MacDill Happenings

This Sunday is $5 Day at Lowry Park Zoo.  This is a great deal because normal admission prices are $18.95 to $14.50.  This price is only for admission.  There are rides in the zoo that require a little more money.  But there is plenty to do and see at the zoo without having to pay additional money for the rides.  There are more than 2,000 animals divided into 8 natural habitats spread out over 56 lush acres.  The Lowry Park Zoo has been recognized as the No. 1 family friendly in the United States by Child magazine.  Sunday hours are 9:30am to 5pm.  Located in the northern part of Tampa right off of I-275, the zoo is easy to find and parking is free.

The Tampa Boat Show will be the Tampa Convention Center starting today and ending on Sunday.  Come see over 600 boats ranging in price from $1000 to $5 million!  Meet Captains John and Andy Hillstrand from Discovery Channel’s popular show The Deadliest Catch.  Stop by the Foster Party Barge on Friday and sign up to win one of three special Foster’s wakeboards.  Check out the Green Boating Zone and learn how to minimize impact on the environment and maximize efficiency and performance of your boat.  The Discover Boating Center is your one stop shopping location for all questions that you have about boating.  There will be free power boat rides daily from 1-4pm weather permitting.  If you want to learn about new fishing techniques and equipment, there will be seminars each day.  Of course don’t forget to enter the drawings for a 5 night stay at the Tampa Marriot Waterside Hotel and $500 shopping spree at the Boat Show.  There is plenty of inexpensive parking near the convention center.  Hours on Friday and Saturday are 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 10am and 6pm.  Admission for adults is $9, kids 13-15 years old is $5 and children under 12 years old are free.

There are 3 great movies playing this weekend at the MacDill AFB movie theater.  If you haven’t seen new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight“, then on Friday night at 7pm at the MacDill theater you will get the chance.  This has to be the best Batman movie made so far.  Christian Bale, and Heath Ledger star in this hit. This movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and menace and has a run time of 152 minutes. Batman is taken across the work in his quest to fight a growing criminal threat. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime…until a rising criminal masterminds known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new ménage batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet. He will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront everything he believes.  On Saturday at 3pm a children’s movie, “Space Chimp” is playing. This movie is rated G and has a run time of 81 minutes. Three NASA chimps are sent to a galaxy far, far away. Two have ‘The Right Stuff,’ and the other, a good natured goofball, has ‘The Wrong Stuff.’ They find themselves on a strange, uncharted planet, where they embark on a fantastical journey to save its inhabitants from a tyrannical leader. Also on Saturday at 7pm is the musical “Mamma Mia” starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. This movie is rated PG-13 for sex-related comments and has a run time of 108 minutes. 20 year old Sophie is preparing to marry her boyfriend Sky at her mother’s hotel on an island in Greece. She seemingly has it all — a carefree life, a loving fiance, and happy friends — but one thing has been missing all her life: a father. Her only wish now is to be given away by her dad at her wedding. By reading her mother’s diary she discovers that she has three possible fathers. Sophie then secretly invites all three men to the wedding in a desperate bid to discover which of them is her father before the wedding bells start to chime! But not all goes according to plan: old loves are re-kindled, new loves are formed, and Sophie risks everything to discover the true identity of her father. Admission is only $4 for everyone above 12 years old and $2 for those younger than 12 years old. This is more than half the price of tickets out in town. You can’t beat the price of snacks at MacDill with two medium soft drinks and a large popcorn costing only $10!

If you have pre-teen and teenage daughters, then you might want to take them out for a treat this Thursday to see the Jonas Brothers concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.  The concert starts at 7pm.  Jonas Brothers are the latest of the Disney channel inspired music groups.  Expect good wholesome clean music perfect for young teenagers that parents will also enjoy.  You can also count on a bunch of screaming teenagers!  The Ford Amphitheatre is located near the intersection of I-4 and I-75.  There is reserved seating and open lawn seating available.  Prices for tickets range from $25 to $79.50.   

Get ready to play some golf during September at the Bay Palms Golf Complex!  The price is right! Prices Monday – Friday for Cart & Green Fees from 7 am – 10 am are E1-E4: $14; E5-O3: $19; O-4 and above: $22; and guests;$30, from 10 am to 2:30 pm prices are: E1-E4: $12; E5-O3: $16; O-4 and above: $20; and guests: $25; prices after 2:30 pm are E1-E4: $8; E5-O3: $10; O-4 and above: $12; and guests: $15.  Discount prices for Saturday-Sunday for Cart & Green Fees are available from 10 am – 2:30 pm for E1-E4: $12; E5-O3: $16; O-4 and above: $20; and guests: $25 and prices after 2:30 pm are E1-E4: $8; E5-O3: $10; O-4 and above: $12; and guests: $15. These are great prices and cannot be matched off of the base. The pro shop is having sale all month long. All in stock golf shoes are 10% off the normal listed price. Plus you don’t pay tax on anything you buy in the pro shop!