MacDill Happenings

See the classic 1950’s sci-fi/horror movie, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, at the Tampa Theatre on 2 Aug. The movie will be shown in 3D! Everyone gets a free pair of 3D glasses! The movie starts at 3pm. A scientific expedition searching for fossils along the Amazon River discover a prehistoric Gill-Man in the legendary Black Lagoon. The explorers capture the mysterious creature, but it breaks free. The Gill-Man returns to kidnap the lovely Kay, fiancée of one of the expedition, with whom it has fallen in love. General admission is $8. Built in 1926 as one of America’s most elaborate “movie palaces”, the Tampa Theatre today is a historical treasure of Tampa. Located in downtown Tampa, the Theatre is easily accessible from I-275 and I-4.  Designed by famed theatre architect John Eberson, the Tampa is a superior example of the “atmospheric” style of theatre design. Inside the Tampa, audiences are transported to a lavish, romantic Mediterranean courtyard replete with old world statuary, flowers, and gargoyles. Over it all is a nighttime sky replete with twinkling stars and floating clouds. Tampa Theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is a Tampa City Landmark, and is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres. There is on street parking nearby and parking lots within walking distance. Remember the street parking meters are not in service during the weekend so parking at street meters is free.

For some inexpensive entertainment this weekend, checkout the MacDill AFB Movie Theater. Prices for tickets and snacks are up to half the price out in town. This Friday the recently released movie, The Taking of the Pelham 123, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, is playing at 7pm. This movie is rated R for violence,and pervasive language and has a run time of 105 minutes. Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day’s work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. On Saturday at 7pm, the new Jack Black comedy, Year One, will be playing. This movie is rated PG-13 for crude/sexual content, brief strong language, and comic violence and has a run time of 97 minutes. When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.

The Rays are still in the hunt for the American League East title. This Friday 31 July they take on the Kansas city Royals. After the game, it is Hip Hop night with a Flo Rida concert. Gametime is 7:38pm. Get to the game early and have a tailgate party! Listen to a live band and enjoy attractions at Lot 7. With a military ID, you can purchase 4 outfield tickets for half off! However, tickets have to be purchased at the box office! If you do get to the game early, then a car with 4 people or more can park for free in the Trop parking lots. Normal parking price is $15 at the Trop. The Trop is easily accessible from I-275. Inside the Trop, check out the Ray tank in centerfield. In the Left Field Street area, fans can participate in a baseball-themed game show, take their picture on a Topps baseball card, have their name inscribed onto a Louisville Slugger bat, touch and feel real game-used equipment, and broadcast play-by-play of baseball highlights. At Right Field Street kids can experience the magic of baseball in the Rays Baseball Carnival, a real working carnival that includes plinko, spin the wheel, ring-a-bat and skee ball. Or take a swing against a computer images of real Major League pitchers in a batting cage or test their arms in the speed pitch, both found in the T.G. Lee Rookie Challenge area of the Carnival. There is also kids-themed areas such as “Bats, Balls, and Brushes”, “St. Petersburg Times Pressbox” and “The Science of Baseball.” Centerfield Street has the Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar, baseball’s first in-stadium cigar bar, as well as the Batter’s Eye Restaurant, located in the “batter’s eye” in center field. Centerfield Street also has the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall-of-Fame.

This Wednesday from 6pm-9pm, the Live Summer Music Series continues at Old Hyde Park Village in south Tampa. This Wednesday the high enery funk, sould and reggae band, the Bird Street Players, will be filling the the air with their bass lines, horn solos, rhythm section and a lead singer with a soulful voice. This is a must see night for all music lovers! The Bird Street Players frequent the music scene in New Orleans, Key West, Orlando and festivals all over the Eastern part of the country. 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 Wednesday as part of the Summer Movie Camp at AMC Theaters, “Nim’s Island” will be playing. Anything can happen on Nim’s Island, a magical place ruled by a young girl’s imagination. It is an existence that mirrors that of her favorite literary character, Alex Rover–the world’s greatest adventurer. But Alexandra, the author of the Rover books, leads a reclusive life in the big city. When Nim’s father goes missing from their island, a twist of fate brings her together with Alexandra. Now, they must draw courage from their fictional hero, Alex Rover, and find strength in one another to conquer Nim’s Island. In the Tamapa area, the participating AMC Theaters are the Regency 20 in Brandon, the Veterans 24 in Tampa and the Woodland Square 20 in Oldsmar. Admission is only $1! All admission and concession proceeds from the Summer Movie Camp will benefit Variety-The Children’s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. The movie starts at 10am. This is great and inexpensive way to spend the morning with the kids. Usually, snacks take a big bite out your wallet. During the movie, the AMC KidsPack is only $3! It includes a kids’ size drink, popcorn and snack. You save $2.75 off the regular price.

This Sunday Kids Ride Free at the Florida Railroad Museum at Parrish. Train rides are at 11am and 2pm. The train operates rain-or-shine on a 13 mile round trip lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes. or each paid adult admission, you can take two children ages 3-11 for a ride on a diesel powered train. Adult admission is $12. This museum is different from other museums. Instead of exhibits in a building, the museum’s rolling equipment and the historical items are on the train. You can walk around the train and see the exhibits during the 13 mile round trip. F The Florida Railroad Museum, Inc. was founded as The Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum with the stated goal of preserving Florida’s railroad history. Over the years, the Museum has aquired and restored rolling stock and equipment to operate for the public’s enjoyment. We hope our visitors appreciate the sights and sounds of Florida railroading as it existed in the 1940’s and 1950’s. To achieve its goal of operating equipment and recreating the sights and sounds of Florida railroading, the Museum operates on a six mile line between Parrish and Willow, Florida in rural Manatee County. This railroad line was the first railroad to be built in Manatee County. Each weekend diesel locomotives pull equipment consisting of open window coaches, a covered gondola, and an air conditioned coach. Trains are operated entirely by Museum members volunteering thousands of hours a year to make this unique experience possible. All donations are tax-deductible and go directly towards the General Fund for restoration and operation of the Museum’s railway equipment.

Get your kids excited about science! To mark the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the Borders at 12500 N. Dale Mabry in Tampa is hosting a Space Camp for kids of all ages. The fun starts at 2pm. There will be a space-age schedule of astronaut and spacewalk games, solar systems crafts and trivia and lots of other fun happenings! Mom and Dad can peruse through the great selection of books and music during this event or enjoy a coffee drink. The Kennedy Space Center is just a 90 minute drive from Tampa. You can take a tour to see the actual launch pads still being used today. Or if you haven’t seen a shuttle launch, then plan to go! It is an awesome sight even from miles away! If you do plan to visit the Kennedy Space Center, then first stop by the MacDill AFB ITT for discount tickets. Tickets at the gate are $40.28 for 12 years or older and $29.68 for ages 3-11. At the MacDill AFB ITT, the tickets are $33.50 and $24.75.

The new Sweetbay Supermarket at 6425 County Line Road in New Tampa is hosting a dog friendly event this Saturday from 9am to 11am. Join them in this family-friendly setting to take your dog out. In the parking lot of the Sweetbay Supermarket will offer a day of pet grooming, treat sampling, a pet costume contest and coupon giveaways. A dog trainer will be there to answer questions and a pet photographer will be taking family photos. You can even get free dog sitting in a fenced-in area if you want to go grocery shopping. The New Tampa is on the northern edge of Tampa just off of I-75. The University of South Tampa and Busch Gardens is near New Tampa. New Tampa is bounded by Lutz to the west, Wesley Chapel to the north, Morris Bridge Road (near Thonotosassa) to the east, and the University community and the University of South Florida to the south. Bruce B. Downs Blvd and Cross Creek Blvd are major roads going through New Tampa. A largely residential area with plenty of afforadable housing, New Tampa has a exciting new outdoor mall, The Shops at Wiregrass, with plenty of great shopping and restaurants. New Tampa is about a 40 minute drive to MacDill AFB.

For an inexpensive night out, stop by the MacDill AFB Movie Theater this Friday and Saturday. Admission and snacks are up to half off the price out in town. This Friday at 7pm, the great buddy comedy “The Hangover” is playing. This movie is rated R for pervasive language, sexual content, nudity, and drug material and has a run time of 100 min. Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they’ll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can’t remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can’t find is Doug. Make sure you stay for the closing credits! The pictures at the end are hilarious! On Saturday, there are two movies playing. At 3pm, “Imagine That“, starring Eddie Murphy and Thomas Haden Church, is playing. This movie is rated PG for mild langauge and brief questionable behavior and has a run time of 107 minutes. Evan, a successful financial executive has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter, Olivia. When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter’s imaginary world. At 7pm, “My Life in Ruins“, starring Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss, is playing. This movie is rated PG-13 for sexual content and has a run time of 96 minutes. Georgia attempts to recapture her kefi (Greek for mojo) by guiding a ragtag group of tourists around Greece and showing them the beauty of her native land. Along the way, she manages to open their eyes to the wonders of an exotic foreign land while beginning to see the world through a new set of eyes in the process.

The MacDill AFB Youth Fall Soccer registration is currently ongoing until 7 Aug at the Youth Center. The soccer league is for ages 5 to 12 years. Please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate, shot record, and sports physical when registering. There will be a mandatory meeting prior to the start of the season. If you are interesting helping out, coaches and officials are also needed. The cost for Youth Center members is $30 and $45 for non-members. The Youth Center offers a diversified youth sports program that includes basketball, baseball, and soccer leagues along with a cheerleading program. Teens have their own area where they can come to interact with their peers, get homework and career assistance, or play video games. Special events are conducted periodically for both the pre-teens and teens. There is a Teen Room with a full-size pool table and the Youth Center also has a basketball court and game room.