Spring Beer Fling Review

Spring has come to Florida!  We are enjoying beautiful weather and nice, not too hot, temperatures.  Mike and I spent a gorgeous Sunday at the Spring Beer Fling held at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa.  It was supposed to happen on Saturday but wisely was rescheduled to Sunday because of rain and thunderstorms.

The event started at noon but we arrived at 3:30 pm.  There was no line and we entered right away after showing our IDs verifying we were indeed over 21.  We headed to the VIP tent to check out what beverages were available.  Our VIP wristbands entitled us to unlimited drinks, including beer, wine, cocktails and bottled water.

The VIP tent had two IPAs and four types of Deep Eddy vodka.  I didn't even know Deep Eddy came in anything other than tea flavor.  I tried Deep Eddy Ruby Red with club soda and Deep Eddy Cranberry with club soda and lime.  Both were good but sweet and I could only drink about half of each glass.  We were also informed that our VIP wristbands could be used at the other beverage tents outside of the VIP area.  I went in search of cider!  I found two of my favorites!

I enjoyed ice cold, crisp, hard cider in my Spring Beer Fling souvenir glass.  Angry Orchard was sweeter and higher in calories than Strongbow but both were excellent hard ciders.  I was thrilled that they included hard cider at the beer fling since I don't like beer.  The lines for beer were short and moved quickly.  Mike sampled Samuel Adams' Rebel IPA, Sierra Nevada's Torpedo and Ruthless Rye, New Belgium's Snapshot and Sunshine Wheat.

Mike and I met up with our friends Denise and Allan. It was so much fun hanging out with friends, sipping beer and chatting.  There were even some muscle flexing and calf pictures taken but those didn't make the blog.

No one tried the surfboard this time.  I rode bull at Bourbon Fest but didn't want to wear the helmet required for the surfboard.  Other patrons seemed to have an exciting time on the surfboard with cheers from the crowd.

The Spring Beer Fling had four different food options.  We ate at the PaniniRiffic food truck. I had a delicious mojo chicken Panini and seasoned french fries.  Then on the way out, we shared lime chicken nachos that were so tasty!

The Spring Beer Fling went on until 10:00 pm that night but we left at about 7:00 pm to get home.  When we left, the party was still going and beach balls still flying.  I really enjoyed the Curtis Hixon venue for this event.  Curtis Hixon was clean and had really bathrooms in addition to the porta potties brought in for the crowds.  We had a great time!

Disclaimer: As a Tampa Bay Blogger, I was given two VIP tickets in exchange for promotion and review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Bourbon and Brew Fest Preview and Giveaway

I'm excited for Tampa's Bourbon and Brew Fest happening on Saturday, November 23 at The Heights Waterfront from 3pm - 11pm.  My husband is even more excited because he loves bourbon!  This is the same venue we visited for the Rum Fest in August.

The Bourbon and Brew Fest promises bourbon, BBQ, craft beers, country music, southern rock, a fireworks show and a lot of fun!  They will also have a mechanical bull, corn hole and other entertaining games.

Check out How To Fest.  They offer a couple of different ticket options.

General admission gives you access to the Bourbon & Brew Festival for $25.  Then your bourbon and specialty beer drinks start at $5 each.  OR

VIP Grand Bourbon Tasting Experience gives you access to the Bourbon & Brew Festival for $100.  This gives you access to the inside Grand Bourbon Tasting area where you can have UNLIMITED samples of over 40 different brands of bourbon/whiskey!  This tasting experience also includes a Bourbon & Brew rock glass.

Bourbon & Brew Fest will feature Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek and Laphroaig bars.  In addition they will have Sweetwater Brewing Company, Woodchuck Draft Cider and wine.  It's a little something for everyone!

Check out Bourbon & Brew Fest's Facebook page.

Who's ready for a giveaway!!  I have two General Admission tickets to give away way to one lucky reader. The General Admissions tickets give admission in to Bourbon & Brew Fest in Tampa on Saturday, November 23, 2013.  You must be local to the Tampa Bay area to win.

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Disclaimer: I was given tickets to the event in exchange for promotion and review.  All opinions are my own.

Summer of Rum Preview

I'm so excited for the Summer of Rum Fest on August 24!  Rum is my drink of choice!  This fabulous summer event is in downtown Tampa at The Heights Waterfront from 4 pm to 11 pm.

Summer of Rum will offer 5 unique rum zones with Cruzan Rum, Naked Turtle Rum and Appleton Estate Rum drinks along with live entertainment.

Check out How to Fest.  They offer two different ticket options.

General admission gives you access to Summer of Rum for $15 advance or $20 at the door.  Then your rum drinks are $5 each.  OR

Endless Rum Cup gives you access to Summer of Rum for $55 advance or $65 at the door.  Endless Rum Cup lets you drink unlimited rum drinks in a 16-oz commemorative Summer of Rum hurricane glass!

Summer of Rum will also offer Red Stipe beer and water at an additional cost.

Take a look at Summer of Rum's Facebook page and the August 24th Facebook event.

Now the really exciting part....I have two General Admission tickets to give away to one lucky reader!  squeal  The two General Admission tickets provide entrance to the Summer of Rum in Tampa on August 24th, 2013.

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Disclaimer: I was given two Endless Rum Cup tickets in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Music Monday [Friends]

I've been slacking on my blog posts lately because I'm substituting full time right now for a first grade class.  I started April 1st and I'm there until school gets out in June.  There's no down time when teaching 6 and 7 year olds.  I hope to be back on track and blogging regularly again.

This week's Music Monday is all about friends!  I just had a fantastic girls night out last weekend with some great friends.  We did dinner, drinks and dancing.

Here's a catchy tune we were singing along with.

 

 

Here's a classic 80s song.  I remember listening to this in elementary school and for our 6th grade graduation.  Funny how a song can take you right back to a time in your life.

 

 

 

A great Queen song!

 



 

 

And lastly, one of my favorite Disney movies has a great friend song.  Both of my boys loved Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear so I've watched this many times.

 



What music moves you?

For Music Mondays, I’m teaming up with my good friend and fellow Marathon Mama, Denise. Please stop by and check out Denise's Music Monday.



Visit Xmas Dolly for more Music Monday.