Shocked While Blogging

I took this photo of Cephas's Hot Shop in Ybor City on Jan. 7. But while searching for links, I learned that the restaurant suffered a fire on Jan. 10. When a newspaper article uses the phrase "hopes to rebuild," you know the damage is pretty bad. It would be a terrible loss if that doesn't occur.

Update: The Weekly Planet has more.

Stylin' Kilowatts

An electrical meter behind the Cafe Adagio.

Welcome, TBO.com readers. If you're new here, this blog collects photo images of the Tampa Bay area. Most of them I take myself. Some of them are old, discarded photos found in local antiques stores. And some of them I manipulate with Photoshop. I'll always state which ones are found or manipulated. All of the photos aim to convey a sense of the place we live in--the greater Tampa Bay area. As long as a photo meets that criterium, it gets posted--even if it's technically deficient. Here, you'll join other Bay area residents, people who have left the Bay Area, and people from other countries who once were likely tourists here. Or would like to be.

Found Photo Series, No. 5

Scanned photo, for the Florida Performing Arts Studios in the program for their production of "Threepenny Opera." Although the shirt is tie-dyed, the year is 1983. The area code for business ads in St. Petersburg is 813 and Channel 8's call letters are WXFL.

While doing a search on the studio, I ran across this story, in which a cast member (one of the five Beggars, and also a part-time cab driver) was murdered during his shift several years later. After that 1989 article, the studio dissolves into the ether (well, that is, the world according to the search term "florida performing arts studio").

Also:

• Found Photo Series, No. 4
• Found Photo Series, No. 3
• Found Photo Series, No. 2
  

With all the new businesses and construction popping up on 4th Street N in St. Pete, a drive on 16th Street N towards downtown feels positively retro. Make no mistake, there are some sharp-looking contemporary structures on 16th, but it still feels like a step back in time. It's a nice route to take periodically, even if the sense that it produces of being a place untouched is only illusory.

One Aisle Past the Key Lime Juice

Souvenirs at Citrus Country Groves, formerly Orange Blossom Groves on US 19 in Clearwater.

Kitschy, yes, but better than those stupid singing fish.

It's The Real Thing

Gas station, St. Pete.


When people outgrow Slurpees.

A Dali-ance

It started with a bold sunset sky taken near the Gandy Bridge that I manipulated further with a color burn. The result looked Dali-esque, so I thought it might be fun to turn a St. Pete scenescape into Dali-burg. Add St. Pete iconography like one sliding Pier, a shopping cart, fish and a skater to complete. Why a pixelated head of Abraham Lincoln?

Lights On Tampa: UT No. 1

Some random impressions from Lights On Tampa:

• The original plan was to view Lights On early, then catch the end of the Bucs game. It didn’t work out that way, and I am glad for that. Better to witness “Lights On” than “Lights Out.” Thousands of others concurred.
  

• I’ve seen young men wearing Gentlemen’s attire while carrying a walking stick, in movies and on TV. Like in a portrayal of Dickensian London. Or Barnabas Collins. But I never thought I’d see the full ensemble in real life. Until last night. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you have to admit, it is soooooooo South Tampa.

• There were so many cameras, and video cameras that trying to walk about freely felt like walking on eggs -- there were so many photographic vantage points that it was impossible not to be in someone’s shot. Eventually, and I could see it in other people too, there was a sense of: “I’m walking where I need to go, so screw it!”

• You’re beginning to see what’s possible, downtown Tampa. Don’t muck it up.

• Why is this only scheduled biennially?
  

UT No. 2

For those unfamiliar with the University of Tampa builiding, examples here and here.

Title: Luminographic Concert.
Artist: Jorge Orta.

The Times review of Lights on Tampa, in which Orta garners the most praise: here.

UT No.3

UT No. 4

UT No. 5

"Luminous Affirmations"

The Tampa Municipal Office Building at City Hall Plaza.

Artist: Stephen Knapp.

"Fade III"

At the Rivergate Tower. Artist Erwin Redl's computerized LED display shifts from red to blue.

The view from the other side of the LED display, looking past the Exploding Chicken.

"Taking Breath"

At the National Wall Art Gallery.

Artist: Wendy Babcox.

The Snowball Effect

A swarm of sea gulls caused by a little girl throwing food in the air at Crescent Lake Park. The gulls' en masse descent sent the girl retreating up the bank. Unbowed, she ran back down the bank to scare them off by throwing something at them -- the food...which would cause the girl to run back up the bank again.

A Foggy Start

A biker rides on the boardwalk at Weedon Island Preserve on New Year's Day. This photo was taken from the observation tower just before noon, and the fog was still thick.

Blazing Rebel

The Day After--a collection of spent fireworks casings along an avenue in northeast St. Pete.