Tracy Midulla Reller was regarded as an arts pioneer when she opened Tempus Projects in Seminole Heights. Five years ago, the neighborhood was emerging as Tampa’s hip historic district and Reller, a Hillsborough Community College professor, was emerging as Tampa’s hip alternative arts leader. After a successful nine-year run as the force behind [5]art — a Tampa artist collective — Reller, 40, decided to launch her own gallery with a similar mission: provide a launch pad for new and emerging artists. Tempus Projects opened in 2009 in a converted garage with limited amenities. Last year the space moved to a bigger and better location on North Florida Avenue across from Reller’s favorite haunt, Nicko’s Fine Foods. The Tampa native, who serves as the gallery’s creative director, is thrilled to see her neighborhood finally grow into its skin. Tempus is poised to grow again too, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Gobioff Foundation. “I would like to bring more traveling exhibitions to the area,” Reller says. “I could see us working with guest curators and collaborating with out-of-state galleries. We’ve got an apartment above the gallery that I’d love to occupy with an artist-in-residence program. There are so many possibilities right now.”
Where they know her order by heart: NICKO’S FINE FOODS. “No matter the time of day, I’ll get two poached eggs, crispy hash browns and biscuits. It’s so good and ridiculously affordable. You know you’re a regular when the staff gives your daughter little gifts for Christmas.”
Where she goes after gallery receptions: MERMAID TAVERN. “I start to have withdrawals if I don’t go every now and then. I don’t just go to drink either. The food is wonderful — the pork belly mac and cheese, the fish tacos and when I feel like eating meat, the Kefta burger.”
Where she walks her dogs: RIVERCREST PARK in TAMPA. “It’s right on the river. It’s really well-maintained. It would be a great place to put in a canoe or go fishing. It’s quiet, but not scary quiet.”
Where she feels like a kid again: INDIAN SHORES BEACH. “My parents have had a place there since ’78. It reminds me of my childhood. It’s where I spent my summers. It’s quieter than St. Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach.
Where she goes for oysters and beer: PJ’S OYSTER BAR on St. Pete Beach. “It’s a good place to sit and drink on the beach. It used to be real dive-y. They just built a new building. It’s not so dive-y anymore.”
Where she’s been going since she was underage: SKIPPER’S SMOKEHOUSE. “I’ve been going to Skipper’s since I was way too young to go to Skipper’s. I used to get my uncle to take me and then he’d leave and I’d hang out to hear the band.”
Where she finds small gifts for friends: CLEANSE APOTHECARY in Seminole Heights. “They sell things like soaps and bath salts. My daughter loves it. The owner [Greg Curtis] has been really supportive of Tempus.”
Where she shops for vintage garb: FROLIC EXCHANGE. “You know the business is doing well because the inventory changes a lot. I’ve found some sleeveless tops there that were really lovely. She sells a mix of vintage, up-cycled and boutique-type stuff.”
Where she escapes the usual crowd: INDIAN SHORES COFFEE COMPANY. “It’s quaint and fabulous and kind of no frills. They have chocolate croissants and muffins that are the size of your head.”
Where she gets her sugar fix: BO’S ICE CREAM. “Bo’s has been around since the beginning of time. I get a vanilla soft serve cone with a chocolate dip every time. If I’m living on the edge, I’ll get a chocolate cone with a chocolate dip.”
Where she gets downward with her dog: DARK WAVE YOGA with Erin and Eric Wheeler. “It’s basically yoga in the dark while listening to something like Depeche Mode or the Pixies. I used to hate yoga, but I love it now. They teach at Tempus on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s one of the better things that has happened to me in the last year.”
Where she goes for Cuban/Chinese fusion: ARCO-IRIS on W. Columbus Drive in Tampa. “One side of the menu is Cuban, the other side is Chinese. If you’re really smart you’ll get a Cuban sandwich with fried rice. It’s perfect.”
Where she gets her coffee to go: COMMUNE + CO. “It’s three brothers who serve this really excellent cold brew coffee off a keg on a bicycle. They bring it to different locations. You can even get a growler of coffee. It’s amazing. I follow their whereabouts on Instagram.”
Where you’d never expect to find a great salad: THE INDEPENDENT. “It’s a yummy plate of greens with grapes and walnuts and goat cheese. It’s so delicious.”
Who serenades her at cafes: SANDRA LOLO. “I’ve seen her do a lot of acoustic sets at coffee shops. She has a beautiful voice. It’s comforting.”
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.