THINGS ABOUT TALLAHASSEE I LIKE AND SOME I DON'T

ENDS OF ERAS - GOING FAST

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:18:00 +0000

since the closing of B Merrill's and its reincarnation as an eyeglass store, of all things, another long-standing restaurant has ended: El Chico's.
I remember celebrating birthdays there with the huge sombrero being placed on the birthday boy or girl's head (until the hat was unfortunately stolen). At some point in the late '80's they started seriously reheating most of their food in a microwave and I stopped going there.

Still, it's sad to see someplace go away, even if you didn't go there.

Wood Carving Yard Art

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:19:00 +0000

Bus on Tharpe

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:13:00 +0000

Tallahassee Gallery Hop

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:45:00 +0000

When is first Friday not on the first? When it's November.

October 5, 2007, First Friday Gallery Hop from 6 until 9 pm
October 14, Second Sundays at Railroad Square, open studios
from noon until 5 pm
October 31, Halloween! Next to the Last Armageddon Show @ 621 Gallery from 6 until 9 pm

November 9 Gallery Hop (Fall Fever) from 6 until 9 pm
November 16 Annual Art Auction at 621 Gallery 7 until 9 pm

Mickee Faust: (Citizen Faust) "Black On Black Rhyme" for the October First Friday in the Mickee Faust Clubhouse in Railroad Square.

Oh, yeah, get your tickets, early! Advanced tickets go on sale Oct. 8-11, from 4-7 pm for:

"OktoberFaust" mini-cabaret the weekend of October 12 and 13, show starts at 8:00 pm. Ticket window opens at 6:30pm the night of the shows.

Tickets are $10 general admission; $5 students, seniors and persons w/disabilities. Call 562-RATS. Iamcitizenfaust@yahoo.com

Tallahassee Culture

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 19:02:00 +0000

The Scarlet Pimpernel performed in August was delightful.
2007-08 Season Memberships available for charming musical threate.
Upcoming:

THEATRE A LA CARTE
www.threatrealacarte.org

January 11 - 13 and January 18 - 20 2008
Sweet Smell of Success

June 20 - 22 and June 27 - 29 2008
A Little Night Music

The Artist Series, performed at FSU's Opperman Music Hall.
2007-2008 Season:

October 28, 2007
Stephen Robinson, Guitar

January 20, 2008
The Calder Quartet

March 24, 2008
Proteus 7

May 4, 2008
The Shanghai Quartet

FSU SCHOOL OF THEATRE
www.theatre.fsu.edu

2007-2008 Season

October 5 - 14 2007
A Sense of Place

October 19 - 28 2007
Into the Woods

November 9 - 18 2007
The Birds

November 29 - December 2 2007
Afternoon of the Elves

February 8 - 24 2008
The Rocky Horror Show

February 22 - March 2 2008
The Tamer Tamed

Tallahassee Little Theatre
2007 - 2008 Mainstage Season

October 25 - November 4 2007
Dracula

January 31 - February 10 2008

April 10 - 20 2008

May 29 - June 8 2008
Move Over, Mrs. Markham

July 24 - August 3 2008
Guys and Dolls

December 7 - 16 2007
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress

February 29 - March 9, 2008
The Pillowman

Special Events:

October 13 2007
Under the Oaks:
Whiskey & Williams
featuring selections from the work
of Tennessee Williams at Goodwood

Florida A & M University Essential Theatre

check the website for 2007 - 2008 season

Tallahassee Film Society
check out the latest films at Railroad Square

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:50:00 +0000

Outside the Movies 8 the other night, I saw a man standing on the sidewalk with his violin and upside-down hat collecting "tips." Does this mean that Tallahassee has arrived as an urban city?

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 23:41:00 +0000

archive photo Tallahassee 1950

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 19:51:00 +0000

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that affordable housing is not St. Joe
Company 's interest.

Some call the Democrat a newspaper, but this is not news. When St. Joe (Arvida Development Corporation) requested original approval to build its Southwood complex, housing advocates lobbied for affordable housing to be incorporated into this multi-million dollar development. St. Joe said it couldn't possibly build affordable housing as a part of its 3,200 acre master-planned development (code for all the houses look alike). The Democrat article quotes St. Joe officials as saying they have "struggled to figure out how to build homes for less than $100,000." And company spokesperson Jerry Ray stated that "Our skills don't include the dcevelopment of that sort of product."

In the 4,700 unit development being built, Southwood homes range from $191,900 to $304,900 and up. You can buy an apartment--oops, I mean a townhome--with prices ranging from $172,900 to $195,900. State workers in the offices bordering Southwood earn 62% less than the national average for public employees according to a 1999 survey by Florida Tax Watch and many could not afford these houses prices.

St. Joe/Arvida builds developments throughout Florida with quaint names such as "Water Color" and "Summer Camp"

The Southwood brochure said "Welcome to a charming and progressive community now coming to life in Tallahassee, Florida. A truly inspired environment where people of all ages will enjoy the lifestyle they've always wanted to live." When I commented via E-mail on their marketing campaign, I noted the lack of diversity among the photos of smiling folks living and playing in Southwood. Even though they had solicited my comments, I never got a response. Seems the word "progressive" in their brochures may be misued.

Now the company wants to develop an additional 4,500 acres of land that it owns just south of its current Tallahassee development. A group recommending that building be allowed indicated that making more land available for homes will help reduce the cost of new homes.

Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor said people are mistaken if they expect St. Joe to provide affordable housing.

I say after the inital dealings with this company, expectations throughout the community are zero.

Commissioner Proctor is correct when he said that rather than building affordable housing for low-income residents, St. Joe paid into a government fund that provides for affordable housing outside of SouthWood. However, to date, no affordable house has been built with money from this fund managed jointly by the City of Tallahassee and Leon County.

See also Whose Florida Click on St. Joe Panhandle

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sun, 13 Apr 2003 15:50:00 +0000

The headline in today's newspaper should be:
"Florida Citizens Fire Lawmakers"

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Thu, 13 Mar 2003 02:47:00 +0000

The insanity that is the Legislative session!
More cars on the road, more litter on the streets.
The temperature rises high enough to float a balloon.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 00:13:00 +0000

thank goodness for the local Kiwanians.
This weekend they delivered 150 glazed donuts
to the police, sheriff deputies, fire department and local jail
(although none were shared with the inmates).

Meanwhile, the tension rises, as voting for the design
of Florida's commemorative quarter continues!
I was disappointed to see that the mosquito didn't make the final cut.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 15 Feb 2003 13:08:00 +0000

Candidates. The City Commission race
is over. Go home and take your signs with you.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:15:00 +0000

seems the Governor now proposes to remove the "trust"
from the state's trust funds.
since he's prohibited from running for term number 3,
he doesn't seem worried.

Another man was released from death row, the fourth
in 24 months from Florida's prison system.

Seems Florida should go to the way of Illinois and
call a moratorium to see how many other not guilty
folks we have waiting for death.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 13 Jan 2003 17:39:00 +0000

Bob Graham for President?

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 06 Jan 2003 18:16:00 +0000

The coronation--uh inauguration--begins today of the first Republican governor to be elected to a second term since the Reconstruction era . The
estimated $1 million party begins tonight. Jeb supporters will get down in the 46,000-square-foot pavilion set up on FSU's intramural fields for the
"Black Tie and Blue Jeans" ball and concert tonight. The buzz about town is JEB for Prez in '08. And, if you haven't already
purchased your ticket to the ball, you're out of luck, it's sold out.
The inaugural carnival follows the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at North Adams Street near the Governor's Mansion
and it's free!
Crews are already setting up large tents and building kitchens to prepare the food on site. If you're thinking of renting a limo ($45 to $125 an hour) it's too late, all are booked--even the Hummer stretch. Those without limos are piloting their own planes.

At the same time, a single mom and her kids who live not more than two miles from the Capitol will go to bed in the dark and cold
after having their electricity turned off. But, on Tuesday, they can tour the Governor's Mansion for free.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 16 Dec 2002 14:38:00 +0000

The former Secretary of State was in town recently to sign copies of her new book. One protestor showed up. The rest were too apathetic to show.

Savvy politicos created a strategy early on to get Katherine Harris out of Florida. They supported her campaign for Congress, a seat which she won in November's election. Since she had to resign to run, she was moved out of the building that houses the State Museum and the State Library last summer.

Since the two years after she declared Bush a winner in Florida on behalf of his brother, Governor Jeb, she presided over two more botched elections in Florida. Since her replacement took office, people now seems to be able to vote without controversy.

Her book, the name of which will not be promoted here, will be available in the public library, if you insist on reading it. Therefore saving you from spending your hard earned money ($21 bucks). Supposedly, some former friends and co-workers bought arm loads of books--from five to ten each. You can only hope a copy doesn't find its way as a wrapped present under your tree! The book is made up of 12 "principles" instead of chapters, with titles such as "Stick to Your Guns" and "Be Broken, Be Bitter or Be Better." There is no disclosure whether or not she has imparted her hair and make-up tips.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 14 Dec 2002 13:38:00 +0000

The home burned in Tallahassee where Ted Bundy stayed briefly during his killing spree of co-ed aged women from coast to coast. The dilapidated apartment complex will be demolished, but will not extinguish the memories of the "handsome killer."

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Mon, 02 Dec 2002 17:44:00 +0000

Early Show Correspondent Tracy Smith (CBS) turned up in Tallahassee on assignment. Her goal was to find a dish from a real chef at a real restaurant that she could duplicate at home and compare the costs of the two.

For her meals, she chose Angelo's of Tallahassee., a restaurant where the food is fancy, but you can still pronounce everything on the menu. There are two house specials.

“It's a fresh filet of black grouper,” says Angelo’s owner George Joanos. Dish number one: Nine and-a-half ounces of black grouper with a mixture of kalamata olives and tomatoes and a few other things - like a nice white wine - thrown in.

Dish number two: veal sauteed in butter and topped with crabmeat and Bernaise sauce.

Now it was Smith’s turn to try to do it at home. “It’s easy. you just need a high quality product. You can't mess it up,” Joanos says.

Smith went to her mom’s house to do the cooking. The first problem: "You sometimes have to buy 'way more than you need,” Smith says.
Smith and her mom managed to come up with dishes that at least looked like the real thing at Angeleo's. And it tasted almost as good.

But was it more or less expensive? Here is the cost break down:
At Angelo's:
Grouper Mykonos: $17.95
Veal Oscar: $16.95
7% tax $2.44
15% tip $5.24
Total: $ 42.58

Do it yourself

Grocery Store: $36.61
Fish Store: $25.29
Total: $61.90

© MMII, CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sat, 30 Nov 2002 16:16:00 +0000

While terrorists have captured the resources of law enforcement in most American cities, Tallahassee is increasing security for its annual Florida State/Florida football rivalry extravaganza. It seems security officials are determined to prevent the ravages of hooligans bent on storming the football field after the game and tearing down the goal posts. The athletic director stated that he will do everything possible to make sure people don't come on the field. Since football players may really be athletic cyborgs rather than human, a sigh of relief came over the town as it realized it would be allowed to see the players on the field, despite the warnings.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Fri, 29 Nov 2002 19:10:00 +0000

Tallahassee is a football town. The thing we don't understand in making the sport a cult, is the treatment of young athletes. History repeats itself this week with the arrest of quarterback Adrian McPherson for felony theft. Years past, football stars arrested for shoplifting, theft, DUI, gambling allegations and various encounters at or near clubs, have spotlighted our city's athletes. Role models?

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Sun, 24 Nov 2002 18:09:00 +0000

The summers are humid, hot and stagnant.
The winters are mild except when it gets below 30.
Spring is beautiful if it doesn't rain.
Fall is a continuation of summer until it turns cold.

noreply@blogger.com (GT) — Tue, 12 Nov 2002 11:08:00 +0000

welcome to tally town deep in the south, loaded with pine trees and wondering where are the palm trees?