An Ode to Florida : Reflecting On Our Year in St. Pete

We bid adieu to St. Petersburg three weeks ago and I've been meaning to write some sort of reflective post for nearly as long. But how do I sum up our year in Florida? Trying to do so is a bit of an overwhelming task but ... here goes.

We had our highs and we had our lows, that's for sure. The move to St. Pete was not a smooth one, nor were G's first days and weeks at his new unit. (Similar to our current transition to Jersey.) And I wasn't sure I liked, or would grow to like, living in Florida. (Kinda how I'm feeling about Union City right now.) But once we made it through some serious financial drama (that happened through no fault of our own), unpacked and settled into our apartment, and survived the brutal summer humidity, the hubs and I began to enjoy our new life in the Sunshine State.

We celebrated our first married Thanksgiving and Christmas (with a visit to the Oakdale Christmas House!), and rang in the New Year—in our pajamas, no less.

While I didn't cross everything off my Florida fall and winter/spring bucket lists, G and I did go on many, many adventures. 

Together we...

Explored indie biz-focused fairs (Localicious and Localtopia), partook in boozy events (Oktoberfest Tampa, Guavaween in Ybor City, the Gasparilla pirate fest, the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival, and First Friday, with tubs of beer, in downtown St. Pete), shopped for fresh produce at the Saturday Morning Market (here and here, here) and picked up pre-loved wares at the Brocante Vintage Market.

Toured the Sunken Gardens, Great Explorations Children's Museum and The Florida Aquarium.

Fell in love with the Oxford Exchange and made multiple visits, for dinner, brunch and a book signing, and sometimes just for the delicious coffee.)

Walked around the gorgeous University of Tampa campus.

Viewed world-class art (and stunning architecture) at The Dali, the Chihuly Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and the Mainsail Arts Festival.

Enjoyed beachy days in St. Pete (Treasure Island, Fort De Soto dog beach and the boardwalk at John's Pass Village), Clearwater, Dunedin, and a Miami Beach.

Attended games to watch local teams—the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Rays and Lightning—play G's favorite sports (football, baseball and hockey, respectively).

Sailed Tampa Bay at sunset.

Took a (BIG!) bite out of the Tampa Bay culinary scene, with visits to: 

Birch & Vine and The Canopy (day and night) at The Birchwood, 

Bella Brava (with the most enormous baked pasta dish you've ever seen), 

Cassis (for a light lunch and our one-year anniversary dinner), 

theAvenue (to cheer on the Chargers), Lucky Dill (for breakfast and lunch),

Annata, 400 Beach, Sea Salt, Rocco Steak, Ceviche,

Tryst, Red Mesa Cantina, Z Grille, Hook's, Cafe Del Mar, Engine No. 9,

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, The Getaway, RumFish Grill, 

the restaurant at OE (for a gourmet brunch and dinner)

Anise Global Gastrobar, Taps, Hablo Taco, Bar Louie,

and even Bob Evans.

Sipped on... craft beers at dog-friendly Green Bench Brewing Co., 3 Daughters Brewing
and World of Beer (Pup Crawl! Football Sundays! The Jackass!),
various varietals of wine at Try Wine and the Locale Market bar,
classic cocktails and Moscow Mules at Mandarin Hide,
and some of the best java around at Kawha Coffee.

Our favorite "souvenir" from Florida has to be the one and only Jasper, the furbaby we welcomed into our family just months after arriving on the Gulf Coast. But the best thing about our time in St. Pete, and the reason it ended up being difficult to say goodbye, was the people. 

The friends we made in Tampa Bay 

are what made it feel like home. 

Without them, Florida would have been 

a beautiful but lonely place to be.

At the end of May, I organized a going-away pool party at our apartment complex so G and I could see everyone one more time before heading off to Jersey. It was a sun-soaked day full of good food, strong drinks, inappropriate card games and lots of laughs. The perfect way to wrap up our year in St. Pete.

Until next time, Florida! Thanks for the memories.

Art & The City : Jim Reynolds' CityScapes at FMoPA

Last week, the hubs and I ventured to downtown Tampa to cross off another item on my spring bucket list: visiting the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. On the first Friday of every month, the museum stays open an hour later than usual and features an exhibition opening, a social hour, a lecture, or all of the above! After looking over FMoPA's list of current exhibitions, I was particularly interested in seeing photographer Jim Reynolds' first solo show, "CityScapes," so when I discovered that he would be giving a talk last Friday, May 1, it was the perfect time to go.

Reynolds' focuses on capturing vibrant, energetic and interesting images of the New York City landscape. His work in "CityScapes" is fun to look at, and a bit surreal even, as he likes to play with the angles, reflections and transparency found in the Big Apple's buildings. As someone who loves photography and architecture, not to mention NYC (our soon-to-be backyard!), I was enraptured by Reynolds' images, as well as his lecture. It's a treat to hear an artist talk about and explain the thought process behind their work. I'm excited that I'll soon be able to experience for myself the magnificent city sights he captured with his lens.

In addition to the exhibition, I enjoyed simply being in the FMoPA space, which is a work of art in itself. Located inside The Cube at Rivergate Plaza, the museum galleries occupy the 2nd and 3rd floors of the airy, six-story atrium building. Coincidentally, the geometry and views in "CityScapes" sort of echoed those found in The Cube. Since the sides of the square building boast dozens of large windows—with peek-a-boo views of downtown, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the University of Tampa—the light and shadows inside the impressive interior are constantly changing, and I got a little thrill watching the sunset fill the space with a beautiful peachy-pink glow right before the museum closed.

A mini tour of the museum and the "CityScapes" show, after the jump...

Sip & Savor : Inspiration for a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Happy Cinco de Mayo! While today is not really about eating great Mexican food and drinking too many margaritas, that is what the holiday has become to non-Mexican Americans, like me. One should know the history of the day, but, I have to say, there's nothing wrong with celebrating Mexico's vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. Growing up in Southern California, Mexican food was part of my family's regular dinner rotation and there are many truly great Mexican restaurants to choose from, especially in San Diego. 

Finding authentic Mexican eats in Florida is a bit more difficult, but Red Mesa Cantina is one solid option in downtown St. Pete. (Get the mofongo and fried sweet plantains. Yum.) More recently, after a shopping trip at Ikea in Tampa, we cruised over to Channelside Bay Plaza to try out Hablo Taco. It definitely has a touristy vibe, but the food and drinks were good. The hubs and I followed the restaurant's advice, written in the menu and on the walls ("Don't drink the water. The tequila is much better.") and quenched our thirst with frozen margaritas, both twists on the classic: the Sangria-Rita for me (stumbled upon this recipe for a similar sweet slushy concoction) and the Corona-Rita for him. Served in giant goblets, one was enough.

Never a man to pass up pulled pork, G ordered the Pork al Pastor tacos, which are topped with a pineapple salsa, cilantro and salsa fresco and served in Hablo Taco's signature puffy shells. In the mood for something different, I went with the Grilled Avocado plate. Two creamy avocado halves were char-grilled and then covered with perfectly seasoned ground beef, habanero salsa and sour cream, and drizzled with ranchero sauce. (I skipped the queso fresco.) Served with a side of Mexican rice and chips, it was a hearty and satisfying meal.

The grilled avocado is a dish that could easily be replicated at home. Tonight, even! I'd love to try this recipe for grilled avocado with charred red onion and scallions. You could top or stuff it with just about anything—meat, veggies, salsa. It's an easy and versatile dish that is a bit more interesting than your typical Cinco de Mayo guacamole. Now, granted, we don't have a barbecue but I'm thinking it could still be tasty (if less smoky) on an indoor grill pan.

The hubs recently made Hawaiian-inspired teriyaki pulled pork tacos at home (I told you he loves pulled pork!) but this recipe for Tacos al Pastor is a closer dupe to what he had at Hablo Taco. Sweet and spicy.

I'm not sure what our plans are tonight, but if we decide to stay in we're sure to turn to our favorite Assouline cocktail books to whip up some homemade margaritas. If you're in need of a little libation inspiration, check out the two recipes below.

Margarita

Recipe from Vintage Cocktails

Ingredients

2 oz. Don Julio 100% Blue Agave Blanco Tequila

1 oz. Cointreau (or Grand Marnier)

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

1/2 oz. of simple syrup (if you like a sweeter margarita)

For garnish: Coarse salt and lime wedge

Directions

Combine first three ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

To salt the rim (optional): Frost the edge of the cocktail glass by rubbing a lime wedge on the outside rim of the glass, then dipping it into a saucer of coarse salt. 

Tommy's Margarita
Recipe from Celebrity Cocktails

Ingredients

2 oz. Don Julio Reposado Tequila

1 oz. agave nectar

1 oz. fresh lime juice

For garnish: Fresh lime wedge and salt

Directions

Place first three ingredients into a mixing tin, add large ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into a glass over fresh ice, garnish and serve.

To salt the rim (optional): Rub lime wedge on the outside rim of cocktail glass, then dip into a dish of salt.

Finally, a bit of margarita history, courtesy Celebrity Cocktails:

There are many legends about who invented the Margarita Cocktail. Many believe that Margarita Sames (Texan socialite) created it in Acapulco in 1948. However, a lesser-known legend is that a bartender in Tijuana created it to impress Rita Hayworth. Either way, it remains the number-one ordered cocktail in North America.

Personally, I like the Rita Hayworth version :)

Here's wishing you a fun (and safe!) Cinco de Drinko, err Cinco de Mayo. Cheers!


ETA: We ended up staying in! We made a healthy Mexican-style dinner and the margarita above. It was good and strong but, for a little fruity sweetness I splashed in a bit of OJ. Perfection.

(Papel picado source) 

Girls' Night Out : Anise Global Gastrobar

Last night, Jen (of Letters & Pearls) and I left our handsome hubbies at home and met up in Tampa for a girls' dinner. A much-needed one, at that! It had been so long since I had some quality girl time... In fact, the only real one-on-one I've had with a friend here in St. Pete was when Jen and I first met, face-to-face, for a quick coffee date at the Oxford Exchange. So it was lovely to get together once again and have real talk. You know the kind: When you have a friend that you are so comfortable with that you just talk about anything and everything and the evening goes on for hours.. and before you know it, you've been at a restaurant for almost four hours! That was us last night. Even though we've only known each other a couple months, Jen and I just seemed to click instantly, and I'm so grateful that we were able to find each other through this crazy blogging world. Sometimes it's nice to get out of the house, leave your man and dogs behind, and enjoy the uplifting energy of a girl who just gets it.

Since she lives in Tampa and I'm in St. Pete, we had the task of figuring out on which side of the bridge to go to dinner. A bartender at one of G and I's fave St. Petersburg restaurants, BellaBrava, had previously recommended to us her other workplace, Anise Global Gastrobar. The hubs and I had actually walked by it when we were at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for Oktoberfest, so I remembered peering in and thinking it looked like a cute place, and the perfect spot for a friend date. Unfortunately, I'm not terribly knowledgable about the Tampa food scene, so it was my one and only recommendation. But it worked out! Jen is currently on a vegan challenge, and Anise's tapas-style menu offers several vegan-friendly options.

We both started with a glass of Sangre The Blackbird, a refreshing, not-too-sweet white sangria made with blackberry, peach and elderflower. The cocktail's pretty hue perfectly matched the pink flowers on the table. As they say, on Wednesdays we wear drink pink! (OK, so maybe that's not a thing but it should be.) Jen and I then shared a basked of truffled tater tots with lemon parsley crème fraiche and an order of fried zucchini with crispy garlic "stinky bunz" (a kind-of Asian-style slider, for which Anise is known, from the restaurant's food truck days). 

The tots were delicious, of course, because, well, they are little golden nuggets of crispy fried potato, so how could they not be? And the buns lived up to their hype. We've already decided we need to return to try all the flavors (pork belly included). I'm pretty sure anything stuffed into those airy, pillowy bread buns would be good. I would have never thought to put a slab of fried zucchini in a sandwich but that's just was Anise did and I loved it.

Finally, for our entrées, Jen chose the Jap Chae noodle bowl, filled with gluten free noodles, sautéed veggies, tofu and sesame seeds while I decided to go light and fresh with the roasted beet and arugula salad with toasted pine nuts and a grapefruit vinaigrette (I held the goat cheese). All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I just wish I had saved room for dessert! The deep fried sweet bunz, one with strawberries and nutella and another with bananas and a crispy cookie spread, sound out of this world amazing.

Good thing there's always a next time. And I know I'll have good company.

P.S. Many thanks to Jen for taking far better photos of our meal than I did! Stole a few for the above collage :)

A Coffee Date

Today I had the joy of meeting face-to-face with a new blogger friend, Jen of Letters & Pearls. After about six weeks of getting to know each other via our blogs and Instagram, we decided to meet for coffee at what is veritably Tampa Bay's best gathering place, the Oxford Exchange (which I blogged about before here and here, and Jen wrote about here after visiting on my recommendation!). Since moving from California to St. Pete six months ago, I haven't had the opportunity to make many new friends, so it's been absolutely lovely to start building a friendship with another like-minded gal who gets the ups and downs of military life, and an even bigger pleasure to actually meet in person. Jen is warm, down to earth, and easy to talk to—just as sweet as can be. And super stylish, too! (We both share an affinity for booties, so I wore my new ones for our date.) We joked prior to our meeting that we'd probably be so busy taking photos of the beautiful surroundings at OE that we'd be too distracted to really talk. But the opposite happened! Instead, we were so busy chatting, swapping stories about our hubbies (good ones!) and life as military wives, that I only had a chance to snap the above photo of my vanilla latte (that's a large, gorgeous skylight reflecting off the table). So while I don't have much eye candy to post, I'd say our meeting was a success. Today exemplified, for me anyway, the best part about blogging: connecting with people—and often, kindred spirits—you otherwise may never have met. I'm looking forward to more coffee dates (and wine nights!) in the future.

A Book Signing with Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my inspirations, an idol, if I can go that far: Anna Bond, the creative genius behind my favorite stationery (and much more) brand Rifle Paper Co. I'm sure you've heard of it and if you haven't, I am positive you have at the very least seen Anna's beautiful illustrations even if you didn't know it. Rifle Paper Co. is everywhere. Even on classic novels! See, that was the reason behind our meeting. The Oxford Exchange in Tampa hosted a book signing with the celebrity stationer, who illustrated the covers and endpapers for the Puffin in Bloom book collection.

You may recall that I was supposed to attend this signing last month (my first trip to the gorgeous Oxford Exchange) but it was canceled due to a family emergency. So when I found out the event was rescheduled for Nov. 15 you can bet I RSVP'd stat and penned (not penciled) that date into my calendar immediately.

I can't quite remember how or when the love affair began, all I know is I am now obsessed with the brand (exhibit A and B) and just adore everything bearing the Rifle Paper Co. name. (It's a bit of a problem for my bank account.)

The signing was at 3 p.m. but we decided to make a day of it and headed over to Oxford Exchange early (if you count noon on a Saturday as early) for brunch. We already knew OE's restaurant is excellent, and it still delivered. Since it was afternoon, G opted for lunch: a Club piled with roasted turkey, avocado, bacon, tomato, bibb lettuce, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli, with slaw and sweet potato fries on the side. I on the other hand ordered breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes sitting in a pool of a bacon maple glaze and topped with spicy pumpkin seeds. I never order sweet breakfasts, I always go for something savory (usually a Benedict) but I felt helpless to resist such a perfectly autumnal way to start the day. The cakes were delicious and dense, sweet and a little salty from the bacon, and stacked five to the plate! I couldn't finish but gave it a noble effort. 

We lingered over our meals and morning cocktails yet still had about 30 minutes time to browse the shop. Given the occasion, I conceded to my urge to pick up a few new Rifle pretties: the Birds of a Feather Notebook Set and Rose Botanicals Journal (sold out online at Rifle, but available through OE's online shop). A girl, a writer, can never have too many pads of paper.

Soon enough a line was forming and we got in it. G was a happy camper when a server came around asking if anyone wanted a cocktail. Considering he doesn't care all that much about stationery, I think that gin and tonic made his day. Perhaps I should have had one, as I became very nervous, as I knew I would. I've never been to a book signing before and I'm not the fan girl type, so it felt a little odd to fawn over this person and get their autograph. And yet, the whole reason I came is because I do admire Anna Bond. I admire her creative talent but also her entrepreneurial spirit. The fact that she followed her passions, worked hard and, over the last five years, has grown a hugely successful business. Something that started in her garage apartment is now an international and beloved brand with a unique and distinct aesthetic. Anna is the epitome of "do what you love." That's why I consider her an inspiration and a creative's idol.

Now, did I tell her all that to her face? Haha, no. We only had a few minutes to talk. The fact that I had all the Puffin in Bloom books gave me a little more time than most. I opened with something like, "I know you get this all the time, but I love your work." Smooth. Anyway, I preceded to tell her how I used her "Will you be my...?" cards to ask my dear friends to be in my bridal party. And how my husband and I used the Botanicals Garland at our wedding reception. Anna asked if I was from "here" and I told her we are actually from California; that we came from San Diego but are originally from Simi Valley. She then told me her brother lives in California and that she would be visiting him for Christmas, to which I replied that I would be visiting next spring. 

Yep, definitely not earth-shattering conversation. But the whole time she was just as sweet as could be. I asked if we could take a photo together, adding as I fanned myself, "even though I'm all red; I'm a little nervous." And she admitted she was nervous, too. See? Sweet as could be.

[ A display of Rifle Paper Co. goodies in the Oxford Exchange shop. ]

[ Stacks of Puffin in Bloom books. ]

[ The view while waiting in line to meet Anna Bond. ]

[ The book signing took place on the mezzanine-level balcony at the Oxford Exchange. ]

[ Anna Bond was all smiles as she met fans and signed books. ]

[ Left: I'm pretty sure this photo was taken as I jokingly said, "I hope there is no limit to the things you can sign..." // Right: A slightly-blurry photo of Anna Bond and I. ] 

[ My signed books, all stacked up. ]

[ The inside of "Heidi," with Anna Bond's signature on the endpapers. ]

[ A cute holiday card Anna Bond created specifically for Oxford Exchange, to sell at the event. Since only 50 were available, I decided I just had to snap one up. I had Anna sign the inside of the card and I plan to frame it as holiday decor. ] 

[ Sweet Rifle Paper Co. notebooks. ]

[ We ended our OE visit with handcrafted lattes-- vanilla for me, mocha for him-- and a teeny-tiny Oreo cupcake. ]

Do you love Rifle Paper Co. as much as I do? Is there anyone you look up to and would be excited-nervous to meet?

Weekend Recap : Guavaween & A Bucs Game

We had an eventful weekend, with Guavaween, a Halloween party in historic Ybor City, on Saturday night, followed by (too-early-if-you-ask-me) tailgating on Sunday morning before the 1 o'clock Buccaneers game. Still tired from all our fun, let's cut the words and rely on pictures.

A few scenes from our weekend...

 Mr. Gangsta and Mrs. Flapper make their entrance at Guavaween, at The Cuban Club in the historic district of Ybor City. Needing costumes in a pinch, I recycled the outfit I wore to a 1920s-themed NYE party two years ago and added a white boa.

 The hubby proving he's a beer-shotgunning champ while tailgating before the Bucs game. We were hanging out with GT's Coast Guard crew. Of course, the hubs had to show his San Diego Chargers pride, even in Florida!

 Enjoying the crowd, the sunshine, hot dogs and super-sized frozen drinks at the game.

Hoping you had a wonderful weekend, too!