David Tipton

Having grown up in the Tampa area, I have fond memories of traveling from south Tampa to Ybor City along Seventh Avenue. We would often stop there to eat or pick-up food for a trip to Busch Gardens or Orlando. My favorite as a kid was a Cuban sandwich and a Deviled Crab roll. At some point my parents made me broaden my horizons and I tried Lechon Asado (roast pork) and black beans and rice w/plantains. This quickly became my new favorite, and is to this day.

I moved to Brandon as an adult, and I was delighted when La Septima Café, Brandon's First Authentic Spanish Restaurant opened. This is one of my favorites, when only Spanish food will do.

"Septima" is Spanish for "seventh"- as in Seventh Avenue, the street that has for years been the heart of Ybor City. Treasured family antiques are displayed in the café.

La Septima Cafe is operated by the Fernandez Family and is reminiscent of the old days in Ybor City, the history, the food, the family feeling that I remember. The food is prepared in the Spanish tradition with family recipes.

The restaurant is open for Breakfast Monday thru Friday, 7 AM - 11 AM
They also have a dining room available for private breakfast meetings and they do catering as well.

Restaurant Hours
Monday thru Thursday 7am - 8:30pm
Friday 7am - 9pm
Saturday 11am - 9 pm
Closed on Sundays.
Telephone: (813) 684-1948
Fax: (813) 653-3690.

La Septima Menu

I highly recommended this restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner. As my parents once told me, "Try the roast pork, you'll like it".

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty

Re-Printed from Brandon Dwellings Real Estate Blog

See the Manatees at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center!

The viewing center, along the warm water discharge canal at Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station, is open each year from Nov. 1 to April 15. It features a wooden boardwalk over the water, garden and habitat displays, a snack bar and decks to view the manatees.

The animals are attracted to the plant's warm water when temperatures in the bay fall below 68 degrees. On a cold day, dozens of manatees gather right off the observation decks, their snouts sticking up out of the crystal clear water.

It is reported by TECO employees that they have seen as many as 300 manatees in the canal at once. That's approximately 10 percent of the total manatee population in Florida. Manatee Viewing Center Website

The center busy with numerous human visitors as well, and can be crowded on weekends. A Tampa Electric spokesperson says that more than 2.7-million people have visited the center since it opened its doors in 1986.

View Map

The center is located at 6990 Dickman Road, next to the power plant at the West end of Big Bend Road. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No pets, please, but service dogs are permitted. As always, admission and parking are free.

Any donations you choose to make to the center are greatly appreciated and go directly toward the purchase and maintenance of educational exhibits and publications that can help teach more visitors about the manatee and the many animals and plants that share its habitat.

Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty

For any of your real estate needs, please give us a call.

813-653-1241

Diamond Dwellings Best Buys

There are currently 29 condos and town homes for sale in the Apollo Beach Area between $70,000. And $700,000. Some are foreclosures, and some are regular condos for sale. We have done the research for you to identify what Diamond Dwellings Realty believes are three of the Best Buys currently on the market in this area.

The criteria we used were cost per sq. ft. of living area (heated/AC), condition, amenities and neighborhood. None of these homes are short sales, just bargains. If you don't see any that interest you, please give us a call. We will be happy to do an MLS search with your exact wants and needs.

MLS# T2332648, Apollo Beach, List Price: $189,900, $80.81 Per Sq Ft

3 BR 2/1 Bath Sq Ft Heated: 2,350 Built: 2005- Townhouse This 3/2.5 with 2 car garage townhome is in a gated resort-style community. Amenities include pool, grill area, private elevator and water access to Tampa Bay. This home is in excellent condition and priced below market! Call today! 813-391-6121

MLS# T2339250 APOLLO BEACH, List Price: $250,000, $94.45 Per Sq Ft

3 BR 2.5 Baths, 2,647 SqFt Heated:, Year Built: 2005 Townhouse

Paved Bank Owned and ready to close! ****NOT a Short Sale***** End unit townhouse in gated waterfront community. LIKE NEW... 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, 2 car garage in Mirabay. Loaded with upgrades. Custom gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, upstairs bonus room, and private patio. If you like this one Call today! 813-391-6121

MLS# T2329328, Apollo Beach, List Price: $239,900, $102.09 Per Sq Ft

3 BR 2.5 Baths, 2,350 Sq Ft Heated, Year Built: 2005, Townhouse End Unit

Located at the gateway to paradise! Luxury townhome in waterfront community. 3 stories with elevator. Complex has community pool, docks with deep water, access to Tampa Bay. Electronic control gated/fenced security. Call Rick Frissell today! 813-391-6121

If you don't see any that interest you, please give us a call. We will be happy to do an MLS search with your exact wants and needs.

Diamond Dwellings Realty

There's no time like the present to get involved with the Guardian ad Litem program and help out an abused or neglected child. Guardians ad Litem are volunteers who stand up for the rights of children who find themselves shuffling through the child welfare system. And in Hillsborough County, thousands of children are waiting for their voice to be heard. These are the children you hear about from time to time in the news - children whose parents have allegedly beaten, abandoned and subjected them to pain no human should suffer.

The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors (GTAR) strives once again this year to make the upcoming holidays better for some local kids that otherwise might not have a Christmas holiday.  The local Realtor group is asking for donations of Target or Walmart gift cards as gifts for some of these children. Cash is also cheerfully accepted.

To make a donation, either e-mail or call Lisa Semeyn at GTAR Lisa@GTAR.Net or 813-902-9300.

You can help children who've suffered at the hands of those who are supposed to love and care for them.

Check Out Guardian Ad Litem:     https://www.vfcgal.org/aboutgal.htm

 Dave Tipton, Broker- Diamond Dwellings Realty

The University of South Florida Bulls Club is a community of alumni and friends who are investing in the future of the USF Bulls. Their goal is to position USF varsity sports to compete for national championships, as well as to become a model program on all levels of that gauge Division I athletic success. This is measured by titles, trophies, and championships on the field, and by graduating student athletes and generating positive publicity and exposure for the institution off of it.

Fielding teams that are properly equipped and prepared to compete at their best is an expensive process. Funding the scholarships necessary to not only stay competitive, but also keep the valuable time of student-athletes focused on academics and athletics, is costly as well. The generous support we receive from alumni and friends who invest in the Bulls has been the lifeblood of our rapid growth.

It's a great time to be a Bull, so please use the links below to join our learn more about membership in the USF Athletics family!

CLICK Here to: Join the Bulls Club or Learn More

Click Here for: USF Bulls Old #8 Fight Song

Dave Tipton- Go Bulls!!!