The 2015 Pasco County Fair: Babies and Bull Riding
Of all the wacky fairs I have attended during my visit to Florida, the Pasco County Fair was by far the best. A cute baby contest, full rodeo, and wild amusement rides — need I say more?
Saturday Night Special: Ybor City Knight Parade
Saturday night was party night in Tampa where the annual Knight Parade made a triumphant return down 7th Avenue in Ybor City. The parade is one of the final events for Tampa’s Gasparilla pirate festival. As a reminder, Gasparilla is a bit like Mardi Gras, and as with the ‘crews’ in New Orleans, this parade…
Tampa’s Thai Temple: The Wat Mongkolratanaram
With the coldest air of the season beating down on New York City, I thought sharing photos from one of Tampa’s most serene spaces was in order. Welcome to the Wat Mongkolratanaram of Florida, a Buddhist temple located alongside the Palm River near Brandon. The ‘wat,’ or monastery temple, was established in its present location…
The Florida State Fair
Yesterday, my mother and I visited the Florida State Fair. For a city girl like myself, this was an introduction to the country life, complete with livestock competitions, homemade concoctions, and everything you would ever need to decorate your house à la Little House on the Prairie.
Gasparilla 2015: Pirates Invade Tampa
Hi everyone! The Gasparilla 2015 Pirate Parade was held today in Tampa, and I am pleased to say I was there to catch all the action. The festival has been going strong since it was first held in 1904. With a look and feel a bit like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the premise of…