Write Around Tampa

Fin & Bean

3804 W Linebaugh Ave

Suite C

Tampa

Formerly Steep Station Kava Bar and located next to Skechers on the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry, Fin & Bean keeps the kratom/kava aesthetic of its predecessor, but you can get your coffee and tea without (as sober and straight as they come, I opted out of the roots and plants). They’ve been here for about three weeks now, I was told by the lovely laid back gentleman manning the shop. Here’s how it all went down for this writer.

Quality and pricing of food and drink:
I got the crème brulee tea at a discounted price of $4.17 because I paid cash, with the change going in the tip jar. There is no food yet, as they are still under construction, but I was told they will have both sweet and savory items.

Are there enough outlets?
Yes, several in plain view.

How’s the wifi?
Secure and protected on their Fin & Bean network.

Will my muse come out?
If she’s ready to write, a cup of tea and reasonably unoffensive music will do it for her. There will be nothing to cajole her out, so she needs to already be in the mood. Once she is she’ll stay, as there are no distractions here.

How long can I park it?
Most days until 10:00 pm, 11:00 on Friday and Saturday, 9:00 on Sunday.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 laptops (this might grow once they have food)

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.