# Sarasota Here I Come **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281 "2006-03-28T19:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/61 "2006-05-04T02:07:30Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Well geez, SOME of us will have to drive two hours just to get there and aren’t too excited about driving two hours back AFTER all the fun is over. Don’t complain. Some of us have to drive 7 hours and aren’t too excited about the constant increase in the price of gasoline! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/62 "2006-05-04T03:02:53Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Don’t complain. Some of us have to drive 7 hours and aren’t too excited about the constant increase in the price of gasoline! Now that’s commitment. Or insanity. With dopers it’s hard to tell. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/63 "2006-05-04T10:25:28Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Now that’s commitment. Or insanity. With dopers it’s hard to tell. What’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/64 "2006-05-04T11:44:58Z")
Look, I’m going to Sarasota cause of work. TPTB determine when I shall do so. That’s why the week after Memorial Day. Besides, I intend to be drunk by my pool all Memorial Day weekend. So, Saturday in Tampa is a go? YAY! I’m sure **Shibb and Amp** will find something to suitably entertain us all. Let’s have us a dopefest! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/65 "2006-05-04T12:49:04Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > What’s the difference? I said Commitment, not committed. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/66 "2006-05-04T14:19:51Z")
Well seeing as St. Pete lies between Tampa and Sarasota we should look into getting together there. I know a nice bar or two down in Gulfport along a strip of beach, Kane’s and O’Maddy’s. Plus a few nice restuarants. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/67 "2006-05-05T14:35:48Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Well seeing as St. Pete lies between Tampa and Sarasota we should look into getting together there. I know a nice bar or two down in Gulfport along a strip of beach, Kane’s and O’Maddy’s. Plus a few nice restuarants. I’m game. What? I’m easy to please. If we can nail down a meet up place that’d be great cause then I can search for a hotel in the general area. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/68 "2006-05-10T22:14:51Z")
Ok, once again I’m dredging this thing up from the deep dark recesses of the MPSIMS dungeon where it keeps going to reside. Are we talking about Tampa or St. Pete? It’s all good to me. If this thread sinks again I’m gonna have some really hurt feelings. There have got to be enough dopers around the area to want to get together, right? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/69 "2006-05-11T03:23:23Z")
Sorry, hon, I’m busy getting myself to Las Vegas for the weekend. Right now I’m thinking Ybor City Saturday evening unless I’m seriously outvoted. But don’t expect to hear much from me until next Tuesday at the earliest. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/70 "2006-05-11T12:23:11Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Sorry, hon, I’m busy getting myself to Las Vegas for the weekend. Right now I’m thinking Ybor City Saturday evening unless I’m seriously outvoted. But don’t expect to hear much from me until next Tuesday at the earliest. Heh. Ybor City was kinda on my mind too. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, so I think it’d be fun. What says anybody else? ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/71 "2006-05-18T12:28:13Z")
Ok, one more time. I’m gonna be there in two weeks. Is there any interest in getting together for a dopefest? It’s ok if there’s not. Really. My feelings won’t be hurt. I won’t wonder off into any gator ponds feeling unloved and dejected. Really. So, we gonna get together? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/72 "2006-05-18T12:44:39Z")
Should we start a “Who would win: Swampbear vs Gator” thread? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/73 "2006-05-18T12:56:21Z")
**Date:** Saturday, June 3rd \*\* Time:\*\* 6:00 pm \*\* Place:\*\* [M. J. Barleyhopper’s](http://www.mjbarleyhoppers.com/), a beer themed pub upstairs at [Centro Ybor](http://www.centroybor.com/default.asp) \*\* Directions:\*\* [How to get there](http://www.centroybor.com/Directions.asp) This is the primary nomination. It’s big enough to find (the restaurant is up the escalator/stairs/elevator), there’s parking nearby, and if I have to wait for y’all I can have a beer and watch the bigscreens to kill time. We can fan out from there and find something more interesting, or sit around and talk. Now, I assume that some of you will come with me to meet **Swampy** , the man, the myth, the Legend. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/74 "2006-05-18T13:05:25Z")
In Sarasota I could make suggestions, but it’s been too long since I lived in Tampa, the city so awful that they advertise _as an attraction_ the greatly increased likelihood of getting hit by lightning there. I’d fight shy of Ybor, being too old and constitutionally unhip to enjoy providing the Tampa police with four thousand grainy unautographed pictures of me playing First Victim. But I wouldn’t mind other Tampa-ish destinations, or getting to St Petersburg early enough to fight for the parking space. I seem to recall a sports bar on the Tampa side of the causeway, both big and rowdy enough to be loud in, and upscale enough to survive any fights we start. Can’t come close to a name though – can anybody help? In any event, _is_ there any interest in Sarasota on, say, Friday evening rather than the northern territories on Saturday? ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/75 "2006-05-18T13:11:12Z")
Damn it, **ShibbOleth** , I apologize – my computer keeps logging me out so after I previewed it took a while to copy and log back in and find the thread again and hit reply and log back in and paste and hit preview and log back in and find the thread and … does this explain why I’m always seven hours behind every thread? Anyhow, I withdraw my counter-suggestion since yours was made first. I didn’t mean to step on your post: sorry. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/76 "2006-05-18T13:32:50Z")
That looks pretty good **Shibb**. I mean it has wings and beer. Could anyone ask for more! 😃 Plus it looks like there’s lots of hotels and stuff nearby for me to investigate and book a place to stay. That would be great for me because I’d drive on up from Sarasota Friday after I finish up work and have Saturday to do me some exploring. I like exploring and Ybor City would be a fun place to explore since it’s been years since I’ve been there. C’mon Florida dopers near Tampa… let’s go party! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/77 "2006-05-18T19:09:15Z")
It ain’t easy being an attention whore if nobody pays attention, ya know. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/78 "2006-05-18T19:16:50Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > It ain’t easy being an attention whore if nobody pays attention, ya know. 😃 If nobody else shows up I’ll take you on a tour of the local leather bars to assuage your bruised ego. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/79 "2006-05-18T19:25:34Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > If nobody else shows up I’ll take you on a tour of the local leather bars to assuage your bruised ego. Fine but which one of us leads the other by the leash? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281/80 "2006-05-18T19:37:19Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Fine but which one of us leads the other by the leash? Well, then, thanks for _that_ mental image… _\_ Frankly, **swampy** , I don’t know why more people aren’t clamoring to meet you. After all, it’d put them one degree of separation from **me**. Of course, the same can be said of **Shibb** , but I met you first. So, c’mon, peoples! Go meet **swampy**! He’s a nice guy! And he probably won’t do anything too embarrassing… He and I were together in public and he never got arrested at all! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarasota-here-i-come/350281.md?page=5)