MacDill Happenings

Sign ups for the 2013 British Soccer Camp is currently ongoing at MacDill AFB. The camp will take place from 24-28 June on MacDill AFB Soccer Field. Make sure you pay before 14 June to avoid an extra $10 charge. Challenger Sports will put on the British Soccer Camp which is the most popular soccer camp in the country. The camps are designed according to the age of the child. For ages 3-4, there is First Kicks which will run from 9am-10am with an $85 camp fee. This camp is a fun introduction to the basics of soccer. For ages 4-5, there is Mini Soccer which lasts 2hrs from 10am-Noon and has a camp fee of $115. The fundamental of practice, skill-building activities and small sided games will be taught. For ages 6-9, there is Half Day which will run from 9am-Noon and has an $135 camp fee. For ages 10-14, there is also a Half Day camp which will run from 9am-Noon and has an $135 camp fee. The emphasis on Half Day is placed upon individual skill development, core techniques and small sided games. Each day includes individual foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, small-sided games, coached scrimmages, and a daily World Cup tournament. Each day, the coaches will focus on one of the five most frequently used skills in the game and will take the players through a progressive series of skill building practices from unopposed, to opposed, game related and finally into a game. Learn techniques for dribbling, passing/receiving, shooting, heading, and tackling/defending. No matter what your skill level, these camps will help you out!

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The Rays are doing great at the Trop! They swept the San Diego Padres on Sunday and today the Red Sox are in town for a 3 game series. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:10pm. Gates will open 1 1/2 hours prior to game time. Matt Moore is trying to get his 7th win without a loss in tonight’s game. The bats have come alive with Longoria winning AL Player for the Week Award for his great hitting last week. Speaking of hitting, James Loney has been a fantastic pickup for the Rays. He is hitting .376 after getting a home run in Sunday’s game. Get to the game early and have that pre-game tailgate party! The first 100 cars with four or more people inside can park for free an hour before the game starts. After that parking will cost $15 to $30. 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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Stop by the  Bay Palms Golf Complex on MacDill AFB during May and check out all the golf specials. The special for the month is $120 for a foursome which includes carts and green fees. Also on Mondays or Wednesdays if you play after 11am, there is a 2 for 1 special which includes carts and green fees during May. On Wednesdays during May, there is also a 9 hole scramble from 5pm to 7pm. Normal golf rates are based on rank and run from $10 to $25. The per person cart rate for 18 holes is $12 and for 9 holes it is $7. The free active duty clinic runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1pm, but you have the buy a bucket of balls. There is a drop-in junior clinic every Saturday for $3. It runs from 8:30am to 9:30am. Bay Palms Golf Complex was named ‘Best Golf Program in the Air Force’ for 2002. There are two 18-hole, par 72 courses. The challenging South Course runs along the bay. The North Course offers a prefect opportunity to work on your game. The complex has a lighted practice putting green, a 24-hour-a-day lighted driving range where a bucket of balls is only $1, a practice chipping green and sand trap areas. The clubhouse has an excellent pro shop with a great friendly staff ready to help you. The snack bar serves a great variety of food and has an especially nice breakfast menu! The Complex is open daily from 6:30am to 5:30pm. The Grill is open daily from 6:30am to 2:00pm. Whether your home is in Brandon, FishHawk, St. Pete or New Tampa, you can’t find a more affordable golf course. It’s a great place to stop in after work and play a couple of holes or hit a bucket or two at the driving range before going home!

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Come to the Channelside District of Tampa on Saturday for the 10th Annual Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races. This event starts at 8am and takes place in the Garrison Channel between Harbour Island and the Tampa Bay Times Forum in the Channelside District. The first race starts at 8:30am. Each boat is 45 feet long, from head to tail. 20 paddlers sit side by side in 10 rows. In the stern, a steersperson stands on a platform and guides the boat through the water, and in the bow a drummer sits facing the crew, beating the drum to the stroke rate of the paddlers. Every team races three times throughout the day, with a chance to vie for champion of one of the seven divisions. The teams race from east to west in a straight line. There are now over 70 communities hosting Dragon Boat Festivals in the U.S. alone, and over 60 million participants worldwide. Teams will be coming to Tampa from across the United States! The best place to watch will be on Harbour Island or at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. This will be a crowded event, so be prepared and just go with the flow to have some fun. There are various public and private parking lots near the Convention Center and at Channelside. Usually the public lots offer the most cost effective price. But wherever you park, the Convention Center and Channelside are within walking distance of each other. The Florida Aquarium has a parking lot and Channelside has parking structure across the street. There are a large variety of restaurants from casual eateries to fine dining. If you’re looking for pizza, sandwiches, steak, Thai, Spanish food or something in between, Channelside has it. Or if you’re just interested in dessert, then you can find some delicious ice cream at Channelside! Plus, the Columbia Restaurant at the Tampa Bay History Center will be open at 8am!

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The Rays take on the A’s this afternoon. After winning the first two games of the series, the Rays are going for a sweep today. It was a tough road tour, but coming home to the Trop has been good for the team. The first pitch will be thrown at 1:40pm. Also, the Rays will be giving out an Astro bobblehead to the kids 14 and under while supplies last. There are private lots nearby the Trop that charge $10 for parking. 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. The Trop is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB, but remember to give yourself some extra time because of the expected crowds!

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This Thursday MacDill AFB is having a Student Beach Bash at the SeaScapes Beach Pavilion! This event is part of the April celebration of Month of the Military Child. This is only for middle school and high school age students. There will be a separate pavilion for middle schoolers and a separate pavilion for high schoolers. There will be food, music and games for all to enjoy.  But make sure you RSVP by calling 813-828-0145/0146 to make sure that you have a spot and more importantly to make sure that there is enough food! This event starts at 6pm and will end at 8pm. It’s a school night, so you can’t stay out too late! Hillsborough County Public Schools runs the school system in Hillsborough County. If you live in the South Tampa area, there are two high schools, Plant and Robinson. There are three middle schools in South Tampa including Colemen, Madison, and Nature’s Classroom. In total, there are 45 middle school and 27 high schools in Hillsborough County Public Schools. The school district is the third largest school district in Florida and the 8th largest district in the United States. There is also a school magnet program offered by the school district that is prefect if your child has a special talent or wants to pursue a special course of instruction. If you haven’t been to SeaScapes lately, then you will be in for some delicious surprises. Try out the thin crust Artisan pizza! There is also at VIP lunch menu that allows you to pre-order a lunch for 10 or more people.

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The MacDill AFB pool is currently hiring lifeguards for the summer. If your high schooler or college student has an American Red Cross lifeguard certification, then this may be the perfect summer job for them. Prospective lifeguards can apply online. In June, the pool will offer swimming lessons and an American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Class. Opening weekend for the pool is the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and the hours for that weekend including Memorial Day are 11am to 6pm. Great ready for a summer of fun at the MacDill AFB pool! Call Outdoor Recreation at 813 828-4982 for more information about costs, dates and times for the lessons. The pool was recently refurbished so it’s really nice looking! There is great water slide for the kids! There is a shallow end for the little kids, but make sure you stay in the water with them for safety. There will be lifeguards on duty, but make sure you keep an eye on the little ones! It’s also a good idea to remind everyone to not run near the pool because it can be slippery! There are tables with sun shades and plenty of chairs. Don’t forget about the sun screen! The MacDill Base Pool is located near the Post Office and across the street from the Library. The good thing about MacDill AFB is that it is pretty easy to get to and probably a 30 minute drive from Brandon, FishHawk Ranch, New Tampa, Clearwater or St. Pete during pool hours.

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The Rays take on the Tigers on Saturday in Spring training finale for both teams. The game is at the Trop with the first pitch at 1:10pm.  One of the big stories of the off season was the trading of fan favorite James Shield to Kansas City. BJ Upton left via free agency and is now playing with his brother, Justin, in Atlanta. Carlos Pena was not brought back after a tough season, but the Rays do have some hitters on the team and a great core of pitchers lead by Cy Young winner David Price. Star third baseman Evan Longoria is back. He spent the off-season working on his flexibility and overall conditioning instead of just bulking up. Bring out the cowbell! Remember it’s a 162 game season! The Trop parking lot is a great place for a tailgate party. Try to find a spot near the grass so that you can have some room to spread out. Or park early and stop in for a bite and drink at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill right across the street from the stadium. Ferg’s is the place to be before and after a game! There are private lots nearby the Trop that charge $10 for parking. 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.

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Get ready for the sights and sounds of world-class Grand Prix race cars on the streets of downtown St Pete from Friday to Sunday. The 9th annual Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Mahaffey Theatre and extending onto runways at Albert Whitted Airport that overlook the Bay and St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The main event will once again be the running of the IZOD IndyCar Series. There will be 6 different series’ running which include the IZOD IndyCar Series, Pirelli World Challenge, USF2000, Firestone Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and Historic Sportscar Racing. There should be 175 cars on- track during the 3-day event. In addition to world-class racing, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg features a number of interactive activities for race fans in the Bright House Speed Zone including specially-built go kart track near Gate 1 and concerts on the stage in the Honda Plaza. The Bright House Networks Speed Zone is located near Turns 5 & 6 and the Firestone Bridge. Tickets prices range from $20 to $130 depending on the event and date. Parking is available on local streets as well as the many public garages in downtown. Events hours on Friday are 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am – 6pm and Sunday from 8am – 6 pm. Gate 1 is located at 1st Avenue S. and 1st Street S., and offers on-site ticket sales. Gate 5 is located at 5th Avenue S. and 2nd Street N., and offers on-site ticket sales. Gate 5 also houses the Will Call ticket window. Downtown St. Pete is about 30 minutes from MacDill AFB. It’s a wonderful collection of houses and condos all within walking distance of world-class museums, Tropicana field home of the Tampa Bay Rays, popular restaurants and bars.

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It’s still Spring Training time in the Tampa Bay area. It’s usually difficult to see the Yankees games at Legend Field. But this Tuesday, it will be the Phillies taking on the Yankees in Clearwater at the Bright House Field and it might be easier to find a ticket there. The Phillies use Bright House Field for Spring Training, but their single-A minor league team, the Clearwater Threshers, are based there. It’s a 1:05pm start for the game. The Phillies and the Yankees could be in transition as age starts catching up to their star players. This is the final year for the Yankees star reliever, Mariano Rivera, who is coming back from an ACL injury. But never count either of those teams out during the regular season with their experienced and talented veterans. After this game, the Phillies will only have 4 games left in Spring Training. The regular season is close! Bright House Field is located off of Highway 19 and seats 8,500 people. The ballpark has a 360-degree main concourse, grass berm seating, and a tiki-hut pavilion in left field. From MacDill AFB, it’s about at 30 minute drive. From Tampa, take Highway 60 (Courtney Campbell Causeway) West. Cross over Highway 19 and go to the next stoplight (Old Coachman Road). Turn right (North) at Old Coachman Road. Go North through the Drew Street intersection. Stadium will be on right at 601 N. Old Coachman Road.

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