July 2014
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DINING &ENTERTAINMENT GVIDE
Email: editor@plantcityguide.com
www.plantcityguide.com
HUNDREDS ATTEND ZONING HEARING
TO SAVE KEEL & CURLEY WINERY
Hundreds turned out for a public hearing before
the Hillsborough County Zoning Board last
month, the latest chapter in the rezoning quest of
Keel and Curley Winery. The majority of the
attendees were tee-shirt clad winery supporters
who showed up to the hearing by the van-full. The
turnout of attendees was so large; many had to
watch the hearing from an overflow room, which
quickly filled as well.
The public had a chance to address the zoning
board with speaker after speaker urging the board
to approve the plan, citing the positive impact
Keel and Curley has had on the community. State
Representative Dan Raulerson was one of the
supporters. "They have been great neighbors," he
told the zoning hearing master."I would certainly
ask for your approval."
Paul Hetrick spoke on behalf of St. Clement
Catholic Church and stated that Keel and Curley
has given a lot back to the community in both
money and charitable events and that the winery
stepped in to assist with their sales of strawberry
shortcake at this year's Strawberry Festival.
Keel and Curley Winery located at
52io Thonotosassa Road
bars to move into the area. One local pastor went
as far as bringing in a study that had data
suggesting that having a large number of bars in a
rural area can lead to higher suicide rates. Many at
the hearing were unconvinced by this argument.
"This is not a bar; this is a gathering place," said Interestingly enough, Lonnie Oswald, who set this
resident Joe Fabel. "My mother is ~2 years old, I into motion last fall when he called to complain
have a 25-year old son and three small grandkids, about noise from the winery, chose not to speak
and I take them there. I wouldn't take them to a out against the rezoning.
bar; I wouldn't take them to a place I wasn't
The owners of the Plant City winery were hoping to
comfortable with."
compromise with county officials. The county says
Another area resident spoke of how our the winery broke the rules by brewing and selling
community is hurting and torn up over this. He beer. However, last August, owner Joe Keel
said the winery was a positive addition to the applied for and was granted a state license to brew
community and was needed.
beer. That, too, was reviewed and approved by the
county,
he said. Furthermore, prior to the winery
The sentiment was countered by several area
residents in opposition who voiced their concerns launching its Two Henrys micro-brewery in 2oig,
about the rezoning. Worries from the residents co-owner Alicia Keel obtained a state mandated
included traffic, noise and the possibility that the brewing license, which also required a county
signature stating the brewery's property was under
proposed rezoning may encourage full service
the appropriate zoning. (Continued on Page 3)
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page 2
Just a Thought... a
By: Christine Wynne-Andrade,Editor
Experts say the best time to buy a new car is when
the dealer is willing to negotiate and you've got
more leverage. There are certain times of the year
and certain circumstances when dealers are ready
to negotiate. Every dealer has annual quotas and
there are bonuses for salespeople who meet
certain annual figures. Take advantage of this. If
you can wait, buy your new car in the last two
weeks of December, when dealers are dying to beat
their quotas. Annual sales bonuses are sometimes
incentive enough for dealers to knock off a lot of
moneyfrom the price.
If you can't wait until the end of the year, don't
worry. There are opportune buying times yearround. End of the quarter or end of the model year
is also a great time to buy. Dealers have the added
incentive of clearing last year's models to make
way for the new year models. The new year models
come out in the summer. If you don't need the
latest and greatest, you can find a great deal on a
car that's only a few months old.
The other great time to purchase a new car is when
there's a major redesign on the model you want.
The difference between this year's and last year's
model isn't as significant as the price difference.
Last month, I bought a new car and did just that.
After driving the same Chrysler Town and Country
for more than nine years and putting 2ig,000
miles on it, I thought it was time to get a new
vehicle.
There was nothing wrong with my
minivan, however I knew it was just a matter of
time before I ended up on the side of the road
broke down.
I had three conditions for purchasing a new car.
First, I wanted a small SiJV. Second, I wanted a
new car and third, I did not want to spend over
$20,000. Some well meaning people told me this
was not possible. I was on a mission. After a week,
I was able to find a Nissan Rogue that was
undergoing a major redesign from the 2oi4 to the
ZoiS models. The dealers were aiixious to clear the
2oi4 models from their lots. I took a test drive and
got a quote. I then shopped the quote around until
I found a dealer willing to give me the price I
wanted to pay. I got it for $i~,44o before my trade.
You have to be a good negotiator. Don't be afraid to
hit the road without a new car if the salesperson
isn't giving you the price you want. There are other
dealers in town, and be sure to remind him of that
fact. If you can get two dealers bidding against one
another, they'll negotiate for you. There's always a
car buyers' market around the corner. Use that to
your advantage to save.
I'm only a few keystrokes away by email at
editorC~.plantcityguide.com.
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Have your copy reserved and delivered directly to
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"The Guide---goo Percent Plant City Owned"
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ page 3
The county disagrees, saying that when Keel
obtained a rezoning of his 26.5-acre blueberry
farm to "planned development," the zoning
carried conditions that restricted the business to
operations associated with the winery, not a
micro brewery.
"It's a very big deal. If we can't have our live music
outside, have our blueberry festival, taste and sell
our own beer here on site, there's definitely going
to be some huge cutbacks," said Clay Keel, head
brew master. Keel's father, Joe Keel,is the owner.
Outside of the meeting, he took it one step further
saying the business may be forced to close its
doors if their rezoning request is denied.
"It's a very good possibility. I don't have a crystal
ball, but based on our revenues and balance
sheets we would have a hard time keeping the
doors open," Keel said.
The winery's request is to be rezoned as a winery
and a microbrewery. They've agreed to make
some major concessions, however, to try to keep
their neighbors happy.
* Sale of alcohol will be limited to beer and wine
produced by the winery and microbrewery
only.They currently are licensed to sell beer from
outside producers.
* The microbrewery will be limited to production
of 250,000 gallons per year.
* All sound levels will comply with noise
ordinances. The business agreed to use a sound
limiter to ensure that.
* Live music will not include full drum sets, bass
guitars, or amplified drums
* The number of weddings will be limited to four
per month.
* Outside entertainment will be permitted only on
Friday and Saturday nights until iopm, and
Sunday unti18 pm.
* The offsite parking lot will only be utilized
Friday-Sunday
During the hearing, the county admitted that
there was not a definition for amicro-brewery on
EARN EXTRA MONEY AND
the books. Given that Keel and Curley spent
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
hundreds of thousands of dollars on new
equipment for the brewery, only after meeting
The Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
with county officials and receiving the proper
needs an independent sales representative to
licenses, could prove problematic for the County if
local businesses for advertising. Earn
contact
the rezoning plan is denied.
good commissions plus bonuses. Must be a selfThe zoning hearing master has until July i6 to motivated person. Meet new people and learn
issue his recommendation to the Board of County about the business community in our area. A
Commissioners. The issue then heads to the
good way to earn money without having to
County Commission for a vote at their August i2th
commute
out of town. Contact the editor for
land use meeting.
more information.
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ page 4
~~~
Cracker
Ta1e~
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FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT WAS NO FRILLS,BUT
OFFERED PLEN'T'Y OF THRILLS
1r
year. The group represents 24o airlines carrying 84
percent of all passengers and cargo worldwide.
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St. Petersburg native Robert Walker, who is the
director of the Florida Aviation Historical Society, was
invited by the IATA to attend the conference and
showcase a model of the aircraft that made the historic
century
trip
a
ago.
..
Walker passed out copies ofthe original flier marketing
the
flight, which described the "Airboat Line" as a "fast
The aviation industry recently marked ioo years
passenger
and
express
service."
since the first scheduled commercial flight took off,
making a 2g-minutejourney across Florida's Tampa
"They made a scheduled service twice a day each Way
Bay.
and that's the secret to the airline: its schedule,"
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line operated Walker said.
the first scheduled airline flight on January i, 2oi4.
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line demonstrated
The wood and muslin Benoist Model i4 was built by
that
commercial airlines could be successful, greatly
St. Louis manufacturer Thomas W. Benoist. Best
reduce
travel time and create a potential market for air
known for the sparking batteries and automobile
travel and transport.
self-starters he manufactured, Benoist also built i~
different models of landplanes and seaplanes
between 1910 and i9i~. This flying boat, powered
by a noisy, six-cylinder, 75-horsepower engine, took
off from St. Petersburg and traveled i8.6 miles
across Tampa Bay to Tampa. The ticket price was
$10.
The flight held pilot Tony Jannus and one
passenger, Mayor Abe Pheil, on a small wood
bench, exposed to the elements. The plane flew just
i5 feet above the water.
Abe Pheil,then mayor of St. Petersburg, bid $40o to
be the first passenger on the two-seat plane as part
of an effort to raise money for two harbor channel
lights for the city, which are still in use.
The driving force behind the St. Petersburg Tampa
Airboat Line was Percival Elliot Fansler, a Florida
sales representative for Kahlenberg Brothers, a Just before the first flight of the St. Petersburg-Tampa
Airboat Line Left to right: Percival Elliott Fansler,
Wisconsin manufacturer of diesel engines for
Abram C.Pheil, Tony Jannus.
fishing boats. He became fascinated with Benoist's
progress in aircraft design and manufacture. He
wrote to Benoist about his idea to start a Today, a 22-minute flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa
commercial airline from one point to another and would seem a long time, but the alternatives in i9i4
Benoist
became
immediately
enthusiastic. were a 2 1/2 hour trip by steamship to circumnavigate
the bay area, or i2 hours by train. An automobile ride
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in those days of hand-cranked engines, solid rubber
recently celebrated the tooth anniversary of that tires and unpaved roads would have taken all day.
flight at its annual conference in Doha, Qatar,
showing how far the industry has evolved despite If you would like to see the replica of the historic
questions
over
safety
profitability. Benoist Airboat which propelled Tony Jannus into
and
commercial aviation history, it is on display at the St.
Association director Tony Tyler said that the airline Petersburg Museum of History. The Museum is located
industry will carry 3.g billion passengers and 52 at 335 Second Ave. NE., St. Petersburg, FL. Visit
www.spmoh.org or call (~2~) 894-1052 for more
million tons of cargo over 50,000 routes this
information.
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ page 5
Savories
AFFORDABLE FAMILY DINING IN PLANT CITY
FOiTND AT CHILI'S
Many people live paycheck to paycheck and are lucky if
they are able to set aside $ioo a month for nonessential spending. Living on a tight budget often
means that unless you can find a good deal, you end up
having to find something to do at home. Having fun as
a family doesn't have to break the bank. While finding
inexpensive family entertainment can prove elusive,
with a little thought and creativiTy, family fun can
equal frugal fun.
There is also a craft table, balloons and goody
bags. The restaurant further specializes the
event by setting aside a separate seating area for
participants. Come to Chili's to enjoy dinner
and some quality time with your children.
Eating out is the ultimate lu~nxry! We all need a break
from kitchen duty and the hassles of the post meal
clean up. Unfortunately, eating out can be an
expensive proposition that few can afford on a routine
basis UNLESS you can find deals for dining out"on the
cheap". Here are some suggestions on how you can
reduce your restaurant bill and still enjoy the
pleasures of eating out:
With great specials like these, it's easy to see
why Chili's has become a family favorite
amongst chain restaurants. There's the wall-towall decor of exposed stone and vintage
Americana pictures. Then there's the veritable
army of serving staff, who will happily create an
astonishing spectacle of noise and cheer when
you opt to hold a birthday here, and finally
Check your Sunday paper and mailbox for restaurant there's the indulgent menu of massive portions.
coupons. Many national chains offer dining out Even the starters are almost impossible to
coupons which can save you a significant amount of finish: nachos are smeared liberally with hot
money. These might include a free entree with the and cheesy chili; the signature `old timer'burger
purchase of another entree or a certain amount off of boasts enough dollops of condiments on the
your final bill.
thick meaty patty that the bun is likely to
Our personal favorite is Chili's.
If you go to
www.chilis.com and sign up for Chili's Email Club, you
will receive a coupon in your inbox approximately
once a week. The coupons vary from a free appetizer
or dessert to a free entree upgrade. The best deal
offered by Chili's is the kids eat free coupon. This
coupon comes out about once a month and gives
diners a free kids meals for every adult meal
purchased.
For a family of four, if you pair the kids eat free
coupon with Chili's "Two for Twenty" normal menu
deal, you will receive two kids meals, two adult meals
and an appetizer for approximately $20. Skip the
sodas and opt for water and you have a full sized
dinner for four for only $20! I have found that the
portion sizes are large enough to have leftovers for
lunch the next day too.
For additional family fun, Chili's hosts weekly "Daddy
and Daughter Date Nights" and "Mother and Son Night
Outs." The weeks alternate with one week being for
fathers and daughters and the next week being for
mothers and sons. But everyone is welcome to come!
All participating guests will receive a souvenir photo
and custom frame to commemorate this special night.
disintegrate; and sizzling platters of fajitas
produce thick clouds of salty smoke guaranteed
to get hungry mouths slavering, provided you
don't choke on the heady vapors first.
The Chili's Pepper Pals children's menu has a
huge number of offerings available. Very few
chain restaurants that we have stopped in have
had as many options for the kids to choose from.
I thought that was pretty nice considering I do
have a picky eater and a typical children's menu
can be a problem sometimes.
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page 6
Exploring Florida by Kayak -Part III
Equipment
Sy: Christine Wynne
Okay, so you've found the kayak of your dreams.
Now it's time to get the necessary kayak gear.
Kayak accessories come in a dizzying array of
brands, styles, and price ranges.
This third article in a series on kayaking will assist
you with must have items in your kayaking
repertoire. There are a couple of items that you
must have to go kayaking, such as a paddle and
personal floatation device, but then there are other
things that may not be essential or required, but
are good things to have with you when you are
kayaking, either for safety reasons, or to make the
sport more enjoyable. Below are my top choices.
Paddles
Other than the kayak itself, the paddle is the most
important piece of gear you will need, and it has to
be sized to you and your kayak. The right paddle
will make paddling a lot easier, and more
enjoyable. You don't need the most expensive,
high-tech paddles that are on the market unless
you kayak even more often than I do. What you do
need is a light paddle with an efficient blade that is
the correct length for you and your kayak.
How long your paddle should be depends on your
size, and the width of your boat. If you use a paddle
that is too long, your arms and shoulders will have
to work harder because you lose leverage when
your paddle is too long. Your hands should be on
your paddle just slightly over the width of your
shoulders apart, and the closer your hand is to the
blade of the paddle, the more leverage you will
have during the paddle stroke, as long as you can
reach the water in a normal sitting position. If your
paddle is too long, you'll find yourself spreading
your arms wider to gain leverage, but that puts
added strain on your shoulder and back muscles.
kayak to be sure everything fits well, and that it won't
interfere with paddling. It should fit comfortably and
not be too tight or too bulky.
Those are the two "must haves"for kayaking, all the rest
of these things are for safety or to make kayaking more
enjoyable. Before I begin on those things, a note here,
you should attach everything you bring with you in a
kayak to you or the kayak in some manner. You don't
want to lose things if you roll. In no particular order,
here are the other items of gear you may find useful.
Dry Bags
Dry bags are designed to keep things dry during your
excursion. Many people start out using ziplock bags or
resealable plastic containers like Tupperware to hold
things like a camera, cell phone or food. Sometimes they
work, sometimes they don't. You are probably going to
get at least some water in your kayak,so having a secure
place to store things you don't want to get wet is
essential. Even if your kayak has a dry storage area, dry
bags are a good idea, because not all the dry storage
areas in kayaks are as dry as you may think they are. A
large dry bag that holds a complete change of clothes
and a towel for the event that you roll your kayak is a
good idea. This is extremely important if you plan on
off-season kayaking during the cooler months. Even
during the summer months, having a change of clothes
along with you is a wise idea in case of the unexpected. A
second, smaller dry bag is needed to hold any
electronics, wallet, car keys, and cell phone while
kayaking. Remember to attach your dry bags to your
kayak in some manner.
If your paddle is too short, you'll find yourself
leaning a little with every stroke to reach the water,
and your "off hand", the hand on the end of the
paddle out of the water, will be raised too high,
putting strain on that shoulder. Your off hand
should never go much higher than your shoulder.
You want to be able to keep your arms and
shoulders as close to horizontal as you can and still
reach the water with the blade of your paddle. If
Survival Kit
you find yourself hitting the side of your kayak
with your paddle shaft often, your paddle is If
you plan on kayaking rivers or the ocean, you should
probably too short.
be carrying a survival kit with you, containing items to
insure that you can survive at least one night in the wild.
Personal Floatation Device
The unexpected can, and does happen. Kayaking is
A Personal Floatation Device (PFD), otherwise great fun, but it can also be dangerous in two ways,
known as a life jacket, is a must have item. It helps drowning or hypothermia. I have put together a survival
if you buy one at the same time you are shopping kit that always goes with me while I am kayaking, no
for kayaks,so you can try them on and sit in the
matter how tame the river, and how nice the weather is.
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page ~
Here is what I always bring with me. Compass,
first aid kit, throw rope of 25 to 5o feet long
enough to pull a person to safety or pull another
kayak, Swiss Army knife, bottle of water, energy
bar, whistle, waterproof matches, candle, rain
poncho,insect repellent and sun block.
Footwear
If you only paddle lakes, you can probably get by
going barefoot or with flip-flops, but if you are
going to kayak rivers on a regular basis, I
recommend that you purchase a pair of water
sandals that will protect your feet from sharp,
jagged rocks, or the trash that people throw in the
water, such as broken glass or fish hooks. Good
water sandals will also give you better footing in
wet, slippery rocks, and protect your feet if you
have to portage around obstacles in the river.
Sunglasses
On or around the water you should always protect
your eyes from sunlight. You probably already
have sunglasses; you don't need anything special
for kayaking. Polarized sunglasses are great for
kayaking as they help you see through the surface
glare to see underwater obstructions to avoid.
Sunglasses will also protect your eyes from twigs
and branches if you kayak rivers and have to crash
through fallen trees on occasion. I do suggest that
you use a strap to hold your sunglasses on in the
event you roll.
You know the drill. It's that time of the year when
you are done wearing all that heavy winter clothing
and you're getting ready for the summer. YOU
WANT A NEW YOU! You decide you want to slim
down --- fast. You made your decision and you are
sticking with it. So you go on your latest fad diet. It
doesn't matter which one; all of them usually
require you to eat salads, grilled chicken, drink
meal replacement shakes and banish from sweets
for
weeks
or
even
months.
But what if you don't have go days?
What if that special event is this weekend?
Wouldn't it be great if you could have instant
results? Wouldn't that give you the hope that it's
possible to experience the results you want long
term?
What if there were a way to tone, firm and firm
your problem areas, reduce the appearance of
cellulite and improve your skin's tightness and
texture with no pain, no mess and without
spending
a
fortune?
Measurable
results
within
45
minutes.
For more information visit www.spaatwork.co
Clothing
For warm weather kayaking you don't need
anything special as far as clothing, whatever you
are comfortable in is fine. I do recommend that
you bring rain gear with you just in case of a
summer pop up shower. The rain gear can also
help keep you warm if the weather turns cooler
than expected. I keep a rain suit in the dry bag
that holds my change of clothing so it is always
with me when I am kayaking. That way I have a
lightjacket with me,and I don't have to remember
to pack one. Sometimes trips take longer than
expected, so having an extra layer of clothing
along is always a good idea in case the weather
turns cooler. A hat to keep the sun out of your
eyes is great to bring along as well.
1~ ,r
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Ezra Square Paddle
A spare paddle is an important item that most
paddlers forget. Paddles break and sometimes fall
into the water and float away from the boat. The
more remote the area you paddle, the more
important a spare paddle could be. If you own a
cheap paddle, here's your excuse to upgrade. If
you already have a good paddle, then picking up a
cheap one is a good idea, even for a couple that
paddles together.
The next in this series will cover kayak tips. Until
then, wishing you sunny skies and calm winds.
"Tell GUIDE Advertisers You Saw Their
Ad In Plant City's Locally Owned Paper"
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page 8
Social Scene
.~•~ ~
/~`~
('
1
J
Bike Fest
July 5 and August 2 -5:oopm
Historic Downtown Plant City
Station; one will also be placed near the Bruton
Memorial Library and one in front of the Plant City Photo
Archives and History Center on South Evers Street.
The sculptures in the 2oi4 exhibit are all also produced
by J. Seward Johnson but are ones that have not been
seen in Plant City in 2oi2 when the earlier exhibit of
eight sculptures graced the McCall Park area.
For further information and for the exact locations of the
sculptures call the Photo Archives at (8i3) 754-1578 or
email infoC~plantcityphotoarchives.org.
Strawberry Classic Car Show
July 19 and August i6- 4:oopm
Historic Downtown Plant City
3D Printing Exhibition Debuts at MOSI
Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4-6:oopm - io:oopm
i8io East Park Road
Sculptures Exhibit to Return to Plant
City's Historic Downtown
A new exhibition about gD printing recently made its
debut at the Museum of Science and Industry.
"gD Printing the Future -The Exhibition" gives MOSI
visitors an in-depth look at how the process of 3D
printing actually works, how it is used and the kind of
possibilities it holds for the future. Visitors can watch 3D
printers in action and try their hand at drawing with the
world's first gD printing pen.
Explore this e~ibition to discover how innovators are
using gD printers to turn computer data into physical
Here's your chance to see the art in the park. objects that could change your life. From fashion to
Responding to the many calls for the popular decor, entertainment to toys, medical devices to possible
sculptures to be brought back to the historic human organs, the e~ibit illustrates 3D printing's
downtown district, the Plant City Photo Archives boundless and mind-blowing potential to re-shape how
and History Center has partnered with the City of we live, work and play.
Plant City, the Greater Plant City Chamber of MOSI has also teamed up with the Dali Museum, which
Commerce, Arts Council of Plant City, and the announced a complementary exhibit, "Marvels of
Downtown Business and Merchants Association Illusion," earlier this month. Reciprocal displays are up
to bring another sculptures exhibit to Plant City in each museum.
beginning in July.
Anyone who visits both museums can take advantage of
The Sculpture Foundation has agreed to special discounts. MOSI will offer 5o percent off its
lend ten sculptures for the exhibit fora three- admission to anyone who presents a ticket stub from the
month period beginning in July and ending in Dali.
early October. With the leadership of the City
raise
Commissioners, the
partners
will
While visiting MOSI, be sure to see the new IMAX
approximately $io,000 to fund the exhibit.
documentary "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar." Academy
The sculptures are from the "Man in the Award winner Morgan Freeman narrates the incredible
Street" collection of internationally acclaimed true story of nature's greatest explorers—lemurs.
artist J. Seward Johnson and managed by The 'Lemurs' takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the
Foundation
of Santa
Monica, remote and wondrous world of Madagascar.
Sculpture
California. The sculptures will be installed in and
The exhibit is free with MOSI admission. For more
around McCall Park and the historic Union
information, visit www.mosi.or~
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page 9
One Tank
«~
_ ,~~~ Getaway
--;-~~
CHASSAHOWITZKA:ASLICE OF OLD FLORIDA
An hour and a half drive northwest of Plant City in
southern
Citrus
County is a slice of
I~ ~
Old Florida known
as Chassahowitzka.
`'
"Chaz" as the locals
call it, will remind
~
you of a time before
modern time in
Florida.
This
largely undeveloped
coastal area is anchored by the five mile, shallow
Chassahowitzka River. The river is fed by several
tributaries and springs appropriately designated as
Outstanding
an
Florida
Waterway.
The
combination of salt marshes, hardwood swamps
and crystal-clear springs make it a favorite for
kayakers and nature lovers.
By: Anthony Andrade
to its original grandeur with atwo-story pine and
cypress interior. The inn has the feel of a southern
mansion with all of the amenities. There are eight
tastefully decorated rooms that can accommodate
up to eighteen guests. Each room features ceiling
fans, dresser, comfortable beds and central air
conditioning. A continental breakfast with an
assortment of juices, danish or donuts, cereals,
fruit, milk, coffee and teas is served daily.
The inn is a well known retreat for golfers, anglers,
scallopers and kayakers.
It is also a great
destination for couples seeking a romantic
weekend getaway. The Chassahowitzka Hotel is a
short walk to the river and main springs. If you
choose to explore the river, be sure to paddle to
Baird Creek for a visit with the resident manatee,
"Rachel."
Rates start at only $~2 per night, depending upon
season and length of stay. Reservations can be
You'll notice immediately that this river is atypical made by calling (352)3g2-2075 or ~g77) 8o7-77g3
of most Florida rivers where crowds often joy ride or visiting www.chazhotel.com.
and party. Surrounded by the Chassahowitzka
National Wildlife Refuge comprising over 3i,000
acres, those who visit the Chaz are often a serious
lot of anglers, crabbers, and eco-tourists ready to
e~erience a true wilderness.
The name Chassahowitzka is a Seminole American
term that means "pumpkin hanging place." This
refers to a now rare climbing pumpkin vine that
native tribes harvested in the area.
We wanted to fully immerse ourselves in this old
Florida experience, so we chose to stay at the
Chassahowitzka Hotel. The hotel, which is really
more of a bed and breakfast, once stood as a
landmark in this small fishing village. Vacationing
fishermen and hunters stayed there when they
e~lored the local waterways and roamed lands
that, during the early part of the loth century,
remained largely undeveloped and undisturbed.
The Chassahowitzka River is unique in that it is
one of the most ecologically healthy rivers in westcentral Florida. The majority of the river is
dominated by submerged aquatic vegetation and is
surround by undeveloped land. Make sure to have
your camera with you to capture some of the local
The Chaz Hotel dates back to the Civil War and is
wildlife along the river. From manatees to otters,
one of the oldest buildings in Citrus County.
from osprey to eagles, you never know what you
Owners David and Kim Strickland are the fourth
might see along the river.
generation in the Strickland Family to own and
operate the Chassahowitzka Hotel. The Hotel was During a recent springs restoration project,
originally started by David's great-grandparents underwater archaeologists discovered thousands
Ben and Eliza Smith and acquired its name in i9io. of artifacts that span io,000 years of Florida's
The family operated the Hotel from i9io to 1969 history. From the Paleoindians to the Seminoles,
when the family closed the business. From 1969 to and from the Spanish to the Floridians today, the
i990 the building sat vacant until it was purchased springs served as a vital natural resource. To view
by a couple from Lakeland. In 200o David and Kim some of these amazing artifacts in person, visit the
had the opportunity to purchase the Hotel and Old Courthouse Heritage Museum located in Citrus
continue the family tradition of running it as an County at i Courthouse Square, Inverness. The
month.
inn.
this
opens
Visit
eaehibit
www.cccourthouse.or~ for more information.
The Stricklands refurbished and restored the inn
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page io
Florida's Largest Anime Convention
By: Skylar Harkless
Atlantic was during the sinking of the ship; it is a deep
moment,but one you don't want to miss.
After the tour is over, you'll enter a room with lists
upon lists of all the people who had been on the
Titanic—at this point you will take your ticket out of
your purse or pocket and match the name on it with the
one on the wall (if you need help finding it, as I did, ask
your tour guide and he or she will be happy to tell you
all about the person on your ticket). This is a touching
moment,and one you'll remember forever.
General admission is $21.95 at the door and $19.95
online for adults. Children are $15.95 at the door and
$13.95 online. Children 2 and under are free, and
seniors are $19.75 at the door and $i~.75 online. They
offer group discounts; and you can call this number to
inquire all about it(40~)-248-ii66. The address for the
Titanic experience is ~g24 International Drive, Orlando
FL,32819.
The whole Titanic experience is deep and romantic, one
you must experience, with your family, your friend, or
your one and only. When the tour is over you are
welcomed into a beautifiil gift shop, where you can
purchase books, shirts, statues, and much more based
on the Titanic—They have a lovely selection of unique
jewelry pieces such as bracelets, necklaces, rings, and
even key chains, which in fact have a piece of coal from
the real ship incased in a charm,so you'll always have a
piece of the ship with you.
In Orlando there is a museum built and designed to
take each visitor back to 1912 to experience just
what the Titanic was like. When you first enter
there are a few artifacts to look at from James
Cameron's film, Titanic, as you wait for your tour
guide, who in fact is a trained actor/actress, with a
lot of enthusiasm, and plays the part of a character
Experience the Titanic one day, and it'll last you a
you'd probably come across had you been on the
lifetime.
Titanic in 1912. In my experience he was an Irish lad
from the lower decks. You will receive a unique
ticket with information based on a real person who
LIBRARY CORNER
was on the Titanic.
~j
Throughout the tour there are a lot to see and
experience in the i~ galleries; your tour guide will
tell you stories and explain each part of the ship and
what their purpose was, and you'll see many
artifacts and devices that were a part of the ship
itself and found in Titanic's wreck site, such as a
deck chair, china, hats and boots, and jewelry. You
will catch a glimpse of what the control room looked Visit the Bruton Memorial Library this month for their
like, the first class quarters, walk the deck—where summer movies series. Admission is free and popcorn
in fact you'll feel the cold breeze of the Atlantic as if is included.
you were indeed on the waters. You will also see a
July 2 at 4:oopm -Sky Fall
recreation of Titanic's romantic staircase, cascaded
July 8 at 6:3opm -Thor:The Dark World
in beautiful golden light. You'll see a 3-ton section
July ii at 4:oopm -The Great Outdoors
of the real Titanic's hull, which the second largest
piece of the ship ever recovered from the wreck site!
July i8 at 3:3opm -Fast Five
And much, much more. You'll learn about the ship,
July 25 at 4:oopm -The Thing
see pieces of it, and eaeperience it for yourself.
July gi at 6:3opm - Ender's Game
The most intense part of the etcperience is the
replica of the actual iceberg; your tour guide will Questions about programs may be directed toward
give you the option to place your hand flat on the Adult Services Librarian Lisa Kreutter at (813) 757iceberg and leave it there for as long as it'll take for 9215.
you to experience just how cold the waters ofthe
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 2oi4 ~ Page ii~
~
Local Band
Kozmic Pearl Brings
Music to the Spotlight
w~tn
Sing
and
swagger
to spare,
local
band
Kozmic
Pearl
channeled do's-era rock'n roll crooners during the
band's electrifying performance at Sunset Grill at
Little Harbor. Kozmic Pearl is a 5-piece band from
the Tampa Bay area with a unique but instantly
familiar sound that is contagiously high energy and
always fun. All members have been part of other
popular bands over the years. Their styles meshed
into what has been called the best of songs that fill
the dance floor.
All members are excellent
musicians, and four of the five can hold their own
doing lead vocals.
Plant City Entertainment will debut its summer
musical production of"Legally Blonde The Musical"
on July i8.
In this upbeat musical about self-discovery,
Harvard's beloved blonde takes the stage by pink
storm. This is the story of Elle Woods, a Valley Girl
who appears to have it all. Her life is turned upsidedown, however, when her boyfriend Warner dumps
her so he can start getting serious about his life and
attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back,
Elle uses her charm to get into Harvard Law. At
school, she struggles with peers, professors, and
Warner Huntington. With the help of friends, Elle
quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove
herself to the world. Based on the novel by Amanda
Brown and the adored movie starring Reese
Witherspoon, this production stays true to form
with a peppy score and playful storyline. Legally
Blonde the Musical was nominated for ~ Tony
Awards.
Their lead singer, Dottie Devane has a very strong
stage presence and an amazing voice. She is
known as the best Janis Joplin singer in the area.
Lead Guitarist Bill Pike is arguably one of the best
guitarists in the bay area. Mark Hall, the bass
player is a great vocalist with a distinctive style.
Drummer, James "Big Country" Mcknight, has
toured the country with a well known national
artist recently. Terry Devane,Bandleader, singer Cast members include Pam Heaps, Tori Tuzzolino,
and guitar player, brings his sense of humor to the Brynne Plesco, Mikayla Duncan, Ben Heaps, Wendy
show.
Davidson, Tyler Hollis, Jonathan Hogset, Danielle
Goyco, Emilie Plants, Krystal Scott, Terry Abbott,
Kicking off with arousing rendition of "Come Joe Osborn, John Harrer, Katie Rains, Alixandria
Together" by the Beatles, the band played music Paplet, Billie Martin, Chelesa Scourtes, Fralia
from Chuck Berry to Stevie Ray Vaughn to Tracy Rosario, Kelley Gustafson, Logan Simmons, Oliver
Chapman. Combining elements of Classic Rock, Sprague, Maurice Cecchini, Olivia Mitchell, Vince
Dance and R&B,the band captured the attention of Evangelista, Benedict Cumberpooch, Laura Kasch,
the audience late into the evening. The catchy Charizma Dunphy, David Harnage, Jade Rivera,
number,"Chain of Fools" had the audience filling Lionel Wood and Mark Henderson.
the dance floor.
Cast members will bring the story to life on July
That said, the audience reserved some of the i8i9, 20, 24, 25 and 26. Evening performances
biggest cheers of the night for Dottie Devane's "Me begin at 8:0o P.M. (doors open at ~:oo P.M.),
& Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin. Dottie Devane Sunday matinee at 2:0o P.M. (doors open at i:oo
channels Janis in every note of her sultry P.M.)
performance. Devane, who has left audience
members marveling at her ability to recreate Tickets are $i4 for adults, $i2 for students and
Joplin's San Francisco sound, performs all of the senior citizens and $10 for members or group
singer's hits such as Piece of My Heart, Turtle advance sales. Reservations are recommended and
Blues ,Get it While You Can and the stunning can be purchased in advance by calling Frances
rendition of Me &Bobby McGee.
Hardee at 813-754-4929•
The Plant City Entertainment Community Theater is
You can see Kozmic Pearl perform monthly at the located at ioi North Thomas Street. For more
Sunset Grill at Little Harbor in Ruskin. For more information, visit www.plantcityentertainment.com
information, visit www.kozmicpearlband.com.
Plant City Dining &Entertainment Guide
July 204 ~ Page i2
BLts~~D ~Ql~
P6ANT CITY, i'6DBIDA
THE PERFECT
WAYTOEND
Y~ITTi~ n dvi