MacDill Happenings

Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa will be the location of the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival on Saturday. There will be margaritas, bands, beach volleyball and fireworks! What more could you ask for during Memorial Day weekend! Online tickets start at $15 will be available till midnight on Friday unless they sellout. Tickets at the park will start at $20. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold. If you are an active member of our Armed Forces with a CAC card, you get free General Admission Tickets. This event is only for people 21 years and older. The Festival runs from 2pm to 10pm. There will be food trucks at the Festival hosted by the Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally. Margaritas will run from $4 to $8. Outside food, drinks, coolers, tents, umbrellas and pets are not allowed. 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 a Thursday evening or any 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. The good thing about this park is that is centrally located in Tampa. Just a 15 minute drive from MacDill AFB and about 20 to 30 minutes from Brandon, FishHawk Ranch, New Tampa, Clearwater and St. Pete.

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The Rays are doing great at the Trop! They take on the Yankees starting on Friday for 3 game series. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:10pm. Gates will open 1 1/2 hours prior to game time. Longoria has been a great this season with hitting and fielding. Speaking of hitting, James Loney has been a fantastic pickup for the Rays. He is hitting over .350. Come out and support the Rays and out yell those Yankee fans. And don’t forget the cow bell! Purchase a Tampa Bay Times Ticket Tandem and a receive a Fernando Rodney Figurine. This offer is only available while supplies last, so take advantage today! To pick up your Tampa Bay Times Ticket Tandem Fernando Rodney Figurine, proceed to the Redemption Center in the First Base Food Court on the 100-Level Concourse. Get to the game early and have that pre-game tailgate party! You can find some private lots around the Trop that may only charge $10, so make sure that you look around. Tropicana Field is located directly east of I-275 in St. Petersburg. The dome is visible from the highway. I-375 and I-175 both veer off of I-275 and feed into Tropicana Field. From MacDill AFB, The Trop is about a 30 minute drive. Tropicana Field is the world’s only professional sports facility that features live cownose rays. The Rays Tank opened in 2006, and is located just behind the right center field wall. Through a unique partnership with the Florida Aquarium, there are over 30 rays that fans can touch and feed throughout the game. In the Left Field Street area, fans can participate in a baseball-themed game show, take their picture on a Topps baseball card, and personalize their own jersey. Left Field Street also features the Grand Slam Alley with Midway-style games. Right Field Street was renovated to include numerous activities for younger baseball fans. Kids can play in the Rays Baseball Carnival, a real working carnival that includes Tip-a-Jug, Ring Toss, and more. Fans can take their swings against computer images of real Major League pitchers in a batting cage or test their arms in the speed pitch, both found in the Rookie Challenge. Right Field Street also features popular kids-themed areas such as Raymond’s Art Studio and Raymond’s Living Room. Center Field Street features the Cuesta-Rey Bar, as well as the Everglades BBQ Smokehouse, located in center field. The specially tinted windows of the restaurant make up a 130-foot-wide hitting background, yet still allow patrons of the restaurant to watch the game. Also found on Center Field Street is the Brewhouse, The Captain Morgan Deck, the Rays Team Store, and the MLB Alumni Office.

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In celebration of Memorial Day Weekend, The Florida Aquarium is offering any Veteran, active duty, Drilling Reservist or National Guardsman free admission. The service member will receive admission plus free admission for one guest. Additional tickets can be purchased for up to 4 family members at a cost of $10 per ticket. Service members will also get 20% off any purchase in the cafe or Cantina Restaurant and 10% off in the gift shop. The Aquarium will be open from 9am to 5pm. Normal admission price runs $21.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors and $16.95 for ages 12 and under. You can definitely see everything during a 3 hour period, but make sure you get there early. The Florida Aquarium is among the top aquariums in the world with more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and around the world contained in 200,000 square feet all air conditioned. Come out and pet the stingrays or get up close to the penguins when they come and do their march! Try out “Explore A Shore”, The Florida Aquarium’s 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone lets the kids cool off while parents relax under the shade of the Tampa Tribune Cantina bar and grill. Watery waves, slippery slides, gushing geysers and an assortment of animal models are just a few of the attractions for the kids. Toddlers will enjoy sand castles, little slides and giant sea creature figures as they play in Shipwreck Shore. While the kids enjoy themselves, you can enjoy the comfort of the Cantina with easy viewing of the play area and table service. The Aquarium is located in the Channelside district of Tampa with parking for $5 for all day at the Aquarium parking lot. There is also a hourly parking structure across the street from the Aquarium and is closer to the Channelside Bay complex.

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The Tampa Theatre presents the 1982 family classic movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”. When a meek and alienated little boy (Henry Thomas) finds a stranded extraterrestrial, he has to find the courage to defy the authorities with his sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton)to help E.T. find a way back home. The movie starts at 2pm, but doors will open at 1am. If you haven’t been to the theatre, then this is your chance to see what it looks like inside. Normal admission is $9 for all ages and $7 for Tampa Theatre members. 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 night time 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. Just across the street from the Marriott 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. Tampa Theatre is about 30 minutes away no matter if you live in Brandon, FishHawk Ranch, New Tampa, St. Pete or Westchase!

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Sunda is $6 Admission Day at Lowry Park Zoo! Located in the northern part of Tampa off of W. Sligh Ave, it is easily accessible from I-275. The zoo is about a 40 minute drive from MacDill AFB. Lowry Park Zoo has been named the #1 zoo in America by “Parents” magazine and “Child” magazine. There are more than 2000 animals on 56 acres of natural habitats in seven main exhibit areas. There is a combination of natural habitat exhibits and caged exhibits in each area. The seven exhibits are Asian Gardens, Primate World, Manatee and Aquatic Center, Native Florida Wildlife Center, Free-Flight Aviary, Wallaroo Station children’s zoo and Safari Africa. At some exhibits you have the opportunity to feed the animals. There are two water play areas and you can see educational shows. Check out the Zoo School for exciting programs for everyone, from tots to teens, adults, families, teachers and more. The Zoo’s conservation education programs are designed to meet Sunshine State curriculum objectives for Florida state schools. There are also rides for an additional fee. Expect to spend at least 4 hours to see all exhibits. You can bring a picnic basket to enjoy before or after the visit at Lowry Park. Of course, there are plenty of restaurants in the zoo. Parking is free. Normal ticket price is $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors and $19.95 for ages 3 to 11. If you can’t go today, then the Zoo offers a military discount to active duty Service members with a valid military ID. The Service member and up to three people in their immediate family/direct dependents discounts on tickets at the Zoo’s ticket windows daily with valid military ID. If you’re not an active duty Service member, then stop by the MacDill AFB ITT office for discount tickets.

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On Thursday evening, the MacDill AFB Movie Theater is having a free showing of “The Pagemaster”. Start time is 5:30pm. This 1994 mix of live action and animation is a family movie starring Macaulay Culkin. A cowardly boy who buries himself in accident statistics enters a library to escape a storm only to be transformed into an animated illustration by the Pagemaster. He has to work through obstacles from classic books to return to real life. The refreshment stand will not be open, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks. Just clean up after yourself. Sometimes the theater can be a little chilly so make sure you bring a jacket or a blanket. The theater is not open on the weekends, because unfortunately there was not enough attendance to justify the cost for AAFES. If you want to see a movie out in town, then the best way to see a movie on the weekend is the first purchase a movie ticket voucher at the MacDill AFB ITT office which is located in the MacDill AFB Exchange Mall. MacDill AFB is located in the south Tampa area. Besides the south Tampa area nearby communities and housing opportunities to the east include Brandon, Riverview, Valrico and Lithia including FishHawk Ranch, to the west is the City of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, and to the north is New Tampa, Westchase, Citrus Park. Of course there are many more communities to chose from in the Tampa area!

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This Saturday the Straz Center is holding auditions for upcoming plays. Auditions start at 1pm and you can audition for both plays. The first play is “A Straz Musical Revue”. This play is for students from grade 5 through college. If chosen, practice will take place June 17 – 28 from 9am to 4pm. Students looking to polish their solo and group musical theater skills will research, rehearse and perform songs from the Straz Center’s 2013-2014 season. A dormitory option is available. The class will culminate in a ticketed performance open to the public at the Straz Center on June 27 and 28. The second play is “Little Shop of Horrors”. This is geared for for grades 9 through college. Practice will take place from July 1 – July 20 from 9am to 4 pm. Students spend three weeks putting together this full-length musical. Rehearsals will challenge music and dance skills while critical-thinking skills are required to explore the script and theme in this famous Broadway musical. A dormitory option is available. Performances will be July 18 – 20. The guest choreographer is Michelle Elkin, choreographer of the TV show “Baby Daddy”! To schedule an appointment, call 813-222-6414 or email Christen.PetittHailey@strazcenter.org. The Straz Center includes the Patel Conservatory’s three-story, 45,000 square-foot facility offers more than 100 classes in dance, theater and music. The Straz Center has classes for all ages. Specialized training in each discipline is also available through three premiere programs: Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet (PCYB), Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO) and Patel Conservatory Youth Theater (PCYT). Opera Tampa is the resident opera company of the Straz Center. The Straz Center boasts five theaters, a Rehearsal Hall and a beautiful Riverwalk. The Straz Center is located on the eastern bank of the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa and easily accessible from I-275, I-4 or the Crosstown Expressway. The Straz is very well located near most communities in and around Tampa. It’s about 20 to 30 minutes from Brandon, FishHawk Ranch and the Riverview areas. It’s about 30 minutes from St. Pete, Clearwater and New Tampa. And it’s only a 15 minute drive from MacDill AFB. Parking is available at several nearby lots or at the William F. Poe parking structure next to the German Library for about $4. If you can find a spot on the road on the north side of the Straz Center, you can park at a metered spot. Metered spots are free during the weekends in Tampa.

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In honor of the arrival of warm weather, Haagen-Dazs ice stores around the country will offer Free Cone Day on Tuesday. From 4pm to 8pm, you can receive one free ice cream cone. The Westfield Citrus Park Mall and International Plaza each have a Haagen-Daz ice cream shop. The Westfield Citrus Park mall has over 150 shops including restaurants so come out and celebrate the first day of summer for the kids and moms get ready for the kids to be home during the summer! The mall is located off the Veteran’s Expressway just north of Tampa International Airport, so access to MacDill AFB, Tampa Airport and the Gulf beaches is pretty quick depending on the time of day. The Citrus Park area of Tampa started as orange groves and has evolved to one of nicest neighborhoods in Tampa. The Citrus Park area also touches the neighborhoods Westchase, Waterchase, Westchester, Mandolin, and Nine-Eagles, Fawn Ridge, Fawnlake and Countryway.  Located in Hillsborough County, the schools in the Citrus Park neighborhood are provided by Hillsborough County Public Schools. International Plaza, adjacent to Tampa International Airport, is one of the most distinctive shopping and dining destination of Florida’s West Coast. There are 3 very fashionable department stores, and over 200 specialty shops. Bay Street at the Plaza is a wonderful outdoor shopping area of fine restaurants and small boutiques. It’s a great place for a meal and stroll afterwards.

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On Monday in celebration of Mother’s Day The Florida Aquarium is offering free admission to Mom’s with any paid admission. Take Mom out to brunch and then enjoy time together at the Aquarium. The Aquarium will be open from 9:30am to 5pm. Normal admission price runs $21.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors and $16.95 for ages 12 and under. You can definitely see everything during a 3 hour period, but make sure you get there early. The Florida Aquarium is among the top aquariums in the world with more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and around the world contained in 200,000 square feet all air conditioned. Come out and pet the stingrays or get up close to the penguins when they come and do their march! Try out “Explore A Shore”, The Florida Aquarium’s 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone lets the kids cool off while parents relax under the shade of the Tampa Tribune Cantina bar and grill. Watery waves, slippery slides, gushing geysers and an assortment of animal models are just a few of the attractions for the kids. Toddlers will enjoy sand castles, little slides and giant sea creature figures as they play in Shipwreck Shore. While the kids enjoy themselves, you can enjoy the comfort of the Cantina with easy viewing of the play area and table service. The Aquarium is located in the Channelside district of Tampa with parking for $5 for all day at the Aquarium parking lot. There is also a hourly parking structure across the street from the Aquarium and is closer to the Channelside Bay complex.

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Celebrate the history and the future of trains on National Train Day today from 10am to 5pm at Union Station. This is a free family event! The Tampa Union Station is a Local Landmark Structure. Union Station, located between Downtown and Ybor City on Nebraska Ave in Tampa, will take part in the nationwide event which celebratesthe laying of the “golden spike” in 1869 as the first intercontinental railroad was built. On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the “golden spike” was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. Learn more about the history of trains and local train clubs and see exhibits from Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Friends of Tampa Union Station, Tampa Bay History Center, TBARTA, HART, TECO Line Streetcar, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library/Burgert Bros. Collection, Operation Lifesaver/CSX, City of Tampa, Amtrak, Florida Railroad Museum and ACL & SAL Railroads Historical Society. Check out the HO scale display from the Suncoast Model Railroad Club and an N scale modular display from Plant City Historical Society There will also be live music from Busted Blues, Ray Chiaramonte, and Rebekah Pulley and of course admission is free! There will be Amtrak superliner to see! If you get hungry, then Nate Paul’s Q4U and Burger Culture food trucks will be there!

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