Displaying items by tag: Florida

The Florida State Fair may only occur once a year, but the fairgrounds are open year round! Here are some of the fun concerts that the Florida State Fairgrounds and the Ford Amphitheatre will host this summer.

Aug. 8: Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney will perform in concert with special guests Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum on Saturday, August 8 at the Ford Amphitheatre. The gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $80 for reserved seating and $39.50 for each lawn area ticket.

“Today is a historic day, today is a scenic day,” noted Pinellas County Commissioner, Karen Seel, speaking at the June 25th Courtney Campbell Causeway 75th anniversary rededication of a historical marker. The Causeway “is just beautiful and it leads me to paradise. “

The marker honoring the Courtney Campbell Causeway had been moved due to construction and the rededication also celebrated its return in a short ceremony in which Clearwater Mayor, Frank Hibbard, spoke, along with others. Many dignitaries from Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties were in attendance, truly a symbol of how the Courtney Campbell “bridges” the two counties.

Governor Charlie Crist made a stop in Oldsmar on June 25th to sign into law Florida Senate Bill 198, which formally adopted a state flag in honor of Florida’s fallen firefighters. “The Firefighter Memorial Flag honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our hearts and eternal gratitude go out to these public servants and their loved ones,” said Gov. Crist during his address. “Florida’s firefighters are public servants of the highest caliber, risking their own safety every day to ensure their fellow Floridians are safe.”

Heritage Village recently was designated as one of the top five living history museums in Florida by "American Heritage" Magazine. The honor was announced in the magazine's Summer 2009 issue in the magazine's "Guide to Historic Sites in Florida" special section.

Cleveland Street District, Clearwater - On May 9th, Cleveland Street went to the dogs! But don’t worry, they had their owners with them. The 4th Annual Pet Festival was held in the Cleveland Street District, between East Avenue and Ft. Harrison.  Animal lovers and the animals they love browsed booths while picking up information on canine-related issues.

To call attention to Endangered Species Day, which is May 15th, Save the Manatee Club wants the public to be aware that manatee deaths are up this year compared with recent years, with high numbers of watercraft mortalities (33). Manatees are listed as endangered on the international, national, and state levels.

“A total of 200 manatees were confirmed dead as of May 1st,” said Dr. Katie Tripp, Save the Manatee Club’s Director of Science & Conservation. “Cold stress was a significant cause of manatee mortality this winter, with 47 confirmed deaths, but some other forms of mortality, including watercraft mortality, have also exceeded the 5-year average so far in 2009. In 2006, which was the deadliest year for manatees, with 417 confirmed deaths for the entire year, 159 had died by May 1st, suggesting that 2009 could set a new mortality record if trends from early 2009 continue. With the end of winter and the start of the summer boating season, it will be as important as ever to be on the lookout for manatees so that additional watercraft injuries and deaths can be minimized for the remainder of 2009.”

To learn more about manatees, visit Save the Manatee Club’s website at www.savethemanatee.org.

Martinis and Matisse an Art Lottery

This year at this unique event, guest will view dozens of donated works of art while enjoying martinis, smooth jazz music, and fantastic food and desserts provide by area restaurants, Bonefish Grill, Bella Vino, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Rumba Island Bar & Grill, Guppy’s on the Beach, Marlin Darlin’, E & E Stakeout Grill, Island Way Grill, Mecca Café’, and Greektown Grille.

At the end of the evening, each piece of art will go home with a winner of the lottery style auction.

FINALLY, SOME GOOD REAL ESTATE NEWS!

From my personal experience, I’ve been noticing that my listings are being shown more, and that prices seem to be stabilizing. Buyers are poking
out their heads again, that they are finding that the water is fine!

Even the National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales in Florida increased in October, actually by 15% over last September. Condo sales are also up, but not so drastic, with a 5% increase over last year.

Last October’s median home price was $222,200 and this October’s median home price was $169,700. That is a 24 percent decrease in one year.

Prices had flown out of reach very quickly, and this adjustment, although painful to homeowners that now owe more on their home that it is worth, is really good news to people looking to buy.

Urban Dining and Entertainment News by Ali Seghrouchni

Time to Make the Doughnuts

Win FREE DUNKIN’ Doughnuts for a Year!

A brand new Dunkin’ Donuts is now open in Downtown Clearwater, located in the Historic Red Brick Telephone Building, 534 Cleveland Street.

Their Grand Opening Event – Friday, December 5.

First 50 customers in the doors beginning at 5 a.m. will win FREE Dunkin’ Treats for a year (including products such as coffee, sandwiches, etc.)

Anyone making a purchase on Friday, December 5, will have their receipt entered in the store’s raffle drawing for 1pm on Saturday, December 6 (must be present to win.)

Mayor Frank Hibbard will be visiting the location at 10am for the restaurant’s official ribbon cutting.

More prizes at the Grand Opening Event – Saturday, December 6

For the 1pm raffle drawing (for which people are entered if they made a purchase on 12/5 and are present for the drawing), 1st prize is a Flat Screen TV, 2nd prize is a digital camera, 3rd prize is three iPod Nanos (3 winners), and 10 runner-up prizes of $50 gift cards (10 winners) will be given away.

Visitors between 6pm – 11pm will receive a free cup or cone of Baskin Robbins Soft Serve Ice Cream for 25 cents.