Ok, we always provide you with the best things to do in Tampa Bay, so when this came across the computer screen, we just had to share.  This just in from the City of Tampa –

Welcome Iowa and South Carolina fans to Ybor City!  The 23rd Anniversary Outback Bowl Parade and Pep Rally will take place today (New Year’s Eve) from 5:30pm - 8:30pm.  The event includes a parade of high school bands and the two college bands followed by a pep rally on the corner of 14th Street and 7th Avenue.

On-street parking and public lot parking in the area will available until 1:00pm (firm).  Parking signs will be installed stating “No Parking After 1pm”. Cars must be removed by 1:00pm to avoid towing.  Pedestrian barricades will be installed starting at 1:30 pm on 7th Avenue from 14th St. to 20th St.  No on-street parking will be permitted between 20th St. and 26th St. 

7th Avenue from Nick Nuccio Parkway to 21st Street and north/south side streets from 6th Ave to Palm will be closed by 3:30pm, unless crowds call for an earlier closure. Westbound traffic on Palm will be allowed to turn south on 15th Street to utilize the Centro Ybor Valet and Palm Ave Garage. The event will end at approximately 8:30pm. The pedestrian barricades will be removed following the parade, and 7th Ave will be re-opened at 9:00pm unless crowds dictate otherwise. 

EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Staging   ……………………………………………..    1:30pm
Parade (on 7th Avenue from 20th to 14th Streets) ………  5:30pm
Pep Rally (Parking Lot at 14th Street and 7th Ave) ……..    7:00pm-8:30pm

Now, if that doesn’t sound like fun, then I don’t have anything else for ya!  Ybor City provides it all...if you are looking for places to eat or where to stay, then head on down.  Plus, they have some fo the best Tampa Bay Nightlife out there!  

In case you need it - for more street closure information, call Tampa Police Department.

See you all out there! 

The newest addition to the Tampa Bay hotel package is the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, located on Kennedy Avenue, just minutes from downtown. The 221-room hotel has been completely renovated and rebranded and offers event planners over 9,000 square feet of meeting space. 
The reconstruction project includes a new ballroom and eight breakout rooms, an executive suite level and a redesigned swimming pool and whirlpool surrounded by 50 cabana suites. The full-service hotel also offers guests complimentary parking, valet parking, airport shuttle and business center, just to name a few. 

You will also have the convenience of being able to dine inside the hotel at Pergia Bistro, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Or maybe you'd like to enjoy a cocktail in the hotel's cocktail lounge. The choice is yours. 

The hotel is expected to open in spring 2009. Make sure to keep checking back for updates on the status of this hotel, plus more of the latest news on hotels and restaurants in the area.

Since December is a special month, I knew that I had to choose a very special place for my monthly feature venue. And Teatro on Seventh is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in Tampa (and I've lived here all my life!). 
Teatro on Seventh is an upscale dining facility set in the historic Centro Espanol building which was built in 1912, and is located in the heart of Ybor City. Upon entering the old brick building, you climb a magnificent marble staircase up to the second floor, through grandiose double doors and into the grand ballroom that is now Teatro on Seventh. The 7,000-square-foot ballroom is absolutely stunning, boasting original engraved tin ceilings, parquet wood floors and dramatic views of Ybor City through the floor-to-ceiling windows. 


The restaurant can be used to accommodate up to 275 guests for a seated dinner and up to 800 guests for a cocktail reception. Complete with a dance floor, this space is absolutely perfect for a dance party, wedding reception or opening night reception for your next convention. The restaurant is also open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner is served daily. 

Make sure to stop by Teatro on Seventh the next time you're in Ybor City. It's truly a dazzling sight to see, and I've heard the food is scrumptious too! 

Well its always good to see cool and interesting web site. Recently our friends over at Gameworks in Ybor City, re-did the look and feel of their website to reflect a more user friendly experience.

After browsing around a bit, it just seems to flow allot better with a more concise delivery of the content and good incorporation of flash to give you that sleek gun metal look and feel. Whether you are looking to log on and plan that Tampa Bay Meeting at Gameworks, or you just want to plan your kids birthday party, you can set it all up on the new site.

Those guys didnt stop at the actual re-design either, as  they decided to upgrade the menu! That is pretty amazing when you consider that the food was already slammin, so I am looking forward to getting over there and testing out that menu personally!

The coolest feature is the holiday section. Here you can create a holiday card, get a gameworks coupon, or enter to win great prizes. So Kudos to the Gameworks crew for putting it together and be sure to check it out online and be sure to stop by and let the games begin!

With tons of hard work and dedication, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission put on a fantastic weekend of events surrounding the 2008 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game. The 48-hour celebration of ACC football was a huge success, with guests and VIPs in attendance at four fantastic events.

It all started with the ACC Coaches  &  Awards Luncheon, which took place on Friday at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel&Marina in downtown. The invitation-only luncheon was attended by Boston College and Virginia Tech coaches and staff, VIPs from college football and community leaders. MVPs from both teams were honored at the luncheon, as well as the team coaches.

Next on the roster was Channelside's Toast to the Atlantic Coast, which took place on Friday evening in the courtyard at Channelside in downtown and was presented by EA Sports. This ACC pep rally was free to the public and featured a live DJ, food and drink vendors and even a jousting match between all 12 ACC team mascots. 

The exclusive, invitation-only ACC Night of Legends event took place on Friday night at the ACC Headquarter Hotel, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Presented by the Florida Sports Foundation, this event celebrated the careers of the 2008 ACC Legends Class and featured food, drinks and live entertainment. 


And last, but definitely not least... Country music star and heartthrob, Blake Shelton, performed a full concert immediately following the Championship Game. Presented by local radio station, US 103.5 FM, this concert was free to all game ticket holders. Now how can you beat a free concert right after a thrilling football game?     

The Sports guys have definitely been busy trying to prepare for last weekend, and it showed. Each event was successful and perfectly planned. Hats off to the Sports Commission and all of the local volunteers for orchestrating such a winning weekend!

Ok, I am about to provide a list of things to do in Tampa Bay that is unlike anything you have seen. 

First, let me tell you that tickets are still available to the 2008 ACC Football Championship, which takes place this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.  And, let me tell you that you won’t find a better deal for a weekend full of entertainment and excitement! 

With the 48-hour celebration of ACC football this weekend, it’s time to start planning out your Championship itinerary.  Here are just some of the highlights of the weekend’s festivities  and Tampa Bay area events for the Tampa Bay community to participate in:

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008
7 p.m. to 12 a.m. – Channelside’s Toast to the Atlantic Coast, presented by EA Sports. It all takes place at the Channelside Bay Plaza Courtyard.  The Toast to the Atlantic Coast is the biggest downtown party happening during Championship Weekend. Splitsville is a concept host for the fan-filled event that will include school bands and cheerleaders, and much more. 

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. –  ACC FanFest: It all happens at Raymond James Stadium - Lot 6D.  ACC FanFest is the biggest party during the 48-hour celebration of ACC football. There will be over 200,000 square feet of interactive games, team mascots, pep rallies, food and beverage, autograph signings, game merchandise, jumbotrons and general family fun. All of the excitement is presented by ACC Corporate Partners.

10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Atlantic Division Pep Rally at the ACC FanFest.  Atlantic Coast Conference football fans can come out and help root their team on to victory during the Atlantic Division Pep Rally. 

10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Coastal Division Pep Rally at the ACC FanFest.  Immediately following the Atlantic Division Pep Rally, fans can come out and help root the Coastal Division team on to victory during the Coastal Division Pep Rally. 
11:30 a.m. – ACC Mascots Game at the ACC FanFest.  Following the Pep Rallies for the Atlantic Division and Coastal Division teams, attendees will witness one of the marquee events during the 48-hour ACC celebration.  The ACC Mascots Game brings mascots from all 12 schools together for hard- (or soft-) hitting fun. 

The game starts at 1pm, so make sure you come out and see Boston College and Virginia Tech go head-to-head to see who will wear the ACC crown!  And like I said, you can still purchase tickets to the game!!!! 

If all of that isn't the best Tampa Bay entertainment you've ever seen, then I challenge you to come out and participate and I bet you'll change your mind.  With all of this going on, you’ll definitely want to come out and get involved.  For what to do and to learn more about the ACC Football Championship weekend AND for tickets, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com. 

See you out there!

Ok, just so you know I’m not crazy, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum&Bailey® circus just arrived in Tampa for its Winter Quarters (the time where they start practicing for their world debut at Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum in January). 

And to celebrate the holidays, the Ringling Bros. world-famous elephants will partake in their own pachyderm Thanksgiving brunch at the Florida State Fairgrounds on Thanksgiving Day!  At 10 a.m. the elephants will feast on bread cornucopias and other Thanksgiving Day provisions. 

Now, if you have never been to a Ringling Bros. elephant brunch before, I highly recommend making your way out to the Fairgrounds on Thursday morning.  This is a sight that you’ll want to see.  As for as Tampa Bay dining goes, this is a meeting of the pachydermy minds that you can't miss!  I have been every year for the past 5 years…and I’ll be out there Thursday too! 

And don’t forget, from Jan. 7-11, 2009, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will present ZING ZANG ZOOMSM, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.  For show times and ticket information visit www.ringling.com. 

As always, keep checking back here for more things to do in Tampa Bay, and other awesome Tampa Bay area events. 

Our fabulous weather is a premier Tampa, Florida attraction. This weekend is bound to be sunny and cool, perfect for a day outdoors. Our partners have planned ahead and put together some fun in the sun for you at a few favorite local Tampa Bay area events!

Saturday, Plant City is hosting the 6th Annual Plant City Pig Jam State BBQ Championship. Pig Jam is a BBQ festival where locals compete in professional, amateur and kid’s BBQ competitions. Throughout the day, there will be live entertainment, local taverns, shopping, and did I mention barbeque?

On Sunday, Hyde Park Village will be the home of the Gasparilla Film Festival Children’s Day. From 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., three will be children’s activities like origami, face painting and moon bounce. There will also be clowns music and food. From 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., grab your pillows and blankets from the car and settle down to watch a family movie together.

Both festivals have free admission, so pile everyone in the car and spend sometime outside in Tampa Bay this weekend! For a complete list of things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend, check out our Calendar of Events.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at one of Tampa's top restaurants, a hidden treasure that is well known by food and wine connoisseurs and fine diners in the Bay area. Mise en Place, a true Tampa Bay jewel, started as a modest, six-table catering shop run by Mary Ann Ferenc and Marty Blitz. It then grew into what it is today, a renowned fine dining establishment with full event planning services for both in-house and off-premise events.

My personal experience at Mise en Place was amazing. I ordered the roasted duck with lemongrass cashew jasmine rice (amazing by the way, best rice I've ever had), ginger chili sauteed baby bokchoy, pineapple daikon kimchee with red curry coconut sauce.

The description alone is what caught my eye, but the taste of this dish was better than I could have imagined. I also got the chance to try something that I've always wanted to try... fried green tomatoes. The fried green tomato salad featured jumpo lump crab, arugula salad, buttermilk chive vinaigrette and piquillo pepper oil. It was absolutely marvelous.

The food was outstanding, but on top of that, the atmosphere was exquisite and charming. The decor was beautiful and classy, with dim, intimate lighting that would play well for a reception, cocktail party or even board meeting. The Lafayatte Room seats 80 people in rounds and 150 people for a cocktail reception. And there is also the Minaret Room that seats up to 30 people for a smaller, more intimate event.

With full event planning services and catering combined with a lavish and contemporary decor, Mise en Place is definitely a unique venue choice, and very much deserves to be on my list of feature Tampa Bay venues.

Thanks again for stopping by and make sure to keep checking back for more hot topics on Tampa Bay Meetings!

I don't know about you guys but I like saving money and am a sucker for a good deal! So before you take that family vacation and start to book a hotel be sure to check out the Hot Deals section of our website. 
As we get closer to the end of the football season and approach events like the ACC Football Championship, Outback Bowl, and that small little event known as the Super Bowl (insert sarcasm here), you might want to get an early start on making sure you got a place to lay your head! 

Lately we seem to have more hotel deals than we know what to do with! Properties like the Intercontinental Tampa, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, and the Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport just to name a few. 

Of course we got you covered on the dining and nightlife front from free drinks, early seating coupons, to free beignets! We add to this list on a regular basis so be sure to check it out save some cash! 

That’s right!  After months of effort and planning, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee has chosen to host the 2015 Women’s Final Four Championship in Tampa Bay!  The Women’s Final Four rolled through Tampa Bay this past April, and to say it was a success wouldn’t do it justice. 

No matter who you are, or where you worked, this past April you absolutely KNEW that the NCAA Women’s Final Four was here.  This one single tournament has an estimated Direct Economic Impact of more than $19 MILLION. 

That means, whether it’s an attraction, a restaurant, or a hotel…or even if you were just having your meeting or convention in the area, then this event had an impact on you. 

From the Westshore District to Ybor City and throughout Tampa Bay, there were Women’s Final Four activities going on everywhere.  As far as things to do in Tampa Bay were concerned, this topped the list.  And now we can look forward to its return in 2015. 

The NCAA also chose host cities for 2012-16, which were: 2012 – Denver, Colo.; 2013 – New Orleans, La.; 2014 – Nashville, Tenn.; 2015 – Tampa Bay, Fla.; 2016 – Indianapolis, Ind. 

Check out some more information here – Women’s Final Four in Tampa Bay.

Were you here for the last Women’s Final Four, or have you attended the event elsewhere?  Drop a line and tell us about it.  

Until next time, keep checking back here for the latest on Tampa Bay area events.  From attractions to hotel updates and even Tampa Bay emergency information, we’ll have it ready for you. 

Wondering where to eat? Have you heard of Pelagia Trattoria? This innovative, Mediterranean-inspired gem is located in the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza and the people who run it are creating quite a buzz in the Tampa Bay dining circuit.

Fabrizio Schenardi, executive chef of Pelagia Trattoria, and Jim Bartholomay, general manager of the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza have been respectively named Executive Chef of the Year and General Manager of the Year for 2007 by Renaissance Hotels&Resorts.

The Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza is rated with 4 AAA Diamonds and is self-described as reminiscent of “a Mediterranean villa, a Spanish square, or even a Cuban plaza.”

Pelagia Trattoria and its celebrity chef have received awards, notoriety and rave reviews from local media like the St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune, Discover Tampa Bay Newcomers Guide and national media like Southern Living Magazine, the Link Magazine, Zagat Survey and Restaurant Forum Magazine.

Award-winning celebrity chef, innovative and sophisticated cuisine, first-class Latin-style hotel in Tampa’s chíc Westshore business district… sounds like my kind of place. Drop me a comment if you’ve been to either Pelagia Trattoria or the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza and let me know if you thought it was as fabulous as everyone is saying it is.

It’s Friday, and you know what that means… here’s what to do this weekend in Tampa Bay. Our partners are bringing you a ton of things to do in Tampa Bay this holiday weekend!

As it is Halloween, Friday you should be doing something holiday related. If you don’t have any small children to take trick-or-treating (or even after they’re done and tucked in for the night), The Florida Aquarium is throwing its 11th annual Halloween costume bash, Nauti-Night. From 8:00 pm to midnight enjoy steak and shrimp skewers, beer, wine, soda and live entertainment (all included with the cost of admission). The costume contest is offering a $2,500 cash prize for the most original costume. Not only is it the “It” party to be at, it’s also for a good cause. Proceeds from the event go to The Florida Aquarium marine science education.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 20th Annual Ruskin Seafood Festival, is going on. There will be live music, a boat show, arts&crafts, a Kid’s Fun Land area and, of course, as much savory, fresh seafood fare as you can handle.

Also, it’s Grandparent’s Weekend atDinosaur World where Saturday and Sunday grandparent’s get free admission to the park when they bring a grandchild. So grab you’re favorite grandkid and go check out the 150+ life size dinosaurs, dig for fossils, explore a “boneyard” and dine in the “Caves” (a subterranean picnic area).

Have fun, be safe and don’t forget to come back and drop me a comment Monday to let me know how your weekend was. For a full listing of weekend events make sure you check out our onlineCalendar of Events.

Happy Halloween from Tampa Bay & Company!

I just got back from lunch at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine and it was so fabulous, that I just had to blog about it. Wine cellars tucked behind glass walls created a soothing ambiance throughout the restaurant. Splashes of color were scattered around the restaurant with deep maroons and creamy yellows.

All of the food was savory and cooked perfectly. On the advice of our friendly (and knowledgeable) waitress we began by ordering appetizers: the Hong Kong Calamari and the Lakanilau Roll. The calamari was cooked into a Szechwan sweet-and-sour sauce that was just the right amount of sweet. The Lakanilau Roll is a sushi roll made of dynamite crab, tempura asparagus and avocado. The tempura added the perfect crunch to the savory roll. To top it off, the roll was wrapped in a slice of mildly salty, tender Kobe beef. It was the type of sushi roll that you crave when you’re not even hungry.

For a main entrée I had macaroni-and -cheese. You may be confused as to why an award-winning, cutting edge restaurant with gourmet appetizers serves good ‘ole mac&cheese so let me elaborate. The macaroni and cheese was served on a piping hot skillet with melted white truffles and enough cheese that tiny strings attached my fork to my plate with every bite. The dish had bite-size, fresh snow crab pieces and crispy green peas that added a beautiful color and texture to the dish. Definitely not mom’s mac & cheese.

Whether you’re looking for an intimate and innovative place to take a date or a chic, high-end place for a middle of the day business lunch, swing by Roy’s. You won’t be disappointed. I’ll probably be somewhere by the open kitchen ordering enough Lakanilau Rolls to feed a family of five

One of the perks of my job is that I get to experience different restaurants and attractions first-hand in order to know the product that we promote in our community and also write about it in our sales blog and quarterly newsletter. Yesterday I got to experience something that was completely different than anything I had done with the company so far... I went on a water adventure ride!

Tampa Bay&Company staff members were invited to get an exclusive look at a brand new attraction that is now being offered to individuals and groups alike. I was one of the 15 staff members that was brave enough to face this powerful creature on the water. And I was happy that I did.

White Lightning, a new thrill ride in the form of a 1200-horse-power jet boat, is docked at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel in downtown. This boat can seat up to 42 people and is also available for charters. It would be perfect to charter a boat for a small group of attendees that want to get a unique view of the city. You get a fantastic view of downtown Tampa, the Bay, Harbour Island, the St. Pete Times Forum and much more. And it wouldn't be right to not mention how they blasted AC/DC and Bob Marley to set the mood on the way out to the open water.

I can definitely say without a doubt that this attraction is one that you cannot miss. I'm glad I took one for the team, now it's YOUR turn!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. Make sure to ask questions or make comments as you see fit. And make sure to keep coming back for more Tampa Bay meetings info!

Alright, alright, alright Phillies Phans, so you got the leg up on us in Game 1 last night!  We didnt have our "A" game last night but don't sleep on us for one minute, as I will remind you that the Red Sox also took the first game at the Trop and look how that worked out for them!

Just for the sake of me getting through the work day, I will not pay attention to certain historical statistics that that say the team winning the first game has captured the Series 63 of 103 times. Instead,  I would rather focus on that stat that says the team with home-field advantage has taken 18 of the last 22 titles, so be on the lookout Philly Phans, it ain't over!

On the mound tonight for our AL East champs is James Shields, and believe me he is pumped for tonight, so I am going to make a prediction that we take tonights game and even up the series before we hop on a plane to Philly and take two more games!

Plenty of places to hunker down and catch the game tonight so if you can't make it out to Tropicana field, then check my previous blog post for a few bars and restaurants to watch the game and enjoy some food, fun, and baseball!

In case you haven't heard already... THE RAYS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!

Sorry for the caps, I'm just so totally surprised and excited for our very own Rays baseball team! They beat the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, October 19, in the final playoff game at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. I'm not the biggest baseball fan by any means, but I cannot ignore the fact that this was totally unexpected.

The Rays will play their first World Series games against the Phillies tonight at the Trop, and will need to win four out of the seven games in order to win the World Series.

So you might be wondering what this has to do with Tampa Bay Conventions. The truth is, not very much. But Tampa will definitely see a jump in the economy by the end of the seven games. There will most definitely be lots of Phillies fans traveling down to cheer on their team, more people eating out and watching the games at local bars and restaurants, and quite possibly even a boost in retail sales since people are so happy about their baseball team making it this far. Okay, that last one might be stretching it a little, but you just never know...

Once again, Tampa Bay has been put on the map for major sporting events. Tampa will play host to four out of the seven World Series games (if all seven are played) and will also host Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2009. It's a big year in sports for Tampa Bay. And it just shows that our city is ready and willing to host any event, from the smallest board meeting to the largest sporting events of the year.

GO RAYS!!!! :)

So if you are as amped up about tonight's Game 1, as I am then you are already making plans about where to go and watch the game, if you couldn't get a ticket. I've done my homework and wanted to try and point out a few bars and such for everyone to go out and support the Rays tonight as Kazmir takes the mound to shut out the Phillies tonight! 

So many places to choose from, but I have complied my list of favorite places to hang out as well as a few that were reccomended to me.  Game starts tonight at 8 p.m. so you better have your bottom planted in a bar stool at one of these places with a blue mohawk and the biggest cowbell you can find! I need more cowbell baby!

• Macdinton's Irish Pub - Irish pub and restaurant with delicious food and friendly Irish staff. Happy hour (2 for 1) 11:30am-7pm every day but Friday. Friday 6pm-8pm, $10 ALL YOU CAN DRINK. Patio, big screen TV, darts, pool, golf, ample parking and specials every night.
• Rock-n-Sports Bar & Grille - Upscale sports bar and grille located in Centro Ybor. Outside seating available, open seven days a week for lunch and dinner specialties: ribs, seafood, burgers, wings and 25 draft beers. Private catering available for meetings, parties and sports events.
• Champps Americana -Champps is a unique, upscale casual dining and socializing experience. We differentiate ourselves by offering a fun, upbeat environment, a wide variety of food prepared from scratch and access to international, national, and local sporting events via state-of-the-art audio visual equipment.
• Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill - Ferg’s is the ultimate spot to watch the Rays because of how close it is to Tropicana Field. You get to enjoy the same atmosphere before and after the game as all the people with tickets but you get the benefit of all the camera angles and replays on TV during this big series. No matter when you show up, Ferg’s is the place to be before, during, and after each Rays game. 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 822-4562, fergsonline.com.
• Champion’s Sports Bar (Marriott Waterside) -Root for your team in front of the big screen TV while you enjoy light fare and your favorite beverages. Champions is casual, so you don't have to "dress up to dress out." Located across the street from the St. Pete Times Forum. Meet your friends before hockey games and events!
• The Press Box - The “Box” as the locals call it has just recently upgraded all the big screens in their establishment making it one of the best places to actually sit down and really enjoy the game. Just ask any Buccaneers fan and they will tell you that the Box has got a very friendly staff and the wings speak for themselves.  I would recommend The Press Box any day of the week to anyone that likes sports. 222 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. (813) 876-3528, .
• GameWorks - GameWorks is a casual dining experience that features entertainment guests cannot duplicate at home.
• Giordano's - Pioneer of the famous Chicago stuffed and equally renowned thin-crust pizza. Pastas, soups, sandwiches, assorted fresh salads and desserts. With several locations in Florida to serve you, we are open for lunch and dinner with a full service bar. Dine-in, carry out, delivery and catering available.
• Green Iguana Ybor City -Voted Tampa Bay's Best Bar & Ybor's Best Club. Unique restaurant with Florida/ Caribbean style menu. Open seven days a week, serving lunch, dinner & late night menu items. Catering on/off site. Live entertainment nightly. Never a cover. Sidewalk cafe available. Private banquet room also available.
• Splitsville - Bowling, billiards and dinner lounge featuring gourmet appetizers, sushi, and classic retro entrees.
• The Rec Room - Rounding out my short list is The Rec Room, a new sports bar located in BayWalk in downtown St. Pete. I have heard a lot about the Rays watch parties that have been going on throughout the playoffs, so I would expect this place to be jumping come World Series time. You can watch the game on any one of the 11 plasma screens and enjoy the company of many other local Rays fans. 121 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 822-4413.

So get out there and enjoy all the food fun, and what I am sure will be numerous drink specials as our Rays, hope to get the series off toa  good start tonight!

Usually the buzz around town time this time of year is for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and rightfully so. But for the first time in team history the Tampa Bay Rays have made it to the World Series! Needless to say, it’s not surprising that there will be a huge party tonight for the Rays at the St. Petersburg Pier from 5:30 p.m. to about 9.

The free fan rally will have plenty of entertainment from a live band, to video games, and even face painters. But for all of you die-hard Rays fans that haven’t had the courage to support your team via your hair-do; tonight is the night! There will be a place to get your very own Rayhawk tonight at the rally, giving you another thing in common with your favorite players like Evan Longoria, and BJ Upton.

The weather has been great here lately so come early and make a night out of it as all of the local bars and restaurants will be open for business. Parking is limited at Pier lots and additional parking is located throughout downtown and the BayWalk parking garage.

Come out and celebrate the RAYS and visit the Tampa Bay&Company website for more game info as we receive it!!!

I was recently forwarded a link to this travel website someone wanted me to look at, and low and behold who was on the home page...?  You guessed it people...TAMPA/ST.PETE!!!  I swear it just seems like we are all over the place here lately with new updates and accolades.

Travel Muse is a fairly new and very engaging travel planning site.  While still in its early beta stages, I found a lot of useful tools for planning a trip to Tampa for your family getaway, or that girlfriend getaway you've been planning for so long. The Travel Muse Inspiration Finder was a nifty little tool to help you define where is the best suited place for you to visit by defining your budget, preferred flight time, departing airport, and time of year to help you find that perfect trip. If you don't want to take my word for it, here are a few other things on the site that will peak your interests:

• Invite friends to connect and collaborate on Trips in the TravelMuse Planner.
• Organize schedules and build day-day plans for each trip.
• Create Trips for all the places you want to visit and save research-stop e-mailing links and manage all your cool travel pages in the TravelMuse Planner.
• Participate in the TravelMuse community: rate and comment on articles, hotels, restaurants and points of interest.

They did an awesome write up on Tampa/St.Pete so check it out when you get a chance.  All in all this site gets a thumbs up from Jerm, and no that is not because I am biased... (okay maybe a little), but you should still go and check this one out and let me know what you think!