Check out this latest travel feature on Anna Maria Island, by one of television's newest stars. And don't worry if you don't speak Manatee, there are subtitles.
If you're missing the place, why not book your next vacation now? Visit http://www.annamaria.com for the best in luxury vacation rentals on this paradise island.
And don't forget to tell them Marvin sent you...
Monday, 5 July 2010
Monday, 21 June 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Warming story on a cold day
Brrrr. It's been chilly in Anna Maria recently, but at least we humans can wrap up warm against the cold. Spare a thought for the poor animals who also call this wonderful place home.
Some of them are just not prepared for it, and sadly for them WalMart just doesn't make provision for animal-sized clothing.
As the Bradenton Herald reports, some of them even required rescuing. Among them were two small, juvenile green sea turtles which were brought to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium unable to move their flippers due to the cold.
One of them, who More staff have called Brady, was found by a fisherman on Bradenton Beach, and the other, called Squeaky, was found on Longboat Key.
If you happen to find a sea turtle on a local beach, either alive or dead, you really must call Turtle Watch at 232-1405.
The outlook for Squeaky and Brady looks good, but there have been an estimated 1,500 more “cold-stunned” turtles of all kinds which have been gathered over the past week who aren't so lucky.
The Herald also reports that state officials are also beginning to worry about manatees, which can suffer from cold stress syndrome when the water dips below 68 degrees.
So keep your eyes peeled. We all share this beautiful part of the world, if we can help our flippered friends in a time of need it goes without saying that it's our duty to help.
Come to Anna Maria Island, and stay with us at www.annamaria.com for the vacation of a lifetime
Some of them are just not prepared for it, and sadly for them WalMart just doesn't make provision for animal-sized clothing.
As the Bradenton Herald reports, some of them even required rescuing. Among them were two small, juvenile green sea turtles which were brought to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium unable to move their flippers due to the cold.
One of them, who More staff have called Brady, was found by a fisherman on Bradenton Beach, and the other, called Squeaky, was found on Longboat Key.
If you happen to find a sea turtle on a local beach, either alive or dead, you really must call Turtle Watch at 232-1405.
The outlook for Squeaky and Brady looks good, but there have been an estimated 1,500 more “cold-stunned” turtles of all kinds which have been gathered over the past week who aren't so lucky.
The Herald also reports that state officials are also beginning to worry about manatees, which can suffer from cold stress syndrome when the water dips below 68 degrees.
So keep your eyes peeled. We all share this beautiful part of the world, if we can help our flippered friends in a time of need it goes without saying that it's our duty to help.
Come to Anna Maria Island, and stay with us at www.annamaria.com for the vacation of a lifetime
Friday, 18 December 2009
Pier review suits the car-crew
The Bradenton Herald reports that Anna Maria's City Pier may be getting 'a companion boardwalk made of heavy timbers in time for the pier’s 100-year birthday in 2011'. Sounds interesting.
It continues. 'The proposed $877,000 boardwalk, or nature walk, which would run perpendicular to the pier, was part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s tentative five-year work program outlined Monday ... About 360 feet long and running on either side of the 740-foot pier, the walk will allow tourists to sit on benches and gaze out at the bay rather than have to sit in their cars'.
So we're building a great big boardwalk to try to coax out into the open those people choose to sit in their cars when outside the sun is shining and all the attractions of this part of the island are just the other side of the windshield?
Don't quite understand that. Why not just make access to the quiet part of the island around the northern tip a bit better? You can only park in a couple of places, there is only a few walkways between the houses and yet it's one of the nicest bits of beach.
Actually, on second thoughts. Let the car-crew stay over on the bay side, and we'll enjoy the peace and quiet to be found on Anna Maria for those willing to use their legs once in a while...
It continues. 'The proposed $877,000 boardwalk, or nature walk, which would run perpendicular to the pier, was part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s tentative five-year work program outlined Monday ... About 360 feet long and running on either side of the 740-foot pier, the walk will allow tourists to sit on benches and gaze out at the bay rather than have to sit in their cars'.
So we're building a great big boardwalk to try to coax out into the open those people choose to sit in their cars when outside the sun is shining and all the attractions of this part of the island are just the other side of the windshield?
Don't quite understand that. Why not just make access to the quiet part of the island around the northern tip a bit better? You can only park in a couple of places, there is only a few walkways between the houses and yet it's one of the nicest bits of beach.
Actually, on second thoughts. Let the car-crew stay over on the bay side, and we'll enjoy the peace and quiet to be found on Anna Maria for those willing to use their legs once in a while...
Friday, 27 November 2009
What's all that racket?
You might want to head over to the IMG Academy in Bradenton this week if you want to catch the next Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick or Ana Ivanovic. They all played in the Eddie Herr International Junior Championships in Bradenton - and look what happened to them.
All next week the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy at the IMG facility will be buzzing as the top juniors from around the world slug it out.
This year more players from more places around the world sent in entry forms to have the opportunity to play in a tournament with age groups ranging from 18-under to 12-under. The numbers include almost 2,000 players from 200 countries.
There will be more than 30 of the top 100 ITF players in the world competing in the boys 18s division. Among the top Americans are Denis Vladimir Kudla, Mitchell H. Frank, Raymond Sarmiento, Harry Fowler, Junior Alexander Ore and Sekou Bangoura Jr., a Bradenton resident who will be playing tennis at the University of Florida.
Brit Heather Watson heads up the girls draw, having lost in the final in the girls 18s last year but won the 2009 Junior U.S. Open Championship in September. She is currently in the running to be named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in Great Britain.
The top American in the girls 18s is Beatrice Capra, who is ranked No. 29 by the ITF and has a WTA ranking of 705. Also in the field is Madison Keys, who won the Eddie Herr 14s division two years ago. That same year Melanie Oudin won the 18s title.
The tournament is open to the public at no charge. Call IMG Academies at 755-1000 for more information. For more details see the Bradenton Herald story here
And while you're there, why not stay in the best vacation rental accommodation available, with properties to suit everyone at www.annamaria.com
All next week the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy at the IMG facility will be buzzing as the top juniors from around the world slug it out.
This year more players from more places around the world sent in entry forms to have the opportunity to play in a tournament with age groups ranging from 18-under to 12-under. The numbers include almost 2,000 players from 200 countries.
There will be more than 30 of the top 100 ITF players in the world competing in the boys 18s division. Among the top Americans are Denis Vladimir Kudla, Mitchell H. Frank, Raymond Sarmiento, Harry Fowler, Junior Alexander Ore and Sekou Bangoura Jr., a Bradenton resident who will be playing tennis at the University of Florida.
Brit Heather Watson heads up the girls draw, having lost in the final in the girls 18s last year but won the 2009 Junior U.S. Open Championship in September. She is currently in the running to be named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in Great Britain.
The top American in the girls 18s is Beatrice Capra, who is ranked No. 29 by the ITF and has a WTA ranking of 705. Also in the field is Madison Keys, who won the Eddie Herr 14s division two years ago. That same year Melanie Oudin won the 18s title.
The tournament is open to the public at no charge. Call IMG Academies at 755-1000 for more information. For more details see the Bradenton Herald story here
And while you're there, why not stay in the best vacation rental accommodation available, with properties to suit everyone at www.annamaria.com
Friday, 20 November 2009
Beat the crowds, book smart
Here's an interesting piece from the Smarter Travel website: www.smartertravel.com
November, December, and January tend to be hectic months, with several major holidays crammed into a short period. There are family celebrations to plan, gifts to purchase, and feasts to coordinate. Certainly, there's no time to take a vacation, right?
Wrong! If you have any flexibility in your schedule, you'll want to consider planning a trip immediately after the holidays to take advantage of low travel periods and great bargains. Known in the industry as travel "dead weeks," the weeks following Thanksgiving and New Year's (first week of December, first week of January) show a major drop in travel and tend to be a great time to snag a bargain.
This year, it seems you can find great deals through mid-December and throughout much of January, offering even greater flexibility. If you can extend your vacation time this year, or backload your vacation days following either holiday, you'll be able to find a deal on nearly any type of trip, from sunny getaways to ski outings and city escapes to secluded resorts.
It's a very valid point, and if you fancy taking advantage of some truly fantastic special offers check out www.annamaria.com for online discounts that will take your breath away. But never fear, there's no better place to regain your composure than Anna Maria Island, a jewel of a place on Florida's Gulf Coast.
See you there soon...
November, December, and January tend to be hectic months, with several major holidays crammed into a short period. There are family celebrations to plan, gifts to purchase, and feasts to coordinate. Certainly, there's no time to take a vacation, right?
Wrong! If you have any flexibility in your schedule, you'll want to consider planning a trip immediately after the holidays to take advantage of low travel periods and great bargains. Known in the industry as travel "dead weeks," the weeks following Thanksgiving and New Year's (first week of December, first week of January) show a major drop in travel and tend to be a great time to snag a bargain.
This year, it seems you can find great deals through mid-December and throughout much of January, offering even greater flexibility. If you can extend your vacation time this year, or backload your vacation days following either holiday, you'll be able to find a deal on nearly any type of trip, from sunny getaways to ski outings and city escapes to secluded resorts.
It's a very valid point, and if you fancy taking advantage of some truly fantastic special offers check out www.annamaria.com for online discounts that will take your breath away. But never fear, there's no better place to regain your composure than Anna Maria Island, a jewel of a place on Florida's Gulf Coast.
See you there soon...
Friday, 9 October 2009
Eat, drink and be merry
The good old Bradenton Herald has come up trumps again with a calendar of culinary events going on near us on Anna Maria this coming next few weeks.
Here it is in full, but feel free to follow this link to the Herald site.
Prix fixe: Harry’s Continental Kitchens on Longboat Key, is reopening from summer vacation on Oct. 9, and to celebrate will debut a Fall-inspired Prix Fixe menu. The four-course dinner offers a choice of vichyssoise or gazpacho, then a roasted Golden Beet salad with Chevre cheese, an ahi tuna carpaccio topped with a three-olive tapenade or steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in a poblano pepper-coconut milk. The third course is Salmon a la Orange on a bed of toasted orzo or a grilled filet mignon topped with smoky corn and tomato salsa that is served alongside a crispy butternut squash and Yukon Gold potato croquette, third choice is baked jumbo shrimp De Jong with mozzarella, croutons and a lemon garlic butter sauce. Last is Harry’s dessert of the day. The prix fixe menu is offered5-9 p.m. and is $29 per person or $43 per person with chosen premium wine pairings. Reservations are strongly recommended. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.
Casa Italia cooking classes/events: Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd, Sarasota, will hold the following cooking classes:
1. Spanish Cooking Class and Lunch with Fatima Soriano, 11 a.m. Oct. 9. Menu includes gaspacho Andaluz, garlic shrimp, green beans and peas with serrano ham and Canary Islands roasted bananas. Cost: $40. A copy of the recipes will be provided.
2. Indian Cooking Class and Dinner with Nita & Raj Mathur featuring vegetarian Indian dishes, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Cost: $75. A copy of the recipes will be provided.
Reservations can be made by calling (941) 924-1179. Gift certificates are available.
3. Giuliano Hazan has a new cook book out, his fourth, titled “Thirty Minute Pasta,” containing 100 recipes that can be prepared in half an hour or less. Hazan will be signing copies of the book at Casa Italia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17.
Wine events
Weekly wine tasting: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, 525 St. Jude’s Drive, Longboat Key, will hold wine tasting events 5-7 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Oct. 15. Cost: $10 , proceeds to benefit the Longboat Key/Lido Key/St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce. The wine tasting is located at Harry’s Gourmet Deli and Take-Out. There will be small appetizers offered along with a large wine selection to taste. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.
Free tasting: WineStyles Lakewood Ranch, 8225 Nature’s Way, San Marco Plaza, is offering a free wine tasting presented by Rhianna Brandt of Winebow Brands International, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 9. Call 306-5804 or visit www.winestyles.net/lakewoodranch.
Mattison’s Riverside: 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, hosts Tuesday Tasting 5-7 p.m., offering the opportunity to sample a variety of wines from a featured vineyard, varietals or regional. This is a free event with light appetizers offered. For reservations, call 748-8087 or visit www.mattisons.com.
Wine tastings: The Waterfront Restaurant, 111 S. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria. holds wine tastings from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $10. Information: 778-1515.
Here it is in full, but feel free to follow this link to the Herald site.
Prix fixe: Harry’s Continental Kitchens on Longboat Key, is reopening from summer vacation on Oct. 9, and to celebrate will debut a Fall-inspired Prix Fixe menu. The four-course dinner offers a choice of vichyssoise or gazpacho, then a roasted Golden Beet salad with Chevre cheese, an ahi tuna carpaccio topped with a three-olive tapenade or steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in a poblano pepper-coconut milk. The third course is Salmon a la Orange on a bed of toasted orzo or a grilled filet mignon topped with smoky corn and tomato salsa that is served alongside a crispy butternut squash and Yukon Gold potato croquette, third choice is baked jumbo shrimp De Jong with mozzarella, croutons and a lemon garlic butter sauce. Last is Harry’s dessert of the day. The prix fixe menu is offered5-9 p.m. and is $29 per person or $43 per person with chosen premium wine pairings. Reservations are strongly recommended. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.
Casa Italia cooking classes/events: Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd, Sarasota, will hold the following cooking classes:
1. Spanish Cooking Class and Lunch with Fatima Soriano, 11 a.m. Oct. 9. Menu includes gaspacho Andaluz, garlic shrimp, green beans and peas with serrano ham and Canary Islands roasted bananas. Cost: $40. A copy of the recipes will be provided.
2. Indian Cooking Class and Dinner with Nita & Raj Mathur featuring vegetarian Indian dishes, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Cost: $75. A copy of the recipes will be provided.
Reservations can be made by calling (941) 924-1179. Gift certificates are available.
3. Giuliano Hazan has a new cook book out, his fourth, titled “Thirty Minute Pasta,” containing 100 recipes that can be prepared in half an hour or less. Hazan will be signing copies of the book at Casa Italia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17.
Wine events
Weekly wine tasting: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, 525 St. Jude’s Drive, Longboat Key, will hold wine tasting events 5-7 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Oct. 15. Cost: $10 , proceeds to benefit the Longboat Key/Lido Key/St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce. The wine tasting is located at Harry’s Gourmet Deli and Take-Out. There will be small appetizers offered along with a large wine selection to taste. Information: 383-0777 or www.harryskitchen.com.
Free tasting: WineStyles Lakewood Ranch, 8225 Nature’s Way, San Marco Plaza, is offering a free wine tasting presented by Rhianna Brandt of Winebow Brands International, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 9. Call 306-5804 or visit www.winestyles.net/lakewoodranch.
Mattison’s Riverside: 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, hosts Tuesday Tasting 5-7 p.m., offering the opportunity to sample a variety of wines from a featured vineyard, varietals or regional. This is a free event with light appetizers offered. For reservations, call 748-8087 or visit www.mattisons.com.
Wine tastings: The Waterfront Restaurant, 111 S. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria. holds wine tastings from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $10. Information: 778-1515.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Boxing clever on the island trolley
Fans of the fare-free Island trolley can now donate to keep the trolley chugging along from one end of Anna Maria to the other. Donation boxes in the place of fare collection boxes were installed last week on all six Island trolleys as part of an effort to raise money to keep the trolley a free service to the public.
The small boxes are not to be confused with fare boxes, which the county also installed on the trolleys. If the donation boxes work, along with plans by various heads of commerce on the island to raise funds, the fare boxes won’t be necessary.
They are led by David Teitelbaum, a developer, resort owner and member of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, who came up with a plan to raise the money through the private sector and donations from riders and citizens to pay for the trolleys after it was announced a couple of months ago that county funds would no longer stretch far enough to keep them free.
According to the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper, 'The next step [is] to sell advertising inside and outside the trolleys. Teitelbaum also wants to sell the rights to name the trolleys to private and commercial entities. Finally, he wants to raise money through a Real Florida Festival similar to the way the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival raises money for the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage.'
Good luck to him, we say. And we should all do everything we can to help keep this vital tourist transport system free for all.
The small boxes are not to be confused with fare boxes, which the county also installed on the trolleys. If the donation boxes work, along with plans by various heads of commerce on the island to raise funds, the fare boxes won’t be necessary.
They are led by David Teitelbaum, a developer, resort owner and member of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, who came up with a plan to raise the money through the private sector and donations from riders and citizens to pay for the trolleys after it was announced a couple of months ago that county funds would no longer stretch far enough to keep them free.
According to the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper, 'The next step [is] to sell advertising inside and outside the trolleys. Teitelbaum also wants to sell the rights to name the trolleys to private and commercial entities. Finally, he wants to raise money through a Real Florida Festival similar to the way the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival raises money for the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage.'
Good luck to him, we say. And we should all do everything we can to help keep this vital tourist transport system free for all.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Hire authority
Anna Maria Island is so popular among visitors from around the world because it is a small, friendly place. And thanks to the free island trolley, nowhere takes very long to get to.
But if you want to get there under your own steam, why not hire your own transport?
You can explore the island with a bike or kayak from Beach Bums rentals With a large, meticulously maintained, rental fleet of bikes, kayaks, surreys, sunfish sailboats, golf carts, baby equipment and beach supplies, they even have a marine biologist on staff to conduct kayak eco-tours.
Visit www.beachbumsami.com for more information.
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.amisland.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
But if you want to get there under your own steam, why not hire your own transport?
You can explore the island with a bike or kayak from Beach Bums rentals With a large, meticulously maintained, rental fleet of bikes, kayaks, surreys, sunfish sailboats, golf carts, baby equipment and beach supplies, they even have a marine biologist on staff to conduct kayak eco-tours.
Visit www.beachbumsami.com for more information.
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.amisland.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
Friday, 7 August 2009
What to do, where to do it
Here's another of those wonderful guides to everything in August and September from the folks at the Orlando Sentinel. We do love these, make sure you visit their website for more details.
Aug. 29-Sept. 7: 53rd Annual Jaycees Pioneer Days, Englewood. Taste of Englewood and entertainment will take place daily during the weekend at Pioneer Park. Carnival, arts and crafts, vendors and more. 800-603-7198. www.englewoodchamber.com
Sept. 1-30: Orlando Magical Dining Month, Orlando. Thrill-seeking travelers from around the globe know Orlando for its world-class attractions and sunny resorts, but local foodies experience a different kind of thrill when they indulge their senses at Orlando's extensive dining facilities. This September, visitors can have a rare opportunity to indulge in some of the area's fine dining restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe dinner menus for $20 or $30, with $1 from each meal donated to a local charity. 407-363-5872. orlandomagicaldining.com
Select Nights Sept. 4-Nov. 1: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Lake Buena Vista. Each fall, guests are invited to dress in costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. to midnight (after regular park closing). The boo-free bash includes a parade and bewitching fireworks spectacular. Admission: Tickets start at $53 for adults, $46 for children 3 to 9. 407-824-4321. www.Disneyworld.com
Sept. 5: Labor Day Block Party, Daytona Beach. Main Street closes to traffic for this holiday block party with music, games, entertainment, vendors and lots of fun. Free admission. 386-255-9300. www.daytonabeach.com/calendar.cfm
Sept. 5: First Saturday Jam, Barberville. On the first Saturday each month visit the Pioneer Settlement for entertainment and fun for the entire family. 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Includes informal music jams, free workshops, food, and a barn-style dance at 3 p.m. 386-749-2959. www.pioneersettlement.org
Sept. 5: Suncoast Corvette Show, St. Petersburg. Classic Corvettes surround The Pier 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. 727-821-6443. www.stpete.org/events/september.asp
Sept. 5-7: Sponge Docks Art and Craft Festival, Tarpon Springs. Fine art, fine craft, food, music. At The Sponge Docks. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com
Sept. 6-7: Pioneer Days Festival, Dade City. Annual festival on Labor Day weekend, with early Florida history recreated through Civil War reenactments, children's activities and authentic craft demonstrations. At Pioneer Florida Museum. Free admission, free parking. 352-567-0262. www.dadecitychamber.org
Sept. 7: Salsa En St. Pete for Labor Day, St. Petersburg. Labor Day at The Pier brings us Salsa Dancing in the Courtyard with Greg Richardson, from B.A.I.L.E., from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. At Pier's Waterside Courtyard. Free. 727-821-6164. www.stpetepier.com
Sept. 11-12: 27th Annual Night of Joy, Lake Buena Vista. Night of Joy, which takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios, includes a star-studded collection of some of today's most powerful voices in contemporary Christian music. Tickets start at $49.95. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com
Sept. 11-12: Rock the Universe at Universal Studios, Orlando. Chart-topping Christian music stars from across the nation perform at the annual two-day concert event at Universal Studios. The event is designed to highlight the diversity within today's exploding Christian music scene. Admission: One night $49.99 plus tax, two nights $75.99 plus tax. 407-363-8000. www.rocktheuniverse.com
Sept. 12: 26th Annual Raft Race and Family Fun Day, Homosassa. In what may be the craziest competition in Florida, dozens of hand-made, improvised "rafts" will race down the Homosassa River in two separate races, one with rafts propelled only by human effort, the other allowing mechanical propulsion. Roads will be lined with vendors of all types, contributing to the fun atmosphere. There will be a kid zone with rides and attractions as well as face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at Macrae's on Homosassa River. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com
Sept. 12: Opening Gala Concert, Merritt Island. Celebrate the inaugural concert of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra with four electrifying and monumental works. 6 p.m. At First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. Admission $10 per person. 321-536-8580. www.spacecoastsymphony.org
Sept. 13: 26th Annual Homosassa River Raft Race, Homosassa. A local tradition for a quarter century, this event features two races -- one for man-powered vessels, the other for mechanically propelled vessels. The roads will be lined with vendors contributing to the fun atmosphere and a kid's zone offers rides, attractions and face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at MacRae's on the Homosassa River. Admission $5 adults, $1 children 6-17. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com/calendar
Sept. 14: Birthday Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales. This concert will honor the Singing Tower's first carillonneur on his birthday with some of his favorite tunes. Anton Brees,1897-1967, was appointed carillonneur by Edward Bok in 1928 and served in that position for nearly 39 years. Free with general Gardens admission and for members. 863-676-1408. www.boktowergardens.org/calendar
Sept. 16-20: Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, Orlando. This competitive film festival, which takes place at Orlando Fashion Square mall, recognizes independent filmmakers from around the world who integrate the Hispanic culture in their work and expose the talent of Hispanic actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and cinematographers. Admission (specific fee not determined at press time). 321-274-1570. www.ohfilmfestival.com
Sept. 18-19: Doctors, Lawyers and Weekend Warriors Surf Benefit, Sebastian Inlet. Surfing event to benefit local charities. Limited to 75 contestants; $125 entry fee. At Sebastian Inlet State Park. Regular park entrance fees apply. 321-727-8100. www.floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/Events.cfm
Sept. 18-20: Orlando Home Show, Orlando. Central Florida's leading and largest consumer showcase of new products and services for home remodeling and interior décor. The show features local, regional and national experts in remodeling, building, decorating and landscaping; instructional how-to seminars; giveaways; contests; and more than 600 exhibits with the industry's latest products. Admission $9 adults, $5 children 6-12, free 5 and under. 407-685-9800. www.orlandohomeshow.com
Sept. 19: Classic Auto, Bike and Truck Show, St. Petersburg. Quarterly auto, bike and truck show coordinated by Richard Gormont. At The Pier Side Courtyard, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 727-331-9684. www.stpetepier.com
Sept. 22-27: Global Peace Film Festival, Orlando. Guests can celebrate the art of film and its power to promote new understanding. Held in conjunction with the UN's International Day of Peace, the festival promotes the art of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth, beyond anti-war, ideology and activism. Events will take place at Gallery at Avalon Island, Rollins College, Winter Park Public Library and the Orlando Science Center and will include film programs, panels, parties and a special concert. Admission $8 per film. 407-224-6625. www.peacefilmfest.org
Sept. 24-27: New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach. Music fills the air as bands play at several locations throughout the Flagler Avenue shopping district. 386-423-9760. www.marcmontesonpromotions.com
Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31: Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, Tampa. This fall, guests should be watching their backs as Howl-O-Scream celebrates a decade of diabolical scares with its 10th year of terror at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. For 17 select nights in September and October, the Gulf coast's premiere adventure park transforms into a park-wide nightmare of inescapable fear with seductive surprises around every turn. Devious creatures infest Busch Gardens' 335 acres with dark, sinister, adult-targeted fun, including more all-new haunted houses than ever before, spine-tingling scare zones and thrilling live stage shows. Even the streets themselves aren't safe from the wandering hoards and other terrors of the night, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long. Howl-O-Scream 2009 will leave you begging for mercy and screaming for more. 813-987-5280. www.buschgardens.com
Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 21-25, 28-31: Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando. In its 19th year, the event is considered one of the world's largest, most elaborate Halloween celebrations. Guests will experience live mega-horror movies with this year's theme of "Ripped from the Silver Screen" which includes first-hand takes on not yet released films such as "The Wolfman" and "SAW VI." Universal enlists a "scream team" of designers to research the human psyche and its deepest fears so guests can confront all the physical and psychological horrors of the movies. Admission $69.99. 407-363-8000. www.halloweenhorrornights.com
Sept. 25-Nov. 8: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Lake Buena Vista. From the seasoned connoisseur to the knowledge-seeking amateur, this popular event attracts a diverse audience to sip, sample and savor treasures from some of the world's most famous wineries and celebrated chefs. Guests can boost their wine IQ at any of the hundreds of wine and beer seminars and polish their culinary skills at the numerous demonstrations and tastings. Admission included in regular park admission -- adults $75, children 3-9 $63, 2 and under free. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com
Sept. 26: Folkfest St. Pete, St. Petersburg. Musical celebration and art show featuring folk, outsider and intuitive artists. At Central Avenue between 11th and 13th Street North. 727-825-0515. www.creativeclay.org
Sept. 26: St. Johns River Paddle Battle, Orange City. Canoe and kayak races to celebrate National Public Lands Day. There will be a ten-mile race and a four-mile novice race. At Blue Spring State Park. 386-775-3663. www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Events.cfm
Sept. 26-27: Fiesta del Coqui, Orlando. The annual "Fiesta del Coquí" lets guests party with the coquí and enjoy live music, crafts and activities, demonstrations and much more celebrating the Hispanic culture. Visitors can enjoy fabulous regional cuisines, dance to the sounds of local bands, and be entertained by local dance groups, all celebrating Puerto Rico. At Central Florida Zoo. 507-323-4450. www.centralfloridazoo.org
Aug. 29-Sept. 7: 53rd Annual Jaycees Pioneer Days, Englewood. Taste of Englewood and entertainment will take place daily during the weekend at Pioneer Park. Carnival, arts and crafts, vendors and more. 800-603-7198. www.englewoodchamber.com
Sept. 1-30: Orlando Magical Dining Month, Orlando. Thrill-seeking travelers from around the globe know Orlando for its world-class attractions and sunny resorts, but local foodies experience a different kind of thrill when they indulge their senses at Orlando's extensive dining facilities. This September, visitors can have a rare opportunity to indulge in some of the area's fine dining restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe dinner menus for $20 or $30, with $1 from each meal donated to a local charity. 407-363-5872. orlandomagicaldining.com
Select Nights Sept. 4-Nov. 1: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Lake Buena Vista. Each fall, guests are invited to dress in costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. to midnight (after regular park closing). The boo-free bash includes a parade and bewitching fireworks spectacular. Admission: Tickets start at $53 for adults, $46 for children 3 to 9. 407-824-4321. www.Disneyworld.com
Sept. 5: Labor Day Block Party, Daytona Beach. Main Street closes to traffic for this holiday block party with music, games, entertainment, vendors and lots of fun. Free admission. 386-255-9300. www.daytonabeach.com/calendar.cfm
Sept. 5: First Saturday Jam, Barberville. On the first Saturday each month visit the Pioneer Settlement for entertainment and fun for the entire family. 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Includes informal music jams, free workshops, food, and a barn-style dance at 3 p.m. 386-749-2959. www.pioneersettlement.org
Sept. 5: Suncoast Corvette Show, St. Petersburg. Classic Corvettes surround The Pier 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. 727-821-6443. www.stpete.org/events/september.asp
Sept. 5-7: Sponge Docks Art and Craft Festival, Tarpon Springs. Fine art, fine craft, food, music. At The Sponge Docks. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com
Sept. 6-7: Pioneer Days Festival, Dade City. Annual festival on Labor Day weekend, with early Florida history recreated through Civil War reenactments, children's activities and authentic craft demonstrations. At Pioneer Florida Museum. Free admission, free parking. 352-567-0262. www.dadecitychamber.org
Sept. 7: Salsa En St. Pete for Labor Day, St. Petersburg. Labor Day at The Pier brings us Salsa Dancing in the Courtyard with Greg Richardson, from B.A.I.L.E., from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. At Pier's Waterside Courtyard. Free. 727-821-6164. www.stpetepier.com
Sept. 11-12: 27th Annual Night of Joy, Lake Buena Vista. Night of Joy, which takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios, includes a star-studded collection of some of today's most powerful voices in contemporary Christian music. Tickets start at $49.95. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com
Sept. 11-12: Rock the Universe at Universal Studios, Orlando. Chart-topping Christian music stars from across the nation perform at the annual two-day concert event at Universal Studios. The event is designed to highlight the diversity within today's exploding Christian music scene. Admission: One night $49.99 plus tax, two nights $75.99 plus tax. 407-363-8000. www.rocktheuniverse.com
Sept. 12: 26th Annual Raft Race and Family Fun Day, Homosassa. In what may be the craziest competition in Florida, dozens of hand-made, improvised "rafts" will race down the Homosassa River in two separate races, one with rafts propelled only by human effort, the other allowing mechanical propulsion. Roads will be lined with vendors of all types, contributing to the fun atmosphere. There will be a kid zone with rides and attractions as well as face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at Macrae's on Homosassa River. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com
Sept. 12: Opening Gala Concert, Merritt Island. Celebrate the inaugural concert of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra with four electrifying and monumental works. 6 p.m. At First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. Admission $10 per person. 321-536-8580. www.spacecoastsymphony.org
Sept. 13: 26th Annual Homosassa River Raft Race, Homosassa. A local tradition for a quarter century, this event features two races -- one for man-powered vessels, the other for mechanically propelled vessels. The roads will be lined with vendors contributing to the fun atmosphere and a kid's zone offers rides, attractions and face painting. Live music will follow the race before the winners are announced and trophies awarded. At Homosassa Riverside Resort and The Shed at MacRae's on the Homosassa River. Admission $5 adults, $1 children 6-17. 352-628-4444. www.visitcitrus.com/calendar
Sept. 14: Birthday Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales. This concert will honor the Singing Tower's first carillonneur on his birthday with some of his favorite tunes. Anton Brees,1897-1967, was appointed carillonneur by Edward Bok in 1928 and served in that position for nearly 39 years. Free with general Gardens admission and for members. 863-676-1408. www.boktowergardens.org/calendar
Sept. 16-20: Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, Orlando. This competitive film festival, which takes place at Orlando Fashion Square mall, recognizes independent filmmakers from around the world who integrate the Hispanic culture in their work and expose the talent of Hispanic actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and cinematographers. Admission (specific fee not determined at press time). 321-274-1570. www.ohfilmfestival.com
Sept. 18-19: Doctors, Lawyers and Weekend Warriors Surf Benefit, Sebastian Inlet. Surfing event to benefit local charities. Limited to 75 contestants; $125 entry fee. At Sebastian Inlet State Park. Regular park entrance fees apply. 321-727-8100. www.floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/Events.cfm
Sept. 18-20: Orlando Home Show, Orlando. Central Florida's leading and largest consumer showcase of new products and services for home remodeling and interior décor. The show features local, regional and national experts in remodeling, building, decorating and landscaping; instructional how-to seminars; giveaways; contests; and more than 600 exhibits with the industry's latest products. Admission $9 adults, $5 children 6-12, free 5 and under. 407-685-9800. www.orlandohomeshow.com
Sept. 19: Classic Auto, Bike and Truck Show, St. Petersburg. Quarterly auto, bike and truck show coordinated by Richard Gormont. At The Pier Side Courtyard, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 727-331-9684. www.stpetepier.com
Sept. 22-27: Global Peace Film Festival, Orlando. Guests can celebrate the art of film and its power to promote new understanding. Held in conjunction with the UN's International Day of Peace, the festival promotes the art of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth, beyond anti-war, ideology and activism. Events will take place at Gallery at Avalon Island, Rollins College, Winter Park Public Library and the Orlando Science Center and will include film programs, panels, parties and a special concert. Admission $8 per film. 407-224-6625. www.peacefilmfest.org
Sept. 24-27: New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach. Music fills the air as bands play at several locations throughout the Flagler Avenue shopping district. 386-423-9760. www.marcmontesonpromotions.com
Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31: Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, Tampa. This fall, guests should be watching their backs as Howl-O-Scream celebrates a decade of diabolical scares with its 10th year of terror at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. For 17 select nights in September and October, the Gulf coast's premiere adventure park transforms into a park-wide nightmare of inescapable fear with seductive surprises around every turn. Devious creatures infest Busch Gardens' 335 acres with dark, sinister, adult-targeted fun, including more all-new haunted houses than ever before, spine-tingling scare zones and thrilling live stage shows. Even the streets themselves aren't safe from the wandering hoards and other terrors of the night, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long. Howl-O-Scream 2009 will leave you begging for mercy and screaming for more. 813-987-5280. www.buschgardens.com
Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 21-25, 28-31: Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando. In its 19th year, the event is considered one of the world's largest, most elaborate Halloween celebrations. Guests will experience live mega-horror movies with this year's theme of "Ripped from the Silver Screen" which includes first-hand takes on not yet released films such as "The Wolfman" and "SAW VI." Universal enlists a "scream team" of designers to research the human psyche and its deepest fears so guests can confront all the physical and psychological horrors of the movies. Admission $69.99. 407-363-8000. www.halloweenhorrornights.com
Sept. 25-Nov. 8: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Lake Buena Vista. From the seasoned connoisseur to the knowledge-seeking amateur, this popular event attracts a diverse audience to sip, sample and savor treasures from some of the world's most famous wineries and celebrated chefs. Guests can boost their wine IQ at any of the hundreds of wine and beer seminars and polish their culinary skills at the numerous demonstrations and tastings. Admission included in regular park admission -- adults $75, children 3-9 $63, 2 and under free. 407-824-4321. www.disneyworld.com
Sept. 26: Folkfest St. Pete, St. Petersburg. Musical celebration and art show featuring folk, outsider and intuitive artists. At Central Avenue between 11th and 13th Street North. 727-825-0515. www.creativeclay.org
Sept. 26: St. Johns River Paddle Battle, Orange City. Canoe and kayak races to celebrate National Public Lands Day. There will be a ten-mile race and a four-mile novice race. At Blue Spring State Park. 386-775-3663. www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Events.cfm
Sept. 26-27: Fiesta del Coqui, Orlando. The annual "Fiesta del Coquí" lets guests party with the coquí and enjoy live music, crafts and activities, demonstrations and much more celebrating the Hispanic culture. Visitors can enjoy fabulous regional cuisines, dance to the sounds of local bands, and be entertained by local dance groups, all celebrating Puerto Rico. At Central Florida Zoo. 507-323-4450. www.centralfloridazoo.org
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
We want cafe to stay on the beach
It's an Anna Maria Island institution, but the powers that be have decided that the Cafe on the Beach will not get a new tender automatically when its lease runs out. But, according to the AMI Sun newspaper, the locals have been showing their support to the popular restaurant.
It reports that more than a thousand patrons have added their names to a petition asking county commissioners to renew the lease with the current concessionaires at Manatee County Public Beach. All but Commissioner Carol Whitmore voted to put out a request for proposals rather than sign off on a five-year extension to the lease with the current concessionaires.
Gene Shaefer and Dee Percifield-Shaefer have held the beach concession since 1992 under the name of P.S. Beach Associates.
Commissioner John Chappie, who voted in favor soliciting new bids on the concession, said at an Island Kiwanis Club meeting July 25 that he will ask the county to reconsider the vote on July 28.
We hope they do, who else is going to serve us unlimited pancakes and sausage while we sink our feet into the sand?
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
It reports that more than a thousand patrons have added their names to a petition asking county commissioners to renew the lease with the current concessionaires at Manatee County Public Beach. All but Commissioner Carol Whitmore voted to put out a request for proposals rather than sign off on a five-year extension to the lease with the current concessionaires.
Gene Shaefer and Dee Percifield-Shaefer have held the beach concession since 1992 under the name of P.S. Beach Associates.
Commissioner John Chappie, who voted in favor soliciting new bids on the concession, said at an Island Kiwanis Club meeting July 25 that he will ask the county to reconsider the vote on July 28.
We hope they do, who else is going to serve us unlimited pancakes and sausage while we sink our feet into the sand?
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
All's well that ends well
We love a happy turtle story on Anna Maria Island, and so the events of Monday morning came as a nice surprise.
According to a report in the Port Charlotte Sun, two loggerhead sea turtles were put back into Sarasota Bay and reported to be swimming with renewed vigor after Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital nursed them back to health.
Mote staff and volunteers released the adult female that was stranded on March 29 near Siesta Beach, and a subadult female that was stranded May 15 between Egmont Key and Anna Maria.
Both turtles dug their flippers into the sand and rushed seaward, the agency reports.
Padme and Ahsoka were suffering from lethargic loggerhead syndrome, an illness of uncertain origin that can immobilize loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal law. Thankfully they set off okay and were fitted with chips so Mote staff can locate them in the future.
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
According to a report in the Port Charlotte Sun, two loggerhead sea turtles were put back into Sarasota Bay and reported to be swimming with renewed vigor after Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital nursed them back to health.
Mote staff and volunteers released the adult female that was stranded on March 29 near Siesta Beach, and a subadult female that was stranded May 15 between Egmont Key and Anna Maria.
Both turtles dug their flippers into the sand and rushed seaward, the agency reports.
Padme and Ahsoka were suffering from lethargic loggerhead syndrome, an illness of uncertain origin that can immobilize loggerhead sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal law. Thankfully they set off okay and were fitted with chips so Mote staff can locate them in the future.
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.amisland.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Take care in the gulf
Sorry to say, here's another tale of the danger associated with beaches from this week's Herald Tribune. This time it concerns riptides, those unseen currents which can sweep bathers and swimmers off their feet.
It says: Lifeguards have shut down sections of some beaches so they can keep a closer eye on swimmers who brave the rough waters. Red warning flags, indicating unsafe conditions, are being flown on most public beaches.
Even with those precautions, more than a dozen swimmers have required rescue on Coquina Beach in the past two weeks. Almost 50 rip-current rescues have taken place on Sarasota beaches in the last month.
Rip currents are formed when water builds up between a sandbar and the shore. The pressure builds until the water breaks through the sandbar, causing a powerful current - similar to a fast-moving river - that can pull swimmers out into the Gulf.
In May of last year, rip currents dragged three swimmers to their deaths on unguarded beaches on Longboat Key.
Read the full article here
So again the message is take care. We want you to keep coming back to Anna Maria Island!
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
It says: Lifeguards have shut down sections of some beaches so they can keep a closer eye on swimmers who brave the rough waters. Red warning flags, indicating unsafe conditions, are being flown on most public beaches.
Even with those precautions, more than a dozen swimmers have required rescue on Coquina Beach in the past two weeks. Almost 50 rip-current rescues have taken place on Sarasota beaches in the last month.
Rip currents are formed when water builds up between a sandbar and the shore. The pressure builds until the water breaks through the sandbar, causing a powerful current - similar to a fast-moving river - that can pull swimmers out into the Gulf.
In May of last year, rip currents dragged three swimmers to their deaths on unguarded beaches on Longboat Key.
Read the full article here
So again the message is take care. We want you to keep coming back to Anna Maria Island!
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Fun in the sun
Sunrise and Sunset Cottage are two of our newer properties, but we have already had some glowing reports back from happy guests.
Here is one from the Bui family, who stayed in Sunrise Cottage - take a look at Sunrise here or its next-door-neighbor Sunset Cottage here
Hello,
We recently rented the sunrise cottage and wanted to provide some feedback on our experience but I didn’t see an option for this on your website. I have to admit, initially we were not certain that the pictures on the site would be an accurate depiction of the house. We’ve ran across other rentals that were too good to be true but this cottage was even better in person. We’ve used numerous websites and found that comments from previous renters have been very helpful in our decision making. Anyhow, getting back to what I was e-mailing you about.
We had a wonderful time!!! We also had the opportunity to meet Lauren (the property owner). She was very gracious and helpful…even went out of her way to e-mail us some dining options. The house was such a welcoming site after the long car trip. The kids loved the pool and we all enjoyed using it every chance we got. We can see that she’s put a lot of effort into creating a warm and inviting place and she definitely accomplished that goal. The location was very convenient to the beach which was also a plus. Overall, we were able to relax and enjoy our vacation so it made the drive well worth it. We look forward to renting again for future trips.
Thanks,
Bui family
Here is one from the Bui family, who stayed in Sunrise Cottage - take a look at Sunrise here or its next-door-neighbor Sunset Cottage here
Hello,
We recently rented the sunrise cottage and wanted to provide some feedback on our experience but I didn’t see an option for this on your website. I have to admit, initially we were not certain that the pictures on the site would be an accurate depiction of the house. We’ve ran across other rentals that were too good to be true but this cottage was even better in person. We’ve used numerous websites and found that comments from previous renters have been very helpful in our decision making. Anyhow, getting back to what I was e-mailing you about.
We had a wonderful time!!! We also had the opportunity to meet Lauren (the property owner). She was very gracious and helpful…even went out of her way to e-mail us some dining options. The house was such a welcoming site after the long car trip. The kids loved the pool and we all enjoyed using it every chance we got. We can see that she’s put a lot of effort into creating a warm and inviting place and she definitely accomplished that goal. The location was very convenient to the beach which was also a plus. Overall, we were able to relax and enjoy our vacation so it made the drive well worth it. We look forward to renting again for future trips.
Thanks,
Bui family
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Tragic death highlights dangers
We get used to living in paradise on Anna Maria Island, but it is always worth remembering the dangers which surround us, especially those posed by the sea.
It looks beautiful and serene most of the time, but as this tragic story reported in the Tampa Tribune highlights, you can never let your guard drop in the ocean.
The report says: 'State wildlife officer Terry Noll regularly patrols Longboat Pass, a channel he says is one of the most dangerous parts of Sarasota Bay.
Last year, Noll was declared a hero when he rescued four people who left their boat and were caught in the strong currents that flow from Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.
But on Friday, he was unable to save a Central Florida man who was swept under a barge and drowned after he and some friends lost control of an overturned jet ski.
“It was just the wrong spot at the wrong time for the jet ski to roll over,” Noll said.
On Monday, the local medical examiner’s office confirmed that Jose H. Medina, 30, of Deltona died of drowning.
The incident began when Medina, his wife, and a group of friends were picnicking at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, and just after 2 p.m. Medina’s jet ski overturned. It was quickly pulled by the current toward a moored tug boat and barge.
Friends in another jet ski joined Medina in trying to stop the jet ski from being sucked underneath the barge.
Eventually they were able to turn it upright. Only then did his friends notice that Medina was missing.
Lifeguards from Coquina Beach using masks and snorkels tried to search under the barge but could not hold their position in the strong current. Medina had been in the water for almost 40 minutes when a dive team brought him to the surface.
No swimming signs are posted at Long Boat Pass, Noll said. Still, some people try to swim across the pass.'
Read the full article here
So remember, please take care out there. Tragedies such as this are thankfully rare, but one such death on our island is still too many.
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
It looks beautiful and serene most of the time, but as this tragic story reported in the Tampa Tribune highlights, you can never let your guard drop in the ocean.
The report says: 'State wildlife officer Terry Noll regularly patrols Longboat Pass, a channel he says is one of the most dangerous parts of Sarasota Bay.
Last year, Noll was declared a hero when he rescued four people who left their boat and were caught in the strong currents that flow from Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.
But on Friday, he was unable to save a Central Florida man who was swept under a barge and drowned after he and some friends lost control of an overturned jet ski.
“It was just the wrong spot at the wrong time for the jet ski to roll over,” Noll said.
On Monday, the local medical examiner’s office confirmed that Jose H. Medina, 30, of Deltona died of drowning.
The incident began when Medina, his wife, and a group of friends were picnicking at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, and just after 2 p.m. Medina’s jet ski overturned. It was quickly pulled by the current toward a moored tug boat and barge.
Friends in another jet ski joined Medina in trying to stop the jet ski from being sucked underneath the barge.
Eventually they were able to turn it upright. Only then did his friends notice that Medina was missing.
Lifeguards from Coquina Beach using masks and snorkels tried to search under the barge but could not hold their position in the strong current. Medina had been in the water for almost 40 minutes when a dive team brought him to the surface.
No swimming signs are posted at Long Boat Pass, Noll said. Still, some people try to swim across the pass.'
Read the full article here
So remember, please take care out there. Tragedies such as this are thankfully rare, but one such death on our island is still too many.
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamariavacations.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Keep the trolley free campaign
Fingers crossed on this one. According to the Anna Maria Sun newspaper, the proposal floated by the business community in Anna Maria may yet see the light of day.
The Sun reports: The Anna Maria Island business community may get one year to prove that it can raise enough money to keep the free trolley from becoming the $1-a-day trolley, and community leaders are confident they can do it.
County Administrator Ed Hunzeker recommended Thursday night that Manatee County commissioners consider the Save Our Trolley plan as an alternative to his original county budget-cutting proposal, a $1-a-day trolley fee.
Save Our Trolley, a cooperative effort among businesses, residents, tourists and governments, would raise funds with a two-day festival patterned after the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, said David Teitelbaum, Island hotelier, vice chairman of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and an Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce director.
The Sun reports: The Anna Maria Island business community may get one year to prove that it can raise enough money to keep the free trolley from becoming the $1-a-day trolley, and community leaders are confident they can do it.
County Administrator Ed Hunzeker recommended Thursday night that Manatee County commissioners consider the Save Our Trolley plan as an alternative to his original county budget-cutting proposal, a $1-a-day trolley fee.
Save Our Trolley, a cooperative effort among businesses, residents, tourists and governments, would raise funds with a two-day festival patterned after the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, said David Teitelbaum, Island hotelier, vice chairman of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and an Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce director.
All power to your elbows guys, we have to do whatever it takes to keep the trolley running free.
There really is only one company to trust with your Anna Maria Island vacation, and only one website you need to visit. Click on www.annamaria.com for the very best in vacation rentals on the island. From two-bed cottages, to huge homes for the whole family, waterside, gulf front, secluded, we have it all.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Sand of time finally runs out
The best things come to those who wait. And for the residents of the bay side of North Shore Drive the wait has been longer than most.
Eight years after North Shore resident Joan Dickinson first lobbied for beach renourishment in 2001 after a storm took what little beach was left at her residence and flooded her yard and house, Catherine Florko of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection informed Mayor Fran Barford that the shoreline between Bean Point and the Rod & Reel Pier is now considered “critical shoreline,” rather than “critical inlet shoreline” as the DEP had previously designated the area.
The new designation means that area is now considered a “critically eroded beach” and eligible for state and federal funding in the next beach renourishment cycle. Under the previous designation, residents in the affected zone could only expect city or county aid for renourishment, or pay for such an effort out of their own pockets.
It came as welcome news to one North Shore Drive resident in particular. “It’s been a long time coming. After all these years. I really have to thank Mayor Barford for her help. She tried everything to get us some relief and this avenue worked,” Dickinson said.
Eight years after North Shore resident Joan Dickinson first lobbied for beach renourishment in 2001 after a storm took what little beach was left at her residence and flooded her yard and house, Catherine Florko of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection informed Mayor Fran Barford that the shoreline between Bean Point and the Rod & Reel Pier is now considered “critical shoreline,” rather than “critical inlet shoreline” as the DEP had previously designated the area.
The new designation means that area is now considered a “critically eroded beach” and eligible for state and federal funding in the next beach renourishment cycle. Under the previous designation, residents in the affected zone could only expect city or county aid for renourishment, or pay for such an effort out of their own pockets.
It came as welcome news to one North Shore Drive resident in particular. “It’s been a long time coming. After all these years. I really have to thank Mayor Barford for her help. She tried everything to get us some relief and this avenue worked,” Dickinson said.
Monday, 22 June 2009
July 4 will go with a bang
Anna Maria Island residents will once again be able to fill their boots with July 4 firework displays, with not one, not two, but three shows being given the green light by city officials.
Last year celebrations were scaled back to one show from two to help law enforcement personnel bring illegal fireworks use under control. But the Chiles Restaurant Group has been allowed to stage displays at all three of its outlets on the island. We are lucky!
The first display is on July 3 with an Independence Eve celebration at the BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
The fireworks will begin just after 9pm and will be fired from a barge in the Gulf of Mexico in full view of the crowds on the beach. Should be a spectacular way to cap off another sunset.
The other two displays will take place on July 4, one at the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria and the other at the MarVista Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key.
The Sandbar display will again begin just after 9pm with the fireworks sent up from the beach, while the MarVista display also will take place shortly after dark. The fireworks there will be fired from a barge so you might be able to catch both if you stand in the right place.
The local July 4 holiday celebration also will feature the traditional Anna Maria Island Privateers parade, which will run the length of the island, from Coquina Beach in the south to the Anna Maria City Pier, starting at 10am. Get out on the street, throw them some money and you might just get something in return (as well as that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after donating to a good cause).
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamaria.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Last year celebrations were scaled back to one show from two to help law enforcement personnel bring illegal fireworks use under control. But the Chiles Restaurant Group has been allowed to stage displays at all three of its outlets on the island. We are lucky!
The first display is on July 3 with an Independence Eve celebration at the BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
The fireworks will begin just after 9pm and will be fired from a barge in the Gulf of Mexico in full view of the crowds on the beach. Should be a spectacular way to cap off another sunset.
The other two displays will take place on July 4, one at the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria and the other at the MarVista Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key.
The Sandbar display will again begin just after 9pm with the fireworks sent up from the beach, while the MarVista display also will take place shortly after dark. The fireworks there will be fired from a barge so you might be able to catch both if you stand in the right place.
The local July 4 holiday celebration also will feature the traditional Anna Maria Island Privateers parade, which will run the length of the island, from Coquina Beach in the south to the Anna Maria City Pier, starting at 10am. Get out on the street, throw them some money and you might just get something in return (as well as that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after donating to a good cause).
Don't just visit Anna Maria Island, stay here. For the very best in vacation rental properties visit www.annamaria.com and spend your vacation in a real home from home.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Book, walk and talk
If you're staying on the island this week why not pop along to the Potluck and Nature Book Discussion being held at Leffis Key.
The Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club invites the public to a discussion of the book 'Paving Paradise' by Craig Pittman at 4pm on June 14, followed by a potluck dinner and nature walk around Leffis Key.
Bring a potluck dish to serve eight people, your table setting, plus water and bug repellent to the covered picnic table next to the children’s playground on the east side of the road just north of the Anna Maria-Longboat Key bridge.
Reservations are required by June 12, which is tomorrow, so you better get going. For more information call Mary on 752-3200.
The Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club invites the public to a discussion of the book 'Paving Paradise' by Craig Pittman at 4pm on June 14, followed by a potluck dinner and nature walk around Leffis Key.
Bring a potluck dish to serve eight people, your table setting, plus water and bug repellent to the covered picnic table next to the children’s playground on the east side of the road just north of the Anna Maria-Longboat Key bridge.
Reservations are required by June 12, which is tomorrow, so you better get going. For more information call Mary on 752-3200.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Grand old lady of the sea
Dolphins and Anna Maria Island go together like beer and football. They are always to be seen frolicking around in the waters surrounding our beautiful island.
Scientists are also very interested in them and a number have been tagged over the years to track their movements and try to learn a little bit more about them.
And according to a recent story in Naples News, one of them provided almost 40 years of help with their research before it washed up on a shore near to Anna Maria Island.
It says: 'A female wild dolphin monitored for 38 years by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program based at Mote Marine Laboratory died May 22, leaving behind two documented generations of offspring to continue her legacy.
Waterfront residents found the 46-year-old dolphin — known as "FB5" by program scientists — on a sandbar near Longboat Key. Mote staff recovered the dolphin, which had succumbed to illnesses and injuries that plagued her for months.
A necropsy, or animal autopsy, showed that FB5 had lost more than 100 pounds since her health was last assessed in 2001. She had developed non-healing skin lesions and suffered from organ failure, shark bites and a stingray barb in her lung. Examining her made for a bittersweet evening.
"We will all miss this old girl," said Dr. Randall Wells, Senior Scientist and manager of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, a partnership between the Chicago Zoological Society and Mote and the world's longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.
In March 1971, Wells and his colleagues tagged FB5 — in fact, she was one of the first dolphins tagged for identification by the group, which began monitoring Sarasota Bay's dolphins in 1970. Data gathered by Program researchers serves to inform marine mammal policy, research, conservation and education. By studying five generations of Sarasota Bay's 160 or so year-round resident dolphins — including FB5's calves and grandcalves — Program scientists continue nearly four decades of learning about these amazing marine mammals.'
You can learn more about the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at www.mote.org
Read the whole article here
Scientists are also very interested in them and a number have been tagged over the years to track their movements and try to learn a little bit more about them.
And according to a recent story in Naples News, one of them provided almost 40 years of help with their research before it washed up on a shore near to Anna Maria Island.
It says: 'A female wild dolphin monitored for 38 years by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program based at Mote Marine Laboratory died May 22, leaving behind two documented generations of offspring to continue her legacy.
Waterfront residents found the 46-year-old dolphin — known as "FB5" by program scientists — on a sandbar near Longboat Key. Mote staff recovered the dolphin, which had succumbed to illnesses and injuries that plagued her for months.
A necropsy, or animal autopsy, showed that FB5 had lost more than 100 pounds since her health was last assessed in 2001. She had developed non-healing skin lesions and suffered from organ failure, shark bites and a stingray barb in her lung. Examining her made for a bittersweet evening.
"We will all miss this old girl," said Dr. Randall Wells, Senior Scientist and manager of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, a partnership between the Chicago Zoological Society and Mote and the world's longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.
In March 1971, Wells and his colleagues tagged FB5 — in fact, she was one of the first dolphins tagged for identification by the group, which began monitoring Sarasota Bay's dolphins in 1970. Data gathered by Program researchers serves to inform marine mammal policy, research, conservation and education. By studying five generations of Sarasota Bay's 160 or so year-round resident dolphins — including FB5's calves and grandcalves — Program scientists continue nearly four decades of learning about these amazing marine mammals.'
You can learn more about the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at www.mote.org
Read the whole article here
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