WTF Tampa!

Only at the Walmart Neighborhood Market!

Renegade Art

One of the things I like best about Tampa, and something I’d like to see a lot more of here, is finding art in unexpected places. There’s the Welcome to Tampa postcard mural on the building on Florida Ave, near the interstate. There’s the metal dragon on Kennedy Blvd. Even the giant lizard on that building downtown is, well, something to talk about. Recently, I’ve begun to notice smaller pieces of art, of the spray paint and stencil variety.

Maybe you’ve seen them in Ybor City, Downtown, or Seminole Heights. Maybe you’ve wondered what they are, why they are there, or who made them. We’ll answer two of those three questions for you. For obvious reasons, we will refer to the artist simply as MA, short for Mystery Artist. I recently had the opportunity to talk with MA about the art, the method, and the motivation behind it.

MA has been a fan of street art for many years, and made the foray into creating it last December. The very first piece was created on a concrete overpass piling, and consisted of two bombs that contained the words “poverty” and “greed”. The artist notes that a few days later, someone added a dirty old mattress and bed frame to the installation, and likes to think it was collaborative art, rather than plain old dumping.


Here’s what MA had to say when I asked about the motivation behind the art: “The motivation came from the desire to actually blow up real banks…which I guess makes the message that I’m a pussy. But, the TRS [signature] that goes with them stands for “Transformation Requires Sacrifice”, and that’s personal to me, as well as a political message about what I think needs to be obliterated.”

Finally, I asked MA what the best and worst things about being a street artist in Tampa are. Predictably, the answer was, [the illegality] “makes the best thing about Tampa the fact I haven’t been caught! And the worst thing – that I might!”

So, the next time you’re in Ybor City (near the Cuban Club or New World Brewery) or downtown (near The Hub), take the time to look around. You just might find art in unexpected places.

Bo's Knows Ice Cream!

For my family, Bo's Ice Cream is an establishment frequented much too often. My mom would take my brother and I here for ice cream after gymnastics at Seminole Heights Recreation Center. As I grew up, and life moved me all around the city, Bo's was always a constant. When we settled at our house here in Purity Springs Heights, we realized that Bo's was much too convenient. About 50 Upside Down Banana Splits and 20 Thick N Chunkies later, we are no worse for the wear. We just had to pick up cycling as a hobby to balance it all out.

Located on Florida Ave, just North of Sligh, Bo's has been serving up dairy delights since 1954. During those times, Florida Ave was Tampa's main thoroughfare. Interstate 275 had not yet been constructed. The Bosanko family has held onto their family business though all sorts of ups and downs. The more recent move to rehabilitate Seminole Heights has even brought Bo's a drive-thru. But going up to the window and waiting in the horde of people is part of the allure. Sitting outside beneath the big blue Bo's letter shade, watching all of the customers choose their ice cream confections, is enchanting. People from all walks of life are just beaming with excitement, anticipating that first cold bite of homemade ice cream. Everyone sits down at the same table, makes new friends, and remembers what it is like to be a child. Recalling the days when ice cream really was the most important thing in life. For some of us it still is.

There have been talks of an ice cream challenge for months. There is a tiny local girl (name withheld for humility) that can put away ice cream like no one I have ever seen. In a previous challenge my husband was put to shame and she ate like a champ all the way to victory. If you haven't been to Bo's, you may not know that they serve gigantic portions of ice creamy goodness. So, if you think you can eat the most ice cream and kick some soft serve bootie...send me a message. Game on!

Visit Bo's at 7101 N. Florida Ave Tampa, Florida See you there!

Read more about the history of Bo's at: The St. Pete Times

Making Friends and Acquaintances

Heather is native Tampanian, born in the mid-seventies to a couple of locals. She spent her childhood in Lutz, but now resides in Purity Springs Heights with her husband Tim and their 2 kids. She graduated from Gaither High School, and continued her education at the University of Tampa studying music/vocal performance. Heather then went on to become a Certified Emergency Medical Technician, and wrapped all that schooling up with a Cosmetology License from the Aveda Institute in St. Petersburg. Heather recently opened Salon Zero, an eco-concious boutique salon in Safety Harbor. Click here to visit the Salon Zero website. When not slaying hair, she enjoys photography and participates in many local and national art shows. See some of her work @ www.heatherdykstraphotography.com
Heather is also an avid thrifter, fixie rider, baby maker, rump shaker, hammer dancin penny pincher. She often empties the cart before getting to the register. She likes to cook and is proud when she creates dishes that come out just right. She is a Lostie, loves Dexter, and knows the lyrics to almost every song. She has always loved Tampa and is excited to tell stories and meet new people. She's the Jiminy Cricket of this bunch, so stop and say hi, she'll put a camera in your face!

Hold fast.

Allow Myself to Introduce...Myself.

A Tampa native, Sarah was born on a humid summer night at Humana Women’s Hospital (now St. Joseph’s) in the late Seventies. Growing up in the Bel-Mar neighborhood of South Tampa, she graduated from H. B. Plant High School with Honors, having been active with both the Drama department and soccer team.

Having lived in many different areas of the city, Sarah finally settled in the Riverside Heights area of Tampa, where she resides with her three cats and the various other creatures that take up residence in old buildings. Sarah is currently seeking full-time employment, and hopes to finish her college degree within the year.

When not job-hunting or working on the blog, Sarah enjoys both live and recorded music, with a special penchant for old music on vinyl records. She also enjoys bicycle riding, both on the road and on trails, and reading, although not at the same time.

Globey says, "Tampa's over heeere."

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