MacDill Happenings

For an inexpensive night out, stop  by the MacDill AFB movie theater!  Admission is only $4 for adults and $2 for children.  Refreshments are also sold at a great discount when compared to prices out in town.  On Friday at 7pm, “The Invention of Lying” starring Jennifer Garner, and Ricky Gervais will be showing. This movie is rated PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference and has a run time of 100 minutes. A man named Mark lives in an alternate reality in which lying doesn’t exist. Everyone tells the truth and only the truth. In a world where everyone is blunt and truthfully honest, Mark discovers the concept of lying. With the ability to lie, he takes advantage of everyone, since they all assume he’s telling the truth. He immediately lies himself to fame and fortune but soon realizes how out of control dishonesty can be. Even with his superiority and power of lying, he cannot lie himself into the heart of the woman he loves. On Saturday at 3pm , “Fame” will be showing. This movie is rated PG for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language and has a runtime of 107 minutes. A group of students attending the renowned New York School of Performing Arts from audition through graduation as they discover their burgeoning talents and define their identities. Caught up in the intense atmosphere of a performing arts high school in New York, the student artists in the film confront both the tantalizing promise of success and the challenges of thriving in a highly competitive environment. At 7pm on Saturday, “Jennifer’s Body” starring Megan Fox will be playing. This movie is rated R for sexuality, bloody violence, language and brief drug use and has a run time of 80 minutes. When a demon takes possession of her, high-school hottie Jennifer turns a hungry eye on guys who never stood a chance with her before. While evil Jennifer satisfies her appetite for human flesh with the school’s male population, her nerdy friend, Needy, learns what’s happening and vows to put an end to the carnage.

If you’re looking some entertainment and some exercise on a Sunday, then stop by the MacDill AFB bowling alley, MacDill Lanes. The Sunday Family Special includes 2 games, shoes, 1 large pizza and a pitcher of soda. The price for 2 people is $20 and for 4 people it is $30. The Special runs from 1-7pm. MacDill Lanes offers 12 lanes of top quality bowling with automated scoring and pinsetters. Bowling is great family fun! There is pro shop that has everything that you need for bowling including the latest balls that can be drilled to you hand size, bags, shoes and other accessories. The snack bar has great food at a reasonable price. The snack bar is open at 11am on Sunday to Friday and at 1pm on Saturday and closes one hour before the lanes close. The summer hours are Mon-Wed 11am to 5pm, Thu 11am to 8pm, Fri 11am to midnight and Sat 1pm to midnight. Per game rates during the week from 11am to 5pm is $2, and 5pm-8pm is $2.50. On Saturday from 1pm-8pm, the cost is $2.50. On Friday and Saturday night from 8pm to midnight, Xtreme Bowling with glowing pins and balls and flashing lights takes place with a charge of $3 per game. MacDill Lanes also has a birthday party special for $100 for 10 kids. The birthday special includes 2 games of Xtreme Bowling, shoe rental, table and chair set up, decorations and a choice of hot dog, fries and a soft drink or pizza and soft drinks.

Stop by SeaScapes Beach Club this Friday and bring along your boss, your buddy, or everyone from the office. The fun starts at 3:30pm. There will be a limbo contest and sand volleyball. Trying out the hors d’oeuvres buffet from 3:30 to 4:30pm. If you are a club member it is free. If not, then it is $3 for spouses and $5 for non-members. Or if 3:30 is too early for you to leave the office, then stop by later on for live music. From 5:30pm and 9pm Tommy “Bahama” Arnold will be playing beach music, new country, Motown and classic R&B. Take in the scenic view of Tampa Bay, while dining in the tropical atmosphere of SeaScapes. You don’t have to face the traffic or crowds like you find at other waterside venues. Sip delicious cocktails, or dine on delectable fare, while enjoying a magnificent view of the setting sun on the bay. A wide selection of menu items for dinner include grouper, seafood platters, coconut shrimp, grilled chicken and much more! You can’t beat the bar prices! SeaScapes is located at the MacDill AFB base beach and next to FamCamp. It’s a real casual atmosphere so beach wear is fine, remember this is Florida! It’s a great place to enjoy as a couple or bring the whole family!

The American Stage Theatre is presenting “This Wonderful Life” with opening night on 18 November at the Raymond James Theatre in St. Pete at 7:30pm. Performances run through 27 December. Performances on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening are at 7:30pm. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8pm. Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are at 3pm. Ticket prices are $26-$45 depending on date and time of performance. “You-Pay-What-Can” nights are 1 and 2 December at 7:30pm. It’s Christmas Eve and George Bailey stands on a snowy bridge ready to jump…when a guardian angel intervenes! Thus begins the most irresistible “what if” story of all time, a visually stunning stage adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic holiday film that is sure to capture your heart and captivate your spirit. This is a great to start out the holiday period with your family and to remember what is really important in life! American Stage is Tampa Bay’s professional regional equity theatre. Founded in 1977, the company’s mission is to create the most satisfying live theatre in the Tampa Bay area, accessible to all members of the community. The American Stage is located in downtown St. Pete at 163 Third St North just 1 block south of BayWalk and across the street from Williams Park. The Theatre is located on the grounds of St. Petersburg College Downtown Center.  Free parking is available at nearby Synovus Bank as well as on street parking and two parking garages within walking distance.

During November, Dinosaur World is having Dog Month! If you bring your dog, you can receive $2 off the cost of admission. 150 life size dinosaurs are displayed outdoors with explanatory signs. Children can dig for authentic fossils. The dinosaur museum has everything from dinosaur eggs to raptor claws. The “Caves” has a video theatre, subterranean picnic area, and displays. The Skeleton Garden has life sized skeletons. There is also a playground area for children. And don’t forget to stop by the Gift Shop before you leave. There is no food for sale, but you can bring a picnic and use the picnic tables. Park hours are 9am to 6pm every day except Dec and Jan when park hours are 9am to 5pm. Parking is always free. You can buy discount tickets at the MacDill AFB ITT for $8.50 for adults and $6.25 for children 3-12 years old. Admission at the gates for adults is $12.75, $9.75 for ages 3-12 and $10.75 for seniors over 60.

If you’re thinking about doing some work on your house, then stop by the Tampa Bay Home Show in St. Pete. It takes place at Tropicana Field with free parking. The show started on Friday, but it runs until Sunday. The Show will feature hundreds of area home specialists all in one locations so that you can quickly get your questions answered. Find out information on anything from furniture to decorating ideas to landscaping to remodeling to interior design and more. See the latest in kitchen design and the hottest fashions in window coverings and flooring. You can see some great demonstrations, participate in giveaways, and more importantly get that one tip that may help decide on what to do at your house! Even if you’re not looking to do anything right away, you might find some new ideas to dress up your current home. Today the show runs from 10am to 7pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $3 for anyone 17 and above.

The 21st Annual St. Pete RibFest kicks off today at Vinoy Park! All proceeds go to local area youth causes. Besides the great food, come and listen to the great music! Entertainment at the Ribfest includes Family oriented activities at the Family FunZone.  Listen to national touring artists playing classic and southern rock and country hits lead by George Thorogood & the Destroyers,The Zac Brown Band and many more bands on stage. Hell on Wheels, the nations leading BMX action stunt show, sponsored by Tobacco Free Florida, will be performing throughout the weekend along with a
Classic and Custom Car Show on Saturday. Admission is $10 online or $15 at the gate. Gates open at 11am each day. Admission gets you into the park where you can see all bands on either stage. All food and drink is extra. No food, beverages, coolers, pets, lasers, profesional cameras, audio or video recorders will be permitted in the park. There is absolutely no video or audio recording of any kind allowed in the park. Blankets and small lawn chairs are allowed. All purses and bags will be subject to a thorough search at the gate.

For an inexpensive night out, stop by the MacDill AFB movie theater to the latest movies at the best price in Tampa. Admission for adults is $4 and $2 for children. And the you can’t find a better price on refreshments! On Friday at 7pm, “Zombieland” starring Woody Harrelson is playing. This movies is rated R for horror violence/gore, and language and has run time of 120 minutes. A cowardly shut-in named Columbus is forced to join up with a seasoned zombie slayer named Tallahassee in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. As Tallahassee sets out on a mission to find the last Twinkie on Earth, the duo meets up with Wichita and Little Rock, two young girls who have resorted to some rather unorthodox methods to survive amidst the chaos. Reluctant partners in the battle against the undead, all four soon begin to wonder if it might be better to simply take their chances alone.  On Saturday at 3pm, the Bruce Willis movie “Surrogates” is playing. This movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality, and drug-related scene and has a run time of 81 minutes. FBI agents investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves—fit , good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles—enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who’s real and who can you trust? At 7pm on Saturday, “Love Happens” starring Jennifer Aniston, and Aaron Eckhart will be showing. This movie is rated PG-13 for some language including sexual references and has run time of 109 minutes. Dr. Burke Ryan is on the precipice of a major multimedia deal, but the therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain is secretly unable to take his own advice. Eloise Chandler has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. However, when she meets Burke at the hotel where he’s speaking, there is an instant attraction. But will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance? As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they’ll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) in Tampa is offering all active duty, reserve or retired veterans a discounted admission ticket for only $5 on November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.  Normal ticket prices are $23. 95 for 13-59, seniors $21.95 for seniors and $19.95 for 2-12.  MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeastern United States and home of the only IMAX Dome theatre in Florida. Here is a great opportunity to experience more than 450 hands-on, a standard IXAM Dome film, “Kids in Charge!” and a 3-D film in the Coleman Science Works Theater. See the one of a kind Diplodocus dinosaur exhibit; get blown away in the Gulf Coast Hurricane; cruise the galaxy in the Saunders Planetarium; stroll through the BioWorks Butterfly Garden and see many more sights. Take a ride on the High Wire Bicycle! You can take a chance on pedaling a bicycle on a 1-inch steel cable suspended 30 feet above the ground. See one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered! The sauropods that are in the lobby are 3 stories tall! See the permanent exhibit on health, wellness and prevention. Or experience hurricane force winds. The Saunders Planetarium now features a new projection dome, new seating arrangements and a state-of-the-art star projector—the GOTO Space Simulator Chronos projection system—capable of recreating the night sky from any time in less than 20 seconds from the past, present, and future from anywhere on the planet! In addition, the new interactive planetarium is capable of playing movies, ultra 3D graphics and live videos from NASA. Kids In charge! is a designed for children 12 and under and emphasizes the value of learning through play. Parking is always free at MOSI. There is a museum shop in case you want to bring home a souvenir and a restaurant to keep you going through the day. Plan on 4 hours to see all the exhibits.  After a day of seeing, stop by Applebee’s for a free meal for veterans!  Veterans and active duty military can eat for free on Veteran’s Day.  You just need to show proof of military service or have a military ID card.  Stop by any Tampa Bay Applebee’s to enjoy!

The James A. Haley Veteran Affairs Hospital in northern Tampa will sponsor a Veteran’s Day parade on 11 November.  The parade starts at 10am at the hospital. There are more than 35 entries including several veteran-oriented service organizations, high school bands, ROTC groups and Gasparilla krewes. The hospital’s Diamond parking lot will host an antique cars display. After the parade at 11am there will be free cookout in front of the Fisher House on the hospital grounds. Members of the Wound Warriors from the hospital will be present during the parade and at the cookout. The City of Temple Terrace will host a Veteran’s Day Ceremony to honor the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. The ceremony starts at 11am. The ceremony will take place at the Lightfoot Recreation Center, 10901 N. 56th St. The Temple Terrace program will feature the Temple Terrace Highlanders band, Florida College’s Take Note vocal ensemble, and the King High Naval Junior ROTC. After the ceremony, free hot dogs, chips and cupcakes will be served. Temple Terrace is a city just north and adjacent to Tampa. It is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB. Temple Terrace is strategically situated between three major interstates: I-4, I-75, and I-275. This ideal location makes Temple Terrace conveniently located to not only the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, but also within a short driving distance to Orlando and the Sarasota beach areas. Temple Terrace is currently in the process of redeveloping fifty acres (the southeast quadrant) of its 1960s-era downtown. The goal of the city is to build a mixed-use, medium-density, pedestrian-oriented downtown. The University of South Florida, the second largest university in the southeast, and home of quality medical research programs and the largest MBA program in Florida among public universities, is located in Temple Terrace area. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the Musuem of Science & Industry as known as MOSI is located in the area.