These really are super attractions

Published by peter | Filed under Cool Listings, Miscellaneous

There was a great article in Monday’s St. Petersburg Times talking about the developments that have occurred in the Tampa Bay area since the last Super Bowl was played here in 2001.  I can’t believe so much has happened since then, but when you read the article, it makes you think about all the progress that has been made here during the last decade.  Here’s the list, their comments and what I think about each development (in italics):

The debut of International Plaza, whose Sept. 17, 2001, grand opening was rescheduled because of the tragic events of 9/11. The 1.26-million­square- foot shopping center is a retail and nightlife hot spot.  Despite the fact that I live in St. Pete, I find myself driving to Tampa several times a week just to visit International Plaza, if nothing else than the Men’s section at Nordstrom’s.  IP is such a great destination, for both shopping and dining, especially now with Ocean Prime Supper Club open for service.

Here’s a new term for you: GaYbor, noun, the hip west end of Ybor City, launched as a gay­friendly business district in 2007, complete with gay-owned restau­rants, nightclubs, boutiques and an art gallery.  As someone who once bartended in Ybor, I can’t tell you how much a difference the infusion of this new business has been in what was becoming a place to avoid.

Busch Gardens’ fast, smooth SheiKra roller coaster took off in 2005 and then went floorless in 2007. Who knows what condition it’ll be in next time you visit!  Let me give you one of the secrets to living well in Tampa Bay — go to Busch Gardens early in the year, get the annual pass (for practically nothing extra) to there and Adventure Island and go back throughout the summer.  If you have kids, this is a must.

Known as “malfunction junc­tion,” the interchange between Interstates 275 and 4, just north of downtown, has gotten a facelift.  Do you remember that episode of Seinfeld when Kramer repaints the highway lines to make the lanes roomier?  That’s what’s happened to I-4.  It’s still tough during rush hour — where isn’t — but it’s so much easier to get from St. Pete to the Hard Rock Casino!  Speaking of which, I’m off to their new blackjack tables.