Skywatch Friday #54

Why do clouds fascinate us so? It's impossible to not see the important part they play in our lives and quite simply how we see the day ahead. To take a photo of a sky and not include a cloud is almost unheard of. We would all admit that clouds are a big deal, and not just for how they improve our photographs. Will it be a clear sunny day? Are storms moving in? Can we picnic today or will we stay inside and read a good book as rain pour down outside? The photographer Alfred Steiglitz experimented with capturing clouds at a time when accurately recording them on the film stock that was then available made it quite difficult. As film improved, and the colors and subtleties of clouds became easier to photograph, he didn't lose his fascination with them. He went on to a celebrated career and continued to successfully photograph clouds throughout his life. He explained himself in an article he wrote in 1923 for the magazine Amatuer Photography. He wrote, "Clouds and their relationship to the rest of the world, and clouds for themselves, interested me, and clouds which were difficult to photograph— nearly impossible. Ever since then clouds have been in my mind, most powerfully at times, and I always knew I'd follow up the experiment made over 35 years ago. I always watched clouds. Studied them. Had unusual opportunities up here on this hillside."

Clouds fascinated him just as they do us today, long after digital technology has pretty much made capturing them in all their inexplicable colors and formations near commonplace. Really seeing them has not changed. After all, we are still humans trying to understand and explain their appearance overhead.

Do visit Skywatch Friday to see the beauty and wonders of the world's most magnificent skies. It's always an amazing show.

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.

Watery Wednesday: Evening comes upon us.

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.
Click HERE to see other wet and Watery Wednesday images from around the world.

Fresh and Direct from Out-of-State

At first I was attracted to the hand-made signs which I am such a sucker for. (I could easily do a photo blog of nothing but these very colorful, primitive yet effective vegetable and fruit signs.) But what caught my eye on further reading is this FRESH produce market, in the heart of South Tampa, is boldy advertising - during its Grand Opening - CALIFORNIA cherries and GEORGIA peaches. I realize these items are desirable, especially coming from out-of-state, and they are well known for, but wouldn't a FRESH produce market in Tampa have big signs for something grown locally? I bet the seedless grapes, green beans and bananas come from out of state...or even from another country. Shouldn't they be selling FLORIDA produce from their sweet little market? Just wondering. Makes sense to me. Do they have fresh, in season, Florida-grown Valencia oranges, mangoes, avocados, peaches, nectarines and, one of my all time favorites, blueberries? (I still love the signs. I just know there is a special factory somewhere churning these out by the truck load.)

Keys to success and happiness. Out of reach by the thousands.

This large sculpture stands in a brick patio area connected by walkways on the south side of Kate Jackson Community Center in Anderson Playground. It is called Reliquary. It was part of the City of Tampa Public Art Program when installed in 2001. The hundreds if not thousands of keys are now woven together with moss from the overhanging oak trees that surround this cool, private slice of Florida paradise. Palms and philodendrons crowd in close to the quiet space. A key was attached to every one of the tiny, closed hooks when the piece was first installed. Curious kids - big and small - have removed many of the lowest hanging ones but now most are out of reach. Click on the closeup view at left to see the incredible variety of metals, shapes and colors of the keys that make up this attractive and most unusual sculpture.

Monochrome Maniacs: The Sea Gull rules over the sky, sea and fishermen.

My camera and I are often drawn back to this pier for its variety of shapes, colors, people and wildlife. Something new is always happening here and in the park nearby. It's fun and alive. The sky and clouds are always in motion and dance behind all of the man-made elements in the scene until you hope all is in perfect alignment. Shooting in black and white makes the dance take on a whole different, final composition. The gull in flight would be the winner over his hardworking human companions who struggled to land even one fish.

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

France's Renault R5 or Le Car in the USA: The Extraordinary Car at Under $5000 when NEW. (This one ain't new!)

From 1976 until 1986, over 5.5 million Renault Le Cars were built for the world's small-car hungry consumer. Introduced in 1972, and to the North American market in 1976, the Le Car was the French automaker's first "supermini" model. It was sold in the US by American Motors dealers (remember American Motors? The Rambler?) The extra tiny for American highways Le Car was given its name by an advertising agency that thought it would help sell Europe's best selling car. Known in Europe as the Renault 5 or R5, the French thought the name Le Car was ridiculous because in French it meant "the coach." Oh, great name for a tiny, fuel-sipping small car with a pretty good design. It's 4-cylinder engine worked hard to pump out 55 horsepower. Wow, a rocket ship. That might have had something to do with the Le Car's dismal sales. Plus, just about every car then coming out of Detroit had tons more power, weighed four times more and would totally demolish a Le Car in the slightest fender-bender. This particular used cream puff of a used car may actually be a Super5, the second generation that was offered between 1985 and 1996, but more probably it's a 1983 model or earlier. In any case, it's what used car dealer's call the "point car." It sits at the front most corner of the property, very visible to prospective buyers. It is supposed to attract attention and be a big draw onto the sales lot. From the looks of this car, the dealer hasn't seen much business for years, decades. Ever. It sits all alone on the roof of the oddly-painted block building. No window glass. A good bit of rust showing. Do you think it'll start? Will pigs fly? Oh, go ahead. Make 'em an offer. They'll take your offer to the manager. He wants to work with you. Really he does.

SkyWatch FRIDAY: An award-winning performance by Tampa's clouds and brilliant blue sky.

Hillsborough Bay and the rocky shoreline made for a striking foreground to Tampa's downtown office towers, way across the water in the distance, but the clouds were really the star of this show. They billowed and puffed into indescribable shapes. Tampa's sky was on stage this afternoon and performed magnificently. A perfect day.

Do visit Skywatch Friday to see the beauty and wonders of the world's most magnificent skies. It's always an amazing show.

Water Taxi to the urban rescue: Relax, regain your sanity, and frolic with pelicans and dolphins, too

No, it isn't the Grand Canal or smooth-talking gondoliers poling you through the canals of Venice, but Tampa can boast of many lakes, rivers, channels and bays. (The American flag was a dead giveaway, right?) We're almost surrounded by fresh and salt water and many natives and tourists alike enjoy views from their homes, hotels and office buildings. Florida's boat owners have endless possibilities for enjoying our waterways. Those who are stuck a bit inland, or who don't own a boat, can walk, bike, skate and run along the Bayshore or leisurely stroll with their poochie as he navigates the sidewalk dog shows mornings, noon and night. But, there is a fun and entertaining alternative for anyone who wants to sit back and just enjoy being on the water without doing a thing. The Tampa Water Taxi has several tours available. It can pick you up from any waterside location and take you to restaurants, bars, hotels and attractions. At night, it offers romantic and unforgettable sunset tours. It even has a short lunchtime ride and a longer 2.5 hour Eco Tour that goes up the Hillsborough River and may include Florida wildlife such as dolphins, eagles, pelicans and maybe even an alligator sunning himself (and patiently waiting on his own luncheon snack. Yum. Tourists.) The Tampa Water Taxi is very convenient, inexpensive and gives guests spectacular views of Tampa's downtown, museums, shipyards, aquarium, the Tampa Bay Hotel and million-dollar homes on Davis Islands and Harbour Island. Come on. Why go to Venice. This is a blast. Plus, the gondolas of Venice can't take you to an ice hockey arena or the Gasparilla pirate ship. No way. And, rest assured, Tampa doesn't flood (as often.)

Watery Wednesday and a Tampa Cityscape

For Watery Wednesday, I thought I would shoot a simple image that captures the beauty of our city at the point where the Hillsborough River flows into the channel and the bay. Yes, even under drought conditions, and with water restrictions in place, we do have tons of freshwater surrounding us in our rivers and bays - just not underground in our aquafer.

Click HERE to see other wet and Watery Wednesday images from around the world.

Enjoying a perfectly poured Guinness at your favorite Irish pub? How could life get better? How 'bout a thatched roof?

Four Green Fields is Tampa’s authentic Irish bar. This is the place in Florida’s West Coast to hear traditional & progressive Irish music in a true pub environment. The thatched roof is absolutely real and there isn’t anything like it that I’m aware of this side of Dublin. (OK, some place on this side of the Atlantic also has a thatched roof but I’ve never run across it.) The music is the real thing and it compliments a menu of some of my all-time favorites such as Irish Potato Leek soup, corned beef and cabbage, their Irish stew, mouth-watering, of just caught fish and chips and – drum roll please – shepherd’s pie. I love shepherd’s pie and a pint or two of Guinness. Four Green Fields is very popular and can fill up inside and out. Its patio is busy and fun and when Tampa celebrates Gasparilla, you can’t get within a mile of a seat here. “One Hundred Great Places To Drink Beer In America” in the Sept/Oct. 2008 issue of Imbibe magazine listed it as a winner. Plus, because it is one of the pubs most distinguishing and unique features, along with its fresh, smooth and frothy Guinness, is its thatched roof. Read HERE about its maintenance in January. It’s a fun story in itself.) I give Four Green Fields my personal 5-Stars.

It's always Carnival time as the good ship Inspiration sets sail from the Port of Tampa

The Carnival Inspiration, all 860 feet in length, moves slowly down the channel toward the Skyway Bridge and the open Gulf of Mexico. Launched in 1996, Inspiration is a member of Carnival’s Fantasy class. It carries a crew of 920 and 2,052 passengers. This ship is similar to the Legend which I featured just before it sailed on June 21st. The Inspiration has ten decks and sails on 4-5 night cruises from Tampa to the Western Caribbean. It has several pools, restaurants, bars, and lounges, plus lots of entertainment including comedy acts, art auctions, talent shows, Vegas-style revues, piano-bar sing-alongs, and pool games. It amazes me how many shops are on board cruise ships and the Inspiration is no different and features the Galleria Shopping Mall. Of course it has spas, exercise and health center and special kids programs (I guess some kids do enjoy cruising.) First rate casinos include black-jack, slot machines, poker, roulette, and craps tables. (I know this is exactly why many folks enjoy these ships but while losing their money they very well might miss the scenery passing by. Oh, well, it's their money.) I don’t care how many times I watch the ships leave port, it quite a sight. Plus our sky was a beautiful send-off to all the passengers crowded on the decks. Bon voyage.