Easter’s almost here! Start planning your Easter weekend now - there are plenty of fun family activities going on in Tampa Bay.

Easter Cottage at Hyde Park Village

Visit with the Easter Bunny in Hyde Park Village! The bunny will be available and offering professional photo packages on March 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, and 30. The Easter Bunny’s hours are available here.

Easter brunch with the Easter Bunny at Maestro's

Maestro's Restaurant at the Straz Center will have Easter brunch with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, March 31. Seatings are at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. To make a reservation, call 813-229-STAR (7827).

Easter at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City

Florida’s oldest restaurant, the family-owned Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, will be open on Easter and serving holiday favorites such as roast leg of lamb “Dali” and baked Virginia ham, finished off with chocolate tres leches (sponge cake in a mixture of three milks and chocolate) and fresas con bizcocho de almendras (fresh strawberries with sherry on homemade almond cake) for dessert. They will also have sangria available made with champagne and citrus juices.  

The Columbia Café on the Riverwalk and at Tampa International Airport will also be open on Easter, though not serving an Easter menu.  

Easter brunch at Aqua

At the Westin Tampa Bay hotel, Aqua’s waterfront dining will be serving over 25 chef-inspired menu items, such as brioche French toast, made-to-order omelets, and herb roasted beef, along with mimosas and bloody mary’s. The brunch is $49.95 for adults and $15.95 for children 10 and under. To make a reservation, call 813-675-8700 or visit AquaTampa.com.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend at Irish 31’s two-day PaddyFest party on March 16-17! Supporting the Mike Alstott Foundation, the street festival features live entertainment from ten performers, including America’s #1 U2 tribute band, Mysterious Ways and is located in South Tampa's Hyde Park Village.

There will also be food, leprechauns, face painters, and a cornhole tournament with a $1,500 cash prize. Those dressed up as St. Patrick have a chance to win a trip to Ireland. Bring your kids – there will be a kids zone on Sunday from noon - 4 p.m.

Purchase tickets at www.irish31.com.

Stay tuned for more fun festivities to celebrate the luck of the Irish this weekend in Tampa Bay!

Keep your "Irish eyes are smiling", Busch Gardens of Tampa bay offering green beer and classic Irish fare for St. Patty’s Day

Busch Gardens^® Tampa is providing guests with plenty of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend! March 16-17, enjoy traditional Irish food such as corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer while roaming the theme park.

The festive food and drinks will be available at the Dessert Grill and Crown Colony House^® Restaurant. 

While celebrating the luck o’ the Irish, check out the baby aardvark recently born on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The healthy baby is expected to grow to more than 120 lbs. within its first year of life, and is the third baby born to parents Izzy and Friz.

To purchase tickets, visit buschgardens.com. 

Stay tuned for more fun things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend!

Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish next Saturday, March 16 by watching the Mayor’s River O’ Green Fest from the best view in the house, on the Yacht Starship. See spectacular views of the Hillsborough River being dyed green for the annual St. Patrick's Day event held at Curtis Hixon Park.

Board the ship in Channelside at 11:30 am. and enjoy a traditional Irish food buffet with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and Irish soda bread. Cruise the "River O' Green" from noon-2 p.m. while drinking green beer! Tickets are $49.95 for adults and $39.95 for kids and can be purchased online or by calling (813) 223-7999.

Kat here to help guide you through this weekend’s beer festivities! 

Everyone knows I love nothing more than a good, quality happy hour and I am constantly doing my Happy Hour Homework on finding new spots and great deals in Tampa Bay.  Well, with Tampa Bay Beer Week in full…. eh swig, with over 250 events in 9 days.  I have to admit that Tampa Bay Beer week offers an impressive line-up of craft beer events!

Here are a few of my top picks for beer bliss Friday through Sunday in Tampa Bay…

Friday (3/8)
Where: The Pub, International Plaza
What: “Flights and Pints” with Terrapin Brewing Co.  Enjoy beer samples, education and a glassware giveaway.
When: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Fleming’s Steakhouse
What: “Cigar City Beer Dinner”.  Sip and savor the flavors of an exclusive night of culinary collaboration with Chef Ryan Mitchell at the helm preparing 6 courses inspired by the beers of Cigar City Brewing (CCB). The CCB crew will be on hand to discuss the beers offered, present the pairings, and offer insight to the minds of our brewers in creating our fresh local brews.  The beer pairing lineup offers quite the feast and defiantly worth the dough.
Cost: $85 all inclusive (includes tax and gratuity)
Call 813-874-9463 to reserve

Saturday (3/9)
Where: Cigar City Brewing
What: Hunahpu’s Day!!! This event is going to be JAMMED PACKED  and parking is going to be limited, so make sure you get there early.  Bottles of Hunahpu’s will go on sale at Noon, or when the last wristband is handed out, whichever comes first.  Oh and most importantly, don’t forget your ID to prove you are 21+.
When: 7:45 a.m. until Midnight (gates open at 7:50 a.m.) Beer will be poured at 9 a.m.

Where: Hyde Park Village
What: “Beer in the Park” The crowds plan to gather for one of the best, most highly anticipated local beer events.  Hyde Park Village does it again…. and even BIGGER and better!  The streets are shutting down to sample over 80 craft beers, live music and tasty food from some of Tampa Bay’s top restaurants.  Feel good about drinking, a portion of the proceeds benefit the friends of Joshua House foundation.
When: 4:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get there early… these events are known to sell out quick!
Cost: $30 at the door

Sunday (3/10)
Where: Brass Tap (Trinity, Wiregrass and Brandon locations)
What: Tampa Bay Brewing Company will be on tap at Brass Tap Tampa Bay locations.  Get excited, they are bringing Moosekiller Barleywine, which is typically only available at the brewery.
When: 7:00 p.m.

For the full list of Tampa Bay Beer Week festivities check out their website: www.tampabaybeerweek.com

Looks like the weather is heating up this weekend as well as all the events! Stay tuned for more fun things to do this weekend and make sure to follow us on twitter @VisitTampaBay for exclusive behind the scenes pics!

Cheers Ya'll!
Kat

Seventh Annual “Andrea’s Sip for Life” Friday, March 8^th at the Tampa Bay History Center

Benefiting Adolescent and Young Adult Sarcoma Research at Moffitt Cancer Center

Enjoy an evening sampling over 150 premium wines and cuisine from Spain, Italy, California and South America while helping find a cure for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) sarcoma research at the Seventh Annual “Andrea’s Sip for Life” on Friday, March 8th, 2013 at the Tampa Bay History Center on the Riverwalk. 

The event is from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with a $100 donation per person, and is sponsored by the Columbia Restaurant and The Gonzmart Family Foundation.  For reservations, sponsorship, or more information, visit www.columbiarestaurant.com or call 813-248-3000, ext. 24.

“Andrea’s Sip for Life” was created by Columbia Restaurant 4^th generation family member and president, Richard Gonzmart, as a way to combine his love of wine with his long-time desire to find a cure for cancer.  He was especially touched by the story of Andrea Dicks Hartley, a young mother and Moffitt patient who lost her battle to sarcoma cancer in August 2006 at the age of 30. She left behind her then 2 1/2-year-old daughter.  This event was created and named in Andrea’s honor. 

One hundred percent of every dollar donated and raised will benefit the AYA initiative for sarcoma research at Moffitt Cancer Center.

This unique event provides the setting to sample great boutique wines accompanied by cuisine from The Columbia Café, and the opportunity to purchase the wines to take home. The net proceeds of the purchases helps fund cancer research…drinking wine never tasted so good.

 “I created "Andrea’s Sip for Life” which is part of the Gonzmart Family Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, to supporting my ongoing pledge to help raise funds to fight cancer and to help those fighting it,” Richard Gonzmart said.  “Cancer has affected so many of my loved ones and friends,” said Gonzmart.

For sponsorship information or reservations, please call (813) 248-3000, ext. 24.  For more information, please see www.columbiarestaurant.com

This “Yappy Hour” approved by Fido!

This Saturday, Feb. 23 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. head over to the Sail Pavilion, located on Tampa’s busy RiverWalk, adjacent to the Tampa Convention center for some well-deserved “treats” for you and your furry friend.

The Sail Pavilion will be hosting a special “Yappy Hour” celebration in honor of International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. The pet-friendly waterfront bar will provide dog biscuits to all four-legged friends attending the event. There will also be drink specials available, including $3 Bud Light or Yuengling drafts, $4 house wine and $5 well drinks, for those at the other end of the leash and a contest to win two passes for Busch Gardens’ Bands Brews & BBQ, featuring the Goo Goo Dolls Concert, on March 3.

Saturday, it looks like the weather in Tampa Bay will be beautiful (as always) with temperature high’s reaching 81 degrees. 

See you and your furry friend Saturday at the Sail Pavilion Bar in Tampa Bay!

For more information, contact Sail Pavilion at (813) 373-1193 or visit www.tampaconventioncenter.com.

333 S. Franklin St.

Tampa, FL

About Tampa Convention Center
Centrally located on the sparkling waterfront of Tampa’s Hillsborough River, the Tampa Convention Center is dedicated to providing meeting planners, attendees and exhibitors a five-star resort experience.  With its breathtaking views, extraordinary culinary team, professional concierge desk and easy access to area restaurants and attractions, the four-level, 600,000-square-foot convention center enjoys many of the attributes travelers look for in Florida’s finest five-star resorts.  For additional information, visit www.tampaconventioncenter.com<http://www.tampaconventioncenter.com>.

Are you looking for a FREE and festive event in Tampa Bay?

We’ve got exactly what you want so come on out and celebrate Ybor City’s legacy at Fiesta Day! Fiesta Day began as a “verbena” or day of rest for the immigrant cigar workers who settled in Ybor City from Spain, Cuba and Italy. Marking its 66^th year, Fiesta Day takes place on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Tampa Bay’s very own historic Latin quarter, Ybor City. The festivities including cultural exhibits and entertainment, starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

Make sure you come hungry because this event is sure to keep you full and your taste buds satisfied! Lined along Ybor City’s famed Seventh Ave., you can purchase ethnic dishes from a variety of street vendors and also sample “gourmet street food” from various Ybor City restaurants. The kids will enjoy interactive displays by LEGOLand® Florida and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! Once you’ve had your fill of delicious bites, burn off those calories as you make your way to the Maxima Stage for great live entertainment. Show off your best moves while you listen to musical artists Sol Caribe, La Calle and Flamenco guitarist Nathan Herrera!

Fiesta Day has something for everyone all in one beautiful, historical setting – Ybor City. Get a taste of authentic, local flavor and spend the day celebrating the history of Tampa Bay’s heritage.

For more on Fiesta Day visit their website: http://www.ybor.org/node/1514

Valentine’s Day is here, and the LOVE is in the air!

Looking for ways to spoil your significant other on Valentine’s Day? What better way than to take them to Hyde Park Village for some shopping, a delicious meal and a movie.

Hyde Park Village is offering a variety of shopping and dining specials on Valentine’s Day. See below for some of the wonderful deals.

Shopping

If you are looking for the perfect Valentine’s outfits, accessories or cards then stop by  The Poppy Boutique and The Pink Petticoat. You are sure to find the perfect gift!

City Street Sweets has the perfect handmade chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries for everyone to enjoy.  Chocolate is the key to every girls heart!

Dining

If you are looking for a traditional dinner date, make your reservation at Timpano Italian Chophouse today. Catch a movie, while you have some cocktails and dinner at CineBistro Hyde Park.

Hyde Park Village is the perfect place to spend a fun and romantic evening with your love!

Here are some helpful links to make this Valentine's Day a success for you and your sweetie!

• The Poppy Boutique, http://www.facebook.com/kali.tenbieg#!/ThePoppyBoutique :
• If you don't cook already, these adorable hostess aprons will make you want to start! And the heart-print is perfect for Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day cards that are perfect for any recipient!
• The Pink Petticoat, http://www.thepinkpetticoat.com :
• City Street Sweets, sweets@citystreetsweets.com :
• Order handmade chocolates and chocolate-covered strawberries from City Street Sweets in time for Valentine’s Day! Stop in or call 813.251.6764
• CineBistro, http://www.cobbcinebistro.com/hyde :
• Color Me Mine, http://www.hydeparkvillage.net/event/2145408638 :
• Timpano Italian Chophouse, http://timpanochophouse.net/tampa/menus/specials/ :

Check back often for more information on Things To Do in Tampa Bay!

5 Sweet Dining Spots in Tampa Bay for Valentine’s Day

Do you feel it in the air, lovebirds?  We do! We do! Valentines’ Day is here, and many Tampa Bay restaurants have unveiled menus for this special occasion. Here are 5 Sweet Dining Spots to dine your sweetie this Valentine’s Day in Tampa Bay.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Fleming’s will celebrate the romance of Valentine’s Day with four evenings of decadent specials and a unique Valentine gift for couples dining on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, February 14^th through the 17^th.

 How Much: $69.95 per person  

Featured Menu Items: Roasted Lobster Tail, Chateaubriand with Crab Glaçage and Chocolate Budino

MOJITO
Celebrate with your loved one on Valentine’s Day with a complimentary champagne cocktail at MOJITO.

How Much: Starting at $40 per person  

Featured Menu Items: Filet Stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese, Broiled Lobster Tail and Crème Brulee

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant
For that special someone in your life, there's nothing quite like Valentine's at Roy's. Indulge with a 4-course dinner that will make your heart flutter with epicurean delight. Love is most definitely in the air at Roy's.

How Much: Starting at $50 per person  

Featured Menu Items: Olive Oil Poached Tuna Niscoise, Crispy Honey and Walnut Shrimp, Prosciutto and Fig Stuffed Quail and White Chocolate Mixed Berry Cobbler

AQUA
Bring your Sweetheart to AQUA this Valentine’s Day for a romantic dinner for two.

How Much: $100 per couple

Featured Menu Items: Classic Cesar Salad, Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail

Boca Kitchen Bar and Market
Boca Kitchen Bar and Market will be offering the “Sweet Heart Package,” yours truly will remember forever, the experience that will make their hearts melt. 

How Much: Starting at $40 per couple

Featured Menu Items: Heirloom and Swine Flatbread, Braised Short Rib and Chambord Sabayon and Fresh Berries

Tonight… the weather ROCKS and so does Curtis Hixon Park!

The weather could not be any more perfect for tonight’s Rock the Park in Tampa’s downtown waterfront park, Curtis Hixon Park.  Located in the heart of downtown Tampa and along the Riverwalk many locals and visitors can agree this is one of their favorite spots day and night.

Starting at 6:30 tonight the park will transform into a spectacle of show lights and showcase local musical artists such as: Thomas Wynn & the Believers, The Groves and Mike Mass: Artist and Producer for a FREE concert.  Grab your favorite chair or blanket and invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors, family, etc… and come out ready to rock the night away.

Expect a beautiful, relaxing, vibrant setting looking over the Hillsborough River. Rock the Park concerts usually run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. so make sure you bring some extra cash to enjoy some food and drinks (available for purchase on premise).

(Photo Credit: Tampa Riverwalks Festival)

The Westin Tampa Bay was recently named the #1 Hotel in Tampa Bay by  U.S. News, as they just released their 2013 Best Hotels listing.

For the second year in a row The Westin Tampa Bay has been the recipient of this honor and it proves the theory that excellence is a habit!

The doors opened back January of 2009, and this amazing new 244-room, AAA 4 Diamond award winning property hasn't looked back since, with a variety of updates to enhance its already amazing location located located on Rocky Point Island.

With close proximity to Tampa International Airport, nearby shopping & entertainment and easy access to downtown Tampa, you can see why the Westin Tampa Bay is ranked consistently amongst Tampa Bay's accommodation elite.

The Westin Tampa Bay is also home to one of the area's most picturesque waterfront dining locations. At Aqua Restaurant Bar & Lounge, experience an environment designed to entertain your every sense, highlighted by a water encased walk-in wine cellar and a state of the art open kitchen.

Whether you are looking to host a meeting/event, enjoy a weekend getaway with a loved one, or sample fine culinary delights, be sure to check out the Westin Tampa Bay!

Looking for somewhere to enjoy the “Big Game” this weekend in Tampa Bay?

Gaspar’s Grotto, located in Ybor City, Tampa’s Historic Latin Quarter is hosting their 2^nd Annual Super Bowl Party.  For only $30 enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet and  all-you-can-drink domestic drafts, house wines and well cocktails.  If you didn’t go last year, make sure you go this year… you don’t want to miss this party and at only $30 it may be one of the hottest Super Bowl party deals in Tampa!

Enjoy the new outside Galley Patio with the big screen TV or the Lounge area.  Buy your tickets soon before they are sold out!

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Gaspar’s Grotto website: http://www.gasparsgrotto.com/

If you are not a fan of the hustle and bustle of crowds and would rather stay home to enjoy the “Big Game” we have a great deal for you! 

DoorstopDelivery.com offers a fantastic solution and discounted deals to insure your in-home Super Bowl party is a blast!  Place your order online in advance and save BIG!

Here are the discount codes for you to use when ordering online:

• Take $5 off when you spend $50 using code: TPAB5
• FREE delivery on orders over $35 ($3.99 Value) using code: TPABFR
• ½ off delivery when you spend $25 ($2 Value) using code: TPABHALF
• *Important: Coupon Codes are CASE SENSTITIVE and all coupons expire on Sunday at 4 p.m.

If you are not familiar with DoorstepDelivery.com and their professional team of “mobile waiters” you are missing out my friend!  This delivery company is revolutionizing the way people eat, allowing the convenience of having your favorite restaurants delivered directly to your home, office or event! Cheaper than catering and YOU select what you want from YOUR favorite restaurants, where YOU want it (at your home, office, hotel, event, pool…) when YOU want it (order now and place for future delivery) and how YOU want it (delivered, picked up or dine-in).

Enjoy football, friends, food ALL in the comfort of your home and delivered to your doorstep!

Participating restaurants:  TooJay’s , The Rack, Green Iguana, Red Elephant Café, Wimauma, The Bungalow, Datz

Join us in congratulating one of our Tampa Bay & Company Partners, The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel which continues to rank among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels in the U.S.

The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel continues to rate among the top luxury hotels nationwide, based on the 2013 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the “Best Hotels in the USA.”
Select hotels were evaluated based on an analysis of awards, expert recommendations by professional travel industry representatives and guest reviews. An estimated 2,000 hotels from throughout the U.S. and Caribbean qualified for the 2013 annual rankings report.
Location, proximity to top shops and beaches, the comfort and quality of its 293 guest rooms and the hotel’s acclaimed, on-site restaurant, Pelagia Trattoria, (http://www.pelagiatrattoria.com/new/) were among the reasons cited for the AAA Four Diamond-rated Tampa hotel’s inclusion on the exclusive list, according to the U.S. News web site.

“This Renaissance web site boasts, and recent guests uphold, that the hotel will place you near the best restaurants, shops and beaches. You'll find that you're enviably close to the Tampa International Airport (TPA) as well. Room features are typical of a Marriott — plush bedding, marble showers — and they're accented with blue and green "Mediterranean-style" furnishings.
Recent guests report the rooms are spacious, well-appointed, and clean. Visitors also praise the on-site, Italian restaurant, Pelagia Trattoria. You'll find this four-star hotel on Jim Walter Boulevard. And if you're a Marriott Rewards member you can use or earn points by choosing to bed down here,” U.S. News noted.
“It is always a pleasure to be praised by our guests and recognized within our industry for creating a quality experience for everyone who stays at the hotel, dines at Pelagia Trattoria or has any reason to visit this property,” said Jim Bartholomay, general manager of the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel.

Renaissance Hotels is a lifestyle brand within the Marriott International, Inc. global portfolio of brands. 

“Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel ranks #2 out of 80 Tampa hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in Tampa,” according to U.S. News. For more information about the report go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/USA/.

For information about Florida hotels and resorts included on the list go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Florida-r59/. For information about hotel properties located in Tampa go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Tampa_FL/.

The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza hotel is located at 4200 Jim Walter Blvd. in Tampa. The full service hotel features the award-winning Pelagia Trattoria restaurant, a renovated fitness center, an outdoor pool and 12,500 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 813-877-9200 or 1-800-644-2685 or go to http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpaim-renaissance-tampa-international-plaza-hotel/. To reach Pelagia, call 813-313-3235.

ABOUT RENAISSANCE
Renaissance Hotels represents a diverse collection of more than 150 hotels in 35 countries worldwide. Each property is unique, offering passionate travelers a one-of-kind experience and memories they will be sure to take with them long after they depart. Within every hotel, guests are greeted by an exceptional array of amenities and an inspiring world of local discoveries. For travelers looking to experience something new, innovative and locally driven programs including the industry leading entertainment platform RLife LIVE as well R Navigator, ensure that every trip is transformed into an eye-opening, unforgettable journey. Renaissance Hotels. Live Life To Discover. To discover more visit www.renhotels.com.

Friend them on Facebook www.facebook.com/RenHotels

Follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/RenHotels

 

Saturday, the Gasparilla Children’s Extravaganza Parade warms up the parade route with around 75,000 people.  The daylong affair kicks off with children’s activities along Bayshore Boulevard around 11 a.m.  Here are a few quick tips and helpful hints on making your experience at the parade arrrgreat!

• Unlike next week’s Gasparailla Parade, this parade if for the kids so no alcohol is allowed.
• Children’s activities kick off around 11 a.m. and the parade kicks off at 3 p.m. with a LIVE parachute jump “air invasion”.
• FREE event but you can get reserved seating at www.gasparillaextravaganza.com
• This Parade is shorter than next weeks, starting at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard.
• Food and drink vendors will be available throughout the parade route so bring a little extra cash.
• Get to the parade early to insure you get the best spot, parking and on the parade route.  If you are looking for parking info here are the parking routes and shuttle locations: http://gasparillaextravaganza.com/extravaganza2/parking_shuttle.html
• Strollers are allowed.  If you are in reserved seating, you must stow your stroller under the bleachers.
• Stay until 7 p.m. for the 23 minute "Piratechnic" Fireworks show and to view Jose Gaspar on the pirate ship sails.
• Wrap up, it is going to be a little chilly, compared to the usual Tampa Bay temperature this weekend!

The food & wine scene is alive and well in Tampa Bay this month! In addition to all of the great dining options you have on a nightly basis, many local restaurants will be offering great wine dinner options!

The only thing better than delicious food, is having a number of wines to sample and have while enjoying some of the local flavors! Here are some of this month's wine dinner experiences going on in Tampa Bay this month:

• Cinebistro at Hyde Park - Join CinéBistro at Hyde Park as they host winemaker Gary Hartley of Hitching Post Wines for a “Meet the Winemaker” dinner on Thursday, January 17. The Oscar-winning surprise hit, “Sideways,” features Hitching Post Wines as Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) embark on a week-long road trip through California’s wine-country before one of them ties the knot.
  
  Guests of CinéBistro will enjoy a presentation by Hartley on the winery and making of the movie as well as a three-course meal paired with Hitching Post wines and a screening of “Sideways.” The evening begins with a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. and costs $60 per person, including tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 813.514.8300 or visiting the concierge’s desk in person.
• Jackson's Bistro Bar& Sushi - Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi proudly presents a 5-course Winemaker Dinner to remember. Executive Chef Rachid El Yamani will craft a delicious array of tantalizing foods sure to please.  
  
  The Winemaker dinner is being held on Tuesday,February 5th-just in time to wine & dine your Valentine!  The event will take place in Jackson’s breathtaking Waterfront Room. You will be taken on a sensory trip the Stag’s Leap District of Napa Valley with Chimney Rocks’ fantastic varietals. The event begins at 630pm. Commentary will be provided by Chimney Rock Winemaker, Elizabeth Vianna whom along with Executive Chef Rachid El Yamani have carefully selected the perfect wines for each of the 5 courses. Combining their talents will make this a certain culinary success.

Know of any more food & wine events in Tampa Bay? Lets us know in the comments below!

For more info on these great wine dinner events, be sure to contact the restaurants directly to make reservations or otherwise. We'll keep checking back with great restaurant news often, but in the meantime visit our website to learn more about the Tampa Bay dining scene!

The 2013 Festival of Chocolate at the Museum of Science & Industry will be here before you know, and with so many options for you to choose from, we wanted to drop by and give you a little help to determine exactly what you can expect and some tips on what to check out first!

This event, is designed for chocolate lovers of all ages, so definitely take advantage of chance to be a kid again no matter what your age, and stuff your face full of chocolate goodness, as at the ripe of age of 31, I will definitely be er-living my childhood this day!

Here are the top 5 things you should definitely check out while at Festival of Chocolate:

1. Enjoy Yourself - Well this was a no-brainer, you are at a chocolate festival so enjoy yourself and eat as much chocolate as you can!
    
2. Watch World Records Be Broken - On Monday January 21, 2013 MOSI and The Festival of Chocolate will attempt 2 Guiness World Records. Only 300 Spots Available.
    
3. Demos and Classes - Some of the top pastry chefs from around will be on hand to showcase their skills in sessions such as Chocolate 101, Chocolate Basket Weaving, Proper Chocolate Tasting, and much more! Classroom environments will also show students the techniques centered around chocolate flower making, as well as creating the perfect truffle! Yum!
    
4. Live Competitions - "Eat" your heart Food Network, as the "Best of Chocolate Indulgence Competition" as well as "Live Cake Decorating Competition" will have chocolate go-ers on the edge of their seat in these thrilling head to head competitions.
    
5. Cocoa Couture Fashion Show - Pretty girls and chocolate, yup that should definitely be a no brainer. This portion of the event will feature fashionable clothing pieces made from items such as candy wrappers!

As you can see, this year's Festival of Chocolate is going to be an epic chocolate event that you won't soon forget, so if you have already, be sure to purchase your tickets! That's it for now, but check back with us on more top Tampa Bay area events and things to do in Tampa Bay!

Roosevelt Rowing Regatta
January 4, 5 & 6, 2013
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Downtown Tampa, Florida

An annual outdoor festival in downtown Tampa on the first Friday, Saturday & Sunday in January to watch the oldest intercollegiate sporting event, rowing races, on the Hillsborough River.
 

Download the Roosevelt Rowing Regatta event flyer here://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/d0acc5ee-5d24-48b9-a55a-f862314bfebd/a9e9cfb6-6147-4166-ab38-c3304a2033fa/File/0ccdc204f1aad9818962acf42639be1c/roosevelt_rowing_regatta_ad.jpg

FREE ADMISSION!
Reserve your Free Admission Today: http://rooseveltrowingregatta.eventbrite.com/

FRIDAY
6 PM - 9:30 PM
-Lantern Launching (no seafood)
-Live entertainment by the Lisa Casalino Jazz Trio

SATURDAY
10 AM - 4 PM
-Rowing Races (rain date is Sunday)
-Live entertainment by the Lisa Casalino Jazz Quartet

SUNDAY
Noon - 4 PM
-Paddle-board, Kayak Races & Dragon Boat Races
-Seafood Challenge Award
-Live entertainment by the Lisa Casalino Jazz Trio

Signature Seafood Offerings from:

Fountain Square Restaurant & Bar
Lobster Bisque $7
Bisque with butter-poached lobster medallions & tarragon drizzle

Hula Bay Bar & Grill
Seafood Ceviche $7
Fresh tropical citrus, jalapeno & avocado with shrimp, scallop & fish served with rice paper crisps

Lobster Pot
Original Seafood Chowder $6
36 year old recipe with a tender mix of seafood

Mangroves Bar & Grill
Crab Truffled Mac & Cheese $7
Jumbo lump crab mixed in orecchiette pasta

The Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro
Tequila Sunrise Coconut Scallops $7
Fried coconut scallops served on top of a tequila pineapple & mango salsa, topped with a Thai chili sauce

717 South Restaurant & Bar
Seafood Cippino $7
Mussels, shrimp, scallop, onions, portabella, basil, oregano, tomato & seafood broth with creamy polenta

Taps Restaurant & Bar
Spicy Hawaiian Shrimp Taco $4
Shrimp, daikon, avocado, cilantro, pineapple, red onion, chili sambol sauce, served cold

Timpano Chophouse & Martini Bar
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes $5
With roasted red pepper bearnaise, arugula, lemon confit

Wimauma Foods Restaurant & Wine Bar
Shrimp & Grits $7
Large Florida shrimp sautéed with tomato, basil, white wine & pork bark, served over old-school grits
Low-country Shrimp Boil

Food trucks
Picnic blankets available
Cash bars
Cigars
Games & ice skating

STEWARDS' ENCLOSURE PAID ADMISSION
(no refunds-please note rain dates)

FRIDAY
GLO from 6 PM - 9:30 PM (no seafood on Friday)
-$35 per person
-Children under 12 are free
-Live entertainment by the Lisa Casalino Jazz Duo
-Appetizers
-Cash bar
-Fashionable attire
Lanterns will be launched on the river to remember children who lost their lives and to honor those who survive. Proceeds to benefit the Children's Dream Fund.

SATURDAY
-$35 per person
-$75 per reserved riverside seat includes admission to Steward's Enclosure, continental brunch buffet & waiter service (rain date is Sunday for reserved seats)
-Children under 12 are free for a non-reserved seat
-Cash bar
-Hat contest
-Fashionable attire

SUNDAY
-$35 per person
-Children under 12 are free for a non-reserved seat
-Cash bar
-Fashionable attire

Prices will increase to $45 & $100 respectively on January 2 & at the door & no outside food or beverage may be brought into the park

Purchase admission: http://rooseveltrowingregatta.eventbrite.com/

A portion of the proceeds to benefit The Stewards Foundation
"To use the sport of rowing to teach teamwork & responsibility to young people"
www.RowTampa.com

For more information call (813) 251-0500 or visit
www.RooseveltRowingRegatta.com

You may also mail a check make payable to Roosevelt Rowing Regatta to 2108 West Southview Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33606-3106

Well it seems like only yesterday we were embarking on the year 2012, and now here we are getting to welcome the year 2013!

As always we want to make sure we help you ring in the new year, so with the help of our friends over at 813 Area, here are some of the top New Year's Eve bashes going on this evening:

• Rooftop Eve 2013
• Aqua Eve 2013
• New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens
• New Years Eve Bash at Dallas Bull
• Return to Prohibition NYE 2013 at Mangroves SoHo
• Diamond Soiree NYE 2013 at Club PranaPrana
• New Years Eve at Aqua
• 2013 New Year's Eve Channelside
• Pied Piper Production's NEW YEARS EVE 2013 Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi
• New Years Eve 2013 Toast
• New Year's Eve Sightseeing Cruise aboard Yacht StarShip

Also here are some of the awesome food and wine dinner celebrations going on at Tampa Bay area restaurants:

• Donatello Restaurant New Year's Eve
• Roy's Hawaiian Fusion New Year's Eve
• Carmel Cafe
• 2013 New Year's Eve Dinner at Grillsmith Restaurants

Of course these are just a few of the awesome New Year's Eve Celebrations going on this year in the Tampa Bay area, so be sure to check out www.813area.com for more, and be sure to check back with us often in the new year for things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay nightlife updates!