Daily Loaf

• The Table is in the midst of another shake-up, with 717 South Michael Stewart, former GM Joe Moledo out and Andrew Wilkins (formerly of Mad Fish and Ceviche) in as GM. This comes after a long history of turmoil, including the loss of chef Pedro Flores earlier this year. Looks like the restaurant’s new thrust will be for lower price points and fewer staff changes. (Mouth)

• Ella’s Folk Art Cafe, the first of a new generation of restaurant slated to open in Tampa and Seminole Heights, started serving this past weekend.

The Columbia, OktoBEERfest, Domenica Macchia, and Grattzi’s after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

After a long wait, the first in a series of new restaurants slated for Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights opened over this past weekend.

Ella’s Folk Art Cafe (5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-234-1000) looks like it has the right funky vibe to fit in with the Seminole Heights crowd, along with outdoor seating (albeit next to Nebraska) and an eclectic American menu that ranges from beer-battered, deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with pulled pork, cheddar and cream cheese to “beet box and veggie pot pie”, whatever that is. There’s also pizza, salad, and soups; a small but very capable beer list; and a Sunday brunch/neighborhood barbecue.

Open for dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, with daylight hourse on Sunday.

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Join the Seminole Heights Community Garden to plant a garden in honor of 9/11- Saturday, September 12. The Seminole Heights Community Gardens has teamed up with Green Florida to plant a native and edible garden for a local community member in honor of those lost eight years ago on 9/11. The event will take place this Saturday, September 12th and SHCG are looking for volunteers to to help with setting up the garden and asking for donations from local community groups. If you know of anyone who would be a good candidate for a donated garden or you would like more information about volunteering,  please contact Robin at  robin@greenerpixels.com.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

Dunedin Green Market- Saturday, September 12; 8 am- 12 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs the second Saturday of every month until October.

Saturday Summer Market- every Saturday through September 19; 9 am-1pm. Brought to you by the Saturday Morning Market, this market features the same great vendors (food, crafts, art) as the original market, but this one’s in the shade of the Mahaffey Theatre parking garage. 400 1st St S., St. Petersburg. (which is just 2-3 block south of our current location at Al Lang stadium).
Read the rest of this entry »

We’re 2,000-plus votes and counting in this year’s Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll — deadline Aug. 31 — and there are no hotter races underway than the ones for Best Neighborhood/Hillsborough and Best Neighborhood/Pinellas.

After the jump: Find out if your ‘hood is among the front-runners. Read the rest of this entry »

Bay area folks aren’t the only ones who consider Old Seminole Heights a noteworthy neighborhood. This Old House, the home improvement rag and PBS TV series, has selected 51 neighborhoods across the country that “have promising futures and homes that truly deserve a long-term commitment,” and Seminole Heights made the cut. In fact, the historic mid-Tampa neighborhood was chosen by the Editors as one of the 10 best. (Photo courtesy of TOH and taken by Mike Pease.) The July/August “Best Old-House Neighborhoods” issue hit newsstands June 29; you can see the complete release and breakdown of winning cities after the jump:

Remember when we were suffering from drought? Back when we longed for rain drops to quench our gardens, or heck, wash our cars? Tampa City Council has eased the ban on lawn sprinkling, which ends Monday June 1st. City dwellers will fall in line with Hillsborough County residents abiding by SWFWMD’s emergency restrictions; allowing lawn sprinklers to run once a week from midnight to 4 a.m.

Our city once had the strictest regulations in the state; Council members had the foresight to see beyond the immediate crisis, to address our dwindling water supply. We all know water is one precious commodity, more expensive by the 12 oz bottle than gasoline is by the gallon. By initiating tough regulations, City Council was preparing us, forcing us, to change our water guzzling ways. Forestalling the implementation of ration cards, tandem showers, and sky high rates. Okay, maybe the latter is more likely but one thing is for sure: water rates will rise as supply diminishes. Not to mention as our aquifer falls lower and lower, so does the surface; so we should be in for some major sinkhole action. Council members Mulhern and Miranda voted against lifting the ban, with Mulhern correctly stating that, “A three-year drought is not solved by two weeks of rain”, and Miranda resigning from the Water Board in disgust.

I miss the drought and the restrictions. Okay, so I’m lazy – for months my crunchy weeds, um, I mean lawn, didn’t need mowing but beyond my front yard and personal issues, the drought and its dire circumstances prompted discussions of conservation. Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa Theatre is a local landmark with a rich history, but its impact on the area goes beyond the actual movie theater. Once again, Tampa Theatre offers its Sunset Cinema series, where they show movies in outdoor locations for free. It’s a fun way to experience a family-friendly classic.

Tonight they’ll be showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (clearly the best in the Indiana Jones series) at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird Street in Seminole Heights. An inflatable, 50-foot-wide screen and powerful sound system provide excellent visual and sound effects. If you’ve been to this event before, you know what I mean. The picture is sharp and the sound is clear. That means you can actually enjoy the movie.

You’ll also enjoy the price, since it doesn’t cost a thing. Just bring your lawn chairs, snacks, pets, Frisbees, coolers or whatever you want, stake out a good spot and enjoy the atmosphere. No alcohol or fireworks are allowed, and they’ll also have concessions on sale if you don’t want to bring your own.

The movie starts at 8, but the gates open at 6. It’s probably a good idea to get there early, find a good spot and just relax for awhile. Other movies in the Sunset Cinema series this year include “Field of Dreams,” “Back to the Future” and “Shrek.” I’ll mention those when they come up, too. But for now, enjoy the outdoor show this evening.

For more information, click here.

Renowned cookbook author and Mexican cuisine authority Diana Kennedy will be at Seminole Heights’ favorite Mexican food diner — El Taconazo (affectionately known at the Taco Bus) — Friday, February 13. She’ll be signing books at 5:30 and teach a cooking class at 6:30.

I’m a huge fan of Kennedy’s. The first cookbook I ever owned was her The Art of Mexican Cooking, which is due for anew printing this March.

While she’s visiting Tampa she’ll also do a book signing at Inkwood Saturday the 14th and offer a cooking class at the Rolling Pin Kitchen in Brandon on Thursday the 12th. Her schedule is posted below.

Rene Valenzuela, owner and chef of the Taco Bus writes: Read the rest of this entry »