Tampa Bay Sports

Hey everyone!  Travis back with some Tampa Bay entertainment in one of my favorite areas of Tampa Bay...historic Ybor City! 

Anyone and everyone can come join the fun and ambiance of Ybor City for a day of activities celebrating the rich cigar heritage that once made Tampa the "Cigar Capital of the World."

Join thousands of cigar enthusiasts at the 11th annual Cigar Heritage Festival!  You can see master cigar makers Wallace and Margarita Reyes attempt to break the record for "World's Longest Cigar."

The current US Record Holder was in 2006...which was 30.78 meters.  I mean, how cool would that be??!! 

Plus, you can shop the World's Finest Cigars, including Cuesta Rey, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, Camacho, 601, and many more!

Also, there'll be a Kid Zone, Food Court, Cigar Accessories, Tours of the Ybor City Museum State Park, Cigar Rolling, Live Entertainment, Charity Beer Garden, Authentic Cultural Food Vendors, Cultural Activities For The Whole Family, the Ybor City Fresh Market, and the list just keeps going! 

And for all of you sports fans, they have you covered too, because there'll be a Game Zone featuring NCAA Football, Poker, Dominos, & More! 

It all happens in CENTENNIAL PARK in YBOR CITY (on 9th Ave. between 18th and 19th Streets).  It's tomorrow from 10am to 5pm, so make plans to stop by during the day!  You can bet you'll see me out there. 

Have a great time everyone!  And keep checking back here for other Tampa Bay area events and other great things to do in Tampa Bay! 
 

Hey everyone, Ece Yilmaz here with upcoming exciting sports news that you don’t wanna miss. The Suncoast Sports Festival will be hosting sports at three different locations in Tampa January 23-24, 2010!!!

Come join our nation’s best athletes from fourteen exciting sports, as they compete against each other at the Suncoast Sports Festival in Florida State Fairgrounds, University of South Florida and Ed Radice Sports Complex. Here is more info:

FLORIDA STATE FAIR GROUNDS
Come to the Florida Fairgrounds arenas (Expo Hall and Entertainment Hall) for girls and boys AAU and USAG gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline, rhythmic gymnastics, karate, tae kwon do, baton, spirit cheerleading, spirit dance, Florida amateur wrestling, and cross country  events. 

Participating Sports:

January 23, Saturday: Girls Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Tramp and Tumbling, TaeKwon Do, Karate, Cheerleading, Dance

January 24, Sunday: Girls Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Tramp and Tumbling, Boys Gymnastics, Wrestling, Baton

Admissions:
Daily: $12 per adult, $8 for children (5-17), under 5 is free
Weekend: $17 per adult, $13 for children (5-17), under 5 is free
Parking: There will be a nominal fee for parking.

THE ED RADICE SPORTS COMPLEX
Hey baseball fans! In case you're not aware, The Ed Radice Sports Complex is hosting the IBC baseball events for The Suncoast Sports Festival.  Looks like it is going to be very exciting, so get your tickets now!

Participating Sports:

January 23-24, Saturday & Sunday: Baseball

Admissions: 
Daily: $5 per day, Children under 5 is free

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
University of South Florida will be home for synchronized swimming and basketball events of The Suncoast Sports Festival.  If you are looking for an amazing swimming show, don’t wait so long to buy your tickets!

Admissions: 
Daily: $8 per adult, $5 for children (5-17), under 5 is free
Weekend: $10 per adult, $7 for children (5-17), under 5 is free

Participating Sports:
January 23, Saturday: Basketball, Synchronized Swimming
January 24, Sunday: Basketball, Synchronized Swimming

If you don’t wanna miss all the action, there is also grand slam package for all sporting events:
$25 per person for all sporting events for adults,
$17 per person for all sporting events for children.

Enjoy the ultimate sports event in Central Florida!!! It is also Florida’s number one spot for all of the athletes in your family. Bring the whole family and enjoy everything that the SSF can offer you.  You can find more information and details about the festival at: www.allsportsinvitational.com.

Stay tuned for more updates on Tampa Bay area events and other great things to do in Tampa bay! 
 

UT will play host to Albany State in Thursday's opening round in the 7:30 p.m. match. The winner of the South Regional will advance to the NCAA Elite Eight which will be held at a campus site to be determined.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate for $10 (adults) and $6 (students with ID/senior citizens). Children under the age of five shall be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Go out and support my Spartans as they look to bring home another national Championship trophy!

Thats all for now, but stay tuned for more Tampa Bay Sports updates from Jerm and your Tampa Bay team! 

hey everyone!  Travis back with some really fun Tampa Bay entertainment for the holidays!  We are heading to the USF area to have some fun with one of the best Tampa Florida attractions around...MOSI! 

This Thanksgiving Break, MOSI will be offering “Camp Turkey,” which is a unique approach to learning about traditional Thanksgiving foods.

Campers will work in MOSI’s lab and experiment on classic Thanksgiving dinner items by freezing them and finding out what makes them taste the way they do.

Campers will also explore the way Native Americans prospered by making artifacts and crafts and learning hunting techniques.

Here's the REALLY fun part...children will celebrate Thanksgiving the MOSI way by launching a turkey with a catapult. (For Kindergarten – 4th Graders.)

The Camp takes place November 23, 24,and 25, from 9am to 4 pm.  Like i said, it all happens at MOSI (4801 East Fowler Avenue).  the cost to attend is $95 (for MOSI Members) and $114 (for nonmembers). 

Just head over to www.MOSI.org for more info.  And as always, keep checking back here for more info about great things to do in Tampa Bay!
 

Hey gang!  Travis here with some cool Tampa Bay entertainment.  The University of South Florida Alumni Association announces its Super Bull XIII 2009 Homecoming events to be held next week.  Here are the details you need to know:

Monday, November 16
What: Homecoming Kick-off
Where: Marshall Center Ballroom, USF Tampa campus
When: Noon
Info: The USF Alumni Association continues its tradition of presenting the USF students with the opposing team’s (University of Louisville) mascot at the official Homecoming kick-off to burn at the November 20 Parade After-Party.

Friday, November 20
What: Parade Watch Party
Where: Gibbons Alumni Center front lawn, USF Tampa campus
When: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Info: FREE event with music, games and food samplings from the Bulls Country vendors.  The Alumni Association will participate in the Homecoming parade, which begins at 7:00 p.m., with a decorated float.  

What: Serengeti Night Safari at Busch Gardens:  In collaboration with the USF Alumni Association
Where: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
When: 9:00-11:30 p.m.
Info: Explore the sights, sounds and tastes of Africa during this one-of-a-kind experience to be held after the USF Homecoming parade. Call 1-888-800-5447 for more information and to make reservations.  Tickets are $45.00 for adults plus tax, and $25.00 for youth 5 to 16 years of age plus tax.

Saturday, November 21
What: Bulls Roast Tailgate
Where: Fenced lot outside Gates A & B at Raymond James Stadium
When: 3 hours prior to kickoff of the USF vs. Louisville game (9 a.m. tailgate for noon game)
Info: Barbeque, music, Budweiser® beer and sangria, face painters, games, FREE USF spirit supplies and scheduled appearances by Herd of Thunder, Rocky, USF Sun Dolls and Cheerleaders.  Tickets are $35 for USF Alumni Association members and $45 for non-members and can be purchased at www.USFalumni.org/bullsroast or by calling 813-974-0338.

Kickoff for the Homecoming football game against the Louisville Cardinals is at noon Saturday, November 21.  The game has been selected as the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week and will air locally on WFTS-TV ABC 28.

so, get out there and support the USF Bulls!  And we'll see you back here for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, and other awesome Tampa Bay area events!
 

Hey everyone...Travis here with some cool Tampa Bay entertainment, and at one of the coolest Tampa Bay area attractions!

Internationally known artist Gary Gessford will offer a three-day landscape painting workshop for intermediate and advanced students of watercolor, acrylic and oils November 13-15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gessford will teach how to create atmosphere between foreground and background by painting trees and vegetation to give depth in landscape paintings. This is the first in a series of three painting workshops and enrollment is limited and costs $325 or $275 for members.

Plus, discounts are available for registrations in multiple workshops. Just call 863-734-1221 or email phrestina@boktower.org for reservations.

An artist for more than 30 years and owner of Gessford Studio in Mulberry, Gessford has painted, taught, lectured and exhibited extensively in Washington, D.C., Paris, France and in Germany where he received a six month fellowship. He trained at the Ringling School of Art, Corcoran School of Art, Georgia State University and the University of South Florida.

Gessford also offers workshops on floral painting on March 12–14 and architecture in landscape May 21–23 focusing on the Mediterranean-style architecture of Pinewood Estate.
Each three-day workshop has limited attendance and costs $325 for the general public, or $275 for members.

A 10 percent discount will be offered for registration in two workshops and 15 percent for all three workshops.

So, get out there and get your paint on at Bok Tower Gardens!  Keep checking back for other things to do in Tampa Bay and other Tampa Bay area events.
 

Hi all...Travis back for some Tampa Bay entertainment news for all of you sports and lifting fans out there. 

You may have heard, but the Raw Unity Power Lifting Championship is coming to town, and if you haven't heard, just click here to read the previous post from the Tampa Bay Sports guys!

Well, they have 5 spots available in the female division, 6 spots available in the heavyweight division, 8 spots available in the bench only division and 8 spots available in the deadlift only division.

So, if you are interested and meet the lifting requirements, get signed up soon! 

If you are interested in competing at Raw Unity then please check out the qualifying totals to see if you qualify for the meet...just click here.  
 

If you have not qualified and would like to apply for a spot, then simply send a “lifter resume” to erictalmant@yahoo.com.  Please include videos or links to videos if you would like to improve your chances.

Also, if you aren't a "lifter" but you know some who may be interested, pass the word to any and all lifters that may be interested. 

The roster that has been assembled is arguably one of the best that the sport of powerlifting has seen in a long time. 

If you want to see the current roster,just click here. 

Oh, and you can also attend if you just want to see the action.  I will definitely be heading out to see this one! 

Until then, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay.
 

Hey everyone!  Travis here with two upcoming exciting Tampa Bay area events that you don’t wanna  miss!

The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, November 25 at 7pm and the New York Rangers on Friday, November 27 at 7:30pm.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch all favorite athletes including Vincent Lecavlier, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman!

Lightning fans should look for regular announcements detailing the upcoming games and events. As always, you are encouraged to check out www.tampabaylightning.com to get more details about each game day for Official Game Notes, the latest stats, stories, game previews, line-ups and more.

Once again, come to support your team. The Deadline to order tickets is the day before the game days at noon or until the tickets are sold out. Don’t forget: “Together We Will”.  these are definitely the best St. Pete Times Forum tickets you can get. 

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

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 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! 
 

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.