PCB Sand Sports Teams up with AVP for Beach Volleyball

PCB Sand Sports in partnership with AVPNext, the grassroots program of the Association of Volleyball Professionals will be developing a Beach Volleyball league and series sponsored by Barefoot Wine to launch at Sharkys the week of May 11th, 2009. The leagues will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday nights for men’s doubles and Friday evening for women’s doubles.

The leagues will run for 8 weeks and offer both the men and women’s winners a prize of $1000 in cash along with airfare and entry into competition for the “first ever” Barefoot Cup Championship in Hermosa Beach, CA. The top 16 teams from across the U.S. will compete in Hermosa Beach to represent their area.

Sharkys and Seahaven are partners with PCB Sand Sports to bring the “fun” of beach sports directly to Panama City Beach with programs, events and activities to showcase the white sand and ambience of the area. Roman Reese founder of PCB Sand Sports and Director of Nashville Beach Volleyball has been involved in volleyball for more than 20 years.

He has been a major influencer to develop the long standing Fud’s 4-Person Tournament that is located in the Destin, Ft. Walton area that has grown from 17 teams to more than 250 teams with a waiting list to play. This tournament is now a “regular” vacation for the players who began to come in the beginning and developed the event into a “memorable” tournament to meet friends and reconnect with players across the country.

The AVP Pro Tour will be hosting their first Tour Stop in Panama City Beach in front of Sharkys the weekend of March 28th-29th and will showcase some of the top players in both men and women’s categories to kick off the focus Panama City Beach has to bring FUN beach sports to the area. We hope to see the local community come out to meet the Pros.

PCB Sand Sports and Seahaven will be working closely with Bay Area Sports Association a non-profit focused to support sports programs for the local kids to set up visits with the Pros to promote beach volleyball.

PCB Sand Sports is also coordinating additional leagues for Sharkys to provide Co-Ed 4’s on Tuesday nights and Co-Ed 6’s on Thursdays. For more information on the leagues and beach volleyball events and activities contact Roman Reese @ beachresearch@yahoo.com

Seabreeze Jazz Festival Brings Nick Colionne

The 2009 Seabreeze Jazz Festival coming to our very own Pier Park on April 16th through the 19th is bringing International Instrumental Artist of the Year for 2007 Nick Colionne.

With the warmth of spring in the air, artists in addition to Colionne such as Shilts, Boney James, Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Warren Hill, Eric Darius, Joyce Cooling, Alex Bugnon, and Four 80 East will fill their smooth music through the hearts and souls of all those attending. Colionne will also host the event’s All Star Jam.

As a guitarist and vocalist, Colionne’s live performances defy categorization. His shows incorporate all the music he loves best and the influences he’s had throughout his career. You are as likely to hear Nick sing the blues or some heartfelt R&B as you are to hear his blazing guitar licks, or even the hint of metal, recalling the beginning of his career as a heavy metal guitarist. From that diverse musicality comes an incredible live performance that showcases the talent, vocal ability and yes, comedic timing, of this charismatic entertainer.

Colionne was named International Instrumental Artist of the Year for 2007 by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards and is nominated for this prestigious award again for 2009. He joined the ranks of today’s premier jazz artists with his TOP TEN 2003 Album “JUST COME ON IN” that included two mega hits “High Flyin'” and “It’s Been Too Long”. His 2006 CD “KEEPIN’ IT COOL” propelled him to the top of the charts once again with 3 TOP TEN singles. This CD was also TOP TEN CD of the YEAR for 2006.

His current CD “NO LIMITS” on KOCH Records was released in July 2008 and was named TOP TEN CD of the YEAR for 2008 by Smooth Jazz News. Says Colionne of the project: “No Limits” is my latest adventure. I wanted to explore doing some different things with my music and not limit myself to one genre or style of playing”. Colionne teamed up with two Grammy-award winning writers for the CD: Jim Peterik who wrote “The Eye Of The Tiger”, the theme from the film “ROCKY”, and Paul Richmond who wrote “Shining Star” for the Manhattans.

Chicago-native Colionne is also an endorsee for Epiphone Guitars and Gibson Strings & Accessories as well as prestigious clothier Stacy Adams and is featured in their global advertising campaigns.

According to Nick, “The most exciting part of all of this for me to that I am actually living my dream, getting a chance to perform for people around the world. The greatest moments come when I look at the faces in the audience when I play, and realize that I’m making them feel what I am feeling. That’s a fascinating level of communication.”

Related on PCBDaily

Seabreeze Jazz Festival Information
Nick Colionne’s Web Site

Photo Credits: © Jacquie Patrick 2008

More Info on Pro Volleyball Coming to PCB

The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour will kick off its 2009 season in a unique fashion; the Tour is holding its first-ever Spring Break event in Panama City Beach, Fla., March 27-29. The event will feature the world’s best beach volleyball players, including 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, battling it out on the sand amidst the excitement of Spring Break.

Panama City Beach plays host to hundreds of thousands of college students each year, who descend on the Florida coast to soak up the surf and sand, and party on the beach. While the main event of AVP’s Spring Break will be the AVP Crocs Tour Panama City Beach Open, taking place March 27-29, the AVP will head to Panama Beach City on March 7 to start its three-week Spring Break experience.

“We are excited to bring the AVP to Spring Break for the very first time,” said Leonard Armato, CEO and Commissioner of AVP Pro Beach Volleyball. “The biggest beach party in the country is the perfect atmosphere in which to kick off our 2009 season.”

The finale of the AVP’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach will come as the AVP Crocs Tour Panama City Beach Open. A one-day qualifier will begin on Friday morning, March 27, followed by a live band in the evening. Men’s and women’s Main Draw action will start on Saturday morning with both men’s and women’s finals planned for Sunday afternoon. AVP specifically chose the last weekend of March for their tournament because it is both the final weekend of collegiate Spring Break and the first weekend of “family spring break”. The event will be a fun party for all ages.

Prior to the competition, the first two weeks of Spring Break will include numerous promotions and events geared towards Spring Breakers. The third week of the AVP’s Spring Break event will start off with the first-ever Collegiate Beach Challenge. Starting on Tuesday, March 24, college students from across the country will have the chance to participate in a two-day four-on-four beach volleyball tournament. There will be men’s, women’s and coed divisions competing for cash prizes.

The AVP Crocs Tour event will take place directly behind Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar, located in the heart of Panama City Beach at The Towne of Seahaven. In an attempt to revert back to the sport’s beginnings, six of the courts will be set up in “old school” style. This set-up will include minimal bleacher seating, allowing plenty of room for beachgoers to throw down their towels and fully enjoy the beach party atmosphere of Spring Break.

About AVP, Inc.:
AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.avp.com.

More than a Sport, It's a Movement

PCB Sand Sports in partnership with the legendary Sharkys Restaurant and Tiki Bar along with Towne of Seahaven are preparing to add Beach Tennis and Beach Volleyball to their menu for FUN. The first partnership will begin with a “first ever” healthy Spring Break program for college students who visit the beach March 1st-18th with an introduction and “team challenge” to College vs. College competition. Beach Tennis is essentially doubles tennis played sand. Played on regulation beach volleyball court, and using regulation tennis racquets and a slightly depressurized tennis ball, players volley for points without letting the ball touch the sand.

Beach Tennis is easy to learn and most newcomers to the game can be up and running in as little as 30 minutes. Played at its highest pro level, however it is a fast-paced, intensely competitive game that delivers an amazing workout, even for hardcore athletes.

021909_sand_tennis_logo_sm Beach Tennis USA and PCB Sand Sports will be at the beach offering training, along with Pros from Tampa to provide coaching with play leading up to a final tournament challenge on Thursdays each week to give the students something fun to maintain their goal to meet each other and play.

In 2009 Beach Tennis USA will be enlisting the services of students around the country to serve as BTUSA University Directors, who will serve as “brand ambassadors” at their schools and help promote the growth of beach tennis through intramural programs.

Panama City Beach will be the first “event” promoting this concept. Approach to the colleges and is expected to continue to grow with one of the “hottest” new sports in America to foster further events and competition leading into a healthier approach to Spring Break for college students and families who visit our area.

Sharkys will maintain two permanent nets for Beach Tennis and will continue to partner with PCB Sand Sports to develop programming for leagues, tournaments and events
to lead into family spring break and summer. For more information contact beachresearch@yahoo.com.

AVP Coming to Panama City Beach for Spring Break

As college students across the country prepare for the time honored tradition of Spring Break, the AVP prepares to start a Spring Break tradition of its own this year in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Known to many as Spring Break Capital of the World, Panama City Beach plays host to hundreds of thousands of college students each year, who descend on the Florida coast to soak up the surf and sand, and party on the beach. Along with the endless sea of Spring Breakers, also come some of the biggest names in Spring Break entertainment, including MTV, who has called Panama City Beach its Spring Break home for several years.

This year, the AVP plans on making its own name for itself in Spring Break entertainment, as it will pack up the Southern California beach party atmosphere found on the AVP Crocs Tour and bring it to Panama City Beach for the first event of the 2009 season.

While the main event of AVP’s Spring Break will be the AVP Crocs Tour, March 27-29, the AVP will head to Panama Beach City on March 7 to start its three week Spring Break experience.

The first two weeks of Spring Break will include numerous promotions and events geared towards Spring Breakers, and hosted by the AVP’s official sponsors, including, Bud Light, Crocs, Gatorade, Naked Juice, and Nature Valley, among others.

The third week of the AVP’s Spring Break will start off with the first ever Collegiate Beach Challenge. Starting on Tuesday, March 24, college students from across the country will have the chance to participate in a two day four-on-four beach volleyball tournament. There will be a men’s, women’s and coed division, each competing for cash prizes. Also at stake for the winning teams will be the unique opportunity to move on to a final where they will face a team of two AVP Pros.

The finale of the AVP’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach will come at the end of week three, with the AVP Crocs Tour Panama City Beach Open. In what will serve as the 2009 season-opening event, the AVP Crocs Tour will showcase some of the best beach volleyball players in the world, including 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. A one-day qualifier will begin on Friday morning followed by a live band in the evening. Men’s and women’s main draw action will start on Saturday morning with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The AVP Crocs Tour event will take place directly in front of Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar, located in the heart of Panama City Beach. In an attempt to revert back to beach volleyball’s beginnings, six of the courts will be set up in “old school” style. This will include minimal bleacher seating, allowing plenty of room for beach-goers to throw down their towels and mingle, while fully enjoying the beach party atmosphere of Spring Break.

Those wanting to be close to all of the AVP’s Spring Break events are encouraged to stay in one of the several hotels and condominiums that are affiliated with Sharky’s. For more information, please click here.

Stay tuned for more details as AVP’s Spring Break gets closer.

Source: AVP.com

Can’t Rain On This Parade

Gray skies and fickle rain couldn’t spoil the Mardi Gras parade on Panama City Beach. The parade started just as the rains stalled around 3:00PM. Hundreds of locals and tourists lined Front Beach Road and if you missed it, you missed a raucous celebration.

Floats by the Krewe of Dominique Youx, Red Hatters, Hofbrau Beer Garden and others cruised the strip, transforming the seasonally quiet road into a street party. On a route beginning at Gulf World Marine Park, the good times rolled down Front Beach Road to Pier Park where the party kept on rocking.

Beneath overcast, the parade kicked off in jubilant fashion with Arnold High School’s “Blue Thunder” marching band. Cheering crowds, narrowing a misty Front Beach Road on both sides, screamed and reached to catch beads. Many of the local businesses like Boardwalk Beach Resort and Royal American designed floats to dazzle onlookers. The weather didn’t seem to dampen any spirits or keep parade participants from enjoying their own.

Still, Panama City Beach’s Mardi Gras parade was an all-ages affair. With the Gulf Coast as a backdrop, children hoarded beads and seniors danced in the streets while brass bands played. There were jesters of all colors, faces hidden behind Venetian masks and marionettes, and there were pirates, lots of pirates (one in particular who resembled Jack Sparrow so closely people stopped for autographs and pictures). The celebratory costumes didn’t end with Mardi Gras tradition. Joining in the festivities, Hula girls danced on a tropical float, beer maids flung beads and so did a Krewe dressed in costumes I can only describe as Daniel Boone meets Tonto. There was even an Imperial Stormtrooper sighting.

In my many years as a resident of Panama City Beach, Saturday’s Mardi Gras was the most fun I’ve experienced at a parade of any sort. It was a blast, churning out enough smiles and laughter to make an otherwise gloomy afternoon an all-out street party. Attendance was astounding with estimates ringing to the tune of around 25,000. Hoards of people were everywhere and some reported times in excess of 30 minutes just leaving Pier Park after the event. One event organizer was quoted: “If it was this successful with crumby weather, imagine how it will be next year when the weather is great!”

Photos by Freda Columbus

Bonfires on Panama City Beach Friday Night

In celebration of the Valentines holiday, the City of Panama City Beach has allowed special permits to be pulled for property and resort owners to build a bonfire on their little stretch of beach.

The bonfires will be Friday evening and will set the mood for a romantic experience with your friends and loved ones.

7 properties have pulled the permits so far, including Beach Towers Resort, Shores of Panama, Sugar Sands, Grand Panama, Tidewater, Sterling Breeze, and the Chateau motel.

Here are some tips if you are a property that is wanting to host a bonfire:

A permit is required, you must get this through the City of Panama City Beach.
Make sure that the weather is right for a fire. Even if the area is not particularly dry, high winds may drive the fire out of your control
Bring necessary supplies and equipment for the fire. (Starter logs, NO LIGHTER FLUID, ample fire wood, pokers, lighter / matches, emergency supplies, fire extinguisher etc.)
Make sure that you have a suitable fire pit created.
Bring a bucket to put out fire. Fire should be completely extinguished with water. Do NOT bury hot coals; buried coals are a safety hazard.
Fire shall be attended at all times by a responsible adult staff member
Clean Up the area entirely upon completion and be sure to extinguish completely all flames, coals and debris with water.

Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday in Pier Park

This Saturday, February 14th, be sure to come out to Pier Park for the Mardi Gras Parade put on by the Krewe of Dominique Youx. With around 50 floats expected and thousands of people to be there, it is sure to be a total blast. The Parade starts at 3 pm at the intersection of Hills and Front Beach Road and will travel west-bound on Front Beach Road, enter into Pier Park and end at the end of the Boardwalk area at the round-a-bout.

The Krewe of Dominique Youx is Bay County’s original organization of over 185 members who have celebrated the festive Mardi Gras season here in Bay County for over 22 years. Dominique Youx is the nickname used by the eldest member of the famous Lafitte family of buccaneers who sailed the southern seas in the early 1800’s plundering vessels of those deemed to be their enemies. Dominique Youx was actually Fredric Alexander Lafitte, brother of Jean and Pierre Lafitte. He was the first of the Brothers to become a buccaneer. He was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte as a privateer and served for France during the war with Spain. When the Lafitte’s moved to New Orleans, the charismatic Jean Lafitte organized hundreds of rogues into a band of pirates who became the scourge of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Local rumor has it that some of their loot is still hidden in the estuary of St.Andrew Bay.

After the parade, be sure to join Bootleg Barbeque’s 1st Annual Mardi Gras Party and Crawfish Boil to benefit the Anchorage Children’s Home. Bootleg will be serving up true Louisiana-style crawfish boiled to the tune of live zydeco music performed by Heat & the Zydeco Gents at 4 pm with festivities expected to roll through 8 pm.

Bootleg Barbeque, a locally owned and operated business, appreciates the community support it has received in its first year and is sponsoring this event as a small way to give back to the community through this truly worthy cause.

Anchorage Children’s Home is a private, non-profit, Christian organization serving, protecting and strengthening children, families and community. Anchorage offers emergency shelter for children and youth who have been abused, abandoned and neglected. Anchorage also offers services to homeless youth through transitional living, street outreach and maternity home programs. Anchorage Children’s Home’s mission is to be an Anchor for today’s children…strengthening tomorrow’s families.

For more information on Anchorage Children’s Home visit their web site at anchoragechildrenshome.org.
Event information can be found at Bootleg Barbeque’s web site rockabillybarbeque.com

Seabreeze Jazz Festival 2009 at Pier Park

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is coming to Pier Park in April, bringing not only something new to our area because of Pier Park, but also a huge list of artists and a promise of a high-quality, entertaining weekend.

The weekend will start Thursday April 16th at 7 pm with a dinner Cruise with Alex Bugnon on board the Salaris dinner yacht from the Bay Point Marina. Friday, gates open at 5 pm at the Pier Park Amphitheatre (aka, Aaron Bessant Park) with jazz to begin filling the air at 6 pm. At 8:30 pm, an All-Star Jam will begin featuring various artists such as Nick Colionne, Shilts, and Four 80 East.

The festival will continue Saturday morning at 9 am and continue with food and jazz all day long.

The general admission cost each day is $80 per person with a weekend pass being sold ad $130 per person. The VIP pass is $375 per person and includes all performances all weekend, on-site VIP parking, early admission, covered seating with closeup view of performances, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday with evening food included Friday through Sunday – oh, and the VIP tickets are sold out, according to the website. If you want to eat on the Solaris, tickets are $135 per person.

Full event details:

COST:
General Admission Each Day: $80 per person
Weekend Pass: $130 per person
VIP Weekend Pass: $375 per person

WHEN:
Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 19
(see attached schedule)

WHERE:
Pier Park – Amphitheater
600 Pier Park Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32413

2009 Seabreeze Jazz Festival Schedule
Pier Park Amphitheater Panama City Beach, FL
Presented By ResortQuest

Festival Host: Nick Colionne

Thursday, April 16

7 p.m.
Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise with Alex Bugnon
Presented by Marriott Bay Point Resort
Aboard The Solaris dinner yacht; boarding begins at 6 p.m. at the Bay Point Marina

Friday, April 17

(Gates open at 5 p.m.)

6 – 7:45 p.m.
Urban Jazz Coalition

8:30 p.m.
Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam
Featuring Nick Colionne, Shilts, Four 80 East, Brian Simpson, Matt Marshak, Joyce Cooling, Nils, Alex, Bugnon, Eric Darius, Althea Rene, Jackiem Joyner and special guests

10:30 p.m.
Jazz Under the Stars Party
With Urban Jazz Coalition and friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

Saturday, April 18

(Gates open at 9 a.m. – VIP early entry at 8:30 a.m.)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Althea Rene

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Eric Darius

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
The Seabreeze Groove Project
Featuring Four 80 East, Shilts and Matt Marshak
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Joyce Cooling

5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Will Downing

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wayman Tisdale

9:30 p.m.
Jazz Under the Stars Party
With Four 80 East, Shilts, Matt Marshak and friends
(Pier Park Special Club Location)
Sponsored by Smooth Lounge dot com

Sunday, April 19

(Gates open at 9 a.m. – VIP early entry at 8:30 a.m.)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Jones and Company

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Roman Street

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Brian Simpson / Nils / Jackiem Joyner

3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Warren Hill

5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Nick Colionne

7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Boney James

Mardi Gras Parade on Panama City Beach

The Krewe of Dominique Youx is Bay County’s original organization of over 185 members who have celebrated the festive Mardi Gras season here in Bay County for over 22 years.

According to custom, Shrove Tuesday (“Fat Tuesday” to the English-speaking settlers, “Mardi Gras” to the French) is the last day to indulge, or overindulge, before Lent and its 40 days of fasting. The celebrations that take place before Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Mobile, and Galveston set off a carnival season that is notorious.

The Mardi Gras tradition came to Panama City in 1986 when a group of local residents headed by Errol Legasse and the late Jerry Castardo decided that we should not miss out on the excitement of Mardi Gras and formed the Krewe of Dominique Youx.

Dominique Youx is the nickname used by the eldest member of the famous Lafitte family of buccaneers who sailed the southern seas in the early 1800’s plundering vessels of those deemed to be their enemies. Dominique Youx was actually Fredric Alexander Lafitte, brother of Jean and Pierre Lafitte. He was the first of the Brothers to become a buccaneer. He was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte as a privateer and served for France during the war with Spain. When the Lafitte’s moved to New Orleans, the charismatic Jean Lafitte organized hundreds of rogues into a band of pirates who became the scourge of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Local rumor has it that some of their loot is still hidden in the estuary of St.Andrew Bay.

The present day Krewe of Dominique Youx, like other famous Mardi Gras Krewes, celebrates the season in a carnival atmosphere. For the first time, the krewe will parade on Panama City Beach. Pirates dressed in colorful costumes will be throwing beads to revelers along the parade route beginning at Hill Road, proceeding down Front Beach Road, and into Pier Park. This year, King Rob Fernandez (Dominique Youx XXII) and his Queen, Joyce Muller, will spearhead the Krewe as beads, doubloons, and other throws are tossed to the huge crowds lining the parade route. This parade is free to the public and suitable for the whole family.

In Panama City Beach, the season begins in mid-November with a black-tie evening celebration. The Krewe presents a local, non-member dignitary with the “Baratarian Cup”, a Mardi Gras honor unique to Panama City. This year’s recipient is Robert “Bob” Myers. Bob was an Air Force officer who settled down in Bay county after retiring and over the years became one of Bay County’s most prolific charity volunteers. Bob will lead this year’s parade as Grand Marshall.

The Krewe also holds a formal, costumed Mardi Gras Ball for the coronation of the new King, Queen and court members for the following year.

The Krewe of Dominique Youx is self-financing, paying for its own equipment, floats, costumes, as well as the beads and doubloons thrown to the watching parade crowds.

The Panama City Krewe of Dominique Youx is proud to use the name of an historic buccaneer to promote the carnival spirit of Mardi Gras for the enjoyment of the people of Bay County.