Race Day This Sunday

Very few overwhelming experiences have stuck to the memory section of my brain from my childhood like race day. Grant it, my childhood consisted of car races of the stock/indy/GTP variant, and not boat races. However, even though this weekend’s events won’t let you get as close to the racing action, there will still be tons of action, speed and power, lots and lots of power.

The official race-village is at Pier Park on Panama City Beach, in the eastern most parking lot, closest to Calypso Towers. Race crews are already setting up, cleaning their boats and preparing for Sunday’s Race Day.

I’ll be poking around all weekend taking pictures, and encourage all who can to attend. It will be an awesome time. Words can’t describe the massive hulks of power and speed these awesome vessels are capable of. You’ve got to hear the roar yourself.

Breast Cancer Awareness This Morning!

Unique Boutique by Irene & Co.’s Breast Cancer Awareness Celebration In Partnership with Vera Bradley

On October 3, 2008 Unique Boutique by Irene & Co., Vera Bradley and Pier Park will join together in celebration to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month. Starting at 9 a.m., Vera Bradley pink bows will be hung in the promotions area of Pier Park. They will be on display until the end of October (weather permitting).

Then, beginning at noon, Irene & Co. will host a ‘Tickled Pink’ party featuring pink lemonade, pink cookies and pink cupcakes. Customers may also purchase raffle tickets in the store for a chance to win a pink gala dress featured in the Miss Texas USA pageant. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $1 and all proceeds benefit the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation. Special limited edition gifts will be offered by Vera Bradley to customers who make a donation of $5 or more (while supplies last). In addition, Starbucks will provide hot chocolate and coffee during the pink ribbon hanging for all donators, while supplies last.

Please come and join us for this very special occasion!

In celebration of Breast Cancer awareness month, Unique Boutique by Irene & Co. will be selling personalized Vera Bradley pink bows and Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts from now until the end of October. For a $5 donation customers may purchase pink ribbons and personalize them in honor or memory of a breast cancer patient.

For More Information:
Irene Philips
850.235.0563

Pumpkin Patch at Woodlawn United Methodist

Every year, Woodlawn puts on a pretty awesome fall festival with tons of cool stuff to do with the kids. Last year it was at the church, but this year it will be at Pier Park. With the festival, they will be kicking off a pumpkin patch fund-raiser for the youth. The pumpkins won’t have a set price, as I understand it, but will be purchased by us for whatever we want to donate.

If you want to get a pumpkin for a good price, and know that your money is going to a good cause, this is the place to do it.

The fall festival is this Saturday from 10am to 2pm, but the pumpkin patch will be open Monday – Saturday 10 am to 7pm at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, across from Arnold High School on Panama City Beach. You can get more information by calling Woodlawn United Methodist at 850 234 3196.

Bud Light to Race this weekend

This weekend, the Bud Light Offshore team returns to Florida’s Gulf Coast for the Panama City Beach Super Boat National Championship. Dave Scott and team are looking to steer the Bud Light 50’ Mystic to another win in the Superboat Unlimited class.

This race could hold even more importance, as it will give the team a chance to check out other teams they will likely see at the World Championship in Key West, Fla., next month. Throttleman Johnny Tomlinson will be watching closely to size up the competition.

“It will be good to get back in the ocean,” Tomlinson said. “Since it’s an SBI venue, there will be some boats there that we’ll go up against in the world championship. We’ll be able to get a feel for the competition that will be down in Key West and have a better idea of what we need to do to win.”

“I was there my second or third time racing, in 1987 or 1988,” Tomlinson said. “I haven’t been back there in years, but it’s very similar to racing Destin or Orange Beach. With that in mind, I feel confident that we’ll do well. We’ve got a good team, and we just need to continue on with our momentum.”

In 2007, Scott and crew won their tenth National Championship at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. They also brought home the checkered flag in six regular season races. The team won its classes at the Lake Ozark Fire Rescue shootout and secured its eighth World Championship in Key West, Fla. The team’s most recent win of 2008 came at the Captain Ron’s Shootout, securing the Top Gun title with a speed of 178 mph.

Festivities for the Panama City Super Boat National Championship begin Friday, Oct. 3 as the race village opens at 9 a.m. On Saturday, all classes take to the water for testing at noon. National Championship racing begins Sunday at noon.

The Dave Scott Bud Light Offshore Race Team is one of the most successful offshore race teams in history, having earned eight world championships and ten national championship titles since 2001. The team is also the proud owner of six offshore speed records. Dave Scott, Johnny Tomlinson and Mike Seebold have more than 40 years of combined experience in offshore powerboat racing.

Fall Festival at Pier Park

On Saturday October 4th from 10 am until 2 pm at the Pier Park Amphitheatre at Aaron Bessant Park, Woodlawn United Methodist Church is putting on a fall festival for all to enjoy. There will be live music, carnival games, ten inflatables, train ride, plasma cars, stilt walkers, balloon makers, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, hotdogs, chips, barnyard olympics and more.

The cool part is that everything is free. Well, almost everything. The only thing that you’d have to pay for is a pumpkin, should you decide to support the annual youth Pumpkin Patch fundraiser.

This sounds like a ton of fun, everyone should check it out with their kids.

Again:

Fall Festival
Pier Park – Aaron Bessant Park
October 4th
10am – 2pm

Tootsies in Pier Park this weekend – John Stone

Friday September 26th, John Stone will be performing at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater in Pier Park. Stone is a Tootsies recording artist playing his “Baby Come Back” tour.

This concert is benefitting the Foundation for Breast Cancer and will feature special guest John Conlee, Steven West and Leslie Craig.

Gates open at 7pm and tickets are on sale for $12 at Tootsies in Pier Park, Tootsies in Nashville or online at www.Tootsies.net.

SuperBoat Race on Panama City Beach

Pier Pressure: Super Boat National Finals Championship Race

Panama City Beach, Fl, September 12, 2008: The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. in cooperation with Super Boat International Productions, Inc. has announced the final schedule of events for the upcoming 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race on October 3, 4, & 5th, 2008. The winning Teams from this SBIP/APBA National Final Race will compete in Key West, Florida at the Super Boat World Championships, November 2 -9, 2008. See http://www.superboat.com for the most up-to-date schedule of events, Race Team members, Official Offshore Race Course Map and other Race Weekend on Panama City Beach information.

This year’s corporate sponsors are Regions Bank, Pier Park, Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant, Origin at the Towne of Seahaven, Margaritaville and Marina Landing Condominiums. Community partners are The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce, the City of Panama City Beach, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sports Marketing and the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest.

This year, twenty three (23) Super Boats from all over the United States qualified for the SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race and their boats, their owners and the race teams will be at Race Village, which is being set up in Pier Park East on Panama City Beach. The Championship Race, for the United States National Title, will be run on Sunday, October 5th between the M.B. Miller County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the City of Panama City Beach Dan Russell City Pier at Pier Park on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 300 yards offshore. Although both Gulf piers are currently under construction, the construction activity will not interfere with the race or spectator’s viewing. Super Boat speeds of over 150 miles per hour could be reached during the race.

Super Boats will maneuvered the 6 mile rectangular Official Offshore Race Course between the Dan Russell City Pier and the M.B. Miller County Pier, on Sunday, October 5th starting at 12:00 noon, giving land and sea spectators a spectacular view of the high powered machines as they pass back and forth between the two Gulf piers. The Panama City Beach race is the last on the SBIP/APBA Offshore National Race Circuit qualifying Race Teams for the World Championships in Key West, Florida.

Super Boat Racing is not just about sleek, colorful and fast racing machines, but about the thrill seeking men and women who get behind the helm of the offshore Super Boats. Boat length ranges from 24 to 50 feet in length and are powered by automotive or turbine engines up to.4,800 horsepower. The race fans will get to see the nation’s biggest, fastest offshore powerboats and top drivers race toward a National Championship title. Super Boats will be on display during the week at various Regions Bank locations, Pier Park and at the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest, October 3rd, Friday evening, in beautiful downtown Panama City.

This year, the Dry Pit Area for these offshore Super Boats will be at Race Village in Pier Park, and will be open FREE to spectators to see the boats and teams up close on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, October 3rd: Friday evening the Mayor’s Welcome Party takes place at 7:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road and race fans, friends, tourist and locals are encouraged to join Mayor Gayle Obsert, Mayor of the City of Panama City Beach, in officially welcoming the Super Boat Race Teams and their out of town fans to the Beach. The public is invited and no reservations are necessary.

On Saturday, October 4th, the Dry Pit Area at Race Village in Pier Park will be open. The Public is invited to come and see the boats, talk with the Race Team members and view all their high speed equipment that will be on display in Pier Park. Race Village is open FREE to the public. On Saturday afternoon, various Super Boats will be in the water practicing out in the Gulf of Mexico near the east end of the Beach from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. That evening at 7:00 pm the Racer’s Party takes place at Margaritaville at Pier Park and the general public is encouraged to attend to meet and socializing with the Super Boat Racers, the Super Boat Owners, the Race Team Members and their families. Reservations are not necessary.

On Sunday, October 5th the St. Andrews Bay Super Boat Parade begins at 11:00 am on St. Andrews Bay, from the marina at Marina Landing Condominiums, located on the northwest side of the Hathaway Bridge, U.S. Highway 98, and will cruise to the Gulf of Mexico. At 12:00 noon the race begins, the Official Start and Finish Line will be offshore of Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road. Super Boats will be racing 300 yards offshore in a 6 mile rectangular course between the County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the Panama City Beach Pier at Pier Park. All Super Boat races are expected to be completed by 2:00 pm. So come early so that you don’t miss any of the racing action. There will be a SBIP/APBA Offshore Official Awards Ceremony for the Super Boat winning Racers and their Team at 4:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant and the public is invited.

The best FREE spectator viewing for Race Day on Sunday will be from the Beach’s shoreline at Public Beach Accesses # 43 through # 58 along Front Beach Road and FREE parking will be available along 3 miles of Front Beach Road at the M.B. Miller County Pier to Pier Park. Additional spectator viewing will be at various participating Gulf front restaurants, motels and condominiums along Front Beach Road.

In addition to welcoming the general public to view the Race from their establishment, there will be special VIP Spectator Seating on Race Day, Sunday, for all active military, enlisted and officers, and their families at Pier Park’s Gulf front restaurant Margaritaville. Arrive early for the best seats and dining tables.

Offshore viewing the Sunday Race in personal pleasure boats and other charter boats is allowed from a special 3 mile long Offshore Boat Spectator Area, designated south of the Official Offshore Race Course in the Gulf of Mexico about 300 yards offshore between the two piers. See http://www.superboat.com website for the exact Official Offshore Race Course and Spectator Map.

Super Boats are some of the fastest and largest offshore Powerboats in the world. With a maximum length of 50 feet, F-16 jet canopies and equipped with up to four engines producing more than 4,800 horsepower, the boats can reach record breaking speeds upwards of 200 mph.

Imposing as they may appear, they are finely tuned machines incorporating the most advanced space age technology. They provide the ideal platform for the installation and testing of high speed equipment under some of the most punishing conditions possible.

The boat classes that race in the SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Circuit are Super Boat Unlimited, Super Boat Vee Unlimited, Super Boat, Super Cat, Super Vee, Super Boat Vee Limited, Turbine, Super Boat Stock (S), and Manufacture Production: P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5.

The American Power Boat Association (APBA) was founded in 1903 and
is the authority for U.I.M. (Union Internationale Motonautique) approved powerboat racing in the United States. http://www.apba-racing.com

Super Boat International Productions, Inc (SBIP) was founded by John Carbonell in 1991. Carbonell has 32 years in Powerboat promotions and 10 years experience racing powerboats. SBIP holds a ten year license from the APBA Offshore and will host 10 offshore race events in the United States during the 2008 SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Racing Circuit. http://www.superboat.com

The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. (not for profit) (BASA) is a membership association formed by area local businessmen and women whose mission is to encourage, support and promote recreation, amateur, Olympic and professional sports activities within the Greater Panama City area. Such sports activities are to provide for the entertainment and betterment of both residents and visitors to enjoy as participants, observers or fans. The BASA supports local sporting events like the 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race in order to raise needed money for youth sports in Bay County. A portion of all food and beverage sales on Sunday’s Race Day at participating Panama City Beach restaurants such as Sharky’s and at Pier Park- Margaritaville be donated to BASA. BASA Membership is open to the public. http://www.bayareasportsassociation.org
For more information on this fun weekend, visit http://www.superboat.com

Oktoberfest at Hofbrau Beer Garden

Kicking off Bike Week and celebrating the fall season, Oktoberfest has come to Panama City Beach at Pier Park’s Hofbrau Beer Garden.

The first Oktoberfest was held in Munich, Germany in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th. This was the first time that the public was ever invited to celebrate a royal wedding.

The people of Bavaria had such a good time that the King repeated the festival annually and extended the length of the festival. Today Munich Oktoberfest stretches from the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October and draws 6.5 million visitors.

Specials include:

Spanferkel (Pig Roast) – with Sauerkraut, Potato Salad & Rye Bread – $10.95

Grill Hendl (Roast) Chicken – with Sauerkraut, Potato Salad & Rye Bread – $9.95

Sauerbraten – Spatzle, Red Cabbage & Rye Bread – $8.95

Brat Platter – A pile of Bavarian Dongs, Red Cabbage & Rye Bread – $8.95

All specials served all day, every day September 19th through October 19th.

Join Hofbrau Garden in Pier Park for Oktoberfest this year. See below for a full schedule of events.

Friday, September 19th

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

6pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Saturday, September 20th

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

7pm til 1am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Sunday, September 21st

10am til 3pm Sunday Brunch Specials – Join us in the beer hall for our delicious Sunday brunch specials

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

2:30pm til 8:30pm Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Thursday September 25th

3pm til 6pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

6pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Friday September 26th

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

7pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Saturday September 27th

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

7pm til 1am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Sunday September 28th

10am til 3pm Sunday Brunch Specials – Join us in the beer hall for our delicious Sunday brunch specials

12pm til 2:30pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

2:30pm til 8:30pm Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Thursday October 2nd

3pm til 6pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

6pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Friday October 3rd

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

7pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Saturday October 4th

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

7pm til 1am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Sunday October 5th

10am til 3pm Sunday Brunch Specials – Join us in the beer hall for our delicious Sunday brunch specials

12pm til 2:30pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

2:30pm til 8:30pm Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Thursday October 9th

3pm til 6pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

6pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Friday October 10th

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

7pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Saturday October 11th

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

7pm til 1am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Sunday October 12th

10am til 3pm Sunday Brunch Specials – Join us in the beer hall for our delicious Sunday brunch specials

12pm til 2:30pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

2:30pm til 8:30pm Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Thursday October 16th

3pm til 6pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

6pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Friday October 17th

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

6pm Oktoberfest Opening Keg Tapping – Join us as we tap the wooden keg in the Beer Garden. Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

7pm til 12am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Saturday October 18th

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

3pm til 7pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

7pm til 1am Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Sunday October 19th

10am til 3pm Sunday Brunch Specials – Join us in the beer hall for our delicious Sunday brunch specials

12pm til 2:30pm Beatrice and Derrol – Straight from Bavaria. Enjoy traditional German music and singing.

2pm Oktoberfest Keg Tapping -Join us as we tap the wooden keg. Celebrate Oktoberfest with FREE BEER while it lasts.

2:30pm til 8:30pm Hochsteirer – Direct from Europe. experience this traditional musical and culture show.

Pier Park is Biker Friendly

I’ve been asked by my friends at Pier Park to stress that Pier Park is indeed Biker Friendly this weekend! The last bike week in May of this year, there was some confusion and no one, including bikers were permitted to travel down the main boardwalk seciton of Pier Park. This weekend, that is totally not the case.

Pier Park, a 1 million square feet retail shopping adventure on Panama City Beach will play host to several special events this weekend catering to bikers, including a bike show. Many retailers and restaurants will have specials and all welcome bikers.

I everyone has an awesome time, and ride safe!

Don’t forget to sign up on our Twitter page for live updates on everything that is going to happen this week.

Pier Park Announces New Stores

The list continues to grow as the number of retailers increases at Pier Park on Panama City Beach. With over 100 retailers currently open, Pier Park continues to WOW locals and visitors alike.

Retailers coming soon include Aqua Gallery, AT&T, Baja Cafe Beach Hut, Crocs Footwear, Famous Footwear, Guy Harvey’s Grill, Nike, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Runway Collection, and Polka Dots Toys & Gifts.

Baja will be next to Panera Bread and is getting close to opening with the other shortly after.