Accent On Tampa Bay #223, July/August 2016 by Accent On Tampa Bay Magazine

www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

Accent

On Tampa Bay

AccentOnTampaBay.com

Vol. 28, Issue 223 July / August, 2016 Publisher Albert F. Martino, Jr. Senior Editor Melissa Wolcott Martino Sales Barbara McGovern Graphic Designers Missy Lynn Contributors Sylvie Damien Vicki Kolb Sandy Lee Michael Martino Barbara McGovern Marty Peters Deborah Quigley JoAnn Ryan Photographer Melissa Wolcott Martino Proofreader Beau deCatta Cover Photo courtesy of: Dixie Chicks Mgmt. PUBLISHED ON LINE BY

AM PUBLICATIONS savethemanatee.org www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

St. Petersburg, FL (727) 577-5500

e-mail AccentMagazine@aol.com

LOCAL FOCUS july

Thru 31

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Supporting Hands Across the Bay Hands Across the Bay was developed to positively impact the lives of as many Tampa Bay residents as possible. It assists and mentors hardworking families in need, advocates for change, supports other organizations and spreads love with various acts of kindness. The property will be selling customized limited edition earbuds in its retail shops for $10 with 100% of the proceeds generated going to the organization. Hard Rock will also host a Hands Across the Bay benefit event on Saturday, July 30. Open to the public, the benefit event will feature a charity slot tournament as well as a red carpet ceremony, a concert by Brooke Sierra and a check presentation of funds raised for the month. The slot tournament has an entry fee of $10 and 50% of those proceeds will be donated to the charity and 50% to the prize pool. Tickets can be purchased at the Rock Shop or upon entry of the event. www.hardrock.com

Fri 15

SPB Summer Dive in Movie. 8 pm, movie begins at dark. $4. St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach. Bring your noodles, floats, and chairs to lounge in or by the pool while watching enjoying the “Malecifent” on the big inflatable screen out under the stars! www.spbrec.com

Fri 15 - Sun 17

Fabrica Woodfired Pizza CLELBRATES 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Weekend-long extravaganza including special happy hour rates, prizes and a party on Sunday, July 17 from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. 142 S. Meridian Avenue, Tampa Fla., 33602. www.fabricapizza. com

Sat 16

PARC’S TOP CHEFS. The Birchwood, 340 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Seven Bay area restaurants will dazzle guests with their delicious tasting stations at this event. In honor of PARC’s Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen program, students from the program will work side-by-side with chefs at this one-of-a-kind event. Restaurants include The Birchwood, Café Ponte, Eddie V’s, Guppy’s on the Beach, Rococo Steak, Snappers and Tryst. This evening also includes chef demonstrations, live auction, spirits from Breakthru Beverage Group, and of course, the best of the best serving dinner. www.face4

Compiled by Vicki Kolb

book.com/events/493991114145050/ Trashion Fashion. 8 pm. Artpool Gallery, 2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Avant garde fashion show and party featuring recycled and unorthodox materials. After party at Enigma. www.artpoolrules. com

Bark in the Park. 10 am - 2 pm. Free. Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave., Largo. Dogs of all ages and breeds will be available for adoption. Staff and volunteers will be walking dogs around the trails and performing meet and greets with potential adopters. For more information 727.582.2600, option 8. American ll Extreme Mud Wars. 10 am - 4 pm. Spa Beach, 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. Teams of 6-10 will compete in 8 events filled with Mud & Water, for the highest overall score. www.extrememudwars.com

Thurs 21

St. Pete Downtown Businesses 43rd Annual Sunrise Sale. Beginning at 6:43 a.m. and continuing throughout the day, more than 40 downtown and nearby St. Petersburg merchants and businesses will offer doorbuster sales and special offers. Shoppers are encouraged to wear their pajamas and are often treated to extra discounts or small gifts. As part of the event that sees downtown filled at dawn with yellow flags, bright balloons and eager shoppers, the DBA will be collecting wish list items for CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse). There will be free cake at the main tent, located on the lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts, and several restaurants are offering incredible breakfast specials. The event is open to the public, and maps will be available to guide people to participating businesses. www. facebook.com/DBAStPete

Fri 22

St. Pete Road Runners Summer 5K Series. 7 pm. The Hurricane, 809 Gulf Way, Pass-aGrille. Join the St. Pete Runners in their annual summer series along the beaches of Pass-a-Grille. NEW this year is the free 200m Kid’s Fun Run beginning at

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6:30 pm. Great post race party at the Hurricane. www. sprr.org Fourth Friday Tampa. Fourth Friday showcases Downtown Tampaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich arts, culture, and entertainment scene. Downtown cultural venues will offer extended hours, complimentary or special admission, and/or special programming. Food and drink specials are throughout downtown including the Sip N Stroll along the Riverwalk. Grab your FREE Fourth Friday wristbands for access to special offers at participating restaurants and up to two complimentary trips between venues on the Pirate Water Taxi. www. fourthfridaytampa.com/

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Fri 22 - Sun 24

TAMPA BAY HOME SHOW at Tropicana Field. Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg. See, learn about and buy the latest home products and services from more than 600 exhibits under one roof. Learn from local experts and do-it-yourself ideas for your home, on both Saturday and Sunday. Discover the newest design ideas and hottest trends for your home, furniture, garden, and more. Also, kids and adults both will enjoy two special appearances by our favorite Tricky Dog Show. Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. Free admission. Free parking.

Mons 25, Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Epicurean Hotel Hosts “Epic Chef Showdown”. The Epicurean Hotel is hosting the second Epic Chef Showdown to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay. The Epic Chef Showdown is a several week competition pitting eight of the Tampa Bay area’s top restaurants against each other in a friendly cooking competition judged by a panel of local celebrities. Each week, two competing chefs will receive a mystery box of ingredients not commonly prepared together, and will be challenged to create two unique dishes under the pressure of the clock. When time is up, each dish will be judged and one restaurant will be eliminated, with the winner moving on to the next round. All Epic Chef Showdown events will be held in the Epicurean Theatre from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. www. EpicChefTampaBay.com

Fri 29

Sat 23

16th Annual Top Gun Triathlon. 7 am. Fort DeSoto Park, North Beach, Tierre Verde. Top Gun Triathlon is the largest sprint triathlon in the Tampa Bay area and is limited to 1000 participants. Pre and post race party. Swimming, biking and run. www.topguntri. racehawk.com

Sat 23 - Sun 24

HOT SUMMER WEEKEND WITH SOAP STARS. Daniel Goddard from Young and Restless and Michelle Stafford, General Hospital, will be at the Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater. Events for the weekend: Sat - VIP Lunch with Daniel and Michelle; Meet and Greet; Cocktail party. Sun - Have breakfast with the stars. 727-410-0427

SPB Summer Dive in Movie. 8 pm, movie begins at dark. $4. St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach. Bring your noodles, floats, and chairs to lounge in or by the pool while watching enjoying the “Inside Out” on the big inflatable screen out under the stars! www.spbrec. com

Sat 30

2016 M.O.M., Inc. Showers Of Love Community Baby Shower. Mothers of Minors, Inc. will host their Second Annual “Showers Of Love” Community Baby Shower at the North Greenwood Recreation & Aquatic Center in Clearwater. “At last year’s shower, we were able to bless over twenty five young mothers and mothers-to-be with necessities for the health and well being of their children,” stated Andrea Clark, President of M.O.M.” M.O.M. is currently accepting applications for assistance from moms and moms-to-be who are between the ages of 13 and 25 years old, who are pregnant or who have a child under the age of one year old, and who are in need of assistance. The application is available online at http://www.momincfl.org/ Jays Ready to Bowl For Ronald McDonald House, You Can Too. All Jays’ players and staff will be on hand at Countryside Lanes for an outing that benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. All are invited to join the Blue Jays at Countryside Lanes (off of US Hwy 19 in Clearwater) for an afternoon of mingling with the Continued

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players and testing your bowling skills. All participants receive two games of bowling plus shoes, a t-shirt, drinks and lunch provided by Banquet Masters. Participants will also receive a ticket to that night’s Blue Jays game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium against the Jupiter Hammerheads. To sign up as a bowler, lane sponsor or donate an auction item for this event, call 727.738.7014. All proceeds from the event will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. www.dunedinbluejays.com

Sun 31

Family Fun Day at the Pool. 12 - 3 pm. $3 adult, $2 child. St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach. Enjoy music, family fun, slides, pool basketball, pool bingo, prizes and much more. www.spbrec.com

AUGUST Aug 4

Cult Classics 2016 at The Dali. Take your lawn chair, and enjoy free movies, local food truck fare, and cold craft brews. The first Thursday of the month all summer long. Reduced prices for museum admission are available on Cult Classic dates. Vendors begin serving at 7 p.m., and movies begin at 8:30, rain or shine as the movies move indoors during inclement weather. www.thedali.org/event/

Fri 5

Seven Local Artists Create Geckos for Charity Auction.

DOWNTOWN ST. PETE SUMMER CINEMA - BEST IN SHOW. 7 pm. Free. North lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr., NE, St. Petersburg. Music, food trucks with movie at dusk. “Best in Show”. Downtown St. Petersburg Summer Cinema Series. www.mfastpete.org

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Seven larger-than-life geckos will be the centerpiece of a live auction to benefit local charities. The geckos will be visualized and created according to each artist’s individual concept. All seven geckos can be seen for the first time at the Second Annual Gecko Artists’ Show during an opening reception on Friday, August 5th at the Catherine Hickman Theater (5501 27th Avenue South) from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public and will also include complimentary hors d’oeuvre and a cash bar. A selection of artists’ other work will continue to be displayed through the month of August. The geckos themselves will be moved to preview locations in venues throughout Gulfport’s Waterfront village. The geckos will then go up for auction at the Eighth Annual Gecko Ball on Saturday, August 27th at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom. Central Ave. Solstice Kick-off Party. 6 - 10 pm. Free. Enjoy a preview of the annual event with video presentation, live music, special guests and opportunities for volunteers and businesses. Green Bench Brewing, 1133 Baum Ave. N, St. Petersburg. www.edgedistrict.org/events Madeira Beach Summer Sunset 5 K Series. 7:15 pm. Runners take to the sand and enjoy sunset and post race party. Free parking. Archibald Park, 15100 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. www.madeirabeach5k.racehawk.com/Contact.aspx

5 - 25

The Beach Tampa by Snarkitecture AT AMALIE ARENA. The Beach Tampa is a 15,000 square foot immersive environment featuring an “ocean” of 1.2 million recyclable and antimicrobial white balls, open to the public at no cost. The Beach will be staged in an enclosure made of construction materials including scaffolding, wall panels, and perforated mesh, creating a sense of wonder and anticipation, while also recalling a boardwalk beach arcade. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to go for a “swim”, enjoy the view from the water’s edge or stroll along the pier. The shoreline will be a site of relaxation and activity, complete with a monochromatic beach hut, beach chairs, umbrellas and other beach activities for visitors. The 75-foot wide shoreline opens up to a sea of balls enclosed within mirrored walls that will create an infinite reflected expanse. www.thebeachtampa. com

Tues 9

Healthy Cooking Classes at The Studio@620. Explore fresh ideas and healthy cooking with this series of classes presented by John van Vlaardingen of JvVHealth. Each class will focus on an easy and delicious recipe that you’ll learn to prepare and sample. Gain nutritional education. Learn to incorporate home made whole foods into your day to day life with an emphasis on plant based dishes. August 9 : Different Dressings to Spice Up Your Dishes. 620 1st Ave. South, St. Petersburg FL 33701. 727-895-6620. www.studio620.org

Fri 12

BREWS & BITES AT SAIL PAVILION. On the second Friday of every month, the Sail Pavilion hosts a Brews & Bites Food Truck Rally. A rolling celebration of food and fun, Brews & Bites will feature a fleet of area food trucks, and live entertainment from local musicians at the venue’s unique 360-degree waterfront bar, from 6 to 11 pm. Sail Pavilion is located on Tampa’s busy RiverWalk, adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St, Tampa. 813373-1193.

Sat 13

9th Annual Gecko Crawl Celebrates “Gecko Season” in Gulfport. Sample drinks Continued

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at six locations, a poker run, and a festive afterparty in Gulfport’s colorful Waterfront District. The Crawl will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the afterparty beginning at 9 p.m. www.geckofest.com Woodstock at Johnny’s. Johnny’s Taphouse Grill will host “Woodstock at Johnny’s” from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will offer a free Peace, Love and Music outdoor concert (wear your groovy dancing shoes), a full menu sports bar with hippie happy hour all day long, vendors offering 60’s related paraphernalia, give-a-ways, 50/50 raffles and more. Flashback to the 60’s, let your freak flag fly and come decked in your best psychedelic threads for a chance win far out loot. Prizes will be given to best dressed dude, dudette and dog. It doesn’t cost any bread for cool cats of all ages to attend and the event will take place rain or shine, man. 224 E. Tarpon Ave, Downtown Tarpon Springs, FL 34689.

Fri 19

St. Beach Road Runners Summer Beach 5K Series. 7 pm. The Hurricane Restaurant, 5K chipped run along the beach during sunset. After party

to include buffet included and entertainment. 809 Gulf Way, Pass-a-Grille. www.sprr.org

Sat 20

HILLSBOROUGH RIVER SWAMP STOMP. This adventure run will take you cross country through several Florida habitats and introduce you to the challenges of the “Real Florida”. As you try to conquer the 25+ obstacles, some manmade and some natural, you will be challenged to survive the terrain. You will see mud like never before as you live like the wild animals of the Florida forests. This run will test your fears, push your abilities and give you a true sense of accomplishment as you cross the finish line. Runners will receive a free beer from Cigar City, a race shirt, bib, and finishers medal. DJd after party with potluck for campers (weather permitting). Camping is available and encouraged. 15402 U.S. 301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592. www.facebook.com/events/981346498579522/

Sat 20 - Sun 21

SKYWAY CAT SHOW. Cats will compete in 12 different rings, both days with judges from all around the country both days. Feline Education and Welfare, learn about different breeds of cats and how to care

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able for adoption. Free Parking. Bring can or dry cat food to receive a $1 off discount on donation admission. SPECIAL COLLECTION: They will be collecting items for a local spay and neuter clinic. Please donate items such as: Blankets, Bleach, Paper Towels, Printing paper, Tall Kitchen Trash Bags, Cleaning supplies, Office supplies, Baby Wipes, and Cat & Dog Crates, Food, etc. 727 289-1989. Minnreg Hall - 6340 126th Ave North, Largo, FL 33773. www.skywaycatclub.com

Sat 27

for them. Meet 25+ all breeds of cats. Vendors will have cat trees, cat bed, toys, unique gifts, and much more cat related items for sale. Cats and kittens avail-

Eighth Annual Gecko Ball at The Gulfport Casino. The Ball will be celebrated with a theme of “20,000 Geckos Under the Sea!” The party will be a celebraContinued

HISTORIC FISHING VILLAGE & BOARDWALK

ocated on the waterfront at Johns Pass, this quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village is Pinellas County’s #1 tourist attraction. Over one hundred merchants inhabit the Village with unique retail shopping, a variety of restaurants, the local fishing fleet, dolphin watching and shelling tours, boat rentals, parasailing and jet skiing. Plenty of parking: There is metered on-street parking located conveniently throughout the Village, as well as a new state-of-the-art multi-level parking garage adjacent to Bubba Gumps and Hubbards Marina. The beach is a short stroll away. Conveniently located near St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, and just a short drive to the Orlando area. Open daily!

12901 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, Florida Located on the Gulf-to-Intercoastal pass between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island

(727) 394-0756 • johnspassvillage.net

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tion of all things under, on and near the sea, as well as the classic 1954 film and the 1870 Jules Verne adventure novel. Décor and scenery will transport ballgoers into a vivid, colorful underwater tableau. Expect to experience over-the-top revelry and costumes, including sea creatures real and imagined, as well as a cast and crew of other salty characters. Ball-goers are encouraged to develop costumes relating to the film or book, to the sea, or to geckos, or any creative combination. The event includes over the top décor, full cash bar, geckotinis and other cocktail specials, passed hors d’oeuvre and tapas. Live music by Big Night Out will fill the dance floor this year with the sounds of the islands, tropics, Latin, R & B and more. Hundreds of silent auction items will be up for bids, and the annual live auction of artist-created geckos will once again be a highlight of the evening. GeckoFest.com Toy Train, Collectible & Hobby Show/ Sale. Vendors will be on hand selling various model trains, hobbies collectibles, and diecast cars, and , antiques, much more. There will be a running train layout. Thomas the Tank Engine video will be playing for kids to enjoy. 9am – 2pm Lopez Hall, 7177 58th Street N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781. 727-244-1341. www.regalrailways.com

Wed 31

BEER & BOW TIES. Fundraiser for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Features craft beers, silent auction, games and full liquor bar. Coppertail Brewing Co, Ybor City. (813)421-4153. www.beerandbowtiestampabay.com

SEPTEMBER Throughout September - St. Petersburg Festival 16. Various times and locations, most events are free though some events will require paid tickets. Throughout the city of St. Petersburg. Month long celebration of the arts and creative spirit of St. Petersburg. www.stpetefest.org

Sat 3

16th Annual Gulfport Geckofest. 3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. 727-3225217 10:00 am - 10:00 pm. Each year, Gulfport celebrates the end of summer with its largest festival of the year, dedicated to the town’s unofficial mascot and favorite reptile. Live music and vendors throughout the village are all part of the fun. Strolling and stationary street performers are now also a hallmark of the Geckofest tradition. The theme for this year’s

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Gecko events is “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Expect to come face to face with acrobats, aerialists, break dancers, escape artists, magicians, jugglers, fire performers and more, creating an interactive circus atmosphere throughout the waterfront village. All festivities take place on Beach Boulevard. There is no admission fee for the pet and family friendly event, and complimentary parking is available with gratis trolley rides to and from off-site parking areas. www.Geckofest.com

Fri 9

POINT OF LIGHT LUNCHEON. 12 noon-1:30. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, 727581-4628. The Lighthouse of Pinellas’ 10th annual luncheon, honoring Dr. Louis Michaelos and Dr. Ronald Tucker. www.lighthouseofpinellas.org/archives/587 SUNCOAST VOICES FOR CHILDREN GALA. Automobile Museum, Pinellas Park, 727-4581533. Fundraiser for this organization that provides physical, psycholigical, educational and social needs of abused, abandoned and neglected children in Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

multi-course pairing dinner by Mise En Place on the Theatre’s historic stage, and a very special screening of the 1942 Bogart/Bergman classic. Tickets and details for both events at www.TampaTheatre.org EARTHDANCE FLORIDA. Join in for a full weekend of live music, live artists and installations, yoga and healing workshops, sacred spaces, movement and flow workshops, sacred fire and drum circle, earth skills workshops, Saturday family friendly day, pool parties, Global Prayer for Peace and so much more. Maddox Ranch, Lakeland. www.earthdanceflorida.org

Sat 10

LA VIE EN ROSE. At. Petersburg Yacht Club. 727-644-8910. St. Pete Glitter Queens 5th Annual Royal Ball to benefit Ready For Life. www.stpeteglitterqueens.org

Fri 16 - Sun 18

TAMPA THEATRE WineFest 2016. WineFest 2016 will kick off the Theatre’s 90th birthday celebration with ‘Caskablanca,’ Friday-Sunday, Sept. 16-18. The three-day event will feature a tasting opportunity to sample dozens of boutique wines and bid on premium silent auction items while local eateries serve up their favorite fare, an exclusive,

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Largest Local Producer of Certified Organic Coffee in Tampa by Melissa Wolcott Martino and Al Martino

offee lovers Jennifer and Mike Simmons decided back in 2009 to make a living at doing what they love and started Java Planet in Tampa. We learned a thing or two about coffee on a visit with them. What makes Java Planet’s coffee special is that it is 100% organic and Fair Trade certified. They know their beans, and import only the finest from all over the world, which they then blend and roast in house. There is a dramatic flavor difference between coffee made from organic beans and non-organic beans, and organic actually makes you feel better. Some folks whose system can’t tolerate non-organic beans find they are able to drink organic with no problem. Organic coffee is grown with no pesticides and no chemical fertilizer. Non-organic coffee uses the most pesticides of any product, so organic is pretty important to a person’s health as well as our planet’s. Organic coffee is full of vitamins,nutrients and antioxidants. Surprisingly, coffee

is much more complex than wine, with coffee having some 700 discernible flavor characteristics, and wine only about 400. If you don’t want coffee jitters, read the label and make sure the beans are Arabica. Most commercial coffees are Robusto which is a cheaper bean. Java Planet beans are all Arabica. Coffee is best when used within 2 weeks of roasting, and beans should be ground right before you use it for the ultimate flavor. Java Planet only sells by the whole bean, and has many blends to choose from. For more information, call Java Planet at 813-2424805, or visit their website at jporganiccoffee.com

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TRAVELOGUE

HOUSE New Orleans, LA Story and Photos by Melissa Wolcott Martino

www.AccentOnTampaBay.com Guestrooms and dining room at the Degas House

Joan Prados, Degas’ great-grandniece, is a docent at the museum and has plenty of family stories.

I am holding a painting (reproduction) of Degas’ cousin Estelle in the spot where he painted her.

n a recent visit to New Orleans I discovered that Edgar Degas, one of my favorite painters, lived in the city at his uncle’s house for 5 months, and created 20 paintings in that home. The home is still standing and is now the Degas House, a lovely Bed & Breakfast. Degas’ own great-grandniece, Joan Prados, is a docent for the museum, and is full of anecdotes about her famous ancestor and his somewhat fractious family. He is the only French Impressionist to ever visit the USA, and this house is the only one in the world still standing that Degas lived in, albeit briefly. Although the furnishings are not original to the house, they are to the period. The Degas paintings hanging throughout “The Pedicure”

are prints, but they are hanging in the rooms thought to be where subjects were painted. I had the pleasure of holding a Degas reproduction of his cousin Estelle (one of his favorite subjects) in the same spot that he painted it. The room of most interest to me, was Degas’ own room where he slept and painted. It is set up as it was imagined to be originally. Of course, having had Degas actually live in the house gives it a certain caché, but for folks who like Victorian Creaole-style, it is a great bed & breakfast spot to stay in anyway. For more information, visit www.degashouse.com “A Cotton Office In New Orleans” features several of Degas’ relatives.

Degas House courtyard

Degas’ room where he slept and painted has been recreated as it was assumed to be originally. www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

Amalie Arena 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa 813.301.6500. www.amaliearena.com July 30 - Pitbull Bad Man Tour AUGUST 27 - Drake & Future - Summer Sixteen Tour SEPTEMBER 11 - BadBoy Tour - Family Reunion 14 – Kanye West American Stage 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg 727.823.7529. www.americanstage.org/ July 20 through August 14 - Pitman Painters August 7 - Hawk & Wayne Mockumentary Capitol Theatre 405 Cleveland Street, Clearwater 727.791.7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com/Venues July

22 - Butch Trucks & Freight Train, The Ries Brothers 24 - Leon Russell 25 - Todrick Hall AUGUST 2 - GoGos, Kaya 5 – Classic Albums – Led Zepplin 6 – Space Balls & Blazing Saddles 10 – Top Gun & Die Hard 27 – Rocky & Rocky II SEPTEMBER 7 – Donovan 12 – Jake Shimabukuro 15 – Gary Gulman 21 – Keb’ Mo’ Band Carrollwood Players Theatre 4335 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618 813.265.4000. www.carrollwoodplayers.org/ JULY 15 - AUGUST 3 - No Sex Please, We’re British. Directed by Ann Lehman, Produced by Jim Johnson. A young bride who lives above a

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FOOTLIGHTS con’t bank with her husband who is the assistant manager, innocently sends a mail order off for some Scandinavian glassware. What comes is Scandinavian pornography. The plot revolves around what is to be done with the veritable floods of pornography, photographs, books, films, and eventually girls that threaten to engulf this happy couple. The matter is considerably complicated by the man’s mother, his boss, a visiting bank inspector, a police superintendent, and a muddled friend who does everything wrong in his reluctant efforts to set everything right, all of which works up to a hilarious ending of closed or slamming doors. JULY 24 - 31. JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT. Black Box. Jukebox Saturday Night is a delightful romp through a fondly-remembered past set to the music of the 1950’s and 60’s. AUGUST 12 - 20. SAME TIME NEXT YEAR. Same Time, Next Year remains one of the world’s most widely produced plays. The plot follows a love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, who rendezvous once a year. Twenty-five years of manners and morals are hilariously and touchingly played out by the lovers. THE 37th Clearwater Jazz Holiday www.clearwaterjazz.com OCTOBER 13 - 16. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a four-day and four-night, live music festival,

the third week of every October. The music festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to Coachman Park in Clearwater, against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico. The festival features a combination of legendary and relevant musical artists and a gathering of a diverse fan base. Some of this year’s artists include: The Commodores, Kool & The Gang, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Mavericks, Daryl Hall, Houndmouth, The Lone Bellow, And Gregg Allman.

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Coconuts Comedy Club 5501 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach 727.360.5653. www.coconutscomedyclubs.com Open Mike on Tuesdays Shows: Wed - Sat, 9pm July 20 - 23 - Chris Barnes 27 - 30 - Jay Hewlett August 3 - 6 - Hank McGauley 17 - 20 - Doug Almeida 31 - BC Murphy September Thru 3 - BC Murphy 21 - 24 - Mike McCarthy

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPITHEATRE Wed, July 27

THE Coliseum 535 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg 727.892.5715. www.stpete.org/coliseum Tea dances run October through May SEPT 23 - THE PURPLE EXPERIENCE. Celebrate the unique and talented life and music of Prince with this special tribute concert. The Purple Xperience, a five-piece tribute band hailing from Minneapolis, brings the memories of Prince and The Revolution to audiences of all generations. Led by Matt Fink, a member of Prince and The Revolution from 1978 to 1991. Backed by the best session players in the Twin Cities, Matt Fink and Marshall Charloff have produced an authentic re-creation of Prince and The Revolution, leaving no attendee disappointed. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at www.chilloungenight.com

Eckerd College OPERA 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg Miller Auditorium. 727.864.7600. www.eckerd.edu/metopera The Met in HD Series. Live high-definition broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera (con’t on next page)

ave Matthews Band has an intensely loyal, grassroots following intrigued by its eclectic sound and compelling live performances. The Grammy Award winning Dave Matthews Band is consistently one of the top draws on the concert circuit. Their most recent album, Away from the World, released in 2012, debuted at number one on the Billboard chart — making them the only group to have six consecutive studio albums debut in the top spot. The band is known for their annual summer-long tours of the United States and Europe, featuring lengthy improvisational renditions of their songs, accompanied by an elaborate video and lighting show. The band is known for playing the songs differently each time.

4802 US Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33610, (813) 740-2446 • www.livenation.com/

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FOOTLIGHTS con’t Eight O’clock Theatre 105 Central Park Drive, Largo 727.587.6793, www.eightoclocktheatre.com July 15 - 24 - 1776 - The Musical. It’s the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence...if only our founding fathers can agree to do it. 1776 follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence. A funny, insightful, and compelling drama with a striking score and legendary book, this Tony Award winner for Best Musical puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation.

Florida Orchestra 727.662.7286. www.floridaorchestra.org See venues for dates – Mahaffey Theater, Ruth Eckerd Hall & David Straz Performing Arts Center October 7 – 9 – Cirque du Symphonie 14 – The Music of Genesis Florida Suncoast Opera Guild www.FLsuncoastoperaguild.org AUGUST 28 - 3 PM Anthology of an Opera Star with Sherrill Milnes -Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. Freefall Theatre Company 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727.498.5205. www. freefalltheatre.com August 6 – SEPT 4 – Pirates of Penzance October 8 – November 6 – Assasins Glenridge Performing Arts Center 7333 Scotland Way, Sarasota 941.552.5325 www.gpactix.com (con’t on next page)

SAM MORRIL August 25 - 28

Sam Morril, one of the fastest rising comics in New York City, is also one of the best joke writers in the scene today. Sam was featured in a 4-page spread in the Daily News as “one of the four funniest in New York” He then won the Laughing Skull Festival in Atlantang out over 600 (dreams were shattered!) applicants. In 2011, Sam was named a “Comic to Watch” by Comedy Central. His comedy can be heard on Sirius XM radio, and he has been featured on on “The Artie Lange Show,” “Adam Devine’s House Party” on Comedy Central, MSG’s “The Bracket,” “Inside Amy Schumer” and made his late-night debut on “Conan” on TBS. You can see Sam regularly on “Red Eye” on Fox News. His Comedy Central Half-Hour Special was released to rave reviews along. His album “Class Act” ranked number 6 in The Laugh Button’s 2015 review, “Best comedy albums and specials.” SideSplitters is located at 12938 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. www.sidesplitterscomedy.com www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

FOOTLIGHTS con’t August 13 - Jax Jazz Connection JANNUS LIVE 200 1st Ave. North, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701. www.jannuslive.com/29 JULY 15 - Mariana’s Trench 16 - Polyenso 24 - 97X Awolnation SEPTEMBER 2 - Judas Maiden/Blackout 11 - Flume 23 - New Orleans Suspects - New Orleans Suspects brings together some of the best, most highly respected players in New Orleans

including: “Mean” Willie Green on drums (Neville Bros.); Jeff Watkins on saxophone (James Brown Band, Joss Stone Band); Jake Eckert on guitar/vocals (Dirty Dozen Brass Band); CR Gruver on keyboards and vocals (Polytoxic, Outformation); and Charlie Wooton (formerly of Royal Southern Brotherhood) on bass. New Orleans Suspects will release their third album, Kaleidoscoped, on September 16.

24 - Govt Mule with Blackberry Smoke OCTOBER 28 - VNV Nation JIMMY FERRARO’S STUDIO THEATRE 5732 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652. www.ferrarostudiotheatre.com/ Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Dr, Largo 727.587.6793. www.largoarts.com August 5, 6 – Peter Pan Jr. SEPTEMBER 8 - 10 - Wizard of Oz 16 - An Evening With Terry Bozzio October 15 – School House Rocks M.A.D. Theatre of Tampa (Music Acting Dance Theatre of Tampa) 813.386.6173 www.madtheatre.com SEPTEMBER 8 - 18 - Spring Awakening Madeira Beach Park St Petersburg, Florida 33708 JULY 13 - Summerland: Sugar Ray, Everclear, Lit, And Sponge, 3:00 pm Mahaffey Theater 400 1St St. S, Bayfront Center St. Petersburg, 727.892.5767. www.themahaffeytheater.com July 21 - Beres Hammond 23 - Drew Thomas Magic August 5 – Recycled Percussion 12 – Shut Up and Laugh 14 - UB40 September 1 – Jill Scott 13 – Brian Wilson MARLY MUSIC SERIES at THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, ST. PETERSBURG www.mfastpete.org/rsvp/ Escape the heat with cool summer concerts in the intimate, el-

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egant Marly Room. 2 p.m. on these Sundays: July 31 - Christopher Johnson, piano August 21 - Rachel Kudo, piano, Brandon Ridenour, trumpet 28 - The Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater - Florida State Fairgrounds 4802 Us Hwy 301 N, Tampa, 813.740.2446. www.ticketmaster.com JULY 21 - MERRY JANE Presents Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa: The High Road Tour, Kevin Gates & Jhene Aiko 23 - Counting Crows & Rob Thomas 26 - Gwen Stefani 27 - Dave Matthews August

5 - Hank Williams & Chris Stapleton 6 - Blink 182, A Day To Remember & All American Rejects 11 – Outcry Tour 12 - Brad Paisley with Tyler Farr and Maddie & Tae 15 - Def Leppard with Reo Speedwagon & Tesla 19 - Dixie Chics DCX World Tour MMXVI 25 – Fifth Harmony 27 - Brantley Gilbert with Justin Moore and Colt Ford SEPTEMBER 9 - Miranda Lambert, Kip Moore & Brothers Osborne 18 – Zac Brown Band 22 - Heart, Joan Jett & The BlackHearts, Cheap Trick 23 - Toby Keith ORPHEUM 1915 E. 7th Ave., Tampa JULY 21 - Never Shout Never (con’t on next page)

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPITHEATRE

GWEN STEFANI

Tues, July 26

hree-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter GWEN STEFANI will perform at the MidFlorida Credit Union with her “This Is What the Truth Feels Like” 2016 tour. Hip hop star and actress EVE will join Stefani. GRAMMY Award-winning artist EVE has collaborated with Stefani on two successful hit songs – “Rich Girl” and “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” – earning a GRAMMY Award for the latter. Gwen Stefani’s third full-length solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, featuring the Gold single, “Used to Love You,” was released March 18 on Interscope Records and debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Stefani first appeared on “The Voice” as a coach on Season 7 and returned to coach in Season 9. Gwen Stefani has achieved worldwide success as a performer, songwriter and recording artist, selling more than 30 million albums worldwide with No Doubt and as a multi-platinum solo artist. Love You.”

This Is What The Truth Looks Like Tour

4802 US Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33610, (813) 740-2446 • www.livenation.com/ (con’t on next page) www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

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FOOTLIGHTS con’t The Palladium 253 5Th Ave N, St. Petersburg 727.822.3590. www.mypalladium.org July 22 - Ward Smith & Friends 23 - Lauren Michell 24 - The Florida Bjorkestra: Music of Bjork 29 - Pure Led Zeppelin Experience 30 - Cece Tenea: Aretha Franklin, Portrait of a Queen 31 - Shirley Murdock, Laughter Without Profanity August 5 – Nate Najar & Phill Fest 6 – JP Soars 12 – Jeremy Carter 13 – Kafkasso 19 – Ward Smith & Friends 20 – Monday Monday 26, 27 – Selwyn Birchwood September 10 – The Only Daddys 13 – Helio Jazz Orchestra 16 – ALEX Harris 23 – Show Biz Kids

POWER STORIES THEATRE 2015 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa FL 33606. 813-2532000. www.powerstories.com SEPTEMBER 10 - 27 - Advice I Would Give My Younger Self: Always Know Where Your Lunch Money Is.

Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 N. Mcmullen Booth Rd, Clearwater . 727.791.7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com JULY 23 - Ted Nugent AUGUST (con’t on next page)

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPITHEATRE Sat, July 23

wo of music’s most captivating live performers unite for their first time touring together. Multiplatinumselling band Counting Crows and multiple Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Rob Thomas come to the MidFlorida Creit Union Amp[itheatre, Sat., July 23. ”Music is about good friends getting together and celebrating life. Our fans are going to be doing that in the audience and we will be doing that on stage as well. Bring on the summer!” said Rob Thomas. 4802 US Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33610, (813) 740-2446 • www.livenation.com/ www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

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FOOTLIGHTS con’t 4 – Maxwell 5 – Grammy Project Showcase 12 – Ray LaMontagne 13 - Alice Cooper 19 - Seal 26 - Australian Pink Floyd 29 - Steven Tyler September 14 – Leon Bridges 17 – Legends of Rock 21 – II Divo – Amor & Pasion

Sarasota Ballet 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota 941.359.0099. www.sarasotaballet.org AUGUST 11 - 14 – Sarasota Ballet in NYC A Simple Theater The Biniger Theater, Eckerd College. 4200 54Th Avenue S, St. Petersburg. 727.864.7811 www.asimpletheatre.org SEPT - 21 – A Very Brady Fundraiser St. Petersburg City Theatre Located Just Off I-275 At 4025 31St. St. South, St. Petersburg, 33712. Box Office:tickets / Information 727-866-1973. www.spcitytheatre.org Stageworks Theater 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., West Bldg., #151, Tampa, 813.374.2416. www.stageworkstheatre.org JULY 23 - Mastermind starring Lar - Mind Reader Extraordinaire August 7 – The Speak! Tank (con’t on next page)

AMALIE ARENA

Sat, August 27 Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling artist Drake is touring with Future and special guests in support of his album, Views. The North American tour, promoted exclusively by Live Nation, will stop at Tampa’s AMALIE Arena on Saturday, August 27. Drake’s album’s multi-platinum single, “Hotline Bling,” became a massive hit. Three of the album’s subsequent singles, “Summer Sixteen,” “Pop Style,” and “One Dance,” all charted in the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs charts. Visit www.drakeofficial.com and www.livenation. com for more information. www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

26 – The Got Jokes 28 - Staged Reading of Medusa Undone by Bella Poynton September 4 – The Speak! Tank State Theatre 687 Central Ave., St Petersburg, FL. (727) 895-3045 www.statetheatreconcerts.com/ JULY 19 - An Evening With Chris Robinson Brotherhood 21 - Next To None 23 - Noneed 30 - Olivia Holt AUGUST 6 - Helstar 7 - Audiotopsy THE STUDIO @620 620 1st Ave. South, St. Petersburg FL 33701. 27-8956620. www.studio620.org JULY 20 - 24 - Tru 19 - Wordier Than Thou AUGUST 6 - My Life And How I Pretended To Live It (A Work In Progress) With Peter Suarez Straz Center 1010 N. W.c. Macinnes Place, Tampa . 813.229.Star.

www.strazcenter.org July 6 - 31 - Time Stands Still - Time Stands Still focuses on Sarah and James, a war photojournalist and her foreign correspondent boyfriend, who are trying to find happiness after their return from Iraq in a world that seems to have gone crazy. Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories, and together, making a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life.

21 - 23 - One Man Dark Knight Parody 28 - Bring It Live 30, 31 - Sleeves Up, Pants Down August 5 – 7 – American Heartbeat 13 – Pole for a Purpose (con’t on next page)

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPITHEATRE Mon, Aug 15 Joining Def Leppard on their mighty summer outing are REO Speedwagon and Tesla. Def Leppard’s influential career includes numerous hit singles and groundbreaking multi-platinum release’s—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria. Said Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott: “I’m looking forward toand getting back he Ripcord World Tour runs through more than 50 cities. Openersreally include Brett Eldredge Maren out there and playing some great music Morris. “I’m seriously chomping at the bit to kick off this tour,” Urban says in a press release. “We’ll with for some of the be playing a lot of new music from RipCORD, all new production, newsome citiesgreat wherepeople we’ve never played most appreciative audiences in the … and Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris? It’s gonna be potent and unbridled!!!” Eldredge, a huge fanworld. of is always a pleasure.” Urban, also shares his excitement to hit the road with the “Break It onreally Me” singer. “I was a Keith Urban fan Kevin“He Cronin Reo Speedwagon said: long before I ever got this music thing going,” Eldredge says in a release. is anofabsolute powerhouse “We played some shows with Def Leppard on stage — unlike anyone I’ve ever seen and to top it all off, one of the most down to earth people I know! in 2008 and it was an amazing musical The Ripcord tour is gonna be on fire! Get ready!” marriage, a melodic rock extravaganza. We are ready to restart that fire.”

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FOOTLIGHTS con’t

Classic Movie Series “Rewind”

20 – Test Drive a Seat 27 – Aerial Dragons 27 – Sawyer Fredericks September 7 – October 2 – The Underpants 23 – 25 – The Illusionists 29 – Wait, Wait – Don’t Tell Me

Van Wezel 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941.953.3368. www.vanwezel.org July 29 - Jah Movement August Through September 23 – Friday Fest 26 – Rebelheart September 11 – Brian Wilson 23 – Dr. Dave Band

Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society 727.596.7142 www.sdjs.org September 18 – Outreach Concert – Florida Boyz October 16 – Dave Tatrow & His Allstars TAMPA IMPROV 1600 E 8th Ave. Suite C-112, Tampa, FL 33605. 813864-4000. www.improvtampa.com/

Vinoy Park 701 Bayshore Drive Northeast Street, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 AUGUST 14 - Slightly Stoopid, Soja & Fortunate Youth

TAMPA THEATRE 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602. www.TampaTheatre.org

West Coast Players 21905 Us 19 N. Clearwater 727.437.2363. www.wcplayers.org

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPITHEATRE Fri, August 19

ince their first album, the music of the Dixie Chicks has stirred emotions in fans across the world making them one of the biggest and most influential bands of our time. The Dixie Chicks are one of a mere handful of acts with multiple albums achieving “diamond” status - both WIDE OPEN SPACES (1998) and FLY (1999) hit that stratospheric landmark - and over the years have sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won thirteen Grammy Awards. Their on-stage reputation has helped them sell over $100 million worth of concert tickets while outspoken songs like “Goodbye Earl” and “Not Ready To Make Nice” made it clear that this power trio played by nobody’s rules. www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

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Beethoven’s 9th is Season Opener

alled “riveting” and “impossible not to watch,” Music Director Michael Francis has been an instant hit in his first year with The Florida Orchestra. This fall, he will lead the orchestra’s premier Tampa Bay Times Masterworks series, conducting nine of 14 concerts. This is what the orchestra is all about: classical masterpieces you love, performed with passion. And don’t forget free Classical Kids tickets for ages 5-18. Here are five can’t-miss Masterworks concerts for the 2016/17 season:

Opening Night: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Sept. 30-Oct. 2): Michael Francis opens his second season in grand style, with Beethoven’s towering symphony and its glorious “Ode to Joy,” featuring the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. With a Sunday matinee!

Milos

Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony (Nov. 4-6): Francis conducts perhaps Mozart’s greatest – and final -- symphony, Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.” Also: brilliant young violinist Benjamin Beilman on Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Songs of the Sea: Britten, Elgar & Debussy (Nov. 11-13): Feel the ebb and flow of the sea, with Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, Elgar’s Sea Pictures and Debussy’s La Mer. Then dive into the TFO premiere of Jake Heggie’s The Work at Hand, based on deeply moving poetry by a woman battling cancer. Michael Francis conducts. The Dalí Experience Featuring Milos (March 3-5): A concert devoted to music that inspired one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Salvador Dalí, featuring images of Dalí’s paintings, dancers and superstar classical guitarist Milos, all under the baton Michael Francis of Michael Francis. Works include Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod; Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez; Falla’s The Three Cornered Hat ballet; and Ravel’s La Valse. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (April 8-9): Van Cliburn competition winner Vadym Kholodenko makes his TFO debut performing one of the most famous piano works in the world, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Also: Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6. Nicholas Carter is guest conductor. The Florida Orchestra: Series subscriptions are on sale now. Single tickets, which start at just $15, are available Aug. 8. Get tickets at www.floridaorchestra.org or 727.892.3337 and 1.800.662.7286. The orchestra regularly performs at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

Cobb Tyrone Luxury 10 Theatres Raising the Entertainment Bar by Melissa Wolcott Martino

ow does Dinner and a Movie for date night sound? Good? How about Dinner in a Movie Theater? Better? How about Cocktails and Dinner in a Movie Theater? Even better? How about Cocktails and Dinner in a Big Reclining Lounge Chair In a Movie Theater? Bliss? This is not a fantasy, but reality at the new Cobb Luxury 10 Theatres at Tyrone Mall. We recently checked it out and were blown away. The Cobb family, having been in the movie theater

biz since the 1920s, have thought of everything to please the customer. This is the first of it’s kind in St. Petersburg, and only the 2nd in the country. Going forward, all the new Cobb theaters being built will be the luxury brand. If you’ve experience the Cobb owned Cinebistro (Hyde Park), it is similar, but on a smaller scale, and Cinebistro is for ages 21 and older. The new Cobb Luxury theaters are family friendly. The movies are all reserved seating, so you can leisurely go online, see the 38

layout of the theater, choose and pay for your seat, or, you can do it right at the theater. (There is a $3 Fandango service fee for the convenience of doing it online.) Surprisingly, this luxurious theater is about the same price as other theaters in town — $11 adult, $10 student/military, $8 senior, and $7.75 child. Once a month, the Cobb has sensory friendly shows for families with autism spectrum children. Call the theater for times. When you enter the Cobb lobby, you find Cobbster’s Restaurant, a bar, concession, birthday party room, and guest services. Back in the theater are 10 screens with stadium seating, all with plush oversized electric reclining seats with tray holders if you should opt for a real meal in lieu of popcorn. However, do not fret — there is plenty of popcorn available, as well as any other snack you can think of. The lobby is set up so that folks can just come and hang out at the bar or restaurant without even seeing a movie — the food and drinks are that good. But more fun and relaxing is taking your food and drink order into the theater and settling down to a good movie. The menu is really excellent, and everything we tried was www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

very good, with a special nod to their amazing bread pudding. The food is made from scratch, including the New York style pizzas whole or by the slice. The theaters are all digital, Dolby sound, 3D capable, and set up for the future when 4K comes available. Right now 2K is the standard. The various theaters are set up with from 89 to 170 seats in a space that, in older

theaters, would accommodate 300 seats. Impress your next date with a Cobb Luxury Theatre experience! Cobb Tyrone Luxury 10. 2998 Tyrone Blvd N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710. (727) 209-1950. For more information visit www.cobbtheatres.com

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by Dr. Lori Verderame

The Art of Storing China

f you have your heirloom china, crystal, porcelain, and nic nacs in a lighted china closet or display case with lamps inside, don’t position your collectibles too close to the lamps. Once, during an in-home appraisal service call, I had to break the news to a Waterford crystal collector who had her entire collection on display in just such a cabinet. She told me that every Sunday she turned on the lights inside that cabinet so her dinner guests could admire her lovely collection. Well, I found all of the damage that they were admiring. Every one of those Waterford pieces on the top shelf, the ones closest to the lights, was cracked from the heat trapped in that glass display cabinet. My client had been unknowingly damaging her crystal with a weekly dose of high intensity heat.

Circa 1930s ceramic Mickey Mouse child’s tea set in original box.

And, like the hot china cabinet, another poor locale for storing your art or antiques is the attic where temperature and humidity changes take place as often as the seasons change. The basement has all the room in the world for the storage of your treasures like china and crystal yet it usually too damp to store those precious pieces. Now that you know where not to store your stuff, here’s a tip on how to store it. No cardboard boxes. That’s right, no cardboard boxes. They attract bugs, are high in acid content, and will stain your ceramics, photographs, and works on paper. Cardboard boxes will soak up any water like a sponge. Water means moisture, moisture means mold, and then we have a recipe for disaster. I have had clients and audience members ask me, “Dr. Lori, what if my antique or collectible (like my circa 1930s Mickey Mouse child’s tea set worth $500) came in a cardboard box originally? Should I keep that box.”

Just because it came in a cardboard box, doesn’t mean it has to stay in a cardboard box when you store it. Of course, the original box should be kept and does have value, but to preserve the antique object long term, take it out of the cardboard box for long term storage. Depending on what your object is, store the object and the box separately wrapped in acid free paper or in a plastic tub. Remember bubble wrap is not for long term storage but instead it is for short term transport. You should wrap your heirlooms in white, acid free tissue paper or white cotton cloths, but never in bubble wrap for long term storage. Bubble wrap traps heat and it captures damaging moisture. You want to keep your art and antiques dry and in good shape even while you are storing them. Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide. She will be offering Free appraisals at the Woodlands Home Show in August 2016. Visit DrLoriV.com, Facebook.com/DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.

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daytona beach t

TRAVELOGUE

Story and photos by Melissa Wolcott Martino & Al Martino

Way More than Very Fast Cars

Thoughts of Daytona Beach conjure up the world famous Daytona Speedway and also Bike Week when all sorts of motorcycles and attending characters converge from all over the country. The mind pictures cars driving along the beach (which is fun, by the way) and a lot of water sports. However, there is a lot more to the area that has an even broader appeal. We discovered another side to Daytona and the drivable nearby towns.

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The Plaza Resort & Spa

ne of the best, and centrally located resorts, is the Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. This beautiful ocean front property has a rich history, having been built in 1895 and catering to the posh crowd. It originally had a casino, and stables for horses and carriages. Guests were treated to exhibitions and airplane rides in the 20s. But, not to worry, it has been thoroughly modernized through the years, yet kept it’s historic charm. You will find interesting old photos from “back in the day” in the hotel. Our ocean front room was spacious and had everything one could need, including a full-size refrigerator, stove top, kitchen sink and utensils — not to mention a very, very comfy bed. The room’s sleep-sofa will come in handy if you bring your family with you. A balcony overlooking the pool, resort grounds and ocean is icing on an already tasty cake.

As I mentioned, the resort is centrally located and only a few minute walk to the Ocean Walk Shoppes with restaurants, and a movie theater. Daytona Beach’s family friendly boardwalk, pier and amusement rides are also a short walk away. Did you know that Florida only has 6 wooden piers left in the whole state? Two of them are on Daytona Beach — the Daytona Pier and the Sunglow Pier, both of which we visited.

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he Daytona Pier is next to the amusement area, and houses Joe’s Crab Shack Restaurant, with a great rooftop deck on the ocean for cocktails and kicking back. The Sunglow Pier is a well-known fishing pier since the 1960s where people can catch a wide variety of fish (king, pompano, flounder, trout, tarpon, shark, etc.) And, it has Crabby Joe’s Restaurant on it, where we had a delicious breakfast — we highly recommend the Shrimp & Grits with cheese grits, andouille sausage, grilled shrimp & chive garnish. Mmm mmm! Crabby’s opens at sunrise every day and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stroll down the pier and watch the fishermen/women (fisherpeople?) or rent a pole right there and go fishing yourself. Another stroll from the Plaza takes you to the Oyster Pub Sports Bar & Grill, Daytona Beach’s largest oyster bar. It has a full menu, but you definitely want to taste one (or some) of their delicious variety of oyster dishes, preferably while taking in some sports action on the 45 TVs spread throughout the place. A few other popular spots to check out in the area are Riptides and Beach Bucket. Daytona’s Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) has a large collection of Cuban and Florida art, also American and European fine and decorative arts, pre-Columbian and African artifacts, Pleistocene fossils, Florida history and regional natural history, and a state-ofthe-art Planetarium. The impressive Cici and Hyatt Brown Florida art collection is the most extensive in the world. A museum within the museum is the Root Family Museum with a large collection of Coca Cola memorabilia. Another addition to the museum is the Visable Storage Museum with a glass-front peek into some of the museums treasures that are in storage until there is more display room. Definitely worth a visit.

The Sunglow Pier

The Daytona Pier

Downtown Daytona has a bunch of shops and restaurants, but one must-go-to place is the Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, which has been making candy since 1925, and still uses the recipes created by the two ladies (Riddell Angell and Cora Phelps) who started it all. Homemade and fabulous. It is a fun place to visit, as you can take a tour of the candy making process and get free samples. They even have a video playing of the famous Ethel and Lucy candy making scene from “I Love Lucy.” No way you walk out of there without buying something!

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Crabby Joe’s Shrimp & Grits

Oyster Pubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oysters with bacon and melted Monterey Jack cheese.

Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory

Museum of Arts & Sciences

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The Brickyard Restaurant’s Renny Miles and his delicious hamburger

Daytona Speedway

Racing’s North Turn’s magnificent view

f course, even though there are many things to do in the Daytona area, a visit to the Daytona Speedway is a must. Even if you’re not a big race fan, it’s still fascinating. If you are a race fan, then it’s nirvana. The Speedway was built in 1958 by Bill France, and it’s the crown jewel of NASCAR. During the year, there are 8 or 9 big races held, with the Daytona 500 being the biggest in the world. Fifty percent of the attendees are from out of state. They did a $400M renovation a few years ago to make it more comfortable for spectators. Seats went from 146,000 to 101,000, and 40 escalators were installed, as well as more modern facilities. We got a kick out of the fact that the seats are different colors so that even if they are empty, it will look like it’s full on TV — and it does! Tours of the Speedway are available, so, of course we took one. You can experience the 31-degree high banks as the tram drives along turns 3 and 4, and then step on the podium in Victory Lane for a photo op. You end the tour by standing next to the car of this year’s DAYTONA 500 champion, Denny Hamilton (who won by a hair — the closest race in Daytona 500 history.) Pretty cool. When we finished our visit at the Speedway, we were all fired up with racing, so we headed over to the Brickyard Restaurant, a favorite hangout of racers and fans since 1961. Kind of fun and funky, there is racing memorabilia galore all over the place, and they are known for having the best burger in Volusia County.

For dinner we went to Ponce Inlet to Racing’s North Turn which sits on the location where racing began literally on the beach in 1936. That was until 1958, when NASCAR relocated to the Super Speedway (now the Daytona Speedway.) This is a really fun place with old beach racing photos, great food, live music, fun cocktails, and a spectacular ocean view, especially as evening approaches. 46

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ome places of interest beyond Daytona, but close by, are DeLeon Springs, DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, and Ormond Beach. DeLeon Springs State Park is a 625 acre park featuring a clear spring that maintains 72° year round. The depth of the center spring is deceiving at 28 feet. There are Native Americans burial mounds, and a 6,000-year-old canoe sunk in the spring. Swimmers and snorkelers are welcome, and folks can rent canoes, paddleboats and kayaks to skim across the lakes and creeks of the 22,000 acre Lake Woodruff National Refuge. We took in the beauty of the spring, but then headed to the main reason for the visit, the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant in a 100 year-old replica of the original 1830s sugar mill. There you can get a great breakfast either by ordering off the menu, or do-it-yourself cooking on the griddle that is in the center of all the family style tables. Best pancakes I ever made (with a little help from their homemade pre-mixed batter and fixin’s.) The restaurant is open until 4 p.m., so you can also get salads and sandwiches.

DeLeon Springs State Park and Old Sugar Mill Restaurant

DeLand is known for skydiving and hot-air ballooning among other outdoorsy things. Lots of weekend festivals and events. They have a Bike Rally the same weekend as Daytona’s, but more family friendly. It is actually a charming, artsy community with ethnic restaurants and mom & pop shops. DeLand is considered one of the top 100 art towns in USA. Artisan Alley is where old warehouses have been turned into art event spaces. We took a DeLand Historic Mural & Sculpture Walk, which were all completed by Florida artists, and, if viewed chronologically, follows history. The 1929 Volusia County Historic Courthouse also displays four hundred years of Florida’s history with beautiful paintings by Jackson Walker.

DeLand murals and sculpture walk

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New Smyrna Beach Museum

Artist at work in the Hub Art Gallery

EW SMYRNA BEACH’s claim to fame was they had the oldest English colony in the country, established in 1768. Now the (dubious) claim to fame is that it’s #1 for most shark attacks in the world. But for fishermen, it is the redfish capital of the world. It is also a place of art. The Hub Art Gallery on Canal Street has 24 studios for local working artists, and over 40 wall exhibit areas. The artists work in varied mediums including painting, ceramics, photography, glass, jewelry, fiber arts, and sculpture. Canal Street has even more art, restaurants and the New Smyrna Brewing (NSB) Company. NSB is a micro-brewery and taproom, and they get their hops from all over the world. We stopped in for a beer tasting and sampled 4 of their most popular brews, with titles like Shark Attack IPA, Inlet Amber, Old Fort Coffee Stout, and Disappearing Island Apricot. We both liked the Disappearing Island Apricot’s taste best. New Smyrna Beach Museum is just off Canal and houses interesting exhibits mostly pertaining to the history of the area. We drove over to Flagler Ave for lunch at the Grille at Riverview for their reputed great food (voted best outdoor dining in Volusia County.) We were not disappointed. If you go, do try the Grille’s delicious Crab Cakes — blue lump and claw crabmeat with onions, peppers and herbs, panko breaded and flash fried — and served with rice pilaf and mixed vegs. All this with a great view of the Indian River. We then strolled down the street and popped into a few of the attractive shops and boutiques before heading back.

New Smyrna Brewing Company www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

The Grille at Riverview’s Crab Cakes ight miles north of Daytona is Ormond Beach, once the winter playground for the mega rich. Built in 1913, it was home to the world’s richest man, J.D. Rockefeller. His home called “The Casements” is modest by billionaire standards, and can be toured for free. Interesting note, J.D.’s worth today — adjusting for inflation — would be $340B. Yes, that’s B for Billion. He makes Bill Gates (the current richest man) look like chump change. Across the street is the Tomoka State Park with a scenic loop, nature trails and a canoe launch. If you visit Ormond Beach between December and March, you may catch a glimpse of the North Atlantic right whales and their calves. That’s on our to-do list.

New Smyrna Beach shops Ormond Beach is also home to a delightful Italian restaurant, Frappes North, under the helm of Chef Bobby Frappier. Dishes are made with all fresh ingredients, with organically grown produce. Chef Bobby has fun and informative cooking classes and wine tastings. For our last night of our Daytona trip, we had a wonderful dinner of Lemon Basil Shrimp at Frappes. After which we took a short stroll down the street to the huge outdoor Kona Tiki Bar with live music, lively people and plenty of tasty drink concoctions. We shall return soon since there’s plenty more to see and do in Volusia County.

Kona Tiki Bar

Frappes North Lemon Basil Shrimp

IF YOU GO...

ANGELL & PHELPS CHOCOLATE FACTORY - www. angellandphelps.com/ BRICKYARD LOUNGE & GRILL - www.brickyardlounge. com/ CRABBY JOE’S DECK & GRILL - www.crabbyjoesdaytona. com/ DAYTONA SPEEDWAY - www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ DeLAND - www.discoverdeland.org/ DeLEON SPRINGS STATE PARK - www.floridastateparks. org/park/De-Leon-Springs

FRAPPES NORTH RESTAURANT - www.frappesitaliangrille.com THE HUB ON CANAL - www.thehuboncanal.org/ KONA TIKI BAR - www.grindgastropub.com MUSEUM OF ARTS & SCIENCES (MOAS) - www.moas. org/ MUSEUM OF ART DeLAND - www.moartdeland.com NEW SMYRNA BEACH BREWING COMPANY - www. newsmyrnabrewing.com/ THE OLD SPANISH SUGAR MILL - (386) 985-5644 OYSTER BAR - www.oysterpub.com/menu PLAZA RESORT & SPA - www.plazaresortandspa.com RACING’S NORTH TURN - www.racingsnorthturn.com/

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COOLSTUFF! S

DVD Adventures In Babysitting www.amazon.com

ofia Carson (DESCENDANTS) and Sabrina Carpenter (GIRL MEETS WORLD) star in a hilarious, actionpacked tale of two sitters inspired by the ‘80s classic! Sparks fly when free-spirited Lola and prim, proper Jenny learn they’re up for the same internship. But that night, after newbie babysitter Lola breaks Rule #1: NEVER take your eyes off the kids, she’s forced to call Jenny -- currently on her own gig -- to help track down Trey, who has snuck out. Now with all their young charges in tow, these rivals must team up and brave the big city on the wildest, wackiest adventure of their lives!

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CD + DVD Set YANNI: The Dream Concert Live From The Great Pyramids of Egypt www.amazon.com

aptured in 4K state-of-the-art high definition audio and video, “Yanni: The Dream Concert Live from the Great Pyramids of Egypt” features a career spanning selection of fan favorites, along with never before performed songs and new arrangements of his classic compositions, available as a CD/DVD combo and as a stand-alone Blu-ray release. Yanni has performed his distinctive music in exotic and historic locations all across the world, from his concert at the Acropolis to his most recent performance at El Morro, Puerto Rico. With The Dream Concert, he has realized his life-long dream to perform at the foot of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. His primarily instrumental works cross all barriers and his music is accessible to all listeners regardless of age, race, language or culture.

BOOK When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel www.amazon.com

mily thinks she’s lost everything…until a mysterious painting leads her to what she wants most in the world. The new novel from the Kristin Harmel, author of international bestsellers The Sweetness of Forgetting and The Life Intended shows why her books are hailed as “engaging” (People), “absorbing” (Kirkus Reviews) and “enthralling” (Fresh Fiction). Emily Emerson is used to being alone; her dad ran out on the family when she was a just a kid, her mom died when she was seventeen, and her beloved grandmother has just passed away as well. But when she’s laid off from her reporting job, she finds herself completely at sea…until the day she receives a beautiful, haunting painting of a young woman standing at the edge of a sugarcane field under a violet sky. That woman is recognizable as her grandmother—and the painting arrived with no identification other than a handwritten note saying, “He always loved her.” Emily is hungry for roots and family, so she begins to dig. And as she does, she uncovers a fascinating era in American history. Her trail leads her to the POW internment camps of Florida, where German prisoners worked for American farmers...and sometimes fell in love with American women. But how does this all connect to the painting? The answer to that question will take Emily on a road that leads from the sweltering Everglades to Munich, Germany and back to the Atlanta art scene before she’s done. Along the way, she finds herself tempted to tear down her carefully tended walls at last; she’s seeing another side of her father, and a new angle on her painful family history. But she still has secrets, ones she’s been keeping locked inside for years. Will this journey bring her the strength to confront them at last?

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LANCE Daypack

www.ecbc.com

Comfortable and Compact Backpack for the Business Traveler by Melissa Wolcott Martino

his product had me at the belt. A very unique addition to an already well-thought out backpack (or daypack as it is known.) Lets face it, there are plenty of backpacks and business carryalls to choose from, so why not choose one that has everything and is actually comfortable? I found it all with the LANCE DAYPACK, from ecbc. When you load it up with all your articles and strap it on, the belt immediately takes the weight off your shoulders and evenly distributes it to your hips. Ahhh. When you’re not using it, the belt tucks behind the pack’s frame. The adjustable shoulder straps are also nicely padded for comfort. I honestly can’t think of any feature I wish this pack had, since it’s already there. It’s nice looking (comes in black or grey), it’s quality made of Ballistic Nylon, sturdy, compact, and water-resistant. The zippers are water-sealing as well. Travelers will especially like the checkpoint-friendly aspect where you don’t have to “unpack” at TSA. Just unzip the padded top and lay it flat to reveal your laptop and electronics, and send it on through the conveyor belt. Do you like to be organized? The Lance has pockets and compartments galore—19 in all. It will hold a laptop up to 17”, and has a removable padded insert for a smaller device. It has a convenient handy phone pocket, quick access ticket pocket, and a zippered water bottle holder. All this is and it only weighs 3.4 pounds before you load it up. The Lance measures 19.4” x 12.13” x 9.23” and has a retail price of $149.99. For more information, please visit the website at www.ec-bc.com www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Carnival’s New Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea

he first Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea is being rolled out aboard Carnival Dream and is expected to be fleetwide aboard all 25 Carnival ships by summer 2017. The Build-A-Bear workshop provides children of all ages an opportunity to make their own cuddly bear that can be customized with a variety of outfits and accessories, from tutus and high-top sneakers to vacation wear like bathing suits and sunglasses. Each bear comes complete with its own “birth certificate” with the bear’s name and date he or she was created, as well as a logoed drawstring bag. Additionally, the bears have their own “voice” via a recordable sound chip with kids recording their own special message. And it’s not just bears -- kids can create monkeys, leopards, turtles and more, as well as a St. Jude Bear with proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of Carnival’s charitable partners. Participants can make their customdesigned bears at pop-up Build-A-Bear workstations located or join the ships’ cruise directors with Build-A-Bear At Sea parties featuring music, bear-themed snacks and photo opportunities. The pop-up workstations are set up at designated times throughout the cruise and include everything to make a bear with racks filled with various outfits and accessories as well as an iconic stuffer that allows participants to add soft stuffing to make their bear as plush and cuddly as they want. For additional information call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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ArtLines Events July 16 - 17 - PAVA Cool Art Show 10 am - 5 pm. Free. The Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. A unique fine art and fine craft show juried from the membership of the Professional Association of Visual Artists. The show has earned a strong reputation in the Tampa Bay Area for its high quality. www.stpete.org/ events/1863 Museum of Fine Arts 255 Beach Drive. NE, St. Petersburg, 727.894.4638. www.fine-arts.org Thru July 31 - Harold Edgerton: What the Eye Can’t See. This exhibition spotlights some of the Museum’s most compelling photographs by Harold “Doc” Edgerton (American, 1903–1990). They range from rarely seen gelatin silver prints from as early as 1932 to his colorful dye transfer photographs. The high-speed stroboscopic short film about Edgerton, Quicker’n a Wink, which won an Oscar in 1940, will also play in the gallery. Thru Oct 9 - SHANA MOULTON’S IMAGINATIVE VIDEOS AND SCULPTURE. Shana Moulton explores our obsession with self-help fads and wellness therapies, as well as consumer culture as a whole. She primarily uses video, with her alter ego Cynthia, who never speaks, as the protagonist. The MFA is featuring all nine installments of her Whispering Pines series, as well as other videos, sculpture, and an opera/performance piece.

July thru October 30 - Vantage Points, Mernet Larsen Exhibition 8, 22 - Art and Sign Language 21 - Porch Party 25 - 29 - Marine Science & Yoga Camp 27 - Simmer and Sift August 6 through November 13 - From the Heart - Folk Art Exhibition September 24 – Arts Alive Day 29 – Cinema at the MFA 30 – Mornings with the Maestro Dali Museum One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727.823.3767 www. thedali.org Thru Sept 6 - “Dali Revealed”: Candid Moments from the Artist’s Life - This special exhibition includes 48 archival photographs taken by French photographer Robert Descharnes, a close friend and confidant of Dali’s from 1950 through the end of his life in 1989. July Thru Sept 6 - Horst Photogaphs: Fashion & Surrealism September 26 – November 27 – Ferran Adria: The Invention of Food Exhibition

AugUST 7 - NovEMBER 13 - From the Heart: Folk Art on Paper. work by Southern selftaught artists. From the Heart features exceptional examples by such gifted artists as Bill Traylor, Thornton Dial, Nellie Mae Rowe, Lonnie Holley, Juanita Rogers, Purvis Young, and Dilmus Hall. Many works would look completely at home alongside those by twentieth-century and contemporary masters with more formal training. 56

Tampa Museum of Art 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, 813.259.1720. www.tampamuseum.org Thru Sept 11 - Peter Max Exhibition. 50 Years of Cosmic Dreaming celebrates this 20th century pop culture icon with 90 works spanning fifty years. Max’s use of bold colors and uplifting images has captured and inspired the imaginations of the public from the early 1960s through the 2010s.

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ArtLines continued Thru September 25 – Norma Kamali Exhibition September 24 – CITY – Fashion + Art

Fridays - Art on The House - 4 to

8pm. Saturday - Art Spot for Families Art Lofts Florida Craftsmen Galleries (2nd floor) 10 5th St. N, St. Petersburg. 727.504.8788. www.theartlofts. com Second Saturday Gallery Walk August 13 – 31 – Vertical Surfaces September 3, 4 – Crafty Fest 17 – Gatsby Gala ARTpool 2030 Central Ave., St Petersburg, 727.324.3878. www.artpoolrules.com

July 16 - Trashion Fashion Carrollwood Cultural Center GALLERY 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa. (813) 269-1310. www.carrollwoodcenter. org Thru August - Peter Stilton Thru August - Abigail Chase Miller features works from her tree, aquatic, abstract and photo-realism phases, along with a few animal portraits. Thru August - Artist Ameena Khan will showcase her exhibit, “Loud Print.” The exhibit seeks to shrink the divide and expand the narrative by communicating some of the most intimate thoughts and feelings of Muslim women.

Craftsman House 2955 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 727.323.2787. www.craftsmanhousegallery.com Gallery-Cafe-Pottery Studio 2nd Saturday Gallery Walk Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center 1114 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. 727.825.0515 / www.Creativeclay. org 2nd Saturday Gallery Walk August 13 through September 11 – Electric Eclectic Exhibition Continued.... 58

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ArtLines continued

gible for prize drawing.

September 10 through November 16 – Good Folk Show Invitational Dunedin Fine Art Center 1143 Michigan Blvd. - Dunedin, 34698. 727.298.DFAC - www.dfac.org AUGUST 27 - Wearable ART twelve Fashion Show was one of the first in the area to showcase a growing contingent of artists working in fashion related ways. Emceeing this year’s soiree will be Paul Wilborn and Eugenie Bondurant (most recently – Tigris from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.)

Dunedin Wine and Art Walk - 2nd Fri of the Month Pioneer Park, Main Street and Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, 34698. www.2ndfridaydunedin.com/ Celebrate the second Friday of the month as downtown Dunedin merchants offer specials and discounts; browse the art exhibits, sip wine at tastings, enjoy food samplings, live entertainment and a drawing. Wristbands to get special offers from merchants and be eli60

Florida CraftArt Gallery 501 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 727.821.7391. www.floridacraftart.org Second Saturday Artwalk Thru August 13 - A Well Crafted Tale AUGUST 26 – October 22 – Mind Matter Florida Museum of Photographic Arts 400 N. Ashley Drive, Cube 200, Tampa, FL 33602, 813-221-2222. www.fmopa.org Gulf Coast Artists Alliance 514 Skinner Blvd. Dunedin. 727.738.8010 www. gcaa-fl.org August 26 – Friday Flicks September 18 – Slam Jam 23 – Friday Flicks Gulfport 1st FRI and 3rd Sat Art WalkS 727-322-5217. Free. Beach Blvd., Gulfport. www. visitgulfporftlorida.com The Gulfport Art Walk event features new artists every first Friday and third Saturday each month and includes several different sculpture and paint mediums, jewelry, photography, folk art, upcycled items, handmade/designed clothing and accessories, body products, authors, entertainers and more. Live musicians appear at several venues throughout the waterfront district during Art Walks from 6-10 PM, year round.

MENNELLO MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART 900 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803. (407) 2464278. www.mennellomuseum.com/ Once the private home of Howard Phillips, son of local philanthropist Dr. P. Phillips. Changing exhibitions featuring American art of all genres and time periods, including original as well as traveling shows.

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MUSEUMS ON US - The First Full Weekend Of Each Month www.museums.bankofamerica.com Bank of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museums on Us offers free weekend access to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit and debit cardholders in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Participating Tampa Bay area museums are: Florida Holocaust Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, and the Tampa Museum of Art. Present your B of A or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with a photo ID for free general admission. MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789. 407-645-5311. www.morsemuseum.org/ A collection of the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany as well as fine 19th and 20th century American decorative arts.

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ArtLines continued Pinellas Park Art Society Park Station Building, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. 727.360.4406 www.pinellasart.com Polk Museum of Art 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland, FL 33801, (863) 6887743 www.polkmuseumofart.org JULY 9 - SEPT 17 - A Sum of its Parts Sept 24 - Dec 3 - Lessons from the Shadows Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, 941.359.5700. www.ringling.org Mondays FREE admissions all day Third Thurs - Ringling by the Bay Fri & Sat - Bayfront Garden Tours Sat - Kid’s Quest, Family Workshop Thru Sept 11 - Phantom Bodies Exhibition Thru Sept 25 - Naked Before the Lens Exhibition. Exposure: Naked before the Lens presents the many ways in which twentieth and twenty-first century photographers have presented the undressed human body in their work.

Thru APRIL 1, 2017 - Walker Guest House Replica St. Petersburg’s 2nd Saturday Artwalk www.stpeteartsalliance.org Over 40 galleries and studios in the Waterfront Arts 62

District, Central Arts District, Edge District, Grand Central District, and the Warehouse Arts District come together as one arts destination. ArtWalk is Opening Night where many galleries and studios premiere new works. Some are only open on ArtWalk, and many offer demonstrations and refreshments. Plan to drive, walk or take the trolleys to visit the districts of your choice. Free parking can be found on 1st Ave N and 1st Ave S from 15th St. to 30th St. and at the Florida Holocaust Museum. St. Petersburg Walking Mural Tours Departing from Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Murals and history behind them. 727.821.7391 www.floridacraftart.org

Studio 620 620 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727.895.6620 www. studio620.org July 11 - 29 - Sunscreen Film Camp August 1 – 7 – Wildly Creative Arts Experience 9 – Healthy Cooking #3 12, 13 – Annual Showcase 17 – Art with Purpose USF Contemporary Art Museum 3821 USF Holly Dr., Tampa, 33620. 813. 974.4133 Info 813.974.2849 July 21 - Musician Round Table

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Horst Photographs Fashion And Surrealism at the Dali Museum thru Sept 6

a Meliss erhaps the most iconic os by s t o h p d it n d a e r e c g fashion and surrealism e a Cover st photos se r photographer of the mid-20th century would Full Ho have to be Horst P. Horst, whose photos graced the covers of Vogue Magazine 94 times. Along the way he befriended the who’s who of the fashion world (i.e. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli,) and also Salvador Dali, whom he would work and socialize with. Horst’s bold use of contrasting lighting set him apart from other photographers of his day, and his portraiture, nude studies, interiors and still life photography made him sought out by collectors. This extraordinary exhibit at the Dali Museum showcases 180 of Horst’s works throuhout his career, and features his relationship with Dali and Gala. The works are on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Horst Estate, The Condé Nast Archive, Richard J. Horst, The Sir Elton John Photography Collection and other private collections. The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For more information about the exhibit and events surrounding it, call 727-823-3767 or visit TheDalí.org

Susanna Brown, Curator of Photographs at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) enlightens media at an exhibit preview. 64

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Horst directing fashion shoot with Lisa Fonssagrives, 1949. Photo by Roy Stevens Time & Life Pictures. Getty Images.

Summer Fashions, American Vogue cover, 15 May 1941 ½ Conde Nast, Horst Estate.

Peter Tush, Curator of Education at Dali Museum.

Corset by Detolle for Mainbocher, 1939 ½ Conde Nast, Horst Estate.

Horst’s male nudes on loan from the collection of Sir Elton John.

Some of Horst’s magnificent color work.

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TRAVELOGUE

Flat Island Preserve Leesburg, Florida

Story and photos by Jim Crowell

he boardwalk winds ahead as our canoe cart’s wheels roll over each plank, bumping out a rhythm not unlike jungle drums. We’re in a dense tangle of saw palmettos, shrub palms and large live oaks laced with grey Spanish moss. The moss hangs from twisted branches overhead, shrouding each tree in an eerie costume that brings to mind graveyards and foggy nights. Flat Island Preserve, in southwest Leesburg off U.S. 27 where the highway crosses Lake Harris, spreads out for 2,300 acres. The Lake County Water Authority manages the area to protect and preserve the fresh water supply. This area of the Oakahumpka Marsh has served man’s purposes for more than a century. It was logged

out and farmed for years. A small-scale railroad was built to help clear the lumber. Canals were cut and dredged to supply water for farms and transportation in the area. Our walk through this tropical Eden gives hope that the forest can be rejuvenated to its natural state. A clear example is at a bend in the boardwalk. A large cypress tree has grown onto the space between the deck boards and appears to be spreading across the surface as if poured onto it. It is not hard to imagine that given a short period of time it will consume the boardwalk. The boardwalk extends out to a corner of the canal, where we launch our canoe. Although straight and geometrical, the canal looks as though it snakes among the cypress stands. Ahead is Lake Denham. It takes only a minute of paddling to feel as though we have stepped back in time. The waterway closes in as we silently maneuver around and over fallen trees. In between talk of “look at that, and look at that,” we fall silent to hear birds cawing nearby. A whooshing sound reaches our ears before we see a huge blue heron fly down from just above our heads. It seems to fill most of the space in front of us. 66

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Its wingspan must be six feet. Staying low above the water, the heron swoops up to a new roost 50 yards away. We paddle on, shifting right and left to avoid old logs sticking out from the surface of the canal. Bald cypress trees line the edge of our route and continue back as far as we can see. Cypress tree roots send up shoots, better known as knees because that is exactly what they look like. These knees vary in size and thickness, each terminating with a smooth polished knob. There is debate as to what purpose. Most likely the knees help stabilize the tree’s trunk as it emerges from the water, growing up through the mud at a 90-degree angle from tree’s roots. Another theory is they help bring oxygen and nutrients to the root system since the tree grows best in swampy areas with little soil. The grey cypress trunks mesh with the moss and the glassiness of the water turns the world upside down. It’s easy to have feelings of vertigo and difficult to tell where the surface of the water lies. I’m mesmerized by the knees and find myself thinking they look like women draped in dark cloaks emerging from the water. Their amber faces look back at me as if they are guardians of the forest. Suddenly my thoughts are shattered by a splash just in front of the canoe occupied by my wife and brother. The large scaled tail of an alligator flips out from under water just in front of us. A stream of bubbles head straight for the boat as I realize it is going to swim under us. Knowing that my paddle has been hitting the bottom on most strokes crosses my mind. I think I can feel the gator beneath us. I turn just in time to see its tail fly up and slap down, just like a beaver would to ward off intruders. It’s all too close as a wave of fear rushes through me. We look at each other with a nervous laugh and paddle harder to put distance between ourselves and the six-foot-long creature. Now our leisurely paddle has turned into a Tarzan movie. The swamp has turned denser and the bird calls louder. I start to view the vines hanging off of trees

as escape routes to safety. What would it be like to have the canoe overturned and need to walk out of here? “Not good,” I think. We stop chatting and paddle on half-expecting to come upon another prehistoriclooking creature. But soon we paddle out of the canopy of trees and into the open of a large, sprawling savanna. We have come to a T intersection in the canal and turn left, paddling along a dike higher than the field. It’s like a raised roadway running along one side and we feel as though we have balcony seats. I still have the feeling of watching a B movie with music to back up the bird sounds. The hundred-acre savanna is lined with palms and flocks of white egrets. I know this is Florida, but it sure looks like it could be an African scene. I’ve brought along a fishing pole in hopes of landing some bass but haven’t had one bite so far. We paddle along, stopping at various sections of lily pads to try my luck. The small fish that spring out of the water around us only tease me. Paying attention to my casting, I miss seeing a flock of cranes roosting on a dead tree take off together. This group of birds lead our way as escorts, landing in trees or the water in front of us, then taking off again as we get closer. This flock is a mix of cranes and ibis. Some are stark white with straight orange beaks, while others are black with long curved beaks. Their sudden flight startles small alligators sunning themselves along the dike, each diving in with a little hop and a splash. They are less of a scare than the behemoth gator back in the swamp. Watching the bank closer now in anticipation of action, my wife Donna points to a bright pink cluster of something attached to the trunk of a small cypress. Coming closer, we realize that the cone-like clusters are some sort of eggs. These eggs seem misplaced in the environment. They are something you would see under a microscope and not with the naked eye. After many close-up photos and some research later we found these to be the eggs of a Florida apple snail. Continued

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Flat Island Preserve con’t

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Like many first-time sightings in the woods, we begin to realize there are many of these along the bank and somehow we hadn’t seen them before. Checking out one cluster after the next we also come to realize that much of the bank is made up of crusted snail shells. Soon after we come across some uncrushed snail shells empty of their occupants and as large as their namesake apples. Recently I was telling someone how much I enjoy hiking and being in the woods. Their response: “What is there to do out there?” My answer: “I spend my time seeing things like the snail eggs.” It is so easy to not really look where you are going. It’s harder but infinitely interesting to focus in, look closer and find so much to see. Our trip continues as we decide our goal is to find the second dock and boardwalk on a neighboring island. But lilly pads and water plants start to close in on the canal and threaten to end our trip. We push our way through, paddling off the tops of the plants and making it to clear water. It’s clear this is going to happen over and over again. After convincing ourselves that we have to turn back, Donna spots a trail marker on some trees. We paddle

back a ways but cannot find the dock. The water seems high as a result of heavy rain in the last few days, so we surmise the dock was submerged or just not there any more. Besides, where would it lead to since all we see is water running back into the cypress trees? Everything appears grey and misty in the low light of early evening. The tree moss is so thick that I can see why the native people here compared it to the beards of the Spanish explorers. Before long, we are paddling free of the water vegetation. We stop to check out a loud splash behind us and see a large tail hit the water. The rippled V in the water lets us know the gator is swimming our way. Twenty feet out the V disappears, only to be replaced by a large head surfacing 10 feet from us. The gator’s eyes and nose is all I can see from my sitting position in the center of the canoe. He looks us over and silently slides back into the dark below the surface. The canopied canal soon feels peaceful again -quiet and out of the wind. We talk about the colors of the bark and lichen on the cypress knees. I focus on large green shoot-like leaves spreading out across the bayou. Somehow I didn’t notice them on the way out to the savanna. It dawns on me that those leaves could be orchid plants or a similar beautiful flower that would soon fill this scene. I’m struck by the fact that they might grow, bloom and die before another person canoes down this canal. We snake our way back towards the dock, where my brother Rick jumps out to stretch after hours in the boat. Donna and I can’t convince him to take a short jaunt out to Lake Denham, a straight paddle of 10 minutes or so. As the two of us paddle into the wind-swept lake we are surprised to see a pontoon boat coming our way. It cruises close to us we wave to the tourists out on their own adventure. Smartly dressed and safely raised high above the water, they smile at us below them as we pass in the canoe. We turn around and paddle back to the dock. I think of our day’s adventure and theirs. And of the stories to be told. Flat Island Preserve is located at 2301 Owens Road, Leesburg, FL. The preserve is 3.6 miles SW of downtown Leesburg. It is open daily 8 a.m. to sunset for hiking and canoeing. No admission fee. 352-324-6141. A downloadable brochure is available from www.lcwa. org/open-preserves

Writer Jim Crowell can be reached at jimfred1@ comcast.net 68

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ATTR ACTI ONS & M U S E U M S E V E N TS TAMPA B AY A RE A BUSCH GARDENS 10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, (888) 800-5447. www.buschgardens.com Summer Nights thru August 7 - Guests can challenge world-class thrill rides in the dark, enjoy rock-fueled music and acrobatics at the Kinetix show and end the night with a fireworks show. Busch Gardens is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The park will close at 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Island Nights - When the sun goes down, Adventure Island heats up. Guests can enjoy island-inspired performers, a live DJ and games on the beach, starting at 5 p.m. each event night. Plus, hurtle high and experience a feeling of weightlessness on the Colossal Curl, Adventure Island’s family thrill slide. Island Nights extends its hours until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The park will close at 9 p.m. close on Thursday nights. Cobra’s Curse is the only ride of its kind in the world: a family roller coaster with freely spinning ride vehicles and a 70-foot vertical lift. A unique move on Cobra’s Curse is the “outward-banked turn” that puts riders perilously close to the jaws of the 80-foot-tall statue of the snake king Venymyss. Guests will experience a new spin with each ride. Each train spins randomly, with frequency and direction determined by the rider weight distribution.

St. Petersburg Museum of History 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg. 727.894.1052 www.spmoh.org Schrader’s Little Cooperstown is made up of more than 4,800 baseballs, documents, story boards and video screens – connects America’s national pastime with historical events from the region and around the world. Legendary Landscapes by Highwaymen. continued

A Botanical Experience Awaits You... • Discover the beauty of a 100 year old botanical paradise. • Explore cascading waterfalls, beautiful gardens, more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, and walk through a butterfly encounter. • Experience a guided tour, special event or workshop. $8 Adults; $6 seniors 62+; $4 ages 2 - 11 1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL • 727-551-3100 70

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14 - Happy Hour with Historian Through September 30 – Experience Cuba – Clyde Butcher Exhibition September 8 – Happy Hour w/ Historian SUNKEN GARDENS 1825 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704. (727) 551-3102. www.sunkengardens.org/ Sunken Gardens is a botanical paradise in the midst of a bustling city. As St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, this 100 year old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. Adult Programs July 23, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: “Think Outside the Pot: Mounting Orchids” Get creative with your orchid display. Aug 13, 10:30-Noon –“Succulent Workshop”. Create a wreath swag with the perfect mix of succulents, magnolia branches, dried flowers, feathers, and expert knowledge on the proper care of these beautiful plants. Pre-registration required. Aug 27, 10:30-11:30 a.m. –“Wild for Wildflowers”. Learn which Florida native wildflowers work best in your yard and patio containers while attract-

ing birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Take home native wildflower seeds. Free with Garden admission or membership. Wanted: Bird Care Volunteers. Have experience with exotic birds? Want to make a difference in your local community at one of Florida’s historic gems? Not scared of some dirty work and heavy lifting? Spend a couple of hours one or more morning or afternoon a week learning and getting to know others with the same passion. Email jennifer.tyson@stpete.org to request a bird care volunteer application. Sunken Gardens is located at 1825 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704. For more information call 727.551.3102.

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TAMPA THEATRE 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 2748981. www.tampatheatre.org/ A restored classic theatre showing modern independent and classic films. Pre-show Wurlitzer organ concerts.

July 23 - Ride through History August 6 - Ride through History 6 – Build A Model Camp September 18 – Build a Model Camp Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg 727.893.7326. www.stpeteparksrec.org/boyd-hill. Tram Tours Saturdays, Guided Tours, Classes. Brooker Creek Preserve 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. 453.6800. www.brookercreekpreserve.org July 23 - Bugs and Butterflies 25 - Teacher’s Training Workshop

Armed Forces MILITARY Museum 2050 34th Way N., Largo 727.539.8371. www. armedforcesmuseum.com The Armed Forces History Museum is dedicated to preserving military history and providing education to the public of the many sacrifices made to protect our freedom. Museum features full-size recreations of scenes from military history & WWII armored vehicle rides.

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CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767. (727) 441-1790. www.seewinter.com Clearwater Marine Aquarium is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and more. Winter the dolphin’s story of survival, after the injury that caused her to lose her tail, has impacted millions of people around the world. A major motion picture, Dolphin Tale, highlighted her life story in 2011. The continued

ig Cat Rescue is the world’s largest accredited sanctuary devoted to big cats. The nonprofit sanctuary is home to more than 70 lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, servals, caracals, and various other exotic cats. BCR has built enclosures in a natural habitat with foliage and shelter on 55 acres in the Citrus Park area of north Tampa. They provide the best nutritional and medical care possible, and have conditioning and enrichment programs to provide the cats physical and psychological well being. The sanctuary is primarily supported by donation. The facility offers a variety of guided educational tours at 14 set times during the week. Be aware that most tours are not open to children ages 9 and under. All ages tours are held Saturdays at 12 pm. They also offer private tours, field trips, birthday parties, and other events. BCR, 12802 Easy Street, Tampa. For tour times and reservations, call 888-316-5875, or visit www.BigCatRescue.org

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sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, features the story of Hope, a young resident dolphin.

FLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM 55 5th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. (727) 8200100. www.flholocaustmuseum.org Thru September 25 – Helen Suzman Exhibition Thru October 2 – Reflections on Man’s Fate Exhibition Thru January 2 – Women of Ravensbruck Exhibition Fort De Soto Park Tierre Verde. 727.552.1862. www.pinellascounty. org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm One of the world’s best beaches. Guided Nature Walks – Sat & Sun.

CRACKER COUNTRY Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610. (813) 627-4225. www.crackercountry.org/ Cracker Country, a rural Florida living history museum, was established in 1978 by Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Carlton, Jr. so future generations might better understand and appreciate Florida’s rural heritage.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum 2240 9th Ave.S, St. Petersburg. www.woodsonmuseum.org Thru August 13 – PARC Florida Inspired Exhibition FLORIDA AQUARIUM 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 2734000. www.flaquarium.org Explore and learn about marine life at The Florida Aquarium. For all ages. Exhibits, Journey to Madagascar, Wetlands Trai, Bays and Beaches, Coral. Florida Botanical Gardens 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo , 727.582.2100. www. flbg.org Free. Friendly dogs welcome on leash. Closed weekends & County Holidays. 74

GLAZER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 443-3861. www.glazermuseum.org/ During each SMALLab experience, museum guests can work together to solve puzzles, create stories and character plots, learn about the world, and paint digital masterpieces. GREAT EXPLORATIONS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 1925 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704. (727) 8218992. www.greatex.org/ Science and humanities exhibits allow visitors to touch, move and actually become part of several pieces. First Sunday of month open special hours for special needs families. August 10 – 26 – Totally Tots 12 – Parents Night Out 14 – Great connections Gulf Beaches Historical Museum 115 10th Ave, St Pete Beach 727-552-1610. www. gulfbeachesmuseum.com Only museum dedicated to the preservation of his-

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tory of the local barrier island. Preserving island history for tomorrow’s generation. Gulfport History Museum 5301 28th Ave. S, Gulfport. 727-327-0505. www. gulfporthistoricalsociety.org Free Admission HENRY B. PLANT MUSEUM 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606. (813) 2541891. www.ut.edu/plantmuseum The Henry B. Plant Museum, located in the south wing of the original Tampa Bay Hotel, features original opulent furnishings and artifacts from the hotel collected by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Plant. Educational exhibits and events of the late Victorian period, the beginning of Florida’s tourist industry, and the early years of the City of Tampa. THRU DEC 23 - DOGS IN ART. This exhibit brings together paintings, sculptures, textiles, decorative arts and more from the late 19th and early 20th centuries featuring man’s best friend. This fascinating exhibit showcases sporting dogs, working dogs, dogs at play, pets, and in domestic settings.

LOWRY PARK ZOO 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604. 813) 935-8552. www.lowryparkzoo.org Lowry Park Zoo, a globally recognized accredited zoological society in Tampa. The 56-acre zoo offers rides, animals and fun. Thru August 6 - Summer Sunset Celebration. Friday and Saturday Evenings. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941.366.5731. www. selby.org August Thru 14 – Batik s Botanicos Mote Aquarium 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, 941.388.4441. www.mote.org Science, Education, Aquarium AugusT 15 – 20 – Shark Days 20 – Fins and Fun Family Festival September 3,10,17,24 - $6 Fridays 10 – Electrify the Island

FIRST FRIDAY (thru Nov) The Museum will be open with free admission from 5 – 7 pm. Visitors are encouraged to explore thenation’s only Victorian railroad resort hotel museum, enjoy live music on the veranda, and share a treat with friends at a tastings table. Heritage Village 11909 125th St N, Largo. 727.582.2123. www.pinellascounty.org/Heritage Free 21-acre living history museum. New exhibit Boathouse display. Sundays – Speaking of History. October 22 – Country Jubilee

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY (MOSI) 4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33617. (813) 9876000. www.mosi.org Gaze skyward - Saunders Planetarium. IMAX Dome Theatre. Over 450 Hands-On Activities. Zip Line. To make fun and learning even more open to all families in Tampa Bay, MOSI is teaming up with Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay, the provider of Autism Spectrum Disorder analysis and care. The collaboration will lead to more vital science and math education for a wider range of students in Tampa Bay, more fulfilling time together for families that include children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dinosaurs in Motion – Limited Engagement

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Thru September 5 – Blue Star Safety Harbor MUSEUM 329 Bayshore Boulevard South, Safety Harbor. 727724-1562. www.cityofsafetyharbor.com/573/MuseumCultural-Center Ghost Tour - Every Sat at 7:30 p.m. History Tours begin at 10 a.m. 727-687-8785 for reservations. South Florida Museum 201 10th Street West, Bradenton FL 34205. (941) 746-4131. http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/ JULY 23 - Snooty, the world’s oldest manatee’s 68th Birthday Bash and Wildlife Festival is a FREE outdoor event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People near and far will come to wish and sing Snooty a very “Happy Birthday”! and take advantage of the special limited-time only reduced admission to the Museum, Planetarium and Aquarium that will be available all day.

St. Petersburg Preservation Walking Tours Central Ave. & 2nd St, St. Petersburg (Oct. - Apr.) 727.824.7802. www.stpetepreservation.org National Register listed downtown. Free for members. Suggested donation non-members. Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary 18328 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores. 727.391.6211. www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Seabird-Sanctuary-114523011916137/ Largest non-profit wild bird hospital sanctuary . FREE. Donations accepted. Tours.

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum 3301 Gateway Centre, Pinellas Park. 727.579.8226, www.tbauto.org Unique collection of vintage cars and vehicles. Cousteau Society Artifacts on exhibit. TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER 801 Old Water St, Tampa, FL 33602. (813) 2280097. www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/ Exhibits include coverage of the Tampa Bay area’s first native inhabitants, Spanish conquistadors, and historical figures who shaped the area’s history, as well as a reproduction of a 1920s cigar store. Through August 28 - Replacing Fort Brooke July 25 - 29 - History Adventure Camp September 3 – January 8,2017 – Preserving Eden Clyde Butcher Exhibition 21 – OLLI Course – Modern Florida Weedon Island Preserve 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg. 727.453.6500, www.weedonislandpreserve.org July 21 - Film - Damnation 30 - Going Coastal August 13 - Bugs and Butterflies September 9 – Master Gardener Help Desk 16 – Volunteer Archaeology Lab 17 – Photography Hike 17 – Archaeologists – Stars 24 – Paddle the Preserve Cleanup 24 – Wetland Flowers WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS www.weekiwachee.com/ A natural tourist attraction where underwater performances by “mermaids”, women wearing fish tails as well as other fanciful outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River. A waterpark, Buccaneer Bay, and boat rides are also part of the attraction.

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Summer at the World

n incredible lineup of new attractions and experiences are open to guests this summer with new magic across all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs and beyond. New nighttime experiences awaken at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with stunning animation on the Tree of Life, new after dark adventures on favorite attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids and more, as well as festive new nighttime entertainment across the park. Disney’s live-action film The Jungle Book provides inspiration for a new nighttime show, “The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic,” that comes to life on Discovery River. Guests can experience the enhanced Soarin’ Around the World attraction at Epcot; the star-studded new stage show “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” at Magic Kingdom Park; and the new “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The all-new “Frozen Ever After” attraction and Royal Sommerhus, where Anna and Elsa will greet guests in authentically Norwegian-inspired settings, is now open to guests at Epcot.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has new day-into-nighttime experiences that celebrate the magic of nature. The park’s iconic Tree of Life awakens each night amid a celebration of Discovery Island music and dance. Through stunning visuals, animal spirits appear and enchanted fireflies reveal stories of wonder as the tree morphs to showcase the magic of nature. Kilimanjaro Safaris transitions to a new nighttime

adventure in the extended orange glow of a setting sun. For the first time, hyenas and African wild dogs join the safari trail creature feature. Discovery River becomes the stage for music and pageantry in a limited-engagement show inspired by Disney’s live-action film The Jungle Book. “The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic” is a live show filled with music and special effects that celebrates the new film and the classic songs, now infused with an Indian influence.

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discovery river show

Hungry adventurers can have lunch or dinner at the new Tiffins signature restaurant on Discovery Island. Guests seated in the restausoarin’ AROUND rant’s travel-themed dining rooms or on the THE WORLD waterfront patio can sip libations and savor dishes featuring African, Asian and South American flavors. Across the park, guests can experience wondrous new nighttime experiences and entertainment celebrating marvels in nature and enjoy long-time favorites such as Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids and more – in a whole new light.

guests in the new Royal Sommerhus, modeled after a traditional Norwegian cabin. In Future World, guests celebrate the U.S. debut of the expanded Soarin’ Around the World attraction at The Land Pavilion. Now with a third Epcot theater, plus new digital screens and projection systems, the enhanced attraction takes guests on a “flight” above spectacular global landscapes and man-made wonders. Guests can now find new additions at “Turtle Talk with Crush” with characters from Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”. When Crush the sea turtle swims up to the “Human Tank” at Epcot, he’ll be joined by Dory and some of her new friends that guests will get

Epcot

Anna, Elsa and their “Frozen” friends welcome guests aboard the new Frozen Ever After boat ride in a “Frozen” world at the Norway Pavilion. Passengers on their way to Arendelle’s Winter in Summer Celebration for Queen Elsa visit the ice palace and hear film tunes. Also at the Norway Pavilion, Anna and Elsa greet FINDING DORY

to know better with the new “Finding Dory” movie.

Magic Kingdom

For the first time, Tiana of “Princess and the Frog,” and Rapunzel of “Tangled,” co-star with Anna and Elsa of “Frozen,” and a host of favorite Disney characters in the new Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. Performed on the grand stage, the tale of friendship presents Mickey Mouse and his troupe – Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy – who invite 10 new friends from different animated worlds to join the celebration. This show combines grand dance, fireworks and stunts with memorable music, an original song and special effects. Disney Parks will welcome Elena of Avalor, continued

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Disney Summer Continued

STAR WARS: A GALACTIC SPECTACULAR

Disney’s first princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures. Elena of Avalor will appear at Walt Disney World Resort later this summer and at Disneyland Resort in the fall, following her television debut in a new animated series this summer on Disney Channel. Next door to the legendary Jungle Cruise, guests

film series. The live stage show “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” celebrates iconic moments from the Star Wars saga with live vignettes featuring popular characters such as BB-8, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and Darth Maul. First Order Stormtroopers led by Captain Phasma march from Star Wars Launch Bay to the park’s Center Stage, adding menace to the entertainment. Star Wars Launch Bay showcases large-scale artifacts and encounters with characters including Kylo Ren. The re-imagined Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple experience also features new characters. And at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, guests buckle up for an enhanced high-speed journey with new Star Wars: The Force Awakens characters and a visit to Jakku.

STAR WARS: A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY

ELENA OF AVALOR

can enjoy the bold flavors of “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” served by the wisecracking crew of the new Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. It’s the first Disney full-service restaurant themed after a specific park attraction.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The next generation of Star Wars-themed fireworks shows, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” has new themed fireworks, lasers, special effects and video projections of iconic characters and scenes from the complete saga, all set to the unforgettable score of the

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Disney Springs and Water Parks

As Disney Springs continues to expand and diversify its dining, shopping and entertainment, more tenants are coming onboard, including Anthropologie, Under Armour, kate spade new york, Sephora and

ambience of a sleek lounge; Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, a modern-day “pizza joint” with artisanal pies; and the reimagined, Planet Hollywood Observatory with new outdoor terrace and live entertainment. At Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba,” the new B-Boys hip-hop, breakdancing threesome showcases a rare mix of rhythm, strength and “how-did-they-do-that?” moves. The masterful Aerial Bamboo act joins recent additions of madcap clowns and a breathtaking rolla bolla juggling act.

DISNEY SPRINGS EXPANSION Lucky Brand, among others. Other new shops opening in 2016 include Zara, Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, UNIQLO and PANDORA. Disney Springs is shaping up to be a culinary dream. With its chic style and Pan-Asian flavors, Morimoto Asia offers just a taste of what’s to come as more new eateries are gearing up to open in the coming year, including Tablas Frontera by Chef Rick Bayless; Homecoming – Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar by Chef Art Smith; STK Orlando, a modern steakhouse with the

B-BOYS IN LA NOUBA At Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Olaf from Disney’s animated hit “Frozen,” will be living his “In Summer” dream as he and Kristoff host The “Frozen Games” of friendly, fun competitions that run through Aug. 21. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park castaways can splash down on a sandy summer beach with a cold ale and savory snack after a wild slide on Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster.

MORIMOTO ASIA RESTAURANT

For more information, call 407-934-7639. Check online at www.DisneyWorld.com www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

ATTRACTIONS continued Orlando Area HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD RELEASE PARTY at ARTEGON MARKETPLACE 5250 International Drive, Orlando Fl 32819. 407.351.7718. www.artegon.com SAT, JULY 30. 10:00pm to 1:00am. Join Book Warehouse and Artegon Marketplace for the release of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the official eighth book in the Harry Potter series where Harry Potter is now a Ministry of Magic employee. The book also follows the adventures of Harry’s youngest son, Albus Severus Potter. The book release will be ushered in with costume contests, Harry Potter trivia games, magical activities, giveaways & prizes, and the UCF Quidditch Team. THE DIZZY FEET FOUNDATION 7th ANNUAL NATIONAL DANCE DAY. SAT, JULY 30 - The free community dance festivities will take place outside the city’s venue in downtown Orlando from 8:30-11AM. Nondancers and dancers alike are invited to join Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer from So You Think You Can Dance for participation in the official National Dance Day routine. Additional performances will feature an educational behind-the-

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Harry Potter And The Cursed Child scenes experience from Orlando Ballet, as well as, students from the Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts summer programs. Orlando participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a free dance class from the School of the Arts. www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org/national-dance-day Orlando’s Magical Dining Month Aug 29 Oct 2 www.visitorlando.com/magicaldining/ Celebrate Orlando’s amazing culinary scene during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month. Beginning August 29 during a special preview week, and continuing through October 2, select Orlando restaurants will offer prix fixe dinners for just $33. Indulge in imaginative appetizers, entrees and desserts. One dollar from each meal will be donated to The Russell Home for atypical children. CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS 3755 NW Hwy 17-92, Sanford, FL 32771. www.centralfloridazoo.org/ See over 500 animals representing 205 species. Take to the sky and enjoy an aerial adventure course, ZOOm Air Adventure Park or bring your flip-flops and swimsuit to cool-off in the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground. See domestic animals in the Children’s Zoo, or see the Southeast’s largest collection of venomous snakes and non-venomous reptiles in the Herpetarium. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - LA NOUBA Disney Springs. www.cirquedusoleil. com/la-nouba Enter the Attic of Make-Believe. A door opens and two worlds collide. The mundane meets the marvelous. Dreams and nightmares intertwine. La Nouba is an unforgettable journey into a world both threatening and exhilarating, frightening and familiar, calling on individual and collective memory, to uncover passions thought to be lost long ago.

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DINOSAUR WORLD 5145 Harvey Tew Rd, Plant City, FL 33565. (813) 717-9865. www.dinosaurworld.com/florida/ Dinosaur World features over 150 life-size dinosaur sculptures in over 20 acres. Fossil dig, Dino Gem Excavation, Geode Cracker and more. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 445 South Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. www.drphillipscenter.org/ JULY 25 - Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra joins Broadway stars for From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Orlando. From Broadway With Love features song, dance, and special appearances from some of the biggest names on Broadway. Michael J. Moritz, Jr. (Tony Award Nominee) will serve as Music Director, leading the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Net proceeds raised from the performance will go to the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, and Zebra Coalition.

www.gatorland.com/

A 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located along South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando showcasing thousands of alligators and crocodiles including four extremely rare leucistic “white” alligators. The free-flight aviary, petting

zoo, one of a kind animal shows, natural alligator breeding marsh, and the “thrilling” Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. GAYLORD PALMS ULTIMATE ADVENTURE SUMMERFEST - thru Aug 21 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746. 407-586-2000. www.GaylordPalms.com/SummerFest SummerFest featuring Princess Blackheart and the Buccaneer Bash is taking place throughout the summer. This year’s SummerFest theme tells the story of a Pirate Princess and her elevation to Ruler continued

ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX 700 South Victory Way, Orlando, FL 34747. (407) 541-5600. www. espnwwos.com/ For pro and amateur athletes, coaches and fans, featuring over 170 events. GATORLAND 14501 S Orange Blossom Tr, Orlando, FL 32837. (407) 855-5496.

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of the Pirate Kingdom. Guests adventures: Blackheartís Treasure Hunt, The SoBe Splash Party, Merfolk Academy, Princess Priscillaís Coronation Character Breakfast, YíARRRd Games, Shiver me Timbers, it’s Morning Cartoons, First Mate Movies on the Deck, ARRRts & Crafts, Pirate Invasion Parade, Stories and Chanties Under the Stars.

THE HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE 4655 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. (407) 8722272. www.holylandexperience.com Christian theme park. HLE conducts weekly church services and bible studies for the general public. KISSIMMEE AIR MUSEUM - WARBIRD ADVENTURES 233 N Hoagland Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34741. (407) 870-7366. www.warbirdadventures.com/air_museum The Kissimmee Air Museum is located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Kissimmee, FL. It houses vintage aircraft from World War II to the Vietnam War including an outdoor showroom. LEGOLAND www.MerlinEntertainments.biz This summer, Legoland Florida Resort is inviting kids throughout the state to visit for FREE. Florida residents who buy a full-price, single-day adult ticket to Legoland Theme Park and Water Park get a kid’s ticket absolutely free. This offer is available online only now through Sunday, July 31. Tickets are valid for visits through Mon, Sept 5, 2016. A maximum of three (3) free kids tickets can be redeemed per transaction. Florida residency is required. Book now at: https://www.legoland.com/ kidsgofreefl Imagination Zone - newly re-imagined. LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS - The Book of Creativity action-packed film starring the new LEGO heroes. Build-A-Boat - nautical new attraction at LEGOLAND Water Park. Thru July 31 - LEGOLAND Night Lights. ex86

tended park hours; meet-and-greet opportunities with favorite LEGO characters. LEU GARDENS 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803. 407.246.2620. www.leugardens.org Date Nights at Leu Gardens - 1st Friday every month from Feb - Dec (no movie in July). See a classic or current feature film outdoors in the gardens. Pack a dinner picnic basket and a blanket or chairs, alcohol is permitted. Grilled items, popcorn and drinks are available for purchase. MADAME TUSSAUDS 8401 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. 866630-8315. www2.madametussauds.com/orlando/en/ Madame Tussauds Orlando has announced the arrival of Scarlett Johansson and Zac Efron for a limited time only - in the attraction’s A-List Party Room. Millions of people have flocked through the doors of Madame Tussauds since they first opened over 200 years ago and it remains just as popular as it ever was. Pose for the paparazzi’s on the red carpet with today’s biggest celebrities. OLD TOWN 5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746. (407) 396-4888. www.myoldtownusa.com/ Old Town is an amusement park with rides and outdoor shopping mall. Wednesday night is the Little Darlins’ Street Party while a cruise of classic cars are the free entertainment every Saturday night. A rock and roll band (specializing in tunes from the 1950s and the 1960s) plays prior to the classic car cruise. ORLANDO EYE 8401 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. 866228-6438. www.officialorlandoeye.com The Orlando Eye is one of the newest attractions in Orlando and the largest observation Ferris Wheel on the East Coast.

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ORLANDO SEALIFE AQUARIUM 8449 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. 866622-0607. www.visitsealife.com/orlando/ Sea Life Orlando will transport you into a magical underwater world filled with a dazzling array of amazing creatures. From face-to-face encounters with sharks, to a hands-on touchpool experience, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy at the newest aquarium in Orlando. Pirate’s Dinner Adventure 6400 Carrier Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. (407) 2065100. www.piratesdinneradventure.com/ Set aboard an authentically replicated 18th-century Spanish galleon measuring 46 feet long, 18 feet wide with 40-foot masts, the ship is anchored in a 300,000-gallon indoor lagoon with night sky lighting. Surrounding the lagoon is a six-sided showroom of six additional ships where the audience is seated. Voyagers on each of the six ships have their own pirate mascot whom they cheer on as the adventure unfolds with a cast a dozen actors, singers and stunt performers engaging in action-packed exploits, accompanied by cannon blasts, pyrotechnics and plenty of laughs. In addition, more than 150 guests have the chance to play an actual role in each show as the evil Captain Sebastian the Black leads his crews of renegades on a swashbuckling adventure before your very eyes.

SeaVenture at discovery cove is an innovative “underwater walking tour” through an oceanic world teeming with marine life. Guests wear a dive helmet to feel at home under the sea, and SCUBA certification is not required. During their underwater excursion, guests come eye-to-eye with sharks; touch unique animals, fish and velvety rays; and are surrounded by schools of feeding fish – all with the massive open reef as the backdrop. DISCOVERY COVE SWEEPSTAKES CELEBRATE ITS “SWEET 16” BIRTHDAY (through Aug 14.) One lucky winner and 15 friends will win a trip to Discovery Cove, including roundtrip airfare, two nights’ hotel accommodations, transportation and a VIP guest package. Entry in the sweepstakes is online at DiscoveryCove.com/Sweet16; entrants must be 18 years old and may enter once a day July 1 through August 14. A winner will be announced on August 15via email. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS / ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE / WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER www.universalorlando.com/ Skull Island: Reign of Kong will honor one of the most monumental figures in movie history, King Kong. Guests at Universal’s Islands of Adventure can explore ancient temple structures while encountering hostile natives and fending off unspeakable terrors beginning this summer.

SEAWORLD / DISCOVERY COVE 7007 Sea World Dr, Orlando, FL 32821. (888) 8005447. www.seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/ MAKO Hypercoaster now open. Mako is a brand new 200-foot-tall rollercoaster. It is Orlando’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 73 mph as it races along nearly one mile of steel track.

Experience the two uniquely different lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — one located in each of Universal Orlando’s two theme parks. Step inside a world where magic is real. Within Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park you can visit the iconic Hogwarts castle and explore Hogsmeade village. And, at Universal Studios, you can enter Diagon Alley to enjoy unforgettable thrills, magical experiences, and more. 88

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FL EAST COAST DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, Fl32114. 800-748-7467. www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

July 23-24 – Central Florida Region SCCA. Bracket Enduro & School/TES Enduro/Vintage/PDX – Sebring International Raceway – Club Course – Green Park Pits & Paddock

The way heroes are defined in the 21st Century is a focus of the new Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame attraction, scheduled to open at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on November 11. In an initiative designed to more fully engage the visitor in their experience, the public is being asked to submit a video about a hero that has inspired them. Select video submissions will be featured alongside NASA’s most famous astronauts and celebrity ambassadors. Video submissions need to answer three questions: Who is your hero, how did they inspire you, and what makes a hero? Once complete, videos can be posted on one of three social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, using the hashtag #KSCHero. Or simply upload the video to http://bit. ly/1ObQR41. Deadline for entry is August 29, 2016. world’s first faux underwater casino, “Lady Luck” - pompano beach

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Cape Canaveral, FL 32899. www.kennedyspacecenter.com

Kennedy Space Center is the official site for Kennedy Space Center. Visit NASA’s launch complex, astronaut hall of fame, or see a rocket launch all just an hour from Orlando. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is on the Hunt for Heroes. Public can submit videos through August 29 for possible inclusion in the new attraction.

“Lady Luck,” the 324-foot tanker ship from New York City formerly known as “The Newtown Creek,” is now one of the biggest contributions to south florida’s artificial reef system and one of the most easily accessible major dive sites in the nation. Lady Luck is the world’s only underwater faux diving casino, complete with interactive art exhibits. Lady Luck is in 120 feet of water. The tanker, which is longer than a football field, is one mile from the Marriott resort, and the centerpiece of Shipwreck Park, a unique underwater cultural arts park surrounded by 16 other existing wrecks with underwater art exhibits created by Pompano Beach artist Dennis MacDonald. Art displays will include a swim-through cascade of gigantic dice, a card-slinging Octopus and hustling table sharks as part of the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park sponsorship. Lady Luck will quickly become a top diving attraction with something to offer all diving skill levels. Its sheer size plus all of the added interactive features will give divers reason to return. It will take more than one dive to explore the underwater structure and museum, enjoying all of its beauty and unique artwork. www.sinktheladyluck.com

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Festivals Bring Hundreds of Events to St. Augustine, FL

n Florida’s Historic Coast, August and September are the best time to savor summer. Sounds of Summer, an inaugural festival in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach delivers plenty of fun and entertainment. There are more than 100 things to do during Sounds of Summer, with Sing Out Loud as the feature event. The Sing Out Loud Festival is a celebration of music featuring free concerts by Brandi Carlile, The Indigo Girls, Booker T. Jones, The Travelin’ McCourys and more than 130 additional local and national acts, 150 hours of music, spanning three weekends August 26 through September 11. The concert locations include downtown St. Augustine, St Augustine Beach, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Ponte Vedra Beach and more. Get the complete schedule and information at www.singoutloudfestival.com This festival is an all-inclusive celebration which encompasses as many musical genres as possible, from the guy with a laptop kicking out crazy electronic music to the five-piece Americana jam session. The celebration of music is free. The inaugural Sing Out Loud is a festival of music combined with art, culture and heritage activities. Along with Sing Out Loud, more than 100 arts, culture and entertainment events are scheduled. Highlights include: Castillo Centennial celebrations; film and performing art productions such as the Broadway classic Godspell; the free Black Heritage and Civil Rights Walking Tour; St. Augustine’s Founding Day heritage event and the Lincolnville Festival; culinary events including the Spanish Wine Festival; sporting events such as The Feel the Love 5K and the World Golf Hall of Fame’s Road to Rio. There are also lifestyle events such as St. Augustine Fashion Week and the Florida Heritage Book Festival. www.soundsofsummerevents.com www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com

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Events

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

MangoMania Tropical Fruit Festival, Pine Island - July 16-17

The mango is the star attraction for two days each summer on Pine Island. Sample locally-grown delicacies at this annual affair, a celebration of all the tropical fruit grown on the island, which includes lychee, carambola, longan, papaya, and “chocolate pudding fruit.” Fruit, exotic fruit trees, and fruit-related products are available for purchase. The event also features live music, art and craft vendors, food and recipe contests, activities area for kids and a chance to meet the Mango Queen. www.mangomaniafl.net/

3rd Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest - Sept. 23- Oct. 2

The free festival returns for 10 consecutive days on the barrier islands with a range of star-studded performers. Historic downtown Fort Myers will also feature mid-week performances. For performers and more info, visit www.islandhopperfest.com.

31th Annual Oktoberfest, Cape Coral October German-American Club

This huge celebration includes German culture, food, music and dancing. Highlights include authentic live entertainment with large musical groups from Germany. There is also a carnival area for kids. www.capecoraloktoberfest.com

27th Annual J.N. “Ding” Darling Days, Sanibel Island Oct. 16-22

The event honors National Wildlife Refuge Week and celebrates the 140th birthday of the refuge’s namesake. Family Fun Day kicks off the weeklong birding and ecofestival with free activities, including narrated refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, kids nature crafts, a touch tank, a butterfly

house, and archery lessons. The Duck Stamp Artist presentation headlines Conservation Art Day and also includes cartooning, a photography tram tour, nature art activities, and free art supplies. Festival-goers can join free biking and birding tours; take advantage of discounted tram, kayaking, and nature boat excursions; and sit in on free talks at the refuge and Tarpon Bay Explorers. www.dingdarlingdays.com

11th Annual Fort Myers Beach Pirate Fest, Fort Myers Beach - Oct. 7-9

Head to Fort Myers Beach for some swash-buckling fun at this jam-packed weekend pirate fest. This family event includes a scavenger hunt, pub quest, sea battles, Blackbeard kid’s show and so much more. www.fortmyersbeach.org/fort-myers-beach-piratefestival-events/

34th Annual Taste of the Town, Fort Myers - November

Join the Junior League of Fort Myers for a great day of food, music and kids entertainment for the 34th Annual Taste of the Town. All proceeds from this event go to support the Junior League of Fort Myers and its projects. www.jlfm.org/?nd=taste

Cape Coral CoCoNut Festival, Cape Coral - November

Sun Splash Family Water Park The Cape Coral CoCoNut Festival celebrates Cape Coral’s reputation for coconuts, multi-cultural food, boating, fishing and wildlife. The festival will feature a national musical act, gymnastic entertainment, carnival rides, water-ski shows, tropical food, contests, coconut crafts, fireworks. www.cocofest.com/

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Gaming Scene Las Vegas HARVEST BY ROY ELLAMAR SNACK WAGON TAKEOVER AT BELLAGIO www.bellagio.com Snack Wagon Takeover is a monthly culinary series that allows guests to get up-close-and-personal with their favorite chefs. The interactive event showcases executive chefs from MGM Resorts International resorts as they put their culinary spin on one of the signature wagons. The snack wagon is a cart on wheels that glides through the restaurant, stopping tableside so guests may select exclusive culinary bites from the guest chef’s restaurant. For Snack Wagon Takeover details, including surprise celebrity chef visits from JeanGeorges Vongerichten and more, guests are encouraged to visit Bellagio’s Facebook page. The remaining 2016 Snack Wagon Takeover line-up is: Aug 24 - Noodles Executive Chef Patrick Lee Sept - 14 Todd English’s Olives Executive Chef Brad Skougard

Oct 12 - Lago by Julian Serrano Executive Chef Nico Chessa Nov 9 - Bellagio Executive Pastry Chef Patrick Lassaque Dec 14 - Executive Chef Sean Griffin of Jean Georges Steakhouse at ARIA. Wynn Las Vegas Opens New Poker Room www.wynnlasvegas.com

The expansive new room offers guests an elevated gaming experience complete with a convenient location, in-room amenities and spacious environment. The new room occupies 8,600 sq. ft., features 28 tables and offers new and improved amenities designed for comfort and convenience. Each table is equipped with USB ports for on-site electronic device charging, a sports wagering window is located conveniently inside the room and 37 65-inch high-definition televisions stream live sporting events. Additionally, dedicated in-room restrooms and a spacious high-limit area complete an all-inclusive experience. An exclusive poker menu is available for delivery to the room and includes a variety Continued....

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fruits, breads and sweets to dip in chocolate fondue as well as enjoy signature cocktails and pitchers.

Las Vegas cont of Western and Asian choices from the restaurants Wazuzu and Jardin. Iconic Fremont Hotel and Casino Celebrates 60th Anniversary 2016 www.fremontcasino.com

Downtown Las Vegas’ iconic Fremont Hotel and Casino recently celebrated 60 years in business, and will continue its diamond anniversary celebrations every Thursday throughout the summer with kiosk games, dining specials, Slot Dollar drawings and even a special commemorative gaming chip. Fremont’s history began on May 18, 1956, when it opened as one of the first high-rise hotels in Las Vegas. Boyd Gaming assumed control of the property in 1985 when the Company purchased the Fremont and its sister property, the Stardust. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Breathe Pool Ultra Lounge www.lvnhm.org/ Breathe Pool Ultra Lounge is a relaxed alternative to the typical Las Vegas nightclub and bar scene that allows locals and visitors alike to take in the scenery while listening to music and go for a dip in the pool. Guests will also have the option to purchase assorted

Las Vegas Natural History Museum Explore Ancient Rome thru Sept 11 www.lvnhm.org/ Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World is hand-crafted by three generations of Florentine artisanal experts. The Ancient Rome Exhibition explores an epic era in world history from the triumphant victory of Julius Caesar over the Gauls in 52 BC, to the transformation of Rome from a Republic and the rise of the mighty Roman Empire. Visitors will take a handson journey through the Roman Imperial period exploring military war machines, construction inventions like pottery wheels and grinding mills, technical innovations like cranes, water pumps and much more. Learn to tell time using sundials and water clocks, even navigate ancient maps to plot a journey from Britannia (Britain) to the Far East. (702) 384–(DINO) 3466. At Planet Hollywood: Paul Zerdin - “Mouthing Off,” and Frankie Moreno – “Under The Influence” www.caesars.com/planet-hollywood Comedy ventriloquist and Season 10 winner of America’s Got Talent, Paul Zerdin is in his first-ever headlining production on the Las Vegas Strip, MOUTHING OFF at the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Named “Las Vegas Headliner of the Year” twotimes running, Frankie Moreno pairs unmatched versatility with a state-of-the-art, fully-choreographed production. Moreno and his band entrance audience members with a high-energy performance of original songs and reimagined covers of hits. Human Nature’S “Jukebox,” at The Venetian Las Vegas - thru Dec 30 www.venetian.com Human Nature’s brand new show “JUKEBOX,” is

Raiding the Rock Vault at The Tropicana 94

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specially crafted for its home at The Venetian. Australia’s Human Nature has set the Strip on fire and kept sold-out audiences dazzled and dancing during their internationally celebrated “MOTOWN Show.” “JUKEBOX” includes Human Nature’s foursome backed by a dynamic six-piece band and world-class dancers, as they celebrate a mix of pop classics with doo-wop, boy band with Bandstand, soul standards with Motown… and even some “Uptown Funk.” BAZ - STAR CROSSED LOVE at VENETIAN thru Dec 31. Set in a modern and intimate cabaret, BAZ - Star Crossed Love is a celebration, a mash-up of music, and moments from the greatest love stories imagined by famed director Baz Luhrmann. Inspired by Baz’s most romantic films, Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and The Great Gatsby, the show will captivate with soul-stirring music and stunning performances from an ensemble cast of vocalists, actors, and dancers. The Palazzo Theatre. 866.641.7469. Billy Idol Residency at House of Blues www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas/billyidol Billy Idol: Forever will feature Idol, his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, and the rest of Idol’s band at the top of their game, performing songs from throughout Idol’s extensive catalog, including “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding,” “Dancing With Myself,” and many more.

Las Vegas Releases 12 New 360-Videos On Vegas VR App www.VRtv.Vegas Las Vegas has released 12 new only-in-Vegas videos on the destination’s Vegas VR mobile app. From driving down the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, to being greeted by renowned chef Daniel Boulud at db Brasserie at The Venetian Las Vegas, the app brings Las Vegas to life. Additional features in some of the videos include fact overlays and time-lapse footage. Vegas VR Continued....

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Las Vegas cont is available for iOS and Android platforms and is free to download at VRtv.Vegas or through the App Store and Google Play. A selection of 360-degree videos are also available to view on Las Vegas’ YouTube channel.

LIP SMACKING FOODIE TOURS www.vegasfoodietour.com/ Lip Smacking Foodie Tours was founded by local restaurant industry professionals. With connections and research combing through menus, blogs, editorials, and dining reviews, they’ve uncovered little-known gems and hideaways both on the Strip and off-thebeaten path. The tours introduce visitors and locals alike to the best signature dishes, unique preparations and exciting tastes in Las Vegas. Guides will lead a culinary walking tour to sample buzzed-about dishes. At the end of the tours, guests will leave with valuable tips and recommendations from the guides.

Tours via Robot at Mob Museum Caesars Palace CelebratesVirtual Golden Anniversary

www.themobmuseum.org/ Your next tour of The Mob Museum could be via a This summer Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is marking its 50th Anniversary with a Summer of Caesars robotic device you control from the comfort and privacy celebration and extending throughout the year. The festivities will be highlighted with a weekend of celebraof your own home. “Moe-Bot,” a BeamPro telepresence tion Aug. 5-6, 2016. The anniversary celebration will feature exciting sweepstakes, giveaways, a self-guided robot will enable Museum guests to “visit” the Museum historical walking tour and photo exhibit, an interactive social photo experience, special room packages, 50th via their computer screen or mobile device and direct birthday offers, marquee events and more. The resort set the standard when it first opened on Aug. 5, 1966 their experience almost as personally as if they were and today remains a force at the center of the Las Vegas Strip. physically there. Introduced as a way to expand the Caesars Palace marks its 50-year milestone with special anniversary events and promotions. For more Museum’s audience reach to include anyone who candetails, visit www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/50th-anniversary not visit the Museum in person, Moe-Bot will be used to enable visitors to participate in live, immersive, interac-

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DEAL ME IN with Mark Pilarski www.markpilarski.com/ Does the Man with the Golden Arm exist?

Dear Mark: I am an avid craps player. My usual game is a Pass line bet with full odds plus one or two Come bets also with full odds. I also enjoy reading anything related to craps in hopes of gaining an “edge.” I just finished a book on controlled shooting. In your experience, is it possible to gain an edge being a “controlled shooter?” Michael F. Readers of Deal Me In should easily recognize the value of your craps strategy, Michael, that being “a pass line bet with full odds plus one or two come bets also with full odds,” as it is often advocated in this column. Your inquiry though, that a player aptly called ‘the arm,” is so gifted at throwing dice that he or she can

alter the conventional odds of the game, deserves a thoughtful response. Michael, I am in disagreement with those in the gaming community who believe in the magic that it is possible. As to whether or not such a golden arm truly exists is ‘dicey’ at best. I believe that you probably read the book, Golden Touch, Dice Control Revolution: How to Win at Craps Using a Controlled Dice Throw by Frank Scoblete. Frank believes that a skilled dice controller can control the outcome of a roll and change the nature of the game to favor the player. Is it a good read? Absolutely. However, I fall on the side of gaming folklore and respectfully differ, especially on a legitimate game. With many years on a dead game on graveyard shift experimenting both with pocketing a roulette ball at will and simulating precision rolls on a crap table, I have never come anywhere close to altering the odds of either game, nor in 18 years on the inside have I witnessed anyone who could. As for a player sliding the dice across the table to get a specific result, yes, that is achievable. However, Michael, if you do that twice, you can plan on being 86ed from the casino via a boot to your keister. Crap dealers, a box person, the pit boss or the eye in the sky have little tolerance for charlatans trying

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to illegally manipulate the cubes so as to preclude a random outcome. Guaranteed jackpot not related to RNG Dear Mark: How does a casino promise that a specific jackpot will be hit within a certain time frame? For instance, say a machine starts with a jackpot of $25,000 and it is guaranteed to be won by the time it reaches $100,000. If all spins are random, how is this possible? Jim D. Guaranteeing that the jackpot will be hit within a specific timeframe or sum total doesn’t mean that the random number generator (RNG) is being manipulated. That would be illegal in every gaming jurisdiction that I am aware of. All displayed results must be selected by a RNG. Those “guaranteed to hit” jackpots are determined outside of the reel-spinning game by a separate system that governs the jackpot. This system randomly selects a trigger amount somewhere between minimum and maximum points chosen by the casino. The lucky soul who reaches the running total equal to or greater than the trigger amount wins the jackpot. When the jackpot is finally hit, the running total resets to its minimum, and the system randomly chooses a new trigger point.

Gaming Scene cont Biloxi What’s happening at the Beau Rivage www.beaurivage.com

BraVeau

Theatrical Circus Sensation

DreamCast Entertainment’s new cirque-style spectacle BraVeau (pronounced Bravo), perform at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino thru August 7. BraVeau audiences will be engaged and entertained by eccentric characters, fanciful creatures and skilled performers who execute feats of beauty and unparalleled agility. This summer, leave reality behind and travel to an imaginary world as BraVeau infuses traditional commedia dell’arte with modern cirque sophistication and drama in the state-of-the-art Beau Rivage Theatre. BraVeau is a show produced exclusively for MGM Resorts International and features an internationallyrenowned cast of acrobats, aerialists, dancers and stunt performers who come as far away as Russia and Mongolia to inspire and amaze both the young and old alike. Renowned circus sensation and comic dare devil Bello Nock returns to Beau Rivage in this 80-minute non-stop, thrilling production. There’s nonstop action throughout BraVeau, which blends traditional circus acts with theatrical elements

of dance and dare devil stunts. The international ensemble of performers include trapeze acts, precision acrobatic and hand-balancing artistry, the Wheel of Wonder, impeccable dance routines, the Sphere of Fear motorcycle globe, astounding contortionists, and comedic interludes by Europe’s most beloved clowns.

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THE GIVEAWAY Thru August 6

Someone will drive away a winner every week. Win a MercedesBenz every Saturday from thru August 6, plus $350,000 in FREEPLAY. Drawings held every Saturday. Earn one drawing entry for every 100 Slot Points accumulated thru August 6, 2016. Earn 2X virtual drawing entries on 2X Points days. July 16, 23 & 30, August 06. Guests receive 1 virtual drawing entry for every 100 Slot Points earned throughout the promotional period. Participant MUST be present to win. Every Mon and Wed in June

and Sun and Thurs in July, earn POINTPlay and Express Comps twice as fast while playing slot machines. Excludes video poker. Reservations for air-inclusive travel packages may be made by calling 888.640.8973. www.beaurivage.com

Tickets are $12.95, $16.95 and $24.95 plus tax and service fees, and available for purchase by phone at 888.566.7469 or online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.beaurivage.com. UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT Steve Miller Band - July 22 Boston: 40th Anniversary Aug 5 The Commodores - Aug 12 Raiders: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made Aug 26

Kenny G - Sept 2 Vince Gill - Sept 22 - 23 The Beach Boys: 50 Years of Good Vibrations - Oct 7 - 8 STYX - Oct 14 ZZ TOP: Hell Raisers Tour Oct 21 www.AccentOnTampaBay.com

Looking Good PHILIP KINGSLEY

HAIR STYLING PRODUCTS

www.philipkingsley.com/ leek and shiny hair styles can instantly transform into a wet, frizzy mess once S exposed to the elements. Tame hair with the Philip Kingsley styling products and don’t let the weather let you look or feel any less than your best. Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream tames curly, frizzy hair types. It’s a protective styling cream that smoothes hair, adds shine, and helps to prolong the life of color treatments. Philip Kingsley Straight Hair smoothes, straightens and controls frizzy or curly hair. It’s a heat activated gel, rich in botanical extracts, that temporarily smoothes and straightens while protecting against heat and UV. Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hair Spray is a powerful formula suitable for all hair types and provides volume and hold to hair, rain or shine with no stickiness. The spray leaves the hair smooth, frizz free and protected from the elements. It extends the life of color treated hair as the spray contains polyamide sunscreen to prevent color fade, silicone and lanolin which has anti static properties to reduce frizz and surface resins to add volume and hold. Pure aloe Vera leaf juice soothes and nourishes the hair and scalp, leaving the hair manageable and silky smooth.

FINDERS KEY PURSE Key Keeping Purse Accessory

n easy keys find every time — no more digging around in your purse. With the Finders Key Purse, all you do is attach the clasp to your key ring and hook it onto your purse with the charm side facing out. a lot of different cute and fun designs are available — one of which is sure to fit your personality.

www.finderskeypurse.com

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KISS MY FACE K

Sun Care Products

iss My Face offers wildly effective sun care products with a range of options that effectively block harmful UV rays with the use of Antioxidant Defenders, which include Vitamin C and E, Green Tea, Goji Berry Extract, Olive Oil, Shea Butter and Aloe. Their Air Powered sprays effortlessly delivers sunscreen without the use of chemical propellants. These are ideal for those hard to reach areas, such as behind the legs. Tattoo Shade is a formula designed to keep tattoos looking sharp with its protective skin shield. Kiss My Face Sensitive Side SPF 30 has 3 in 1 non-irritatring protection for sensitive skin with three times the hydrating protection. Kiss My Face sun care products utilize natural mineral sun blocking agents, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and effective sunscreens to provide full broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. The Kiss My Face sun range is entirely free of parabens, oxybenzone and artificial fragrances.

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Arcopedico Super Comfortable Mary Janes www.arcopedicoshoes.com/

by Melissa Wolcott Martino

rcopedico is a high-quality womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comfort shoe brand specializing in lightweight, anatomicallydesigned, arch- and circulation-supporting shoes that are hand-made in Portugal. They have a wide variety of shoes to choose from, and I especially like my navy Leina model Mary Janes (pictured here), which weigh just 5 oz. a pair, and are amazingly comfortable. A Lytech upper with an elastic strap ensures an easy on and off, and a secure fit. The removable cushioned insole keeps your feet feeling comfortable and gives you the option to accommodate your own custom orthotics. This shoe also has a polyurethane outsole for plenty of durability. Think traveling, shopping â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or just padding around the house. They also come in grey, beige, black, brown, purple and red, with very cool slight shimmer. The shoe is vegan, machine washable, air dry. Once you put them on, you may never want to take them off. Visit the Arcopedico website to see all the other models and colors in this very comfortable line.

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The “I Wanna Go There!” Travel Page

Lake Maria, Minnesota

ake Maria State Park in Minnesota, provides a wilderness area within an easy drive of Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The park’s amenities are designed primarily for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders and consequently use remains light compared to other state parks around the metro area. It preserves a remnant of Big Woods atop a hilly, glacially-formed landscape dotted with lakes and wetlands. The park’s vegetation consists of Big Woods (maple, basswood, elm) mixed with old-growth oaks and dotted with numerous wetlands, ponds, and small lakes. The park is located near the northern limit of the Big Woods. The forest edge and wetland habitats support deer, foxes, fishers, minks, beavers, and muskrats. 205 bird species have been identified in the park. The park is noted for its population of Blanding’s turtles, considered an endangered or threatened species by many U.S. states and Canada.