When I first moved to Florida after 42 years in Las Vegas (think fish out of water), my realtor was kind enough to point out nearby restaurants, grocery stores, banks, salons and, fearing I’d be lonely enough to regret the move, a place called the Carrollwood Cultural Center. She hinted it might be a good place to make some new friends. I wasn’t particularly worried about making friends, but I was in the market for new hobbies to complement my new lifestyle.
I signed up for a pottery class. The teacher, as it turned out, was a young girl who clearly knew one of the participants (a girl her own age). She spent her time gossiping with this buddy about the wealthy, selfish boyfriend she was planning to leave.
I had decided to create a simple bowl-shaped planter and saucer. Although the instructor let us mold, roll, and punch air pockets out of the clay, she wasn’t keen on giving us any wheel time. The most we were allowed to do was put a hand on the inside of the clay as she worked it so we could feel the shaping process. Then she did everything else. After that, we waited to hear our piece had been fired and was ready for pick-up. So much for learning pottery.
If this was indicative of the center’s level of involvement in the classes, I didn’t think I would be back. And I wasn’t for several years. However, I got an email about an art show and paintings for sale and decided to drop by.
There were lots of different styles and levels of proficiency. I appreciated the artists’ visions and use of color and texture.
And I had some favorites. What puts them in my yes-I-like that category? I guess movement, subject matter, color or perhaps eliciting a memory of some sort.
There were also some that fell into the “not in my house” category. But hey, to each his own, right?
All in all, the art show revived my interest in the center. I came home and looked up their current classes. Here’s what I found:
- Classical ballet – pre-professional (can’t you just imagine me in toe shoes at 71?)
- Poetry writing
- Argentine tango
- Beginning crochet
- Adult jazz/tap combo
- Gentle hatha yoga flow
- Acting and musical theatre
- Latin dancing
- Tai chi
- ASL (American Sign Language)
- Writing for Wellness
- Ballet for Life
- Gentle Yoga
- Chair yoga
- Zumba Gold for Active Older Adults
- EveryBody Can Dance – body confidence dance (at my age, I think I need this)
- Acrylic painting and drawing
- Power yoga
- Hatha flow yoga
- Wheel throwing (should I start with my car? Oh, pottery)
I’m considering three. Can you guess? The pottery class is a given since I didn’t really get to learn the process last time. Second would be American Sign Language. I took a bit of ASL in Vegas just for fun; my interest remains. And with my dance background, the third would be the jazz/tap class.
It would be easy to think the Carrollwood Cultural Center is a “senior” place but that would be misleading. They also have classes for kids and a summer program for them as well (maybe your grandkids?). Do some research to see if your city has a cultural center with reduced-price classes for seniors and then make an effort to check it out.
Additionally, the center hosts the Carrollwood Market on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Vendors sell fresh produce, plants, baked goods and artisan products.
I bought my first orchid there when I first arrived in Florida. It blooms twice a year like clockwork.
The pottery class may not have been my best investment, but the orchid surely was.
- 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa, Florida
- 813-922-8167
- http://www.carrollwoodcenter.org
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM / Saturday 9:00 AM – Noon / Closed Sundays
- Wheelchair accessible
Lisa Browder 
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