Discount at MOSI for Veterans Day!

Friday, November 6, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some great Tampa Bay entertainment ideas for you for Veterans Day! 


In celebration of Veteran’s Day, MOSI will be offering $5 admission to all active and retired military personnel, EMTs, firefighters and police officers. Admission includes MOSI exhibit galleries and one standard IMAX® Dome Theatre film. 


You must present Military Photo ID to receive offer and it cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.  Take advantage of the deal from Nov. 11-15!


I thought this was a great thing for MOSI to do to honor our Veteran's, so I wanted to be sure to share it with everyone. 


Stick around...we'll be back with other Tampa Bay area events, and other updates about cool Tampa Florida Attractions. 
 

New Restaurant Partners

Friday, November 6, 2009 by Partner Pulse
The month of October was a busy month in Partnership with 15 new partners - 4 of them are restaurants!  Who doesn't love to eat???  Check out these new restaurants and let them know Tampa Bay & Company recommended them:

Brio Tuscan Grille just opened up at International Plaza's Bay Street.  They have fabulous Italian cuisine and are open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.  Brio just opened their doors a couple weeks ago and they are ready to serve you! 

Bella's Italian Cafe in the SoHo district on S. Howard just joined as a partner of ours also.  Bella's has great pizzas, pasta & salads.  The asparagus soup is my favorite, but beware - it makes your pee-pee smell.  :) They have a cute little patio with outdoor seating, which is great this time of year.  

Kona Grill is also a new partner of ours and a brand new restaurant in Tampa.  They haven't even opened yet, but will soon.  Kona Grill is across the street from International Plaza by Roy's, Fleming's & Lee Roy Selmon's.  They serve American and Asian cuisine. Their menu makes my mouth water. Can't wait to eat there! 

Last, but not least is Chez Bryce - The Island Bistro on Davis Islands.  Chez Bryce offers lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch all prepared by Chef Bryce himself.  Bryce used to live in France and studied there so needless to say, the food is amazing as is the atmosphere.  They have a great outdoor courtyard with live entertainment on the weekends.  They also cater for parties and have a private dining room available.   

Stay tuned for more info on Tampa Bay Dining options and the Tampa Bay nightlife scene!

Giveaway Alert - Wonderland tickets at the Performing Arts Center

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some great Tampa Bay entertainment news!  It's been a while since we've done a giveaway, so we are going to try this again. 


Hopefully you have all heard about the brand new production at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center - Wonderland, Alice's New Musical Adventure.  if you haven't heard, just check out the previous blog by clicking here


Well, we have two tickets to give away for the performance on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 at the Performing Arts Center. 


These will be Facebook giveaways, so don't forget that you have to be a fan of the Visit Tampa Bay Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/visittampabay). 


We'll be doing the giveaway on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10am, so make sure you are there and ready to answer a trivia question. 


The first 10 correct repsonses have a chance at the tickets.  so, we'll see you then! 


And keep checking back for more updates about cool Tampa Bay entertainment options and other things to do in Tampa Bay.
 

Rockin Out at the Seminole Hard Rock

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone.  Travis back with some cool Tampa Bay entertainment that'll have you rocking at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. 


Three exceptional musical stand-up comedians: Michael Mack, Ron Feingold and Kier showcase an evening of music and stand-up comedy along with a closing jam session that has to be seen to be believed!


All three comedians have been heard on the nationally syndicated radio program Bob and Tom and they have also been seen on national television such as Comedy Central and ABC's America's Funniest People.


It all happens on Monday, November 9...Doors open at 7pm, with the show at 8pm.  It's at Floyd’s at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and tickets are $20...you can get them through Ticketmaster or at the door & Hard Rock Shop.


have fun rockin out with those guys!  We'll see you back here for more great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

2009 ACC Football Championship Update!

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Josh Jones
Josh Jones here, proud to say we are 1 month out from gameday of the 2009 ACC Football Championship!

With the Road To Tampa Bay countdown clock ticking away, we’re beginning to see the front-runners emerge! 

Will you be there?  Tickets are on sale for this year’s game, which returns to prime time national television, with an 8 p.m. (ET) kickoff on ESPN.

The 2009 Championship Game will be played on December 5 in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fla.

#10 Georgia Tech seems to be running away with the Coastal Division title as they have emerged past #17 Miami. Meanwhile Boston College, Clemson, and Florida State are keeping things interesting in the Atlantic Division.  With four weeks left, it’s still any team’s game! 












But time is running out! Purchase your tickets to this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, one of the best values in all of college football by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com or clicking here!

For all other information about the 2009 ACC Football Championship, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com!

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

Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet Features - Convention Calendar

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Partner Pulse
Whether you are a Tampa Florida Attraction, in charge of Tampa Bay Shopping, a Tampa Bar or putting on Concerts in Tampa...as a partner of Tampa Bay & Company access to several useful Tampa Bay Marketing tools is only a click away.  We hope these will help you reach out to those attending Tampa Bay Meetings at the Convention Center and elsewhere.

Tampa Bay & Company Sales Booking Reports are updated monthly and the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar is also avaliable through this site.  There are two versions of the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar:  the first is a pdf version where you can select the desired date range and you can see information for each convention sorted by the date of arrival. 

Another version of the convention calendar is in Microsoft Excel format.  This allows you to merge the Tampa Bay Meetings Lead Contact with your Tampa Bay Marketing material giving you direct access to those planners visitting Tampa Bay in the near future.

The Excel version of the Convention Calendar includes a field with the date the Tampa Bay Meeting became definite in Tampa Bay.  If you reach out to these contacts on a regular basis you can sort the document on the Date Booked field and only reach out to those contacts with Tampa Bay Meetings booked since you last sent out Tampa Bay Marketing material.

You will need your individual username and password to login to the Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet and access the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar.  If you do not have a login contact Tampa Bay & Company Marketing Analyst Julie Zambos at jazambos@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4068 or Tampa Bay & Company Partnership Sales Manager Lauren Bowles at lbowles@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4085. 

See below for detailed instructions on other benefits available to you within the Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet:

Using the Tampa Bay & Company Website
We encourage you to explore our Web site, www.VisitTampaBay.com, and utilize all of the resources available to you through the Web site.

To access Tampa Bay & Company’s Partners Only section:
www.VisitTampaBay.com/Partners and click on “Partners Only”.
• Log in using your assigned username and password. If you have not received a username and password, please contact Tampa Bay & Company Marketing Analyst Julie Zambos at jazambos@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4068 or Tampa Bay & Company Partnership Sales Manager Lauren Bowles at LBowles@VisitTampaBay.com or call (813)342‐4085.

To access the Tampa Bay & Company Meetings Convention Calendar:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website, www.VisitTampaBay.com/partners.
• Once logged in, a list of options appears on the main page as well as the left sidebar. Click on “Convention Calendar” to view upcoming Tampa Bay Community Events, Tampa Bay Conventions, Tampa Bay Meetings, etc.

To access and post events to the Tampa Bay & Company Calendar of Events:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, you will see a link that says “Submit Events.” Click on this link and enter your event info and click “Save.”

To post coupons/special offers for Tampa Bay Area Visitors, Meeting Planners and/or Tampa Bay & Company Partners only:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, you will see a link on the main page that says “Add/Edit/Remove Coupons.”
• To submit a new coupon, click on “add coupon” Enter your information and click “Save.”
• Your coupon will then appear as pending until our staff approves the coupon.
• To edit your coupon, click on the coupon title and click “Save.”

To view Tampa Bay Community Calendar of Events and Tampa Bay & Company Partner coupons:
• For visitor coupons, click “Visitors” and click on “Hot Deals” or “Calendar of Events.”
• For meeting planner coupons, click on “Meeting Planners” and click on “Meeting Planner Hot Deals.”
• For partner coupons, log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website and click on “Partner Coupons.”

To view tips from the Tampa Bay & Company Marketing team:
• Log in to the "Partners Only" section of our website.
• Once logged in click "Marketing Tools" to the left.
• Here you will access marketing tools, research and publications.

To view and/or update your profile:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in click on “View Profile.”
• Here you will be able to view your listings and contacts.
• ONLY the primary contact has access to update your account.

To retrieve various Tampa Bay & Company Sales Booking Reports, Action Plans and information about the Tampa Bay Convention and Tourism industry:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, a list of options appears on the left sidebar.  Click on “Sales” for various options.

Tampa Bay Entertainment Alert!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with a Tampa Bay entertainment alert that you will want to hear. 


The Pay-Per-View Welterweight Championship LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV will be shown for FREE! 


Here's what you get for FREE: The 12 Rounds of the Welterweight Championship with Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, plus 10 rds Middleweight Fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Troy Rowland, and 12 rds of the Super Welterweight Championship Daniel Santos vs. Yuri Foreman.


It all happens on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 9pm at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Whammy Bar, Center Bar, Lobby Bar and the Poker Room.


So...BE THERE!  And keep checking back for other Tampa Bay area events and other great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

Biker Bash Returns to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hi everyone...Travis back with some cool Tampa Bay entertainment for you.  Get your engines revved up, because Biker Bash is returning to one of the premier Tampa Bay hotels, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. 


The poolside Bike Bash will be on Sunday, Nov. 15 from noon - 6p.m., featuring the popular 10-Class Bike Show & Contest, a poker walk, live entertainment, $10 bar-b-que, and $2.50 Miller Lite specials.


Registration for the bike contest will be from noon until 3 p.m. and limited to the first 75 motorcycles.  Trophies and prizes will be awarded in each of the 10 classifications.  Oh, and the emcee for the Biker Bash will be Radical Randy.


So, if you need more details, head over to www.seminolehardrock.com.  and as always, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, other Tampa Bay area events and even info about great Tampa Florida attractions. 
 

A New Job Opening...Yes Please

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Partner Pulse
So like everyone else I know right now, I have a few very good friends looking for work in the Tampa Bay market.  It’s a scary time right now and it’s good to keep up on what jobs in the Tampa Bay Meetings market are available…especially in the Tampa, FL hospitality industry.

I check the normal online places on a regular basis for jobs at Tampa Bay Resorts or at the Convention Center Tampa but recently I came across a site that was not so expected.

 
Did you guys know that Tampa Bay & Company has a page that lists job openings for those of us in hospitality.  It was so cool to already have jobs narrowed down and not have to search through page after page of ridiculous “work from home” scheme jobs before I got to something legitimate. There are listings from Tampa Bay Hotels and even some Tampa Bay Resorts.

 

There are several jobs at hotels for people with experience in sales and even jobs through the Hillsborough County Bar Association.  You may be surprised by the variety of listings through Tampa Bay & Company.  I knew they had a broad base of Tampa Bay Partners but I did not realize they could post jobs too.

 

If nothing else, add the link to your regular search and see what other Tampa Bay Hotels, Resorts or Attractions are looking to fill positions.  You never know when you may find that perfect job for a good friend.  Or even better…that perfect job just for you.

Throwing Away Free Money at BBB

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Partner Pulse
I went to Business by the Bay last night at Stump’s Supper Club and actually had a great time at one of the best Tampa Bars in the Channelside District.  There was a guy playing the bass.  And I mean an actual bass like in an orchestra not a bass guitar.  Another guy played the keyboard and sang.

We could have lived without the singing but the music did set up a great environment.  Tampa Bay Entertainment keeps getting better each year I live here.

 

When I got there I was given a free drink ticket and some free bucks to use at the gambling tables provided by Delite Entertainment.  There’s nothing like alcohol and gambling to make for a great night!  The Tampa Bay Hotel sales departments were out in full force.  And it’s always fun to see the guys from The Florida Aquarium.

 

A few chicken fingers later and I’m ready to throw away some free money at the gambling table.  It took 1.3 minutes flat for me to lose everything but the experience was certainly enjoyable.  These days with the Tampa Florida News about the economy any reason to laugh is worth the effort.

 

If you want to come with me and have a great time the next Business by the Bay is at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Carol Morsani Hall November 17th at 5:30 p.m.  We'll be celebrating Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure!

Jerm Goes to Zoo Boo with the Carjavals...

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Bay Bloggers
Jerm at ZooBoo with Princess Anahi!So this past weekend was Halloween of course, and normally my Halloweens are reserved for me siting on the couch and making every effort to not answer the door when trick or treaters come by. Yes I know that sounds awful, but I truly have never gotten into the whole trick or treat, dress up in a costume deal I guess. Yes I know what you are thinking... what a party pooper!

Well this year I decided to switch it up a bit and spend it with my friends the Carvajals and their two little girls at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for the annual Zoo Boo event. 

We got there around 7pm Friday night and it was already packed with pint sized trick or treaters decked out in their scariest costumes. This year’s spook-tacular event featured 12 frightfully fun attractions. Little ones could walk into a world of dazzling lights and friendly Halloween scenes at Little Tyke Boo House, join Frankenstein and friends at his foam party, meet creepy crawling creatures and more.

We pretty much hit everything, and by the end of the night, those two little girls had me dragging tired and hungry! Luckily for us though, the fine folks from Domino's were outside offering up free pizza slices.

It's TinkerBell!This was really a cool event, as basically the entire park is decked out in Halloween garb, with some of the animals still on display. for the kiddies as well as the grown-ups to interact with. The girls got to touch the Manatees, see a baby version of Ivan the Blogging Owl.

We heard that there was a cool animal magic show back at the Safari Lodge, but didn't get a chance to make it back there...bummer, but it definitely gives us something to look forward to next year. If you have never been before, Zoo Boo is a must for any family, or boring friend of the family guy like myself!

That's all for now, stay tuned throughout the week as we will be giving you updates for one of our favorite Tampa Bay area events this weekend at the Annual ZooFari festival at Lowry Park Zoo as well! Come back and visit us soon as well for cool kid friendly things to do in Tampa Bay!

Start your New Year with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino!

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some AWESOME Tampa Bay entertainment that everyone need to be at!  Here's the info just in from the Seminole Hard Rock (one of the best Tampa Bay hotels out there)! 


Musician, singer, songwriter and actor Rick Springfield and his band will perform on Dec. 30 in a state-of-the-art event tent erected just for this concert at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.


Best known for his 1981 Grammy award-winning single, “Jessie’s Girl” on the classic album, Working Class Dog, and his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime drama General Hospital, Springfield has amassed an impressive music collection of almost 20 albums over the years.


The still-handsome Australian-born rocker’s newest CD is a departure for him. Entitled My Precious Little One: Lullabies For A New Generation, it’s a collection of mellow songs he wrote in the 1980s for his boys, now 20 and 21.


His current band includes longtime bass player and collaborator on Venus In Overdrive, Matt Bissonette, keyboard player, Derek Hilland, guitarist George Bernhardt, and drummer Rodger Carter.


Tickets are $55 for reserved seating; $40 general admission, available at the Hard Rock Store and all Ticketmaster outlets starting Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. (you must be 18 years and older.) Doors open at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. Parking, as always, is FREE.


So, I hope to see you all out there!  Until then, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

Dine, Drink and Dance at Zoofari! Ticket Giveaway!

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Partner Pulse
Known as one of Tampa Bay’s largest and “wildest” all-inclusive feeding frenzies in the Area, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo invites all of you food and music lovers to the 23rd annual Zoofari. The night event features all-you-can-eat food sampling from more than 60 local restaurants including but not limited to GrillSmith, Ceviche, The Melting Pot, Longhorn Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The NoHo Bistro and so many more!

Quench your savage thirst at the open bars located in each area throughout the Zoo. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge at the Sweet Safari Station with delectable treats from the Cheesecake Factory, Chantilly Cakes, Edible Arrangements and others.

This widely recognized event isn’t just about filling up your belly with delicious food; Dance the night away to live music from six different bands including the nationally known rock band Sister Hazel on the main stage. There’s just one week left until Zoofari and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is giving you the chance to win tickets!

 Here are the rules:
  1. You have to be a fan of the Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and Zoofari facebook pages.
  2. Change your status to “I want to go to Zoofari at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 7.” Don’t forget that facebook allows you to tag pages and profiles by adding the “@” sign in front the name. (ex.: @Zoofari, @Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo).
  3. Answer the trivia question posted on the Zoofari facebook page.
  4. When you’ve completed all the above tasks, let us know by leaving a comment on the Zoofari page.
  5. Those who complete each task will be entered into a drawing to win two adult complimentary tickets to Zoofari, Saturday November 7th at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. 2 winners will be randomly selected and announced Monday, November 2.
Stay tuned for more updates on Tampa Bay area events and things to do in Tampa Bay!

Bok Tower Gardens' Sunset & Symphony Concert Ticket Giveaway!

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Bay Bloggers
Man I swear I must be super popular, as lately it just seems like I got tickets galore to giveaway! Well today is no different as we are giving away a 4-pack of tickets to the Bok Tower Gardens' Sunset & Symphony Concert next weekend!

In case you were not aware, Bok Tower Gardens will present the award-winning Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in an evening of pops and light classics. Enjoy the drama as the sky transforms from a colorful golden sunset glow into a magical darkened starry night. If you haven't been yet guys, let me be the first to tell you that this is an awesome place to watch a concert, especially at night!

Now in order for you to win,  be sure to follow these simple rules. Now, keep in mind that if you don't win today,  that's no excuse for you to miss this great Tampa Bay area events like this, so hurry up and get your tickets!

Here are the rules again, just in case you forgot...1 - You have to be following us on Twitter.com (www.Twitter.com/VisitTampaBay); 2- Answer two questions about Bok Tower Gardens and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra  3 - You have to re-tweet the original tweet in order to be eligible to win (a lot of people forget this one, so make sure you re-tweet separately); and 4 - You have to answer the question(s) on Twitter and be the first to do so.

Okay guys here goes:
  1. The 205 foot neo-Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon is an experience like no other. Name the famed architect who designed it.
  2. Name the Music Director for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and what year of his tenure is he entering into?
Okay guys there you have it! Be sure to get those answers in fast and furious! I will be announcing the winners around 6pm today so good luck!

Stay tuned for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay and fun stuff from your Tampa Bay team!

NATIONAL EQUESTRIAN SHOW JUMPING FINALS ARE COMING TO TAMPA BAY THIS DECEMBER!

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Josh Jones
Josh Jones here with a Tampa Bay sports update! On December 5, City League International will bring their Grand Prix Team Show Jumping Finals to the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The Grand Prix is the final event in a three day competition that begins on Thursday, December 3. Four riders from each team will compete on Thursday in a points based speed competition. Then, on Friday all members of each team compete in team based competitions. Two riders are then chosen from each team to compete in the Grand Prix on Saturday night. Between the two riders, the lowest point score is dropped and the team with the most overall points from the three days will win the event. The top three riders in the Grand Prix will receive individual gold, silver and bronze medals, while the top eight teams in the overall event will receive prize money up to $25,000.

The teams that will compete in the event are from all over the United States, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. Each team is made up of men and women of different ages that compete against each other as equals. The Grand Prix is an event comprised of speed, precision, and athleticism.
 
City League provides its fans with pony rides and vendor expositions before an event and the unique opportunity to meet riders and pet horses after the event. Spectator interaction and participation are exclusive attributes to the equestrian sport and are exercised by allowing any rider to join the league and compete.

Tickets for the 2009 Grand Prix Show Jumping Finals are available for $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. They can be purchased online, prior to the event, at www.cityleagueinternational.com or at the event on December 5.

Check the website for ticket discounts and giveaways, as well as, team updates. Stay tuned for more things to do in Tampa Bay!

Spartan Soccer Tonight at Pepin Stadium!

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Bay Bloggers
athleticsyck again with another Tampa Bay Sports update! THIS IS SPARTA!!! Pardon me, as I was channeling King Leonidis and my inner Spartan there for a moment.

Image Courtesy of Uinversity of Tamp aAthletics.Tonight the University of Tampa Men's Soccer team will take on St. Leo as they look tclosese out the regular season in style before defending their Sunshine State Conference title!

The Spartans have been ranked in the top 10 in each of the regular season polls this year, including three weeks at number one and will also  look to continue their 16 game home win streak that dates back to 2007 against this same St. Leo Lions team.

The Spartans will also honor a veteran group as tonight will be the final home game for a group of seniors that will be greatly missed come next year. 

The Spartans are led by senior and top goal scorer Pascal Milien, who has tallied 10 goals to go along with three assists for 23 points. In goal for the Spartans is fellow senior Ryan Thompson who boasts an 11-1-1 record with three shutouts and a 0.89 goals against average. Kyle Williams will lead back-linene that has allowed just 12 goals on the year so far.

All fans can access tonight'match-upup via a livweb-castst through www.tampaspartans.com where live stats will be available. If you want to get game updates on your mobiel device, UT also offers eScores, which is a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. Fans may also follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook.

Its gonna be a great night of soccer here in Tampa Bay so be sure to get out there and support these local teams! Jerm will most likely be there tonight in support of his Spartans so be on the lookout for me!

In the meantime, be sure to keep checking back for more Tampa Bay area events updates about the Spartans!

At the USF Bulls Soccer Home Finale Last Night...

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Bay Bloggers
Yo, yo, yo! Whatsup peeps! Jerm here with a tiny re-cap last night of the USF Bulls Men's Soccer game I was at last night. It was in fact senior night last night as the USF Bulls took on the Depaul Blue Demons in Big East play last night.

I  was out at the game last night drumming up some support for the Tampa Bay FIFA World Cup Bid and getting signatures for the petition. Which by the way, if you haven't done that, then you can hop over to our website and do so. I even got to meet Thomas Rongen last night, who is head coach of the US Under 20 Men's National team

It was a difficult game for the Bulls to break open last night as the Blue Demons seemed content to keep at least 9 guys behind the ball all night and just weather the storm, but USF finally made the breakthrough on an absolute rip of a bending free kick just outside the eighteen by Zak Boggs.

I had a feeling when he stepped up to take it that he was going to make it, and I almost started to take some video of it, but told myself, nahhhhhh he's not gonna make it. As a result I will never doubt Zak Boggs again, and neither should you!

Despite a valiant defensive effort by the Blue Demons and plenty of good chances by the Bulls to get on the board again, that is the way the game would end as the Bulls took their overall record to 12-2-2, 6-2-2 in conference play. For the second year in a row, the University of South Florida men's soccer team finished its regular season home schedule without a loss..., now that's impressive!

Great Crowd at the Game Last NightThe Bulls will end the season on the road this weekend vs. a tough Rutgers team sure to be looking to knock off the #9 ranked Bulls in conference play! The following week the Bulls will try and defend their Big East Title against what will be a very tough field of opponents.

For more info on that and other Bulls soccer updates check out the Men's Soccer home page.

But that's not all guys, more soccer action for you tonight as the number 4 seeded Lady Bull's kick-off conference tournament play vs Depaul at 7:30! Coach Denise Schlite-Brown will be looking to start the postseason on a strong note after finishing the season strong with the teams best record since 03'!

Come out tonight and show your support for the Bulls and our World Cup Bid as we will be back out there collecting signatures! Who knows, the USF Athletic department may even feed you as, last night they gave a way free pizza from Papa Johns!

That's all I got for now folks, but stay tuned for more updates from Jerm on USF Tampa Bay area events and things to do in Tampa Bay!

ExTRAVELganza in Tampa Bay!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some Tampa tourism news.  Plus, it's some really cool Tampa Bay entertainment. 


The Sixteenth Annual ExTRAVELganza, the Bay Area's Premier Vacation & Sports Auction
Featuring the New Tours of Taste, take places on Friday, Nov. 13 from 7-10pm. 


It's happening at the at the spectacular newly opened Mainsail Conference Center!  As far as Tampa Bay hotels go, this one is amazing! 


There is no other fundraising event in the Bay Area quite as extraordinary as ExTRAVELganza, which provides the opportunity to purchase dream travel packages while raising scholarship dollars for hospitality and/or culinary arts students.


And, attendees will be delighted with a spectacular inaugural event - a Titanium Chef Competition with celebrity judge. Seats will be limited for this event.


So, make sure you log on to www.extravelganza.org to get more information about attending...also, they are looking for items for the auction.  So, if you have something you'd like to donate, you can do that as well...just check the site for details. 


See you there.  And keep checking back for more updates about Tampa Bay area events and other great things to do in Tampa Bay! 
 

Columbia Restaurant Hosts Florida Conversations

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone!  Travis here with more cool Tampa Bay entertainment!  This just in from the history center...on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7pm the Tampa Bay History Center will present a Florida Conversations lecture featuring USF Historian Andrew Huse and Columbia Restaurant owner Richard Gonzmart.


The two will discuss Huse’s new book, The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture and Cuisine.


Although the Florida Conversations Lecture Series is normally hosted by the Tampa Bay History Center, this special installment will be held at the Siboney Room at the Columbia Restaurant’s Ybor City location.


Huse, a historian with the University of South Florida Libraries Department of Special Collections, worked closely with the Gonzmart Family to write this new centennial history of the famed Tampa restaurant.


In The Columbia Restaurant, Huse provides an in-depth look at the people who made the restaurant great. With a historian's eye for accuracy and a storyteller's ear for anecdotes, Huse traces the fortunes of the Columbia from the founder, Casimiro Hernandez Sr., to his great-grandson, fourth-generation restaurateur Richard Gonzmart.


Florida Conversations features authors covering the history, culture and people of Florida and is presented through a partnership with the University of South Florida Libraries Florida Studies Center.


Here's a great part about this event...it's FREE and open to the public. For additional information or to find out about upcoming lectures just head over to www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.  Have fun all you history majors and fans!


And keep checking back for more cool Tampa Bay area events, and other things to do in Tampa Bay. 
 

Howl-O-Scream Giveaway Winner!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by jeremy fairley
Alright guys, well I thought I was able to stump everyone this time with the difficult trivia questions, but I guess I was wrong and we have a winner!

Oh well I guess I won't get to keep the tickets for myself and take one of my lovely lady friends to meet Ms. Vayne! Instead our good friend Justin Kidder will have to take my place and find a lady friend of his own!

Congratulations to Justin and whomever he is taking with him as he gets to enjoy the prize package of a 4-pack of tickets with front of the line fear passes, and tickets to fright feast! This is also the last week of Howl-O-Scream, so maybe Ms. Vayne will show up and recruit Justin and his guests? Okay maybe not, but congrats Justin and thanks to everyone that played today!

If you didn't win, you can still purchase tickets on-line or just go Thursday, Friday or Saturday and get your tickets at the box office!

Stay tuned for the rest of this week as I may be giving away some other stuff to other Tampa Bay area events! Jerm is signing off now so stay tuned for updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!