Lights on Tampa is a critically acclaimed and award winning program whose mission is to bring free access to artistic excellence. Its emphasis is on new media technologies and education. Lights On Tampa is informed by successful international models including BEAP (Biennial Electronic Art in Perth), and Lights of Turin.

From an international call to artists, a highly respected jury consisting of Anne Pasternak, Jerry Saltz, and Dave Hickey, recommended a pool of artists to participate in Lights On Tampa 2009. While all will be innovative and experiential, one installation is specific to the Super Bowl in recognition of Tampa hosting Super Bowl XLIII. The intent is to broaden the reach of the arts through Lights On Tampa, and connect with new audience groups. Millions will see all of the installations.

The program is a public/private partnership that reinforces Tampa’s commitment to the arts, technology, and education. It is a cultural and aesthetic event designed to engage, entertain, and educate Tampa’s diverse community.

Lights On Tampa is a biennial program timed to complement a larger community initiative to revitalize and strengthen the downtown core, reinforce the city’s commitments to the arts and technologies, and capitalize on the peak tourist and convention season in Tampa.

Lights On Tampa 2009 brings the work of major contemporary artists to downtown Tampa. Lights On Tampa kicks off on January 10th with a large public event, and the installations will continue to run through February 2nd, in order to reach visitors in Tampa for the 2009 Super Bowl.

Lights On Tampa 2009 sites include: The Tampa Convention Center and Riverwalk, USF Park, Cotanchobee Park, and Fort Brooke Parking Garage. Community members, and visitors will celebrate the opening of Lights On Tampa 2009 through a pedestrian-friendly public event in order to experience each of the destinations.

Lights On Tampa is a public/private partnership that bridges Tampa’s commitment to the arts, technology, and education and offers free access to artistic excellence. It is a cultural and aesthetic event designed to engage, entertain, and educate Tampa’s visitors and diverse community. Lights On Tampa is a biennial program that brings major contemporary artists to downtown Tampa. By focusing on art that is experiential and includes both “low” and “high” tech materials, Lights On Tampa also puts the spotlight on Tampa. Some of these installations will be permanent, some temporary, and some will live only virtually through www.lightsontampa.org.

Lights On Tampa kicks off on January 10th with a large public event, and the installations will continue to run through February 2nd, in order to reach visitors in Tampa for the 2009 Super Bowl. Lights On Tampa 2009 sites include: The Tampa Convention Center and Riverwalk, USF Park, Cotanchobee Park, and Fort Brooke Parking Garage.

Lights On Tampa is an innovative project of the City of Tampa, Art Programs Division which debuted in 2006. The Art Programs Division of the City of Tampa is in partnership with Friends of Tampa Public Art, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization to commission the selected artists to create the installations.

Check back with My Downtown Tampa for the schedule and specific installments. ]]> http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/12/02/lights-on-tampa-2009/feed/ 0 http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/11/22/herman-massey-park-reopened/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=herman-massey-park-reopened http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/11/22/herman-massey-park-reopened/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:09:05 +0000 tommyduncn http://mydowntowntampa.com/?p=184 After getting $83,700 in renovations, Herman Massey Park has been reopened.

The small park at Tyler and Franklin Streets (map) was shut down for nearby construction and then the renovations of the park.

Downtown Tampa ’s first and only luxury high-rise apartments

For the first time, an urban lifestyle in an elegant, downtown apartment high-rise building will be available to Tampa residents.

Element, downtown Tampa’s high-rise luxury community, announced today that it will open a leasing center on Monday, November 17, with an open house and celebration to take place on Wednesday, November 19. The event, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include a live remote broadcast by classic rock’s 102.5 The Bone radio.

Located in the heart of the arts district downtown, Element’s residences feature premium appointments, including floor-to-ceiling windows, 10-foot ceilings, stainless steel appliances and upgraded finishes, such as granite in kitchens and baths. The building also features a resort-style pool with spectacular skyline views and lavish amenities typically only available in luxury condominiums…but with the maintenance-free lifestyle of apartment living.

“Element will add to the vibrancy of this part of downtown, where so much is already happening right now, including new restaurants, many new residents living at SkyPoint, and the redevelopment of the park and museum,” said John Akin, senior vice president of Novare Group, a partner with Tampa’s intowngroup in the Element development. “We’ve seen strong demand for this type of product, which has never been offered in downtown Tampa before. We are excited to offer this incredible lifestyle to a whole new group of people: those who may not wish to commit to a purchase right now but who do want to sample the urban lifestyle with no strings attached.”

The size of the residences at Element ranges from 690 square feet to 3,445 square feet. Rental rates will start at $1,100 per month.

The leasing center hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 507 North Franklin Street in downtown Tampa .

Residents will begin moving into Element in January 2009. Furnished models will open at the time the building is ready for occupancy. For more information, visit www.elementofyou.com.

About Element

Element is a 34-story, 395-unit building at 808 N. Franklin Street featuring one and two bedroom homes and 15,500 square feet of street-level retail space. Element is a joint venture of Novare Group Holdings, LLC and Tampa ’s intowngroup. Novare-intowngroup also developed SkyPoint, a condominium community adjacent to Element that opened in 2006 and is nearly 85% sold.

About the developers

With a focus on creating great urban experiences, Novare Group Holdings, LLC is a leading developer of cutting-edge, mixed-use high-rise communities in U.S. urban markets. Since its founding in 1992, Novare Group has completed more than 6,000 condominium homes and currently has more than 1,300 condominium homes under construction. The company has also developed or acquired more than 1.4 million square feet of office space and 400,000 square feet of retail space and in 2006 launched TWELVE® Hotels & Residences, which pairs boutique hotels with attainably-priced condominium residences. Headquartered in Atlanta , Novare Group has development projects in Atlanta , Austin , Charlotte , Nashville and Tampa . For more information, visit www.novaregroup.com.

Intowngroup is a Tampa-based real estate development team focused on creating sustainable, walkable, urban infill projects in the southeastern United States . Intowngroup is currently involved in several other downtown Tampa urban infill projects. For more information, visit the intowngroup Web site at www.intowngroup.com.

Now Realtor Lenny Gurvich confirms that in addition to burgers and beers, you will soon be able to get sushi and Mexican there:

RAWbar

James Devito (owner of Taps) will open 2600 sqft of space serving sushi and a full menu of Japanese fusion style dishes. Things must be going well at Taps. RAWbar is shooting for an opening prior to the Super Bowl.

Azteca Mexican Kitchen

The live/work concept is alive and well at Skypoint as another Skypoint resident, Chris Rivas, is planning an 1840 sqft Mexican themed sit-down restaurant that will include a small bar and some outside seating.

We can’t wait to try them all!

Skypoint is a residential skyscraper at 777 N. Ashley Dr. (map).

Food (2/4): The food, in a mostly supporting role, is very competent, sometimes tipping into squarely delicious.

Service (2/4):  Taps can be thronged on weekends and post office hours during the week — which, sadly, can cause servers to scurry and forget things.

Atmosphere (3/4):  … a stylish, wood-paneled neighborhood clubhouse that already exerts its magnetism on hipsters from Ybor, Hyde Park and farther.

Taps Wine & Beer Merchants is located at the ground floor of Skypoint, a residential skyscraper at 777 N. Ashley Dr. (map).

Tampa is thinking big. Charleston isn’t. Smith was thinking big. His board wasn’t. So Tampa’s gain is now Charleston’s loss. A major, troubling, and preventable loss.

Smith could have given us the leadership we need to be a “nationally recognized major arts destination.” We have a lot (e.g., Spoleto). But Charleston needs an active, progressive art museum if it’s to become a cultural leader among cities its size.

… it looks like Smith was cherry picked by a bigger, more ambitious museum in Florida. So it’s hard not to take that as a setback for Charleston.

Read the rest of Tampa’s gain is Charleston’s loss in the Charleston City Paper.

Tru Loved
October 3, 2008
Tampa Theatre
Price: $9

About Friends of the Festival, Inc. and Clip!

In 1988 Tampa’s GLBT film festival was originally named the Pride Film Festival, then later in the 1990’s became known as the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF). When Friends of the Festival, Inc. was formed as a legal 501(c)3 non-profit organization it assumed TIGLFF as its DBA name. Beginning with the 2008 season the name Clip, was added as an umbrella name for the organization and officially become the DBA name for Friends of the Festival, Inc.

“Clip” unifies everything Friends of the Festival does, including year round programming through the Film Series and Film Outreach programs. Clip creates a unifying name and brand that also adds some fun, personality and harmony between all these events.

Clip creates a more inclusive Film Festival community. The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival excluded many of our audience members (i.e. those who live outside of Tampa, those who are transgender, bi-sexual, etc.). Clip brings together all people who are interested in seeing GLBT film. Clip also allows us to extend our mission outside the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area.

Learn more about the Clip Film Festival at tiglff.com.  Tampa Theater is located on Franklin St. (map) in Downtown Tampa.

Scene on the Green (Free)
Young Frankenstein
October 10, 2008
TBPAC Riverwalk
Price: Free!

ABOUT THE SHOW

The 1974 comedy classic directed by Mel Brooks stars Gene Wilder as the title character, backed up by an all-star cast – Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Marty Felman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn and Gene Hackman. This hilarious film is an affectionate parody of the classical horror produced by Universal in the 1930’s.

Scene on the Green is a series of films that will enhance your enjoyment of the live stage version that is coming to TBPAC. Concessions will be available for purchase. Stadium chairs and blankets welcome. Sorry, no coolers. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the film will be cancelled and possibly rescheduled.

The film will be shown for free on the Riverwalk by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (map) in Downtown Tampa.

James and the Giant Peach
October 5, 2008
Ferguson Hall
Price: Regularly priced tickets start at $8.50.

ABOUT THE SHOW

When a mysterious man gives him the gift of a life-changing, magical peach, James embarks on an exciting adventure (with larger-than-life insects!) inside the biggest peach the world has ever seen!

This presentation of the Roald Dahl classic is unique in that both hearing and deaf audiences can understand and enjoy as the actors themselves speak all the lines and at the same time, sign them in American Sign Language (ASL).

Ferguson Hall is located at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (map) in Downtown Tampa.