Cool Stuff in Other Cities

[AmIReal]

9 hours ago, Uncommon said:

It’s official. Tampa has surpassed Orlando.

Orlando has had a Ritz for nearly 20 years and is maybe getting another.

Edited October 5, 2020 by AmIReal

[spenser1058]

Ours seems to be more hotel while theirs seems to be primarily residential with condos. I will leave it to our Marriott aficionados to tell us the differences which might be involved.

One significant thing is that Bayshore is an in-town ‘hood for Tampa while our properties are out toward the JYP and tourist areas. 

Edited October 5, 2020 by spenser1058

[Uncommon]

38 minutes ago, AmIReal said:

Orlando has had a Ritz for nearly 20 years and is maybe getting another.

City proper?

[spenser1058]

22 minutes ago, Uncommon said:

City proper?

Our Ritz-Carlton Hotel is south of the BeachLine so I’m thinking in OC rather than Orlando.  (I only went once to pick up a friend from BHM who was doing some sort of convention down there and it seemed kind of off the beaten path).

[AmIReal]

2 hours ago, Uncommon said:

City proper?

No, I was inferring Orlando as general area.

2 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Ours seems to be more hotel while theirs seems to be primarily residential with condos.

Ours has residences- I think there are about 40 of them.

Regardless, I agree. The Tampa on is much cooler at this moment, I was just pointing out we beat them to it. There was an article back when they announced the Ritz about how the Tampa felt slighted because Orlando had one way ahead of them.

And if you consider the Disney area to be part of the Orlando area, we still have an Astoria and they don't...  https://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/luxury-hotels-fit-into-orlando-theme-parks-scene/1247432/

"Tampa Bay is the only major metro area in Florida that doesn't have a single hotel among the 14 that AAA considers worthy of its five-diamond designation" https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/is-tampa-bay-ritz-y-enough-for-a-five-star-hotel/2217800/

Edited October 6, 2020 by AmIReal

[spenser1058]

The Jags and Jax propose a mixed-use entertainment project for Lot J adjoining TIAA Bank Field:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/jaguars-city-announce-dollar450-million-mixed-use-development-at-lot-j
 

From The Jacksonville Daily Record

[smileguy]

19 hours ago, AmIReal said:

No, I was inferring Orlando as general area.

Ours has residences- I think there are about 40 of them.

Regardless, I agree. The Tampa on is much cooler at this moment, I was just pointing out we beat them to it. There was an article back when they announced the Ritz about how the Tampa felt slighted because Orlando had one way ahead of them.

And if you consider the Disney area to be part of the Orlando area, we still have an Astoria and they don't...  https://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/luxury-hotels-fit-into-orlando-theme-parks-scene/1247432/

"Tampa Bay is the only major metro area in Florida that doesn't have a single hotel among the 14 that AAA considers worthy of its five-diamond designation" https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/is-tampa-bay-ritz-y-enough-for-a-five-star-hotel/2217800/

Tampa is getting an Edition as well. 

[jack]

18 hours ago, smileguy said:

Tampa is getting an Edition as well. 

That is amazing. I love the Miami one. 

[dcluley98]

RAYS UP!!!!

That is all. . . 

[dcluley98]

I am so here for this. . . . My Squad! 

 

 

 

[spenser1058]

Another list of steakhouses by state - and this one figured out the one in Florida that matters is Bern’s:

https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/best-steakhouse-every-state-gallery/slide-9 

I also saw another one today for Top 25 in the country that also included Bern’s, so all is back in the prober orbit in the galaxy again...

 

[spenser1058]

A 1904 abandoned cigar factory in West Tampa is about to become a boutique hotel:

https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/inside-an-abandoned-cigar-factory
 

From The Jaxson

As with most older, abandoned buildings, the pertinent question for such structures is not whether they can be reused but whether a community has the will to do so.

A once vibrant interest in saving the history of Orlando starting with Mayor Bill Frederick in 1980 has come to a screeching halt for what will soon be two decades.

While major structures in Florida cities like Jacksonville, Tampa and St. Pete have been saved during that time, in Orlando demolition by neglect is well under way.

Oddly, it’s usually unique historical areas that attract cultural tourism to second tier cities. If we want those folks to come to downtown Orlando, we probably should be restoring rather than neglecting what was once lauded as the most active new historic district outside Miami Beach.

[orange87]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

A 1904 abandoned cigar factory in West Tampa is about to become a boutique hotel:

https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/inside-an-abandoned-cigar-factory

I'm super pretentious, so naturally I think something like this is awesome. I'm a cigar connoisseur too. Frankly, I wish downtown Orlando had more historic buildings.

Edited October 13, 2020 by orange87

[prahaboheme]

An essay on the new St Pete Pier — the most impressive modernist development in Florida in recent years (in my opinion): 

https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14791-the-new-st-pete-pier-by-rogers-partners

[Uncommon]

15 hours ago, prahaboheme said:

An essay on the new St Pete Pier — the most impressive modernist development in Florida in recent years (in my opinion): 

https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14791-the-new-st-pete-pier-by-rogers-partners

It looks beautiful, but it’s not functional. Almost no cover of any kind in the domineering Florida sun, not many activities (yet) and way too much concrete. The old Pier was more interesting.

[JFW657]

1 hour ago, Uncommon said:

It looks beautiful, but it’s not functional. Almost no cover of any kind in the domineering Florida sun, not many activities (yet) and way too much concrete. The old Pier was more interesting.

We agree.

I think the new one looks too stark and futuristic/ultra-modern.

[dcluley98]

The new  pier/park has WAY more stuff to do than the old one. 

https://stpetepier.org/explore/

 

[prahaboheme]

Wasn’t the old pier replaced because it was truly nonfunctional, essentially abandoned, and deemed unstable?

Alternately, the new pier has 2 restaurants, vendors, an educational center, amphitheater, grassy knoll looking toward the St Pete skyline, kids area.

I get it that concrete architecture is not everyone’s cup of tea - sure is mine though.

[JFW657]

The old pier had/was essentially a 5 story indoor shopping mall with a bar & grill on the top floor and an observation deck which allowed you to see out into the Gulf of Mexico.

I understand shopping malls are no longer an "in" thing, but it seems like they could have repurposed the old pier by replacing the abandoned retail with other kinds of entertainment and attractions.

The new pier just looks... underwhelming. 

[spenser1058]

Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History has announced it will build a new building along the Northbank of the St Johns River. This comes just after an announcement the city will also be getting a decommissioned destroyer on the river to commemorate the city’s naval and shipbuilding history:

https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/mosh-plans-to-move-to-the-shipyards
 

(Wow... a nod to the city’s past. What a concept!)

From The Jaxson 

Edited October 17, 2020 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Fortunately, we didn’t make the Top 10 on this one:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/17/us/chicago-rat-city-2020-trnd/index.html
 

From CNN

Everybody sing: “Call Otto the Orkin man”

[dcluley98]

Tampa Bay Rays  won the AL Pennant, defeating the hated Yankees and the Cheatin' Astros. 

The Rays are going to the World Series! 

[spenser1058]

Checking out Charlotte’s skyline:

https://youtu.be/G1ijGyRL_oI
 

From Tampa Aerial Media 

[dcluley98]

Charlotte skyline is cool and growing. I always loved their BOA building with the crown on top that really "fits" their city image/theme as the Queen City that they were named long ago. 

My company is building   a couple of towers there that are taller than anything we have  had proposed in Orlando in the last 30 years.

[spenser1058]

What will become of the amazing architecture of Southern California’s Sears stores.

https://laist.com/2020/10/15/bye_bye_boyle_heights_sears_archtiecture_art_deco_development.php
 

From LAist