MacDill Happenings

On 14 Feb, the American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays, will host their 2009 Fan Fest at Tropicana Field from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission and parking are free! A $10 donation to the Rays Baseball Foundation will allow fans the opportunity to get autographs from Rays players and coaches throughout the day. Autographs for kids 14 and under and season ticket holders are free with a wristband. Season ticket holders will also have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with a Rays player. More than 20 former major leaguers will be signing autographs during the event as well. All fans will have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the American League Championship Trophy, courtesy of Visual Touch Photography. In addition, fans can visit the Bright House Sports Network Kids Interactive Zone and take a swing in a big league batting cage, test their fastball in the speed pitch booth and hit a home run in the Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby. Kids will also have the chance to run the bases and all fans can tour the Rays clubhouse. Select Rays postseason merchandise will be available at 50% off. The Rays will also welcome a special guest. Joey Chestnut, the winner of the 2007 and 2008 Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, will greet fans and sign autographs. Chestnut, who unseated Kobayashi as the world champion, is ranked as the number one professional eater in the world. Spring training starts 25 Feb! The home opener is against the New York Yankees on 13 Apr!

On Friday 13 Feb from 8:30am to 2pm, come out to the MacDill AFB skeet range and try to win a prize ham.  Cost is $4 per shot.  A total of 10 prizes will be available to win. No need to bring out your own weapon, a shotgun and shell is included in the entry fee.  Ten people will compete in each round with one winner being closest to the bull’s eye for 1 prize. If you do bring out your own shotgun, it must be a 12 gauge and the shell will be provided. While you’re shooting enjoy lunch for $2!  Lunch will include a hot dog, bag of chips and a soda.   Please register at Outdoor Recreation or the Skeet Range NLT Fri, 13 Feb. For more information call 840-6919 or 828-5299.

If you always wanted to make that wood shop project you saw in a magazine or on television, but did have all the right tools, then stop by the MacDill AFB Wood Shop at the Art & Craft Center. The shop is across the street from the Macdill AFB Fitness Center and MacDill Lanes bowling alley. On 11 Feb from 11am to 1pm, the Arts & Craft Center will have a free wood shop safety class that teach how to safely use all machines, tools and equipment. You can work in the shop for only $2.50 an hour which includes the use of all equipment and tools. Plus you can get some one-on-one advice for your project. You can also save some money by paying a monthly fee if you’ve got a large project to work on or plan on using the wood shop a lot. There is a small fee if you want to store your project in the shop. You can purchase a Frequent Woodworker’s Card for $25 card and receive 21 half-hour increments of work time with no expiration date!!

In commemoration of the distinguished legacy of the eminent pianist and composer Robert Helps, the University of South Florida is presenting the 4th Annual International Composition Competition and Festival. One of the great cellist of our time, Rhonda Rider will perform music written for her by some of the leading American composers. She performs in 50-60 concert appearances annually at such venues as Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Concerts Spirituel de Geneve, Septembre Musique de L’Orne, American Academy in Rome, Moscow Conservatory, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She has over twenty recordings on Harmonia Mundi, Centaur, New World, CRI, and Nonesuch (two Grammy nominations, “Critic’s Choice”, New York Times). The performance will run from 8pm-10pm on 12 Feb at FAH 101-Recital Hall at USF. Cost is $8 students/seniors and $12 adults for advance sales and day of performance cost is $10 students/seniors, and $15 adults.

Come out to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in downtown Tampa along the banks of the Hillsborough river for a free outside screening of the classic movie Fiddler on the Roof. The show starts at 8pm with plenty of nearby parking. The movie centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each daughter’s choice of husband moves progressively further away from established customs—and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village. Concessions will be available for purchase so please don’t bring any coolers. Bring your own seating, chairs and blankets welcome. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the film will be cancelled and possibly rescheduled. There is plenty of parking options to chose, either on street parking with meters or parking garages and lots.

During the entire month of February, you can receive half price admission to Mote Aquarium in Sarasota during daily happy hour from 3-5pm. Regular ticket prices are $17 for adults and $12 for children ages 4-12. Admission for Mote Members and children age 3 and younger is free. Mote Marine Laboratory is located on 10.5-acre campus in Sarasota, with field stations and public exhibits in Key West and field stations in Summerland Key and Charlotte Harbor. The Mote Aquarium has touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and over 100 other exhibits of marine life. Viewable working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits are available to the public.

“Here’s to the Heroes” provides free Admission to Worlds of Discovery Theme Parks for military members and direct dependents until 31 Dec 09.  Three Worlds of Discovery – SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld San Diego – operate year round. The company’s remaining parks are seasonal, with varying opening dates this spring. Each park’s operating schedule is available online. Here’s to the Heroes provides a single day’s free admission to any one Busch Gardens or SeaWorld park, Water Country USA, Sesame Place or Adventure Island for the service member and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. Any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve service member or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the program. He or she need only register, either online at www.herosalute.com or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense photo ID. Inactive, standby and retired reserve members, military retirees, U.S. Merchant Marine and civilian Department of Defense workers are ineligible for the program. The program does not include Discovery Cove or SeaWorld’s new waterpark, Aquatica.

This month at the Bay Palms Golf Complex on MacDill AFB you can play 18 holes with a cart and get 9 more holes for only $5 more! There is also a weekday Twi-Light Special after 2:30pm from Mon-Friday. Twi-Light rates are $15 for E-1 to E4, $20 for E5 to O3, $23 O4 and up, and guests are $25. Bay Palms has two outstanding courses to chose from. The North Course is pretty straight away and the South Course is a little more challenging with some twists and turns and water obstacles. The Pro Shop has everything you need to golf in case you forget something or need something new. And if you’re hungry or thirsty, stop by the Snack Bar!

This Saturday from 11am to 1:30pm the tall masted pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, leads hundreds of ships in the invasion of Tampa during the Pirate Fest.  Then stay for the Parade of Pirates from 2pm to about 5:30 down Bayshore Blvd. Parade begins at the intersection of Bayshore Blvd. and Bay to Bay Blvd., moves north on Bayshore into downtown Tampa, turning east on the Platt Street Bridge.  Parade continues east on Channelside Drive, turns north on Florida Avenue to Jackson Street, then turns east on Jackson, ending at Jackson and Marion Streets. Throughout the Bayshore/Channelside area there will be various entertainment venues. The Gasparilla Invasion Stage will be at Bayshore Boulevard & Platt Street in the Publix Supermarket parking lot with music from 10:30am to 8:30pm.  The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage at Florida Avenue & Brorein Street will music from 11am to 11pm.  The Gasparilla Captain Morgan Channelside Bay Plaza Stage located in the Channelside Bay Plaza Courtyard will have music from 5:30pm-11pm.  All events are free.  Make sure you arrive early to beat the crowds and find a good spot!

If you’re thinking of going out to Daytona to catch one of the races, then your first stop should be the MacDill AFB ITT office located in the Exchange Mall. In addition to getting a great discounted ticket price, you also don’t have to pay any taxes. so you save even more that you would off base!
7 Feb: Budweiser Shootout–A front stretch unreserved grandstand seat is $33, the gate price is $54. Children 12 & under are free.
14 & 15 Feb: Daytona 500/Camping World 2-day Package-Seats at the Superstretch Tower (row 33-51) are $135 with a gate price of $164.
15 Feb: Daytona 500 1 day – A superstretch seat (row 1-32) is $90 with a gate price of $113.
15 Feb: Daytona 500–Sprint Fanzone Pass is $75 with a gate price of $90.
The ITT office is open Mon-Fri from 9am to 5pm, Sat 10am to 3pm and closed on Sunday. Daytona is about a 90 minute drive from MacDill AFB. Located on the east coast of Florida, the easiest route is taking I-4 east to I-95 then going north until you see the signs for Daytona.