Panama City Beach - The AVP is preparing to start a Spring Break tradition of its own this year in Panama City Beach, Florida. The AVP now stands alone as the only pro beach volleyball tour in the country.
Known to many as Spring Break Capital of the World, PCB plays host to hundreds of thousands of college students each year, who descend on the Florida coast to soak up the surf and sand, and party on the beach. Along with the endless sea of Spring Breakers, also come some of the biggest names in Spring Break entertainment, including MTV, who has called Panama City Beach its Spring Break home for several years.
This year, the AVP plans on making its own name for itself in Spring Break entertainment, as it will pack up the Southern California beach party atmosphere found on the AVP Crocs Tour and bring it to Panama City Beach for the first event of the 2009 season.
AVP will head to Panama Beach City on March 7 to start its three week Spring Break experience. The first two weeks of Spring Break will include numerous promotions and events geared towards Spring Breakers, and hosted by the AVP’s official sponsors, including, Bud Light, Crocs, Gatorade, Naked Juice, and Nature Valley, among others.
The third week of the AVP’s Spring Break will start off with the first ever Collegiate Beach Challenge. Starting on Tuesday, March 24, college students from across the country will have the chance to participate in a two day four-on-four beach volleyball tournament. There will be a men’s, women’s and coed division, each competing for cash prizes. Also at stake for the winning teams will be the unique opportunity to move on to a final where they will face a team of two AVP Pros.
The main event of AVP’s Spring Break will come at the end of week three, with the AVP Crocs Tour Panama City Beach Open. In what will serve as the 2009 season-opening event, the AVP Crocs Tour will showcase some of the best beach volleyball players in the world, including 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. A one-day qualifier will begin on Friday morning followed by a live band in the evening. Men’s and women’s main draw action will start on Saturday morning with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The AVP Crocs Tour event will take place directly in front of Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar, located in the heart of Panama City Beach. In an attempt to revert back to beach volleyball's beginnings, six of the courts will be set up in “old school” style. This will include minimal bleacher seating, allowing plenty of room for beach-goers to throw down their towels and mingle, while fully enjoying the beach party atmosphere of Spring Break.
If you are in PCB during March take some time to enjoy the AVP beach volleyball action.
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Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Panama City Beach - Ferry looking to shuttle Beach visitors to St. Andrews
PANAMA CITY BEACH - Anyone visiting Panama City Beach on Saturday might have the opportunity to take a ferry from the Bay Point Marriott to St. Andrews to enjoy Mardi Gras festivities.
But the opportunity hinges on securing more riders.
Ferry service had been scheduled to pick up revelers from St. Andrews as late as 10 p.m. on Saturday. So far, however, reservations for the St. Andrew Bay Ferry Company are almost nil from the various Beach pickup points. Ferry operator Hall Lacey said Thursday that if a group of 20 or 40 is interested in the voyage, they can call him at 850-867-1563.
"The Krewe of St. Andrews (which organizes Mardi Gras) has called our service locations at Edgewater, Hidden Dunes, Legend's Edge and Bay Point Marriott, and there aren't enough people reserving seats for us to run. It's disappointing, but not surprising. A lot of people travel on Friday and Saturday" out of Panama City, he said.
Lacey said he will call the Bay Point Marriott today see if any of the new guests have a free schedule Saturday to travel by boat to St. Andrews.
The ferry service has been gaining popularity in recent months. Twice on Thursday afternoon, nearly 40 tourists were shuttled from St. Andrews back to Bay Point Marriott.
Lacey said he still plans on offering a new service to downtown Panama City for Friday Fest on March 6. "We're creating awareness to our visitors that there's more than just Panama City Beach," Lacey said. "We want them to see St. Andrews and downtown Panama City."
While in St. Andrews, Nancy Wengel, program director of St. Andrews Revitalization for Panama City, offers visitors walking tours. People then usually shop and eat lunch. The same concept is planned for downtown Panama City, with the Downtown Improvement Board behind that effort.
The price for a ferry ride is $10 per trip, but the price will increase in March to $20 per individual and $15 for a group of 20 or more.
Lacey said he is searching for grants that may help him purchase a third pontoon boat to offer the ferry service. Without a third boat, he said he is too busy running the Shell Island shuttle route during the summer to meet the full demand of St. Andrews and Panama City stops.
"Eventually, I'd like to see ferry service connecting Destin, to Panama City, to Mexico Beach, to Apalachicola via the Intracoastal Waterway," Lacey said.
Virgil and Mary Ellen Mann, of Pacific, Mo., said they were thrilled with the inexpensive ferry service. They traveled on it to Shell Island on Wednesday, then to St. Andrews on Thursday. "I'd do this again," Virgil said.
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But the opportunity hinges on securing more riders.
Ferry service had been scheduled to pick up revelers from St. Andrews as late as 10 p.m. on Saturday. So far, however, reservations for the St. Andrew Bay Ferry Company are almost nil from the various Beach pickup points. Ferry operator Hall Lacey said Thursday that if a group of 20 or 40 is interested in the voyage, they can call him at 850-867-1563.
"The Krewe of St. Andrews (which organizes Mardi Gras) has called our service locations at Edgewater, Hidden Dunes, Legend's Edge and Bay Point Marriott, and there aren't enough people reserving seats for us to run. It's disappointing, but not surprising. A lot of people travel on Friday and Saturday" out of Panama City, he said.
Lacey said he will call the Bay Point Marriott today see if any of the new guests have a free schedule Saturday to travel by boat to St. Andrews.
The ferry service has been gaining popularity in recent months. Twice on Thursday afternoon, nearly 40 tourists were shuttled from St. Andrews back to Bay Point Marriott.
Lacey said he still plans on offering a new service to downtown Panama City for Friday Fest on March 6. "We're creating awareness to our visitors that there's more than just Panama City Beach," Lacey said. "We want them to see St. Andrews and downtown Panama City."
While in St. Andrews, Nancy Wengel, program director of St. Andrews Revitalization for Panama City, offers visitors walking tours. People then usually shop and eat lunch. The same concept is planned for downtown Panama City, with the Downtown Improvement Board behind that effort.
The price for a ferry ride is $10 per trip, but the price will increase in March to $20 per individual and $15 for a group of 20 or more.
Lacey said he is searching for grants that may help him purchase a third pontoon boat to offer the ferry service. Without a third boat, he said he is too busy running the Shell Island shuttle route during the summer to meet the full demand of St. Andrews and Panama City stops.
"Eventually, I'd like to see ferry service connecting Destin, to Panama City, to Mexico Beach, to Apalachicola via the Intracoastal Waterway," Lacey said.
Virgil and Mary Ellen Mann, of Pacific, Mo., said they were thrilled with the inexpensive ferry service. They traveled on it to Shell Island on Wednesday, then to St. Andrews on Thursday. "I'd do this again," Virgil said.
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
Panama City Beach - First Pier Park Mardi Gras parade Saturday February 14, 2009
There eill be at least 40 floats, convertibles and other rolling displays. Anyone who needs more information can call Lienhop at (850) 233-6590 or Edward Leili at (850) 819-8711, e-mail to pleili@aol.com or see www.dominiqueyoux.com
The parade will start at 3 p.m. at Gulf World Marine Park, heading west on Front Beach Road into Pier Park and ending at the Grand Theatre. You can expect to see plenty of pirates.
Dominique Youx takes its name from a New Orleans buccaneer who used that pseudonym. He fought alongside Andrew Jackson’s troops against the British in the Battle of New Orleans, Lienhop said. “We’re 185 members, and it’s a men-only krewe,” he said. So “we consider ourselves pirates … with the support of our wives.”
Hope to see you there!
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The parade will start at 3 p.m. at Gulf World Marine Park, heading west on Front Beach Road into Pier Park and ending at the Grand Theatre. You can expect to see plenty of pirates.
Dominique Youx takes its name from a New Orleans buccaneer who used that pseudonym. He fought alongside Andrew Jackson’s troops against the British in the Battle of New Orleans, Lienhop said. “We’re 185 members, and it’s a men-only krewe,” he said. So “we consider ourselves pirates … with the support of our wives.”
Hope to see you there!
Reserve The Best Panama City Beach Condos for Your Beach Vacation
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Panama City Beach - New Restaurant Opening in Pier Park in April 09
Panama City Beach Pier Park- Guy Harvey's Island Grill scheduled to open in Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Florida around April 2009. Guy Harvey's Island Grill, a chain of family-friendly restaurants with retail stores, announced today that it is opening its fifth restaurant-retail concept in Panama City Beach, Florida in April 2009. The new location will open at the successful Pier Park project, a one million square foot, open-air, lifestyle center across from the beach in the heart of Panama City Beach.
Currently with four coastal locations in the southeast including Grand Cayman, Marco Island, Key West, and Orange Beach, Alabama, Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants offer a variety of Americana fare and fresh, sustainable seafood in a unique dining atmosphere. The decor is accented with Guy Harvey’s distinctive marine, wildlife original art and prints, and Guy Harvey Artist’s Collection Wines can be paired with each dish.
Guy Harvey enjoys a storied career as a world-renowned artist, photographer, diver and scientist whose focus has always been beneath the waves. His artwork is in galleries, stores, and at fishing tournaments, and his conservation efforts to save marine life in the oceans are well known. So, it’s only natural that Harvey should enter into the restaurant business with Guy Harvey’s Island Grill. Each Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurant offers not only fresh, sustainable seafood in a casual dining atmosphere, but also a retail store and gallery that features original Guy Harvey artwork, signature clothing, and giftware.
“The restaurant-retail store concept, first established in my hometown of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, has proven so successful, that we have chosen to expand the Guy Harvey brand through this prototype into other markets including Panama City Beach,” said Guy Harvey. “With a booming local market and more than 7 million tourists who come each year for the fishing, sun, and surf, Panama City Beach is an ideal location to expand the Guy Harvey’s Island Grill concept. We believe this will be a very successful market for us,” concluded Harvey.
As part of his ongoing commitment to researching and conserving the ocean’s marine life, Guy Harvey has insisted his restaurants serve only carefully selected seafood that has not been over-fished. Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants do not serve over-exploited or threatened species such as swordfish, grouper, Chilean sea bass or any species of billfish or shark. By excluding these fish from its menus, Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants aid in the long-term improvement of these fish stocks. A simple, responsible seafood guide, detailing what fish to eat and avoid, is available at all Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants to raise awareness of carefully selecting seafood for sustaining the oceans and marine wildlife.
Additionally, a portion of all proceeds from restaurant and retail store sales of Guy Harvey artwork and licensed products fund marine research for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Through Guy Harvey’s Ocean Foundation, new marine research and educational outreach programs are conducted to better inform recreational and commercial fishermen and the public of the need for additional conservation and best management practices for a more sustainable marine environment.
In the end, whether it’s Guy Harvey’s Island Grill, with its carefully appointed seafood menu, Guy Harvey’s distinctive marine wildlife art, or his marine research and conservation efforts, it’s all about the fish. For more information about Guy Harvey’s Island Grill, and its new location in Panama City Beach, Florida, please visit www.GuyHarveysIslandGrill.net or visit Guy Harvey’s Web site at www.GuyHarveyinc.com.
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Currently with four coastal locations in the southeast including Grand Cayman, Marco Island, Key West, and Orange Beach, Alabama, Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants offer a variety of Americana fare and fresh, sustainable seafood in a unique dining atmosphere. The decor is accented with Guy Harvey’s distinctive marine, wildlife original art and prints, and Guy Harvey Artist’s Collection Wines can be paired with each dish.
Guy Harvey enjoys a storied career as a world-renowned artist, photographer, diver and scientist whose focus has always been beneath the waves. His artwork is in galleries, stores, and at fishing tournaments, and his conservation efforts to save marine life in the oceans are well known. So, it’s only natural that Harvey should enter into the restaurant business with Guy Harvey’s Island Grill. Each Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurant offers not only fresh, sustainable seafood in a casual dining atmosphere, but also a retail store and gallery that features original Guy Harvey artwork, signature clothing, and giftware.
“The restaurant-retail store concept, first established in my hometown of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, has proven so successful, that we have chosen to expand the Guy Harvey brand through this prototype into other markets including Panama City Beach,” said Guy Harvey. “With a booming local market and more than 7 million tourists who come each year for the fishing, sun, and surf, Panama City Beach is an ideal location to expand the Guy Harvey’s Island Grill concept. We believe this will be a very successful market for us,” concluded Harvey.
As part of his ongoing commitment to researching and conserving the ocean’s marine life, Guy Harvey has insisted his restaurants serve only carefully selected seafood that has not been over-fished. Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants do not serve over-exploited or threatened species such as swordfish, grouper, Chilean sea bass or any species of billfish or shark. By excluding these fish from its menus, Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants aid in the long-term improvement of these fish stocks. A simple, responsible seafood guide, detailing what fish to eat and avoid, is available at all Guy Harvey’s Island Grill restaurants to raise awareness of carefully selecting seafood for sustaining the oceans and marine wildlife.
Additionally, a portion of all proceeds from restaurant and retail store sales of Guy Harvey artwork and licensed products fund marine research for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Through Guy Harvey’s Ocean Foundation, new marine research and educational outreach programs are conducted to better inform recreational and commercial fishermen and the public of the need for additional conservation and best management practices for a more sustainable marine environment.
In the end, whether it’s Guy Harvey’s Island Grill, with its carefully appointed seafood menu, Guy Harvey’s distinctive marine wildlife art, or his marine research and conservation efforts, it’s all about the fish. For more information about Guy Harvey’s Island Grill, and its new location in Panama City Beach, Florida, please visit www.GuyHarveysIslandGrill.net or visit Guy Harvey’s Web site at www.GuyHarveyinc.com.
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
Panama City Beach - VRBO New Layout
Has anyone looked at the new VRBO Panama City Beach front page? If so what do you think? Confusing or not?
http://www.bestpanamacitybeachcondo.com
http://www.bestpanamacitybeachcondo.com
Panama City Beach - New Ad Campaign
PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Dan Rowe, executive director of the Bay County Tourist Development Council, said the county's tourism experts are not putting all their expectant eggs in the traditional Spring Break basket this year.
The TDC expects to aggressively market the Beach as a family Spring Break destination during the first half of April, then move to promote the Seabreeze Jazz Fest later that month.
"We are not just relying on college Spring Break this year," Rowe said. "We are pulling out all the stops" for both the spring and summer marketing campaigns, including the Jazz Fest promotion.
The nationally known Jazz Fest will take place at Pier Park for the first time this year. The event will occur April 16-19 at the park amphitheater. The fest is moving to Pier Park from Walton County, where it was first organized 10 years ago.
Part of the aggressive marketing campaign will be unveiled Tuesday at the full TDC board meeting when details should emerge about efforts to redesign the TDC Web site, www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. The TDC is putting additional resources into its Internet profile, including making the Web site more interactive with users.
Student Spring Break in Panama City Beach already is being promoted on mtvU, the college outreach Web link on the MTV Web site, at www.pcbeachspringbreak.com.
The TDC hired the Jennifer Barbee firm of JB Inc. to oversee the fresh Internet approach and held a strategic planning session in early January to gather ideas from business leaders.
Beyond the traditional student Spring Break, the April and summer tourist seasons are being touted in Southern Living magazine and Daytime TV, a lifestyle program syndicated on regional television stations, Rowe said.
The advertising is designed to reach families with children, he said, with the summer campaign moving away from last year's Summer White Sale, which emphasized discount coupons.
This year, all the talk as summer nears will be about branding the Beach for its "value and fun."
Let us know that you think od the ads. Our Panama City Beach Condos are on the west end of the beach, quiet and family friendly.
Reserve The Best Panama City Beach Condos for Your Beach Vacation
The TDC expects to aggressively market the Beach as a family Spring Break destination during the first half of April, then move to promote the Seabreeze Jazz Fest later that month.
"We are not just relying on college Spring Break this year," Rowe said. "We are pulling out all the stops" for both the spring and summer marketing campaigns, including the Jazz Fest promotion.
The nationally known Jazz Fest will take place at Pier Park for the first time this year. The event will occur April 16-19 at the park amphitheater. The fest is moving to Pier Park from Walton County, where it was first organized 10 years ago.
Part of the aggressive marketing campaign will be unveiled Tuesday at the full TDC board meeting when details should emerge about efforts to redesign the TDC Web site, www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. The TDC is putting additional resources into its Internet profile, including making the Web site more interactive with users.
Student Spring Break in Panama City Beach already is being promoted on mtvU, the college outreach Web link on the MTV Web site, at www.pcbeachspringbreak.com.
The TDC hired the Jennifer Barbee firm of JB Inc. to oversee the fresh Internet approach and held a strategic planning session in early January to gather ideas from business leaders.
Beyond the traditional student Spring Break, the April and summer tourist seasons are being touted in Southern Living magazine and Daytime TV, a lifestyle program syndicated on regional television stations, Rowe said.
The advertising is designed to reach families with children, he said, with the summer campaign moving away from last year's Summer White Sale, which emphasized discount coupons.
This year, all the talk as summer nears will be about branding the Beach for its "value and fun."
Let us know that you think od the ads. Our Panama City Beach Condos are on the west end of the beach, quiet and family friendly.
Reserve The Best Panama City Beach Condos for Your Beach Vacation
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Panama City Beach - Seabreeze Jazz Festival Line Up
Panama City Beach – Seabreeze Jazz Festival April 16-19, 2009 Artist List and Current Schedule
Boney James
Wayman Tisdale
Will Downing . Nick Colionne
Warren Hill . Eric Darius . Joyce Cooling . Brian Simpson . Alex Bugnon
Four 80 East . Jackeim Joyner . Nils . Shilts . Urban Jazz Coalition
Althea Rene . RomanStreet . Jones and Company
THURSDAY - APRIL 16th
Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise
with Alex Bugnon presented by Marriott Bay Point Resort
Aboard The Solaris dinner yacht boarding beginning at
6pm at the Bay Point Marina
FESTIVAL HOST: NICK COLIONNE
Pier Park Amphitheater – Panama City Beach, FL
FRIDAY - APRIL 17th
(Gates Open at 5pm)
6:00-7:45pm Urban Jazz Coalition
8:30pm Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam
featuring Nick Colionne, Shilts,
Four 80 East, Brian Simpson, Matt Marshak,
Nils, Alex Bugnon, Eric Darius, Althea Rene,
Jackiem Joyner, and special guests
10:30pm Jazz Under the Stars Party
with Urban Jazz Coalition and Friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
SATURDAY - APRIL 18th
(Gates Open at 9am—VIP Early Entry at 8:30am)
10am-11am Althea Rene
11:30am-1pm Eric Darius
1:30-2:45pm
The Seabreeze Groove Project
featuring Four 80 East, Shilts, and
Matt Marshak
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
3:15-4:30pm Joyce Cooling
5pm-6:30pm Will Downing
7pm-9pm Wayman Tisdale
SATURDAY NIGHT - APRIL 18th
9:30pm Jazz Under the Stars Party
with Four 80 East, Shilts, Matt Marshak, and friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
SUNDAY - APRIL 19th
(Gates Open at 9am—VIP Early Entry at 8:30am)
Sunday 10am-11am Jones and Company
11:30-12:30pm Roman Street
1pm-2:30pm Brian Simpson / Nils /
Jackiem Joyner
3pm-4:30pm Warren Hill
5pm-6:30pm Nick Colionne
7pm-8:30pm Boney James
go to seabreezejazzfestival.com for more information.
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Boney James
Wayman Tisdale
Will Downing . Nick Colionne
Warren Hill . Eric Darius . Joyce Cooling . Brian Simpson . Alex Bugnon
Four 80 East . Jackeim Joyner . Nils . Shilts . Urban Jazz Coalition
Althea Rene . RomanStreet . Jones and Company
THURSDAY - APRIL 16th
Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise
with Alex Bugnon presented by Marriott Bay Point Resort
Aboard The Solaris dinner yacht boarding beginning at
6pm at the Bay Point Marina
FESTIVAL HOST: NICK COLIONNE
Pier Park Amphitheater – Panama City Beach, FL
FRIDAY - APRIL 17th
(Gates Open at 5pm)
6:00-7:45pm Urban Jazz Coalition
8:30pm Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam
featuring Nick Colionne, Shilts,
Four 80 East, Brian Simpson, Matt Marshak,
Nils, Alex Bugnon, Eric Darius, Althea Rene,
Jackiem Joyner, and special guests
10:30pm Jazz Under the Stars Party
with Urban Jazz Coalition and Friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
SATURDAY - APRIL 18th
(Gates Open at 9am—VIP Early Entry at 8:30am)
10am-11am Althea Rene
11:30am-1pm Eric Darius
1:30-2:45pm
The Seabreeze Groove Project
featuring Four 80 East, Shilts, and
Matt Marshak
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
3:15-4:30pm Joyce Cooling
5pm-6:30pm Will Downing
7pm-9pm Wayman Tisdale
SATURDAY NIGHT - APRIL 18th
9:30pm Jazz Under the Stars Party
with Four 80 East, Shilts, Matt Marshak, and friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com
SUNDAY - APRIL 19th
(Gates Open at 9am—VIP Early Entry at 8:30am)
Sunday 10am-11am Jones and Company
11:30-12:30pm Roman Street
1pm-2:30pm Brian Simpson / Nils /
Jackiem Joyner
3pm-4:30pm Warren Hill
5pm-6:30pm Nick Colionne
7pm-8:30pm Boney James
go to seabreezejazzfestival.com for more information.
Reserve The Best Panama City Beach Condos for Your Beach Vacation
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