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Gasparilla Tips

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 25, 2008

Restrooms tips

For the brave

Plenty of portable toilets will be set up along the parade route, as well as surrounding South Tampa streets and downtown at the Pirate Street Fest. Lines are typically long, so plan ahead!

For the patient

As always, the Publix at 243 Bayshore Blvd. is offering the use of its restrooms to the public. But be warned: You could stand in line, possibly outside in the sun, for 20 minutes or more. Still, it's the way to go for people who can't stand portable toilets or who want to be indoors for a few minutes. Pick up a six-pack or some deli snacks on the way out.

For the villager

Hyde Park Village has restrooms on the west side of Snow Avenue, near the Color Me Mine studio at 1609 W Snow Circle, that are open to the public. Closer to the parade route, at Rome and Snow avenues, Kate Jackson Park also has public restrooms, but lines tend to move slowly. (The restrooms inside the Kate Jackson Community Center won't be open to the public because police will use the center as a holding cell for juveniles during Gasparilla.)

For the big spender

If you plan to pop into a bar or restaurant to use the loo, think again. Most of those staying open for the festivities, like Bella's on Howard Avenue and Timpano Chophouse on Swann Avenue, will watch for nonpaying stragglers trying to use their facilities. Four Green Fields on Platt Street won't let anyone in without paying the $10 cover.

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Parking

Buddy up

This is when your South Tampa friends come in handy. Try parking in their driveways or in front of their homes. Just make sure you're on the correct side of the street. Police will hand out $30 fines to anyone parked in front of temporary "no parking" signs in residential areas.

The shuttle option

Park at Raymond James Stadium, in Lots 1 and 3, for free, and then hop on the $10 shuttle that makes round trips to Hyde Park Avenue and DeLeon Street from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Or park at the Centro Ybor Parking Garage (at 1500 E Fifth Ave.) or the Palm Avenue Garage (at 2010 N 13th St.) and pay just $1 for up to three hours or a total of $4 for three hours or more.

You can buy a one-day streetcar pass for $4 (bring exact change) on the TECO Lines Streetcar, which stops at Centro Ybor and across from the Tampa Convention Center downtown. The streetcar will operate from 9 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Snag a garage spot

All downtown garages will be open, but spaces go quickly. Most are open by 7 a.m. Rates vary from $4 to $10.

For $20, try one of the three parking garages in Hyde Park Village (at Rome and Snow avenues; the southeast corner of Swann and S Dakota avenues; and the southwest corner of Swann and S Dakota). They also fill up fast.

Don't break the law

Police will be looking for illegally parked cars. "We get a lot of vehicles blocking people's driveways, and they will be towed," said Tampa police spokesman Cpl. Jared Douds. "We're not out to make people's lives harder, so if someone is, say, parked facing the wrong way but otherwise legal, we might not ticket them. But we do hand out a lot of tickets on that day."

***

Drunks and thieves

Popular Howard Avenue restaurant Bella's, which is about two blocks from Bayshore Boulevard, will open at 3 p.m. and then brace for the onslaught of shenanigans from people leaving the parade.

Bartender Larry Heisel said staffers typically remove everything they can from the tables and walls to deter drunkards with sticky fingers. Last year, the restaurant took all of the candles off the tables and replaced them with rechargeable electric candles. "We lost about a dozen of them," Heisel said. "I don't know how people thought they were going to charge them up once they got home."

Bella's will not do takeout orders on Saturday "because too many drunks order food and then forget to come get it."

***

Preparties

So you weren't invited to the mansion galas on Bayshore Boulevard? We found a few bars that will welcome you, and your cash. Or you could, of course, crash someone's party along the way. They probably won't know the difference.

Today(because you can't wait till Saturday):

Rough Riders: 6 to 11 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, 513 S Florida Ave. A buffet from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. includes Italian antipasto, chorizo sausage canapes, tostones, beef empanadas, deviled crab croquettes, and a carving station featuring sour orange marinated pork loin. Live music furnished by Otis Velt & the Old School Band. $35. Order tickets online at www.tampa-roughriders.org.

Whiskey Soho, 720 S Howard Ave.: Jose Gaspar Happy Hour with specials from 5 to 8 p.m. Half-price appetizers and free pool.

Saturday (it's finally here)

Timpano Chophouse, 1610 W Swann Ave. in Old Hyde Park Village: Brunch starts at 11 a.m., and you can make your own Bloody Mary.

Jackson's Bistro: 601 S Harbour Island Blvd.: Enjoy Gasparilla without even leaving the bar. Jackson's opens at 9 a.m., and apart from the regular menu, workers will grill hamburgers and hot dogs at the outside bar. You can look out onto the bay and watch the pirate invasion. The party will continue into the night, with DJs, live music and a $5 cover that starts at 6 p.m.

Pirate Street Festival: Downtown, along Florida Avenue, from Kennedy to Channelside. This all-ages, all-day party starts at 10 a.m. Features stages with live entertainment, food, rides and games. It's free.

***

Afterparties (if you make it through the parade)

Four Green Fields, 205 W Platt St.: This is right off the parade route. Owners will fence off the little thatched-roof Irish hut and charge $10.

MacDinton's, 405 S Howard Ave.: Start lining up now to get into the Irish hot spot. It'll be business as usual Saturday, and that includes a $5 cover and live music.

Pirate Street Festival: Continues till 11 p.m.

Third annual Pelota de Fuego (Ball of Fire) Party: Starts at 4 p.m. at the Tampa Firefighters Museum, 720 Zack St. downtown. The Krewes of Saint Florian, Charlotte de Berry and Knights of Saint John are sponsoring the party to benefit the museum. Tickets are available at the Bead Barn and Buccaneer Beads for $25. Information:Ron Hoedebeck at 610-0641 or r.hoede@verizon.net.

[Last modified January 25, 2008, 01:56:27]