Panama City Beach - Circus Update

Per the News Herald...

After more than a year of preparation, the Circus by the Sea is coming to town.
The famed Florida State University Flying High Circus will make its pre-season debut at Frank Brown Park on Monday morning when a massive tractor-trailer is due to arrive from Tallahassee bearing the circus’s massive 240-by-140-foot tent. Circus staff members, under the supervision of Circus Director Chad Mathews, will erect the big top over a two-day period as the organization prepares for its initial summer performance season at the Beach a month later.
One of only two collegiate circus programs, the FSU program has committed to an initial 10-year summer season at Frank Brown Park, Circus by the Sea President Don Hamrick told the Beach Chamber of Commerce at a presentation Friday. Staffed by 19 FSU students who have trained in circus acrobatics and stage performances, the Circus by the Sea will conduct a daily performance in the three-ring tent at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday from June 13 to Aug. 2. It will hold matinee performances on July 4-5 at 3 p.m.
Fares for the performances will be $24 for adults and $16 for children ages 4 to 16. Children under 4 will be admitted free.
A special gala inaugural performance called “FSU Day at the Circus” will take place June 12 at 7 p.m. Open to the public, the circus is inviting FSU students and alumni to come wearing their school colors of garnet and gold. Tickets for the special event are priced at $15 for all ages.
“This is a summer job for them,” Hamick said of the FSU students, who perform and operate the circus in Tallahassee during the school year as an extracurricular activity. “Students rig the equipment, sew costumes and raise the big top.”
In addition, the college students will run a four-day summer day camp each week offering youngsters ages 7 to 12 an opportunity to train in basics of acrobatic performance, rigging and safety, he said. Six camp sessions will run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the first beginning June 23. Each Thursday, the camp attendees will assist the college performers at the evening show. The weekly cost for Summer Camp is $285 per child with lunch and a snack included each day.

See you at the Circus
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Panama City Beach - Top 10 Beach

Top Honors…Last month, Panama City Beach’s St. Andrew’s State Recreation Area ranked number two on the 2008 list of top 10 beaches in the United States by Trip Advisor. The giant travel information Web site recognized each of these epic beaches for “world-class sand, breathtaking water and all-round relaxing environment.” TripAdvisor’s top 10 beach list is determined by the site’s editors and the TripAdvisor Popularity Index, reflecting the unbiased opinions of millions of travelers worldwide. The beach at St. Andrew’s State Recreation Area boasts sugar-white sand overlooking the turquoise and emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The 1.5-mile-long beach has a child-friendly area, the calm Grand Lagoon. Spanning 1,260 acres, St. Andrew’s State Recreation Area offers swimming and snorkeling in tranquil Gulf waters. Visitors also can take the shuttle to nearby Shell Island for more surf and sun. For hikers and birders, the park has miles of pristine trails with an incredible array of plants and wildlife. At St. Andrew’s, anglers enjoy surf fishing, two fishing piers, a jetty and a boat ramp. Concession stands and campsites also are available.

Come and enjoy Panama City Beach
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Panama City Beach - May Fishing

From my fishing guide friend Captain James Pic…
As I said in my last report the trout bite is hot this year. This type of catch is the rule instead of the exception this year. My clients put so many fish over five pounds in the boat each year we don't even count them. If you want that big trophy fish....trust me, I'm the one to call.
Red fishing is starting to turn on along with some flounder being caught here and there.
Along the beach and inside the pass we are still catching nice pompano and a few cobia. Had a cobia on yesterday but the client let it sling the hook.
The palegics will be here soon which brings 100 fish morning on light tackle and fly.
After that the kings show up....Oh...you didn't know I run king trips? Heck ya! I love putting my clients on those smoker kings on light tackle.
Fishing is great this year come be a part of it.
Want to go fishing while you are in PCB Call James @ 850-215-5578

Jerry
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Panama City Beach - May Pier Park Update

Pier Park stores open or scheduled to open through May
Borders, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor Loft, As Seen on TV, Bath & Body Works, Blender Clothing, Cache, Carlyle & Co., Chico’s, Claire’s, Coldwater Creek, GameStop, Hollister Co., Jos A. Bank, Justice, Kay Jewelers, Lane Bryant/Cacique, Maurices, Motherhood Maternity, New York & Company, PacSun, Payless Shoes Source, Peace Frogs, Per-fumania, Rack Room Shoes, Reggae J’s Island Grill, Regions Bank, Rocky’s South Philly Cheesesteaks, Solace Day Spa & Salon, Sunglass Hut, Sunsights by Solstice, The Walking Company, Tilly’s, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Verizon, Victoria’s Secret, Yankee Candle and Zales.

Let me know what your favorite stores are.

Jerry
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Panama City Beach - New Tourist Information Center

One of the Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce’s top prioritys for 2008 has been to relocate its offices to a larger facility which would double as a tourist and relocation information center. That goal was met on April 7, 2008, when the Chamber’s new Tourist Information Center opened at the Beckrich Centre located in the heart of the Beckrich corridor. The spacious, state-of-the-art lobby is informative and historical, educational, entertaining and fun, and is the perfect resource for visitors coming to the area looking for accommodations, things to do, demographics, economic stats and community information. “Our new lobby combines a variety of communications and information mediums in a cutting edge, first-of-its-kind environment,” says Marta Rose, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PR for the Chamber. “The colors, style and décor of the space, not to mention the technology that went into this lobby, give it a uniqueness in the community. This is an attraction people will not want to miss.” The interactive touch-screen kiosks will promote shopping, accommodations, eateries and fun activities. A Virtual Floor, powered by a built-in motion detection engine, will interactively intermingle Flash animated nature effects. The boldly colorful history wall features artwork and facts on Hernando DeSoto’s trek into Northwest Florida in 1539, nearly 500 years ago. The lobby’s Coastal Chic-style sitting area faces a large flat screen featuring “The Best of PCB,” a Travel Channel-style hosted program showcasing resorts, restaurants, attractions, community events, and relocation information. The Tourist Information Center is planning a reservations and concierge service, selling tickets for tours, area attractions, sporting events, cultural events, restaurants and ecotourism/nature-related activities. The Community Board Room, with built-in A/V capabilities, will host Board meetings, monthly focus forums and quarterly New Member Welcome Days. The building is Wi-Fi enabled for complimentary Internet access. “The Chamber has tripled in size over the last twenty years,” says Debi Knight, President and CEO of the Chamber. “It is critical to the tourism industry that we promote our community and region to the best of our ability. Our number one goal as a non-profit membership organization is to help our business members grow.” Knight says the Chamber has been working for over two years to relocate to a larger facility on the ground level that has ample parking, highly-visible signage, a community board room, and a large lobby to take care of visitors, residents and businesses.

The Chamber’s extended hours are Sunday - Thursday, 9:00 am to 5 pm; Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm. For more information call the Chamber at (850) 234-3193.

Jerry
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Panama City Beach - Pier Park- Summer Kid Movies

The Grand Theatre Pier Park 16 announces Summer Kids Flicks just in time for the summer season...

Enjoy ten weeks of exciting movie selections such as Everyone’s Hero, Open Season, Ice Age, Charlotte’s Web, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bee Movie, Flushed Away, Madagascar, Jimmy Neutron, and Over the Hedge every Tuesday and Wednesday beginning June 3. The box-office will open at 9:30 am and the film will begin at 10:00 am sharp. Tickets may be purchased on the morning of the film at the box-office for only $3.00 and include a Summer Kids Flicks Combo – a small box of popcorn and a child size soda. Attendance is expected to be brisk, so early arrival is recommended. “We are pleased to offer our Summer Kids Flicks program to our guests in Panama City Beach. This family friendly film series underscores our commitment to provide quality entertainment at a great value,” said Timothy Spain, C.O.O. of Southern Theatres, L.L.C. The complex is the largest theatre in the Panama City Beach, Panama City, Destin and Ft. Walton area in Northwest Florida. All Grand Theatres are state-of-the-art, featuring stadium seating, digital sound, high-back rocker seats on 18-inch risers, three concession areas, a specialty café and a game room. For more information, please visit www.thegrandtheatre.com.

Jerry

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Panama City Beach Fishing

Complements of the Panama City News Herald

They’re everywhere.
Red snapper season in Florida waters in the Gulf of Mexico opened on Tuesday and there doesn’t seem to be a shortage. If anything, there's an overabundance. “They’re a nuisance,” said Capt. Eric Thrasher on the Daybreak. “There’s too many of them.” He explained while they were fishing in federal waters Thursday for grouper and other species, the snapper kept taking their bait. “We threw back about 30 or 40 snapper,” Thrasher said. “Snapper fishing is as good as I’ve seen in a long time,” he added. “They are there ... in every direction you want to go.” The Daybreak kept 16 red snapper. They also came in with grouper, black snapper and a couple of triggerfish.
Recent regulations have cut the bag limit on red snapper from four fish daily per person to two fish per person, and the captain and crew of the charters are not allowed to be counted in the bag limit. In addition, the recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf federal waters has changed and will now open on June 1 and close on Aug. 5. Gulf federal waters extend well offshore beyond state waters, which only extend nine nautical miles from the shore.
Capt. Steve Hauesler on the First Light had no problems finding the red snapper. “There’s plenty of them out there,” Hauesler said. “And we caught all the law would allow.” His group of anglers from Louisiana limited out on red snapper. They also pulled in a grouper and a huge 10-pound triggerfish.
The group on the charter boat No Alibi didn’t have a problem catching red snapper either. “They’re everywhere,” said Capt. Chuck Turbanic of the No Alibi. “You can’t get away from them ... You can’t fish for other species because of the red snapper.” He said hungry dolphins were even stalking the boat and waiting for anglers to return the reds to the sea. His group, however, did catch their red snapper limit, a couple of grouper and a pair of cobia. Turbanic said they found a pair of cobia and caught one, then later saw a single and hooked it. Both cobia weighed about 40 pounds each.
Anglers on the Top Gun with Capt. Jeff Culbreth brought in a nice catch of red snapper, lane snapper and amberjack. Some of their snapper weighed in the 12- to 15-pound range. First mate Jay Singletary said they didn’t have any problem catching snapper. As a matter of fact, “we had a problem catching grouper because of all the snapper,” he said.
Captain Art Smith on the Nautica and his anglers from Ohio and Delaware filled the racks with red snapper and grouper. The Destin Princess with Capt. Judah Barbee at the helm came in with a big catch of red snapper, mingo, white snapper and triggerfish.
Capt. Bruce Marler on the Gulf Breeze had several baskets full of mingo, lane snapper, red grouper, amberine and amberjack.

Lets go fishing!!

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