Year: 2012

2011 Seabreeze Jazz Fest Stats

Year over year, since the Jazz Fest has come to Panama City Beach, the event has grown and drawn a sophisticated audience to the beach.  Many of the attendees upon their first event, had never been here before.  And many have a pattern of returning every year and at other times of year as well.

We recently had a discussion with Mark and Renee Carter, the event promoters, about the growth and success of the event.

Stats
  • Festival attendance topped 25,000 (includes dinner cruise, Meet- and Greet, Kick off concert, and all shows at Pier Park)
  • Named “Top 10 Jazz Festival in the USA” by JazzIZ Magazine
  • Named “Top 100 Event by the North American Tour Bus Association”
  • Demographic is 30-54 years old affluent adults, college-educated, professionals earning $100,000+ annually. Many attendees earn in excess of $250,000+.
  • 65% of tickets sold were outside the State of FL.
  • Most stay on an average of 4 nights.
  • Resorts such as Sterling and Resort Quest have tracked jazz festival attendees returning multiple times per year on vacation after the jazz festival is done.
  • The 2011 event created a $14.2 million impact to Panama City Beach and Bay County according to the HAAS Center at the University of West Florida Small Business Developmental Center.
  • Seabreeze Jazz Festival was #1 ticketed paid event in Bay County for 2011 in gross receipts and top gross receipts for a single event (Pollstar.com) with close to $1 million in ticket sales.
  • In 2011 — tickets were sold in 48 of the 50 states in the USA and 6 different countries.
  • Over 1 million hits to the festival website April 2011.
  • Music Scholarships, jazz band clinics, and instrument purchases were incorporated into the 2011 event with participating from Arnold High School in PCB and South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach.
  • Seabreeze Jazz Festival always offers free admissions to all local band students who wear their band shirt to the front gates.
  • WSBZ-FM 106.3 in Destin, FL is one of only 12 full-time smooth jazz radio stations in the USA.
Two ways to get free tickets

You want to know something awesome?  We’ve worked out a special deal to do a ticket giveaway and offer some free tickets to those that book their stay through us as well.

We’re going to do a ticket giveaway later this week, where we’ll give away 2 four-day passes to one lucky winner!  This is a $400 value!

Keep your eyes peeled!

New Series: 7 Local Restaurants the Tourists Don’t Know About

Who’s That Girl?

Ok, first of all, let me introduce myself…because you don’t know me yet.

My name is Marie Rivera, and I am the newest writer for pcbdaily.com! Panama City Beach has been my home for a grand total of 14 years, and I’ve loved every second of it! I am quite passionate about the people, places, and events in the area, and jumped on the chance to contribute my discoveries and thoughts on happenings around Panama City Beach!
My First Undertaking

My original idea for my first article started out as just that; one article. The more I delved into it though, the more my mind began spilling over with things I wanted to say and information I wanted to include. That’s when I decided that I would overload you with everything I have in mind for my entire first week with Pcbdaily.

So, with that said, I am going to write a series of articles with the goal of putting the word out for local-favorite restaurants in the area, as suggested and voted on by over 650 random PCB natives. When I say random, I mean that I went all around the area asking PCB residents at Pier Park, Gulf Coast, the beach, the navy base, etc. about their favorite  local hot-spots away from the mobs of beach invaders.

I began just asking for suggestions to put together a list, and was given about 45 places, which was a lot more than I anticipated from the first 75 or so people. I was pretty sure I’d hear names of local restaurants that I was familiar with, but more often I heard things that have never went through my ears before. This definitely intrigued me, and convinced me that I was getting myself into a lot more than I thought. But then again, this is the whole point of the articles, right?

It was definitely crazy trying to get the list down to where I needed it, but I just ended up narrowing the voting list down by only using restaurants that were suggested 10 or more times. That made it so much easier! I noticed too that the locals tended to choose places that were close to where they lived as their favorites, which is probably why I still hadn’t heard about some of the restaurants that were voted for. Although I obviously wasn’t incredibly familiar with the hot spots chosen, that’s exactly what made this so enjoyable! I was able to taste new flavors and experience new environments that seem to fuel the love for life on the beach! So incredible!

I am entitling the series “7 Local Restaurants the Tourists Don’t Know About”. Why 7? Because it’s my lucky number. No, in all reality, I chose 7 so I could feature 1 local hot spot each article that I had been to over the course of a week. I’ll probably get an article out every couple of days. Then, as a bonus, I am going to write an eighth article for a restaurant that really should get more traffic; not only in my opinion, but in many others’ in the area.

Sound good? Just keep your eyes peeled for my details of good eatin’ all around the beautiful Panama City Beach! 🙂

Links to the Articles

Ready to do your homework on the must-eat-at local restaurants? Click on the links to the articles to see what’s in store for you!

Tuesday Breakfast: Fatty Patty’s Cakes & Cafe

Wednesday Dinner:: J.Michael’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar

A total list of Pier Park Restaurants

Updated 3/22/12

Pier Park has, in just 4 years, become one of the most iconic landmarks to grace the shores of Northwest Florida.  Literally hundreds of thousands of people (if not millions) visit this destination annually and Pier Park’s popularity is evidenced by the crowded sidewalks, shops and restaurants all year long.  The variety of creative gathering spaces, alcoves and fun places to shop, paired with beachy architecture make Pier Park, well fun!

This is an old post (literally 4 years to the day), but we’re republishing it because we’re updating it.  Since this was originally published in March of 2008, new places have been added and some places just didn’t make it.

Restaurants

Order at the counter

Order via wait staff

Places with food
  • Candymaker Candy Stores
  • Great American Cookie Co.
  • Kilwin’s Chocolate
  • Marble Slab Creamery
  • Popcorn Kingdom
  • Smoothie King
  • Starbucks

Walmart Plans Moving Forward

With a ground-breaking date still having not been announced, the plans for the whole development have been released for bid.  The plans are telling as to the type of store we’ll see and it’s nothing short of exciting for me!

With the Target renovations coming online in the next few days, the new Walmart will definitely give them a run for the money, when they get opened.

Remember, the original projections for the new Walmart predict a ground breaking this spring and about a 12 month construction time.  However, as of this post, there hasn’t been any dirt moved yet.

What the plans tell us.

The plans that are available tell us everything from the orientation of the building to the types of sections that exist in side.

Looking at the plans, we have reason to expect the general look and feel will be consistent with Pier Park.  We already know the size of the store will be around 70% the size of the Walmart Super Center at the intersection of Middle Beach and Front Beach Roads, or 156,000 square feet.

Looking at the plans, we see a full bakery section, deli (with display coolers), fresh produce, garden center, and other general areas you’d expect to find in a Walmart.

So far, it is looking like an exact replica of the other Walmart, just smaller.

Target at Pier Park Prepping for A Looming Standoff

This week Target at Pier Park plans to open it’s new (and highly anticipated as far as I am concerned) produce section, which may or may not be news to you, but could make for quite a standoff in the very near future. As I am sure you’ve read, a plan to build a new Walmart within shouting distance is presenting a potential showdown. But, underlying what could be a price/food/clientele war are the whispered perceptions of what adding a Walmart around the Pier Park area could do to Pier Park’s brand. This war, it seems, will extend beyond the aisles of the respective super-stores and into the dining room discussions of residents all over Panama City Beach in terms of how it will affect things like traffic, businesses and, of course, the inevitable growth towards the West End.

For now, at least, we can all rejoice in the fresh and high quality produce headed our way. In fact, Target is actually a Certified Organic Produce Retailer, which means that much of what you will see in the store should be pretty tasty. And although Target’s offering will not be a substitute for a full-service grocery store, it should make the popular store more of a one-stop-shop.

The war is looming, no doubt, but Target’s little addition is a welcomed one.

Survey: Should The Martin Theatre Bring Back Movies?

Residents of Panama City and Panama City Beach don’t consider themselves art lovers if they have never attended at least one show at the “Martin.” Originally built in 1936, the Martin Theatre first opened it’s door as the “Ritz”, one of a chain of movie houses that covered Georgia, Alabama and NW Florida. Early memories boast visits by such notables as Clark Gable, Constance Bennett, Michael O’Shea, William Boyd, and cowboy great Bill Elliot. The cinema operated until 1978, then sat vacant until 1987 when it was bought by the, then, chairman on the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board, H. Mack Lewis. It reopened in 1990 as an entertainment facility and to this day, the 460-seat state-of-the-art facility is known for hosting many popular plays and attractions.

But times have been a’changing.

The Martin brass is considering taking the downtown staple back to it’s roots and they need your help. Should the Martin go back to showing movies? You be the judge…

Click Here to post your thoughts.

Full Event Schedule for the 2012 Seabreeze Jazz Festival

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is coming up in a few short weeks, can you hear those sweet tunes yet?  I sure can.  In years past, we’ve attended this amazing event, shot tons of fun pictures and brushed shoulders with the best in the Jazz.  This year will be the same, and we’re looking forward to good weather, a great lineup and an amazing weekend.

Full schedule of events

Wednesday April 18th

  • SMOOTH JAZZ DINNER CRUISE presented by ResortQuest featuring Brian Culbertson
  • The Lady Anderson Dinner Yacht, Panama City Beach
  • 6:30pm Boarding
  • 7pm-10pm – Sailing the waterways

Thursday April 19th – 3pm FREE EVENT

  • Seabreeze Jazz Festival Kickoff Party
  • Featuring Urban Jazz Coalition and Friends
  • Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Pier Park – Panama City Beach, FL

Main Stage — Pier Park Amphitheater

  • (Gates open at 5 pm)
  • 6PM – The Seabreeze Groove Project” featuring Four 80 East, Matt Marshak, and Shilts
  • 8PM – “R n R” featuring Richard Elliot and Rick Bruan

Friday  April 20th

Main Stage — Pier Park Amphitheater

  • (Gates open at 5 pm)
  • 6PM Vincent Ingala and Chris Geith  (Seabreeze Rising Stars)
  • 7:15pm Urban Jazz Coalition
  • 8:30pm Brian Culbertson

After Party

  • 10:30pm Seabreeze After Party Jam – hosted by Nick Collione
  • Reggae J’s at Pier Park sponsored by Smooth Jazz.com

Saturday April 21st

Main Stage — Pier Park Amphitheater

  • (Gates open at 10 am)
  • 11:30am Down To The Bone
  • 1:30pm Jazz In Pink featuring Cindy Bradley, Althea Rene, Karen Briggs, Gail Jhonson, Mariea Antoninette, and others
  • 3:30pm Nick Colionne
  • 5:30pm Seabreeze Smooth Jazz All Stars featuring Eric Darius, Brian Simpson, Maysa, and Phil Perry
  • 8PM Fourplay

After Party

  • 10:30pm Seabreeze After Party Jam – hosted by Brian Culbertson
  • Reggae J’s at Pier Park sponsored by Smooth Lounge.com

Sunday April 22nd

Main Stage — Pier Park Amphitheater

  • (Gates open at 10 am)
  • 11:30am Alexander Zonjic and Jeff Lorber
  • 1pm Street Corner Renaissance
  • 2pm Mindi Abair featuring Jeff Golub and David Pack
  • 4pm Trombone Shorty
  • 6pm Dave Koz
Ticket pricing and where to buy

Tickets

  • Seabreeze Jazz Dinner Cruise — $145 per person SOLD OUT
  • Four day pass — $200 per person
  • Three day pass — $150 per person
  • Single day pass — $80 per person
  • VIP four day pass — $575 per person SOLD OUT
  • VIP four day reserved table for 10 — $7000 per table

Chair Rental

  • All weekend — $45
  • Single day — $15
For more information about the tickets, what you get for the price and where to buy, visit Seabreezejazzfestival.com/tickets

The festival promoters have said that no coolers are allowed, just a small, personal insulated tote no more than 12 inches high.  They’ve stated that no alcohol is permitted and attendees have their chairs out of their bags upon entry.

Bonus – Pictures from last year

Frank Brown Park Playground gets New Surface

In what was a badly pitted, scared and bruised playground surface, the Frank Brown Park Playground safety surface has finally been replaced.  When they first opened the playground in 2000, it was celebrated and welcomed.  Over the years it’s been heavily used, and I for one have been there like a million times.

What’s new

You may remember how battered the previous safety surface was.  Well, that’s gone and a new one has been installed.  And it looks beautiful.  The material is padded and protects against falls and injury.

The old one looked patched and dingy, but the new one looks cohesive and has that new padded-surface-smell.

They also replaced the fencing around the outside of the playground and replaced the table tops for the picnic benches.

The refurbished park should be open on Friday!