MacDill Happenings

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.

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!

This Friday 18 September, start your weekend out right and stop by SeaScapes Beach Club on MacDill AFB for free live entertainment outside at the Tiki Hut. From 6pm to 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!  Or after an afternoon on the golf course, SeaScapes is a great place to relax!

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 their Spectacular Family Night! Every Thursday, there is an All-You-Can-Eat spaghetti, garlic bread and salad for $6.95 a person! 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 spaghetti, 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.

This Tuesday is the 5th, so get ready for some Cinco de Mayo parties! The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day and is not a national holiday in Mexico. It seems like Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates the defeat of a French army by a Mexican army. The aptly named Cinco de Mayo Restaurant, 1919 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City, is celebrating with an all-day party with mariachi bands, a DJ, dancing, food and drink specials and other live music. They will be open from 11am to 3am and there is no cover charge. The Hut, in the Channelside District and directly across from the St. Pete Times Forum, is having the self-proclaimed “Tampa’s Largest Cinco de Mayo Party” with games, prizes, contest for best decorated sombrero, jalapeno eating and limbo, drink specials and live music by Spy vs. Spy. This party runs from 4pm to 11pm with a $5 cover charge. Tijuana Flats restaurant in Brandon is having their annual Cinco de Mayo party. Part of the parking lot will be roped off to make room for more tables. With reasonable priced food and drinks, Tijuana Flats is always a great choice for singles, couples and families.

On 1 May, start your May right and stop by SeaScapes Beach Club on MacDill AFB for free live entertainment outside at the Tiki Hut. 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!

Today is the big day for those who haven’t filed their taxes yet!  Your Federal tax return is due tonight at midnight!  If you want to mail in your tax return, then the Post Office at Tampa International Airport is open 24 hours a day, but expect a long line of cars.  Don’t wait until the last minute!  To help ease the pain on tax day, a couple of local restaurants are offering everyone a little break on the cost of food.  TGI Friday’s will offer $5 Bonus Bites cards toward sales of $15-$25, and $10 Bonus Bites cards for sales over $25 Wednesday. You can also receive double points on your frequent diner card. There’s even a TGI Friday’s at Tampa International Airport that you can stop in for a bite after dropping off your tax return! Cinnabon will give out Tax Day Bites, free bite-size cinnamon rolls usually known as Classic Bites, from 5pm to 8 pm at all locations.  Check out the US Postal Service website for locations near you and hours so that you can get your return in on time and not have to fight traffic.

Every Tuesday the Tijuana Flats restaurant in New Port Richey hosts “Yappy Hour”.  “Yappy Hour” runs from 4pm to 7pm and takes place on the outside patio.  Pets and pet owners are welcome to come out socialize together with other pets and share a meal.  Please have you pets on a leash and be prepared to pickup after your pet. If you haven’t been to a Tijuana Flats then you will find good food, reasonable priced, served quickly, friendly employees and a fun atmosphere.  When you enter a restaurant you’ll go straight to the register and place your order. The food is served in a basket lined with paper. Cups are styrofoam.  You’ll also throw away your own trash at the of meal.  However, a server will bring your meal to your table, and refill your drinks. The menu is not too large and intended to be quick.  Portion sizes are generous and the food is made with fresh ingredients.  A great appitizer choice is the nachos which are also refilled for free.  There is a free salsa bar so you can chose mild to hot to go with your meal.  The meals are pretty inexpensive from $5-$7 and is a great place to bring the kids.  Alcohol is served, so of course you can get that margarita if you really want to get in the mood!  You can also order takeout if you can stay.

As the high school and college graduation season approaches or for any upcoming special event, Bayside Catering on MacDill AFB may be the prefect solution for your catering needs. If you want to hold a celebration on MacDill AFB, there are 3 unique facilities: The Bayshore Club, Surf’s Edge Club and Seascapes Beach Club. The Bayshore Club offers fine dining in a classic, casual environment with several large rooms or a large dining area that can be tailored to your needs. The Surf’s Edge Club is a blend of modern and traditional with a Boomer’s Bar and Grill and an elegant ballroom. Seascapes Beach Club offers a Floridian cafe located on the water with great view of the scenic view of the bay. You don’t have to use any facility on MacDill AFB, your food items can be delivered to your off-base site as well. The food prices on the website can help you build your own complete menu that fits your budget. Start planning today if you want to use a facility on base you can reserve for the exact day you want it!

Make your plans for Super Bowl Sunday and make Boomers Bar & Grill on MacDill AFB a part of  them.  The doors open at 11am on 1 Feb.  There is a complimentary buffet for members, non-members are only charged $5!   The buffet includes mini-burgers, wings, sandwiches, chips & dips and boiled peanuts.  There will be Miller Lite and Jack Daniels drink specials.  There  will be prizes and giveaways during the game including Tampa Bay Buccaneers merchandise, a  recliner, and a flat screen TV!  Groups of 6 or more can make team reservations at 840-6900.