MacDill Happenings

If you’re looking for a reasonable priced meals with a great view and friendly people, then go to SeaScapes at the MacDill AFB beach on Thursdays for $1 Taco Night! Every Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, you can get your fill of tacos for only a $1 each.  You can also order off the regular menu. Located right on the MacDill AFB beach, you’ll have a wonderful view of Tampa Bay especially during sunset! There is a great bar with very reasonably priced drinks and you won’t find a nicer and friendly bartender in Tampa! If you don’t want the try the tacos, then there is a wide selection of menu items including grouper, seafood platters, shrimp, chicken and beef! Clothing is casual just like everywhere in Florida. Take a walk along the beach afterwards. If you’re looking for place have lunch at during the day, SeaScapes also serves a great lunch!

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The Westfield Mall in Brandon will host a free summer arts and crafts event on Friday from 1 to 3 .m. This summer-themed family fun event is designed for families with children ages 5-10. Bring the kids out for some free fun in some cool air conditioning and out of the rain. Before or after the fun, you can try out the food court for some reasonable priced food. There is a wide variety of food offerings. The Westfield Mall in Brandon is one of the largest malls in the Tampa area. Anchor stores at the Mall include Dillard’s, Macy’s, JC Penny’s, and Sears. With stores offering everything from shoes to sports to sunglasses and everything in between, the Westfield Mall is also a destination place for dining out from something quick to eat in the food court to a sit down restaurant in the restaurant courtyard. The Mall is open on Mondays to Friday from 10:30am to 8:30pm, Saturdays 10am to 9pm and Sundays from 11am to 6pm. Brandon is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB. The LeRoy Selmon Expressway runs from Brandon to Tampa and can cut 10 to 15 minutes off your commute during rush hour. Make sure you buy a SunPass transponder it’ll save you .25 cents at each toll booth. Also, instead of waiting to pay at the toll booth with a SunPass transponder, you can go through the automated pay lane and save yourself some time. Brandon has all the amenities that anyone would need.

Channelside in downtown Tampa is hosting the annual 4th of July fireworks celebration.  Fireworks are shot over Garrison Channel which is the water channel next to Channelside at 9pm. You can get a great of the show from Channelside Bay Plaza as well as the Florida Aquarium, American Victory Ship, Yacht Starship, Cotanchobee Park, the Marriott Waterside, Harbor Island, the St. Pete Times Forum, and Bayshore Boulevard. The fun take place all day long. The Florida Aquarium is only charging $10 admission after 3pm. The SS American Victory is hosting Family Funfest from 6pm to 10pm which includes crafts, games, contests, scavenger hunts, prizes, and a great view of the Dragon Boat races. Tickets are limited so buy your tickets early. Adult tickets are $12 and children’s tickets are $7. There is free admission to the Tampa Bay History Center which has extended it hours so that it will stay open until 8:30pm. 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 9:00pm! 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.

The Asia Pacific Rim Festival takes place at the England Brothers Bandshell Park at 5121 80th Ave. N Pinellas Park from 10am to 10pm this Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. Admission is free. This year’s theme is Year of the Tiger in reference to this year’s Chinese New Year. The festival includes samplings for small fee of ethnic Asian cuisine, displays, arts and crafts, fashion shows, martial arts demonstrations, music and an Asian beer garden. Represented cultures include Chinese, Fijan, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Korean, Laotian, Samoan, Thai, Tongan, Taiwanese and Vietnamese. There will be mini-villages set up through out the Park with displays, arts and fashion of the Chinese, Fijian, Filipino, Indian, Laotian, Polynesian, Thai, Taiwanese, Tongan, Vietnamese and Hmong people. Come out and enjoy the delicious food and learn about other cultures.

If you’re not sure where to go for an Easter meal, then look no further than the Bayshore Club on MacDill AFB for their Easter Celebration buffet.  But call today for reservations at 828-4756!  This is a great spread with food galore at a very reasonable price! The menu will include breakfast items like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and hashbrowns. There will be the traditional fare included roast beef with au jus, baked ham with pineapple, chicken breast chasseur, baked crab stuffed fish, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatoes, corn o’brien, seasoned green beans, an array of fresh salad, fresh fruits, cheeses, bread and vast variety of delicious desert. Drinks are included in the price and include lemonade, orange juice, coffee, tea and chocolate and white milk.   Food will be served from 11am to 2pm.  The Bayshore Club is located at the corner of Bayshore and Florida Keys Avenue and right across the street from the Davis Center.  The Bayshore Club is known for its elegant dining at a reasonable price and lunch buffets during the week.  The friendly servers will make you feel right at home.   The price for non-club members is $20.95 and children ages 6 to 12 are $8.95. Adult club members will only pay $18.95.  Children 5 and younger are free!

On Tuesday, Hillsborough County Public Schools is starting FCAT testing!  Students have to pass their FCAT to be able to move to the next grade.  It’s very important that your child gets a good  night of sleep and a good breakfast.  One of the best things about the Tampa school system is that the Hillsborough County Public Schools offer a free breakfast every morning regardless of income level! The schedule for FCAT testing is FCAT Reading and Science on Tuesday March 9th, FCAT Math on Wednesday March 10th, and FCAT Makeup on Thursday and Friday March 11th-12th. Grades 3 – 10 will have to do Reading and Math.  Grades 5, 8 and 11 will have to Science.  Grade 11 students who are new to the state or re-takes will do Reading & Mathematics.  MacDonald’s is trying to help during FCAT week by offering a complimentary Egg McMuffin, Apple Dippers and a milk or orange juice.  This offer is available from 6am-9am for students in grades 3 to 11.   Check your local MacDonald’s to make sure that they are participating.

Stop by your favorite IHOP on 23 February to celebrate National Pancake Day! From 7am to 10pm, you can receive one free short stack, 3 buttermilk pancakes, for free. National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. You are asked to consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through the Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities. Last year, IHOP raised more than $875,000 during National Pancake Day. This year’s goal is $1 million! There are 10 IHOP locations to choose from in the Tampa Bay area! Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals. More than 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.  Help someone else out and help yourself to some pancakes!

Come out to the beach and enjoy the sun, sand, surf and the food at SeaScapes Beach Club at the MacDill AFB beach during the Beach Bash on 22 January. The Bash runs from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Get all you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwurts, pork & beans, potato salad, brownies and cookies. AF Club members are free. Guests or a spouse will pay $9.95. FamCampers will pay $5. Children 6 and under are free. SeaScapes Beach Club is open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 9:30pm. If you can’t make it to SeaScapes on the 22nd, then they have another special every Thursday evening. Thursday evening is “All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti” at SeaScapes. For $7.95 a person, you get spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and soda. Desert is extra, but you can get key lime pie or brownie ala mode for only $2! Every night at SeaScapes drafts are $2 and well drinks are $2.75. 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!

On 23 January, the Surf’s Edge Club on MacDill AFB is hosting the 2nd Annual Soul Food & Jazz night. Listen to the Jazz and Soul sounds of Laveita Savage & All Stars from 8pm to midnight. Boomers Bar & Grill be open for cocktails at 5pm. Dinner is from 6pm to 8pm and is an all you can eat buffet. There will be a salad bar, fried chicken, ribs, blackened fish, macaroni salad, collard greens, black eyed peas, okra & tomatoes, candied sweet potatoes, cornbread, hot rolls with butter, chocolate cake, and pecan pie with sweet tea and coffee. Cost is $10 for AF Club members. Non-members will pay $15 per person. Tickets are on sale now and reservations are suggested. Tickets can be purchased by calling 828-4756.

To save yourself some cooking time this Thanksgiving Day, stop by the MacDill AFB Bayshore Club for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day buffet at a very reasonable price.  The buffet runs from 11am to 2pm. Feast on the traditional roast turkey with bread stuffing, baked ham with raisin sauce, baron of beef, seafood newberg, baked fish, pasta station, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, steamed rice, seasonal mixed vegetables, assorted salads, breakfast items, assorted cheeses, breads, fruits, pies, cakes, fruit juices, coffee and tea.  The Bayshore Club offers an elegant dining location in a friendly casual atmosphere.  This is a very kid friendly place so it’s great for the entire family.  Cost for AF Club members is $17.95, non-members $19.95, children 6-12 $8.95 and children 5 yrs & under are free! Reservations are required, call 828-4756.  Or if you want to eat at home and not cook, then you can also order Thanksgiving To Go Packages by calling 840-6900 before close of business on Tuesday 24 November.