MacDill Happenings

The Bay Palms Golf Complex at MacDill AFB has a great special on golf clubs during January.  Any in stock golf bag at the pro shop is 10% off the listed price.  When you consider that you also do not pay taxes on anything bought in the pro shop, the savings really add up!  The Bay Palms Golf Complex was named ‘Best Golf Program in the Air Force’ for 2002. There are two 18-hole, par 72 courses. The challenging South Course runs along the bay. The North Course offers a prefect opportunity to work on your game. The complex has a lighted practice putting green, a 24-hour-a-day lighted driving range where a bucket of balls is only $1, a practice chipping green and sand trap areas. The clubhouse has an excellent pro shop with a great friendly staff ready to help you. The snack bar serves a great variety of food and has an especially nice breakfast menu!

The Florida State Fair is now open in Tampa!  The Fair started on the 4th runs until 15 February.  Located near the intersection of I-4 and Highway 301 in Riverview, it is easily accessible off of MLK or 301. Come out see the best in the agriculture and equestrian industry including an abundance of shows, music, rides, food and shopping. There is plenty of free entertainment included with admission. Today Celebrate! A Las Vegas-style show is playing at 1, 3 and 5pm. Enjoy some of the best musical performances of the decades featuring tribute artists singing classics from Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Donna Summer, Tina Turner and Reba McEntire. Parking is free during the Fair. Gates open daily at 9 am and closing time varies by the day of the week and weather conditions. Admission on weekends $12 for ages 12 and older, $6 for ages 6-11, and free for 5 and younger.  Admission on Monday-Friday $10 Adults  for ages 12 and older, $5  for ages 6-11. There is a Hillsborough Student Day on the 15th where admission for ages 12 to 12th grade is $6 and $5 for ages 6-11. On the 11th, admission is free for everyone after 4pm. Rides on the Midway are an additional cost.

The brand new Tampa Museum of Art has its grand opening today.  The festivities start at 10:30am with the speeches from Museum officials and the Pam Iorio the Mayor of Tampa.  Doors open at 11am and close at 7pm.  The Museum building has 66,000 square feet that includes eight galleries providing 14,000 square feet for art exhibitions. Located on Ashley Street in downtown Tampa, the Museum is along the banks of the Hillsborough River directly across from the University of Tampa. From 11am-3pm there will be free hands-on art activities on the Rothman Plaza outside the Museum for all ages. Opening shows feature art by Henri Matisse. Prints, paintings and sculpture by Matisse are included. The Tampa Museum of Art also will have contemporary art from the Margulies Collection, photographs by late 20th-century photographer Garry Winogrand, 20th century paintings by famous modern artists and Greek and Roman antiquities. Admission prices for adults is $10, seniors, groups, military plus one guest $7.50, students $5, and children ages 6 and under free. A “pay what you will” fee will be offered every second Saturday of the month from 9 to 11 am and every Thursday from 5 to 9 pm. There are two nearby city parking garages, Poe and new Curtis Hixon garage at the Museum, and several public parking lots on or nearby Ashley St.

Tampa Theatre’s Sunset Cinema will have a free outdoor showing of “Night at the Museum” this Saturday. The screening starts at 6:30 pm at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. Curtis Hixon Park is located on the Hillsborough River right next to the new Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa on Ashley. This is event is a great alternative for families to go to instead of going to the Gasparilla Night Parade in Ybor City. Cinema snack tents open at 4:30pm. Bring your chairs, blankets and dinner for the show! No alcohol is allowed, but there is plenty of room for frisbees! This Ben Stiller comedy is perfect for all ages. When an unemployed divorced Larry Daley is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face-to-face with a T. rex skeleton, tiny armies of Romans and cowboys and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But with the big help of President Teddy Roosevelt, Larry figures out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son’s eyes. Larry then has to battle the 3 old watchmen who try to steal the magic tablet. Parking is available at the nearby Poe parking garage.

For an inexpensive night out this weekend, stop by the MacDill AFB movie theater.  On Friday night, the true story movie, “Invictus“, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman is playing at 7pm.  This movie is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and has run time of 133 minutes.  Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.    On Saturday night, the comedy movie, “It’s Complicated“, starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin is playing at 7pm. This movie is rated R for sexuality and some drug content and has run time of 117 minute. Jane is the mother of three grown kids, owns a thriving Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant and has—after a decade of divorce—an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, attorney Jake. But when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, things start to get complicated. An innocent meal together turns into the unimaginable—an affair.  Admission is $4 for ages 12 and up and $2 for ages 4-11. A medium soft drink with free refills and a medium popcorn is $7.50.

Make sure you mark down 16 March on your calender.  On 16 March, the Howard W. Blake Friends of the Arts Foundation presents Tapestry! – an annual showcase that weaves together creativity, talent and skill from Blake students, alumni and faculty – at the Tampa Theater in downtown Tampa.  Howard W. Blake High School is the magnet performing and visual arts high school for Hillsborough County Public Schools.  If you want to see what great things can be done with the arts, you should attend this event.  This inaugural event will showcase the best of Tampa’s school for the fine arts by featuring a wide range of styles and moods in music, writing, film, dance, and theatre. Students, faculty members, and alumni will participate in the production, which includes several collaborative works and a few surprises. All funds raised from the event will go to supporting the Howard W. Blake Friends of the Arts Endowment Fund. The foundation’s endowment provides support for the school, its students and its teachers through scholarships for needs students attending summer arts institutes and workshops. It also provides for guest artists and general assistance for critical areas of the school throughout the year. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Patrons’ Reception will start at 6:00 pm and the Performance will start at 7:30 pm. TicketMaster has the tickets for sale. Don’t wait till the last minute to get your tickets!  Parking is available at public lots near the the Theatre or on the street. There is a self-serve parking lot at the southeast corner of N. Ashley and E. Cass that charges $3 to $5 for parking.

Walt Disney World is offering discount tickets during its Armed Forces Salute 2010. This year’s salute is a little different from last year’s. Tickets must be purchased by July 31, 2010 and they expire on September 30, 2010. There are block out dates when the tickets cannot be used. Tickets cannot be used at all locations from 27 March to 9 April 2010. This is normally spring break time and there should be a lot of vacationers in Orlando during this time period. Tickets cannot be used in the Magic Kingdom from 3 to 4 July 2010, but can be used at Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Active and Retired U.S. Military, including members of the U.S. Coast Guard and active members of the National Guard or Reservists, may purchase 4-Day Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Tickets for themselves and up to five (5) family members and/or friends for $99 each ticket. The base ticket is valid for four days of admission into one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Two options can be purchased to upgrade the base ticket: the Park Hopper option allows guests to visit more than one park each day and the Water Park and More option gives guests a total of four visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. Either option, or both, can be purchased for an additional $25, per option. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be activated by September 26, 2010.  The MacDill ITT office located at the MacDill Exchange mall has these tickets for sale.

Come out and listen to the fantastic sounds of the US Air Force Reserve Band on Monday!  They will be in concert at the Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg.  The concert starts at 7:30pm. The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve consists of forty-five full time professional musicians who are assigned to perform in at least three ensembles. The band travels in excess of 100,000 miles per year performing over 500 concerts extensively throughout their primary geographic area of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. but has also performed in many overseas locations to include Russia, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Antigua, Panama, Germany, Australia, and the Caribbean. Be prepared to listen to a repertoire that includes classical overtures, Sousa marches, Broadway show tunes and popular music favorites. Sub units of the Concert Band include Full Spectrum, which performs contemporary and traditional Big Band selections; the Pipe Band which performs in authentic Scottish attire; and the Brass and Woodwind Quintets which feature a variety of chamber music literature.

During the first couple days of each month Old Navy offers a Military Appreciation discount of 10% on your purchase. An ID card is required. This is not a well publicized offer, but you can see can see an advertisements on the front of the Marine Corps Times or the other service Times papers. In Tampa there are two Old Navy stores. One store in West Shore Plaza in south Tampa. The other store is in University Mall by USF. West Shore Plaza is located right off of I-275 and is at the intersection of Kennedy and West Shore Blvd. The mall has a good mix of median value stores and high-end shopping. There is an AMC movie theater complex attached to the mall so you can smell the fresh popcorn smell wafting in the air when you are going to Old Navy. You can choose from a wide variety of stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Just Dogs Gourmet, Old Navy, bebe, Sunglass Hut International, Banana Republic, White House Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft, Bandolino, Gap, Brookstone, Cache, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, Bond Jewelers, Finishline, Gymboree, JCPenny, and Sears. There is a food court with a wide of variety of tastes available. Besides high-end shopping, there are high-end restaurants available including PF Chang’s, the Palm Cafe and Maggiano’s Little Italy. University Mall in the north end of Tampa on Fowler Ave. Conveniently near I-275 and I-75, University Mall is located near the University of South Florida, Busch Gardens Theme Park and The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The first phase of the center’s $10 million interior and exterior renovation is now complete. New amenities added include children’s soft play area, family restrooms, computer Wi-Fi lounge and soft seating areas. With over 160 retailers University Mall offers a complete shopping experience. The mall is anchored by Sears, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Burlington Coat Factory, Old Navy, and K&G Fashion Superstore. You can find a food court with something for all tastes and budgets and a Regal Cinemas theater.

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport is hosting the Wings of Freedom Tour this weekend.   See a national touring flying tribute to the crews of bombers and fighter aircrafts including the WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and North American P-51 Mustang. Planes will remain on display from through Noon Feb. 1. Get up close and explore the aircraft inside and out or try your hand at the stick for up to an hour!  The tour is sponsored by the Collins Foundation. The purpose of the Collings Foundation is to organize and support “living history” events that enable Americans to learn more about their heritage through direct participation.  Admission for the tour is $12 adults, $6 11 and younger.  You can take a B-17 or B-24 flight for $425, or take the stick of a P-51 for a half hour $2,200,  or one hour at the stick of a P-51 $3,200. The main airlines that fly into St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport include Allegiant Air, Vision Airlines, and USA 3000.