Hands Across the Sand

Hands Across the Sand is a statewide event organized to protest oil drilling off Florida's coastline. Join residents from all walks of life as we fill Florida's beaches and stand together against legislation which would open Florida's near shore and offshore waters to oil drilling. Suggested dress--wear black to resemble an oil slick! Bring a sign if you like. This is taking place on Saturday, February 13th at 1 P.M. Get the full scope

Florida horse country

A little more than an hour northwest of the heartbeat of the Orlando tourism attractions lies a part of Old Florida that many casual tourists never see—the rolling horse country of Lake and Marion counties. Riding schools and training courses can be found throughout this area, especially in and around Ocala near the Ocala National Forest, most of which is located in Marion County.

For horse lovers visiting Marion County, the Ocala Equestrian Complex hosts weekend competitions and events throughout the year; during the week the facility is open by appointment for clinics and open riding for a nominal fee. Nearby Silver Springs still utilizes the glass bottom boats that attracted visitors over a century ago, and the park includes plenty of other natural attractions for visitors who prefer gators and petting zoos to simulators and roller coasters.

Until the hard freezes of the 1980s, Lake County was filled with orange groves. Some small groves still remain, although the majority of citrus production has moved further south. Lake County still maintains its rural flavor, and the historic charm of downtown Mount Dora is the jewel in the crown of Lake County. Cycling enthusiasts also enjoy the gently rolling hills in this region, and every October the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival lures hundreds of riders from across the state to enjoy the quiet scenery—so close and yet so far from many of Florida’s busiest attractions.

Purple Isles Art Guild

Unique gifts of fine art are to be offered by the Purple Isles Art Guild at its 44th annual judged art show set for Saturday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, March 7.

Art lovers can find pieces by many of the Keys' most talented artists. Works are to include watercolors, acrylics, oils, colored pencil pieces, pastels, photography and three-dimensional artistry.

The show is to be staged indoors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the community room of the Key Largo Library at Tradewinds Plaza, mile marker 101.4 oceanside.

For more information, contact Michael Mayer at 305-852-0668 or visit www.purpleislesartguild.com.

Annual House and Garden Tour

Some of the finest homes and most interesting gardens in the Middle Keys are to be open to the public for one day during the Marathon Garden Club's 35th annual House & Garden Tour. The tour is set for Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Single-family homes and island retreats are to be featured from the islands of Marathon to Duck Key, highlighting an event designed to inspire interest and ideas for enhancing home and yard. The grounds at the garden club, mile marker 50 bayside, also are to be open for exploration for the day.

Interiors ranging from elegant to eclectic, wall art and table decor are just some of the elements to be spotlighted.

The gardens and landscapes on the tour are expected to enlighten and entertain, showcasing the outdoor lifestyle inherent to the Florida Keys.

Admission is $20 per person including refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at the garden club, the Marathon Chamber of Commerce or on tour day at any of the homes on the tour.

Raffle tickets will be available for drawings of prints donated by artists from the Florida Keys Watercolor Society.

For more information and a list of featured homes, contact the Marathon Garden Club at 305-743-4971 or visit www.marathongardenclub.org.

Florida grapefruit

For anyone who is still trying to hang on to that New Year’s weight loss resolution, keep in mind that Florida grapefruit is in peak season from January through April. A popular part of many diets, grapefruits are loaded with vitamin C, dietary fiber, and other important nutrients. Travelers driving into the Sunshine State have probably noticed the Florida citrus stands that crop up once they cross the state line.

According to the Florida Department of Citrus’ information at GoGrapefruit.com, “Florida grapefruit has a rich history, dating back to 1823, when Count Odet Phillippe planted the state’s first grapefruit grove near Tampa. Before that, the first documented grapefruit tree was found in Barbados in the 1700’s.” The fruit derives its name from the cluster formation in which the grapefruit grow.

While citrus farmers had cause for concern during January’s extended cold snap—and for Floridians, more than a week of temperatures in the 30s and 40s was highly unusual—the grapefruit trees in the Treasure Coast and other parts of South Florida seemed to have fared better than expected, and damage has not been as severe as the hard freezes in the 1980s that pushed most of the Central Florida citrus growers to sell their land or move their operations even farther south.

The Holiday Inn Highland Beach

The Holiday Inn Highland Beach is a beautiful hotel that is located only 30 minutes away from both West Palm and Fort Lauderdale Hollywood airports. The hotel is situated directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, you are sure to enjoy your time as a guest here. The brightly appointed guest rooms offer all the comforts of home. Each newly remodeled guestrooms feature a private bath with marble appointments. The hotel offers rooms for the physically challenged guest upon request. The hotel staff works hard to maintain the pride and professionalism that are the standard for all Holiday Inns. Convenient location, friendly staff, and affordable accommodations, why stay anywhere else? The hotel is minutes to fine dining, shopping, and entertainment venues.

Bands Brew & BBQ 2010 at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens

Fans of the annual Bud & BBQ Fest at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa will be pleased to know that the event has not been cancelled since the Belgian-based company InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch in 2008 and sold off the theme park properties to the Blackstone Group the following year. This year annual concert event has been renamed Bands, Brew and BBQ, and will still have a big name line-up for country music and classic rock fans alike.

The festival starts at 11:30 a.m. weekends in February—on Saturdays at SeaWorld and Sundays at Busch Gardens. The concerts are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted and are included with park admission. The scheduled lineup is as follows:

SeaWorld Orlando – Saturdays in February

February 6 - LeAnn Rimes

February 13 - Montgomery Gentry

February 20 - John Rich of Big & Rich

February 27 - Yes

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – Sundays in February

February 7 - Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx (concert starts at 3:00 p.m.)

February 14 - Willie Nelson

February 21 - Huey Lewis and the News

February 28 - Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

South Beach Hotels

The Continental South Beach Oceanfront is located on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Fla.
Adjacent to the beach
Two blocks from the Miami Beach Convention Center
Less than five blocks from Lincoln Road shops
Complimentary wireless Internet access in lobby
Heated outdoor pool with poolside bar
Activities desk
Complimentary in-room safes
Complimentary newspapers
Cable television
Refrigerators upon request

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Super Bowl XLIV in Miami February 7

Game on—the AFC champions Indianapolis Colts will take on the NFC champs New Orleans Saints on Sunday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, marking the first time that the Saints have gone to the Super Bowl in their 42 year franchise history, and the 10th time that Miami has hosted the Super Bowl.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, but the festivities start days in advance. Events that are free and open to the public include “Super” Clematis by Night on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, and the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam on Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5 from 6:30 – 11:00 p.m. at the 7th Street Beach in Miami Beach. The Fan Jam is promising a “concert featuring A-list performers” which will be broadcast live on VH1. On February 6, there will be a Super Bowl Saturday Night held at the Fort Lauderdale Beach at 1140 Seabreeze Blvd. This free concert from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. will feature two main acts and a fireworks display.

A full listing of free and ticketed events can be found online in the Super Bowl XLIV event guide. Tickets to the actual Super Bowl are already sold out, so the best seat for non-ticket holders will be right in front of the TV.