This week’s dining suggestion (see back story in Jan. 1 RANTS) we are coming up on the time of year when seating gets a little tighter at our favorite restaurants. But the Farmer Boy Restaurant on Drew just east of Hercules always seems to have an open table or two. Very good breakfasts and lunches and if you’ve never sampled their incredible Greek salad dressing, buy a bottle and take it home.

Latvala for governor? Not so fast

At the outset, we acknowledge Jack Latvala has done a lot of good things for Pinellas County. Some critics would say too much as he is no stranger to political pork. Jack is a big man on campus in Tallahassee helming one of the Senate’s most powerful committees. But a large presence in Tallahassee doesn’t necessarily translate to statewide acceptance – even recognition by the average voter. Here at home, he has been on the wrong side of a few issues, notably, the ill-conceived Greenlight Pinellas initiative. And, as many will tell you, he is right up here with Trump as a bully. It’s sad to watch a veteran politician cast about for a new job when term limited out (a good reason to repeal term limits, but a subject for another column). We just don’t see a good match for Jack Latvala and the governor’s race. We hope he will take a step back and see that as well.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. So Charlie Crist’s millionaire wife was cut three or four checks totaling around $7,000 for her work in his congressional campaign? You’ve got to be kidding. Already some of his liberal supporters are starting to sour on the one month U.S. rep.

2. Why no comment on the latest downtown Clearwater study – price $400,000? Because we’ve seen this movie before and like Gone with the Wind, it always ends the same – and then is added to a shelf full of similar reports.

3. The Sunset Point 19 Shopping Center is a hot mess right now – virtually impossible to get into. Several empty storefronts. But the good news is Bed, Bath and Beyond is not going away. It will actually expand in the space formerly occupied by Publix. And it will be joined by their sister store, World Market along with another new store to Clearwater – Five Below.

4. Some self-righteous Pinellas County mom was all over the news a couple weeks ago blasting Amazon because her six-year-old saw some graphic images while searching on line for some innocuous item. This is so symptomatic of today’s society blaming someone else for your lack of parenting skills i.e. letting a six-year-old go on the internet without parental supervision.

5 It’s one of the most wonderful times of year – Girl Scout cookie time. Pass the Thin Mints, please.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Quote of the week: 'We expect to be playing games in October,’ - Ray’s manager Kevin Cash. Frankly, unless there is marked improvement, many folks expect Kevin Cash to be seeking other employment in October.

7. Interesting landing spot for Bubba the Love Sponge – 820 AM. While the station has 50,000 watts, it has a very directional signal making it hard to hear in certain parts of the bay area. After dark (and before sunrise) it drops its power to 1000 watts. Some toasters have more wattage.

8. Moonlighting, Morning and We’re in this Love Together – just three great songs of many from jazz-oriented vocalist Al Jarreau who died last week at age 76.

9. Looking at today’s tattered jeans a lot of young people wear and paid for in that condition would make P.T. Barnum wish he had been a clothier rather than a circus impresario.

10. You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you shopped at department stores bearing the names Gayfers, Iveys or JByrons.

A no-brainer for the City of Clearwater

If the city of Clearwater gets nothing else from the downtown study mentioned above, they need to pay attention to a line from the report regarding the parcel of downtown land controlled by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium: "redevelopment uses meet the community's vision and productively contribute to downtown”. It’s no secret that the Church of Scientology is also eyeing the property and anything the church would do with the property does not meet the criteria set out by the study’s authors. It’s time for the city that seems to have enough money for a $200,000 rebranding campaign or $700 to spend on clerk’s desk chairs to step up and buy this property before it slips away. The future usage can be sorted out later, but the property needs to revert to city hands. Keep your eye on this one.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK: GOODBYE TO CHANNEL 16