Write Around Tampa

I’m sure I’m not the only writer who was displaced by the closing of the Carrollwood Barnes and Noble. Tutors, laptop-tappers, bookworms and introverted social butterflies (bookstores are great places to be around people yet engage none of them) all took a hit when B&N closed their doors in late August. Although that location has always been hands-down my favorite place to write—many of my stories have been written start to finish while warming one of their seats—I’ve also always been one to explore any and every type of establishment that provides some kind of hard surface on which to balance my computer. In this weekly column I’ll be serving up both the tea and the dish from the writer’s perspective, breaking down each place and focusing on the elements that matter most to us. First up, Panera Bread in Village Center, 13256 N Dale Mabry.

Quality and pricing of food and drink:

I’ve found that the food at this Panera is always pretty good, but the pricing is ridiculous. $18.56 for half portions of salad and a caprese sandwich (the You Pick Two) and an iced tea is not sustainable on a writer’s breadcrumb salary, especially if I have to pick it up myself and clear my own table. And there’s still a need to check your order before walking away with it; once again I had the hunk of bread forced upon me when I ordered a sandwich (hello? I’ve got the bread group covered) and requested chips.

Are there enough outlets?

Yes, there are plenty of outlets, but not if you want to sit in a full booth or directly in front of the window. I always bring my computer fully juiced, along with the charging cord.

How’s the wifi?

Strong, but you have to give your email and first and last name to access it. I’m not too keen on doing this, but I use my secondary email and so far have had no influx of junk mail flooding my inbox or spam folder.

Will my muse come out?

I get distracted so easily: music, conversations, the guy next to me bobbing his leg, the pen clicking. Thankfully all of this blends harmoniously into background noise. The restaurant is large enough and designed with enough spacing and variety of seating that everything seems to fade away once you get into writing mode. I’ve been there both during the day and at night, and I will say nighttime is a more appealing time for your muse to pull up a chair at your table and start a meaningful conversation.

How long can I park it?

As long as you can stand, or sit, it. None of the staff will bother you, and there always seems to be enough seating so you won’t feel bad taking up space. Just be polite and order one item every three hours to both patronize the establishment and feed your muse. She needs sustenance to work her best for you.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 laptops

Rachel Remick’s fiction and non-fiction stories have appeared in various magazines, among them Rosebud, Bluestem and ellipsis . . . literature and art. A frequent contributor to women’s magazine Sasee, her writing has also been published in several volumes of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. She lives in Tampa, Florida.