Explore Tampa Bay Newsletter January/February 2025

 

January

Tarpon Springs Epiphany🏊‍♀️: January 6th at Spring Bayou

Downtown Dunedin Art Festival🎭: January 7th-8th

Dunedin International Film Festival 🎥: January 12th-15th

John’s Pass Seafood Festival🍤: January 13th-15th at Madeira Beach NEW DATES MARCH 28TH-30TH

St. Pete Bacon & BBQ Festival 🐷: January 11th-12th at Vinoy Park

Florida RV Supershow🏕️: January 15th -19th at Florida State Fairgrounds

St. Pete Power and Sailboat Show⛵️: January 16th -19th Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin

Ashley Children’s Gasparilla Parade 🌈: January 18th on Bayshore Blvd

Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest 🏴‍☠️: January 25th on Bayshore Blvd

February

10th Annual Raptor Festival: February 1st 🦅 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, Tampa

Tampa Bay Whiskey Riot Festival: February 1st 🥃 at The Coliseum, St. Petersburg

2025 Monster Truck Jam: February 1st -2nd. 🚚 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Florida State Fair: February 6th - 17th 🎡 at Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa

Bark in the Park: February 8th 🐶 at Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa

Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival: February 15th and 16th🍫 at Port Richey Gulfview Square

Sunshine City Smokeout: TBD💨 at St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg)

Sant’ Yago Knight Parade: February 8th 🐎 at Ybor City 7th Ave, Tampa

Localtopia: February 22nd ⛵ at Williams Park, St Pete

Tampa Taco Fest: February 22nd 🌮 at Al Lopez Park, Tampa

Fiesta Day: February 22nd🎉 at Ybor Historic 7th Ave, Tampa

Art and Seafood on the Waterfront: February 🎨🍤 Safety Harbor

Gasparilla Distance Classic: February 22nd-23rd 🏃‍♂️Downtown Tampa

Dunedin Mardi Gras: March 4th⚜️Dunedin

These are just some of the main events. Follow the links for more events and details. Official city websites will have the most up-to-date information.

Our area has fabulous concert venues ranging from large outdoor spaces to intimate indoor spaces. Click on the image above for a current list of the top ten. 🎶👆

We also have amazing museums! Click on the image below to find links to their sites and see which exhibits are currently displayed. 👇

Looking to make new friends in the area? Join my Group “Explore Tampa Bay with Friends”. Just click on the image below for more information. 👇

I’m excited to announce the launch of my YouTube channel, Key to New Shores! Let me help you find your dream home in the Tampa Bay Area. Or explore homes worldwide with me, I’m a Certified International Property Specialist. Click on the image below to visit my YouTube Channel 👇

Single Family Home Sales for Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough County in December.

Explore Tampa Bay Newsletter December 2024 /January 2025

 

December Events

Victorian Christmas Stroll: November 23rd - December 31st (Henry B Plant Museum Tampa)

Unchant: Christmas with a Florida Twist: November 25th - January 13th (FloridaRAMA St Petersburg)

Christmas in the Wild at Zoo Tampa: November 29th, 30th and December 1st, 6th-7th, 12th-15th and 17th -23rd (Lowry Park Zoo Tampa)

Dunedin Polar Express Train: November 30th, December 1st, December 4th through 8th, 11th through 15th, and 18th through the 22nd.

Shopalooza Festival: November 30th -Dec. 1st (St Pete)

Tampa Bay Festival of Lights: November 28th - December 29th (Hillsborough County Fairgrounds)

Holiday Lights in the Garden: November 29th - January 4th (Florida Botanical Gardens Largo)

YuleTides at The Florida Aquarium: November 29th - January 5th (Florida Aquarium Channelside District Tampa)

Christmastown at Busch Gardens: November 15th - January 5th (Busch Gardens Tampa)

Holiday Events at the Tampa Riverwalk: Throughout December (Tampa Riverwalk)

There's Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs: December 6th (Tarpon Ave)

Safety Harbor Santa Firetruck: December 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st

Tree Lighting Ceremonies 🎄

Saint. Petersburg Tree Lighting: November 30th (Downtown St. Petersburg)

Clearwater Tree Lighting: Dec 1st (Coachmen Park Clearwater)

Tampa Riverwalk Tree Lighting: Dec 1st (Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa)

Gulfport Holiday Tree Lighting: Dec 2nd (Clymer Park)

Oldsmar City Tree Lighting: Dec. 2nd (Oldsmar City Hall)

Tarpon Springs Tree Lighting: December 4th (Sponge Docks) December 6th (Downtown Tarpon Springs)

Safety Harbor Tree Lighting: December 6th (Safety Harbor City Center)

Palm Harbor Tree Lighting: December 6th (Downtown Palm Harbor)

New Port Richey Light Up the Night: December 6th (Downtown New Port Richey)

Tarmpa's Santa Fest and Tree Lighting: December 7th (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park)

Holiday Tree Lighting and Strolling Market: December 7th (Largo Central Park)

Light Up Trinity: December 8th (Generations at Trinty)

Dunedin Tree Lighting: (Downtown Dunedin) CANCELLED

Parades 🎅🦌

St Pete Santa Parade and Tree Lighting: November 30th (North Straub Park St Pete)

Safety Harbor Holiday Parade: December 7th Main Street Safety Harbor

Clearwater Beach 12 Days of Christmas Parade: December 9th

Dunedin Old Fashioned Christmas and Holiday Parade: December 9th (Downtown Dunedin)

Palm Harbor Christmas Parade: December 14th (Downtown Palm Harbor)

Oldsmar Holiday Golf Cart and Bike Parade: December 14th (Oldsmar Public Library)

Tarpon Springs Christmas Parade: December 14th (Downtown Tarpon Springs)

NPR Holiday Street Parade: December 15th (Downtown New Port Richey)

Lighted Boat Parades 🛥️

Tarpon Springs Boat Parade: December 6th (Craig Park and Spring Bayou, Tarpon Springs)

Clearwater Beach Holiday Boat Parade: December 14th. Beginning in Mandalay Channel traveling the inlets of Island Estates before going under the Memorial Causeway Bridge ending at the Clearwater Yacht Club.

John's Pass Boat Parade: December 15th (John's Pass Village, Madeira Beach)

Tampa Riverwalk Lighted Boat Parade: December 21st (Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa)

24th Annual Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade: December 22nd (Lowry Park Boat Ramp, Tampa)

Dunedin Boat Parade: December 23rd (Downtown Dunedin, Dunedin) CANCELLED

Reddington Beach Boat Parade: December 15th South of the Park Blvd Bridge traveling the Intracoastal south to the American Legion Post 273 in Madeira Beach. CANCELLED

South Pasadena Boat Parade: Starting Just outside Marine Max ending behind the Causeway Village and The Fountains. CANCELLED

Boca Ciega Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade: Gulfport CANCELLED

Treasure Island Boat Parade: December 13th (Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island) 

January Events

Downtown Dunedin Art Festival: January 4th-5th

2025 Tarpon Springs Epiphany: January 6th, Spring Bayou

Dunedin International Film Festival: January 9th-12th

John's Pass Seafood Festival: January 17th at John's Pass Village and Boardwalk

St. Pete Bacon & BBQ Festival: January 11th-12th at Vinoy Park

Florida RV Supershow: January 15th -19th at Florida State Fairgrounds

St. Pete Power and Sailboat Show: January 16th -19th

Ashley Children's Gasparilla Parade: January 18th on Bayshore Blvd

Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest: January 25th on Bayshore Blvd

Our area has fabulous concert venues ranging from large outdoor spaces to intimate indoor spaces. Click on the image above for a current list of the top ten. 🎶👆

We also have amazing museums! Click on the image below to find links to their sites and see which exhibits are currently displayed. 👇

Looking to make new friends in the area? Join my Group “Explore Tampa Bay with Friends”. Just click on the image below for more information. 👇

I’m excited to announce the launch of my YouTube channel, Key to New Shores! Let me help you find your dream home in the Tampa Bay Area. Or explore homes worldwide with me, I’m a Certified International Property Specialist. Click on the image below to visit my YouTube Channel 👇

Single Family Home Sales for Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough County in November.

8 Reasons You Need A Realtor

https://blog.homekeepr.com/8-reasons-need-realtor-ease-home-purchase

Your Florida Dream Life - St. Pete Beach

This Weeks Community:

St. Pete Beach is located just off the mainland of Saint Petersburg, south of Treasure Island and north of unincorporated Tiera Verde. It is a barrier island community and is part of Pinellas County. The number of permanent residents is just over 10,000 but there are large numbers of residential home and condominium owners who are seasonal residents. There are many wonderful places to visit in St. Pete Beach, in addition to the gorgeous beaches, there are numerous parks with various amenities to enjoy. You can learn more about the parks and all the amenities they offer at Parks. One of the most popular being Fort De Soto Park Park (which actually covers five islands) and is the largest park in Pinellas County and a popular beach spot (winning the number one rating from Dr. Beach in 2005). It includes a dog beach and still has the original Fort that the park is named after. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. In addition to the beaches and parks, there is the Gulf Beaches Museum where you can "learn the legacy of the island's colorful heritage". For residents of St. Pete Beach, the St. Pete Beach Community Center has something for everyone. There is a pool with attached play area, fitness center, and many programs/classes are hosted here. You can enjoy everything from a Hawaiian Dance Class to a Beach Photography Class. You can also learn about special events in the area of the Rec Center's Web Page including a semi-annual beach cleanup and community garage sale. There is a twice annual 100 Artist show at Thanksgiving and in the Spring. You can find details at Suntan Art Center 100 Artists Show. You absolutely must check out the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa. The "Pink Castle" was first opened in 1928 and was the playground of the rich and famous of the Jazz Age. At one point it was sold to the U.S. Army and then was almost razed in the early 70's. Residents protested greatly however and it was sold and renovations began to restore it to its previous splendor. The hotel has a famous restaurant, The Maritana Grille. This is a four diamond restaurant where guest dine surrounded by 1500 gallons of saltwater aquariums. The Hotel Zamora offers dining at its Castile Restaurant and fabulous views from its rooftop bar. The Grand Plaza Hotel has a revolving restaurant and lounge Spinners where you can enjoy panoramic views while dining. For shopping check out the Historic Corey Avenue Shopping District. The heart of downtown St. Pete Beach has unique boutiques and galleries with clothing and accessories, furniture, and gifts that offer you the opportunity to find one of a kind treasures. Many of the restaurants offer outdoor dog friendly dining for enjoying a meal after you've scored the perfect gifts. There is a Sunday Market on Corey Avenue and Craft Shows four times a year. At the southernmost tip of St. Pete Beach is Pass A Grille, a quaint and wonderful place with a less populated beach. Visitors like to enjoy a drink on the rooftop of the The Hurricane after enjoying the beach. 
When you've visited all of the wonderful attractions the beach has to offer, the drive into downtown St. Pete (with it's fabulous restaurants, cultural attractions and more) is less than 30 minutes. To learn more about St. Pete Beach go to City of St. Pete Beach Homepage. To learn about other communities in the Tampa Bay area go to Communities

A Favorite Place in St. Pete Beach:

Nikko Mussolini Dog Boutique and Spirits is a wonderful place to enjoy spirits or a coffee or tea drink accompanied by your dog. For your pup here are of course handmade doggie treats and even a boutique. They have regular special events including a Doggy Disco Night. It's a very chill and friendly place and a great addition to the St. Pete Beach community. You really should check it out with your fur baby. I would love to share your favorite place in your community. Email me at Susan@susandsorensen.com

For the Locals: 

Ever been to the The Seahorse Restaurant for breakfast or lunch? It is located at 800 Pass a Grille Way and the Pecan Waffles and Grits are a long time favorite of patrons. Some new favorites are the Spicy Salsa Burger (made with their homemade roasted jalapeno pepper salsa) and the Guacamole and Bacon Burger. They recently started making their own delicious jams and jellies for you to enjoy at home. The decor of the restaurant is fun and the staff is very attentive. This gem has been open sine 1938.

Your Perfect Florida Day: 
Thanks to Heather Rippert for providing the photo and images of her paintings. A perfect Florida day for Heather would include a walk among nature where she enjoys taking photos of the gorgeous scenery. It would also have to include creating her incredible art work. Heather has been an artist her entire life. She specializes in coastal landscapes.

Below are some of Heather's fabulous paintings. You can

reach her about purchasing her work here

 Heather Rippert Fine Art Gallery 

or at her artist Facebook page 

Heather Rippert Artist

Real Estate Statistics:

For the month of April the average sale price for a condo or townhouse with the address of St. Pete Beach/Treasure Island was $282,217, the average days on the market 84, selling at 96% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $257. The average price of a single family home was $583,002 the average days on the market being 115 and selling at 97% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $324. (This information comes from the Suncoast Multiple Listing Service (MLS)). If you are interested in seeing what you can get for your money in your favorite neighborhood you can search for properties via my free Keller Williams Mobile App My KW App  Or you may go to my website at susandsorensen.com

Creating Relationships:

The Tampa Bay area is ideal for small business owners/entrepreneurs, people who are looking to reinvent themselves, and people starting their second chapter in life. You have many opportunities here for developing new friendships and business relationships. Volunteering is one opportunity. In St. Pete Beach you might consider becoming a volunteer with the Gulf Beaches Museum. See my previous blog post for numerous other ideas. 

Your Florida Dream Life- Largo

This Weeks Community:

Largo is centrally located in Pinellas County between Tarpon Springs to the North and St. Pete Beach to the south. It's on the Gulf side of highway 19 and it's just 15 minutes west to Clearwater Beach. You can easily and quickly get to two airports by heading east (about 15 minutes) to the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, or east to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, which then takes you into Tampa and the Tampa International Airport. The drive into St. Pete (with it's fabulous restaurants, cultural attractions and more) is right around 30 minutes. Largo is not as well known as Tampa, Clearwater and St. Pete but has become the 4th largest city in the Tampa Bay area with a population over 80,000. In addition to having a central location it has a lot to offer on it's own. The Largo Cultural Center gives you the opportunity to enjoy Broadway Shows, Kids' Shows and Rock Concerts. Largo Central Park has a lot of amenities inside the park and covers over 70 acres. It includes The Largo Central Railroad, a fun attraction for children, as well as a children's playground, located under shady oaks.  The children's park is fun for all ages and features 117 play events. Every year Central Park has a fabulous holiday lights display and the annual Holiday Stroll. During the three day Holiday Stroll (which is a family friendly event) they have entertainment, arts and activities, Santa Claus, and the official lighting of the tree. 

When looking at dining options, a popular restaurant in Largo is Marlin Darlin. It is a Bay Star Restaurant Groups restaurant and their other popular restaurants include include Rumba, Salt Rock, and Island Way Grill. A fabulous upscale restaurant is E and E Stakeout Grill. It is a 3 Best Chef's restaurant (as is Mystic Fish, which I mentioned in my blog post on Palm Harbor is my favorite restaurant in that area). E & E, like Mystic Fish, has a gorgeous modern and sophisticated decor with dinners consisting of the freshest ingredients prepared to perfection. They have a lot of steak dishes as well as lamb, seafood, and fajitas. Maggie Mae's, which started as a popular breakfast destination on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, has now opened a Belleair Bluffs location right on the border of Largo. Maggie Mae's has a large selection of Southern breakfast and lunch favorites described as "just like Granny use to make".

If you're looking to be active East Bay Golf Club in Largo is described as having one of the most popular public layouts in the area. It is a traditional championship 18 hole par -71 course with well bunkered elevated greens and numerous water challenges. There is also the public Largo Golf Course on Vonn Road. You can join the City League, participate in a monthly scramble, and even take lessons there. The Southwest Recreation Complex in Largo looks to give residents the opportunity for lifelong fitness and contains an Olympic size pool, tennis courts and more. The The Highland Family Aquatic Center is a family friendly place where residents can beat the heat with a waterpark and two multipurpose pools. For special events East Bay Country Club (which also serves lunches and dinners) is a popular place for events, parties, and weddings. To learn more about Largo go to The City of Largo Homepage. To learn about other communities in the Tampa Bay area go to Communities

A Favorite Place in Largo:

Barley Mow is a friendly neighborhood brewery. They have a fabulous outdoor beer garden where you can enjoy live music every Friday night. On Thursday they have a food truck stop by so you can enjoy a meal with your beer. On Tuesday nights it's Team Trivia, and Wednesday is a night to be adventurous as it is Wednesday Night Randall. A Randall is a filter used to add flavor and every Wednesday they pack a Randall with fresh fruit, hops, or candy and run one of their beers through it. You've got to check it out. I would love to share your favorite place in your community. Email me at Susan@susandsorensen.com

For the Locals: 

Ever been to Fat Cat Tavern? It is located at 3665 East Bay Drive in Largo. It's a fun place with fun events scheduled regularly. Events range from Karaoke Nights, Trivia Nights, Giant Jenga Night, DJ Music Nights and a hosted game called Opinionation (based on 100 people surveyed questions). They even host Fat Cat Tavern Fishing Club Meetings. There are always great specials including $1 tacos and $1 margaritas (frequently on Mondays) as well as game day specials. The food is generally bar food but the menu is pretty extensive and even includes a spinach and fruit salad for those looking for healthier options.

Your Perfect Florida Day: 

Thanks to Tangi for providing these wonderful photos. Tangi's perfect Florida day would have to include time on the water. She teaches sailing through the Dunedin Youth Sailing program and is also a talented permanent makeup artist. You can check out her work at  The Permanent Makeup Artist or visit her at Toes Up Day Spa. 

Real Estate Statistics:

For the month of October the average sale price for a condo or townhouse in the zipcodes of Largo (not including Belleair Bluffs) was $106,665, the average days on the market 80, selling at 96% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $89. The average price of a single family home (not including Belleair Bluffs or Seminole) was $189,486 the average days on the market being 60 and selling at 98% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $124. (This information comes from the Suncoast Multiple Listing Service (MLS)). If you are interested in seeing what you can get for your money in your favorite neighborhood you can search for properties via my free Keller Williams Mobile App My KW App  Or you may go to my website at susandsorensen.com

Creating Relationships:

The Tampa Bay area is ideal for small business owners/entrepreneurs, people who are looking to reinvent themselves, and people starting their second chapter in life. You have many opportunities here for developing new friendships and business relationships. In Largo a great place to start is by getting involved in any of the numerous activities taking place through the Largo Recreation, Parks & Arts Programs. You could sign up for art classes, join an athletic league, or take adult dance lessons from Hip Hop to Line Dance. You can even be a part of an adult dance troupe. If you have children wanting to get involved in dance, The Tutterow Dance Company has been a part of Largo Recreation, Parks, and Arts for over 30 years and performs numerous times throughout the year and they have even performed overseas. In addition there are numerous opportunities to volunteer. You can volunteer with the nature parks doing anything from animal care to exotic plant removal, or you can get free training in wildlife identification and become an Eagle Volunteer and potentially lead programs and tours. You can also volunteer in the arts through VITAL and assist at the Largo Cultural Center, The primary volunteer organization for Largo Recreation, Parks and Arts is Caring by Sharing. Through Caring by Sharing you could do anything from organizing puppet shows, to teaching classes, to shooting photos at city events. If you enjoy volunteering with teens the Largo Teen Programs at both rec centers could use more volunteers. The purpose of the Teen Programs is for teens to have a place where they can just hang out and socialize and have a good time. You could also volunteer with The Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation (at the Largo Cultural Center) or you could serve on the Recreation, Arts, & Parks Advisory Board. There are numerous ways to get involved and develop new relationships, you just have to choose what is right for you. (See my previous blog post for other ideas on developing relationships in a new community.)

Your Florida Dream Life- Westchase

This Weeks Community: 
Westchase is a master planned deed restricted community in Hillsborough County. The city had a population of 21,747 in the 2010 census. It is one of the wealthiest areas of Hillsborough County. Many residents enjoy the location and proximity to Florida 589 which you can take north, almost to the Crystal River, or South to I-275 (and into Tampa or over to Saint Pete). Or you can take 589 south to Interstate 4 and head into Orlando in under 2 hours. Westchase residents enjoy the feeling of a close knit community inside an urban area. You can learn a great deal about Westchase from the Westchase Community Association website and the World of Westchase (WOW) newsletter. In addition to having a number of parks and recreation areas (with recreational options including golf, tennis, swimming, soccer, basketball) there is a walkable center (Westpark Village Town Center) that includes numerous shops and restaurants, with apartment living above these businesses. The streets are brick to add to the charm of the area. A popular hangout in this area is World of Beer which has over 550 beers from around the world. Many like to sit outside here with friends and enjoy a brew after an active day. Repeal 18 is a fun bar that has been described as a prohibition era handcrafted cocktail bar. Try a modern twist on some of the old favorites. If you love sweets, Bakery Melange is for you. They have the usual yummy desserts, along with breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches (including paninis and wraps). You are even able to build your own sandwich. If you are really adventurous you have to try their CakeShake, yes, just like it sounds, it is a shake with a cupcake inside. You choose a shake flavor and a cupcake, and you end up with a shake with ice cream and giant globs of cake and icing, decadent! If you need a caffeine fix, The Grind Coffee Bar is for you. It's an independant coffee bar and cafe that also serves tea. My first visit to the Grind was in the evening for one of the Wine Wednesdays @ Westchase events, supporting Because of Jason. They were providing tea taste and I casually asked if they had a taste that was low in caffeine because it was later in the evening. The owner Richard was fabulous and took me inside the closed store to make me an Iced White Ambrosia Tea that was lovely. I would highly recommend the Grind for coffee, tea, and breakfast sandwiches. The popular Tampa Bay Brewing Company now has a Westchase Location that includes a restaurant. There is a large patio with lounge seating and a walkup bar where you can enjoy conversation and your favorite craft beer, wine, or spirits. The inside of the restaurant includes a community table which is a nice option for people who enjoy making new friends, want another option besides sitting at the bar, or may otherwise have had to dine alone. If you enjoy shopping, Westchase has a lot of small quaint shops to find wonderful unique gifts. One of which would be Simply Elegant, which carries jewelry, apparel, and gifts, and features a nice selection of merchandise from local designers. If you enjoy designer resale stores check out Couture Resale Designer Boutique. These are just a few of the restaurants and businesses to enjoy in Westchase. If you currently live in Westchase please share with me some of your favorites for another post. If you live in a neighboring community make a visit and discover your own favorites. 

A Favorite Place in Westchase:
A favorite place in Westchase is Catch Twenty Three They have an extensive menu with options ranging from burgers, to their specialty which is Macadamia Nut Encrusted Sea Bass. Their ingredients are always fresh and they put together some wonderful combinations. For Sunday Brunch you can even order Chicken and Waffles. I often enjoy their delicious sushi and a classic or strawberry mojito. I would love to share your favorite place in your community. Email me at Susan@susandsorensen.com

Your Perfect Florida Day: 

Thank you to Erika for providing the fun photos for this week's post. Erika loves traveling all over Florida but especially enjoys the Tampa Bay area; from Westchase to Clearwater Beach to Tarpon Springs. Erika loves the beach and sunsets at the beach. Erika is an excellent life coach with a fabulous positive energy. You can find her and learn more about her services at youcanpullittogether.com .

Real Estate Statistics:

For the month of October the average sale price for a condo in the zipcode of 33626 (Westchase encompases most of this zipcode) was $108,333, the average days on the market 86, selling at 93% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $94. The average price of a single family home was $383,552, the average days on the market being 75 and selling at 99% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $154. (This information comes from the Suncoast Multiple Listing Service (MLS)).If you are interested in seeing what you can get for your money in your favorite neighborhood of Westchase, you can search for properties via my free Keller Williams Mobile App My KW App  Or you may go to my website at susandsorensen.com

Creating Relationships:

The Tampa Bay area is ideal for small business owners/entrepreneurs, people who are looking to reinvent themselves, and people starting their second chapter in life. You have many opportunities here for developing new friendships and business relationships. In Westchase alone you could join the Westchase Run Club or the Westchase Golf Club to meet new people and potentially make new business connections. There is even a swimming club that includes coaching for adult athletes Tampa Bay Aquatics/Westchase. The Westchase Rotary is an excellent organization for building business relationships while giving back to the community. Another organization where you can meet like minded people while also making a difference in your community is the Westchase Charitable Foundation. If you're a mother with children not yet through school you can find friendship and support with the Moms Club Tampa/Westchase.  There is also a Westchase Dads Club. You can find out about their upcoming events on the World of Westchase Newsletter. (See link above). If you are an artist get involved with the Westchase Artist Society. And for adults over 55 there is the Westchase Seniors Group. These are just some of the opportunities for developing new relationships in the community of Westchase. Westchase is so conveniently located to other communities that there are many other clubs/organizations in the Greater Tampa Area you could easily get involved with. See my previous blog post for other ideas on developing relationships in a new community. 

Your Florida Dream Life- Tarpon Springs

This Weeks Community: 
Tarpon Springs is a wonderfully unique city in Pinellas County. The city had a population of just under 24,000 in the 2010 census. Tarpon Springs has a larger percentage of Greek Americans than any other city in the U.S. and it's Historic Greektown District was recently added to the Register of Historic Places. The Epiphany Celebration (an Orthodox Christian Celebration) has been celebrated in Tarpon Springs since 1903, in the same way as it is in Greece. Nowhere else in the U.S. is it celebrated like it is in Tarpon Springs. Learn more here Epiphany. Tarpon Springs is north of Palm Harbor bordered by the Gulf on the west and extends east past Highway 19 to Lake Tarpon. The Anclote River (which is popular with boaters and kayakers) runs through Tarpon Springs and the Sponge Docks and flows into the Gulf. The popular Pinellas Trail which welcomes, bikers, walkers, and rollerbladers starts in the southern end of Pinellas County (Saint Petersburg) and ends in Tarpon Springs crossing the Anclote at one point. 

Tarpon Springs has numerous wonderful restaurants and two popular dining options are authentic Greek dishes or  fresh seafood. A popular place for seafood is Rusty Bellies which is at the end of the sponge docks on the water. At one of the local Greek restaurants (Mamas Greek Cuisine), you can even enjoy a belly dancing performance. If you're looking for meals made from the freshest ingredients currently in season check out Currents Restaurant. You will not be disappointed. If you enjoy water views while dining, you can choose between Davidson's Dockside in the Port Tarpon Marina, Captain Jacks, across the Anclote from the Sponge Docks (just off of Alternate 19) or the Tarpon Turtle which is on Lake Tarpon on the East side of Highway 19.  In downtown Tarpon Springs craft beer lovers (and those who enjoy dining with their four legged kids) will appreciate the Tarpon Tavern. They have 30 craft beers to choose from and are located along the Pinellas Trail. If wine is your beverage of choice check out Wine at the Docks of Tarpon-Springs. They serve a fabulous Sangria.

In addition to all of the wonderful restaurant options in Tarpon Springs there is shopping and more. In the Sponge Docks area on Dodecanese Boulevard you can find the Sponge Exchange Shopping Center. You can also still enjoy the  Konger Tarpon Springs Aquarium at the end of Dodecanese, Check it out before they build and move to their new location further north. Other things to enjoy in this area include chartered fishing, dolphin tours and sponge diving exhibits. In the downtown of Tarpon Springs you can find many antique stores and the shopping here is always a fun adventure. Museums include the Leepa Rattner Art Museum as well as the Safford House Museum,  Heritage Museum. and the Cultural Center. Enjoy live performances at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. Every Spring held on Spring Bayou is the not to be missed Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival which is one of the best in the area. There is also a smaller arts and crafts festival held on Dodacanese Boulevard on a regular basis as well as the popular "Night in the Islands" with music and live entertainment. Like many of the communities in the area Tarpon Springs celebrates an October Festival, and in December you can enjoy a lighted boat parade which takes place in Spring Bayou. On the first Thursday of every month from 7-9 November through February enjoy concerts at Sunset Beach.

When you're ready to relax and enjoy a beach day you have numerous options including Sunset Beach (mentioned above) and Howard Park (described below). If your idea of a relaxing time is sharing beverages with fellow boaters at a sand bar, Three Rooker Island (part of the Anclote Preserve) located between Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, is an Island which can only be reached by boat and is always a fun time. For a small beach away from the crowds, try Anclote River Park. I've had dolphin swim near me in the water here and almost every time I've gone I've at least caught a glimpse of a dolphin. Also, the nearby Anclote River Power Plant is a good place to see Manatee. The Manatee also come into Spring Bayou in the winter months.

To learn of upcoming events in Tarpon Springs go to Happenings, Events, and Sponge Docks. To learn more about Tarpon Springs go to Tarpon Springs. To learn about other communities in the Tampa Bay area see my previous post or go to Communities.

A Favorite Place in Tarpon Springs:
A favorite place in Tarpon Springs is Howard Park, In fact this is one my favorite places in all of Pinellas County. On vacations prior to moving to Florida I would envision moving here and living within walking distance of this gorgeous park. It is one of the most peaceful places I know and I have frequently seen dolphin here. It includes a sandy beach on the Gulf at the end of the causeway, picnic shelters, two playgrounds, canoe and kayak launching, fishing, and an area for windsurfing. Watching for dolphins and watching the windsurfers are a couple of my favorite things to do at this park. I would love to share your favorite place in your community. Email me at Susan@susandsorensen.com

For the Locals:  

Technically it has a Holiday, Florida address but I always associate Miss Vicki's with Tarpon Springs because a fun day of boating in Tarpon Springs always includes a stop by boat at  Miss Vicki's on the River  for a lunch that includes a cold beverage, She-Crab Soup, and a Blackened Shrimp Wrap. There is often live music playing outside and you can't help but to have a great time when you're dining with friends, enjoying cold beverages, listening to live music and gazing out at the water. Go and enjoy a cold one for me. Another for the locals destination is in the city of Tarpon Springs but is only for those in search of a dive bar that is truly a dive bar. It's difficult to find and is hidden behind the Tarpon Springs Animal Hospital on U.S. 19. You can also reach it by boat. The bar is called the Anclote River Boat Club. And you may want to check out the link to the Facebook page for fair warning as to what you're walking into. It was scheduled to be demolished at one point and there is still a boat in a tree from the no name storm. The regulars love the drink prices, the graffiti on the walls, and the option to arrive by boat.

Your Perfect Florida Day: 

Thank you to Lucy for providing some gorgeous photos for this week's post. Lucy's perfect Florida day usually includes an opportunity to take stunning pictures. Lucy is a portrait photographer originally from Poland who has fallen in love with Florida. As you can tell from these images she takes stunning photos of  natural and man made landscapes as well her beautiful portraits. I would love to share your pictures and your experience of a perfect Florida day. Please mail me at Susan@susandsorensen.com and if you have any portrait photography needs (including headshots, senior, maternity, bridal, and more) you can contact Lucy at  Lucyna Aleksandra Tampa Portrait Photographer. (Look for more of Lucy's fabulous images in upcoming blogs).

Real Estate Statistics:

For the month of September the average sale price for a condo in the zipcode of Tarpon Springs was $104.352, the average days on the market 83, selling at 94% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $93. The average price of a single family home was $295,063, the average days on the market being 107 and selling at 97% of list price with an average price per heated square foot of $127. (This information comes from the Suncoast Multiple Listing Service (MLS)).If you are interested in seeing what you can get for your money in your favorite neighborhood you can search for properties via my free Keller Williams Mobile App My KW App  Or you may go to my website at susandsorensen.com

Creating Relationships:

The Tampa Bay area, which is ideal for small business owners/entrepreneurs, people looking to reinvent themselves, and people starting their second chapter in life, has many options for developing new friendships and business relationships. I mentioned in a previous post that there are groups for every interest you may have and there are groups specifically for newcomers to the area. The Tampa Bay area has not only a lot of Northerners and Midwesterners but also a lot of International visitors and residents. There are local Meetup groups specifically for these folks International Friends of Tampa Bay and European and International Meetup are two examples. If you are originally from Germany there is a group specifically for you Fun-Germans-in-Pinellas. For Northerners (including Boston, Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maine, etc.) in the age range of 40-59 there is New-York-South-Northern-transplants-in-Florida/. For New Yorkers specifically, there is New Yorkers Living in the Tampa Bay Area. For Millennials there is Tampa New In Town 20s/30s. There is even a Meetup Group specifically for people living in the St. Pete zip code of 33716 (The-Neighborhood-at-33716) to meet their neighbours. For sports lovers who want to cheer for their favorite out of state teams with other fans there are groups such as Pinellas-County-Chicago-Bears-Fans. These are just some examples. Just put some parameters in the Meetup search bar and see what you find. You can always start a group of your own to meet other newcomers.