Tampa Bay Emergency Information

Hey guys!  Travis back with some cool news about a brand new source for your information about Tampa Bay!  It's called 83 Degrees, it's totally online, and here's the info straight from them:

A new economy is emerging across West Central Florida - from Tampa to Sarasota to
Clearwater to Spring Hill to Lakeland - and 83 Degrees plans to tell that story.

Today, 83 Degrees (www.83degreesmedia.com) will go live with its first weekly e-magazine, complete with features, Innovation and Job News, Development News, Q&As, and photos and videos that capture the innovative people and companies driving the Tampa Bay region's economy.

If you have news tips about things they should cover, they should be e-mailed to tips@83degreesmedia.com . They want to hear about talented people, innovations, investments, ideas, new businesses and job growth in the New Economy that reflect Tampa Bay's rising TIDE -- Talent, Innovation, Diversity, Environment.

The weekly online magazine will publish Tuesdays and be sent out free via e-mail to subscribers!  You can sign up at www.83degreesmedia.com.

So, log on and have some fun.  And keep checking back for some great things to do in Tampa Bay and other Tampa Bay area events and news!
 

Hey everyone!  Travis here with an update about an event this weekend at MOSI.  Given the time of year it is, this is an event that you need to make it out to.  It's the 2009 Hurricane Expo at MOSI! 

Here are the details -

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, in conjunction with the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), will host the 2009 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at MOSI.  Admission to the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo is FREE!

This year, the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo theme is “Run From the Water, Hide From the Wind” and will feature seminars on the importance staying safe this season by knowing the possible threats to your community, knowing your evacuation zone, and what preparation steps to take if you are required to evacuate your home due to an impending hurricane.

The 2009 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo has been added to the list of drop-off sites for the multi-county initiative, Operation Medicine Cabinet™. The City of Temple Terrace Police Department will be responsible for the collection of unused or expired medications during the Expo.

But there's a ton more info on this event, so go to www.tampabayhurricaneexpo.com to get more details.  Attendees will also get great deals on exhibits at MOSI, so make sure you take a look. 

Until next time, keep checking back for other updates on great Tampa Bay area events and other things to do in Tampa Bay. 
 

Hey everyone! Lisa here with some information on a unique and beneficial event taking place in Tampa over the next few weeks! I am sure you’re aware of the BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart exhibit that’s currently taking place at MOSI. Well, in honor of Stroke Awareness Month, BODY WORLDS has partnered with MOSI and University Community Hospital to offer FREE screenings to help manage the risk factors for stroke.

On Thursday, May 7 & Tuesday, May 19 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., be sure to stop by MOSI, 4801 East Fowler Ave., Tampa to get your free screening.

Did you know…Stroke is a medical emergency? Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke? If a stroke doesn't kill you, it may leave you physically or mentally disabled? Anyone, at any time, can have a stroke? For every minute you don't get help, more brain cells die? That should be enough information to get you into MOSI on May 7 or May 19 to get your free screening!
 
BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart at the MOSI is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. BODY WORLDS After Hours from 5 - 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday is a separate fee.
 
For more information about these free screenings or the exhibition, visit the MOSI Web site at www.mosi.org to www.bodyworlds.com.

~Cheers!

Hey gang!  Travis here with some more Tampa tourism information for you!  Have any of you been wondering how exactly Super Bowl XLIII impacted Tampa Bay?  Well, Super Bowl Host Committee recently distributed their outreach report, and it has some great info.  Here are some of the key stats, straight from the host committee -

More than 130 local minority- and woman-owned businesses received Super Bowl-related contracts
thanks to their involvement in the NFL’s Emerging Business program. These companies procured
more than $3.96 million in Super Bowl business.

The NFL Environmental Program collected more than 34 tons of recyclable materials which were
diverted from landfills. More than $200,000 in office supplies, décor and building materials was
donated to local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, 65,000 pounds of prepared food was collected
from various Super Bowl events and donated to local food banks and charities.

More than 100 Tampa Bay schools joined in the Super Kids Super Sharing program and collectively
donated more than 48,000 books and pieces of sports equipment. The items have been distributed
to more than 55 schools and charitable organizations.

The NFL YET Centers of Tampa Bay, a public/private partnership with the City of Tampa and
Hillsborough County, received a $1 million matching donation from the NFL to expand both the
Jackson Heights and Mort Park YET Centers. At Mort Park, an additional donation of $150,000 by
the Glazer Family Foundation established the new Glazer Family Field and Fitness Trail for use by
both YET and the community. A $100,000 partnership with the Patel Conservatory was instituted to
provide on-site music, dance and theatre programming and multimedia training in recording and
digital arts to YET youth.

The Super Learning in a Super City program was used in 109 area schools by 277 teachers. The
curriculum-based youth outreach program touched more than 12,000 youth throughout Tampa Bay.

So, what do you think?  If you want the full report, click here! 

Keep checking back for more updates and information on great things to do in Tampa Bay!  After all, we are getting close to summer so it's time to start heading out and enjoying this beautiful Tampa Bay weather! 

Hey gang!  Travis here with some information that you will want to take note of.  Save the date for the 2009 Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo.  It's May 30 from 9am to 2pm at a great Tampa Bay attraction, MOSI in North Tampa!  Now, we always do our best to bring you the latest Tampa Bay emergency information, but if you can, attend this and hear it for yourself!  

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County are hosting this event...and it's FREE to attend!  Plus, Hurricane Expo guests can enjoy MOSI exhibit galleries and one standard IMAX® Dome Theatre* film for only $8 per person.

This year, the Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo theme is “Run From the Water, Hide From the Wind” and will feature seminars on the importance staying safe this season by knowing the possible threats to your community, knowing your evacuation zone, and what preparation steps to take if you are required to evacuate your home due to an impending hurricane.

Here's some info from MOSI - 

Held in Kids In Charge! The Children’s Science Center at MOSI, the expo will feature over 40 vendors, educational seminars, emergency vehicles, giveaways (while supplies last) and much more! Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo attendees will enjoy a family-fun event complete with youth activities, presentations by city and county departments and community partners, a special appearance by Dan Noah of the National Weather Service and over 450 hands-on science exhibits inside the Museum of Science & Industry!

Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo guests can also enjoy Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, MOSI’s entire exhibit galleries and one standard IMAX Dome Theatre film for only $17 per person (special engagement films not included). For this price guests can tour a unique collection of over 200 authentic human specimens, including whole-body plastinates, organs and translucent body slices inside BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, and experience Disasterville featuring WeatherQuest, a 10,000-square-foot exhibition on floods, hail, lightning, tsunamis and volcanoes, including immersion theatres that demonstrate what it’s like to be in an earthquake, hurricane, tornado and wildfire.

And there you have it...so make sure you make plans to be there!  Head over to www.tampabayhurricaneexpo.com to get more info on the event.

With joint efforts of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Tampa Bay & Company, St. Pete Times Forum, University of South Florida and several other community partners, the Tampa Bay area has been able to thrive in the tourism industry over the last 24 months of NCAA March Madness. 

This annual, month-long period in sports brought national attention and economic success to the Tampa Bay community through events it served host to. 
Check out the resume below and see what’s in store for the future:

2007 ACC Basketball Tournament
Making its first visit ever trip to the state of Florida, the 2007 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament was a tremendous esoteric and economic success to the Tampa Bay area.  More than 22,000 visitors emerged upon Tampa Bay to watch the North Carolina Tar Heels take home the tournament championship over the North Carolina State Wolfpack 89-80.  Several downtown restaurants reported a 75 percent increase in revenue and downtown hotels were sold out months in advance.  Numerous successful highlights were events such as "ACC FanFest", "Tournament Tailgate", "University Day", "Legends Brunch", and "Channelside Courtside Party Zone".

2008 NCAA 1st/2nd Rounds
On March 21-23, Tampa Bay welcomed back the NCAA First and Second Rounds.  The Tampa Bay community managed to be a continuous highlight for the “madness” as it hosted some of the tournament’s most exciting games and was associated with headlining nicknames such as “Tampa Turmoil” and “Upset City”.  In the first day of action Villanova upset Clemson, Siena upset Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky upset Drake, and San Diego upset Connecticut.  On the second day Villanova went on to beat Siena, and Western Kentucky defeated San Diego. 

2008 Women’s Final Four
On April 6-8, for the first time in the history of the Championship, the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four came to the sunshine state.  The Tampa Bay area hosted the semifinals and finals, and crowned the University of Tennessee the National Champion.  An estimated 22,595 visitors came to the area and saw the Lady Vols take home their eighth national championship after defeating Stanford 64-48.  The event accounted for approximately 13,000 room nights and $19,114,228 million in economic impact.  Highlights of the tournament and related activities included the four team “Pep Rally in Channelside Bay Plaza”, “4Kay Run”, “Bounce by the Bay”, “Hoop City”, and the “WBCA High School All-Star game”.

2009 Men’s SEC Basketball Tournament
The exciting games, the local hospitality, and four days of beautiful weather helped to make the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament a huge success in its first trip to Florida since 1990.  SEC alumni and fans brought their passion for basketball, food, and partying.  The downtown area found itself jam-packed with those in town to watch basketball and frequent some of Tampa’s hotspots.  Fans were treated to an upset in the final game as three-seed Mississippi State defeated top-seeded Tennessee. 

The future…
The success continues as Tampa will see the NCAA Women’s Final Four return in 2015.  The NCAA Women’s committee cited Tampa's successful presentation of the 2008 Women's Final Four as the key.  The event was widely praised by NCAA administrators for its organization and hospitality.  When evaluating prospective host cities, the committee reviewed each city’s competition venue, convention center, hotel community, transportation plans, legacy programs and financial commitment, as well as the community’s and prospective host institution/conference’s overall commitment to the event. 

Stay tuned for more Tampa Bay Sports updates and Tampa Bay area events!

Ok, we are taking another step back from basketball and giving you water lovers out there (and I know there are a ton of you) some Tampa Bay entertainment you won't want to miss! 

We are talking about the Tampa Mayor's Cup Regatta this weekend.  Here's some info you may want -

The Tampa Mayor’s Cup Regatta is one of the preeminent early-season rowing events featuring many top crews and athletes from around the country.  The races will take place on March 14 in Downtown Tampa’s Seddon Channel between the south tip of Harbour Island north to Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands.  Spectator areas include Tampa General Hospital Park adjacent to the new parking garage, HCC Corporate Train Center, and Majorie Park among others. 

While the race is free for spectators, sponsorship proceeds go to the Stewards Foundation, which supports inner-city community rowing programs and numerous emerging high school rowing programs.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to information about this event.  If you plan on heading out and need some more information about it, just drop a line/comment and let me know.  If I don't have the answer...I'll find it for you! 

But, I can tell you that this is going to be an awesome event for anyone who heads out there...and especially for the teams participating.  So, head out...enjoy the beautiful Tampa Bay weather...and let us know how it was. 

Until next time, keep checking back and we'll bring you updates and information on more great things to do in Tampa Bay!  
 

Hey everyone! Gasparilla isn't just about the beads! There are several ancillary events that surround the Gasparilla Parade...

Are you into arts and crafts? Do you enjoy attending art festivals? Well if you answered yes to both questions, you'll definitely want to keep reading. If you answered no - keep reading anyway...this is a must-see!

The 39th Annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts returns to downtown Tampa March 7 – 8, 2009 for a weekend filled with outstanding art, visiting artists, outstanding entertainment and creative art activities for youngsters.

If you plan on attending the festival, please read the important information listed below:

Dates: Saturday, March 7, 2009, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
            Sunday, March 8, 2009, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Franklin Street and Lykes Gaslight Square Park in Downtown Tampa

Admission: Free

Estimated Attendance: 250,000 – 300,000
 
Juror: Martha Connell, Director/Owner, Connell Gallery, Atlanta GA

Major Festival Sponsors: Raymond James Financial, City of Tampa and The Tampa Tribune

Accepted Media: Ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood.

Awards Ceremony: The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 6 p.m. at the Main Stage in Lykes Gaslight Square Park

Award Money:   
1 $15,000 Raymond James Financial Best of Show Award
1     7,500 Board of Director’s Award
1     4,500 Roddy  Brownlee Reed Award of Excellence
1     3,500 Mayor’s Award
1     2,500 Anniversary Award
1     2,000 Friends of the Arts Award
30   1,300  Awards of Merit
1     1,000 Emerging Artist Award

Total $75,000 Award Money for 2009
 
Plus a generous Purchase Award Program

Children’s Workshop: Hands-on arts & crafts projects coordinated by the Tampa Museum of Art.

Food: Friends Of The Arts (FOTA) sponsor the various vendors located throughout the festival.

Parking:  Downtown parking is available.

Rules:  No pets, alcohol, skateboards, roller skates or bicycles.