Monica Bassi, young and single, believes the Tampa dating scene needs a boost.
However, the 25-year-old software engineer and University of South Florida graduate is doing more than just lamenting the lack of quality opportunities. Bassi and a group of friends have teamed up to start Tampa Speed Date.
"We're in our mid 20s and we're fulltime working professionals," Bassi said. "We have a good understanding of the difficulties of balancing work life and social life."
Melissa Lorenzo, London Bounmananh and Shireen Saroea will join Bassi Nov. 20 as co-hosts of the company's first event at Whiskey Park.
Some of the same approaches used by other dating services are used here: Men and women get 180 seconds to size each other up and decide if there's enough mutual attraction for a longer date.
Cost is $25 and folks can get more information about registering at www.TampaSpeedDate.com Applicants are screened and for this first event there is an age range of 21 to 38 for males and 21 to 36 for females.
Bassi said the response has been good and the event may sell out, forcing the company to roll over applicants to a future party.
A number of dating businesses have sprouted up to serve this market, but for such a fledgling company to have success says a lot about what's being offered for single folks in Tampa. Not enough.
"The professional single scene is growing, and I don't think the bars and clubs are able to keep up," Bassi said.
Bassi said future events may have themes geared toward specific religions, ethnicities or sexual orientations. Some people even have approached the company about speed date events for single parents or even pet owners.
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The weeklong Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival begins Jan. 12, but organizers already are looking to stir interest in the annual celebration. On Nov. 17, the festival kicks off its marketing campaign with the traveling "Black Florida In Pictures" exhibit at the John F. Germany Library, 900 N Ashley Drive.
The evening also will include a reception for 105-year-old Tampa resident Herbert Carrington and a quarterly meeting of the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs.
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Anyone who thinks there's chicken in a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna is okay with me. Count me among those who are excited about Jessica Simpson's scheduled noon appearance Saturday at Burdines in Brandon. Simpson is slated to perform one of her hits and sign autographs for those who spend $50 or more on Tommy Jeans.
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Memo to the St. Petersburg City Council: Get a grip. The council is upset about the decibel level of a recent hip-hop concert at Vinoy Park, and its complaints about profanity used by rappers such as 50 Cent are even louder.
If you want to reduce the audio, fine. But don't encroach on the free speech rights of these artists. Yeah, I said artists.
Attempts to censor these profanity-laced performances is misguided. The hip-hoppers curse to underscore the bravado of their music, and that's a big reason why it appeals to our youth - just like similar expressions of angst appealed to us when we were teens. From the crazed folks who smashed vinyl rock and roll records in the '50s to the Broward County sheriff who pulled 2 Live Crew off stage in the '80s, such censorship only heightens the popularity of the music.
In a couple of years, the music of hip-hoppers such as 50 Cent might not be worth a nickel, unless folks insist on boosting the performers' street credibility by trying to shut down concerts. The council may want to think twice about allowing another rap concert at Vinoy Park, but even that move is probably a violation of civil rights.
In all honesty, I think there are more pressing issues in St. Petersburg.
