MacDill Happenings

Come out and enjoy the weather on Saturday evening in New Port Richey and see a free performance of the Nutcracker. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to Sims Park located at 6341 Bank St, the preformance begins at 6pm. The free performance is by Expressions, the Dance Company, a Pasco County-based dance troupe that has been putting on this  ballet for a dozen years. New Port Richey is north of Tampa and about a 60 minute drive from MacDill AFB. Pasco County is ranked as one the fasting growing counties in Florida. Pasco’s City of New Port Richey attracts new residents and visitors at an increasing rate each year based on several factors. New Port Richey’s geography blends nature, beaches and great shopping with restaurants, culture and business - all with a small-town feel. Located in the West Central part of Pasco, The City of New Port Richey has a total area of 4.6 miles. The Gulf of Mexico coastline borders the west side and the Pithlachascotee River runs through the city. New Port Richey is considered part of the Tampa Bay area. 6341 Bank St. Free

Tonight at 7:30pm at the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg the Moscow Ballet will present the Great Russian Nutcracker.  Whimsical and imaginative storytelling blends with the richness of Russian classical dance to make the Great Russian Nutcracker a unique performance not to be missed. With larger-than-life puppets and the backdrop of unicorns, exotic birds and animals, the Great Russian Nutcracker is a visual delight. The Moscow Ballet touring company features top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools. Tickets are availabe from $25 - $85 with discounts available for Children, Seniors, and Military. Contact Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or the Mahaffey Theater Box Office at 727-892-5767.

This weekend at the MacDill AFB Movie Theater there are 3 movies playing.  On Friday, the horror movie, “Saw V“, is playing at 7pm. This movie is rated R for grisly bloody violence, sadistic torture, language, and nudity and has a runtime of 92 minutes. Following Jigsaw’s grisly demise, Mark, the final apprentice to the serial killer is deigned a hero. Meanwhile, Agent Strahm is tested and puts the pieces together. While Strahm realizes that Hoffman is helping Jigsaw, five seemingly unconnected people face a horrible lesson about teamwork. Strahm follows all the leads he can get off Hoffman, including the death of his sister and why he joined Jigsaw. Hoffman and Strahm circle each other until it boils down to a gruesome and bone-crushing finale. On Saturday at 3pm, “Role Models” is playing. This movie is rated R for crude/sexual content, strong language, and nudity and has a runtime of 99 minutes. Danny and Wheeler, two salesmen who trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad. Once the center’s ex-con director gives them an ultimatum, Danny and Wheeler are forced to tailor their brand of immature wisdom to their charges, Augie and Ronnie. And if they can just make it through probation without getting thrown in jail, the world’s worst role models will prove that, sometimes, it takes a village idiot to raise a child. The final movie playing this weekend at 7pm is “Changeling” starring Angelina Jolie. This movie is rated R for violent disturbing content, and language and has runtime of 142 minutes. Christine said goodbye to her son, Walter, and left for work. When she came home, she discovered he had vanished. A fruitless search ensues, and months later a boy claiming to be the nine-year-old is returned. Dazed by the swirl of cops, reporters, and her conflicted emotions, Christine allows him to stay overnight. But in her heart she knows he is not Walter. As she pushes authorities to keep looking, she learns that in Prohibition-era L.A. women don’t challenge the system and live to tell their story. Slandered as delusional and unfit, Christine finds an alley in activist Reverend Briegleb, who helps her fight the city to look for her missing boy.  Remember tickets only cost $4 for 5 years and older.  Concession prices are pretty affordable with a large popcorn and two medium soft drinks available for only $10.

If you really want to treat yourself or your family to a classic Christmas movie in a grand classic theater, then the Tampa Theater in downtown Tampa has just what you are looking for. On 20 & 21 Dec at 3pm, the Jimmy Stewart classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, will be playing. With the difficult economic times this year, this movie provides a great lesson about life and how to have hope to overcome challenges in life. The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after World War II and stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve gains the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody who is sent to help him in his hour of need. Much of the film is told through flashbacks spanning George’s entire life and narrated by Franklin and Joseph, unseen Angels who are preparing Clarence for his mission to save George. Through these flashbacks we see all the people whose lives have been touched by George and the difference he has made to the community in which he lives. Ticket prices for the matinee are $7. There is no charge for metered parking spots along the streets in downtown Tampa on all weekends.

Get ready for the start of college football bowl games with the 1st Annual St. Petersburg Bowl with our own USF Bulls playing against Memphis St Tigers this Saturday! The game will be played at Tropicana Field in downtown St. Pete. The game will be televised nationally at 4:30 pm ET on ESPN2. USF of the Big East reached a national ranking of No. 10 until they suffered some closes losses, but still finished with a 7-5 record. Memphis from Conference USA is playing in its fifth bowl game in six seasons. There are pre-game events from 17-19 Dec at the TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach that are open to the public. Events include Team Beach Bash, Beach Bowl Challenge, and Battle of the Bands Pep Rally! Tickets are only $30 and can be bought at TicketMaster. TradeWinds Island Resorts is the official beach resort of the St. Petersburg Bowl and they are offering accomodation and ticket packages.

The price of going out to dinner always seems to get higher every time you go out.  SeaScapes at the beach on MacDill AFB is doing something about the high cost of eating out!  Every Wednesday and Thursday nights it is Family Night at SeaScapes with all you can eat specials.  Sorry no take out.  On Wednesday, it is all you can eat hot dogs and chips for $4.50.  This doesn’t include a drink, but drink prices are very reasonable and you don’t have to pay tax on the cost of your meal.  On Thursday, it is all you can eat spaghetti, garlic bread and salad for $6.95, again this doesn’t include the price of a drink. The regular menu is also available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  You can’t beat the view of the bay and you can’t beat the food prices at Seascapes any night of the week!

This Sunday at Hyde Park Village stop by to get your free picture taken with Santa Claus.  Santa Claus is available from noon to 4pm at Santa’s Cottage located between Milagros & B’szene Boutique. Donations are accepted and will benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Pets are also welcome to have their picture taken. Located in south Tampa, Hyde Park Village has great mix of boutiques, stores and unique restaurants that can pique anyone’s interest.   South Tampa is the area generally defined as the part of Tampa that is south of Kennedy Blvd.  MacDill AFB is located at the southern end of South Tampa.  There is plenty of free parking available in Hyde Park Village with several parking garages available and also complimentary valet parking during the holiday season!

This Saturday starting at 6:30pm in downtown Tampa is the 2008 Boat Parade of Lights. The parade will start at the Davis Island Boat Launch.  You still have time to join if you want to bring out your decorated boat.  The finish is behind the Tampa Convention Center.   Dock space is available at the Marriott Marina, just call 221-4900.  If you come out to see the parade, then viewing areas will be from where the Starship Yacht is normally anchored by Channelside then any where along the water until you get to the Tampa Convention Center.  Ft Brooke Park behind St. Pete Times Forum will probably be the best place to see the parade.  Come out early and get a good spot.

If you thinking of taking a trip during the kids’ Christmas vacation and are a pet owner, then you want to make sure that the pets’ shots are to update if you are going to have to board them overnight.  The MacDill AFB Veterinary Treatment Facility offers a great price on veterinary service! They specialize in providing immunizations, heartworm testing, microchipping and outpatient services for the control of animal diseases transmissible to people. Health Certificates are also available for animals that will be traveling. Medications and over-the-counter items available include flea & tick control treatments, heartworm prevention medication, shampoos, tartar control chews, vitamins and prescription medications. Services are by Appointment Only, call 828-3558. Hours are Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm, closed on the weekends. The Veterinary Treatment Facility is located on the road behind the commissary and exchange.  You must have an ID card to use this service.

For an inexpensive evening out, stop by the MacDill AFB movie theater this weekend.  Tickets are only $4 for adults and $2 for ages 5-11.  Plus you can’t beat the price at the concession stand, a large popcorn and two medium soft drinks are only $10!  This weekend the movies are an even better deal, because the Saturday movie at 7pm is free! On Friday at 7pm, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is playing. This movie is rated G and has a run time of 110 minutes. Gabriella face the prospect of being separated from one another as they head off in different directions to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. Incredible new music and exciting dance number designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen. On Saturday at 3pm, “The Secret Life of Bees” starring Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah is playing. This movie is rated PG-13 for thematic material and violence and has a run time of 109 minutes. Lily, a 14-year-old girl, is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping.  The 7pm movie is a surprise new movie that has not be announced yet.  This is a FREE showing.  Usually, this is a brand new movie that has not yet been released.  Call 828-2780, the base movie theater info line, on Friday.