MacDill Happenings

The 57th Annual Fun ‘N Sun starts today in Clearwater and runs until 2 May! This family-friendly festival has three big concerts this year in Coachman Park.  Coachman Park located across the water from Clearwater Beach has a beautiful view of the sunset in the evening.  The best thing about the concerts is that they are free! But if you want to get real close, you can purchase $20 reserved seat tickets on Ticketmaster. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket for a day of great music. Saturday’s concert will feature Oleta Adams, Spencer Day, Jessy J, and B.K. Jackson. The event will feature vendors, food and drink concessions and a kids play area. On Sunday, the show will feature country great Travis Tritt who have the final performance at 7:30pm. Before Travis comes out and plays listen to the great music of Amanda Drake & the Barn Burners at 12:20 pm, Lo Cash Cowboys at 1 pm, Burns & Poe at 1:40 pm, The Harters, at 2:30 pm, Josh Thompson at 3:20 pm, Blackberry Smoke at 4:30 pm, Darryl Worley at 6pm. Sun ‘N Fun has multiple events throughout Clearwater for the family to enjoy. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is located on the highest coastal bluff in Florida. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Clearwater is over 108,000 residents. Two major airports are conveniently nearby: Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. The downtown area is the gateway to the beautiful Clearwater beaches. Clearwater is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB.

The Ikea store located near Ybor City is having a great deal for dinner on Thursdays!  If you eat dinner between 5pm and 9pm and spend at least $5 on a meal, you will receive an Ikea gift card for the money spent on your meal up to $25!  Make sure you save your dinner receipt which you will have to take to a specially marked register at the downstairs checkout line to receive the gift card.  You must spend a minimum of $5 to receive a $5 card.  There was someone who had only spent $4.54 on dinner and was not eligible for a $5 card.  The maximum Ikea gift card amount you can receive is $25.  I spent a little over $29 for dinner and received a gift card for $25.  Considering that the $29 was spent on food, soft drinks and desert for 3 people, it was a great deal.  The best thing is that I had an extra $25 to spend on something for the house!  The Ikea in Tampa is located near Ybor City on the corner of Adamo Drive and 22nd Street.  You can also get to Ikea off the Crosstown by taking the Ybor City exit.  If you haven’t been to Ikea, it is a great place to buy household items and furnishings at a reasonable price.  If you use your debit card when you purchase an item, you get a 1% refund that shows up on your receipt that you can use for your next purchase.  One percent may not seem like a lot, but it adds up!  From MacDill AFB, you can take the Bayshore Gate exit and follow Bayshore until it turns into Adamo Drive and Ikea will be on the right side.

The red hot Tampa Bay Rays play the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday 24 April. This is the second game of a three game series against Toronto. The game starts at 6:10pm. This game is also the kickoff of the 2010 Summer Concert Series with John Fogerty performing in right field after the game. A limited number of wristbands for field access during the concert are available for purchase. The Rays have had the best away series in their history after having swept a four game series in Boston against the Red Sox! The Rays are a solid team with good offense, good pitching and solid defense.  Get to the game early and have a tailgate party! Listen to a live band and enjoy attractions at Lot 7. If you do get to the game early, then the first 50 cars with 4 people or more can park for free in the Trop parking lots. Normal parking price is $15 at the Trop. The Trop is easily accessible from I-275. Inside the Trop, check out the Ray tank in centerfield. In the Left Field Street area, fans can participate in a baseball-themed game show, take their picture on a Topps baseball card, have their name inscribed onto a Louisville Slugger bat, touch and feel real game-used equipment, and broadcast play-by-play of baseball highlights. At Right Field Street kids can experience the magic of baseball in the Rays Baseball Carnival, a real working carnival that includes plinko, spin the wheel, ring-a-bat and skee ball. Or take a swing against a computer images of real Major League pitchers in a batting cage or test their arms in the speed pitch, both found in the T.G. Lee Rookie Challenge area of the Carnival. There is also kids-themed areas such as “Bats, Balls, and Brushes”, “St. Petersburg Times Pressbox” and “The Science of Baseball.” Centerfield Street has the Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar, baseball’s first in-stadium cigar bar, as well as the Batter’s Eye Restaurant, located in the “batter’s eye” in center field. Centerfield Street also has the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall-of-Fame. For the 2010 season for every Rays Gold, Silver and Bronze games, the Rays offer a military discount of half off outfield tickets with a four ticket limit, when presenting an active military ID at the Tropicana Field Box office.

The MacDill AFB Auto Hobby Shop is offering a free tire rotation class on 22 April.  The class runs from 4:30pm to 6pm.  One of the easiest things to do to get more miles on your tires and to save you money is knowing when and how to rotate your tires. When done at the recommended times, tire rotation can preserve balanced handling and traction and even out tire wear. Most manufacturers recommend that tires be rotated every 3,000 to 5,000 miles even if they don’t show signs of wear. Tire rotation can often be done with an oil change while the vehicle is off the ground. This is also a good time to have your tires rebalanced if you’ve been having any vibration issues than you suspect may relate to the tire balance. It’s also a good time to inspect the tires for any damage, remove stones or debris from the tire treads, check for uneven wear by checking the tire tread depth and of course, checking your tire pressure. Tire rotation helps even out tire wear by allowing each tire to serve in as many of the vehicle’s wheel positions as possible, hopefully promoting even wear across the tire tread pattern. Remember, tire rotation can’t correct wear problems due to worn mechanical parts or incorrect inflation pressures. At the Hobby Shop skilled technicians will show you how to recognize tire wear, how to use a wheels-free lift and removal/replacement of tires. The MacDill Auto Hobby Shop is open Tue-Fri 11am to 7pm, Sat 9am-7pm and closed on Sun and Mon. It is located near the MacDill Gym and Bowling Alley. There are plenty of work-bays for performing both minor and major automotive repairs. Hydraulic lifts, a paint booth, and a variety of computerized equipment are among the many services available. There are skilled technicians available who can provide professional guidance should you encounter any difficulties. They can also do minor repairs like wheel alignments, brake service and transmission oil changes and charge a lot less per hour than out in town.

This Sunday the iconic Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach celebrates its 70th Anniversary with discount admission and two classic movies. Admission on Sunday is rolled back to 25 cents per person. Normal ticket prices range from $5 to $7.   The family classic movie “The Wizard of Oz” will be shown at 1pm and 4pm.  Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado’s path and end up in the land of Oz. Dorothy meets the Tin Man, the Brave Lion and the Scarecrow who help her to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage. Dorothy has to be defeat the Wicked Witch of the West to have a chance to get back to Kansas. At 7pm, the Cary Grant comedy classic “His Girl Friday” will be shown. A newspaper editor played by Cary Grant meets his ex-wife/ex-star reporter’s fiancee the day before they are set to be married. She says she will be happy to live a life where she will be treated like a real woman, not a newsman. Grant spends the rest of the movie, which all takes place in one day, trying to lure Hildy back into the life they shared. Most of the movie takes place in the press room of a police station. The St. Pete Beach Theatre is a historic landmark along the west coast of Florida. Built in 1939 for about $50,000, it was said to be the first theater ever erected for sound equipment on the coast.   The opening night for the theatre was 15 January 1940.  The first movie shown was “Dust Be My Destiny”.  Embittered after serving time for a burglary he did not commit, Joe Bell is soon back in jail, on a prison farm. His love for the foreman’s daughter leads to a fight between them, leading to the older man’s death due to a weak heart. Joe and Mabel go on the run as he thinks no-one would believe a nobody like him. The original theatre was fitted out with 528 seats but today there are 245 seats. The Theatre was the first building on Corey Avenue, which was a fairly busy road in those days because the causeway was the only route on and off St.Pete Beach.

Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg will be the location of the 35th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival this weekend. Admission is free. The Festival is open on Saturday from 9am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Over 100,000 visitors from near and far come to enjoy and purchase quality art and enjoy top name entertainment. The Festival has been named by Sunshine Artist as one of the “100 Best” fine arts events in the nation with exhibiting artists competing for $50,000 in prize money. This two-day event combines visual and performing arts along with opportunities for children to actively engage in art activities. Volunteers from the Junior League of St. Petersburg offer future artists the chance to unleash creativity with free activities. There is a large assortment of food and as well as Mainsail souvenirs for purchase. Over 200 exhibiting artists from all over the United States have their art on sale or available for commission.  Pets and coolers are not allowed. There are a number of public and private parking lots near Vinoy Park. The closest public parking lots to Vinoy Park are: BayWalk (Midcore) Garage - 117 2nd St N, 2nd Ave N Lot - 231 2nd Ave N, Wachovia Center - 150 2nd Ave N and BayWalk (Midcore) Garage - 117 2nd St N. The Downtown Looper Trolley is available just make sure you get off at Stop 3 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort which is across from Vinoy Park.

FishHawk Ranch will host a community wide garage sale this Saturday. The garage sale will run from 8am to noon at each individual subdivision in FishHawk Ranch. Stop by you might find that treasure that you are looking for at a great price! Take a look at housewares, clothing, sporting goods, furniture, bikes, toys, books and much more!  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. 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.

Make you plans for spring break now! Spring break for Hillsborough County Public Schools is next week. Today is the last day to sign up for a deep sea fishing trip at the MacDill AFB MWR Outdoor Recreation Office. Registration must be done by noon today! The fishing trip is this coming Sunday 11 April from 5:30am to 6pm. The cost is $85 per person. Transportation from the Marina Activity Room on MacDill AFB to Port Richey is included in the price. The bus will depart MacDill AFB at 5:45am sharp, so don’t be late. The trip will be on the “Miss Virginia” based in Port Richey. The boat has an enclosed cabin with seats and tables. Breakfast and lunch are available at a reasonable cost, as well as, beer, soda, and snacks. Fishing rods, license, tackle, and bait for each fisherman are supplied although you can bring your own. If you prefer to fi sh with live bait, it must be purchased that morning before departure. You may bring a small cooler (no larger than 48 quarts). No glass containers please. No fishing license needs to be purchased to fish. You will be fishing for grouper, small snapper, and seabass. Grouper are a large fish that live on offshore reefs and structures. They are strong fighters that run for cover when hooked and can occasionally break the line. Minimum size is 22 inches for black grouper and 20 inches for red grouper. They often weigh in at 10 lbs. or more. Small snapper and seabass are abundant on the reefs as well. Their average weight is about 1 lb. and they are a delicious mild fish. The best bait for these fish is cut squid which is provided on board. Sardines and live pinfish are good grouper bait. Sardines are provided on board for bait and live pinfish are sold on board for $6.00 /dozen. You can have your fish filleted for a small additional charge per fish.

Come out to the Downtown Clearwater Farmers Market this Wednesday from 9am to 2pm. Vendors will be selling farm fresh produce, delicious cheeses, fresh baked goods, fresh cut flowers and plants and unique crafts. It is a great time to enjoy a relaxing mid-week stroll in beautiful Clearwater with out of town friends or loved ones! You might want to stop by on the way to the beach and enjoy your food purchase at the beach.   Maybe have a muffin and fruit for breakfast or come out during the lunch time for something fresh to eat. Or maybe you can buy some fresh vegetables to make for dinner! The wide variety of offerings will have something for every palate! The market will be located on the 500 block of Cleveland Street between Garden Avenue and N. Ft. Harrison Avenue. The street will be closed to traffic. There is free 2 hour parking at Garden Avenue Garage with ticket validation. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is located on the highest coastal bluff in Florida. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Clearwater is over 108,000 residents. Two major airports are conveniently nearby: Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. The downtown area is the gateway to the beautiful Clearwater beaches. Clearwater is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB.

Come out to the waterfront in downtown Bradenton to celebrate the DeSoto Heritage Festival Seafood Fest.  The Fest runs 26 to 28 March.  The Fest will have some the best seafood offerings around from area restaurants and seafood vendors.  There are two stages that will have live entertainment playing during the entire Fest.  Entertainers include national acts as well as the best the local area has to offer.  Area artisans and craftsmen will be offering there wares for purchase.  The Bradenton Farmer’s Market will be going on at the same time offering the freshest produce, plants, and crafts from local artists.  This will be great to spend the weekend with friends and family.  There is also a Poker Run scheduled!  The weather should cooperate and is supposed to be warming up a bit.  Remember the sunscreen!  You can bring chairs and blankets to relax and enjoy the live music.  Pets, alcohol, coolers and weapons are not allowed at the Fest.  Admission is free, but you will have to pay for the food!  On Friday, hours are 5pm to 10pm, Saturday from 11am to 10pm and Sunday from noon to 7pm. Located just south of the Greater Tampa Bay on the Gulf Coast and about a 45 minute drive from MacDill AFB, Bradenton is the seat of Manatee County and with plenty of opportunities to explore the arts, historical attractions, have fun in the sun on the numerous beaches in the area and spend an evening dining out or having a drink with friends in one of the many restaurants or pubs on downtown’s historic Old Main Street. Bradenton also is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.