Write Around Tampa

Citrus Park Center

8021 Citrus Park Drive

Tampa

Seriously, is there any better place for a writer to get it done than on a Monday afternoon in a mall? Plenty of seating, no crowds, temperature controlled, filtered music, a circular lap track, food and shops galore. So many places to park it: the food court, inside the movie theater, Starbucks, BJ’s. Today I chose to park it in the outdoor seating area of Red Robin.

Quality and pricing of food and drink:

Red Robin knows how to make a burger, and let’s not forget those bottomless fries. A pig out burger platter with water ran me $15, plus tip I’m still under $20 for service and a full lunch.

Are there enough outlets?

There may be some inside Red Robin, I didn’t look, but there’s a plug-in station at Starbucks.

How’s the wifi?

Public, and so many to choose from. I went on Red Robin’s, had to plug in my name, email and phone, then connected immediately.

Will my muse come out?

How could she not? Your biggest problem will be making sure you don’t leave her there.

How long can I park it?

Open to close, which for the mall means 11:00-8:00, (til 9:00 Fri and Sat, 6:00 Sun), Red Robin closes at 10:00 five days a week, 11:00 Fri and Sat)

Final rating: 5 out of 5 laptops

Rachel Remick’s fiction and non-fiction stories have appeared in various magazines, among them Rosebud, Bluestem and ellipsis . . . literature and art. A frequent contributor to women’s magazine Sasee, her writing has also been published in several volumes of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. She lives in Tampa, Florida.