Check Out Your Neighborhood Before Trick or Treating

Its that time of year again and taking your kids out trick for treating can be a fun experience and not to sound alarmist, but you might want to check out the sex offender website before taking your kids door to door.


Florida law states that only offenders that require law enforcement supervision are not allowed to participate in Halloween.  That leaves a large percentage of sex offenders legally able to hand out candy to children on Halloween.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides a website where you can map out the registered sex offenders in your neighborhood and steer clear of those houses this year.

You can search your neighborhood here: FDLE Neighborhood Search

Manatee Viewing Center Preps for New Season

Last year more than 300,000 people came to see the Manatees at Tampa Electric's famous viewing center in Apollo Beach.  During the off season the company has been making some upgrades to the facilities to make sure it can continue to attract the crowds.

I have still yet to go, but have always wanted to and this year I'll definitely be making the trip down.  This year Teco installed a new 40 foot observation tower that promises grand views of the bay area.  The tower is part of a nature trail loop that takes visitors through three types of Florida ecosystems and a chance to get up closes to the wildlife and plants that are a part of them.

I'm sure the Manatees will be enough to hold my daughter's attention.  But if not, the education center has gotten a facelift as well with new interactive displays and games.  

The viewing center makes it into Kristen Hare's "100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die" and it looks like I'll be crossing it off the bucket list this year.

You can find out more info on the viewing center by visiting their website.  www.tampaelectric.com/manatee.

Things To Do in Carrollwood: Week of 10/27

There's always something to do in Greater Carrollwood!

Carrollwood Cultural Center is hosting three shows this week.

Florida Treasures: A "Viva Florida" History Exploration scheduled for Tuesday Oct 28th @ 10:30am - A show in which two tourists find themselves transported back in time 500 years.

Our America scheduled for Oct 30th @ 10:30am - A.C.T. for Youth presents a show exploring Asian American, Latin American and Native American culture as well as the history of the underground railroad.

War of the Worlds scheduled for Oct 30th @ 7:30pm - Mas Community Theater will perform a reenactment of the controversial 1938 broadcast


Side Splitters is hosting Florida native comedian Frankie Paul, Non-Perishable food items donated to Metropolitan Ministries are being accepted in lieu of admission for some shows (check with http://www.sidesplitterscomedy.com/  )


Tampa Pitcher Show is hosting a Halloween party on Oct 31st @ 9:00pm by Hellcats Burlesque with an Amateur Burlesque show and costume contest.

Carrollwood Springs is hosting their community garage sale, Saturday Nov 21st @ 8:00am.  The subdivision is located off Casey rd just north of Ehrlich on the right hand side.

Tampa Voted as 6th Snobbiest City

My first thought on reading through the list of Snobbiest cities in America (as voted upon by Travel Magazine readers) was at least Miami is worst then us.  Which is usually the case, in my humble opinion.

Now according to the readers, our "snobbiness" centers around the SOHO or South Howard area of town.

“The upscale Southside delivers good people-watching and dolphin-watching along Bayshore Boulevard. It’s also where you’ll find the Epicurean Hotel, which has a wine shop and a cheeky dessert shop called Chocolate Pi, that faces local institution Bern’s Steak House."

I never thought of Tampa as snobby, but what do you think?

See Click Fix

Is it really that simple?

Every homeowner knows the frustration of the pothole you drive over every time you're making your way home after a long day of work.  Or the street light that doesn't come on right outside your house.  But who do you contact to get that fixed?  I'm sure someone else has reported the problem... I don't really want to go downtown and stand in line at a government office to report the problem.  And then I'm sure it'll take months for someone to come out.

Thats where SeeClickFix comes in.  I learned about this company yesterday during a real estate class I was taking, the instructor is an avid user and preached its simplicity and success.  Essentially, you download the app on your smartphone, register and report issues with pictures, geolocation and comments which is all submitted to your local governance for them to comment on and remedy.  And its all free.

Sounds pretty simple right?  Well I have signed up and I will provide a follow up with my experience on the app in the coming weeks.  If you want to give the app and service a try let me know how it goes and I will include your comments in the follow up article.

www.seeclickfix.com