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What's Brewing: This city can hop after 6

By SUSAN THURSTON
Published December 30, 2005

Nothing much happens downtown after 6. Lunch places go dark. The drone of vacuum cleaners fills empty office towers. The homeless find a spot to ride out the night.

Downtown dreamers say all that will change once people start living in the central business district. Tampa will become a 24-hour place to live, work and play. We just have to be patient.

The impatient among us got a glimpse recently of what downtown could become during the second Downtown After Six.

An estimated 700 to 1,000 people hopped from venue to venue to soak up the scene, grab a drink with friends and ponder the possibilities.

About 30 groups of young professionals, led by Eric Sturm, organized the Dec. 15 event to raise awareness about their organizations and promote businesses downtown. It grew from a similar event held in June.

For many, Downtown After Six gave a new perspective of their own back yard. Sipping wine at Tampa Bay Uncorked's party at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel, people marveled at the view of the Hillsborough River and the University of Tampa minarets - two grossly underappreciated landmarks.

"Downtown Tampa's definitely going to happen," said Steve Bono of Tierra Verde. "You watch."

Catty-corner across the street, Joe Mackey pulled people off the curb to check out the fairly new National Wall Art Gallery. He drove in from Safety Harbor to meet a friend but got sidetracked.

"I saw the artwork, and I thought it was amazing," he said, surveying the unique light sculpture by Deanne Sabeck.

Sidetracked by art in downtown Tampa? Anything's possible downtown after 6.

A short walk away at Coonfare's sports cafe, members of the University of Florida's Young and Involved Club ate chicken wings and drank beer.

Sarah Morgan, a recent transplant who grew up in Orlando, applauded the huge turnout decked in orange and blue. Before Downtown After Six, many had never heard of Coonfare's (its unusual name is the owner's surname).

"I'm really excited to see people excited about being in downtown Tampa," said Morgan, 25. "I'm glad our age group can breathe life into downtown."

For the Tampa Bay Young Republicans, the night was all about politics. At the Old Tampa Book Co., members mused about a contest between Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton for president in 2008.

"What about Hillary and Condi in a mud pit?" joked member Fred Pirone, 31.

"You could pay down the national deficit with the cost of tickets," responded Adam Smith, 29.

Dressed in suits with red, white and blue lapel pins, they mulled their own political futures. Pirone told how in high school he sent himself a certified letter trademarking his future presidential campaign slogan, "Have perfect vision. Vote Fred in 2020." He wanted the letter, which remains unopened, as proof that he had the jingle first.

Smith acknowledged the group should be called the Optimist Club. But seriously, he added, the Young Republicans' president, Rita Nunez, would make a great commander in chief.

At the Hub, Todd Rosenberg preferred to focus on the here and now by passing out business cards for a limousine service and catering company.

A newbie from New England, Rosenberg, 31, raved about Tampa.

"This isn't like Boston, it's better," he said. "The weather, more beautiful women. The business opportunities are endless. It's a different way of life."

To be sure, Boston doesn't need venue hops to boost excitement about downtown. Then again, we don't need snowplows.

Downtown After Six ended several hours later at Spain, where hoppers sucked mojitos and danced to salsa. Workers behind the bar scrambled to serve the bigger-than-expected crowd. Sangria quickly became red wine with a splash of soda.

I asked John Jenkins what was the oddest thing he saw all night.

"A thousand people downtown having fun, meeting people," he said.

In a few years or more, that could be the norm.

THE LAST DROP: Resurrect your Christmas tree as mulch by recycling it at the Manhattan Brush Site, 7215 S Manhattan Ave., near MacDill Air Force Base. The site is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. Garbage crews will pick up trees curbside Tuesday through Jan. 13.

- Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3394 or thurston@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 30, 2005, 17:39:34]