atmosphere. Billed as a "little piece of Athens transported to Tampa," it's located at the corner of 18th Street in the almost century-old Spoto building. It's a family place that has been serving delicious and authentic Greek dishes and live music for a while now and it's popular day and night. The owners have two other locations but none with this much street-side charm and location. Enjoy delicious Greek specialities, full bar and plenty of people-watching if you can snag a table out front. Go Greek in the heart of Historic Ybor City!

Theme Day: Feet

The feet of an immigrant family, a mother and father, and their son and daughter, are depicted newly arrived in Ybor City, now a part of Tampa. Simply named Immigrant Statue, it was designed by artist Anthony Cardoso and sculpted by Steve Dickey. It was dedicated in Ybor City's Centennial Park in 1992.

The inscription reads:

To those courageous men and women who came to this country in search of personal freedom, economic opportunity and a future of hope for their families.

(See the magnificent statue in its entirety at Tampa Florida Photo.)

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in June's Theme Day: FEET

Ybor City Wall Art: Cigar Rollers and a Mercedes CLS Coupe

What does the hand painted mural on this nightclub wall in Ybor City have to do with the Mercedes-Benz? Nothing really. A great juxtaposition. But if you want to know what the mural represents, the story is more valuable than the cost of all the luxury cars rolled into one. At its pinnacle as a bustling city of industry, Ybor City was an eclectic mix of immigrants who spoke many languages, proudly celebrated their ethnic foods, music and cultures, and through their hard work made their city into the cigar manufacturing capital of the world. So, what about the Benz? Owners of the cigar factories could easily have driven any automobile made in any country. At any price. But a Cadillac or Duesenberg, with a very-y-y long hood, convertible top, 12-cylinder engine and lots of leather was probably their odds-on favorites during the cigar industry's heyday.They proudly drove American back then, the epitome of their hard-earned fortunes and sophistication. A Mercedes? Just some truly oddball import from Germany - a nice car indeed - that would probably break down on one of Florida's dusty, rutted cracker roads. Get it repaired at the local garage? Good luck. Ship it back for repairs? Oh sure. Although the owners of the major cigar companies could afford such luxury, I doubt many were so extravagant. (One of the most breathtaking automobiles made in the 1920s and 30s, the Hispano-Suiza from Spain, was being driven over the brick streets of Tampa and Ybor City by a man of considerable class and means. Now he had real taste in cars!) Parking your new Mercedes CLS Coupe today at the cigar-rollers' table isn't the same statement that would have made back in the years between the two world wars. The mural draws more attention today than does the car. The entire wall represents different scenes from Ybor City's rich history. If you look closely, cigar workers are shown handrolling cigars which were then bundled and shipped to every corner of the globe. The Cigar Capital of the World produced millions of cigars, handrolled and later machine made. The Mercedes? Hand fashioned but mostly machine-made. In this economy, both the cigar and the import luxury automobile may represent extravagances and spending of another era, the booming turn of the 21st century. Looking ahead, the car will certainly last a good many years. The mural? Sadly, it's fading fast.

Shadow of himself: Behind Dorothy or the Pirate

Just a shadow, considering its options. Pulled. Torn. Uncertain. BEADS SODA SNACKS CIGS hangs over its head. And beads are so Ybor City. It could pose for a photo behind one of the headless carnival cutouts on either side of the door. Dorothy on the left or the pirate with muscles and chains on the right.
Ybor City is an eclectic place with many sides to its personality. Designated a National Historic District, it is renowned for its architecture, heritage and rich cultural diversity. In the late 19th century the stores, restaurants, homes and factories were filled with immigrants including Cubans, Italians, Spaniards and Germans. They are justly proud today of their city and its history. They were the economic engine that drove the world's cigar manufacturing industry. The finest tobacco was handrolled and machine-made into cigars by the tens of millions. Today's Ybor City continues to celebrate its cigar heritage, its Latin traditions, delicious food, and colorful mix of retail, restaurants and residences.
This corner market attracts tourists, locals and students...even an occasional shadowy character, stopped in mid-stride, indecisive, undecided. Captured in a fleeting digital frame. But its shoes seem rooted. Does it pose with Dorothy and the rainbow? Or go for the pirate's treasure? I just love the options in Ybor.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants