Friday, April 1, 2011

The Door to My Neighborhood


I wish this was my view!

I live in an area of Tampa Florida called Seminole Heights.  When I drove through this neighborhood 13 years ago I knew I had to live here.  10 mins from downtown Tampa, between the Hillsborough River and I-275, everything is close.  The neighborhood has beautiful old unique homes and mature large oaks.  People wave at you when you drive by.  10 years ago my dream came true and I purchased a block Four Corner House on an amazing ½ an acre.

I love my house but the best part about the neighborhood is the neighbors.  I have met so many people that have become close friends.  I joined a Yoga Group with 8 women.  It is held above the garage of the instructor, in the neighborhood.   I joined for health reasons and I have stayed for 9 years because these women are incredible.  Each one is strong and beautiful.  I think we invented Laughing Yoga!

The neighborhood association has a strong city presence.  In the last few years it has splintered a bit but all groups go through changes.  The point is that there are a lot of passionate people that live here that care.

When I first moved here the restaurants were few and far between but now we have gems!  The Front Porch is around the corner and when they have live music I can enjoy it from my backyard.  Ella’s and The Refinery are the newest in the ‘hood but fabulous.  Independent Bar has great beer and atmosphere and speaking of atmosphere Taco Bus has it in spades along with great Mexican food.

A house in the 'hood
It is a great walking neighborhood too, people walking with people, people walking with dogs, people walking with music, people saying Hi and stopping to chat.  Heck I can’t go into my neighborhood grocery store without seeing someone I know.

This weekend Seminole Heights is having their Home Tour, Sunday April 3 from 11:30-5:00. Tickets are $10.00 ahead and $15.00 at the door.  I highly recommend making a day of it.  You start at the Garden Center on Central between Hillsborough and Hanna.  I will be a volunteer at a house on Branch.  Stop in and say hello!

I hope you will share what you love about your neighborhood in the comments below!

4 comments:

  1. Awesome blog, Ginny!!! Love it!! Denise

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  2. I found your blog via ModernSauce. Best of luck!

    My hood, oh, my hood. We call it the gayborhood on the left side of the road and the gaytto on the right. It is both very gay and very ghetto. Hoopties and wine parties--box wine--that's how we roll.

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  3. The best part of living in Seminole Heights is the sense of community. We are like a small town where everyone knows each other and most want to help the greater good. It's so refreshing to know that in this day and age I can name 75 percent of my neighbors within a 2 block radius. It's a neighborhood where people truly look out for each other. Did you know that the Neighborhood Watch Paint Your Heart Out Team has over 23 volunteers for their chosen house? And they have partnered with the Seminole Heights Community Garden to do a landscape makeover too. Where else in Tampa can you experience such compassion?

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  4. I didn't know about the landcape make over, that is great! I wish all the volunteers at Paint Your Heart out and the Landscape Makeover the best on Saturday! I agree we do have a community here and I cherish it! Thanks for commenting.

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