A new vision for downtown; the mayor gets on the mike
By ERNEST HOOPER
Published October 10, 2003
To get a gauge on how downtown Tampa was being promoted by hospitality employees, Yacht StarShip owner Troy Manthey would go to local hotels and ask what was there to do in the city.
Much to his chagrin, the employees would often suggest he go to the beaches, or Orlando.
"They even said that when I had my StarShip shirt on," said Manthey, whose dining yacht sails out of Channelside. "It was crazy."
So Manthey founded the Downtown Tampa Attractions Association. One of the group's first moves was to create an ambassador program. Every month, frontline personnel from hotels and attractions are taken on a daylong tour of things to do downtown and elsewhere in the city. The day ends with a reception on Manthey's ship.
In 12 months, the attractions association has grown to 50 members, including representatives from attractions outside downtown, and appears on the verge of becoming a real marketing force.
The idea evolved from a desire to see more nighttime and weekend events downtown. Remember how it was a ghost town downtown on the off day between NCAA tournament games in March?
The association is touting HolidayFest, which will serve as a promotional umbrella for holiday events throughout the city. Particularly interesting are a series of Music In The Park concerts planned for the new Cotanchobee Park, and nighttime boat parades scheduled for Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20.
Next May, the association will sponsor the Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races as part of Asia Fest. Imagine local, national and international teams of 20 people, rowing together in a Chinese dragon boat to the beat of a drum. The event is expected to attract 1,000 participants.
Manthey said the association also is discussing weekly concerts and firework shows during the summer.
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The Pam and Mike show debuts on WMTX-100.7 FM this morning. That's Pam as in Mayor Pam Iorio. She will be joining regular co-host Mike Reeves for the day as a substitute for Nancy Alexander, who is on assignment for WTVT-Ch. 13 in Hollywood.
Associate producer Dewey Singleton said Iorio is going to do more than just play music.
"She's going to be a fun, wacky morning show host," Singleton said. "She won't be taking the easy road. We're going to make her work."
That's great, but I'm going to guess she won't be killing a pig in the parking lot.
Iorio is a huge Motown fan, but it's not clear if she will get to play any of her favorites.
"When I asked if I could select some of the music they seemed a little bit hesitant," Iorio said. "I guess it might be too early for Marvin Gaye."
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The new Channelside projects are shaping up nicely. The Cold Stone Creamery plans to open on Oct. 24, and Grille 29, an upscale steakhouse, is hiring employees and expects to open Nov. 17. Splitsville, the retro bowling alley which was originally named Kingpin, and Hooters have targeted early December for their openings.
The best news for Channelside is that it will be up to 80 percent capacity when the Chicago-based Signature Room restaurant opens next February. The best news for me is that Grille 29 will have a dessert bar.
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Kudos to Lillie Brown and the staff of the Boys & Girls Club at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Plant City.
Like other Boys & Girls clubs in the county, Brown and her staff celebrated Lights On After School Thursday. The program, co-sponsored by JC Penney, pulls kids off the streets and out of latchkey situations to give them wholesome after-school activities.
I was just happy Brown called with some good news. The last time we talked, in September 2002, I was working as a poll volunteer at the center and Brown came in and said we would have to stay open an extra two hours because of problems in South Florida.
