Velvet Sessions at The Hard Rock Hotel

Every month there are Velvet Sessions held on the last Thursday of the month at The Velvet Bar and Lobby Lounge at The Hard Rock Hotel, excluding November and February when Festive Celebrations are underway.  Creative cocktails combine with fabulous live music for form a rock ' n ' roll cocktail party showcasing a different type of beverage accompanied by some great rock and roll music.

Ages 21+, admission is $25 online, or $30 on the door.

Check out who's playing and when here.

CSN on tour - Jacksonville May 2013

Crosby, Stills and Nash on tour in Florida May 2013

Friday May 13 2013  Florida Theater Jacksonville - tickets on sale January 18 2013 from 10.00 am.

Side trip to Deerfield Beach

When we were out in Florida in January staying at our villa we decided we would have a break from the usual homeowners holiday and get away from it all for a few days and take a ‘real’ vacation.  So when we booked tickets to see Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at Sunrise, and then thought about driving up and down for about a nano second, we then decided to have a mini-break and stay somewhere on the Atlantic Coast.

Sometime ago while staying in Miami we had ventured up the A1A and after looking round Palm Beach and deciding it was perhaps not the place to experience lunch with a couple of teenagers, we ended up in Deerfield Beach.  We stopped off at a beachside restaurant where luckily it was Happy Hour.  Not so happy for the driver, but the remaining adults enjoyed a couple of cocktails with either a very late lunch or an early supper.  Whichever we decided it was, it was delicious.  Great shrimps in beer batter, a friendly waitress and great company.  This was in February so we had left cold weather behind in London, and were in our tee shirts and cropped trousers or shorts and sitting on the beach eating our food overlooking the sea.  Isn't life great sometimes?

So when it came to thinking about where to head for, we thought of Deerfield Beach, and managed to get a deal at the Wyndham Resort for 3 nights.  We drove down the Turnpike - tedious but necessary as it is far faster than the A1A Coastal Road which is how we travelled back to Orlando.   

Our room overlooked the Ocean.  The pictures really say it all.

Sunset at Deerfield Beach, January 2012

Sunbathers on Deerfield Beach, FL.  January 2012

The Pier at Deerfield Beach FL undergoing a face lift.

Deerfield Beach Florida

The start of sunrise at Deerfield Beach

Sunrise at Deerfield Beach

As you can see we had the most fantastic views overlooking the sandy beach and the shimmering waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  The sunsets and sunrises were just fabulous; with those wonderful colours that can only be a Florida horizon.

 

There’s loads to see and do in the surrounding area, you can attend concerts at the Sunrise Center (home of the Florida Panthers - which explains why the Center was so cold - take a jumper or wrap). This is just next door to the Sawgrass Mill Shopping Plaza which seems to go on forever, and is North America's largest outlet.  The old part is fairly dated nowadays, but there is a VERY upmarket part called The Colonnade with top-end shops (with prices to match) and great eateries.  So if you are looking for something from high-end outlets such as Prada, Burberry or Salvatore Ferragamo this is the place to visit.

The day we went we had lunch at the Grand Lux Cafe at The Colonnade at Sawgrass which was very pleasant.  A spacious restaurant with attentive staff and good food, can't ask more than that.  There are plenty more restaurants to choose from so no-one needs go hungry!

Away from the world of outlet shopping the children will love Butterfly World which is in Coconut Creek.  If you want a bit of culture head for Boca Raton  and check out their Museum of Art at Mizner Park.    You can see some marvellous paintings, photographs, prints and sculpture including an Andy Warhol print.   For the more active there are plenty of golf courses, tennis courts, or the more adventurous can try para-sailing, Jet Ski-ing or snorkelling  You can go deep-sea fishing selecting from a number of boats based at harbour at Fort Lauderdale.   

Or you might just want to sit or lie on the beach and either sunbathe or relax.  Even in January the temperature was up in the high 80s during the day, much warmer than what we had left behind in the UK.  When we returned home within a week we had very cold weather and eventually snow, so the memory of those lovely warm January days seem in the distant past rather than just a few weeks ago.

We thoroughly enjoyed the concert, beautiful ballads that we remembered from the 1970s and 80s, along with a number of songs that had obviously been hits in the US but not in the UK, but we had a great evening.  

We had a wonderful 3 night break and felt we had re-charged the batteries and could hop back on the treadmill again.  We headed back up to Orlando but decided to take the A1A Coastal Road knowing it would take us a great deal longer than going up the Turnpike, but we felt we would see parts of Florida we wouldn't otherwise see.  But that will be another posting ...

Conversations @ The Dali

Dali Museum, St Petersburg FL

Salvador Dali Museum
Upcoming Events

Dillydally with Dali January 19, 2013 (Saturday) January 25, 2013 (Friday) Children can discover the creative world of Dali every day in the Education Classroom with stories, puzzles and activities which educate and encourage family interaction. Gallery treasure hunts are available to allow families to explore the Museum on their own. *Education Classroom hours subject to change. Cost: Free

Arts & Crafts for Families January 19, 2013 (Saturday) 11:45 AM - 4:30 PM Children can discover the creative world of Dali every day in the Education Classroom with stories, puzzles and activities which educate and encourage family interaction. On Saturdays, dillydally with Dali featuring fun games, puzzles and unique arts and craft activities. Cost: Free

Hamlet Day for Families January 19, 2013 (Saturday) 11:45 AM - 5:00 PM Films and activities are presented as a part of city wide Shakespeare festivities in collaboration with area arts organizations featuring concerts, films, visual art, and the new Dali exhibit, "Much Ado About Shakespeare", a collection of 31 works and two illustrated books inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. The exhibit will be on display through April 28, 2013. Schedule of Hamlet Day events: 1 - 3 pm Film: Disney's The Lion King Enjoy Popcorn, soda, coloring/collage activities, free jungle visors to the first 60 children (or while they last) and raffle prizes! One of the most popular Disney animated musicals, The Lion King presents the story of a lion cub's journey to adulthood and acceptance of his royal destiny. Borrowing elements from Hamlet, classical mythology, and African folk tales, The Lion King tells its mythic coming-of-age tale with a combination of spectacular visuals and lively music, featuring light, rhythmic songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score by Hans Zimmer. Embraced by children and adults alike.  (Disney, 87 min.; Rated G) Cost: Free to all. Where: Raymond James Community Room, first floor. Doors open at 12:45 pm. Film starts at 1:00 pm. 3 - 5 pm Film: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead Much as he would later do with Shakespeare in Love (1998), writer Tom Stoppard delivered a tale of Shakespearean origin from a skewed and unexpected perspective.  (Stoppard, 1990, 117 min.; rated PG) Cost: Free. Where: Theater, First Floor. Please note, refreshments not allowed in the theater. 4 pm Teen Docent Tour of the Collection Teen docents who have been studying the collection give their premiere tour as a team. Cost: Free with Museum Admission. Where: Third floor gallery

Yoga + Dali January 20, 2013 (Sunday) 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Join Inspire Yoga every Sunday at the New Dali - a remarkable environment where Dali's energy infuses the physical, mental and spiritual inspiration of yoga. Classes held in the Community Room or Avant-Garden, both with incredible views of the waterfront. Enter through the Cafe Gala doors (Eastside Garden entrance) starting at 11:30. Cost: $10 members and students, $15 non-members. Non-members, visit the galleries on the same day for an additional $6. Please purchase tickets at Admissions and bring your receipt to class.

Story Time for Families January 23, 2013 (Wednesday) 11:15 AM Join us in the Education Classroom for story time at 11:15 am featuring selected books from the Dali Museum library and store. Cost: Free

Story Time for Families January 24, 2013 (Thursday) 11:15 AM Join us in the Education Classroom for story time at 11:15 am featuring selected books from the Dali Museum library and store. Cost: Free

Dillydally with Dali January 26, 2013 (Saturday) -- February 1, 2013 (Friday) Children can discover the creative world of Dali every day in the Education Classroom with stories, puzzles and activities which educate and encourage family interaction. Gallery treasure hunts are available to allow families to explore the Museum on their own. *Education Classroom hours subject to change. Cost: Free

Arts & Crafts for Families January 26, 2013 (Saturday) 11:45 AM - 4:30 PM Children can discover the creative world of Dali every day in the Education Classroom with stories, puzzles and activities which educate and encourage family interaction. On Saturdays, dillydally with Dali featuring fun games, puzzles and unique arts & craft activities. Cost: Free

Dali & Beyond Film Series: Romeo + Juliet January 26, 2013 (Saturday) 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM The classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy is updated by director Baz Luhrmann to a post-modern Verona Beach where swords are merely a brand of gun and bored youths are easily spurred toward violence. Longtime rivals in religion and business, the Montagues and the Capulets share a page from the Jets and Sharks of West Side Story when they form rival gangs. Cost: Free to all. Refreshments for sale in Cafe Gala (Refreshments not permitted in theater)

Yoga + Dali January 27, 2013 (Sunday) 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Join Inspire Yoga every Sunday at the New Dali - a remarkable environment where Dali's energy infuses the physical, mental and spiritual inspiration of yoga. Classes held in the Community Room or Avant-Garden, both with incredible views of the waterfront. Enter through the Cafe Gala doors (Eastside Garden entrance) starting at 11:30. Cost: $10 members and students, $15 non-members. Non-members, visit the galleries on the same day for an additional $6. Please purchase tickets at Admissions and bring your receipt to class.

Story Time for Families January 29, 2013 (Tuesday) 11:15 AM Join us in the Education Classroom for story time at 11:15 am featuring selected books from the Dali Museum library and store. Cost: Free

Story Time for Families January 30, 2013 (Wednesday) 11:15 AM Join us in the Education Classroom for story time at 11:15 am featuring selected books from the Dali Museum library and store. Cost: Free

Story Time for Families January 31, 2013 (Thursday) 11:15 AM Join us in the Education Classroom for story time at 11:15 am featuring selected books from the Dali Museum library and store. Cost: Free

Our Town: Conversations with St. Pete Mythmakers - Eric Deggans January 31, 2013 (Thursday) 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM Our Town is a once-a-month conversation with a notable St. Pete mythmaker. Host Dr. Carol Mickett, philosopher and artist, will converse with these local heroes about their visions, accomplishments, and contributions to shaping the identity of our town. Where else but at the Dali Museum - which showcases the mythmaking of artist Salvador Dali - to honor the people of our city and its surroundings who are building the greatness which is St. Petersburg? This month's guest: Eric Deggans, Media Critic and Journalism Ethicist Eric Deggans serves as TV/Media Critic for the Tampa Bay Times. He provides freelance commentaries on television for National Public Radio and writes on sports media issues for the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University. His new book, Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation (Palgrave Macmillan, October 2012), is a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuels some elements of modern media. Cost: $5 General; Free to Dali Members. No RSVP required. First come, first serve. Must check-in at Admissions prior to event.

Our Town Conservations at The Dali on January 31 2013 take place in the Museum Theater.  A Celebrated myth maker converses with the host Dr Carol Mickett.  Guest Speaker is Eric Deggans who is TV/Media Critic for the Tampa Bay Times.  Admission $5.  6.30 - 7.45pm.

Magical Dining Orlando 2012

Well folks it's back!  Fine dining in Orlando at great prices.  Magical Dining - try it, we have many times and it's a wonderful opportunity to try fabulous restaurants at a fraction of their usual rates.  Just $30 a head for 3 courses.  Here's a list of the participating restaurants.  Enjoy! 

Availability Disney vacation rental - September 2012

We still have an opening from August 31 - September 22 so why not plan a vacation to Orlando?  The weather is usually improving and best of all Magical Dining takes place in September.

You can eat at great restaurants on a budget.  3 courses for $30 September 1 - 30 2012.

Heart & Soul Tour - Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks

Tickets still available for August 4 2012 performance at Bank Atlantic Center, Sunrise

http://bit.ly/NFpjhh