I disagree. Get the liquor flowing, walk around, lots of entertainment. It is a great day. It largely depends on your friend group though and whether you have a home base.
Not exactly because I’m not sure I’ll have any of those things this year haha. Probably baby strolling pushing for me w the family.
I'll likely be a Kid's Gasparilla and may just completely skip regular Gasparilla outside of brunch at the TYCC. Just a hassle navigating to my friend's houses early so I can avoid all streets being blocked. Luckily I live over in Sunset Park so I don't have to deal with all that shit if I don't want too. bturns if you go to Bayshore and have plenty of alcohol you'll have a good time. There are plenty of hot chicks but after doing it for a decade it loses its fun unless you have a place to hang out or are on a float.
We usually go to the kid’s parade but I havent been to the real one in probably ten years for all the reasons mentioned. Jose Gaspar wasn’t even a real person.
It's almost always a good time but it's more fun when you're 17 and can openly drink on Willow. There's a ton of drunk hot girls around, don't be an idiot and you'll be fine.
We drove down from Atlanta for Gasparilla the 2 years after college and had an awesome time. I can't imagine going now at 34.
Headed to Tampa in the morning on short notice for work. Staying near the airport so going to hit cigar city brewery around lunch then I have the whole afternoon open until the lightning game that night. Wednesday and Thursday my days are full except dinner. Any recs on things to do during the day tomorrow and for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday? Also, what to do before the game?
During the day you could hit up Armature Works. It’s right on the water near downtown with tons of places to eat and drink. There is a river walk there where you can drink and walk up and down through downtown. There is also a couple museums right there as you walk if that is your thing. For dinner I like On Swann and Rooster & The Till. Bern’s is great but it will be hard to get a reservation at a reasonable hour but you can sit and eat in the bar.
check out armature works or sparkman wharf before the game. Armature is walkable to Amalie, but is a hike. Could also scooter there. Sparkman is next door to Amalie
Cigar City is putting in a kitchen currently and most of the tap room is closed. Might not want to plan on staying long there. Other breweries in Tampa worth going to are Angry Chair, 7th Sun and Hidden Springs. Datz is always solid for drinks and food. Check the menu.
Coppertail is also a very good brewery. If you have a chance, Ybor during the day is a pretty cool scene. They have some decent spots to eat and Tampa Bay Brewing is there also (not my favorite brewery but its okay). If you are into Cigars, I would definitely hit it up.
They have a few beers that are “craft special” that you can only get there that are retry decent, but overall, not that impressed. Their IPA put them on the map and it’s really mid tier at best. But I have been spoiled with the ATL, Asheville, and Charlotte areas for craft beer so most of the Florida breweries I have been to are pretty mediocre at best...
Jai Alai tastes nothing like it did 8-9 years ago. It’s mass produced crap now. You’re going to the wrong breweries then. Calusa is one of the best breweries in the country.
Wondered what the schedule would be next year with the Super Bowl in town, it appears they're not gonna do Gasparilla the day before the Super Bowl (happened in 2001). I was 11 in 2001 so didn't exactly get to party, anyone on tmb get to enjoy the shitshow?
bturns we're a few days away any other Gasparilla questions? Weather should be pretty good although a bit cold.
I’ve done Gasparilla a bunch over the last 10 years. I try to get tickets to one of the tents right on Bayshore with a group of friends. AYCD and eat with front row view of the parade is the way to do it. Last year didn’t get a pass and roamed bayshore for a couple hours... horrible idea
Disagree if you have a good group of friends and/or a party you can go to close to Bayshore. Not a fan of being confined to the same area for 3+ hours but whatever works.
This is the key. I don't care how big your group is, walking around Bayshore with no home base blows.
I’m also a fan of the tents. Been doing those for probably close to 10 years and will be in one this year as well.
no questions. I am doing a brunch for the invasion at the convention center and then heading down to bayshore for the parade. We have a home base about a 1/4 mile from bayshore.
was great! Was right where the boat docked which was cool as shit. Then walked down to the parade from our “home base”. You all were right. Clutch as fuck. Didn’t get too hammered which was good. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it if I was wasted. ended up in lutz at PJ dolans about a mile from where I stayed the night and fucking tore it down there. Fantastic day.
So... if any of you guys want to meet at PJ dolans tomorrow night after 9, I’ll be there. Could be quite fun... FYI. It’s in Lutz. The GFs birthday.
I used to live in Lutz. I will never return to Lutz. I’m in Day 3 of Disney World hell currently though.
I live in Lutz. That’s very hurtful. I thought we were friends. It’s so close to Carrolwood I don’t feel any farther away than our last house in Tampa.
I felt a world away but that’s because I work in South Tampa and the kids went to school down here plus the restaurant situation sucked as did the people in our neighborhood. I may have felt different if we had normal humans like yourself living near us.