MacDill Happenings

Get ready for the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The fair will runs from Feb 5-16. Gates open daily at 9 am and closing time varies each day. The fairgrounds are located off of 301 near the intersection of I-4 and I-75. Come out see the traditional farming exhibits and tryout the food the delicious foods. Checkout the Elvis impersonators in the Elvis Extravaganza or see the new a Vegas-style show called Glitz, A Tribute to halftime shows. On opening day, Feb 5, after 3 pm you can save 33 percent off regular price of an armband at $20 each armband. Armbands will allow you unlimited access to the carnival rides. Student days are Feb 6 and 16, students ages 12 through 12th grade can get into the fair for $6, children ages 6-11 for $5. Hillsborough county public school students will receive free admission vouchers valid for use on Friday February 6. Senior days are February 10-12, with seniors ages 55 and over getting in for $6; free gate admission is available on February 12 after 4 p.m.

FishHawk Ranch’s 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off is this Saturday from 11am to 1pm at FishHawk Ranch Park Square.  If you think that you’ve the best kept secret chili receipe in town, this is your chance to prove it! The entrance fee is only $25.00. If you just want to taste the chili, then it will cost you $5 and you get a chance to vote for the best tasting chili. Trophies will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Located 30 minutes drive to downtown Tampa, FishHawk Ranch is a unique community with walking and biking paths throughout the neighborhood.  You’ll find shops and grocery stores all around the neighborhood for your shopping convience with a wide variety of restaurants for every taste. Top rated elementary, middle and high school are nearby with a new sports park close to Randall Middle School. For more info on the Chili Cook-Off call (813) 685-7880.

The MacDill AFB Outdoor Recreation is sponsoring a Valentine Craft Bazaar on Wed, 4 Feb from 10 am – 5 pm atthe Raccoon Creek Pavilion at the Base Beach. There will be many homemade craft items, candles, afghans, knick-knacks, jewelry, candy, and home baked goods to chose from. Shop for yourself, a friend, or buy your Valentine a gift. If you are interested in selling items, you can rent a table for $8. Set up time will begin at 9 am and will open to the public at 10 am. Vendors need to pay at the FamCamp area before noon on 1 Feb. Call Outdoor Recreation at 840-6919 for more information.

Make your plans for Super Bowl Sunday and make Boomers Bar & Grill on MacDill AFB a part of  them.  The doors open at 11am on 1 Feb.  There is a complimentary buffet for members, non-members are only charged $5!   The buffet includes mini-burgers, wings, sandwiches, chips & dips and boiled peanuts.  There will be Miller Lite and Jack Daniels drink specials.  There  will be prizes and giveaways during the game including Tampa Bay Buccaneers merchandise, a  recliner, and a flat screen TV!  Groups of 6 or more can make team reservations at 840-6900.

“Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” is offering free and discounted passes to their theme parks in Orlando for active and retired military members until 23 Dec 09. Each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day ticket with Park Hopper® and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World® theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel (or their spouses, but not both) may also make a one-time purchase of up to a maximum of five 5-Day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” tickets (one theme park per day) for $99 per ticket, plus tax, for family members (including spouse) or friends. Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More options, this ticket can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. Actual prices may be less. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 23, 2009. Activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after January 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard are also eligible to participate in this offer. “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” tickets can be bought at the MacDill AFB ITT office or at the Shades of Green Resort or at main entrance theme park ticket windows.

A relatively inexpensive way to market your company is on the Internet. The USF Small Business Development Center in the Channelside district of Tampa is offering an Internet Strategy class on 28 Jan from 5:30pm-8:30pm. You’ll learn to manage all components of an online presence. Learn how to establish and develop a web site, deal with service providers, create site content and structure, develop promotions and the establishment of key words that can be Googled. The Mission of the Small Business Development Center is to provide accessible, affordable, and professional counseling, training, and resources to start-up and existing businesses, and assist them in various aspects of small business development. The SBDC conducts more than 300 entrepreneurial programs annually on topics and issues that are important to today’s small-business owners. These low cost and no-cost workshops and seminars are taught by industry experts and SBDC professional counselors.
The cost for the class is $45.

The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, hosts Family Fun Saturdays from 11 am to 4:30 pm, featuring interactive poster talks led by Museum docents with the assistance of our junior docents followed by hands-on activities. The poster talks begin at 11 am and are followed by hands-on activities from 11:45 am to 4:30 pm. The event is free with Museum admission. The Dali Museum is the flagship of cultural tourism on the West Coast of Florida and welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year from around the world. The mission of the Salvador Dalí Museum is to educate the public and promote understanding, enjoyment and scholarly examination of art through the exhibition of works by Dalí and artists of similar vision. The Dali collection now consists of over 2,140 total pieces including 95 oil paintings and over 100 watercolors and drawings. Admission is $15 for adults, $13.50 seniors, U.S. military, police and fire personnel, $10 students.

Tampa hosts this year’s Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on 1 Feb.  But before game day, there are plenty of events leading up to the big contest.  On 24,25, 29, 30 & 31 Jan, come out and experience the NFL Experience at Raymond James Stadium. If you can’t get tickets to the game, this is the next best thing! This fan festival will have interactive games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids’ football clinics, free autograph sessions and a huge football card show! Tickets prices are $18.50 for adults and $12.50 for 12 years and younger. Parking is $10 for most vehicles.

If you want to see the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, then stop by the Tampa Theatre to see it on the big screen. The historic movie house will open its doors at 10 am to let people watch for free! The broadcast begins at 11 am with seating first-come, first-served at 711 N Franklin St in downtown Tampa. The swearing-in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol will commence at noon followed by the 56th Inaugural Parade. The concessions stand will be open for sales of sodas, coffee, popcorn and sweets. Guests are welcome to bring bag lunches. Parking is available on metered parking spots on the streets and there are two City of Tampa public garages near Tampa Theatre — Poe Garage (800 N. Ashley Drive near the Public Library and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) and Fort Brooke Garage (107 N. Franklin Street – enter on Whiting Street). This will be the next best thing to being there without the traffic and crowds!

Great weather for fishing on Tampa Bay.  Fish Tank Charters operates an in-shore fishing  charter service fishing the Tampa Bay area. Owner Capt. Lynn Amburn is retired from the  Army, grew up fishing this area and has been a guide for 4 years. Fish Tank Charters has a 21 foot Robalo bay boat capable of carrying 4 anglers. Fishing equipment, bait, bottled water is supplied and his license covers all anglers. Anglers are picked up at the Gandy boat ramp. Targeted fish species are red fish, snook, trout, sharks, cobia and mackerel. $375 for 2 people, 3 anglers for $425, $475 for 4 anglers for a trip of 6 hours. Each additional person is $50. Call MacDill AFB Outdoor Recreation at 828- 4982 or 840-6919 to book your  trip.