Talking Animals

Isabelle Tassi, chief organizer of Tampa Bay Veg Fest

Isabelle Tassi– chief organizer of the second annual Tampa Bay Veg Fest, the Tampa area’s only vegetarian/vegan festival – discusses her educational background and evolution as an animal activist, and describes the main mission and other aspects of Florida Voices For Animals, under whose auspices Tampa Bay Veg Fest is presented.

 

She also places into a historical context, addressing comparable events both in North American and worldwide, and the impetus for Florida Voices For Animals to launch this Tampa counterpart. Isabelle goes on to outline some components of this year’s Fest, including the food (both the free samples that will be offered and the food vendors holding forth that day), the speakers, including Emmy-nominated writer-comic Carol Leifer (a past guest on “Talking Animals”), the bands, the films and the activities for kids. She closes out the conversation by noting the most rewarding facet of the all-consuming undertaking of producing an event as sprawling as Tampa Bay Veg Fest. (www.TampaBayVegFest.org)

COMEDY CORNER: Carol Leifer’s “Vegan Sense” (snippet of interview on “The View” (www.CarolLeifer.com)

MUSIC: Langhorn Slim’s “We Love The Animals,” Mike Doughty’s “Vegetable,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:Simon & Garfunkel’s “At The Zoo”