Category: Tampa Bay

Categories
Accordion, Instrument of the Gods It Happened to Me Music Tampa Bay

[Update] Tonight’s gig at JolliMons Island is canceled

It would’ve been the band’s last official gig of 2023 for Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons — which includes yours truly on accordion and keyboards — but the venue, Jollimon’s Island, while covered with a roof, is pretty much an outdoor one, and it’s just going to be too cold tonight.

Under warmer circumstances, we’re the house band at JolliMon’s Tuesday “Raw Talent Nights,” where the stage is open to musicians who want to join in on the open mic fun. If you’re in the Clearwater area, come on down (temperature permitting) and enjoy some great live music!

Categories
Accordion, Instrument of the Gods It Happened to Me Music Tampa Bay

Join me, Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons at JolliMons Island this Tuesday!

Tap to view at full size.

After a summer hiatus, Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons (of which I am a member) are playing gigs again — this time on the third Tuesday of the month at Jollimons Island in Clearwater from 6 to 9 p.m.

We’re part of their Tuesday “Raw Talent Nights,” where the stage is open to musicians who want to join in on the open mic fun.

If you’re down Clearwater way, join us, whether you want to hop onstage and play, or sit back and enjoy the music!

Categories
It Happened to Me Tampa Bay

I had no idea there were Michael Jackson-branded sewer pipes

A sewer pipe segment with the word “BAD” spray-painted on it.

Seen on Central Avenue in Seminole Heights during my daily bike ride.

Categories
Florida It Happened to Me Tampa Bay The Current Situation

Hello no-eth my old friend…

I’ve already filled up our portable tanks for our generator with ethanol-free gasoline, in case the power goes out. The gas lines near me were only a little longer than usual, but that was at 10:30 a.m., which isn’t a terribly busy time. If you need gas for your car or generator, get it as soon as possible, because the crowds will get worse as the day progresses, and by tomorrow, all the gas stations are going to be like the old Mad Max movies.

This morning, ethanol-free gas was selling at the Wawa at Florida and Waters (which has 4 pumps that dispense it) for US$4.49 a gallon (CDN$1.62 per litre for my Canadian friends and family).

Gasoline has a limited lifetime — 3 to 6 months — and ethanol-infused gasoline lasts half as long. My typical approach is to stock up on eth-free gas in late August (a little before the hurricanes typically come) and, if I don’t use it in the generator, pour it into the car’s gas tank in December, after the end of hurricane season.

Categories
Florida Tampa Bay The Current Situation

Hurricane WATCH vs WARNING, explained with tacos

Taco watch vs. Taco warning: “Taco watch” features taco ingredients and the caption “The ingredients are in place for tacos to happen.” “Taco warning” features an assembled taco and the caption “We’re having tacos RIGHT NOW!”
Tap to view at full size

Once again, because a hurricane watch has been announced for Tampa Bay for Tropical Storm Idalia, the graphic above provides a quick explainer for the often-misunderstood terms hurricane watch and hurricane warning…but with tacos!

Simply put:

  • If the atmospheric conditions are ripe for a storm, tornado, or hurricane to occur, weather a services issue a watch. A watch basically says “It might happen; be on the lookout for it.”
  • If a storm, tornado, or hurricane has formed, weather services issue a warning. A warning basically says “It is happening; get to shelter NOW!”
Categories
funny Tampa Bay

This is the only time I’ll tell you to vote for Ron DeSantis

The 2023 edition of Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” is now open for votes, and you can select the best people, places, and things here in Tampa Bay. You may be amused to know that Ron DeSantis is one of the candidates for the “Best Stripper” category.

You know what to do, and here’s where you do it. Let’s make it rain!

Categories
It Happened to Me Tampa Bay

Get outside!

Joey deVilla in biking gear, with the sky and tall palm trees in the background.

It’s a lovely day — or at least, it’s a lovely day here in Tampa. Get outside!