Great to see Tarpon Patch has taken root!

Yay! Tarpon Springs finally has a Patch to call its own, which will definitely grow on readers and take root! I'm happy to be writing a blog for the Webpage, which will be ripe with information, fun topics and fruity puns. I can say "yay," utilize exclaimation points, sprinkle puns at will, and freely say something is "unique" or "very" cool without attracting looks of chagrin from keepers of the AP stylebook.

My first topic is that it will be "very" sad to see the Underground Coffee Shop leave Tarpon Avenue. It brought nightlife and the arts to downtown, providing a venue for local musicans, poets and artists. I hope someone continues its traditon, because a coffee shop can surely make it in the arts and antiques district. It would be nice for a local business person to prove that before some trendy coffee entrepreneur, like Starbucks, decides to move to Main Street.

Hopefully someone with an entreprenurial spirit, and the business know-how to avoid the pitfalls, will open a coffee shop on main street. It's very difficult to make a profit or pay the rent selling just coffee and tea, so a downtown coffee shop must offer simply prepared food and desserts, maybe sell locally produced trendy garments, homemade jewelry or fun items. The historic building is a great location, with plenty of on-street parking and public parking nearby. 

Meanwhile, Tarpon is very lucky to have Eco Bean Coffee House, on Alt. 19 near Read Street, as a place to escape the sweltering summer heat with a all natural smoothy or coffee drink. They will blend any kind of fruit and veggies you can think of into a smoothy. It's a fun place to hang out and have some cake, a great cup of java, or a bagel, either inside or at the patio garden that Rachel created out of an asphalt parking area.

Also on Alt. 19 the @Cafe offers the flavor of a Greek style coffee house with a variety of desserts, drinks, eurobite treats and sometimes live music.

There is no need to stay home, and use costly electricity, when you can enjoy a few hours at a Tarpon coffee shop and help the economy, during the toughest time of the year for local merchants.

Until next time, happy trails...