Sean Murphy, owner of the Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island, has been wanting to hook up a beach camera for quite some time now.
He says the fact that he is "technologically backwards" prevented him from installing the
camera sooner, however, when the BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, getting a beach camera installed became a priority.
He wanted to show people that the water and beaches on
Anna Maria Island were still in pristine condition and sans oil.
Since
the camera has been installed, Murphy says they've had people contact
them from all over the world. Patrons from Germany, Britain, Alaska,
Asia and South Africa have all been sending feedback to Murphy. "They've
commented 'thanks for the camera! It's great to see that the beaches
are clear and to be able to still visit Anna Maria for a beach fix,'"
says Murphy.
Murphy officially launched the live streaming beach
camera on July 20, and plans to leave it up indefinitely. He says
people who live up North can keep watch on the beach conditions via the
live feed during hurricane season. The camera is supposed to withstand
winds of up to 150 mph.
The
Beach Bistro will celebrate its 25th anniversary on November 1. The restaurant has consistently received the highest
Zagat ratings
for food excellence in the state of Florida. Popular items on their
menu include fresh Gulf grouper and Gulf Coast bouillabaisse, a seafood
stew. The Beach Bistro also provides the food and beverage at
The Concession Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin, in Bradenton.
For information about the Beach Bistro, click
here or to view the live streaming web cam, click
here.
Writer:
Nancy Vaughn
Source: Sean Murphy, Beach Bistro
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