Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas!

As we get closer to the big day, the island and surrounding areas are coming alive with festivities.  We're trying to take in as many of them as we can.  So far they've included a play, street festival, parade and holiday concert by the Florida Symphony Orchestra.  We're full of Christmas cheer!
The play was a local community theater production of the classic Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".  We weren't expecting a Jimmy Stewart like performance from the lead or accompanying cast.  That being said, their efforts were quite noble.
Last Friday afternoon was a little blustery and damp.  We debated going to sunset but decided at the last minute to make the short drive to our favorite viewing spot.  It was very cloudy so our anticipation of anything remotely spectacular was so low that neither of us took our cameras.  Much to our surprise we were treated to a great show that even included a peak at the sun through the colorful clouds.
Following sunset we decided to drive around the island a bit to check out decorations.  We had heard that there was a city wide celebration at the City Pier Park so we headed in that direction.  We saw that Pine Avenue, a 6-8 block long street lined with numerous small shops and restaurants was blocked off for a Christmas street party.  We strolled along the entire length, pushing NaNa in her wheelchair.  The merchants were offering complimentary food and beverage all along the way.  By the time we finished going the distance we had enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, cupcakes, waffles, oysters, cookies, chips, wine and rum punch.  We hadn't anticipated eating out that night but we certainly weren't hungry when we were done.  Below are a few shots from the street festivities:

There was live and recorded music along the way.

Free food and beverage is sure to draw a crowd!

Saturday morning the good times continued with the annual AMI Christmas Parade.  The Privateers, a local civic organization, sponsor several parades a year.  There is a 4th of July Parade, St. Patrick's Day Parade and a Christmas Parade that I am aware of.  All the parades start at the south end of the island and travel north the entire length of the island (7 miles).  The 4th of July Parade is very patriotic, the St. Patrick's Parade is very festive and green and used to include an elephant until it died, and the Christmas Parade is the merriest.
The parade wasn't long but it included angels on horseback, girls in skimpy elf costumes, decorated golf carts and cars as well as Santa riding on the back of a gnarly looking hammerhead shark!  So much entertainment in so little time!

The Privateers and their motorized pirate ship.  I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty positive there is a cooler or two on there somewhere.

Angels on horseback...……….

……….more angels on horseback!

It just wouldn't be Christmas without Santa riding on the back of a hammerhead shark!

We finished with a trip across the Skyway Bridge to St. Pete to take in the Florida Orchestra's Holiday Pop's Concert at the Mahaffey Theater.  While I'm no expert on symphony music, we've listened to plenty of pop's performances through the years including the Fort Worth Pop's Symphony and the Boston Pop's.  This was a great show that blended a little classical holiday music with more familiar songs.  As is often the case at these Christmas shows, there was a sing along at the end.  By this time we were full of Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas. So with apologies to those around us, we proudly and loudly sang along.

Christmas tree in Straub Park (Downtown St. Pete)

The next few days are going to be quite busy so this most likely will be the final blog before Christmas.  We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.  Thanks again for following along on our journey!  

Daytripping around Florida........Apollo Beach on too nice of a day!

Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center

Apollo Beach is an unincorporated area of Southern Hillsboro county.  It's located on US 41 about an hours drive from Anna Maria Island.  Unlike many of the communities that now dot the west coast of Florida, Apollo Beach has been around for a while.  The development of the area started in 1923 when the Dickman family decided that the low lying, marshy land located between Tampa and Bradenton that had been used for farming and cattle could be developed into a waterfront community.
It was an ambitious undertaking that bankrupted several companies along the way before finally gaining a foothold in the seventies.  Today, thanks in part to being in an unincorporated area it is an eclectic mix of larger, newer homes sitting side by side with condo's, apartments and aging homes and duplexes.  
According to Wikipedia, the two most notable people from Apollo Beach are Nick Carter, one of the Backstreet Boys and a somewhat infamous former female teacher.  In 2005, she pleaded guilty to lewd or lascivious behavior with a fourteen year old student.
In her plea bargain to avoid prison, her attorney stated that placing such an attractive young woman into a "hellhole" of a place like prison would be like putting a piece of raw meat in with the lions.  She ended up with no prison time and only three years house arrest, followed by seven years of probation. I'm working hard to keep myself on the right side of the law, but if I do ever get in trouble I want an attorney as creative as hers, although I doubt he'd use the "too pretty" strategy for me!  If you want to learn more about this very sad and bizarre case you can start by going to the "Notable Persons" section of the Apollo Beach Wikipedia page.
Finding Apollo Beach is actually quite simple.  From Tampa drive south on US 41 or from Bradenton Drive north on US 41.  When you see the huge smokestacks from the Tampa Electric Company Big Bend Power Plant, you've made it to Apollo Beach...……..and there are several good reasons to visit it.
First of all, you gotta eat!  Beth did a little research on waterfront restaurants in Apollo Beach and Circles Waterfront checked off all the boxes.  Outdoor, waterfront, reasonably priced lunch menu and great reviews.  The restaurant had plenty of outdoor seating, several bars and a stage for live music.  There was also an indoor dining room for more formal types of people or occasions.   Good food, reasonable prices and a casual environment...………… the Tucker Holy Trinity of eating out!
Circles Waterfront Restaurant

Plenty of fish on that sandwich!  There were also plenty of fries.....I had already shared some with Beth and NaNa.

The outdoor patio area at Circles

Public Service Announcement!

Without question, the featured attraction of Apollo Beach is the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) Manatee Viewing Center.  The backdrop of this federally protected wildlife area is somewhat strange. It's the massive power plant.  The power plant takes in saltwater from Tampa Bay for it's operations.  It then discharges the clean, now warmed saltwater that it uses into a canal that flows back into the bay.  As the water in the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay cools down in the winter months manatees, along with numerous species of fish, instinctively head for this warmer water, creating a jacuzzi like, winter retreat area for sea critters.

TECO has done a great job building an educational center that includes a stingray touch tank and an elevated boardwalk observation area along the canal.  The water was clear and from the boardwalk we saw a bunch of different species of fish, including, tarpon, redfish, snook, jack, sharks and rays.  Only one thing was missing...………...manatees!  Although we did see one or two lazily swimming along in the middle of the canal, the "hundreds" that were reported as being there last week were gone.  As it turns out, the weather was too nice!
A friendly and helpful volunteer told us that on average the water in the discharge canal is about 12 degrees warmer than the water in nearby Tampa Bay (currently around 70 degrees).  He said that because there is limited food in the discharge canal the manatee only gather in mass when the temperature is cooler.  Last week there were several days of cooler (by Florida standards) days, so they had gathered in the warmer water.  When we went the temperature had climbed back up into the upper 70's so they were out frolicking and gorging on grass, mangroves and algae out in the bay.  He said the ideal time to see the manatees in mass is when the air temperature has stayed in the fifties or lower for three consecutive days.
Tampa Electric Company Manatee Viewing Center

This picture came from a TripAdvisor Review.  What could have been if the weather had cooperated!

Although we frequently see manatee around the island it would have been cool to see that many gathered in one spot.  It was still a very fun outing and a place we look forward to visiting again...…...when the weather isn't so nice!

Day Tripping Around Florida.........Fantasy and Fish in Sarasota

We'll be on Anna Maria Island (AMI) until Christmas eve when we head to California.  While we're here there will be plenty of beach time, spectacular sunsets and of course getting beaten in cards.  We've also got quite a few day trips planned.   Some of these involve holiday music, dance and plays. Other outings will be to local attractions that can easily be reached with a short drive.
Prior to Thanksgiving we enjoyed Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Van Wezel Preforming Arts Hall in Sarasota.  This production was full of talented (and extremely flexible) acrobatic performers, singers and colorful costumes with a Christmas fantasy theme.  It was a fast paced and fun performance.  Even though it was still a few days before Thanksgiving, it was a nice kick start to the holiday season.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been dotting the Sarasota Bay skyline since before there really was a Sarasota Bay skyline.  It will be celebrating it's 50th year in 2020.  This was our first time attending an event there and as much as we enjoyed the performance, we also enjoyed the venue. It didn't take long to figure out it was built in a Frank Lloyd Wright style.  It turns out that the architect,William Wesley Peters, happens to be Frank's son-in-law.
Van Wezel Performaning Arts Hall

Over the Thanksgiving week we were able to enjoy having Ben with us.  Of course Thanksgiving day was filled with the three F's.  Food, Family and Football!  You can't go wrong with that combination.
A few days ago Beth and I enjoyed getting away for a bit to enjoy some time at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which is also located in Sarasota.  Mote is a nonprofit marine research organization that's been around since 1955.  It was founded by Dr. Eugenie Clark, aka "The Shark Lady.  She was a highly respected marine biologist who specialized not only in the study of shark behavior but also in the field of scuba diving.  She continued her research and diving into her 90's, before passing away in 2015.

Since Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium was founded by "The Shark Lady", of course there were sharks!

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Beth had visited Mote many years ago, but it was my first visit.  There are two main buildings, located a short walking distance from each other.  The displays feature numerous aquariums, large and small, with all types of sea creatures from sharks, reef fish, turtles, manatees and otters.  The displays were very well done and there was plenty of interesting information on all things aquatic.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a great place to spend a few hours looking, learning or both.

The Lion Fish is interesting, but it's an invasive fish that's making a mess of things around Florida.

Otters are some of the most enjoyable creatures to watch.

The milkshakes at Mote are really good.

Right now our travels may not be taking us to as many distant and exotic places as we have enjoyed over the past few years.  In the meantime, though, we're enjoying discovering and sometimes revisiting some of the many treasures close by.

There is a really nice waterfront park near Mote that is worth checking out.  There is a nice boardwalk through the mangroves and some great views across the bay to downtown Sarasota.