My Seminole Heights

We are on a Mexican trend in Seminole Heights.  Two weeks ago, Taco Ola! opened up on the corner of Sligh and Florida avenues.  This tiny little taco joint claimed to serve up traditional Mexican tacos which is a boast I had to go investigate.

There's a tussle brewing between residents with alleyways and Tampa's Solid Waste department due to the recent change to only servicing the front curb.  If you have an alley, you probably have been getting your trash picked up behind your back fence, next to your garage, and out of sight (and smell).  Disguised as just a service date change, residents were treated to a bright new can and a big blue headache.

The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association (OSHNA) is gearing up to fight the city on this one and is calling for help.  They are passing around a petition; you can even download your own. 

For more info on this, check out OSHNA's site: Big Blue Bombshell

We're inching up to national and local elections so it isn't surprising to see our favorite politicians taking on projects that energize their constituents.  Oil leaks in the Gulf and gasoline reaching past $3 a gallon again makes people wonder what will replace fossil fuels.  Electric vehicles have been in the news off an on the past few years with the Chevy Volt slated for release later this year--the first mass-produced electric vehicle intended for the daily commute on US highways.  All of this is great except that one nagging question: where do you fill up its "tank

If you have been keeping your ear to the ground over the past few years, you'll know that the topic of mass transit in Tampa Bay and in Florida has started to heat up.   In my role as a volunteer for the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, I have attended a few briefings on the light rail proposals for the area, including a piece that will be traveling from USF to Downtown right through Seminole Heights. 

As I have the time, I have been categorizing all of the public spaces in Seminole Heights.  As I was lucky enough to attend the grand re-opening of the Seminole Heights Garden Center, I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures. 

Here we are again, writing about food in Seminole Heights.  What do we need more than one Mexican restaurant in the area? Two, of course.  And now we've got it.  Just a block East of the famous Taco Bus is a new restaurant called Garibaldis. 

"Next Door?!" You may be wondering. These two restaurants can easily survive this close to each other because they are quite different in the experience they offer.  I've highly recommended the Taco Bus to anyone that will listen.  Well, after my first taste, I think Garibaldis will earn a spot on my list of regular eateries.

OSHNA held its 12th annual home tour yesterday and featured 8 structures--7 homes and the newly rennovated Garden Center. 

Guests met at the high school and were bused around the neighborhood, focusing on the West side of I-275 this year, with most of the homes West of Florida Avenue near Henry and Ola park.

Robin Milcowitz, founder of the Seminole Heights Community Garden, is already planning a bigger, better, and tastier garden.  If you available at 10am on a Monday, this could be a great event to start your week of with.

Self Explanatory.  Tacos. 24/7 cravings. The Bus. 

... how cool is that?

I was interviewed a while ago on the CVS issue when it was still current news.  The article never materialized after CVS was denied.  However, the reporter took some of the information I provided and went off in a new direction regarding the link between commercial redevelopment, sidewalks, and reduced crime.  I even got my picture in the paper. (my 15 seconds of fame.)