MacDill Happenings

The Taste of Temple Terrace takes place today.  On the northeast side of the Tampa Bay area, the City of Temple Terrace is 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 about a 20-30 min drive to MacDill AFB depending on the time of day. The University of South Florida is right next to Temple Terrace. City residents also have convenient access to the area’s finest medical facilities, cultural activities, sporting events, shopping, and entertainment attractions, such as the neighboring Busch Gardens Tampa Bay family adventure park. The current population is about 23,000 contained within a city of 6.5 square miles. Temple Terrace is unique among cities in Hillsborough County because it is one of the few municipalities with its own mayor, city council and police and fire departments. To find more about the city, on Tuesday  from 4pm-7pm is the 20th Annual Temple Terrace: Business Expo & Taste of the Terrace sponsored by the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce. It will be held at the USF Sun Dome. There is no cost to enter the Expo. The cost to enjoy the Taste of Terrace is $5. You will receive a wristband that allows you to stroll through the entire Business Expo and the taste the food and receipes of 24 different restaurants. The $5 cost is donated to local schools. The 24 food vendors include beer, wine and speciality drinks. Restaurants include: Antonio’s Pasta Grille, Edible Arrangements, Let’s Eat, Beef O’Brady’s, Emma’s Cakes, Lupton’s Catering & Restaurant, Café Kili, Empire Winery & Distillery, Miracles & Maggie’s Tea Room, Catering by Cox, Evos at USF, Panera Bread – USF, CDB’s Pizza Italian Restaurant, Gaspar’s Patio Grill, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Cilantro Indian Cuisine, Gator’s Dockside, Shell’s Seafood, Clubhouse Sports Grill, Guthries Fried Chicken, Smoothie King, Coldstone Creamery, Jimmy John Gourmet Sandwiches, and Time For Wine.

If you want to get away from the Gasparilla crowd today, then head over to Ybor City for the Ybor City Fiesta Day.  The Fiesta starts at 10am at Centennial Park.  Admission is free, and food can be purchased at a reasonable cost.  Come out and taste the devil crab rolls, Cuban sandwiches and mojo!   There will be an arts marketplace, exhibits and multicultural entertainment from 10am to 6pm. If you like flan, then the  Flan Fest — with recipe contest and the infamous flan-eating competition — begins at 11 am at Centennial Park. Known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter for over a century, Ybor City is an exotic blend of aromas, flavors, sights and sounds. From the scent of roasting Cuban coffee early in the morning to the rhythms of Latin music late into the night, Ybor is a feast for the senses. There is plenty of parking in Ybor City and don’t forget about the TECO streetcars! In Ybor City you can choose from a variety of cuisine - Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French - just by strolling down La Setima, the main street of the Historic District. Share authentic tapas and a pitcher of Spanish sangria in a café atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center, Ybor City today is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets give it an old-world charm.

On Fat Tuesday, Dunedin will be having a Mardi Gras celebration along Main Street in downtown.  Dunedin is closer than New Orleans!  The fun starts at 5pm with live music, drinks and Big Easy style food. There will be music from Lil’Malcolm & the House Rockers from 5:30-7:30 pm and Waylon Thibodeaux from 9-11 pm. In between will be the parade, complete with floats, bands and beads.   The event is free buy you can purchase food and drinks. Dunedin is located across Tampa Bay from MacDill AFB, just north of Clearwater. Dunedin is located in Pinellas County. The name comes from the Scots Gaelic Dùn Èideann meaning Edinburgh. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632. Dunedin is home to several beaches, including Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island, and Caladesi Island State Park, which is consistently rated among the best beaches in the world. Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key where buildings do not completely obscure the view; a 1-mile stretch of Edgewater Drive (also known as Alternate US 19) south of downtown offers views of St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Beach, and Caladesi Island. The quaint, but thriving downtown business district has become a model for many other west-central Florida cities. It is striking in comparison to neighboring Florida communities for its absence of commercial signage and corporate franchise restaurants and retail stores.

Take a free train ride in Largo Central Park in the city of Largo. Kids and adults can experience large-scale model-railroading with a ride on the Largo Central Railroad. There are approximately 1.2 miles of main line track with numerous passings running through beautifully landscaped Largo Central Park. The Largo Central Railroad (LCRR), founded in 1991, was built and is now maintained through the work and dedication of the LCRR club members and through generous donations for visitors. The train runs the first full weekend of each month from 10am to 4 pm. There is no charge for the train ride but donations are welcome. Call (727) 585-9835 for more information or if you are interested in the joining the LCRR club. Largo is a community of more than 74,000 residents and continues to grow through annexation. Over the last 10 years, the City has developed such landmark projects as Largo Central Park, the Largo Cultural Center, and the new Largo Public Library. Downtown redevelopment is currently underway, as evidenced by the changes to West Bay Drive and the upcoming Clearwater-Largo Road Streetscaping project.

This Saturday and Sunday is the 28th Annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival. John’s Pass is on the Gulf just north of St Pete Beach. Saturday’s hours are 10am to 8pm and Sunday’s hours are 10am to 6pm. Admission is free. There will be something for everyone! Of course, there will be plenty of seafood available! If you’re looking for something unique, then check out the Arts & Crafts Show with more than 50 local and regional artist displaying their wares. Listen to live music or join the street dance in the village. Wander around the more than 150 shops in the village. Learn some new fish tips or find some new equipment. A new fishing pole never hurts! There will be a children’s area. On Saturday at 3pm, there will be a children’s Halloween costume contest and trick or treating will take during the entire festival. There will also be the John’s Pass Shop of Horrors Oct. 23-Nov. 1 on the Village Boardwalk. Hours vary so visit the festival Web site to get the details. The Shop of Horrors takes you through the Haunted Trail. The Trail is youngster friendly before 7 p.m. but becomes more mature after that. Admission is $3 for kids and $7 for adults. Parking is available at the 325 space parking structure at the Boardwalk as well as nearby Madeira Beach Middle School for free. A free shuttle service is available from Madeira Beach Middle School.

The Clearwater Jazz Festival continues this weekend at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater from 10am to 5pm each day. This is a free event! Now in its 30th year, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a world-class gathering of the some of the greatest talents and greatest fans of jazz. The event takes full advantage of its home in Clearwater offering music and art against the backdrop of warm breezes, brilliant sunsets and one of the world’s greatest beaches, on the Gulf of Mexico. The 2nd Annual Clearwater Jazz ‘N Art Walk will also be taking place on the 500 & 600 block of Cleveland St. from Ft. Harrison to East Avenue. Fine art of different mediums will be on display and for sale to the general public. The Clearwater Jazz ‘N Art Walk will also feature the Kids Educationl Zone, located in Station Square, showcasing some of the bay areas youth works and talents. Children will be able to browse through the kids’ art and experience hands-on activities created just for children. Each day enjoy the “Nick Pool Show” from 12pm-1pm along with other kids entertainment from 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm. The GTE Federal Credit Union main stage will be located at Garden Avenue with fantastic entertainment featuring local and regional talent. Performers on Saturday include The Hy Notes from 11am - 12pm, The Alan Darcy Experience from 1pm - 2pm and Level 10 from 3pm - 4pm. On Sunday listen to The Ruth Eckerd Hall Jazz Lab Band from 11am - 12pm, Suite Caroline from 1pm - 2pm and The Bus Stop Band with Chello from 3pm - 4pm. Of course, there will be plenty of food and beverages to choose from if you get hungry or thirsty.

Today the largest bicycle festival in Tampa Bay, Bicycle Bash by the Bay, will take place in Vinoy Park from 11 am to 4 pm on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. This free festival is for all type of bicyclists from bike commuters and roadies; mountain bikers and single-speeders; fat-tire cruisers and recumbent cyclists. Highlights include a bicycle donation station, the city’s bike rodeo where the City of St. Pete will pass out free bike helmets for children and teach them important bicycling skills and several demos on topics such as fixing a flat and bike commuting. Learn about bike commuting in the Tampa Bay area.   Check out the swap meet where you can buy inexpensive used bikes and gear. Drop off your old bike that you no longer want to pedal at a bike donation station and get a free prize. Meet bicycle manufacturers and other bike part makers. See the latest in cycling and equipment. Of course there will also be music, and food!

Stop by the Pumpkin Festival at FishHawk Ranch at Park Square on 10 October. The fun starts at 3pm and runs until 10pm. There is an earlier pumpkin carving event that starts at 9am for everyone for a $5 donation. The pumpkins will be lit at a 8pm pumpkin lighting ceremony. To start everything off at 3pm, there is a children’s costume parade with prizes awarded for cutest, scariest and most creative costume. For a small fee, children can enjoy face painting, tatoos, a soda walk and hayrides. The band Blast will be putting on a show from 7:30pm to 10pm. Food and drinks will be available for puchase. Located within a 40 minute drive to downtown Tampa and MacDill AFB, 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. Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit also offers express bus service to MacDill AFB from FishHawk Ranch. MacDill AFB also provides free monthly bus passes to military and civilian

This Saturday from noon to 6pm come out to Ybor City for the Ybor ARTWalk. The ARTWalk actually takes place the first Saturday of each month. Ybor City may be known for the nightlife, but it has historically been home of Tampa’s arts communities. Ybor City is home to many artist studios, galleries, theater groups and filmmakers. More than 18 galleries and cultural venues are participating in the event and some will offer special discounts. Pick up a guide map with specific locations at any gallery in Ybor City. Start at the Ybor Art Colony  at 1521 E.  Seventh Ave. Most venues are within walking distance of Seventh Avenue. Don’t forget about the wonderful restaurants in Ybor City that will be open for lunch and dinner. Parking in Ybor City is free at metered spots, but there are parking garages available for a fee.

On Saturday 26 September, the City of Largo will host a Military Family Appreciation Day at Largo Central Park. The event runs from 10am to 2pm. This event will consist of opening and closing ceremonies, speakers and dignitaries, live entertainment, food and beverages, train rides in the park, and family games and activities. Best of all it is free to attend and parking is also free! Attendees will have to register and provide proof of a military relationship will be requested. Largo Central Park is a 70 acre park in the center of Largo. Largo is a community of more that 74,000 residents and the 3rd largest city in Pinellas County. It is centrally located in Pinellas County, touching the Intracoastal Waterway to the southwest and Tampa Bay to the northeast. Clearwater is Largo’s neighbor to the north. To the northwest are the towns of Belleair and Belleair Bluffs. The City of Pinellas Park lies south of eastern Largo. Seminole lies south of western Largo. The community of Ridgecrest forms a large enclave between western and central Largo. A number of county enclaves pepper the City of Largo. Largo is about a 40 minute drive from MacDill AFB.