Top: Old Navy || Jeans: LOFT || Sandals: Jack Rogers || Hat: Brixton || Bag: Amazon (splurge) || Sunglasses: Ray-Ban || Earrings: Tory Burch || Watch: Tory Burch

It’s kind of weird blogging about my St. Patrick’s Day weekend and not be wearing anything green, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. I actually was a total diva and wore two outfits on Saturday, but I’ll be blogging about this stunning emerald green sundress from Old Navy on another day.

Our Saturday started off like they normally do, a trip to a local coffee shop. Because we were making our way to Tampa, we tried out Blind Tiger Café in Ybor City. It was my first time going there, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be back very soon. It’s located on the main stretch of Seventh Avenue in this perfect little corner spot with all of the natural light you could ask for. A great mix of New Orleans style jazz was playing and it made me feel right at home. Because it was my first experience, I just had to try my go-to order of cold brew coffee, size large to help me make it through the day. I also couldn’t stop myself from ordering their Guava Cream Cheese pastry. That alone will have me come back. David had the Egg Croissant that was just delicious!

I also used my quick morning in Ybor to scout some blog picture locations. Because it’s one of the most historic districts in the Tampa Bay area, there is so much great architecture on every corner. It’s just dripping in rich character! I actually never get to visit this part of Tampa, but I want to make up for lost time. Expect a travel guide very soon!

Afterwards, we met up with my family in Downtown Tampa to see the annual dyeing of the Hillsborough River for Saint Patrick’s Day. It could not have been a more gorgeous day and it was such a fun experience to see the brightest shade of green. Even though this is the seventh year running, it’s another first for me. From there, we strolled the Riverwalk and enjoyed an Irish beer (or two) at the Saint Patrick’s Day Festival at Curtis Hixon Park.

We couldn’t stay out too late in the afternoon because we had a hockey game, where the puck dropped at 7, and a reservation for a late lunch at Ulele. This was probably the highlight of the whole weekend. I’ve been wanting to eat here forever and we don’t get over to Tampa as often as we should. This must-try restaurant is located in an old Tampa Waterworks building on a gorgeous park, right on the river. Talk about a stellar location! It’s the food that really steals the show, though. Inspired by native Florida cuisine from hundreds of years ago, Ulele gives a twist to what normally would be considered comfort food classics.

No meal with the Coleman’s is complete with a cocktail and it was just as true here. I opted for the Floridita Daiquiri which was, although not what I was expecting, still very refreshing. Being the beer guy that he is, David decided to try a brew from Ulele’s very own on-site brewery. The ‘Hydration Station’ is exactly what the name implies and was a perfect relief for the hot Florida sun. Yes, even in March, the sun can be unforgiving down here and I have the sun kissed nose to prove it.

Moving on to the appetizer course, our table ordered both the Alligator Hush Puppies and Okra Fries. Not many outside of Florida know this, but alligator is often a menu item in many restaurants. I know it’s so cliché, but it really does taste like chicken. If you get an opportunity to try, don’t miss out (even if it’s in hush puppy form). These were served with fresh horseradish aioli sauce and were a great way to start off the meal. Now, I’m going to be honest, the Okra Fries were not pretty. Okra in general isn’t always that great to look at, but they make up for it in taste. They had great flavor because of their seasoning and home-made ketchup. I’m so glad we gave these a try, even if they weren’t quite Instagram worthy.

We rounded out lunch with a whole bunch of entries. I love eating with my family because we all usually end up get something different and have so much to sample. I may be biased, but I think my meal was the best! You really can’t go wrong with a 14 ounce pork chop and twice baked mashed potatoes. It was served with a guava demi-glace and was mouth-watering good. I left uncomfortably full, but I promise you it was all worth it.

Afterwards, stuffed to the brim, we made our way to a Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Boston Bruins. I don’t want to get into the score because Spoiler Alert, it wasn’t pretty. No matter the outcome, I always enjoy love a night out with my parents and can’t wait for the next time around. It was also great to explore a little bit of Tampa. I left with so much inspiration for photo locations and blog posts that I just can’t wait to share!

Love from Florida,
Katie