New Years at 8th Avenue Pub

Come celebrate New Years at the www.8thavepub.com 8th Avenue Pub in Safety Harbor right off of Main Street and 8th Avenue North. This is a very nice local pub with a friendly staff and a daily Happy Hour from 4-8pm. They have a full liquor bar as well as 14 craft beers on tap and a great selection of bottled beer. The pub has LIVE MUSIC on Tuesday, Friday,Saturday and Sunday. The pub also offers Wood Fired Pizza's that are a thin crust 12 inch pie with 6 nice sized slices. The owner Mike is a great guy and he is always around make sure to say hello to him. So go to the 8th Avenue Pub to celebrate New Years have a drink and a great pizza and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill

Fergs Bar and Grill www.fergssportsbar.com is located at 1320 Central Avenue right across the street from the St. Petersburg Police Department. Ferg's was opened in 1992 and quickly became the gathering spot for Tampa Bay Rays fan and the locals. Their menu offers a nice variety of snacks, burgers, wings and sandwiches along with a good selection of beers and cocktails. Ferg's is a very unique bar because a portion of the materials used to build the bar and building where salvaged from  local locations such as the gymnasium floors from closed local schools, hardwood panels from the old All Children's Hospital and other locally salvaged materials. Whether the Tampa Bay Rays are in town or if the games are on TV there is always a fun group of people thier partying and having a good time. So get to Ferg's soon to watch a game, listen to some LIVE MUSIC and get something to eat and just remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ice Skating in Downtown Tampa

Tonight is Blast Friday in Downtown Clearwater. (See the previous post) To keep the holiday spirit alive what better way then to go Ice Skating outside at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa until January 6, 2014. www.tampasdowntownonice.com The skating sessions last 90 minutes and the cost is $10.00 which includes the skates. While at the Curtis Hixon Park go visit the Glazer's Children Museum  which is located right next to the skating rink. Glazer Museum www.glazermuseum.org is great for the kids but if you do not have children with you go to the Tampa Museum which is right next to the children's museum and see their current exhibits. www.tampamuseum.org So go visit Curtis Hixon Park this holiday season do some Ice Skating and visit one of the museums and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Blast Friday in Downtown Clearwater

Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month and from 6-10pm it is Clearwater's FREE monthly event Blast Friday. This is a family friendly event with a stage set up www.clevelandstreetdistrict.com in Downtown Clearwater off of Cleveland Street. The LIVE MUSIC this month is from the Little River Band. www.littleriverband.com The downtown area has several nice restaurants where you could go have a meal, snack or a cold drink. Also just up the street is Coachman Park which has an interesting view of the Clearwater Beach Causeway it is also a nice place to watch the sunset without going to the beach. So get out tomorrow night and listen to some LIVE MUSIC, watch the sunset and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to everyone and thank you for visiting and reading my Blog. I hope that i have been able to offer everyone a nice selection of events and activities to enjoy. With the New Year coming you can expect more information on things to do and places to see so come back daily and see what is going on and remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ringside Cafe in Downtown St. Petersburg

The Ringside Cafe www.ringsidecafe.net on 4th street in St. Petersburg has moved their location to Downtown St. Petersburg just off of Central Ave. and 2nd Street right next to Jannus Live. The Ringside Cafe has been a great neighborhood bar for many years and the move will allow them to bring in more national acts because of the larger stage and venue. The new location has a wonderful loft that overlooks the stage a nice size dance area and a staff that was very friendly and helpful. The Ringside Cafe has a simple food menu with very affordable prices as well as weekly lunch specials. So go check out the Ringside's new home listen to some great LIVE MUSIC seven nights a week and remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Visit Fort Desoto for the Holidays

May 11, 1963 was opening day for the beautiful Fort De Soto Park www.fortdesoto.com and this year the Park turns 50. The park is located in the southwest corner of mullet creek which is near Tierra Verde. The park has 1136 acres of practically untouched land there is also a beach and a Fort to explore. Will at the park you will see a lot of wildlife so make sure you have your camera. There is a food stand to grab a quick snack and if you want to go exploring even more their is a spot where you can rent a canoe or kayak. The parking fee is $ 5.00 unless you have a disabled parking permit/tag and then there is no fee. If you enjoy camping this is a great location with wonderful facilities and friendly people to meet. So take a day trip and go visit Fort De Soto Park and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Tampa Theatre in Downtown Tampa

Today at 3pm the classic holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life will be playing at the Tampa Theatre which is located in Downtown Tampa just off Franklin Street. The Theatre was built in 1926 and has been fully restored and is a great place to see a movie, concert or special event. The Theatre www.tampatheatre.com offers a nice selection of beer and wine to enjoy during the show. Their concession stand also has all the regular items as well as special coffees and unique snacks. The Theatre has a beautiful Wurlitzer Organ that rises out of the center of the stage to entertain the audience before every show. A few times a year the theatre shows silent movies and the Wurlitzer Organ is used for the musical score of those films. One of the main highlights of this great historical location is the beautiful marquee out front, it takes you back to a different time. So visit the Tampa Theatre for a movie, concert or special event soon and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Winter Wonderland in Downtown Clearwater

Well it is the Holiday season again which means the Winter Wonderland Village is set up at the corner of Drew Street and Fort Harrison Avenue in Downtown Clearwater. There is a complete Christmas village set up with tens of thousands of lights and over 100 decorated trees. There will be live entertainment, pony rides, train rides as well as a petting zoo. There will also be a hot chocolate shop as well as cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. While in Downtown Clearwater make sure to visit the local www.clevelandstreetdistrict.com restaurants and unique shops. All the fun starts every night at 6pm through the holidays so get to Downtown Clearwater to visit the Wonderland Christmas Village and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Third Friday Party in Safety Harbor

The third Friday of every month Safety Harbor has their Third Friday Music Series that takes place in DOWNTOWN SAFETY HARBOR on Main Street. Enjoy an evening filled with shopping, dining and entertainment. www.cityofsafetyharbor.com Enjoy LIVE MUSIC throughout downtown as well as food vendors, unique shops and restaurants. Stop at FUNK'S WAY at 228 Main Street this is a unique art gallery with all types of Arts and Crafts and say hello to FUNK. Just down the street is Brady's BBQ www.bradysbackyardbbq.com at 340 Main Street stop and have some BBQ, wine or a beer. Also make sure to visit The Chop Shop hair salon at 500 Main Street they have a stage set up out front with one of the staff cutting hair and talking with the crowd. Take the time to meet the owner Mike and make an appointment to get your hair donesoon. So go and visit Safety Harbor this Friday night and listen to some LIVE MUSIC, do some dining and shopping and remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Capitol Theatre Grand Opening

After several month's of extensive renovations the Capitol Theatre www.rutheckerdhall.com in Downtown Clearwater is set to open tonight with a special concert from Michael McDonald. The theatre now has new bathrooms, a larger lobby, nicer bars as well as a spectacular roof top patio. The theatre now can entertain 737 people instead of the original 485 helping to take the theatre into a new future of entertainment. The theatre is a beautiful historic building which can now be enjoyed for many years to come because of the renovations. www.clevelandstreetdistrict.com Also while you are in Downtown Clearwater make sure to visit all the restaurants and unique shops for all of your holiday shopping.  So go see a show soon at the newly renovated Capitol Theatre and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Christmas Party at NOVA 535

The NOVA 535 Event Space www.nova535.com is located in Downtown St. Petersburg. This is a very unique event space that can be rented for private or corporate functions. The space is beautiful with high brick walls, an upstairs loft looking over the ground floor, very nice bathrooms, a large bar area and valet parking. Tonight is their Christmas party NOEL NOVA which starts at 6pm and goes until midnight. There will be LIVE MUSIC from the 18 piece Helios Jazz Orchestra starting at 8pm. www.heliosjazzorchestra.blogspot.com The cost for this event is $20.00 and there will be food and drinks available for purchase. Santa will be stopping by for holiday photos and there is a photo booth for all to get a picture as a lasting memory. So go to NOVA 535 tonight to the NOVA NOEL party and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ringside Cafe moves to Downtown St. Petersburg

The Ringside Cafe www.ringsidecafe.net on 4th street in St. Petersburg has moved their location to Downtown St. Petersburg just off of Central Ave. and 2nd Street right next to Jannus Live. The Ringside Cafe has been a great neighborhood bar for many years and the move will allow them to bring in more national acts because of the larger stage and venue. The new location has a wonderful loft that overlooks the stage a nice size dance area and a staff that was very friendly and helpful. The Ringside Cafe has a simple food menu with very affordable prices as well as weekly lunch specials. So go check out the Ringside's new home listen to some great LIVE MUSIC seven nights a week and remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs is located in Oldsmar on Race Track Road and the racing season started last weekend. www.tampabaydowns.com This is the 88th racing season for this historic track with their season ending in early June 2014. The track is a fun place to visit with special events throughout the year for the whole family to enjoy. The staff is very helpful and friendly and the track and facilities are in wonderful condition. The racetrack also offers a card room and restaurant if betting on the horses is not for you. Check out their website for racing times, direction and any other information you may need. So go visit a piece of Tampa Bay history at Tampa Bay Downs and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ice Skating in Downtown Tampa

Well it is time to start getting into the holiday spirit and what better way then to go Ice Skating outside at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa until January 6, 2014. www.tampasdowntownonice.com The skating sessions last 90 minutes and the cost is $10.00 which includes the skates. While at the Curtis Hixon Park go visit the Glazer's Children Museum www.glazermuseum.org which is located right next to the skating rink. Glazer Museum is great for the kids but if you do not have children with you go to the Tampa Museum which is right next to the children's museum and see their current exhibits. www.tampamuseum.org So go visit Curtis Hixon Park this holiday season do some Ice Skating and visit one of the museums and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Art Walk in Downtown St. Petersburg

Go to Downtown St. Petersburg for the Downtown Second Saturday Gallery Walk tomorrow night. www.artwalkstpete.com This is a great time to do some unique holiday shopping with many galleries and stores offering special holiday discounts. There are three Trolleys that take you through the Central Art District while stopping at 25 galleries. A standout is the Duncan McClellan Glass Art Studio in the warehouse district www.dmglass.com . Also the www.sixhundredblock.com 600 Block on Central Avenue has many one of a kind galleries. The gallery that i enjoy the most is the Art Pool Gallery. This is a Vintage Boutique and Gallery that serves beer and wine and has great food NOTE: Try the COCONUT CAKE! www.artpoolrules.com The owner Marina Williams has helped transform Downtown St. Pete into a great art community so make sure you take sometime to meet her. So go to Downtown St. Petersburg Saturday night from 5:30-9:30pm and do some holiday shopping at the unique galleries and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Winter Wonderland in Downtown Clearwater

Well it is the Holiday season again which means the Winter Wonderland Village is set up at the corner of Drew Street and Fort Harrison Avenue in Downtown Clearwater. There is a complete Christmas village set up with tens of thousands of lights and over 100 decorated trees. There will be live entertainment, pony rides, train rides as well as a petting zoo. There will also be a hot chocolate shop as well as cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. While in Downtown Clearwater make sure to visit the local www.clevelandstreetdistrict.com restaurants and unique shops. All the fun starts every night at 6pm through the holidays so get to Downtown Clearwater to visit the Wonderland Christmas Village and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Holiday Shopping at the Gulfport Farmers Market

Every Tuesday from 9am-3pm it is the Gulfport Farmers Market in Downtown Gulfport with over 60 vendors with quality items to purchase. www.gulfportma.com This is a beautiful little town that is right on the Gulf. They have nice restaurants, unique shops and events year round. They have an Art Walk the 1st Friday and the 3rd Saturday of every month and many other great festivals. My favorite place to eat in Gulfport is the wonderful Italian bistro Pia's Trattoria www.piastrattoria.com which offers indoor or outdoor seating. The Italian menu has a nice variety of antipasto's, panini's and pasta dishes with a nice selection of beer and wine. The food is always delicious and fresh plus they have a very fun and friendly staff. So go to Gulfport today visit the market to start your hoilday shopping and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Alesia Restaurant in St. Petersburg

Last night i visited Alesia Restaurant again in St Petersburg with some friends. This restaurant was founded by three partners with French, Vietnamese and Chinese backgrounds which influences the wonderful mix of dishes and flavours. www.alesiarestaurant.com The restaurant offers outside as well as inside setting. The inside is a open and simple dinning room with local art on the walls and the outside patio is spacious with plants, art and comfortable seating. The menu is simple with a nice variety of dishes to pick from and they also have a good wine and beer selection with reasonable prices and nice sized portions. I had the Asian style beef stew which was fresh, tasty and a very unique dish. The service was very friendly and the restaurant was very clean. So go visit Alesia Restaurant in St. Petersburg and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Plant and Craft Sale @ Heritage Village

Visit www.pinellascounty.org/heritage Heritage Village today in Largo for their annual Plant and Craft Sale. This 21-acre living history museum has more than 28 historic local structures with some dating back to the 19th century. There is a school, church, sponge warehouse, railroad depot and general store which is open for business as well as a variety of historic homes to visit and explore. Also right next door is the wonderful Florida Botanical Gardens www.flbg.org this is where the Plant and Craft Sale is taking place make sure to take a stroll and see all the beautiful foliage and flowers. So get over to Largo today and visit Heritage Village and the Botanical Gardens and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ringside Cafe in Downtown St. Petersburg

The Ringside Cafe www.ringsidecafe.net on 4th street in St. Petersburg has moved their location to Downtown St. Petersburg just off of Central Ave. and 2nd Street right next to Jannus Live. The Ringside has been a great neighborhood bar for many years and the move will allow them to bring in national acts because of the larger stage and venue. The new location has a wonderful loft that overlooks the stage a nice size dance area and a staff that was very friendly and helpful. The Cafe has a simple menu with very affordable prices as well as weekly lunch specials. So go check out the Ringside's new home listen to some great LIVE MUSIC 7 nights a week and remember to keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

First Friday Music Series in St. Petersburg

Today is the first Friday of the month and it is time again for the Get Downtown First Friday Music Series which is a street party held in Downtown St. Petersburg with LIVE MUSIC from 5:30-10pm. www.firstfridaystpete.com This monthly event is held between 2nd and 3rd street on Central Avenue. Their are vendors set up along Central Avenue with food and beverages for sale. Many of the local restaurants offer special deals as well as entertainment late into the night. The Downtown area has ample parking, many unique restaurants and places to visit. Make sure you walk up Central Ave. to sixth street as well as all along Beach Blvd. www.discoverdowntown.com and see all that the Downtown area has to offer. So go visit Downtown St. Petersburg tonight and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Ice Skating in Curtis Hixon Park

Well it is time to start getting into the holiday spirit and what better way then to go Ice Skating outside at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa until January 6, 2014. www.tampasdowntownonice.com The skating sessions last 90 minutes and the cost is $10.00 which includes the skates. While at the Curtis Hixon Park go visit the Glazer's Children Museum www.glazermuseum.org which is located right next to the skating rink. Glazer Museum is great for the kids but if you do not have children with you go to the Tampa Museum which is right next to the children's museum and see their current exhibits. www.tampamuseum.org So go visit Curtis Hixon Park this holiday season do some Ice Skating and visit one of the museums and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!

Tampa Theatre in Downtown Tampa

The Tampa Theatre is located in Downtown Tampa just off Franklin Street. The Theatre was built in 1926 and has been fully restored and is a great place to see a movie, concert or special event. The Theatre www.tampatheatre.com offers a nice selection of beer and wine to enjoy during the show. Their concession stand also has all the regular items as well as special coffees and unique snacks. The Theatre has a beautiful Wurlitzer Organ that rises out of the center of the stage to entertain the audience before every show. A few times a year the theatre shows silent movies and the Wurlitzer Organ is used for the musical score of those films. One of the main highlights of this great historical location is the beautiful marquee out front, it takes you back to a different time. So visit the Tampa Theatre for a movie, concert or special event soon and keep ENJOYING TAMPA BAY!