Category: Lifestyle

Naples Botanical Gardens

After a hiatus, I am back and ready to continue my journey of finding something to do! On my break, I was in Naples, Florida. For those who don’t know, Naples is a town in Southwest Florida. Honestly, it’s largely a retirement area, but it does have some hidden gems! For this entry, I want to talk about the Naples Botanical Gardens. In all of the times I have visited Naples, I have never seen something so beautiful.

The gardens have different themes curated there at different times, similar to art museums. During certain times of the year, they also do a laser light show in the evenings. The day we went, the show was completely sold out for the evening, but we were still able to see the gardens. Each garden is classified by geographical location of the plants. It’s a lot of walking but it’s worth it! The size of the area makes it, so you are able to walk privately and enjoy the sights and sounds around you. Scattered throughout the paths are benches and seats that allow you to take a few moments to really soak in all of the beauty surrounding you. Additionally, there are opportunities to see wildlife like gators or birds.

Wrap up your stay with a visit to the restaurant and gift shop. The restaurant boasts scenic views of the gardens, on top of a menu with fresh ingredients and refreshing dishes. If you make it to the gift shop, you will be blown away with the number of beautiful items for purchase. Everything in the store has a floral theme and it is the perfect opportunity to pick up a keepsake.

I would definitely recommend a visit to this place regardless if you are a family, or single. There is plenty of opportunity for everyone to have a good time!

As always, thanks for reading and remember…Go Do Something!!

Christmas Market

If you have ever thought of visiting Toronto during the Christmas season, then chances are you’ve heard of the Christmas Market. It’s an expansive outdoor market that helps you to feel like you’re walking around a snow globe. The market has booths with endless amounts of food from warm drinks like Hot Toddies and Warm Wine, to the famous poutine that will definitely keep you from noticing the 30-degree temperatures! The area is in these winding alleys that are covered with gorgeous lights and the official countdown to Christmas. There are also indoor areas where you can walk around and see artists display their work and peruse through small shops. Christmas Market is an absolute must-see if you are in Toronto during the Christmas. It is something out of a movie and a guaranteed good time of memory making!!

Velvet Underground

The next spot was a venue called Velvet Underground. This was a small venue that hosts different musical guests. The night we went, there were a few rappers performing. The crowd there obviously depends on whom is performing. It’s an 18+ venue, so there was a young crowd there. Most of the line was below the age of 21, but as the night progressed, it became a mix of 20 somethings. The venue was cool, it was just an open space with a bar, but it made for the perfect opportunity to watch the performers and vibe with the crowd. It was such an awesome concert of these little-known performers, but everyone there was a fan and it made for an intimate event. Well…as intimate as a rap performance can be, anyways! The cool, hip vibe soon turned into a crazy moshing once the performers came out! The crowd was soaking up the music and enjoying the experience.

Ein-Stein Bierhalle

From the diverse people, food, and experiences; it was quite the adventure. The first spot I wanted to talk about was this bar on the University of Toronto campus, The Ein-Stein Bierhalle. This place was something I just stumbled upon, but it did not disappoint. It was a small, dimly lit pub. A local haunt for the many college students, but also a place for people to duck into to get out of the snow. The beer selection was very good, and the bartender was very knowledgeable about all the craft beers. It’s definitely a grungy-hipster vibe, but while I was there, I noticed a few business people grabbing a quick beer during their lunch break. I went on a Monday around 1pm and it was pretty empty, but I could tell that this place is very popular with the students. The proximity alone is perfect. With graffiti decorated walls, the affinity for street art rings true in this pub.

Ontario Museum

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The visit to the Ontario Museum was truly breathtaking. If you have ever been to the Met in New York, I would equate this museum to that one, just smaller. The walk to the museum was full of random experiences with old architecture and thought-provoking street art. The building itself was gorgeous. There were so many artifacts from all over the world, it really made you feel so small in this great big world! The museum is huge, so definitely plan to spend a morning or afternoon here. The crowd here varied, but there were a lot of kids on a field trip, so at times it was a bit chaotic with the kids roaming the exhibits. The museum had a lot of randomly placed benches and seating. It was an invitation to sit and really bask in all that the museum had to offer. I found myself drifting off into my own mind, thinking abut the exhibits, how I felt, and just reflecting on myself. Being surrounded by all of the history and artifacts was an indescribable feeling. The museum had three floors and ranged from ancient Asian tombs, Egyptian mummies, and dinosaur and animal exhibits.

Armature Works/ Riverwalk

Alright, so for anyone who doesn’t live in Tampa, or for those who do, but never leave the house; my next post is going to cover Armature Works and the Riverwalk. Armature Works is a cafeteria style eating establishment that houses a number of eclectic foods, drink, and seating options within the warehouse style building. I have a love-hate relationship with this place and it largely has to do with the type of people whom seem to flock to this place.

First to start with something I am not too crazy about. Armature Works is a super cool place, with so much to see. Now, normally this would be 100% a pro, but with my numerous visits; I have seen it backfire. Many of the people who go to Armature Works seem to be very confused by the fluid traffic pattern that exist in this place. It seems to be the instinct of many to just come in and STOP where they stand and look around. This happens much to the annoyance of the visitors that understand that one must walk and look in order to avoid a traffic jam in the aisles. I think is also due to that ongoing match of tug-of-war that is going on in the up and coming areas of Tampa Bay. This match is evident to anyone whom is paying attention. Young, single people and young families are the two majorities in this area and both are stating their claim on these trendy places. There seems to be a mutual understanding and they seem to be co-existing fine as of now, but I’ll keep you posted.

As for the food, I will say that I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have ordered to eat here. Specifically, I am going to be discussing a restaurant called Hemingway’s. Hemingway’s is located to the back-left corner of Armature Works. The restaurant is a Cuban style place that has many options to please any customer. The name is a nod to Ernest Hemingway, as his time in Cuba and the Keys has become iconic. When I go to Hemingway’s I like to get the Build Your Own Cuban Bowl. Similar to Chipotle, you build your bowl going down the assembly line of options on the menu. Unlike Chipotle; however, the ingredients of your bowl are not sitting in front of you, they are prepared in the kitchen.

To build your bowl, you start with your meat choice, then move to the rice, finishing it off with your choice of two sides. I got the ropa vieja (literally translated as “old clothes), it is a shredded seasoned beef that gets its name from its appearance once it’s prepared. My rice choice was brown cilantro rice (see the Chipotle comparison?), and I finished off with two orders of the garlic tostones. The tostones are always a go-to for me, as they are a perfect pairing and also perfect for dipping.

As a side to my meal, we also slid over to this Filipino fusion spot called Chismis. Chismis is another must stop place within Armature Works. A staple food option at this establishment is the Lumpia Spring Rolls. These spring rolls are delicious and HUMONGOUS! You get three, and they are each about 7-8 inches long. When you think spring rolls, you may think side dish, but these babies can be a meal on their own!

I could probably devote an entire blog just to reviewing the places to see and experience at Armature Works, so I will definitely be adding more posts in the future. For now, take my word for it and make a stop to Armature Works. Outside of what I mentioned there are a couple bars, sushi, pizza, charcuterie, ice cream, and so much more! An absolute must-see in the Downtown Tampa area!

Another great aspect of eating at Armature Works is the direct access to the Riverwalk, leading you to other things to see downtown. This Riverwalk also has stations for you to transfer your adult beverage to a plastic cup labeled, “Riverwalk”; allowing you to walk and continuing enjoying your cocktail. The Riverwalk boasts great views of the surrounding buildings and schools such as the University of Tampa. It is also not uncommon to see a wedding photoshoot, as I did, or a group of people on a passing boat blaring a throwback rap or hip-hop song, dancing for the passersby (as I also saw, but did not get a photo of, unfortunately). As you walk and enjoy your cocktail, you can re-up at any stop along the way, such as a nice restaurant/ bar called Ulele. This entire area promises great views and a great time. If you are in the Tampa Bay Area, I highly suggest a visit to Armature Works and Riverwalk.

Tampa Museum of Art

Recently, I got a notification on Facebook about a new exhibit that was on display at the Tampa Museum of Art. It was an exhibit from the artist Yayoi Kusama, and the exhibit was titled “Love is Calling”. I had never been to TMA, so I decided this would be a great opportunity to experience both the museum and this amazing exhibit.

I am a huge museum buff, so I was immediately exhilarated when we walked into the building. The base floor of the building boasts huge open spaces with lots of natural light pouring into the windows. The space is ideal for lots of picturing taking whether you’re on the never-ending quest for the best selfie lighting, or just a fan of the photographic arts; TMA will not disappoint.

I experienced TMA on a Saturday afternoon around 1pm and there was not a huge crowd. I was able to experience all of the exhibits and take pictures, with minimal disruptions or intrusions. The crowd was very eclectic, as I saw many individuals from all walks of life, from college-aged all the way to families enjoying their Saturday afternoon.

Upon entering the part of the museum where Kasuma’s exhibit was housed, I realized that the ticket they gave me at the door was a timed ticket. Luckily, I was right on time (the museum asks that you arrive 5-10 minutes prior to the time on your ticket, so make sure to pay attention to that if you visit). They do not allow any bags into the exhibit, as the sculptures are inflatable and therefore able to be ruptured (think inflatable Santa on someone’s lawn, but much more impactful). You will be asked to place your bag in a cubby while you enter the exhibit.

Once I was ushered into the room, I was immediately enthralled. I was instantly transported to a scene right out of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The room is dark, but simultaneously illuminated by neon colored “horns” being inflated all around the room. Additionally, the room is floor to ceiling mirrors. The combined effects make for a truly breathtaking and mind-bending experience. While you wander around Kasuma’s creations, you are flooded by Kasuma’s explanation of her work in her native Japanese (translation is available outside). The exhibit will be available until March 2019.

The rest of TMA has a few other exhibits for your viewing pleasure. There are a number of artifacts from jewelry to vases and paintings. Aphrodite and mythology seem to be very strong themes throughout the rest of the museum. In one corner of the museum, there is a rotating door that leads to a balcony overlooking the ever-developing Riverwalk. This area is another great place to capture some moments. I was able to take a step back and take in the scene. Tampa is a developing city, that also hosts a lot of families. TMA and Riverwalk seem to be reflections of the tug-of-war that is going on between the young college-aged crowd and the young new families that both call this city home. I’m not sure we need to call a winner in this match when it comes to TMA but whether you are an art fan or want to bring your family out for an interesting afternoon: TMA is a great experience.