Networking might come naturally to the more extroverted of us, but it never hurts to have some common ground regardless of your outgoingness, and nothing says common ground like sharing home turf. We’re going to review five fun facts about Tampa which can help you with a way to dialogue and maybe even lead to a professional meetup.
1. Let’s do lunch at the world’s largest Spanish restaurant
Tampa is home to Florida’s oldest restaurant, Columbia, which happens to be the largest Spanish restaurant on earth. Columbia has been open since 1905 with the original location still standing in Tampa’s Ybor City. The restaurant has won many awards over the years for its outstanding Spanish and Cuban cuisine. The tapas-style of dining offers a large array of dishes and caters to vegetarians and omnivores alike. Columbia Restaurant can be a great spot for a professional lunch or casual networking appetizers.
Extra fun fact: Although it likely did not originate in the Columbia Restaurant, it is theorized that the Cubano is not Cuban, however, that it was invented in Tampa.
2. Nice weather we’re having
Florida sees some hot and humid summers, but temperatures in Tampa have never exceeded 99 degrees! Granted the heat index may feel hotter than 99 degrees, but there is no denying it could be hotter like neighboring cities. Some of the warmest cities in America are right here in The Sunshine State as shown in a new report Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee are among the hottest cities, with Fort Myers at the top of the list and ranking at No. 21 nationwide.
There is no easier icebreaker than making small talk about the weather, but this fun fact offers an interesting response to the age-old, “hot enough for ya’?”.
3. Electrifyingly bad weather we’re having
Tampa is the world’s capital for lightning storms, which may not come as much of a surprise to Floridians experiencing summers in Tampa who are used to torrential downpours without any advanced warning. “Lightning Alley”, the nickname was given to the region between Tampa and Orlando, sees more than 50 strikes per square mile, more than anywhere else.
When you want to lean on the tried and true weather topic even on rainy days, it is a fun fact to be the capital of one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena.
4. A walk to remember
Tampa’s Bayshore Blvd is the world’s longest continuous sidewalk at 4.5 miles long. With endless views of the bay on one side and lined with palm trees and beautiful views of Tampa’s skyline on the other, this recreational path has some unforgettable sights. If you’re lucky, and an early morning person, dolphin and manatee sightings are a common occurrence along Bayshore Blvd! Whether you’re a fitness junky who hits up the fitness stations sprinkled along the course, or a casual walker or cyclist, this serene path is certainly a must-see for anyone who calls Tampa home.
Could be a great opportunity to connect with a colleague for any length of walk, but always a fun fact for others to check out on their own.
5. There be pirates here
For over 100 years, Tampa has been the beachfront for The Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a large, annual festival celebrating the legend of pirate Jose Gaspar by way of the reenactment of Tampa’s historic pirate invasion. The Jose Gasparilla, the only fully-rigged pirate ship on any of the seven seas today, heads a parade of hundreds of boats at the south end of Hillsborough Bay and into Seddon Channel (between Davis Island & Harbour Island), making way to dock at the Tampa Convention Center. The reenactment culminates with the Mayor of Tampa surrendering the Key to the City to the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Live entertainment kicks off the event pre-invasion, followed by a special brunch, and the 3rd largest parade in the country.
Tickets are on sale for this year’s event on Saturday, January 29, at 11:30 A.M. (gasparillatreasures.com)
This is a wildly fun fact that is sure to catch anyone’s attention and could potentially be the perfect event for a networking get-together.
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