This past week I was answering an email from a prospective
student from a northern state who was asking about the social life
down here in Florida. The email made me realize that I may have
glanced over this topic in past blog postings and may have even
taken it for granted. I know I've said it before, that all work and
no play makes for a miserable student, so today I will do my best
to describe some of the allure of St. Pete and the surrounding
area.
Nightlife
I was born and raised in Tampa, just across the Bay from St.
Pete, so I have a pretty good idea of what's happenin' in the area.
The student's email asked if there was a lot of nightlife in the
area, if there were a good amount of coffee shops, restaurants,
etc.
Let's start with Tampa. Tampa is a little larger than St. Pete
and has a more "city feel" to it. There are an abundance of
restaurants, bars and clubs in Tampa. One could find everything
from fine dining to a hole-in-the-wall bar.
St. Pete has more of a "bohemian feel" and is littered with
coffee shops, trendy cafes, bars and art galleries. If art is your
thing, St. Pete is right up your alley. The new Dali museum in
downtown St. Pete is incredible. Then again, Tampa has the Tampa
Bay Performing Arts Center and Tampa Museum to add to its
credit.
Sports
If you are anything like me, sports is a major player in your
social life. Tampa and St. Pete have you covered in this avenue as
well. The Tampa Bay Rays of major league baseball call St. Pete
home, and for $30 you can sit 1st baseline to
cheer them on. In Tampa, we have the Tampa Bay Bucs (NFL) and Tampa
Bay Lightning (NHL) to keep you occupied.
Daytime Activities
Outside of the nightlife, the daytime activities around here
can't be beat. St. Pete's beaches are about 20 minutes from campus
and some of the best in the state. There is always something to do
on the beach, from volleyball to paddle boarding. This past week in
Tampa was the annual Gasparilla parade. The parade celebrates the
invasion of Tampa's harbor by Jose Gaspar and his pirates, and
resembles a daytime version of Mardi Gras.
I hope this puts to rest the stigmatism that old-timers in their
white shoes and over-sized Cadillacs have overrun Florida. We do
have our fair share, but hey, they make great chiropractic
patients.
Please keep the emails coming. This blog is for you guys and any
topics you'd like me to tackle.
Have a great week, keep current with all your material, and
don't forget to take some time out for yourself.
Cheers,
Dex