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Hey Floridians

alejandrodelloco

07:26 / 02.08.06

I will be moving down to Sarasota, Florida in a few weeks as a student at New College of Florida. I know there are already a number of Floridians on the 'lith, and was wondering if you all have any tips as to what I should get up to during my tenure in the area, for instance, neat places to visit in Central Florida (besides the Ringling Estate; I'll be right next to it the whole time) or fun weather tips.

Thanks a bunch, you crazy cats.

12:16 / 02.08.06

New College!

I'll link to something I did a couple years ago on here later today (can't search right now -- a hive of links aobut weird stuff in Florida), but in short, Google for "The Venus Project" and "Koreshan State Historical Site." Both are a couple hours' drive from Sarasota.

Oh, and Gibsonton. "Gibsonton."

13:36 / 02.08.06

grant knows his Florida beans.

You don't look Chinese tho, do you, Alejandro? He collects them, you know. Like Brainiac.

13:38 / 02.08.06

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

18:58 / 02.08.06

GAaaaaH!

You're evil.

(I was just at a wedding in Minneapolis and asked if I was *that* Grant, which pleased me. At the time.)

Here's the old Florida braindump. I think it's all still relevant (although Solomon's Castle is up for sale, if you're in the market).

*

19:17 / 02.08.06

Hey, dude, that's my alma mater. I'm in CA now so I can't show you around. But check to see if Big E's Coffee is still extant; they're right near the Ringling School of Art and they have some fun events. They're also open late. If you want better selection and snazzier atmosphere, though, try Metro Cafe in downtown Sarasota.

Ah, Big E's is still open, and there's an event:

Charlie Hood

August, 4 2006 at Big E's Super Opening Delight
Big E's Coffee and Sweets, Sarasota, FL 34230
Cost:

Big E's is expanding his kingdom and he wants to raise money to buy a projector to show films! Lots TBA

From... myspace of all idiot places. Also here's a short review comparing the two.

What else... well, if you're a Templey type, there's lots of creepy Sarasota history to get interested in. Ybor City is the nearest megabar and clubbing district, if you're into that; it's in Tampa about an hour away. There's the Cars and Music museum next to campus, which I walked past every day for five years and never went into. There are local ren faires, but less local than they used to be. If you want the old stories or the rundown on professors, feel free to PM me; I love to reminisce.

PS: Can you be my contact for cool PCP and orientation t-shirts? I'm running out of New College t-shirts and I'm not going to buy the boring ones out of the campus bookstore.

19:39 / 02.08.06

Less local? We used to hop the wall when they were at Ca d'Zan & get in for free.

Who'd pay for *that* goofiness?

Oh, and horseshoe crabs. The best weirdness is right there, on campus, at the bayfront. In autumn, the weather changes, the fog rolls in, there's this ghostly smell of burnt oranges from the Tropicana plant in Bradenton, and the horseshoe crabs start oozing up into the sand like some kind of trilobite army. OK, not an army, exactly. But they're *there*, crawling onto dry land.

*

20:09 / 02.08.06

Who'd pay for *that* goofiness?

Um...

Okay, I'm a ren faire addict though. And usually what actually happens is I get a job at one and then spend all the money I make there on goofy renfaire stuff. I do really miss having one I can stroll onto in costume with no questions asked.

*

20:12 / 02.08.06

Is it August or September when the water glows with plankton, and if you spit in the bay at night you get concentric rings of greenish light?

22:34 / 02.08.06

When it's hot -- end of Aug, beginning of September.

I remember a great night swimming off Lido Key when the plankton were out. I couldn't see my friends, but I could see their halos. Actually, that had to have been in May or June....

22:36 / 02.08.06

Oh, and I had a friend who joined the damn ren faire. Did something with horses (and, if rumors were to be believed, lots of things with stablehands). They had some kind of HQ in or near Largo.

11:09 / 03.08.06

i've lived in florida all my life and have never heard of any of these places, institutions or phenomenons

i'd like to call shenanigans

11:10 / 03.08.06

Where in Florida do you live?

13:13 / 03.08.06

It sucks, you'll get skin cancer and die. Try to find some cool friends so you can at least have a little fun before you die or melt here.

*

18:47 / 03.08.06

As my father once pointed out to an Irishman who planned to stay in Tampa and take day-trips to snorkle in the Keys, bacon, Florida is big.

alejandrodelloco

04:02 / 11.08.06

Agh, I let this topic die without responding... Yes, id, I will totally hook you up with your t-shirtey needs. Any fun occulty things to look for in the Ringling Estate? I would love to have a super-double-secret midnight masonic excursion. Also will check out the various mentioned happinin' spots when I get there come the 22nd or so.

Thanks a lot, guys!

*

06:00 / 11.08.06

Well, the gate to the Ringling Estate used to have really obvious Masonic symbols on it, but they took them off when they remodeled it. Ca'd'Zan is still covered in symbolism; it's hard to miss. You can spot it in College Hall too, at least I think it's still evident in the marble room and the dining room.

I'm excited about strengthening the Barbelith-New College connection. Do good things for my school, okay?

13:58 / 11.08.06

OUR school.

Not necessarily occult, but.... There's a secret tunnel from the bay into Ca'Dzan (Ca D'zan?) that I think was bricked up at one end, but might not have been. It was from Prohibition, when rum runners would park their boats at the dock and lug the goods inside where nobody could see them. The tour guides sometimes point out the door inside where the tunnel ended up, but sometimes don't. It gives local residents too many ideas.

Caples is also reputed to be haunted. I never saw any evidence of that.

Oh, and if you're a graveyard fan, there are a couple excellent ones around town -- probably best to PM me for details (sketchy details).

14:03 / 11.08.06

BEST SCHOOL EVER.