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Downtown Tampa Honors 9 For Urban Excellence

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
What do a hotel, a university, a medical simulation facility and a green river have in common? They are winners in the Tampa Downtown Partnership's 6th Annual Urban Excellence Awards.

The Partnership presented Urban Excellence Awards to nine organizations for their contributions toward making downtown Tampa more bright, creative and inviting:

Floridan Palace, for turning a deteriorating hotel into a restored, vibrant place;

Lights on Tampa: Aqua Luces, for illuminating five downtown bridges, creating engaging new media works of art;

Oxford Exchange, for creating a community hub that offers coffee, tea, shopping and dining in a posh atmosphere;

Sail Pavilion, for establishing a cocktail lounge on the Riverwalk offering 360 degree views of the city;

Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, for being a community leader providing recognition and funding to Tampa Bay nonprofits;

The University of Tampa, for providing a residentially based, intimate higher education experience that contributes to the downtown community;

USF Health CAMLS (Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation), for attracting people to the downtown core from across the country and around the world for specialized medical training.

Special Awards of Excellence were also presented to two organizations:

Mayor’s River O’Green for turning the Hillsborough River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and the 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee for promoting the positive aspects of Tampa Bay to millions of viewers during the Republican National Convention
 
"It’s always greatly appreciated to be recognized for making a difference," says Robin Nigh, Manager of Art Programs for the City of Tampa.

The City’s Lights on Tampa initiative worked with property owners to place permanent lights on five downtown landmark bridges in less than eight months. The project has been recognized on both the local and national level, and is now proud to be among the Urban Excellence Award winners.

"We knew the lights would be a game changer for downtown,” says Nigh. "They complement our assets. It’s important to a community to have things like this that celebrate where we live."

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Sources: Donna Chen, Tampa Downtown Partnership; Robin Nigh, City of Tampa

Sunscreen Film Festival Features Spanish Language Filmmakers, St. Pete

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hecho en Mexico is a documentary about the heart, soul, life, dreams and hopes of the artists and performers in contemporary Mexico. It captures the spirituality, identity, culture and tradition of what it truly means to be made in Mexico.

The film will be featured on opening night of the Sunscreen Film Festival, April 18 – 21 at the Muvico 20 Theaters and IMAX at Baywalk in St. Petersburg. It’s one of 30 Spanish language films that will be screened over the course of the four-day event, in addition to numerous other documentary, feature, short and independent films that span all genres.

The event is hosted by the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society. Now in its 8th year, it has received national recognition and grown to more than 11,000 attendees.

The Spanish Language Filmmaker Showcase is funded by a grant received from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will feature films from Spain, Cuba, South America, Latin America and other places around the world, all made by Hispanic filmmakers.

Other Spanish Language feature films include: La Gran Facacia (The Great Falllacy), a documentary about the current political, social and economic situation in Puerto Rico, and Girl in Progress, a fiction film about single mom juggling work, bills an affair and her daughter’s attempted shortcut into adulthood.

It's the first Spanish Language film showcase in the Tampa Bay region, reflecting the strong influence of the Hispanic population and heritage in the region.

"Arts play a big role in the community," says Tony Armer, executive director of the Sunscreen Film Festival. "From an economic development standpoint, they bring more to the community than sports do."

The festival offers a way to support the arts, as well as to "enjoy some good films, workshops and parties," says Armer.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Tony Armer, Sunscreen Film Festival

New Efforts Aim To Attract Residents To Downtown Tampa

Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Now there’s even more reason to spend time in and around downtown Tampa.

Touring Tampa launched this week and features over 50 tours available of downtown Tampa and the urban core, which includes the Channel District, Ybor City, Davis Islands and Harbour Island. The campaign increases awareness of the tours that were already in existence.

"It’s another way of getting people downtown and discovering their city," says Karen Kress, director of transportation and planning for the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Tours on the list include free walking tours, ghost tours, cigar factories, sailing charters, paddle boarding, public art tours and many at indoor facilities such as the Tampa Museum of Art and the Florida Aquarium.

Another benefit of the campaign is letting residents know about options to explore when they have out of town guests.

The campaign was organized by the Tampa Downtown Partnership, with support from Tampa Bay & Company and the Ybor City Development Corporation. Funding was received from the Hillsborough County Tourism Heritage Program.

The Downtown Tampa Arts and Entertainment Card also launched this week and features free or discounted items at 11 different venues in downtown Tampa.

For $30, the card includes admission to entertainment venues such as the Tampa Theatre and Tampa Bay History Center. It also includes free food and drinks at restaurants such as Mise en Place and Kahwa Expresso Café.

"We’re promoting all of the great things available in the urban core," says Kress.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Karen Kress, Tampa Downtown Partnership

March Madness In Tampa Is All About The Arts

Friday, March 01, 2013
Mayor Bob Buckhorn officially proclaims the entire month of March as Gasparilla Arts Month in Tampa.

It all kicks off the first weekend of the month with the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts March 2 – 3 featuring  traditional fine arts, such as ceramics, glass, pottery, jewelry, sculpture and photography, and two brand new, non-traditional mediums showcasing a different side of the arts.

Exploring Pirates

"PIRACY REDUX: Re-examining the Myth of the Buccanneer," looks at the contemporary vs. traditional idea of the pirate. A diverse group of artists will interpret and re-contextualize the idea of piracy in our local culture, whether it be in the traditional sense or the more modern piracy of copyrighted information.

The pod installation will feature art, video, dance and music in Kiley Gardens through the Sunday. The installation is presented by The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts and curated by TEMPUS PROJECTS and Hampton Arts Management.

"It’s a new venue for art in Tampa, a cultural middle ground," says Tracy Midulla Reller, creative director for TEMPUS PROJECTS.

Kiting Tampa Bay

Kites will also be flying high, along with miniature kite displays featuring aerial photography produced by rigs attached to kites that take photographs while in mid-air. If the weather is right, a 252-square-foot kite will make an appearance.
The project is organized by Kiting Tampa Bay, a club with more than 50 members across the region who will also be on hand with information about kiting.

"Our goal is to share our passion for kiting with others," says Kelly Nunes, co-founder of Kiting Tampa Bay.

Kiting Tampa Bay was founded in October of 2011 with the motto "Just Friends Flying Kites." They chose the arts festival for a kite display because of the two organizations’ mutual goal of supporting children’s cancer charities.

Other Arts Events

Additional arts events in Tampa during the month of March include:

The Gasparilla Music Festival the weekend of March 9. This year's bands include Best Coast, Dr. Dog, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Dawes, Lord Huron, Ozomatli, The Meter Men with special guest Page McConnell, The Iguanas, Applebutter Express, Ozokidz, The Hip Abduction, Nervous Turkey and more.

The Gasparilla International Film Festival the week of March 19-24. Film showings take place in downtown, South Tampa and Ybor City.

Details about all the events can be found on the websites for the Arts Council of Hilsborough County and Visit Tampa Bay.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Sources: Kelly Nunes, Kiting Tampa Bay, Tracy Midulla Reller, TEMPUS PROJECTS

Week-long Event Showcases Tampa Bay's Craft Beer Scene

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
More than 70 breweries, restaurants, retail establishments, bars and festivals across the Tampa Bay region are coming together for 2013 Tampa Bay Beer Week, March 2 to March 10.

Now in its second year, the collaborative event began with the goal of showcasing Tampa Bay as a vibrant craft and specialty beer destination. 

"We actually have a thriving craft beer community in this area," says Gary Kost, executive director for Tampa Bay Beer Week. "There are some local breweries making world-renowned beer. It’s becoming a bigger culture."

The event is managed completely by volunteers. Participants include breweries, distributors, restaurants and even home brewers. Last year there were 150 events during the week. 188 have been scheduled so far this year, with over 200 expected.

On March 2, Florida Brewers Guild hosts their Annual Beer Festival at Centennial Park in Ybor City, where the Best Florida Beer Championship winners will be announced. The awards ceremony will be held March 3 at the 14th Annual Brewers Ball at the Cuban Club.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will also kick off the week by tapping a ceremonial keg at Tampa Bay Brewing Company on March 2nd.

At the conclusion of the week, Cigar City Brewing in Tampa will host Hunahpu’s Day on March 9, featuring the annual exclusive release of the brewery’s Hunahpu Imperial Stout beer.

Other events include tastings at liquor stores, restaurant events featuring full four and five-course meals and food truck rallies -- all with lots of opportunities to sample local brews from Tampa Bay.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Gary Kost, Tampa Bay Beer Week

Travelogues Events: Listen, Share Stories, Tampa Bay

Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Friday evenings in January, the Tampa Bay community will have a chance to hear stories from local residents about their travel experiences to places like India, Macedonia, Ireland and cities and places in the United States.

Travelogues, a blend of travel and monologue, is the second event coordinated by Vessel Collective, a Tampa-based nonprofit that provides interviews and events to document the place where stories, experiences and creative processes meet.

The inspiration for the event series came from Vessel founder Gina Moccio's experience as a high school student. Moccio ran a concession stand at her school's auditorium during events where senior citizens gathered to share travel stories. Wanting to replicate that experience in Tampa, she reached out to people she knew who had interesting experiences to share.

"I really just want to gather people in a room to listen and share stories. … To have a fun experience,'' says Moccio, adding that the lectures will be inclusive and participatory, allowing the audience to share their own stories as well.

Each event will feature two or three speakers with visual and audio presentations. Handmade giveaways will be provided to the first 20 attendees, such as note cards that feature the event poster. 

"The more creativity and the more people get out there and talk to each other and work on things together, the better the community is going feel -- more comfortable, more welcoming -- and who doesn't want to live in a welcoming, place,'' says Moccio.

At the January 11 event, photographer Nicole Kibert will share her experience working in the Peace Corps in Macedonia. Ryan Cragun, assistant professor of sociology at The University of Tampa, will also talk about serving as a missionary in Costa Rica.

The events are free and open to the public. The January 11 event will take place at Cafe Hey in downtown Tampa, from 7 to 9 pm. Future events are at various locations.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Gina Moccio, Vessel Collective

Eyecrawler: App Connects Social Network To Preview Your Destination, Tampa Bay

Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Have you ever tried to find something to do on a Friday or Saturday night, only to drive around from venue to venue and not find what you're looking for? Do you want to listen to live music, but not know where to find it? Or, maybe you want to know what's happening at the beach before you arrive.
 
St. Petersburg-based Eyecrawler is here to help. Download the free app on your Smartphone for access to a network of people currently at each venue. Content is created in the form of a "blink'' with the option for a photo and/or comment. Users see and interact with a live blink stream from locations in close proximity to their device, filtered by categories such as live music, sports or karaoke.

"We're creating a perspective so you can find out what's going on everywhere before you arrive,'' says Shaun Rubrecht, founder of Eyecrawler.  "It gives you a better idea of where to go and what to do.''

Unlike other social networks, you don't have to be directly connected to someone or "follow'' them in order to see what they have posted. The content is open to everyone, and users can interact with each other instantly. 

Companies can build and manage advertising campaigns directly through the app. There's also a widget that websites such as Hobnob St. Petersburg are using to post a content stream directly on their site.

The network eventually plans to add content to more categories such as family friendly (people are already adding blinks at the Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg) and then expand to all U.S. cities, eventually going global.

Eyecrawler's official launch will take place Thursday, December 13, at Naughty Noel, hosted by Nova 535 in St. Petersburg.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Shaun Rubrecht, Eyecrawler

FEAST Benefits St. Petersburg Arts, Artists

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A small contribution can make a big difference to St. Petersburg artists at FEAST Tampa Bay on November 15 at 6:30 pm at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Each $20 ticket includes a taste of St. Petersburg's best restaurants and a glimpse into current and future projects from local artists. Participants use their ticket to "vote'' on their favorite projects, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the artists.

"We're engaging supporters of the arts with the artists that are doing work in the community in a very personal way. You get to meet the people and hear directly from their mouth what they're working on, making a direct line of support,'' says T. Hampton Dohrman, director of Creative Pinellas and co-organizer of FEAST Tampa Bay.

The event is the third of its kind in Pinellas, and the first collaboration between Creative Pinellas, Keep St. Petersburg Local  and the Museum of Fine Arts. The synergy between the three groups with their common support of the Pinellas arts and business community allows this innovative event to localize arts funding with a community voice. 

The partnership allows the event to capitalize on the pride of St. Petersburg restaurants that are donating the food so that ticket sales directly benefit the artists. As a new twist for this event, every artist will walk away with something. Each "vote'' from participants will directly transfer to cash for the artist, with the project with the largest amount of votes receiving additional funding from Creative Pinellas.

 The event "injects cash into the arts community for ambitious artists who are looking to do something cool and can make a lot of impact with the small amount,'' says Dohrman.

Artists can apply online through October 31. Tickets are available online or onsite.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: T. Hampton Dohrman, Creative Pinellas

Snapshot: Images Portray Tampa Bay's People, Places

Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tampa Bay's communities offer eclectic blends of culture, creativity and ways of life. A new website uses photographs to profile the people and places that contribute to this vibrancy.

Snapshot Tampa Bay looks at what makes Tampa Bay the cultural mecca that it is -- its people. The project is a labor of love by two local residents and creative advocates, Bryan Hunt and Julia Gorzka Freeman.

"It's our way of spotlighting people, events and places that are going on here in a novel way, to provide a glimpse into how we live,'' says Bryan Hunt.

The inspiration for the website came from their realization that there is lots going on in Tampa Bay that people don't know about. The site offers a different way of looking at people, by taking images inside their homes and businesses to show how they live.

They plan to highlight different neighborhoods to help people discover new restaurants, organizations and people, like Larry and Charlie Schiller of Schiller Salvage in Odessa. The Schillers travel the country to find the neatest and most quirky salvage items to sell in their store.

Other features will include the realm of Tampa Bay's creative economy, from someone living in a condo on the beach to a farmer in the rural areas of Brandon. Future plans include an "explore'' page that will help people navigate the Tampa Bay region and find cool places to go and things to do.

"We're creating a place for people to look at Tampa Bay in a new light,'' says Hunt.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Snapshot Tampa Bay, Bryan Hunt

Selby Gardens Hosts Florida Wildlife Corridor Photos By Carlton Ward Jr.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Museum of Botany and the Arts in Sarasota is featuring the photography of environmental photojournalist and Clearwater native Carlton Ward Jr. now through November 27.

A gallery walk and talk will be hosted October 17 from 5 to 6 pm. RSVP here for the special tour or call 941-366-5731, ext. 237.

The exhibit will feature 20 original photographs taken during the recent Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition, of which Ward participated along with three other Floridians. The 1,000-mile expedition took place over a 100-day period beginning in January of this year with the goal of raising public awareness and generating support for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Project.

The project connects natural lands, waters, farms, forests and ranches from the Everglades to Georgia to protect the health and welfare of the people, wildlife and watersheds. This ultimately ensures the sustainability of Florida's water supply, as well as agricultural heritage and economies.

"Selby Gardens shares a common mission of environmental conservation with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. We are invested in the success of the Corridor from the perspective of native plant conservation,'' says Jeannie Perales, director of education at Selby Gardens.

The exhibit promises to provide a unique opportunity to see the beauty of Florida in its many facets, most of which have never been seen by the general public. The vivid images of water, plants and animals will allow viewers to feel as if they are standing in the actual Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The exhibit will also include select images from Ward's Gulf Coast Collection, including shots of the sun setting and moon rising over Tampa Bay.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jeannie Perales, Selby Gardens

Friday Flight? TIA Offers Live Music While You Wait

Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Tampa International Airport (TIA) is no longer just a place to pass through on your way in or out of Florida. A new monthly event titled "Friday Flight'' aims to make the airport an entertainment destination for locals and travelers alike.

"It's a public space,'' says Kari Goetz, public affairs manager for TIA. "We want people to see it for that, as well as a place they can just come and enjoy.''

The idea was spurred, in part, by the positive response to the live music at TIA that greeted travelers during the Republican National Convention. The goal is to provide a warm welcome to newcomers, as well as bring in locals who want to enjoy the space.  TIA plans to host the events once per month, though not on the same Friday each time, allowing flexibility to work around major holidays or events.
 
The inaugural event takes place October 5, with a 1950s feel and performances by local band The Vodkanauts. A special vodka menu will be available. You'll find the entertainment on the third floor of the main terminal, between gates A and C. Short term parking at the airport is free for the first hour, and $4 for up to 80 minutes.

"It's another opportunity for people to be wowed by Tampa,'' says Goetz.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Kari Goetz, Tampa International Airport

Tampa Celebrates Hispanic Heritage With Entertainers, Role Models

Tuesday, October 02, 2012
The City of Tampa Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with its 24th annual celebration, taking place Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 11 am. at the Tampa Theatre.
 
"Our goal is to promote awareness of Tampa's Hispanic roots and diverse population, as well as raise funds for the USF Latino scholarship fund,'' says Israel Segarra, contract management officer for the City of Tampa and chairman of the Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee. "It's a great event, and we'll have a lot of fun.''

Entertainment at Tampa Theatre will include performances from the Showstar dance team from Tampa Gym and Dance and Marina Orosco from the local singing duo Latin Fun Singers.

Keynote speaker Lissette Campos, director of Community Affairs and Emmy Award-winning journalist at ABC Action News, will offer her personal story of trials and accomplishments and an inspiring message for local youth. Some 150 to 200 elementary school students are expected to attend, along with senior citizens groups and other members of the community.

Tedd Webb from 970 WFLA radio will serve as emcee.
 
Mayor Bob Buckhorn will present a proclamation recognizing Tampa’s Hispanic roots and diverse population.

Formed in 1988, the Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee is a grass-roots, volunteer committee comprised of city employees and retirees.

The group preserves and celebrates Tampa's Hispanic culture and promotes the importance of education to local Hispanic youth through mentoring and scholarships. Other events include Latin Fest and an annual gala event.

The event is free and open to the public. The first 200 guests will enjoy a light lunch.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Israel Segarra, City of Tampa Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee

Front Row Tampa Bay: Live Webcasts Offer Media Alternative

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The Tampa Bay Partnership and The Victory Group have teamed up to create live webcasts of interviews with community, business and political leaders from across the state in hopes that you and the rest of the world will tune in rather than watch traditional media coverage surrounding the Republican National Convention.

The idea behind Front Row Tampa Bay is to showcase the stories of innovators, investors and thought leaders in their own words unfiltered by outsiders or insiders who may be more focused on different perspectives or unfavorable comparisons.

"The program provides opportunities for organizations of all types to showcase leading industries, groundbreaking research, up-and-coming entrepreneurs and our unparalleled quality of life,'' writes Stuart Rogel, president and CEO of the Partnership. "Using cutting-edge technology, our four-day Web TV broadcast will spotlight some of the key drivers that position the area so well in the new economy.''

Stories and interviews with people like Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn specifically showcase investment opportunities and job growth in industries targeted by the Partnership, namely applied medicine and human performance, high-tech electronics and instruments, business, financial and data services, and marine and environmental activities.

Front Row will also offer stories on local attractions and RNC-related parties as a way to show the experiences and faces of Tampa Bay residents and visitors.

The overall investment -- more than $500,000 -- is among the largest the Partnership and its investors or any other organization is spending to market Tampa Bay.

Writer: Diane Egner
Source: Stuart Rogel, Tampa Bay Partnership

New Tijuana Flats, 40 Jobs In St. Pete

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Bringing its Tex-Mex cuisine and unique ambiance to Roosevelt Boulevard North in St. Petersburg, Tijuana Flats is slated to open its third location in the Tampa Bay region on August 27th.

Featuring a made-to-order menu and 15-pump hot sauce bar, the new 2,000-square-foot Tijuana Flats at 10300 Roosevelt Blvd. N. in St. Pete is expected to accommodate 148 guests with indoor and outdoor patio seating.

“Tijuana Flats, as a brand, has been expanding very rapidly over the past several years with a significant emphasis on new development in West Florida, as well as South Florida,” says Ashley Montgomery, Tijuana Flats director of PR and marketing. “We are constantly getting requests from guests for more saturation in the West Florida market so the Roosevelt location seems like a perfect fit.”

And, obviously, the fast casual restaurant's brightly colored wall mural will be in tow; the artwork at the new location, called “The Zombeez,” will feature zombies playing in a band with a lead singer uncannily resembling a post-apocalyptic Elvis Presley.

An iPad kiosk will also be made available at the Roosevelt Boulevard North location, where guests can sign up onsite for the Flatheads eClub, offering deals, coupons and event information.

In addition, Tijuana Flats plans to become more environmentally conscious, incorporating energy efficient equipment including LED lamps, solar-powered kitchen timers, low-flow toilets and a tankless water heather.

“The front of the house tile is made from 40 percent pre-consumer recycled materials,” Montgomery says.

Prior to opening, the new restaurant is expected to bring about 40 new jobs to the area with a goal of moving several of its employees from part-time to fulltime positions.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Ashley Montgomery, Tijuana Flats

MOSI Tampa Seeks Exhibitors For November Idea Faire

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
MOSI in Tampa is hosting its two-day inaugural Idea Faire in November. The Idea Faire is a celebration of human creativity and innovation. Exhibitors with ideas and creations related to technology, creativity and innovation are encouraged to participate in the event.

“We are looking for innovators in gaming, robotics, design, technology, music and art,” says Shannon Herbon, communication manager for MOSI. “This event provides exhibitors the opportunity to share their ideas and creations with the Tampa Bay community.”

The Idea Faire will be part of MOSI’s Idea Zone, which is a “do-it-yourself” lab that is currently open at the museum. Exhibitors who want to participate by sharing their ideas and creations can do so free of charge, however, participants must send in an application by Aug. 31st. Vendors who wish to participate in the Idea Marketplace can do so for a nominal fee.

The organizers of the event hope to have a diverse group of innovators and creative thinkers; therefore, there is currently no limit to the amount of exhibitors or vendors that can participate. Businesses, groups, educational institutions, innovators and clubs are invited to take part in the event.

“MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeast [U.S.], so we will find room for everyone,” says Herbon. “Rarely do you see an event that provides opportunities for vendors focused on robotics, video gaming, science and engineering.”

The 2012 Idea Faire at MOSI will take place Nov. 17th and 18th. To learn more about becoming an exhibitor or vendor at the event, contact MOSI at 813-987-6000.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Shannon Herbon, MOSI

Night Market Opens In Bradenton Beach, Manatee

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Just as many farmer’s markets in the Tampa Bay region close for the summer season, one local market is starting a unique twist on a traditional concept. The Bridge Street Merchants on Historic Bridge Street opened a night market in early June, and it will be open on select Saturday nights between now and the end of July.

“I was inspired to start a night market by my travels to other countries that have them,” says Melissa Enders, organizer of the night market. “I figured that with our hot summers in Florida, perhaps it would be fun to see how a night market would be.”

The market is hosted by the Bridge Street Merchants Association, which is a nonprofit group that was formed in 2006 by  merchants who were dedicated to promoting historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.  The area also features a pier, boutiques and resorts. Enders says she hopes the night market will draw visitors of all ages, including children.

“I tried to make it very family and kid-oriented since school will be out soon,” Enders says. “We have yummy food and desserts along with some handmade crafts, miniature golf tournaments, puppet shows and craft tents for kids.”

For vendors interested in participating in the market, Enders says they are still accepting applications and should email her or call 215-906-0668.
 
The Bridge Street Merchants Night Market will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 16 and 30 and on July 14 and 28.
 
Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Melissa Enders, Bridge Street Merchants Association

Clearwater Beach Hotel Offers Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation to make its rooms hypoallergenic and eco-friendly.

The hotel, which is located at the southern point of Clearwater Beach at 691 South Gulfview Boulevard, is comprised of 110 guest rooms, all of which were made hypoallergenic.

“In the guest rooms, we removed all original carpet and all wallpaper, and drywall was replaced with a hypoallergenic product and the floor covering is now vinyl wood plank,” says Nigel Duffett, general manager of the Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel. “The flooring is 100 percent recycled and green-certified and all other products we use are green-friendly as well.”

According to Duffett, the complete renovation cost more than $2.5 million, however he says it was important to give guests something they have been looking for.

“Our guests are looking for ultra-clean guest rooms and this is where the project started,” he says. “As we planned changes toward this aim, including the flooring, it also became clear that an increasing number of guests are requesting a hypoallergenic environment in which to sleep. An added benefit is that not only are these products better for our guests' health, but also to that of our planet.”

Duffett says special attention was given to bedding. All guest rooms feature mattresses that are made from organic cotton and wool as well as latex, which will repel bacteria, mold and mildew.

Duffett says overall the investment was well worth the money.

“We took a much-loved friend on Clearwater Beach, and transformed her into a beautiful swan in paradise.”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Nigel Duffett, Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel

Finnish Marina Builder Sails Into St. Pete, Creates 12+ Jobs

Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Marinetek North American, Inc. is anchoring itself in downtown St. Pete with plans to hire more than a dozen employees, and make an even bigger economic wave on the Tampa Bay region as the company buys materials locally. The company, which is a subsidiary of Marinetek Group based in Finland, builds luxury marinas, pontoons and related floating solutions and equipment.
 
While the company is global and sells to businesses around the world, business is booming in the U.S.
 
“The American market for marinas is what is driving the growth for our company,” says Kent Johansson, CEO of Marinetek North American, Inc. “Right now we already have seven people working in our St. Pete office, but we will be hiring more down the line.”
 
The growing company plans to build a staging and casting yard as part of its expansion and will need extra staff to make it all happen.
 
“The first phase of production will take place once we reach an agreement with the city of St. Petersburg, at that point we will hire five people,” Johansson says. “The second phase will be when we start production, which will result in an additional 10 to 12 people being hired, depending on how production is going.”
 
Johansson says the positions he will be looking to fill include management, engineering draftsmen and general labor, however, he says more jobs will be created indirectly because his company will be purchasing a large amount of supplies and equipment in the local economy.
 
Source: Kent Johansson, Marinetek North American, Inc.

Roaming Hunger: Street Food App Launches In Tampa Bay

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
As the food truck phenomenon continues to gain momentum in the Tampa Bay region, friends and followers are presented with a unique problem: How do you keep track of them all? Enter Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Ross Resnick, 27, and his app Roaming Hunger.

Resnick, a University of Southern California grad with a degree in international business management, started the concept as a street food blog in August 2009 when the movement was just starting to pick up steam in major cities.

What began with a database of nearly 300 trucks in San Francisco, L.A., Washington D.C., New York, Portland, Seattle and Pittsburgh has blossomed into a mobile app featuring 2,228 trucks in more than 25 cities including its newest addition, Tampa Bay, which launched on April 6 and currently features 33 registered mobile eateries.

"We're here to help push this industry to make a new medium accessible to the general public," Resnick says.

Looking for the closest truck in your neighborhood? Roaming Hunger provides a map, updated hourly, of businesses in your area featuring info, photos, menus and Twitter feeds. Users even have the option to separate trucks by savory, sweet and vegetarian.

The site's main goal is to promote and build a community around street food culture, according to Resnick. Any truck with an identity can sign up for free and users can create a free login or connect via a Facebook account.

Roaming Hunger's had its eye on Tampa Bay's "exploding" street food scene for a while, Resnick says, but the timing was finally right to go live.

"Tampa's one of the best new cities for food trucks," he says. "It's been really accepting. We wanted to come out and help push the movement even further."

Writer: Matt Spencer
Source: Ross Resnick, Roaming Hunger

Ringling Circus Returns To Tampa Bay, 235 Jobs

Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus used to come to the Sarasota area every year to enjoy the Florida sunshine. And now it looks as if it's here to stay. So if you've ever wanted to join the circus, you may just get your chance.

Feld Entertainment, producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as well as Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Monster Jam and other Feld Motor Sports brands, is relocating its headquarters from Vienna, VA, to Ellenton, FL, over the next five years and bringing 235 new jobs to the Tampa Bay area. 

"The circus has a history in Southwest Florida," says Stephen Payne, Feld spokesperson. "This is where we used to do rehearsals. But the rehearsal facility we currently have in Palmetto won’t permit us to grow. In 2008 we acquired a motor sports division, which dramatically increased the size of the company and spurred new brands. But I think it also goes back to a hunger in the U.S. and the world for families to enjoy entertainment together. Our shows offer that."

The new facility, located at 2001 N. U.S. 301, occupies 47 acres and will allow Feld to consolidate and house operations and production activities that support Feld's global tours. The site includes 100,000 square feet of office space with an additional 450,000 square feet of manufacturing space in two buildings. The expansion will allow Feld to retain 148 employees and hire an additional 235 to handle a variety of high skill, high wage jobs such as scenic design, costumes, sound and lighting, as well as maintenance of the circus train.

The move is made possible through a variety of grants and incentives totaling $3,779,734. Incentives include $1,174,765 from the state of Florida's Qualified Targeted Industry Fund, $650,000 from its Quick Action Closing Fund, and $1,500,334 from the Manatee County Government.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Stephen Payne, Feld Entertainment

Tampa Bay Strategy: Grow International Trade, Jobs

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Top officials from Tampa Bay business and economic entities joined U.S. Commerce Under Secretary Francisco Sanchez at the Port of Tampa on Monday, Feb. 6, to sign a Memo Of Intent (MOI) that serves to create collaborations and connections among trade exporters and government officials to build a business strategy that will attract more jobs to Tampa Bay.

"Individually none of us has the potential to fulfill and carry out on a sustained level an international trade," says Stuart Rogel, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership. "But collectively we can sustain and focus on areas where we can bear fruit." 

The entities represented at the MOI signing include the International Trade Administration, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, the City of Tampa, and their partners, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida, the Tampa Bay Partnership, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa and the Tampa Port Authority. 

"Not only is this a sign of the Tampa Bay community coming together to advance international activities," says Rogel. "But the under secretary's [presence] represents an administration that wishes to double export activity over the next five years. Sanchez talked about how they're on track to meet that goal, which is in line with Florida Gov. Scott's goal to expand the state's export activity. So we're seeing this [MOI signing] as consistent with efforts on a state and federal level."

The signing is in part an answer to President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI) to double U.S. commercial exports by the end of 2014.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Stuart Rogel, Tampa Bay Partnership

Tampa Dog Owner Creates Innovative Product To Keep Pets Cool Outdoors

Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Realizing that living and playing outdoors in sunny Florida can be an inferno for our four-legged friends, Brian McClish of Tampa set out to find a way to keep his pets cool in the shade.

"I’ve lived in Florida for 13 years and have always owned dogs,” says McClish owner and creator of the K-9 Koolee. “I spend a lot of time outdoors with them while playing beach volleyball or surfing, I like to take them with me whenever I can. Before the Koolee, I would have to either return home early or bring them out of the heat. I started tooling around with different mechanisms to cool them down, and with a medical device sales background I came up with a medical grade polymer that maintains temperature over a long period of time.”

The K-9 Koolee is portable and, according to McClish, has been field tested on the beaches of Florida and scientifically proven to maintain a cool surface for up to eight hours.

"The principle behind the design is an easy-to-carry, duffle bag-style dog bed that’s designed with a cooling element inside the bed,” McClish says. "When the bed is opened up, which is like a clam shell, the internal cooling elements, keep the dog cool outside.”

The product comes in two sizes: small/medium for dogs up to 55 lbs. and large for dogs 55-125 lbs.

"In addition to our website, people can purchase it at One Lucky Dog in St. Pete, in Tampa at Wag on Davis Island or at Dog Gone Holistic in FishHawk,'' McClish says.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Brian McClish, K-9 Koolee

Tampa Mayor Cooks Up Food Truck Fiesta

Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Ensuring that local food trucks are a staple in Tampa, Mayor Bob Buckhorn recently kicked off the inaugural Mayor's Food Truck Fiesta.

After attending the Tampa Bay region's first Food Truck Rally in Hyde Park in September, the idea for the Food Truck Fiesta came about as Buckhorn considers ways to enhance a hip downtown atmosphere that hosts events to generate urban buzz.

“I was impressed by both the variety of trucks and the large crowd they attracted and I wanted to recreate that same excitement in our urban core,” says Buckhorn of the Hyde Park rally. “While other municipalities have struggled with out-dated ordinances, we've been flexible in an effort to accommodate this growing trend. We really want to define Tampa as a hip city.”

Located on Franklin Street between Madison Street and Kennedy Boulevard, the event began on Wednesday, Nov. 2, featuring food trucks such as Taco Bus, Fire Monkey, Jerk Hut and Gone Bananas; Mayor Buckhorn kicked off the event serving food at the Wicked Wiches truck.

“The urban core is the center of our economic development efforts and this event serves the larger goal of creating more excitement in our downtown area,” says Buckhorn. “Downtown is now a place where people live, work and play and we need to showcase that fact by bringing more people down here -- increased foot traffic will benefit all of the businesses downtown.”

Happy to support the unique community of food truck entrepreneurs, The Mayor's Food Truck Fiesta will continue the first Wednesday of every month at lunchtime from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Tampa, featuring a variety of food trucks each month. The next event is on December 7.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

Tampa's artLOUD On Nov. 11th, 20 New Sculptures

Tuesday, November 01, 2011
CREW Tampa Bay will hold its annual artLOUD sculpture event on Friday, Nov. 11, in Tampa. The event allows local artists the opportunity to share their talent with the community, while helping enhance the downtown area. The sculptures will be placed throughout downtown over the next few weeks and will remain there for the next year.

“We’re installing a total of 20 sculptures this year,” says Abbey Dohring, VP of brokerage for the Dohring Group as well as the founder and co-chair of the artLOUD committee. “We will also be keeping a few sculptures from last year.”

According to Dohring, 95 percent of the sculptures have been created by local artists.

The Nov. 11 artLOUD activities include a gala and silent auction. Also, there will be gourmet tastings, cocktails, live music and an unveiling of the grand prize sculpture.

“Brendan McLaughlin of ABC Action News will be our emcee, the chief of staff for the mayor, as well as other city officials will be in attendance,” says Dohring. “All of the funds that we raise this year will go to Curtis Hixon waterfront park, specifically earmarking this year’s funds for Rock the Park.”

Dohring hopes that the sculptures will bring more people downtown.

“We are a very walkable city that welcomes more than just business,” Dohring says. “Arts and culture create the atmosphere.”

artLOUD will take place on Nov. 11 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Glazer Children’s Museum, 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza in Tampa. Tickets are $65 each and pre-registration is required. Register online at the artLOUD website.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Abbey Dohring, CREW Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay History Center Links To Smithsonian, Free Entry Sept. 24th

Tuesday, September 13, 2011
If you think Tampa does not have a rich history, think again. The Tampa Bay History Center is full of interesting facts and exhibits that showcase the region’s long historical journey to the metropolitan place it is today. In recognition of its success educating visitors on the history of Tampa and West Central Florida, the History Center became a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2011. Only 12 other museums in Florida have the Smithsonian affiliation.

To celebrate, the Tampa Bay History Center will be participating in Smithsonian Day on Sept. 24th. As part of the celebration, the museum will offer free admission to guests.

“We will be offering free admission to the museum on Smithsonian Day,” says Manny Leto, director of marketing for the Tampa Bay History Center. “Guests do need to go to Smithsonian's website to print out a voucher for their ticket prior to arriving at the center on the 24th. ”

Leto suggests guests who visit the museum set aside at least two hours to explore the center.

“We have three floors of exhibition space and three interactive theaters,” Leto says. “Our tagline is 'exactly what you didn’t expect' because people are always pleasantly surprised by how much history is in the area.”

In addition to a variety of exhibits, the museum features a kid-friendly interactive area, the Columbia Restaurant Cafe and a research center. The Tampa Bay History Center at 801 Old Water Street is next to the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Manny Leto, Tampa Bay History Center

Busch Gardens Offers Visitors New Mobile App

Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Busch Gardens, the Tampa amusement park that draws visitors worldwide, now offers guests an innovative and high-tech way to see the park. The amusement park has develop an interactive iPhone application that uses GPS technology to guide visitors through the park.

"The technology for real-time navigation and ride wait times/show times is GPS-enabled and activates once guests are inside the park," says Jody Anderson, manager of digital communications at Busch Gardens. "Browsing the app outside the park will provide guests with information for all of the park's other attractions and amenities."

In addition to notifying guests of ride wait times and show times, the GPS in the application can virtually guide visitors through the park.

"An interactive map will show guests where they are in the park and allow them to highlight the quickest real-time route to their next destination by clicking the 'take me there' button on any destination page," Anderson says. "Whether the destination is a restaurant, show, ride, animal habitat or nearest restroom, the app can give details on its description, location and restrictions."

The application can be used once you leave the park as well. "One extra element we are excited about is the car finder," says Anderson.

"This tool can be used anywhere, anytime to pinpoint where you parked your car."

Anderson says the reception of the new application by fans and guests has been great. While the application is currently only available for the iPhone, the team at Busch Gardens is working on an Android version that will be available this fall.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jody Anderson, Busch Gardens

Selmon’s Opens In Palm Harbor, Brandon; 100+ Jobs

Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fans of Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant will be happy to hear that the home of soul-satisfying food will be opening two new locations, one in Palm Harbor and the other in Brandon.

The original Lee Roy Selmon's at 4302 W. Boy Scout Blvd. in Tampa opened in November 2000; since then the restaurant has opened locations in St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota and Ft. Myers. The newest additions to the Selmon's family in Palm Harbor and Brandon have not yet opened, but will soon.

"We will be opening the Palm Harbor location at the end of May," says Lee Roy Selmon's President Greg Lynn. "We have not finalized the opening of our Brandon location yet, but are working on it."

In preparation for the opening of the restaurants, Lynn says the Selmon's organization is hiring up to 100 jobs at the Palm Harbor location alone.

"We will be hiring front of the house positions such as hosts, servers, bussers and bartenders, as well as back of the house positions such as prep cooks and management," says Lynn. "We are always looking for great management at all of our locations to help grow our concept."

Lynn says that interviewing is taking place now at the Palm Harbor storefront in the Park Avenue Shoppes center.

In a time when many restaurants have gone under due to the economic recession, Lee Roy Selmon's has thrived. Lynn attributes its success to several strategic decisions.

"We have managed to combine high-quality food and service with value-priced menu items," he says. "By having managing partners in each restaurant we have encouraged out of the box thinking, and have adjusted to the times and will continue to do so."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Greg Lynn, Lee Roy Selmon's Restaurant


Tampa Bay Sailing: NoShooz Catamaran Rides

Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Want to see Tampa's downtown skyline from the waterfront? Curious to see the waterside fronts of multimillion-dollar homes on Harbour Island and Davis Islands? Love the gentle splash of seaspray while keeping on eye on seabirds soaring overhead? How about doing it all at sunset?

Tampa Bay Sailing Tours offers what other water vessels around downtown Tampa can't, a more private sailing experience for a maximum of six guests aboard NoShooz, a 36-foot Catamaran.

Guests can enjoy sunsets, dolphin encounters, food and drinks. "There are certainly other vessels out of the downtown area that take 30-50 people out to look at the dolphins, but we are running a small, more intimate practice," says Josh Dohring, owner of Tampa Bay Sailing Tours. "Each sail includes a captain and a mate who serves great food and drinks."

Dohring says that the sailing experience is great for tourists; however, locals and particularly executives or business owners looking for a different way to entertain clients would enjoy the sail as well. "For local business owners, the sailing experience is another option for entertaining clients, an alternative to a golf outing."

Dohring, who also runs a commercial real estate brokerage, says he hopes the sailing tours will help draw people to downtown Tampa. "I want to see downtown thrive, and people taking advantage of the waterfront, making it a place that people want to come and stay," Dohring says.

As part of that desire to keep downtown neighborhoods and businesses thriving, Dohring says he uses local independent restaurants to cater the food on board. "When you go out on a sunset sail, you are getting food from a place like Sono Café or one of the other great restaurants downtown."

Tampa Bay Sailing Tours launched in early February, and Dohring says the response from the business community has been very positive thus far.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Josh Dohring, Tampa Bay Sailing

LEGOLAND Florida Prepares To Hire 1,000 In Winter Haven

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
LEGOLAND Florida plans to start interviewing potential employees in June in preparation for an October 2011 opening. The new theme park plans to fill 1,000 positions needed to support operations.

"We have an entire park to fill," says Jackie Wallace a representative of LEGOLAND Florida. "From maintenance staff, to ticket takers at the front gate, to food and beverage workers, and retail staff for the shops we are really prepared to start filling out these positions."

Wallace says that the company will start with hiring managers and supervisors first, and then will do a mass hiring in June.

"All applications must be submitted through our website; once we pre-qualify candidates we will invite groups of applicants to our on-site assessment center," says Wallace. "We will bring in groups of applicants from 20-50 people at a time and watch people interact with each other, do some interviews, interactive games and assess how candidates interact. From there we go into a more formal interview process."

For service positions, Wallace says the company is looking for a certain type of employee. "Our park is dedicated to families with children ages 2-12, so it is imperative that the folks we bring on board be very kid-centric," says Wallace. "Candidates don't need to have a theme park background, however it does help.

While the core demographic audience of LEGOLAND is children, Wallace says the park caters to parents as well.

"Our secondary target audience are adult fans who grew up with an affinity to the Lego brand, and are interested in introducing their children to Lego."

Wallace says interested applicants can visit LEGOLAND Florida's Facebook page for updates and opportunities to interact with LEGOLAND representatives. The theme park is near Winter Haven in Polk County east of Tampa.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jackie Wallace, LEGOLAND Florida

Flower Power To Promote Downtown Bradenton

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Downtown Bradenton is groovy. And it's going psychedelic to prove it.

From March 5 to April 16, downtown Bradenton will celebrate the '60s through art, fashion, literature and music during its SHOUT the 60s event.

"The 14 events offer something for everyone," says Johnette Isham, executive director of Realize Bradenton, the organization sponsoring the event. "Fashion, films, food, music, politics, performances, baseball, and demonstrations."

Isham says the idea for the '60s event was spurred by a performance taking place at the Manatee Players.

"About six months ago, we decided to expand upon the production that Manatee Players was doing called Shout!, about a girls' group in the '60s. The idea came out of the monthly meetings of our Cultural Partners Work Group."

Isham further explains that, like the spirit of the '60s, the event is all about collaboration.

"One of our key core values is collaboration, explains Isham. "The 60s promo grows out of and depends on our collaborative action. Whereas other groups say they are interested in collaboration, we 'walk the talk.' "

Partners for the event include ArtCenter Manatee, DeSoto Historical Society, Manatee County Cultural Alliance, the Manatee County Historical Commission, the Manatee Players, the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Florida Museum and the Village of the Arts.

Isham points out that while the event is fun, there is a serious component, too. On March 19 the Rowlett Magnet School's drama department will present a performance of Healing the Hurt that chronicles veterans' experiences of and healing from the Vietnam War. Flash Back, Flash Forward on April 4 will explore the role of government and conservative and liberal values at the Institute for Public Policy on the the USF campus.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Johnette Isham, Realize Bradenton

FRAMCO: Last Big Gig At Old Dali Pours Beaujolais

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
French wine, some art, meeting new friends and reuniting with old friends? Oui, s'il vous plaît!

The annual Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau will be held at the Dali Museum on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Organized by the French American Business Council of West Florida (FRAMCO), along with the Tampa Le-Havre Sister Cities International, Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau is in its 12th year in Tampa Bay.

In France, the third week of November is when the Beaujolais wine is released and is a popular "vin de primeur," a young wine.

"Most wines you just let them age and they get better as they age," says Jean-Charles Faust, president of FRAMCO. "As soon as the Beaujolais wine is released, it can be consumed. It is not a wine you should keep and let age. This is a wine you have to drink when its young."

FRAMCO was founded by Rose Marie Magriby in 1998, and is part of a network of 19 French American chambers in the United States. Tampa has an official relationship with sister city, Le Havre, France, which is the second largest European port.

Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau is used to gather together the local community and French American community members. This year's event will benefit the new Dali Museum, which is scheduled to open January 11, 2011, and Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau will be the last event prior to the Dali's move to their new home. Guided tours of the Dali artwork will be provided during the event and special guests include the Honorable Gael de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France; Hank Hine, museum director and Yann Weymouth, French American HOK architect.

Tickets are $45 in advance for museum and FRAMCO members, $55 for non-members and $60 after November 16. To RSVP, email: president.FRAMCO@gmail.com or call Beth Curts at 813-391-4407.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Jean-Charles Faust, FRAMCO

Arts Fuel Significant Portion Of Tampa Bay Region's Economy

Tuesday, October 05, 2010
The growing arts community in St. Petersburg provides 519 jobs and attracts 1.3 million visitors per year for an annual economic impact of more than $23 million, according to a newly released study conducted by the USF St. Petersburg College of Business.

The study, commissioned by the city of St. Petersburg's Arts Advisory Committee and underwritten by Bank of America, surveyed 32 arts and culture organizations, including galleries, museums, theater and dance companies and private companies that belong to the Downtown Arts Association.

A news release says the USF College of Business study also found:

    --    Every $1 million spent at St. Petersburg arts-related venues creates more than 22 jobs;  
    
    --    Every $1 spent at an arts-related business generates $1.78 in economic activity throughout the region;
        
    --   Every $1 spent at an arts business generates six cents in household earnings throughout the greater St. Petersburg area;
        
    --    Every two new jobs in the arts and cultural industry supports 1 in the area;
        
    --    Arts and culture as an industry ranks fifth among all industries in the area;
        
    --   Of the 1.3 million visitors attracted to the arts in St. Petersburg, 25 percent are from outside the city -- potentially visiting restaurants and other tourism-related businesses in the city; and
        
    --   More than 7,000 volunteers donate more than a quarter million hours at local arts institutions.
        
"We are thrilled the survey emphasizes what we've known all along -- that visual and performing arts and continued development of arts education play a significant role in job creation and the overall economic growth of our community," said Elizabeth Brincklow, St. Petersburg's arts and international relations manager.  "Our residents and businesses appreciate the arts, understand how essential they are to a city's growth, and are willing to support them long-term."

The complete survey and participating organizations may be viewed online.

Writer: Diane Egner
Source: Robert Danielson, City of St. Petersburg

Harmony Gallery: Sarasota Orchestra Mixes Music With Art

Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Blending the artistic power of the visual and performing arts, The Harmony Gallery in the atrium of the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota plans a public reception Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The brainchild of Artistic Director Leif Bjaland, the Gallery's mission is to introduce larger audiences to the greater communicative aspects of art presented collaboratively in all its forms.

Attendees will be treated to "Shorelines,'' an exhibit by painter Maro Lorimer of Bradenton's Village of the Arts.

The Sarasota Orchestra selected Lorimer's work to be shown during its 2010-2011 season.

Lorimer's large acrylic paintings reflect the beauty of the Gulf coast from a variety of perspectives.

"Often I place the horizon line near the top of the canvas to give a sense of great distance," she says. "We might be looking at a wide beach or a distant shore. In other paintings I move the line to the bottom, as if to zoom in on a shoreline for a closer look at a tropical forest that fills the rest of the canvas."

Visiting the Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and evenings and weekends during symphony concerts and other events at the Symphony Center. The Center is situated between Art Center Sarasota and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 709 N. Tamiami Trail.

Writer: Diane Egner
Source: Maro Lorimer, painter

Riverside Venue At Tarpon Springs To Fill 50 Jobs, Accepts Applications

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Here is chance to work right on the water for a company that is hiring positions for catering.

Riverside Venue at Tarpon Springs plans to open in about a month and is already accepting applications.

The catering company is filling positions related to restaurant operations such as for staffing the kitchen.

Jobs available include chef, kitchen manager, sous chef, waiters, cooks, dishwashers ,
bartender, back bar and food runners.

Some of these jobs will be part-time and some will be full-time.

According to Stan Tipton, chief creative officer, Riverside Venue will eventually hire more the 50 employees.

All applicants should have experience in their desired position.

The company is also looking for an executive chef who should have five plus years experience in high-volume restaurants.

Riverside Venue offers catering to many events including weddings, birthdays and graduation parties.
Their events include catering for 50 to 1,000 people with a large menu to choose from and five different
rooms available for festivities.

To apply for one of these positions, go to the Riverside Venue at 10 Dodecanese Blvd. in Tarpon Springs
on the Sponge Docks.

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Stan Tipton, Riverside Venue at Tarpon Springs

Ad Federation Launches Campaign To Attract Friends To Oil-Free Florida

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sunshine, sandy beaches and beautiful palm trees along the Gulf coast waters are some of the perks that come with Florida living and visiting. It's a place where a diverse mix of people work and play while enjoying family friendly activities like art museums, festivals and theme parks.

Tampa Bay region cities boast award-winning cafes and restaurants, terrific sports teams, historic landmarks, sailing, golfing, fishing and fun!

You know what we don't have? Oil from the BP fiasco.

The 4th District of the American Advertising Federation (covering the state of Florida and the Caribbean) is about to remind everyone what Florida living has to offer. This year's public service chair, Mike Weber, is leading the Friend Florida campaign for the nonprofit organization.

Weber is the president and owner of CMR Studios, an integrated media production company, based in St. Petersburg. After attending the AAF national conference in Orlando, Weber realized how many people are misinformed about the oil spill and its lack of impact on Florida's beaches outside the Panhandle.

"We found that people literally thought that I had oil behind my house and that they told their friends not to come and vacation here because of the oil," says Weber.

Weber decided it was important to get the word out to attempt to lessen the economic impact as far as tourism is concerned. So the 24 chapters based in Florida (there are a total of 25, one chapter is based in the Caribbean) are now committed to the FriendFlorida.org campaign.

The project is a pro bono effort. "There's nothing coming from BP or one of the tourism councils or anything like that," says Weber. "We're activating the Ad Fed network in order to utilize what we do best, which is advertising and publicity."

The last major pro bono pushes from Florida Ad Fed came in 2008 with the No On Amendment 5 and in 1987 with the Ax the Tax campaign. Weber says he remembers how beneficial those campaigns were (the tax got axed and the amendment was removed from the ballot) so he figures they can help correct misperceptions about the oil spill situation.

In addition to creating local buzz, each chapter in Florida plans to produce TV spots in cooperation with local stations. Each of the 24 markets will gather video to show that most Florida waters are oil free and worthy of visits from friends across the country.

For more information, visit: FriendFlorida.org or visit the Friend Florida Facebook page.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Mike Weber, American Advertising Federation

Australia's Largest Online Travel Agency Webjet Expands To Tampa

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Australia's largest online travel agency is expanding to the U.S. and has picked Tampa as its location.

Webjet was established as a company in the U.S. on Jan. 1 and its website went live on April 1.

Company executives say they chose Tampa because of the labor pool Tampa offers.

A few of Tampa's other travel agencies have downsized, which opened up a place for Webjet with well-trained potential employees.

Webjet is currently looking for customer service employees to answer phones and emails, and plans to hire about 20 employees in the next year.

The company plans to make sure it can handle anticipated growth for the next yea, says Kelly Rieger, VP for finance and business development of Webjet.

Webjet has been in business more than 10 years and previously operated only within Australia.

Based on increased demand in the Australian market, Webjet decided to expand to the U.S. to give Australians the opportunity to travel outside of the country with Webjet. They now have international travel.

Webjet also offers travelers the opportunity to reserve hotels and cars. The hotel services started April 1 and the automobile rental service started two weeks ago.

For more information, contact travel@webjet.com

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Kelly Rieger, Webjet

International Ships Sail Into Tampa Bay In July, Tours Available

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Celebrating the maritime history of Tampa Bay, international sailing ships will dock in downtown Tampa July 10-14 for Sail Tampa Bay 2010.

The 5-day festival will include the U.S.C.G. Eagle from the United States, Captain Miranda from Uruguay and the Gloria from Colombia. The event will feature live music and dockside tours of the ships located at the Tampa Convention Center and Channelside Channel. Sail Tampa Bay 2010 is made possible under the guidance of Tampa Bay and Company, which leads efforts to gain "Economic Development Through Tourism."

The event begins with the "Parade of Sail" at the Tampa Convention Center on July 10 from 11am-1pm. The ships will be open for tours from 2 to 9 pm. Attendees will have an opportunity to see these vessels up close by boarding the ships, and attendees will have a chance to interact with the crew and experience daily life on a sailing ship.

From July 11-13, tours will be scheduled between 11am-7pm, and the event will end with closing ceremonies on July 14.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12 (combo tickets that include admission and food are available for $15 for adults, and $8 for children ages 3-12). Tours of the U.S.C.G. Eagle will be available at no charge.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Paul, Catoe, Tampa Bay and Company

Miles Media Brings More Jobs, Strives To Attract Tourism To Tampa Bay

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Miles Media, a producer of visitor guides to cities in Florida, is adding jobs in the Tampa Bay region.

Available positions include for a Drupal front end/ theme developer with PHP experience and for an Objective-C / iPhone applications developer. Both are new jobs that have been created in the company.

The positions call for people with extensive experience in web developing.

Miles Media has been in business for 52 years publishing guides for states, counties and cities such as St. Petersburg and Naples. The company currently has contracts with 17 states and employs 160 people, according to Gary Henry, director of human resources.

"In the last five years, we've had extensive growth," Henry says.

Miles Media started producing the guides in print only, but now offers electronic publishing online, including applications for iPhone users.

"We try to get away from the term publishing (and instead) we call ourselves content providers," Henry says. "We're providing content that will assist visitors in making their decisions as to where they will go on vacation.

To apply for one of these positions, visit the Miles Media website.

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Gary Henry, Miles Media

What Do You Think? June 2nd St. Pete Summit Seeks Ideas For Jobs Related To Arts, Culture, Tourism

Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Working in a thriving center for the arts, St. Petersburg city officials are looking to grow the industry by helping to create more jobs related to arts and culture.

First up? An Arts & Culture Job Creation Summit on Wednesday, June 2, starting at 8:30 am at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater ballroom.

Representatives of public and private organizations, associations and businesses related to the arts, culture and tourism will convene to talk about how to grow the city's culture community, how to increase tourism and how to create more jobs.

St. Petersburg is home to several world-class galleries, theaters and museums, including the Dali, the Museum of Fine Arts, American Stage and the Palladium, and in recent years has gained the respect of residents and visitors well enough to be considered a hub for the arts in the Southeast.

St. Petersburg was ranked the No. 1 arts destination for cities of its size in the summer issue of American Style Magazine, and the city also has numerous innovative, entrepreneurial businesses.

Some 700 art-related establishments employ 7,000 people, helping to stimulate the economy, bring in government revenue and also attract tourists.

The jobs summit is open to the public, and Individuals from the arts, culture and tourism community are especially encouraged to participate armed with suggestions for how best to create more jobs.

To RSVP for this event, contact Gary Jones at gary.jones@stpete.org or 727-893-7877.

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Sophia Sorolis, City of St. Petersburg Economic Development

Multicultural Visitor Guide Showcases Diversity In Tampa Bay Region

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The updated "Tampa Bay Your Way!" Multicultural Visitor Guide has received a certificate of nomination from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and was a finalist in the 2010 Diversity and Inclusion Awards hosted by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

First published in 2007, the Visitor Guide is designed to show visitors and residents the diversity of people, places and cultures that thrive in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City and the greater Tampa Bay region. Featuring an enhanced history section, the guide highlights the county's diverse American Indian, African-, Asian- and Hispanic-American heritage, as well as landmarks to visit in the area. Information regarding ethnic restaurants, arts and entertainment and various local services are also available in the guide.

The 29-page guide was funded by the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council (TDC), the Tampa Bay History Center and the Hillsborough County Arts Council. The guide will be used as a tool to attract diversity conventions, conferences and meetings, and it will provide a range of local events, activities and venues that will encourage visitors to stay for extended periods of time.

Tampa Bay & Company coordinated the design and printing for the guide, which is available at the county's Visitor Information Centers and online.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Marilyn Hett, Hillsborough County

2010 Super Regional Leadership Conference Unites Tampa Bay, Orlando

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The 2010 Super Regional Leadership Conference, a collaboration between the Tampa Bay Partnership and the Central Florida Partnership, will be held on May 26-27 near Orlando.

The event will be at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee and sessions will include: Connecting for Global Competitiveness presented by Professor Jonathan Barnett and members of his Urban Design Studio class, and Global Space Activity: A Florida High Tech Opportunity. Keynote speaker Secretary Ray Lahood with the U.S. Department of Transportation will discuss the high-speed rail planned to connect Tampa and Orlando, and how good transportation leads to sustainable communities.

Ever since President Obama came to Tampa for a town hall meeting at the University of Tampa on Jan. 28 to announce Florida's award of $1.25 billion for a high speed rail, the Super Region is said to be the envy of the nation as we obtain opportunities for job creation and global competitiveness. The conference will serve as an opportunity for businesses to discover how to take advantage of the merging of two regions.

This year's conference will have a Pecha Kucha challenge, making use of the rapid fire presentation style of 20 images for 20 seconds, which makes for a 6 minute and 40 second presentation. Applications for presenters will be accepted until Friday, May 14, from anyone who has "an initiative that leaders in the 14-county super region should be aware of as far as economic and/business excellence, coordination of assets, innovation or job creation."

Brief proposals may be emailed to Chris Steinocher, COO-SVP marketing & business development, at the Tampa Bay Partnership. His email address: csteinocher@tampabay.org

Conference participants who register before Saturday, May 15, will save $20. For more information on the 2010 Super Regional Leadership Conference, click here.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Chris Steinocher, Tampa Bay Partnership

U.S. Foodservice Seeks Salespeople, Drivers In Tampa Bay Region, Hiring

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Dining outside the home in the Tampa Bay region offers a lot of choices as far as cuisine and location. Whether it's Thai food in a strip mall family restaurant, meat-and-potatoes at a stand-alone chain eatery or institutional fare at a hospital or school, someone has to transport the food from market to table and that's what the professionals who work for U.S. Foodservice, Inc. do for their customers.

Three of the national food supply company's 60 distribution centers are in Tampa, Lakeland and Clearwater.

Marilisa Henderson, a recruiter at the Tampa office, says fulfilling the appetites of Tampa Bay region gourmands requires hiring people who can select the best food products, fulfill and manage sales orders and deliver the goods.

"We have an ongoing need for salespeople and drivers," she told an audience of job seekers during a networking event at Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance. Henderson says she also sometimes has openings for IT professionals and people who can provide financial analysis reports.

If there's a corporate creed that employees of U.S. Foodservice work by, it would probably be "go beyond the plate." Company spokesperson Christina Koliopoulos cites that as a commitment to communities as well as customers.

"We do much more than deliver the groceries and each of our employees plays a critical role in protecting the safety of the food supply," she says.

"We are also pasionate about giving back to our community. For example, the Tampa division was recently awarded recognition by Feeding America of Tampa Bay for its dedicated support in the fight to end hunger in West Central Florida."

Writer: Brad Stager
Source: Christina Koliopoulos, U.S. Foodservice, Inc.

Lakeland Celebrates Earth Day With Free, Carbon-Neutral Outdoor Concert

Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Florida's first outdoor, carbon-neutral concert will be on Friday, Apr. 16, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lake Mirror Promenade & Amphitheatre in Lakeland.

Green Celebration Concert & Showcase: Turn Up the Volume, a free community concert in honor of Earth Day's 40th anniversary, will feature the band, Think Big, and be powered by solar panels.

"We're going to actually set out solar panels supplied by Solar Source Interactive that morning, and the solar panels will power the band," says Stacie Jones, director of marketing/communications at Furr & Wegman Architects, PA. "We also have Lakeland Electric involved and they're going to be providing us with renewable energy credits for any excess electricity that's used."

Planning for the event, the brainchild of Michael B. Furr, co-principal at Furr & Wegman Architects, began in September 2009. The event is sponsored by Magnify Credit Union, and companies with a commitment to being green, including: Publix Super Markets, City of Lakeland, American Compliance Technologies and Keiser University.

Vendors will be set-up around the lake to showcase alternate energy sources, transportation initiatives, green-related business and technology efforts, all-natural products, organic foods and recycling efforts. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn how to green their homes and promote awareness and appreciation of our environment. There also will be giveaways, product samples, food and drink available.

In addition, 25 Polk County schools will participate in a recycle bin decorating contest, and attendees will vote for their favorite bin. A $300 prize will be awarded to the elementary, middle and high schools receiving the most votes.

For more information, contact Stacie Jones at 863-688-1211.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Stacie Jones, Furr & Wegman Architects

AAA Auto Club South Rides The Recession, Posts Several Jobs

Tuesday, March 30, 2010
AAA Auto Club South, headquartered in Tampa with nearly 3,000 employees companywide, has a wide variety of professional level vacancies in the Tampa Bay region. Openings being filled in Tampa include positions in management, sales, marketing and publication production.
   
"AAA Auto Club South weathered the recession well and continues to grow,'' says Nanci Odom, human resources VP.

"We have many exciting career opportunities available at www.AAA.com that cover a wide range of fields, from travel & insurance agents, call takers and service technicians to IT, accounting and marketing professionals to just name a few,'' Odom says. "AAA has been around for over 100 years and we'll be here for another 100 and more. AAA is relentless in our commitment to provide the highest level of service to our members and the best work environment for our employees."
 
Founded in 1902 as the American Automobile Association, this association of independent clubs is a not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization with more than 50 million members. Known originally for providing emergency road service, maps and travel publications, AAA has a wide range of travel services and member-benefit programs. 
 
Writer: Lisa Clementi
Source: Nancy Odom, AAA Auto Club South

Encore In Downtown Tampa Hosts Job Fair, Seeks Construction Workers

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
ZMG Construction and ENCORE's development team are inviting qualified individuals in all aspects of construction, including skilled labor, project managers, foremen, site supervisors and general labor, to attend a Job Fair on Thursday, March 25th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ENCORE construction site in Downtown Tampa.

Entry to the site will be off of East Cass Street. between North Orange Avenue and North Nebraska Avenue. The company is seeking minority and local participation, and ZMG Construction asserts it is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 
The plans for Encore include 40 acres of transit-oriented design, which will combine space for retail, commercial, office and residential in a planned urban community. Plans call for a formal town square with public artwork, pathways and a history museum, mingled with shops, restaurants, hotels, apartments and offices. The plans also include a grocery store on Nebraska Avenue that would be situated in a new 36,000-square-foot structure.

For more information on the plans, visit the ENCORE website.
 
Interested individuals can also apply online by visiting the ZMGencore website.
 
Writer: Lisa Clementi
Source: Rich Zahn, ZMG Construction
 

Children's Fantasy Legoland In Winter Haven To Create 1,000 Jobs

Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Legoland, the children's fantasy park replacing Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, is starting to hire professional staff and is expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the region by the end of 2011.

Spokesperson Julie Estrada says jobs currently being filled include: public relations representative, director of sales and marketing, and systems administrator.

The interactive theme park, geared toward families with children between the ages of 2 and 12, will operate year-round and will offer a full day of activity for those who visit more than 50 rides, shows and attractions.

Merlin Entertainments also operates Legoland California (launched in 1999), and was recently voted the nation's best children's theme park for the sixth year in a row by Amusement Today.

Merlin is also Europe's number one visitor attraction operator and the second largest in the world with Legoland Billund in Denmark and Legoland Windsor near London. A Legoland under development in Malaysia is slated to open in 2012.

The Cypress Gardens location was selected because renovating the pre-existing theme park space will allow the park to be developed and ready to go in less than two years.

Polk County will provide Merlin with $5 million in incentives over a 10-year period, which includes funding for job creation and marketing support.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Julie Estrada, Legoland

NASA Grant Allows Lunar Living Exhibit At MOSI In Tampa

Tuesday, March 09, 2010
It could be decades before people colonize the moon, if it happens at all. But a $1.16 million grant awarded in January by NASA will give visitors at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) the chance to find out what it could be like one day to live on the Earth's junior astronomical partner.

The grant, one of nine awarded nationwide through NASA's Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums, will enable MOSI to create an interactive exhibit called Mission LEAP (Lunar Expedition for Astronaut Pioneers).

Christopher Stapleton of Orlando-based Simiosys Real World Laboratory will partner with MOSI and industry experts from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, says MOSI's Cathy Crowder.

"They're going to be working with us to create a whole atmosphere, showing what life would be like and what you would need to live on the moon," Crowder says.

As the project develops in the coming months, MOSI will receive ongoing feedback from several sources, including Girls Scouts from West Central Florida, students from Stewart Middle School, MOSI's Kids in Charge! advisory board and museum visitors.

Crowder says the exhibit will become a permanent fixture at MOSI. The project is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Cathy Crowder, MOSI

Dale Chihuly Collection Heads For St. Petersburg

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Fans of Dale Chihuly will be pleased to know that plans to bring the permanent collection of Chihuly to St. Petersburg were solidified in February. The Chihuly Collection, presented by the Morean Arts Center, will be housed at 400 Beach Drive and the exhibit will open over the 4th of July weekend.

"We are very excited and proud to bring the art of Dale Chihuly to the Tampa Bay region," says Katee Tully, executive director of the Morean Arts Center.

It is expected that the Chihuly Collection's presence in St. Petersburg will have a positive impact on our region, from enriching the arts community to promoting economic development. With the Chihuly Collection, art enthusiasts from across the country are likely to visit the gallery the same way people from around the country stop in to see the Dali Museum.

The Chihuly exhibit will be in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg's tourist area, which includes the Museum of Fine Arts, the new Dali Museum, several restaurants and the Renaissance Vinoy.

The building adjacent to the Morean Arts Center's main facility on Central Avenue will be used for a Glass Studio and Hot Shop that will be established by late spring. The building was formerly used for Morean's clay program, which has since moved to the Historic Train Station to allow for additional expansion.

Paul Carder, director of marketing/communications and advancement, says that the Glass Studio and Hot Shop will provide hands-on workshops and educational programs.



Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Katee Tully, Paul Carder, Morean Arts Center

Glazer Children's Museum In Tampa Begins Filling New Jobs, To Add More

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Want to work at a place that's guaranteed to make people smile, laugh and climb things? The hiring process is slowly beginning for opportunities at Glazer Children's Museum, Tampa Bay's much-awaited new museum.

With a mission to create learning environments where children play, discover and connect to the world around them while developing lifelong learners and readers, the Glazer Children's Museum will be completed this year and it is expected that more job opportunities will become available in coming months.

"With the opening of the Glazer Children's Museum later this year, we anticipate recruiting for many full-time and part-time positions in the coming six months.," says Kristen Nieves, director of administration for the Glazer Children's Museum. "I encourage anyone interested in seeking employment with the Museum to check the employment tab on our website regularly for available job openings."

The Glazer Children's Museum is currently seeking an experienced Facility and Operations Manager and a Director of Education.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Kristen Nieves, Glazer Children's Museum

New Leaders Guide Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Jan. 14-23, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year, along with new leaders on the board of directors and a new website.

Ruby Jackson, festival chairperson and events coordinator, and William Sanders, festival chairperson and entertainment coordinator, are leading the Heritage Festival's new board of directors.

The festival's new website features direct connections with the Heritage Festival's board, all-access media updates, and it provides awareness of the Heritage Festival's community activities.

The Heritage Festival is a family-friendly event that brings together an estimated 5,000 people to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity. Selected as one of the Top 20 events by the Southeast Tourism Society for 2010, the Festival's 10-day event features local and national speakers, musicians, artists, poets and more.

The photograph shown above of a Tampa streetcar emerging from Greco Plaza (near the Marriott Waterside and the Tampa Convention Center) was shot by Janasia Harris and won first place in the Annual Heritage Photography Contest.

For a complete list of Heritage Festival events and additional Heritage Festival information, visit www.TampaBlackHeritage.org.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival
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