Tampa Bay Shopping

Hi all!  Travis here with the cool Tampa Bay area events taking place in Ybor City tomorrow, Nov. 7.  There some neat things to do in Tampa Bay, so listen up. 

Ybor Art Walk (at Various locations) - from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Ybor Art Walk, a monthly art event sponsored by Ybor Art Association, will take place in history Ybor City.

The Art Walk is a self-guided tour of over 20 participating artistic venues in Ybor City. This month, Square One Rocks! will kick off at 11:00am at the Ritz Ybor (www.ritzybor.com).

No street closures are planned and for more information and a brochure, visit www.YAAOnline.org. 

Kraftz for Kids (at 1923 East 7th Avenue) - it happens from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  You can indulge yourself in some crafty creations!  

Jezabelles and Her Wandering Gypsies are hosting a FREE event each Saturday for the entire family.   For more information and a schedule, call  813 / 247-1923 or email jezabelle-gypsies@hotmail.com 

Ybor City Saturday Market at Centennial Park East Pavillion from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  If you are looking for fresh produce or a November shopping adventure, then this is the place for you. 

Visit the Ybor Market this Saturday in Centennial Park.  For more information, please contact Lynn Schultz at 813/241-2442 or visit www.ybormarket@yahoo.com.

and there you go...so get out and start exploring Tampa's historic Ybor City.  and keep checking back for other things to do in Tampa Bay.
 

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!
 

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, insect repellent and flashlights. Handicapped parking and shuttle service will be available.

Holy cow, that's a lot to take in, but its well worth it as this is going to be an amazing show! There is still time to purchase tickets so hop to it!

Until the next time, stay tuned in for more Tampa Bay area events and fun things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

Hey everyone!  Travis here with all of the Tampa Bay area events happening at the Florida State Fairgrounds for the rest of November.  So, we won't drag it out and here with go some Tampa Bay entertainment. 

Nov. 6-8: Junior League of Tampa Holiday Gift Market - The Junior League of Tampa hosts its 6th annual Holiday Gift Market fundraising event in the Sweetbay Entertainment Hall. The three-day shopping event features more than 120 specialty merchants from across the country offering unique merchandise such as boutique jewelry, clothing, handbags, home goods, children's items, gourmet foods, and much more! 

Event hours are Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission tickets at the door are $5 per adult and children ages 12 and younger enter free. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus. For more information, visit online www.jltampa.org.

Nov. 13-15: Dixie Fest & Rib Burn-Off - Held outdoors at the Fairgrounds, Dixie Fest welcomes people to celebrate their southern pride during this three-day event. Main events scheduled to take place include monster truck rides, battle of the tribute bands, a Miss Dixie beauty contest, Dixie babes bikini contest, a nightly biker parade, a "Southern Boyz" all male revue, a karaoke contest, and a best tattoo artist contest.

In addition, there will be a variety of foods, vendors, and more.  Event hours are Friday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from Noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 9 p.m. General admission is $10 each day or $20 for a 3-day admission pass for ages 15 and older, and free admission for children ages 14 and younger. Active military personnel with valid I.D. receive reduced admission for $5 per day. Parking is $3 per motorcycle, $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus. To purchase tickets in advance, visit online www.dixiefestnow.com or any Ticketmaster location.  

Nov. 14: Pet Adoption Expo - The ASPCA, Humane Society of Tampa Bay and No More Homeless Pets team up to present this one-day adoption event featuring over 40 animal rescue groups with hundreds of animals looking for a good home. Held in the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center, there will also be pet demonstrations and vendors with pet specialty items for sale. Event hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free for this event only. For more information, visit online www.humanesocietytampa or call Lisa Knight at 813-367-2078.

Nov. 14-15: Southeast Hunter Jumper Horse Show - The Southeast Hunter Jumper Association will host a two-day horse competition held in the Gran Prix Ring and Pony Ring at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The show starts at 8 a.m. each day. Competitions will be held in hunter and jumper divisions for children and adult categories with prizes to be awarded. Entry fees vary based on the entry category.

Participants must pre-register and fees must be paid with entry submission. Admission and parking are free for spectators. Participants and visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit online www.sehj.com.

Nov. 17: Tampa Bay Senior Expo - The Tampa Bay Senior Expo is a special event designed to help seniors find local professionals who offer expertise in financial planning, health, fitness, volunteerism and recreation. Held in the Sweetbay Entertainment Hall for one day only, there will be free educational seminars, over 100 exhibits, health screenings and giveaways throughout the day.

Event hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission and parking are free courtesy of The St. Petersburg Times. For more information, visit online www.tampabayexpos.com.

Nov. 22: Cheer & Dance Blast - Cheer Champion Express will host an officially sanctioned USASF all star event open to all youth Rec cheer & dance teams, school cheer & dance teams, all star cheer & dance teams, dance studios and individual competitors. 

Individual and team registration fees vary depending on application entry date. Held in the Sweetbay Entertainment Hall, event hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 each for spectators and children ages five and younger enter free. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus for each time a vehicle enters the grounds. For more information, visit online www.ccecheer.com.

Those are just a few of the events taking place at the Fairgrounds for the rest of the month, so head over to www.floridastatefair.com to get a full list of Tampa Bay area events!

Until next time, keep checking back for other things to do in Tampa Bay.
 

Ok, this is some pretty cool Tampa Bay entertainmet everyone.  Travis here to help you get through a tough day with some handbags and a happy hour! 

You can join Neiman Marcus for an accessory lovers' dream! A night full of handbags, shoes, makeup and accessories!

Neiman Marcus presents Handbags and Happy Hour, feturing a live auction of deisgner bags and accessories, a silent auction of "enchanting enhancements," and a raffle for beauty baskets from Neiman's featured cosmetic retailers.

Enjoy fine wines, martinis and hors d'oeuvres as well, with emcees from Studio 10, Holley Sinn and Jerome Ritchey.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. For additional information please call 813-288-2600 or email specialevents@suncoastwish.org.

So, if you're interested, get out there and get ready to do some Tampa Bay shopping. 

See you back here later for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, and other Tampa Bay area events.
 

Hey everyone! Travis here with the ulitmate in Tampa Bay entertainment.  I bet many of you didn't know that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus makes its World Debut each year in Tampa!!!!! 

That's right...each year there's a new show and the first people who get to see it are in Tampa Bay!  Well, it's getting to be that time of year again, and details are starting to come out, so listen up! 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is roaring into Tampa January 6-10 with Barnum’s FUNundrum, a celebration of P. T. Barnum so big, it is an event 200 years in the making!

From the moment guests arrive, the momentum explodes as The Greatest Show On Earth comes to life in a way that can only be inspired by the greatest showman who ever lived. 

Hop aboard and go on an unbelievable excursion that brings together performers and characters from exotic countries all over the world - even from places for which there are no geographic borders.

Thrill-seekers may pay for the entire seat, but will only need its edge as a rip-roaring motorcycle troupe braves fear and physics in the 16-foot Spherical Miracle. 

Height-seeking high-wire artists perform 40 feet in the air, all while at a 45 degree angle.  Masters of Musculature use their bodies in the ultimate test to see how far the human body can be pushed in a mind-blowing world of distortion and contortion. 

Just as the Ringling Bros. train keeps traveling from city to city, Barnum’s FUNundrum keeps the energy going as each extraordinary act blends thrills and contemporary spectacle to overdeliver a heart-racing experience that, until now, was beyond imagination! 

Beginning 90 minutes before show time, families can get up close with some of their favorite animal performers in the free Animal Open House.  And then, starting one hour before the show, guests can join on the arena floor for the All Access Pre-show, free to all ticket holders.

Here are the show times:
Wednesday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 9 at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 10 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

It's all at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa.  Ticket Prices start at $15 and go up.  All seats are reserved, and tickets go on sale November 20 at 10:00 a.m. at any Ticketmaster outlet, the McDonald’s® Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum, or by phone at 813-287-8844 in Hillsborough or 727-898-2100 in Pinellas. 

And there you have it.  But I'll be back with more info as the show gets closer, and maybe even some tickets giveaways! 

Until then, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay and other Tampa Bay area events!
 

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some Tampa Bay entertainment that is a must-see!  The Tampa Bay Lightning and its players will host their second “Lightning Unplugged” event of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

It all happens in Center Court at The Shops at Wiregrass located in Wesley Chapel.

For those who have not heard of these series, “Unplugged” is a new series of fan friendly events in the Tampa Bay community hosted by former Lightning player and 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Chris Dingman.

It offers fans a chance to meet the Lightning players and ask them questions in an open, casual, barrier-free environment.  This event will feature perennial NHL All-Star Martin St. Louis and new Lightning goaltender Antero Niittymaki joining Dingman at The Shops at Wiregrass. 

Also at the mall will be the Lightning Fan Interactive Truck, ThunderBug and the Lightning Girls. There will also be a merchandise tent, a ticket booth where fans can purchase tickets to upcoming Lightning games and Wiregrass’ holiday ice rink will be open to fans for skating.

Fans in attendance will also have the opportunity to enter to win great prizes. The entrance to the event will be on Piazza Ave. near GrillSmith New American Grill. Following “Unplugged” there will be a post-event party located at The Brass Tap (just south of Center Court on Piazza Ave.). The party will begin immediately following the event and will feature great drink specials (for those of us old enough to attend).

And there'll be more of these Tampa Bay area events, so Lightning fans should look for regular announcements detailing the future stops of “Unplugged” throughout the 2009-10 season. As always, you are encouraged to visit www.tampabaylightning.com to get more details about these happening. 

As always, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay! 
 

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!
 

Travis here with a truly delicious event – the Ruskin Seafood and Arts Festival.  As far as Tampa Bay area events go, this one is at the top of the list to attend.  From Nov. 7-8, sun, sand and plenty of seafood line the shores of Tampa Bay for the annual Ruskin Seafood and Arts Festival. 

More than 20 vendors and restaurants offer visitors tastes of their seafood specialties, including shrimp, cracked conch, grouper sandwiches, clam chowder, alligator and oysters. 

In addition to the seafood, an arts and crafts area has nearly 100 displays of hand-crafted goods, wood carvings, furniture, jewelry, stained glass items and commercial exhibits. Other entertainment includes a boat show, children’s court and exotic animals. 

There’s something for the entire family, so head out and enjoy a day full of food, culture and fun!  Admission is $5 for adults and children (under 12) are FREE.  Plus, parking is free!  Visit www.ruskinseafoodfestival.org to get more details. 

So, put it on your calendar and get ready for a great time!  And keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

Hey everyone!  Travis here with some great Tampa Bay area events taking place at the famed Florida State Fairgrounds throughout the rest of the month!  From cool concerts and equestrian shows to retail and deli expos...the Fairgrounds has it all. 

So, let's get to it shall we...take a look:

Oct. 16: Concert - Brad Paisley:  Brad Paisley will perform in concert with special guests Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne at the Ford Amphitheatre at the Fairgrounds. Ticket prices are $57.75 and $47.75 for reserved seating, $29.75 for lawn area seating, and $99 for a 4-pack of lawn tickets. For the latest concert information and to get more details, visit www.livenation.com. 

Oct. 16-17: FWRHA Horse Show: The Florida Walking and Racking Horse Association (FWRHA) will host a two-day, two judge horse show for all levels of riders in the Charlie Lykes Arena. The show starts at 10 a.m. each day.  Entry fees vary based on the entry category. Admission and parking are FREE for spectators. if you need more details, just head over to www.fwrha.org. 

Oct. 16-18: Tampa Bay Boat Show: The St. Petersburg Times presents the boating event of the season featuring millions of dollars of inventory in new boats and watercraft on display in the Expo Hall. Visitors can shop for the boat of their dreams, check out special exhibits with the latest in supplies and accessories, or see one of a series of Florida fishing school seminars. The area's top fishing guides and local experts will provide great tips and secrets to learn how to catch the big one. Event hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is FREE for all ages. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus. For more details, visit www.tampabayboatshows.com. 

Oct. 17-18: Gun Show & Sale:  One of Florida's premier gun shows returns to the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center for two days. The Suncoast Gun Show and Sale features firearms-related accessories including gun parts, gun-related tools, knives, cases, locks, cartridge boxes and belts, and ammunition for collectors. Show hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, children 12 and younger are admitted free. All persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Plus, the Concealed Weapons/Firearms Safety Course fee is $45 per person. The classes are offered on both days at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and last approximately two hours. All students must attend the range training and the range fee is $5. Appointments are not needed for these classes, nor are firearms. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus for each time a vehicle enters the grounds. For more information and online admission coupons, visit online www.suncoastgunshows.com.

Oct. 17-18: Slamfest Custom Car & Show:  Mini Madness presents its 18th annual custom car and mini-truck show featuring over 1,400 custom vehicles on display at the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center and outdoors at the Fairgrounds. Activities include a burnout competition, car club games and on-site vendors selling merchandise. Thousands of dollars in giveaways and prizes will be awarded to Best of Show for import car, domestic car, and mini and full size truck/SUV categories.

Event hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $15 per person each day and free for children ages 12 and younger. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus. For more information, visit www.minimadness.com.

Oct. 30: Concert - Styx & REO Speedwagon: Styx will perform in concert with special guests REO Speedwagon and Night Ranger at the Ford Amphitheatre. Ticket prices are $59.50, $39.50, $29.50 and $19.50 for each reserved seat or $60 for a 4-pack of reserved seating tickets. The lawn area is closed for this concert. Rain or shine. For the latest concert information about Ford Amphitheatre events, visit online www.livenation.com or call 813-740-2446.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Florida's Largest Fall Home Show: Held in the Expo Hall, Florida's Largest Fall Home Show provides a one-stop marketplace to see the latest products and services in remodeling, decorating, landscaping and furnishings for the home. Show hours are Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $8 for adults; seniors ages 55 and up pay $7 each, and children under 12 enter free with an adult. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per RV or bus. For more information, visit www.bighomeshow.com or call Turner Exposition at 813-677-6925.

Ok, so that was a lot of info, but believe it or not, there is much more going on at the Fairgrounds throughout the rest of October!  So, get out there and have some fun! 

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

 

1. Name two of the four #1 Pet Shop Boys hit singles: West End Girls, __________, Always on My Mind, ___________.

Hey everyone!  Travis here with another exciting giveaway!  This time we are giving away 2 tickets to see the Pet Shop Boys for their Pandemonium Tour on Thursday, September 10 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 

We will give the tickets away on Tuesday, Sept. 1.  Again, this will be a Facebook giveaway, so you have to be a fan of the Visit Tampa Bay Facebook page - www.facebook.com/visittampabay. 

As always, if you are one of the first 10 people to respond correctly to the trivia question, then you'll have a shot of the tickets. 

Here's a description of the show...from the Performing Arts Center - One of the most iconic and influential pop acts in the world, the Pet Shop Boys return with their ninth album Yes, their first release on Astralwerks. In a career spanning more than two decades, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have created some of the most beloved and recognizable hits in the world (`West End Girls', `It's A Sin', `New York City Boy', etc.), and sold more than 30 million records. They've worked with artists like Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Electronic and Madonna.

Filled with sparkling state of the art pop songs, Yes is an affirmation of the duo's knack for mixing innovative artistry with exuberant commercial appeal. Produced by the acclaimed Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugerbabes, Cher, Annie, Saint Etienne), the album features guitar work by ex-Smith Johnny Marr and orchestral arrangements by Owen Pallett (Last Shadow Puppets, Final Fantasy).

of course, you can get more info on the Performing Arts Center Website...www.tbpac.org. 

So, make sure you are on the visit tampa bay facebook page (www.facebook.com/visittampabay) at 11am on Tuesday, Sept. 1 for a chance to win these tickets. 

And keep checking back here for more Tampa Bay entertainment options and other great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

So we had to buy  a pop up tent today for our pre-promote booth.  We are in the sun so we needed some shade.  We went to buy a tent, but where?  Well we found out this place Baumax and let me tell you how awesome it was. 

It was better than a Home Depot and Lowes combined.  Like a Home Expo but maybe a little better.  They are not messing around with cool home stuff.  Their ‘burbs are like ours.  All cool stores and yes, I live in the city in our standards. 

We needed to get some water for the tent too so we went to the grocery store.  In the city where we are staying, it is a market the size of your closet but in the ‘burbs, it is a grocery store in the MALL. That is right, the mall.

The Echo shoe store is across the mall walk.  They have a food court like we do too.  Can you imagine going to Publix at the Westshore Mall?  Well, it is just like it.  Like a Super Target I would say.  Their big bottles are funny too.  A big coke is a bottle coke style but really big.   Our 2 litre is fat. This thing is the size of a cool glass bottle but large!

So I learned today that Praha, that is Prague, in Czeck language, has lots of cool American stuff but with a 1,600 year old buildings.  You know they were spared the bombings of the last World War so their buildings are still standing.  And beautiful at that. 

In the next blog, I will chat about other stuff but it will not be about us getting lost which we have done frequently OR the venue in the middle of NOWHERE.  With it's proximity, Tampa Bay entertainment, and all the things to do in Tampa Bay, it rocks as a venue! 

If you haven't had the chance, log on to http://idbfworldchamps.com to check the results of today's races, as well as the races throughout the week. 

More to come soon...of to bed.  It's almost midnight here and I'm exhausted.