Monday Morning Memo is your weekly update on downtown Tampa development, transportation updates, news and events. Click on the sections below or scroll down to read the complete issue:

In this Issue...

Downtown Happenings

Three Downtown Ambassadors Honored… Including TDP’s Own Ray Bertrand! Ten year, Tampa Downtown Guide veteran, Ray Bertrand, along with Brian Shively, Pizza Fusion and Antonio De’Sousa, Hyatt Regency Tampa were honored by Tampa Bay & Company as three of ten of the Bay area’s finest hospitality personnel with the “Bern Laxer Awards of Excellence.”  These three exemplary “ambassadors” of Downtown Tampa were recognized on May 9 at the 2012 National Tourism Week Luncheon, held at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina.

Final Walking Tour of the Season Involves a “Walk on Water”
Friday, May 18, Noon and 1:00 p.m.
Meet at Franklin and Madison Streets

The Partnership’s popular Do the Local Motion guided walking tour program is ending the season on May 18 with the annual “Walk on Water” scenic tour aboard the Tampa Water Taxi. Trips must be reserved in advance.   Click here to register for the Noon tour, and click here for the 1:00 p.m.  There is a suggested donation of $10 to cover fuel costs.

Republican National Convention (De)Briefing Wednesday, May 30, 7:30 a.m. Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel Join Tampa Downtown Partnership for this timely panel discussion with Tampa Bay Host Committee COO, Matt Becker and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor who will share RNC Convention plan updates, informational tools, opportunities for Downtown businesses, workers and residents, and, how you can be involved. Click here for more information.

May is National Bike Month Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m. Meet at Curtis Hixon Park, Cass Street and Ashley Drive Tampa’s Downtown is participating in the global Ride of Silence  to commemorate cyclists killed or injured in traffic crashes. No entry fee, no t-shirt, no sponsors, no noise – just a slow, solemn ride through Tampa. Click here for more information.

83 Degrees presents: "Valuing Diversity: Wealth Components of a Global City''
Thursday, May 17, 5:00 p.m.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 400 N. Ashley Drive

This lively “Not Your Average Speaker Series” panel discussion begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. after a half hour of networking and refreshments. Admission is free!  Click here to RSVP.  

St. Andrew’s Thursdays at Twelve-Thirty Concert Series
Sunday, May 17 and 24, 12:30 p.m.
509 North Marion Street

Delight in the half-hour long concerts of organ, vocal, and/or instrumental music featuring local artists at St. Andrew’s Church, located in Downtown Tampa. Open to the public without charge.
May 17: Recital by Kevin Page, a Junior at Berkeley Prep, music by J. S. Bach and Louis Vierne
May 24: Concert of duets by the Sun City Chamber Players

Tampa Downtown Market – Last Two Fridays of the Season!
Friday, May 18 and 25, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
200 & 300 Block of Twiggs Street

Featuring the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious and most reasonably priced food and gourmet foods.  The market offers healthful choices, more local business opportunities and a fun shopping experience.

Heads Up for the Special Ops “Assault” Demonstration
Wednesday, May 23, 1:00 p.m.
Tampa Convention Center, 333 South Franklin Street

U.S. Special Operations Command is hosting a week-long International Special Operations Forces (SOF) conference beginning May 22. Commander Adm. William McRaven has invited SOF delegates from 96 nations to the Tampa Convention Center for a conference focused on “Building the Global SOF Partnership.” A highlight of the conference will be a demonstration of SOF capabilities, featuring operators from a dozen countries “assaulting” mock enemy positions and rescuing “hostages” next to the convention center, both on land and in the bay. Spectators are invited to watch the half-hour demonstration of assault and rescue by land, air and water.

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City Development & Transportation

City Center Master Planning Process Well Underway – Knowledge Exchange Scheduled Wednesday, May 16, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tampa Convention Center, 333 South Franklin Street Mayor Buckhorn needs your input to map the best plan for Tampa's future. The InVision website guides you through the process to help you answer questions about how you feel about downtown neighborhoods or where the community should focus redevelopment efforts in the next five years. You can also add to or vote on the ideas of others. Click here to get started. Discussion Topic: Public Realm – the Livable and Sustainable City.

Kids Can Roll on Their Own This Summer with HART Summer Blast Pass
Monday, May 14 through Friday, August 31

Your 5 to 17 year old can once again ride HART transit service all summer long for only $30 with the HART Summer Blast Pass!  Good on all Local, In-Town Trolley and Flex service, kids can travel throughout Hillsborough County.  Click here for more information. 

And the Winner Is… Tampa’s Downtown!
Kudos to the winners of the Hillsborough County Planning Commission’s 30th Annual Community Design Rewards… and to Tampa’s Downtown!  Eight downtown area initiatives swept the awards at the May 10 event.

Award of Outstanding Contribution to the Community:
Tampa Bay Times Forum 

Award of Merit:
TECO Line Streetcar Extension

Award of Excellence Recipients:
Platt Street Bridge Restoration
Washington Street Park - Channel District Award of Excellence
Selmon Greenway Feasability Study
1613 N Franklin Street
Life Center at Metro 510
USF Health's Center for Advanced Medical Learning & Simulation
 

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