Wednesday, March 27, 2013
A record 5,435,000 visited Pinellas County in 2012 and which resulted in a record $7.8 billion in economic impact.
According to officials with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2012 was a record year for tourism in Pinellas County. Last year, expenditures for visitors increased 7.6 percent, according to county tourism officials. This increase led to the total economic impact of tourism to the St. Pete/Clearwater area to top $7.8 billion for the first time ever, a news release said. That is an increase of more than $521 million from 2011. A look at the 2012 tourism numbers: "We are extremely happy to see such positive numbers," says DT Minich, VSPC Executive Director in a news release. "The strong growth in our top domestic and international markets proves that our sales and marketing efforts are on target, and we look …
Monday, May 28, 2012
National Geographic has named a Tampa Bay area beach one of its Top 10 U.S. Family Beaches.
- SUMMER
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Monday, May 28, 2012
A local favorite has made another "best beaches" list, just in time for the holiday weekend. National Geographic named Siesta Key one of its Top 10 U.S. Family Beaches in a report last week. Coast Guard Beach in Massachusetts led the list, and Siesta Key came in at No. 6 nationally. In its report, the magazine cited kid-friendly amenities, beach activities, wildlife sightings and Siesta Key Village as reasons the beach made the list, specifically mentioning the Broken Egg, Old Salty Dog and Big Olaf's Creamery. Siesta Key also won local accolades last week on Patch's poll for Best Beach in the Tampa Bay Area, ultimately coming in second to Fort De Soto beach for the 2012 title. Clearwater Beach came in third in that poll, followed by Anna …
Monday, May 21, 2012
From Caladesi Island to Siesta Key, there are plenty of renowned beaches just a day trip away.
- READERS' CHOICE
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Monday, May 21, 2012
With Memorial Day weekend and its rising gas prices on the horizon, we're in luck: There are plenty of celebrated beaches within a one-tank trip of the Tampa Bay area. Which local beach is your favorite? Maybe it's Siesta Key, named best beach in the U.S. in 2011. Farther north, Fort De Soto beach and Caladesi Island took top honors in 2005 and 2008. Or maybe you prefer Anna Maria Island, St. Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach, which are perennial vacation favorites. Here's a rundown of some of the most popular coastal destinations in the greater Bay area — just follow the links below for directions and information. Cast your vote for your favorite beach in the poll below. Did we miss your favorite? Please let us know in the comments. About …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Two young children were accidentally served alcohol recently at Frenchy's South Beach Cafe. Should it be the parent's responsibility to check the drink first?
Two 4-year-olds were accidently served alcoholic daiquiris during a Mother's Day dinner at Frenchy's South Beach Cafe, according to a report from TBO.com. Jamie Goins and Jessica Weatherford took their children out with them on Mother's Day and planned to get their little ones a special treat: non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiris, according to the TBO report. However, the drinks accidentally contained alcohol, according to a Clearwater Police report. Should it be a parent's responsibility to taste-test the drink when ordering virgin cocktails for a child? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Goins' son finished his drink in about 10 minutes. Weatherford's did not drink the whole thing. The mothers realized that the drinks contained …
Friday, May 4, 2012
A county commissioner has floated an idea that could benefit both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to the Tampa Bay Times: Send the Rays across the bay in return for Tampa's cruise ship business.
- BUSINESS
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Friday, May 4, 2012
Here's an interesting plot twist in the ongoing conversation about where the Tampa Bay Rays' next home should be. Hillsborough County commissioner Victor Crist threw out this idea, according to the Tampa Bay Times: Send the Rays to Hillsborough County in exchange for Tampa's cruise ship business. According to the Times, the newest cruise megaships are too large to squeeze under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Hillsborough County is trying to figure out how to accommodate them, possibly with a new terminal outside Tampa. Meanwhile, the Rays have proposed to move out of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where they are currently contractually obligated to play through 2027. As reported in the Times, a coalition on the issue explored moving the …
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure opens in the once shuttered Harborview Center Wednesday.
Well it certainly isn’t Stein Mart anymore. Inside the former department store, which at one time was a Maas Brothers, are undulating waves, movie props and the hands-on approach expected from exhibits at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The downtown attraction of the aquarium officially opens in the Harborview Center this week. Crews worked for months to transform the second floor of the aged building into Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure. The 54,000-square-foot space features rebuilt movie scenes using real props from the film, an interactive children’s play area and two mini-movie theaters. On the heels of the box office success Dolphin Tale, attendance at the aquarium has surged. And while plans are in the works to expand the Island …
27.97762
-82.81882
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Psge, Clearwater Beach, FL
/articles/clearwater-marine-aquarium-opens-downtown-attraction
932625
/locations/8911741
Monday, December 5, 2011
Cleveland Street was filled with snow, sleds and about 5,000 people Friday night.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jared Leone
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Monday, December 5, 2011
Snow in Florida? About 40 tons of snow were brought in for the Miracle on Cleveland Street event Friday (Dec. 2). Children and their parents stood in a line that snaked down Cleveland Street in an effort to get a chance to slide down the stuff. The event featured a tree lighting and live entertainment by the Clearwater Academy Children’s Choir, the Bella Voce Girl’s Choir and Tommy Mara and the Crests.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Phillies' spring training facility will get nearly $3 million in improvements after city officials approved spending the money for an expanded weight room and batting cages at Thursday's council meeting.
City leaders have unanimously approved spending $2.9 million to pay for improvements to the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility. The multimillion dollar improvements come in the midst of renegotiating employee pensions and on the heels of a belt-tightened budget, with plans for another next year. The money comes from general reserves and pays for upgrades that include an expanded weight room and batting cages at the 45-year-old, four-field Carpenter Complex, which is next to Bright House Field. “I have no second thoughts about the wisdom of this investment,” council member John Doran said. “I do think it’s a good investment for the city of Clearwater.” Some of the money the city is doling out will be recouped. An agreement with…
27.971618
-82.733939
Bright House Field
601 N Old Coachman Rd, Clearwater, FL
/articles/carpenter-complex-fixes-go-through
932303
/locations/5936967
Thursday, December 1, 2011
About 40 tons of snow are coming as part of the Miracle on Cleveland Street event Friday. It features a holiday lighting, live entertainment and snow, lots of it.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jared Leone
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Thursday, December 1, 2011
Jenny Esno was surprised to find out 10 years ago that children in Clearwater did not know what snow is. They didn’t know what a sled or toboggan was either. The Pittsburgh transplant wanted to change that and bring people from around the Tampa Bay area to downtown Clearwater. Enso is no longer part of the project, but she is the brains behind the snow that is coming to Cleveland Street as part of the Miracle on Cleveland Street holiday party Friday (Dec. 2). “I left the snow to come build snow in the south,” she said. And, with a cold front still in the air (the low is expected to be about 54, according to the National Weather Service), residents can expect snow on the 500 and 600 blocks of Cleveland Street. About 7,000 people from all …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
City leaders are expected to fund a $2.9 million upgrade to the Carpenter Complex, where the Philadelphia Phillies have spring training. The work includes a new weight room and batting cages.
It’s a cornerstone Major League Baseball franchise, but when the Philadelphia Phillies' front line players come to train in Clearwater, they don’t expect running water in the weight room. And, at times, hitters like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are part of a crowd of hundreds trying to get a spot in one of the undersized batting cages. A new weight room — with running water — and larger batting cages are part of a $2.9 million expansion of the Carpenter Complex that city leaders are expected to approve at their meeting Thursday. The money would come from general fund reserves. The Phillies "have been an integral part of Clearwater for some 66 years now," council member John Doran said. "We own the facility; it will be our money we put …
27.971618
-82.733939
Bright House Field
601 N Old Coachman Rd, Clearwater, FL
/articles/carpenter-complex-could-get-nearly-3-million-facelift
932303
/locations/5896874
27.96447
-82.80118
City of Clearwater - City Hall
112 S Osceola Ave, Clearwater, FL
/articles/carpenter-complex-could-get-nearly-3-million-facelift
930274
/locations/5896875
Coach
10:26 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
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