MacDill Happenings

Downtown Large is hosting the First Friday Street Festival today from 6pm to 11pm. Enjoy free live music, street performers and art vendors. This month celebrates the opening of the Bay Area Renaissance Festival with a Renaissance themed street fair with drum circles and music by Noah Broe and the Groove. Noah Broe & The Groove Co. incorporates a fusion of styles, including reggae, rock, blues, funk and hip-hop grooves. First Friday Festival will be on 1st Ave Southwest, between Clearwater Largo Road and Ridge Rd. Over the last 10 years, the Largo 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. Tucked away on tree-lined Vonn Road is the Largo Golf Course. This par 62 executive course was renovated in early 2007 to offer USGA standard greens and an enhanced golfing experience. Largo Golf Course’s 3,335 yards of family fun features eight par 4 and ten par 3 holes, great for the beginner or the pro looking for an exciting round. Bi-weekly Saturday morning Golf Scrambles offer a chance to join in the fun and take a swing at some great prizes. Largo is across the bay from MacDill AFB and is easily accessed by using the Gandy Bridge and is a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic.

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Come out to downtown Tampa to the historic Tampa Theatre and see a classic Charlie Chaplin silent movies “City Lights” & “A Dog’s Life“. “City Lights” begins with an uproarious skewering of pomp and formality ends with one of the most famous last shots in movie history and tickles the funny bone that in 1998 it was named one of the American Film Institute’s Top-100 American Films. Talkies were well entrenched when Charles Chaplin swam against the film making tide with this classic that is silent except for music and sound effects. The story, involving the Tramp’s attempt to get money from an operation that will restore sight to a blind flower girl, provides the star with an ideal framework for sentiment and laughs. The Tramp is variously a street sweeper, a boxer, a rich poseur and a rescuer of a suicidal millionaire. His message is unspoken, but universally understood: love is blind. “A Dog’s Life” (short) is a literal expression of Charlie Chaplin’s identification with the underdog. When his canine companion digs up money buried by thieves, the Tramp and his friend Edna get a chance at a better life. Ticket prices start at $9 with military, senior and children’s discount price of $7. Tampa Theatre 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 Federal holilday so parking at street meters is free. Just across the street from the Marriot Courtyard at Cass and N. Florida is a self-service parking lot that charges $5 for parking before 6pm and $3 after 6pm. If you ever come to watch a show it’s a tradition to hang out at The Hub, downtown Tampa’s classic dive that’s located two doors down, before or after a theater outing.

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On 28 Jan from 11am to 4pm at Largo Central Park, Touch-A-Truck and Florida Clown Day will take place with plenty of trucks, loud horns and smiling faces.  Sponsored by the city of Largo, the event is in its 17th year and brings out fire trucks, dump trucks, motorcycles, buses, military vehicles, a Bayflight helicopter, 18 wheeler, and more. Kids of all ages will enjoy inflatables, train rides along Largo Central Railroad, Rocketship Car rides around the block, and a delicious food court in the middle of the park. Children can climb in the trucks, bounce on inflatables, have their face painted, ride the train, and enjoy delicious food. Florida Clown Day, brought to you by the Uptown Clown Alley, will feature over 100 clowns from all across the state of Florida. All ages are welcome to this free event. Wristbands are required for some activities and can be purchased for $5 at the event. Limited on-site parking is available and free event shuttles will be offered from Largo High School. Individuals may park and walk from Largo Middle School. Largo Central Park is located at 101 Central Park Drive, Largo 33771. Over the last 10 years, the Largo 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. Tucked away on tree-lined Vonn Road is the Largo Golf Course. This par 62 executive course was renovated in early 2007 to offer USGA standard greens and an enhanced golfing experience. Largo Golf Course’s 3,335 yards of family fun features eight par 4 and ten par 3 holes, great for the beginner or the pro looking for an exciting round. Bi-weekly Saturday morning Golf Scrambles offer a chance to join in the fun and take a swing at some great prizes. Largo is across the bay from MacDill AFB and is easily accessed by using the Gandy Bridge and is a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic.

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Come to FishHawk Ranch in Lithia for the 6th Annual FishHawk Ranch Chili Cook Off on Saturday. The contest runs from 11:30a to 1:30pm. If you are interested in showing off your skills, the fee to enter your award winning chili is $15.00. For details, or to register as a Chef, please contact Jennifer Carle at (813) 657-6629 or by email at jcarle@fhrhoa.com. Individuals, Teams, and Business Owners are welcome to participate. If you want to taste and also vote, the cost is $5 per person. The event will take place at the FishHawk Park Square near the Palmetto Club just off Dorman Road in Lithia. 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 convenience with a wide variety of restaurants for every taste. The FishHawk Aquatic Club has a competition swimming pool, a lagoon pool with an amazing water slide. There is also an outdoor aerobics stage, a massage room and a gathering room in the clubhouse. 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 personnel.

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Come out with some friend to the Channelside District of Tampa for new adventurous food and some movie entertainment all outdoors in the gorgeous Tampa evening at Flicks and Food Trucks. On Thursday January 19, there will be 10-15 gourmet food trucks offering everything from Burgers to Vegetarian Bites for sale. The event takes place at The Grand Central off of Kennedy. The trucks and flicks will be there from 6pm to 10pm. There will be independent short films (10-15 minutes each) provided for all to enjoy for free. The Independents’ Film Festival (IFF), an annual project of Tampa Bay Arts and Education Network, showcases student and independent film from around the world, while maintaining a focus on the Florida filmmaker. One of the longest running established film festivals in Florida, IFF supports creating a community of creative minded individuals who celebrate the art of the moving image. Expect to find something for anyone discerning palate. Cigar City Brews will be available on draft at the Pour House! The event is 21+, so bring your IDs and bring cash for beer and food. Please plan to expect waiting in line for your orders. While the food is worth the wait, it does not come fast because it’s not “fast food”. These are full blown restaurants on wheels and food is made to order. Consider it similar to tailgating: Most people stand and eat at Food Truck events. If you are one who likes to sit and eat, then stake out a spot on a curb or bring a chair! Vendors appreciate small bills v.s 10’s & 20’s. Some trucks do take Credit Cards, but many do not. There is an ATM on site through the courtyard area. There is a rarking garage located at Grand Central at Kennedy (900 spaces / Free for 2 Hours).

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The new Dali Museum near the waterfront downtown St. Pete is having is celebrating its one-year birthday of its new location. There will be special activities from scavenger hunts to origami to craft beer tastings. A photographic installation highlighting the past year will be on view in the Raymond James Community Room. The landmark building is a collaboration between architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, the Museum staff, and the builder the Beck Group. Built more efficiently than many contemporary museum structures, the new Dali combines elements of the classical and the fantastical – much like the work of Dali. The new location is one block from the water and near Albert Whitted Park. Bring out the family for fun games, puzzles and craft activities. Enjoy the galleries at your own pace with explanatory wall texts, or join our daily-guided tours, every hour on the ½ hour. Docent tours are free with admission. Guided one hour gallery tours highlight the permanent collection, Salvador Dalí’s career and life. In the Dalí Family Guide brochures families can explore the collection on their own and discover the magic of Dalí. Salvador Dali, a surrealist painter born in Spain, was best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in 1931. Dalí’s expansive artistic repertoire includes film, sculpture, and photography, in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media. 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. Started by a local art collector, the Dali collection now consists of over 2,140 total pieces including 95 oil paintings and over 100 watercolors and drawings. Normal admission is $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, military and police, $15 ages 10 to 18, $7 ages 5 to 9. After 5pm on Thursdays, admission is $10.

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For a fun free evening of fun, come out to downtown St. Pete  tonight for free music from 5:30pm to 10pm as part of the “Get Downtown First Friday Music Series“.  This musical and community event takes places the first Friday of every month.  This is an old fashioned block party that takes place between 2nd and 3rd St South. Central Street is closed down and turned into a block party. Tonight’s musical headliner is jazz saxophonist Mike MacArthur. From the be-bop sounds of Charlie Parker to the modern sounds of Michael Brecker, you will be sure to love his music! There is plenty of room at the parking garages within a block of the event to the east and west on Central Avenue, in addition to on-street parking on the immediately surrounding city streets. There’s plenty of food and drinks available at the many local establishments. Coolers are not allowed, but the Breakfast Optimist Club will sell water, soft drinks and beer and wine. Pets are not allowed because this is a crowded event. But if you want to bring a chair to sit on, you can! St. Petersburg more popularly known locally at St. Pete is across the bay from MacDill AFB and about a 20 minute drive from the base. With an average of some 360 days of sunshine each year, it is nicknamed “The Sunshine City.” It is also home to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays. Downtown St. Pete is vibrant place to live and socialize with many museums and a great nightlife destination.

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Channelside Lights Up the Bay in downtown Tampa with a New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration.  Channelside Bay Plaza celebrates New Year’s Eve with 12 hours of free live entertainment, a midnight ball drop and fireworks, all beginning at 1 pm on Saturday. This is a free event. No coolers or personal fireworks are allowed. Viewing of the fireworks from the wharf area will be limited to the first 3,000 people and wristbands will be given out for access at the Garrison Street gate starting at 9:30 pm. Only persons with wristbands will be allowed on the wharf. The party ends at 1 am. Other viewing spots for Tampa firework include Cotanchobee Park, the Sail Pavilion at Riverwalk, the newly anointed Tampa Bay Times Forum grounds, spots along Harbour Island and the grounds of the Tampa Bay History Center. The Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center will be open until 9 pm, but the center will close at 3 pm. The fun take place all day long, but just be prepared for the crowds. Dining is available on the Yacht Starship, at the History Center’s Columbia Cafe, or at one of Channelside Bay Plaza’s unique and compelling restaurants. Channelside will also be hosting live music, fun, all day long and of course fireworks at midnight! Parking will be available in Channelside and other public and private lots, but spots will fill up quickly so you might park in Ybor City and use Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar.

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Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa will be the location of the free Elephant Painting on 27 December. To promote the upcoming Ringling Bros & Barnum Bailey Circus show at the St. Pete Times Forum, 50 kids can paint an elephant. The painting starts at 10:30am, but the earliest that you can line up to paint is 8am. The limit is 50 kids and is strictly first-come, first-served. The beautiful Curtis Hixon Park is located on the waterfront in downtown Tampa along Ashley St between the Tampa Museum of Art and the Sykes building. Food is available at nearby restaurants including Five Guys Hamburger across the street from the Park and a new nearby Mexican restaurant Urban Cantina located at the corner of Madison and South Tampa. You can also bring a picnic dinner and don’t forget the blankets and chairs! There will also be a few concessions selling drinks and snacks. Alcohol is not allowed but well behaved pets are! Curtis Hixon Park has a fenced animal park along the water. This park is one of nicest parks in Tampa. With an interactive playground, wide open flat grass play area, a view of the University of Tampa, and cooling water fountains, this is a great place to relax on during a Tampa evening. Parking is available at the Curtis Hixon parking garage or at nearby public parking lots. On street parking is free in Tampa after 6pm, so you don’t have to place any quarters into the meters! If you’re lucky, you can get a parking spot in front of Five Guys Hamburgers right across the street from the Park at the corner of Ashley and Polk.

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Come out to downtown St. Pete and enjoy the holiday season with some great music that will guarantee to get you into the spirit of the season and having you singin long after the performance ends! The American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Theater is hosting the “Ring A Ding Ding Holiday Cabaret” tonight at 6:30pm. “Hark the Herald Angels Swing” as American Stage brings you the hippest holiday party in town. Crooner/jazz pianist Michael Raabe and chanteuse Sara DelBeato will shake and stir up some retro-tastic Christmas tunes that are guaranteed to make you ‘merry and bright.’ Tickets prices are “Pay-What-You-Can” at the door and $15 in advance. Before or after the show, you might want to take the opportunity to enjoy the restaurants and nightlife that downtown St. Pete has to offer. American Stage Theatre Company is located at 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. During performances, patrons can park for free in the Synovus Bank, located one block up 3rd Street at 333 Third Ave. N. St. Petersburg College’s parking garage is open to patrons for $5 on Friday night, Saturdays and Sundays and is located next to the theater on Second Avenue North. Along with street parking, there are two other garages within walking distance. American Stage is the Tampa Bay area’s only professional regional equity theater. It presents its six-play Mainstage Series in its brand new, 182-seat Raymond James Theatre, across from Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg. Other productions include the “After Hours” Series, School Tour, and camps and classes for children. American Stage is also known for its springtime American Stage in the Park (also known as Shakespeare in the Park), which was launched in 1986. In 2005, it began staging shows other than Shakespeare under the stars at Demens Landing.

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