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Chill out: Fall is coming this way

The dry half of Florida's year arrives, and this season's perfect for you if you like your jazz hot and your nights cool.

By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published October 4, 2007

Flying Stanley is certainly living up to his name these days.

The champion greyhound runs a little faster when the temperature drops, even just a few degrees.

"Oh, yeah, when you get a little chill in the air, they get a little friskier," said Vera Filipelli, spokeswoman for Derby Lane. "I like to tease and say Stanley is flying now!"

The 2-1/2-year-old Kansas-born red brindle is a favorite in Saturday's 2007 Fall Sprint Classic at Derby Lane.

That's one of the many events Tampa Bay area residents -- still a bit sapped from summer -- can look forward to this time of year.

Just don't use the word "autumn" when you're talking to Ernie Jillson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

"We break it into seasons, wet and dry," he said.

To forecasters, the first cold front marks the beginning of the dry season, as well as the start of the busy festival season, which includes the Clearwater Jazz Holiday on Oct. 18-21.

The first significant front usually sweeps through the region just before the jazz event during the second week of October, he said, "but we could go as late as November."

Few people probably want to hear that, especially since average temperatures last month ran one to two degrees above normal. The average high in Tampa was 89.9 degrees; the average low, 75.3.

But here's what we have to look forward to: Last year in October, the average high in Tampa was 85.1, with an average low of 67.1.

It might be chilly enough to break out the fur coat anyway because really, it's about fashion, according to Piotr Gawienczuk, manager of the fur salon at Saks Fifth Avenue at WestShore Plaza in Tampa. "Weather has very little to do with it." He is hosting the Zandra Rhodes Fall 2007 Fur Trunk Show today through Sunday.

What's in this year, you say? Short cropped jackets, especially those made of sheared mink, sable and chinchilla.

You'll also be able to find some fur on the Pinellas Trail, though not on a human. With the change of seasons, traffic has increased slightly on the central part of the trail in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

"Hurricane season is almost over and so are the 95-degree temperatures and the 2:30 in the afternoon thundershowers," said Darrin Alan, marketing manager for Howard Alan Events. "It's a great time for Florida residents to go outside."

Times staff writers Jackie Ripley and Barbara Fredricksen contributed to this report. Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8785.

FAST FACTS: A sampling of what's to come

• Farmers markets: The Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg kicks off Saturday. The one in Ybor City runs year-round, while Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in Town 'N Country is gearing up for a Nov. 4 start.
• Gardening: The Master Gardeners plant sale is coming up Saturday, from 9 a.m. until noon. The sale will be held at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs.
• Fall Fest 2007: In Pasco County, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 11680 and the West Pasco Sertoma Club will hold this fest Oct. 11-14 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 5340 High St. and U.S. 19.
• Cotee River October Bike Fest: This third annual event will be held Oct. 13-14 in and around downtown New Port Richey.

[Last modified October 4, 2007, 02:06:54]