February 22, 2010

Monday Morning Memo is your weekly update on the latest news about downtown Tampa.  Here are the sections found in this issue.  Click on the sections below or scroll down to read the complete issue:
 
Partnership Matters | Opportunities | Studies and Reviews | Seeing is Believing | Special Services District | Creative Urban Core | Downtown Happenings | In and Around InTown

There is still time to attend the next Tampa Electric Company Downtown Debriefing Series with an event titled “Down the Rabbit Hole.”  This event will take place Tuesday (2/23) in Ferguson Hall at The Straz Center (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center).  The event kicks off with a 7:30 a.m. registration and continental breakfast followed by an 8:00 a.m. start with the program.  Down the Rabbit Hole will take a look at the Straz Center’s fascinating journey to “Wonderland” – the process of creating a new musical from playwright/composer to opening night, and perhaps to Broadway. Hear show progress reports, economic impact and behind-the-scenes tales from Straz Center President and CEO Judy Lisi, plus just maybe get a hint at where you might find “Wonderland” next.  To book your reservation, click here.
 

The Tampa Downtown Partnership has announced the 14th Annual Downtown Development Forum.  The event is titled “The New World of Downtown Tampa -2010.”  This year’s event will take place Friday, March 19th starting at 7:30 a.m. and lasting until 12:00 p.m.   The event will take place at Tampa Preparatory School (727 West Cass Street).  This annual event focuses on the exploration of innovative ideas in urban development and serves as a catalyst for discussion and problem solving for major urban issues in Downtown Tampa. Each year hundreds of business people, developers, real estate professionals, property owners and others interested in the future of downtown attend this event. This year's event will include presentations and discussions on:

• How Transportation Development will shape downtown's future.
• Growth Management Election Issues.  
• Downtown Business Sector Updates. 

ChappellRoberts and Common Language, producers of the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference, announced the date for the second annual meeting, which will take place April 15, 2010 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.  The Conference will explore trends that are shaping how baby boomers are reinventing their lives personally, professionally, physically and spiritually – and what those trends mean for companies marketing to them.  The Conference is designed to give marketers greater insight into the current boomer zeitgeist and capitalize on it to successfully address the needs of this huge market. Boomers – the 78 million people born between 1946 and 1964 - are key to Florida’s economic future. They are expected to make up more than 30 percent of the state’s population by 2015. Understanding the current boomer consumer mindset and what messages and methods resonate most with them will be the primary focus of the 2010 Conference.  You can find out more and register for this conference at www.floridaboomerlifestyle.com.  

If you are concerned about our water supply and our long term goals, then you will want to attend the Planning Commission’s upcoming event. The Linking Land Use & Water Supply: An Interactive Forum is the place to be on March 11th. This forum brings together concerned citizens and professionals with experts responsible for water management, water supply and growth management in the Tampa Bay area. These experts will discuss relevant issues and potential solutions to our growing needs in these areas.  Get details by clicking here.

How was your commute this morning?  If it was full of traffic jams and stop and go traffic, you are experiencing some of the worst commuting in the country according to Forbes Magazine.  The business publication recently released its findings of a study on the best and worst places for commuters.  Tampa Bay ranked dead last at 60!  To read the report, click here.
 

This is your final week to give your input…Does the Downtown area need additional shopping options? What suggestions do you have? We want to know!  Downtown Tampa and its surrounding areas have experienced substantial growth in the past few years in terms of residential, retail, entertainment and restaurant offerings. As a Downtown area employee or resident, you are in the right place to experience all of the benefits! The Tampa Downtown Partnership and City of Tampa are working with the Tampa Research Group (Tampa RG) to gather feedback from you and your coworkers regarding improving Downtown’s grocery shopping options. Please take just five minutes to share your thoughts. To show our thanks, we will hold a drawing for various local business gift cards, vouchers and prizes. We hope you will take this opportunity to make your voice heard! www.TampaRG.com/employee
 

The Tampa Prep Girls Varsity Soccer Team had an incredible 2009-2010 season. The girls finished the season 18-5-4, advancing to the State Championship game for the second time in school history. This is the third consecutive season the girls have advanced to the State Tournament. In the State Semifinal game vs Tallahassee Maclay at The University of Tampa, a majority of the Tampa Prep student body was in attendance to cheer on the girls. This made a huge impact on the emotions of our team from the opening whistle. It paid off on the scoreboard too as Tampa Prep was able to score two quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the game and set the tone for the rest of the game. Sophomore Alyssa Bryant opened the scoring with her ninth goal of the season, assisted by junior Mackenzie Logan. Isabel Dalence then stepped up to score her 4th goal of the season on another beautiful PK. Junior Jackie Rosenthal sealed the game for the Terrapins as she scored the third and final goal of the game unassisted for her tenth goal of the season.  Way to go!

This is the Tampa UCAP Downtown Water Pipeline Replacement Project update for February 22.  A map with the road/lane closures is available by clicking here. 

• Florida Avenue:The two lanes on the east side of Florida, starting at Zack north to Cass, are closed. Motorists should expect a new traffic pattern as the west lanes are re-opened and the two lanes on the EAST side of Florida are closed.
• Cass Street:The northern most travel lane and parking lane from Franklin to Marion are closed.  The two eastbound traffic lanes will be maintained.  On-street parking on north side of the street will not be available in the area.
• Polk Street: The northern westbound lane is closed between Morgan and Tampa. Traffic in the northern lane will be detoured onto Morgan.  The southern westbound lane remains open to through traffic. 
• Nebraska Avenue:There will be a lane shift between Washington and Jackson.  Motorist should expect a new traffic pattern.
• Washington Street:The eastbound lane between Brush and Nebraska is closed.  Traffic will be detoured on Brush to Jackson.  Westbound traffic will be maintained in one lane.
• Marion Street: Closed to through traffic from Scott to Harrison. For information regarding changes in bus stops in the immediate vicinity of the Marion St. Transit Center, please contact HART Customer Service at 223-6831.

Downtown soccer lovers…Tampa needs your support.  Please help in welcoming the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team to our community!  As you are aware, the Tampa Bay area is privileged to be one of 18 American cities that will be submitted by the USA Bid Committee as potential venues for the World Cup Soccer games, if FIFA selects the United States to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. This Wednesday (2/24) Tampa Bay will host for the U.S. Men’s National Team match vs. El Salvador at 7pmat Raymond James Stadium.  This is one of only a few games that the U.S. will play in the United States leading up to this year's World Cup in South Africa.  Please continue to encourage your constituency to support the U.S. national team and Tampa Bay’s  World Cup bid effort by maximizing attendance at this game.  Visit www.ussoccer.com or www.VisitTampaBay.com/USMNT for additional details about this spectacular event. For information regarding Tampa Bay's bid for the FIFA World Cup, please visit www.gousabid.com/tampabay. 

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is working to build awareness of bicycling in downtown Tampa:

• March is Florida’s bike month. The Tampa Downtown Partnership, through the Tampa BayCycle campaign, is celebrating with activities planned such as street skills training classes, commute challenges, bike to work rides, free bike and gear giveaways, group rides and more. Click here for the schedule. The weather couldn’t be more perfect to get “get off your rack and ride”.
• And speaking of biking, mark your calendar for the 2nd annual Tampa Twilight Criterium and ECO.Festival on Saturday, March 27. 600+ bike racers and thousands of spectators will converge upon downtown for a fun filled day with a backdrop of the races while dining on local food, beer and wine along with live music, a health and wellness fair, etc. We are now accepting applications for vendors. Click here for more information.

Nothing beats the smell of a new car…or in this case, a new bus.  HART's striking new blue-and-white buses are taking to Hillsborough County's streets with a squeaky clean look and curb-level floors designed for maximum ease in passenger boarding.  Seven heavy-duty buses have arrived and are part of 29 being delivered through mid-March. Thirty of the new buses went into service in August-September, bringing the total of new buses to 59 out of a total fleet of 202 buses. The buses were purchased with about $7 million in federal funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. HART was granted a total of $15.1 million under ARRA, which is being used for various capital purchases and construction projects that will help improve the transit system and provide investment in the local economy.


Creative Urban Core

ATTENTION ARTISTS: The Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA) has announced a call for chalk artists and plein aire artists to participate in its second annual Chalk Walk art festival. TBBCA has announced that the second annual event will take place May 7-9, 2010 in Hyde Park Village. Cash prizes totaling $2,600 will be awarded for the best drawings. Artist applications are due no later than March 31, 2010 but the early registration deadline is February 25 for a discount in registration fees.  Read more by clicking here.

The Henry B. Plant Museum is launching a new exhibition called “Facing the Late Victorians: Portraits of Writers and Authors from the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection.”  This exhibition includes the drawings, prints, photographs, manuscripts, and books - many rarely seen - are drawn from the Mark Samuels Lasner Collection in the University of Delaware Library.  The exhibit will begin March 5th and run through June 5th.  Details can be found by clicking here.

CASTING CALL: Cirque Dreams Illumination and the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts have teamed up to offer one lucky dreamer the chance to “Run away with Cirque Dreams” and perform in a feature role when the show performs at the Straz Center, March 23-28.  The creative team from Cirque Dreams will hold a casting call, limited to the first 100 dreamers, on Saturday, February 27th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Westshore Plaza and encourage aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone else with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company. Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts with their skills. Performers requiring music should bring their own CD. In addition, performers from Cirque Dreams Illumination will be on hand to give a sneak peek of the show. The winner of the “Run Away with Cirque Dreams” competition will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance in Cirque Dreams Illumination and will receive six complimentary tickets to their debut performance.

• Sample over 250 premium wines from Spain, California & South America and enjoy tapas from The Columbia Café while helping find a cure for pediatric sarcoma. $100 per person benefits Moffitt Cancer Center. The event is Friday, March 5th, from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Tampa Bay History Center.  See www.columbiarestaurant.com for more information.
• The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts turns 40th this year!  The event will take place in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Saturday, March 6th and Sunday, March 7th.  This is one of the top art shows in the country attracting 300 artists from around the world.  Details available by clicking here.
• Tampa Theatre will host a local Oscar celebration on March 7th.  This is one of the few sanctioned Oscar celebrations.  Find out more by clicking here.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Lightning Foundation are excited to announce the 9th Annual Bolt Run, presented by the St. Petersburg Times, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as the Lightning Foundation’s Annual Grant Program, to be held on Saturday, March 6 beginning at 7:30 a.m.  The Bolt Run features three separate classifications in which runners may participate. The five-mile race will begin at 7:30 a.m., while the 5K event will start at 8 a.m. The Children’s 400 and 600-meter dashes will wrap up the day’s schedule at 8:30 a.m. All three races will begin at the St. Pete Times Forum and will also feature chip timing and results. Awards will be distributed to the top three male and female qualifiers in 13 distinct age groups.   Those interested in entering the 9th Annual Bolt Run can find out more by clicking here. A $25 pre-registration fee is available until March 5 while on-site registration the day of the event will be $30. Registration for the Children’s Dashes (12 & under) is $15.
• More food for a good cause! Due to the overwhelming appeal of famous television shows, outstanding chefs have been praised for their culinary genius.  This event will have Tampa Bay’s prominent chefs in the limelight and will raise much needed funds for the Child Abuse Council.  This one-of-a-kind event created in Tampa Bay is sure to be worldwide news!  Up to twenty-five of Tampa Bay’s premier chefs will be invited to participate in this culinary adventure.  They’ll bring their own ambience and excellence to the area’s elite for an evening of very fine dining.  Each chef designs their own menu and prepares – tableside – a five course meal with accompanying wine (or other libations) for a table of ten people.  Chefs will receive points in attempt to claim the title of “Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay”.   This event will take place March 15th at Hyatt Regency Tampa. For more information on “Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay”, call the Child Abuse Council’s Development Department at (813) 673-4646 or visit www.childabusecouncil.com.
• The Gasparilla International Film Festival will open at the Tampa Theatre on March 18th.  The festival will bring to downtown Tampa and the surrounding areas some of the most unique productions on film ever.  Find out what you can expect by visiting their website. Films and events will take place at Tampa Theatre, Muvico in Ybor City and CineBistro in Hyde Park.

• Coach Joe Gibbs, formerly with the Washington Redskins, will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming breakfast event called A Game Plan for Life Breakfast.  The event takes place April 28th at the Tampa Convention Center starting at 6:30 a.m.  Find out more by clicking here.
• The second annual Sweetwater Paddle for the Cure takes place on Saturday, April 24th with two race options: a 5-mile race, at 8:00 a.m. and a 2-mile family fun paddle, at 10:30 a.m. Set against the background of downtown Tampa’s scenic Riverwalk, both races will launch from Riverfront Park at 1001 North Blvd. All proceeds benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to fund and develop new treatments for multiple myeloma. For more information and to register contact: Ashleysickles@gmail.com 

In and Around InTown

Taste of Italy, right in the heart of Historic Ybor City.  Festa Italiana celebrates its 13th Anniversary, Italian style!  Gather your family and friends and join us in Ybor City for a time to remember!  The festivities kick-off with Wines of Italy on Thursday, March 25th - Join Festa Italiana for a unique tasting experience, featuring over seventy wines from different regions of Italy and Italian Antipasti and Desserts!  The Italian Club of Tampa hosts this special evening and the event serves to benefit the Italian Club Restoration Fund.  Space is limited, so purchase your tickets now by calling 813.248.3316.

 601 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 1100, Tampa FL 33602
(813) 221-3686 phone; (813) 229-1328 fax: www.tampasdowntown.com
Be in the know faster by following the Tampa Downtown Partnership on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tampasdowntown or become a fan of downtown Tampa by visiting the Partnership’s Facebook page.