If you're on Pinterest, there's another way to tell summer has almost ended: pumpkin-flavored things start to overtake the site designed for those of us who really do want to find a way to make healthy crockpot meals, find another use for empty pill bottles and enjoy reading jokes made on Tumblr without truly understanding how the site works (once you turn 27, you lose the ability to Tumblr, apparently).
Me? I'm in St. Augustine, working on my Christmas Road Trip column. That's the thing about working at a weekly paper: You're always working at least one week ahead, often more for travel pieces. In my mind, it's Halloween already and I'm sick pf pumpkin flavored everything. Except Shipyard's Pumpkinhead ale, but really, does anyone ever get sick of a beer adorned with the Headless Horseman?
So while I'm thinking about November, you should enjoy your summer weekend. Go ahead, really. Because by this time next week we could be knee-deep in Home Depot commercials and Jim Cantore. I'm partial to NOAA's forecaster Avila myself, but to each her own.
Friday You'll find me at Wine Madonna, because I feel literary when I'm there (owner Kris Radish writes books I like to read). Of course, if I had more energy, I'd go see the Dixie Chicks, and if I had a lot more energy, I'd go see Rock Hard Revue, but honestly, it's hard to objectify with your whole heart when the mercury's in the upper nineties. Art lover? The Studio @620 hosts the opening reception for two great art shows happening simultaneously. Go see Emergent Perspective. Tampa side? Head to Four Stacks for the Nautilus Gallery's opening reception.
Saturday Over on St. Pete Beach, Shellabration's a party for sea turtles that helps keep them protected, too. I'll also be at Beerfest, watching you all have a great time drinking beer at a children's museum. That seems wrong, somehow, but we're clearly going to do it anyway, because it's fun and not really wrong, only a touch weird. The next issue of Creative Loafing Tampa (hey, that's us!) will feature a review of Good Vibrations at ARTicles. Why not check it out now and see if we're on our game with what we think?
Sunday Cider Press Cafe now has brunch. I am brunch-obsessed. You do the math. Baseball Forever at the Trop. Me? I'm over the debate, but clearly it matters to a lot of you, so go show your support.
So, go forth and weekend… and also, keep your eyes open for Pumpkinhead. Never enough to go around…
This article appears in Aug 18-25, 2016.