Lakewood Ranch-based daytime cafe First Watch recently inked a deal with VMB Sunrise Hospitality Inc. to bring five restaurants to the Milwaukee area.First Watch currently has 83 restaurants in 11 states and plans to expand to 115 restaurants by the end of 2012, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.Read the complete story.
A new application for iPhone, iPod and iPad will help introduce users to the city of Winter Haven.Once it is approved by Apple Inc., the application will serve as an information source for visitors and locals interested in learning more about the city.Read the complete story.
Maine-based biomedical research organization Jackson Laboratory hasn't settled on its location in Collier County just yet.Lab officials recently expressed an interest into moving the forthcoming expansion closer to the University of South Florida in Tampa or Sarasota.Jackson is currently waiting to meet with newly appointed Gov. Rick Scott and his economic development team to discuss the project.Read the complete story.
Two of Florida's oldest roadside attractions are welcome distractions from traffic, according to a recent travel blog.Weeki Wachee Springs and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park are both mentioned in the Atlanta Journal Constitution's post Southeastern Roundup: The Magnolia Highway.The blog post recommends several family attractions in the Southeast for travelers looking to avoid Interstate 75.Read the complete post.
Looking to get your fix of computer animated art, interactive works and experimental music in the Tampa Bay region? Look no further than Electronics Alive VI.The biennial event, held at the University of Tampa's R.K Bailey Art Studio, explores the vast realm of electronic art in a five-week exhibit beginning Jan. 21.In addition to UT staff, the exhibit will feature submissions from Poland, Iceland, Colombia and New Zealand.Read the complete story.
Fully appreciating Artist Salvador Dali and the fabulous new St. Petersburg museum that houses 96 of his world-renowned paintings requires an up close and personal examination of the details contained within. Watch and listen along as 83 Degrees Managing Photographer Julie Busch takes a tour.
Two new enterprises -- Webjet and Bambinoz -- find worldwide success led by two innovative CEOs living in the Tampa Bay region. Carren Rieger and Mathias Friess are also husband and wife, and mom and dad, too.
Creative design has set sail in Sarasota.The Palm Avenue Garage and Retail Shops rang in 2011 with a New Year's opening, and now sits at the corner of Palm Ave. and Main St. in downtown Sarasota. Its design is not typical of a building that shelters cars and merchandise. The six-story structure's signature detail is a curvaceous, free-form sculptural style that looks like sails billowing out from the side of the building. The design, intended to reflect the area's artistic and modern environment, was created by Architect Jonathan Parks and fabricated by Mullets Aluminum. Jonathan Parks says the "sails" are designed to let natural light and ventilation into all parking levels while screening the vehicles from public view. "This is important to creating a welcoming and safe environment for users of the garage while providing a structure that does not look like a parking garage," he says.Carlson Studio Architecture is overseeing the LEED gold-level certification. According to Parks, environmentally responsible components include an underground retention vault and cistern to store and treat storm water runoff, a portion of which will be reused for the irrigation system. Interior materials provide protection against toxic chemicals, LED lighting and an energy management system reduce energy consumption, and plug-ins will be provided for electrically powered vehicles.The garage, constructed by Suffolk Construction, accommodates approximately 743 parking spaces, 20 motorcycle spaces and 80 bicycle spaces, and includes 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground level. The top parking deck provides a view of Sarasota Bay and downtown Sarasota. Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Jonathan Parks, Architect
A conglomerate specializing in specialty trucks and equipment is merging subsidiaries and moving them to the Tampa Bay region.Oshkosh Corporation has consolidated manufacturing operations of MedTec Ambulances with that of Pierce Manufacturing, its producer of fire trucks, located in Bradenton. Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles (OSV) will merge with Frontline Communications in Clearwater. The two companies manufacture specialty vehicles outfitted with communications capabilities such as news trucks, police and military vehicles.The planned relocation of both subsidiaries qualify Oshkosh for up to $1.44 million in economic development incentives. Enterprise Florida and the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development worked with Tampa Bay officials and economic development organizations to assist in relocating the Oshkosh operations. The move is expected to produce up to 200 jobs."Historically,we have found Florida to be a good location for our businesses," says John Daggett of the Oshkosh Corporation. "Our facilities have been there for some time and both Frontline and our Pierce Florida locations have found it very conducive for business. After an extensive review of Oshkosh's manufacturing locations across the country and close consultations with Florida officials, Oshkosh determined that Florida provided the most competitive business environment for the future of these businesses. It optimizes our manufacturing capacities and allows us to remain competitive in very competitive markets."According to Daggett, Frontline vehicles have been used to broadcast Super Bowl and Olympics events, and products of all four companies are used by law enforcement, fire rescue, medical and military units that need and demand durable products of high-quality.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: John Daggett, Oshkosh Corporation
More than $3 million is being invested in making the Pinellas County side of Gandy Boulevard a friendlier, safer place for pedestrians.According to Kristen Carson of the Florida Department of Transportation, the project will provide a continuous pedestrian path between a residential area populated with apartments and the parking area for the Friendship Trail, a former biking and walking trail along the Gandy Bridge that once stretched across Tampa Bay to connect St. Petersburg with Tampa. The area served as a gateway between downtown St. Petersburg and south Tampa."A five-foot sidewalk or boardwalk will be built between Oak St. and Brighton Bay Blvd.," says Carson. "A 12-foot multiuse trail will be built between Brighton Bay Blvd. and the Friendship Trail parking area along the north side of Gandy Boulevard. Along the south end, a continuous pedestrian path will be provided between Oak St. and a point east of San Fernando Blvd. A timber boardwalk will be built in front of Derby Lane and in front of San Martin Village. Boardwalks are being constructed in these locations instead of traditional sidewalks due to the minimal amount of FDOT right-of way and so the roadway drainage in the ditches are not adversely impacted."Carson says that five-foot shoulders also will be built on both sides of the road where they currently do not exist. Tampa Pavement Constructors, Inc. is handling the construction on the project.The Friendship Bridge, which is connected to Gandy Boulevard, has been closed since 2008 and is scheduled for demolition. Hillsborough and Pinellas county commissioners are considering how best to demolish the bridge, built in 1956, citing structural hazards that may endanger pedestrians and bikers. Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Kristen Carson, Florida Department of Transportation
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