December 20, 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 | Seeing is Believing | Special Services District | Creative Urban Core
| Downtown Happenings | In and Around InTown


Partnership Matters
 

The Tampa Downtown Partnership will be closed on Friday (12/24) in observance of the Christmas holiday.  Offices will also be closed on Friday, December 31st in observance of the New Year.  All of us at the Tampa Downtown Partnership wish you a joyous season of peace and wellbeing!

Monday Morning Memo is produced 51 times a year.  However, there’s no issue of Monday Morning Memo the last Monday of the year.  Did you know that the Partnership archives all back issues of Monday Morning Memo?  You can review all the news of 2010 by clicking here.



We need your vote!  A task force of the Tampa Downtown Partnership called REALM is working hard to gain votes for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant.  The winners of these grants are the top 10 vote getters in their respective categories.  What is REALM?  If you like Yoga in the Park, Tango in the Park and Rock the Park, then make sure to visit the Vote For REALM page and cast your vote!  Remember, you can vote twice each day, once online and once by text, through December 31st.  Finally, please spread the word.  The more people that can learn about REALM’s efforts to get this grant, the better the chances are that REALM will win, and bring more fun to the Park!

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Opportunities

Need a haircut?  Now here’s a deal you won’t want to miss so you look your best for Christmas.  Restless Styles, which is located in the Bank of America Plaza (101 E. Kennedy Blvd, 3rd floor) is welcoming its newest barber, Willie Torres. Free haircuts will be offered on Wednesday (12/22).  You just have to call (813) 374-8816 to make an appointment.  Restless Styles will also be offering free haircuts on Wednesday, December 29th.  Call today!

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Studies and Reviews

Congratulations to two outstanding employees of Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team. The 2010 Employee of the Year for Tampa’s Downtown Clean Team is Jorge Horcasitas!  The 2010 Employee of the year for Tampa’s Downtown Guides is Diderot Nemorin!  Way to go!

Throughout the year people who use the services of Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team share their experiences with the Partnership.  Hundreds of responses are sent to the Partnership mentioning the incredible job these two teams perform on a daily basis.  This year, two members of both teams received more comments about their great job performance.  Congratulations to Tampa’s Downtown Guide Robert Arnold and Tampa’s Downtown Clean Team member Robert Clary for recognition for a job well done!

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) and MetLife Foundation have announced that the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is one of four recipients nationwide of the 2011 Arts Presenters/MetLife Arts Access Awards.  The awards are presented to performing arts organizations that have been exemplary in their dedication and approach to either engaging individuals with disabilities to experience and value the performing arts, or engaging underserved communities that lack access to the performing arts. The $10,000 awards will be presented at the 54th APAP/NYC Conference Awards Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, in Washington, D.C.  The Straz Center has been awarded the 2011 Arts Presenters/MetLife Arts Access Exemplar Award: Engaging Individuals with Disabilities, in part, due to the organization’s long standing commitment and dedication to working with individuals with disabilities. Through the Open Doors Program, the Straz Center works to make the arts more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. The initiative has grown from basic accommodations to an organized program led by an enthusiastic and well-informed committee with input from community partners, representing all areas of operation and engaging specialized assistance. The Open Doors Program focuses on exceeding ADA compliance and embracing a comprehensive view of the diverse needs of residents and visitors in the community. The Straz Center has significantly expanded its network of community partnerships by establishing a Community Advisory Committee and proactively seeking new community partners. 

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Seeing is Believing

Country Living Magazine has featured downtown’s Tampa Theatre in its Portrait of America edition. The publication said “on October 15, 1926, this landmark screened its first picture, the silent Ace of Cads.  Back then, tickets cost 10 cents apiece, ushers worked the rows of the 1,446-seat auditorium, and an organist charmed audiences on a Mighty Wurlitzer during intermission.  The theater—saved from demolition by historic preservationists nearly four decades ago—draws crowds to downtown Tampa with classic movie series, independent features, live concerts, even a filmmaking camp for local students. Why ‘It’s a magical place,’ says program director Tara Schroeder. ‘People in the community feel a real sense of stewardship for the theater. They’re proud of the fact that they can still bring their children and grandkids to the same spot where they watched their very first movie.’”
 

Service on the TECO Line Streetcar System extension to Whiting Street began this past Sunday (12/19). The third of a mile expansion will help bring the nostalgic trolleys into the core of downtown. Be sure to see the station at night to fully appreciate it’s lighted art display. Click here to read an article and see route maps.
 

Here is your UCAP update for the week of December 20th.  A map of the current construction areas can be viewed by clicking here.

• Cass Street (MacInnes to Harrison):  Intermittent lane closures for striping activity.
• Florida Avenue (Harrison to Cass):  Intermittent lane closures for striping activity.
• Tampa Street (Harrison to Cass):  Intermittent lane closures for striping activity.
• Twiggs Street (Florida to Pierce):  Two northernmost lanes closed.  One eastbound and one westbound lane remain open.
• Madison Street (Franklin to Florida):  Northern westbound travel lane, northern parking lane, and center turn only lane closed.  One eastbound travel lane remains open.
• Nebraska Avenue (at Cass):  Westernmost southbound travel lane closed.
• Tampa Street (Kennedy to Jackson):  Westernmost travel, bike, and parking lane closed.  Two lanes remain open for southbound traffic.
• Twiggs Street (at Meridian):  The Selmon Expressway Reversible Elevated Lane southbound right turn lane exit at Twiggs Street is scheduled to be reduced to one lane beginning at 10:00 am on Monday, December 20, 2010.  There will be one eastbound lane and one westbound lane available for thru traffic at the intersection of Twiggs and Meridian.  Motorists should expect a new traffic pattern during the lane closures.

Holiday Schedule

• North of Cass:  No construction activity from Dec 24-26 and Dec 31-Jan 3
• South of Cass:  No construction activity from Dec 24 - Jan 3

Additional information about this project can be found on the Tampa UCAP website at www.tampa-ucap.com.

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Special Services District

HART reports it will have bus service on Christmas. Sunday schedules will be in effect Dec. 25, which falls on a Saturday.  HART will also operate a regular Saturday schedule on Friday, Dec. 24, which is the Christmas holiday all levels of government observe.  HART will operate a weekday schedule on Friday, Dec. 31st. A Sunday schedule will be in effect New Year's Day.

The Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse is preparing for an upgrade and it may affect your drive.  Johnson Controls will be replacing the cooling tower at the courthouse starting in January.  Make sure you read the brief summary of the project so you are aware of what’s taking place and adjust your driving course near the courthouse on days that may be affected by this project.

Fly Bar & Restaurant hosted the Guides’ and Clean Team’s annual holiday luncheon, which took place on Thursday, December 16th.  Each year, downtown vendors and companies generously donate toward a holiday gift bag as a way of saying “thank you” to team members for their hard work throughout the year. The team really appreciates the recognition for a job well done! 

 

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Creative Urban Core

Creative Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Technology Forum are reporting that Tampa Bay ranks 25th in number of technology jobs.  Based on the report from an article published in Bloomberg Businessweek, “Tech jobs are coming back after hitting bottom early this year, according to economy tracker Moody's Analytics (MCO). The U.S. economy has added 47,000 technology jobs so far this year amid resurgent demand for tech products in Asia and Latin America.  That represents 15 percent growth in tech jobs, compared with an 11 percent jobs growth in the economy overall since the beginning of the year, according to Moody's. Since a peak at the end of 2007, the tech industry had lost 307,000 jobs nationally in the economic downturn.”  To read the entire acticle, click here.

Tampa Bay is in for some feel-good fun on Tuesday (12/21) when clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, will charge kids fitness funny bones at the Glazer Children’s Museum with their CircusFit program!  CircusFit, a new national youth fitness program developed by Ringling Bros. in partnership with The President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, encourages America’s youth to lead healthy, active lifestyles by combining the fun of unique circus skills with stretching, strength building and aerobic exercise.  The challenge of teaching children to lead healthy lifestyles is finding a way to motivate them to keep physically active outside of structured school and after-school programs. CircusFit meets this challenge by offering young people and families fun and entertaining ways to move, just like the circus star-athletes of Ringling Bros.  CircusFit Seminars will be held at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  All visitors to the Glazer Children’s Museum on Tuesday (12/21) can also register to win a rare and unique pachyderm painting (created by one of the shows electrifying elephants) and tickets to this year’s all new show, Fully Charged!

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Downtown Happenings

Here are a few choice upcoming activities in downtown Tampa.  You can discover many more activities by visiting the Partnership’s online events calendar and using the “Add to My Itinerary” feature where you can organize and map out your next visit to Tampa’s Downtown.

If you have family and friends in for the holiday and are looking for something to do with them, then make sure to add one of these home games of the Tampa Bay Lightning to your list of “must do” items:

12/20 – Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Theme: Happy Holidays!
First 5,000 fans in TBL gear receive a Steven Stamkos Bobblehead courtesy of CW44.
Tickets start at $15!

12/28 – Lightning vs. Boston Bruins
Theme: Hockey Night in Tampa!
Giveaway: First 2500 fans in TBL gear receive Martin St. Louis cards

12/30 – Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
Theme: New Years Eve Eve Party.
Giveaway: First 2500 fans in TBL gear receive Vincent Lecavalier cards.

1/1 – Lightning vs. New York Rangers
Lightning Concert Series presented by VW: Danny Gokey
Theme: Rink in the New Year.
Giveaway: First 5,000 fans in TBL gear receive a Lightning Hat courtesy of Kane's Furniture.
Firehouse Subs Tailgate: Available 2 hours prior to game on the West Plaza. All you can eat and drink menu includes a variety of Firehouse Subs, chips, salad, cookies, brownies, beer and soda for just $25*. *Price does not include game ticket.


Take time this merry season and remember the homiless of Tampa Bay who lost their lives this year.  A memorial service will be held at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square on Tuesday (12/21) starting at 6:00 p.m.  This is a free event and one well worth attending.


Due to popular demand the Victorian Christmas Stroll has been extended. The Stroll will close December 24 and 25 and reopen on December 26 and continue through 31st from 10 am-5 pm each day. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $7 for students and $5 for children 4 - 12 years. Normal museum operations will commence January 1st, 2011.For additional information, click here.

Make sure to come to Channelside Bay Plaza for fireworks and the ringing in of 2011.  The fun festivities begin at 9:00 p.m. on December 31st.  Make sure you have someone with you to kiss at midnight, when the fireworks will light up the downtown sky.  For more details, click here.



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In and Around InTown

Moffitt Cancer Center is conducting a research study to test the effectiveness of self-help materials on smoking cessation efforts.  If you are a smoker and want to work on quitting, now you have a new program to help with your effort.  Click here to see what Moffitt Cancer Center has going on.


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400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 2125, Tampa FL 33602
(813) 221-3686 phone; (813) 229-1328 fax: www.tampasdowntown.com

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