Pub crawl
The Pier Park bars - Dick's Last Resort is the latest addition - keep the phone ringing at AllStar Transportation, which has two lines taking calls: 249-TAXI (8294) and 249-RIDE (7433). Owner Charles Hancock said he wants "to initiate a pub crawl. You can prepay for multiple trips from bar to bar to bar. You can go back safely and know you have hit every top watering hole." Panama City Beach is spending almost $100,000 to bring in extra law enforcement during Spring Break. Don't take a chance, just call a cab. The AllStar fleet even offers a limo, so you can travel in style.
Get 'Suntan'
Join thousands at Spinnaker Beach Club on March 13-14 when Luke Bryan returns for Spring Break shows! Enter CMT's Luke Bryan Spring Break Sweepstakes (grand prize: week-long hotel accommodation in PCB, tickets to one of the shows and meet & greet, autographed Luke prize package and chance to join him on stage) by 11:59 p.m. CT Feb. 23: http://www.cmt.com/community/sweepstakes/2012/luke-bryan-condo/
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Ultimate Spring Break?
Seahaven Resort is offering "the Ultimate Spring Break" package, complete with a room for you and your friends, Panamaniac Club Card, Seahaven Beach Party Pass, Spinnaker's MTV Celebrity Ticket, a Spring Break "Swag Bag" and a free shuttle all over the beach for only $301 per person, per week.
Mardi Gras: Rain or Shine
Rain never stopped pirates and it won't stop the Krewe of Dominique Youx from throwing Mardi Gras at the Beach. Captain Rob Lienhop, shown with Queen Cumi Walsingham (her husband, Gary, owns the PCB WonderWorks and Ripley's), says they're "a little nervous," but unless there's lightning, they will go on! Les Bon Temps Rouler!
Giant invasion?
This might be a picture of what we will be looking at on Beck Avenue in St. Andrews. A giant wheelbarrow is being crafted with 6-foot steel wheels for the entry to the community garden and farmers market. The ongoing construction of "Everyman's Wheelbarrow" begins Feb. 25 when the St. Andrews Waterfront Farmers Market reopens. While the wheelbarrow pictured above in Hokitiki, New Zealand, was a tribute to the jewel mining industry, this one is designed to be the largest operational wheelbarrow on the planet. One thing is for sure, it will be pretty obvious where to find the community garden.
Spring Break 'Sweat'
Country star Eric Church, who was nominated for a Grammy with "Chief," is bringing his "Blood, Sweat & Beers" to Spinnaker Beach Club on March 11.
Grouper a Gulf staple
What is it about grouper? It's a go-to staple at Bay County restaurants, where Uncle Ernie's owner Sean Lyon has noticed "everybody is just on a mission for grouper." During the winter, they sell 300 pounds a week, more than doubling those numbers in the summer for one fish. Capt.'s Table around the corner is known for its grouper cheeks and throats. Sue Herring of J. Michael's, known for its Grouper Nouveau, thinks grouper is popular because it's just "melt in your mouth fish" that's "caught in local waters." Buddy Gandy, who has been in the business 60 years, thinks the craze started because grouper was so abundant. Tarpon Dock Seafood Market sells all kinds of grouper, from yellow edge to red and black. Sometimes they have had to use forklifts for big catches, two Warsaw Groupers weighed in at 347 and 328 pounds.
Gag grouper fishing has been closed since November, but a new five-month season for recreational harvesting of gag grouper was approved for July 1 through Oct. 31. Captain Scott of MadFish Charters likes grouper's "ambush attack." If you go out with him on a boat right now, you most likely will be fishing for trigger fish, white snapper and amberjack, another one of his favorites.
Apalach hosted SI Swimsuit Models
The annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition debuting next week features images captured in Apalachicola and nearby St. George Island. Check out the behind-the scenes story here. The photo shoots, if not the models, were kept under wraps since last October.
Pull up a bar stool
Uncle Ernie's owners Sean Lyon and his cousin Erin Pigneri, third generations in the family business, recently purchased a Brunswick bar from Chicago for the remodel because "we both like to drink and wanted a cool bar to sit at." Maybe Al Capone drank at it, maybe not, but you sure can - from margaritas to craft beer. And then you can head upstairs to the martini bar.
Spring Break deal
From March 3-23, Grand Panama Beach Resort is offering a one bedroom with a Gulf view condo that can sleep up to 6 at $199/night. Every guest gets a free HIP card to Harpoon Harry's, $20 value. Got a crowd? The 3 bedroom Gulf front at $339/night sleeps up to 10. Book it at http://bookit.com/us/florida/panama-city-beach-spring-break/.
Resort Destinations has something for everyone! Large Gulf front estate homes, properties with private pools, Gulf front condos and pet friendly properties. Resort Destinations also has properties that are Spring Break friendly, with a minimum age requirement of 21 or older. We offer flexible payments and deposits and are accredited with the BBB. Please visit our main website at www.bookthegulf.com or give us a call at 1-866-213-6928 for more information. We look forward to having you stay with us!
Spring Break Scavengers
From March 4-24, students at eligible colleges and universities who are spending their Spring Break on Panama City Beach can participate in scavenger hunts and win up to $10,000. Register for the contest here at the PCB Convention and Visitors Bureau website by Feb. 3.
Seeking a Bikini Record
The Tourist Development Council wants to make history this Spring Break by gathering more bikini-clad women in a single parade than anywhere else has ever done before. We think they can win it. Check out our bikini shots from 2011 if you have any doubt.
PCB a Top Budget Destination
Panama City Beach was named one of the top three places in the world to visit for college students trying to stretch their meager Spring Break vacation dollars. The local area was in the top tier listed by budget travel site CheapFlights.com because "accommodations are relatively cheap and very easy to find." >>Details here.
