Little Fun Adventures

The best types of days are ones spent exploring your city, finding new gems that you never knew existed. I used to think that Tampa didn't really have much to offer growing up; I was so wrong. There are so many little places all over the city that I have been bookmarking left and right to test out. One of those places was Dairy Joy. People that live in south Tampa are probably losing their minds if they are reading this and know that I had never heard of it before. Sorry guys, I'm a born and raised Bo's gal ;) I loved the nostalgic look and walkup counter service. I went with a plain vanilla cake cone dipped in chocolate; you just can't go wrong with the classics.

Since I was in the area, I spent some time antiquing through a few of the shops on S. Manhattan. I found the little globe below hidden on the back patio of one of the shops. It was a great price and the perfect size to add to my growing globe collection.

I knew it was going to be an even better day when this little guy cruised right on by me in downtown Tampa. hello, friend!

I had to run an errand over near Ybor and I decided to park the car and walk down 7th Avenue in search of a quick lunch. I've passed New York, New York Pizza so many times, and each time I kick myself for either just having eaten elsewhere or I'm just not hungry. I could smell the fresh garlic when I walked by and it turned me around in my tracks. When I saw the pizzas in the window I thought now was the best time to try it out. I went with a slice of the Grandma pizza, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella with garlic and basil. I've eaten quite a bit of pizza in my day and there was something so incredibly amazing about this slice. The fresh garlic and mozzarella cheese sprinkled with just the right amount of basil leaves was a combination of perfection. New York, New York, I'll be back for more soon!

Ironically sharing my diet coke with my BFF...pizza.

When I saw on Instagram that Small Room Collective, a traveling airstream "road emporium," was stopping into Tampa for a few evenings to set up shop, I knew I had to stop by. Lauren and Travis Hardy, along with their sweet pup George, travel all over the US selling art, apparel, vinyl and other goods made by independent artists out of their 1963 Airstream Globetrotter, named Bob Mapplethorpe. They also sell a variety of vintage goods found from their travels along the way. What an amazing way to spend your time, am I right? Traveling the country, collecting vintage goods, and meeting tons of cool people that make amazing products; sign me up! Does anyone know of an airstream for sale (maybe a VW bus too?) I purchased the adventure and happy camper pennants I pinned up below. You can keep up with their travels to find out where they are headed next via their website and social media pages. If you live in a city they are stopping into for a day or two, take my advice and go!

Earlier this week, Ryan came into town to visit for the day. We spent the afternoon roaming up and down 7th Avenue, checking out some of the best restaurants and shops that Ybor City has to offer. With so many beautiful and historical buildings, plus the easy access via the trolley to downtown, it truly is the perfect area to spend a few hours on the weekend. Ybor hasn't always had the best reputation, but there are so many new and local businesses and restaurants opening in the area. It's equal parts cool and sketchy, with a lot of amazing history thrown into the mix. If it's been a while since you've made it over that way, you really should check it out!

If you've been downtown before, then you know this guy is just one of the unofficial mascots of Ybor City.

We didn't ride the trolley throughout Ybor, but it is certainly on my bucket list next time we adventure into downtown Tampa.

We first stopped into The Blind Tiger Cafe for a cappuccino and an earl grey lavender iced tea. They serve Buddy Brew Coffee and a selection of Tebella Tea, both local companies in town. They recently expanded their availability for seating, making it the perfect place to hangout and catch up with friends, study, or read a book.

Afterwards, we headed to T ampa Bay Brewing Co. for a beer and an order of their pretzels. Their handmade pretzels are my favorite in Tampa. TBBC has eight of their own core brews on tap year-round, with several other seasonal options changing every few months. I tried the Jack the Quaffer Porter which has undertones of coffee and chocolate.

Next up was La France. I would love to go down to La France and spend an entire afternoon patiently sifting through all of their clothing. They have racks of clothing from every decade, along with a large variety of antique and vintage jewelry. If you are ever attending a themed party or event, this is the place to go for an amazing outfit. This is also the best place to go if you're just looking for a unique piece of clothing for your personal collection. They have the best vintage coat collection I've seen anywhere in town.

Lastly, we had dinner at The Bricks, just in time to escape the downpour of rain that came out of nowhere. Ryan had the bird and pig sandwich with chicken, bacon, apples, brie, and agave on sweet bread. I had the cure sandwich with a fried egg, avocado, tomato and cheddar on a toasted kaiser bun.

Thankfully, the rain let up a bit just in time for us to head home.

One thing is certain, Ybor sure does make for a beautiful, yet dreary, scene.