Spring training is almost here!

Spring training is almost here! And it may be the last one for a while....maybe a long while....The team begins to filter in next week so look for them in and around Viera. Game schedule and ticket info here.

The Raptor Project at Brevard Zoo

This weekend Jonathan Wood and his 'show' The Raptor Project (they have been on TV a lot - if the name sounds familiar) will be at Brevard Zoo. Read more about it.

Seashell Festival

Raise your hand if you like to pick up shells on the beach! OK - this weekend you seriously need to check out the Space Coast Seashell Festival at Melbourne Auditorium. There are shells and other beach things to see and some you will never see again, unless it is at a shell show. They are huge and beautiful. This is a must for any beach babies worth their salt! Find out more here.http://www.examiner.com/article/2013-space-coast-seashell-festival

Festivals on the horizon

 January is just the beginning of Florida's Festival Season...Start with a frog leg buffet in Fellsmere...

 Then grab your pirate costume, stuffed parrot, and eye patch - and come to Pirates at the Pier! Arrgg!

Cocoa Village's Riverfront Park will be the setting for the Space Coast's very first Key Lime Festival. Come taste some pie, learn to make the perfect Key Lime Margarita, or just sit back and watch tiki carving.

Whatever your taste - frog legs, rum, or key lime pie - there is something for every taste! Read more here.

After holiday beach clean-ups

After Holiday Beach Clean Ups
Wed., Jan 2   8 - 10 AM
1)  Alan Shepard Park, east end of St. Rd. 520)
2)  Cocoa Beach Pier
3)  Lori Wilson Park
4)  Coconuts on the Beach

How the Port Stole Christmas

HOW THE PORT STOLE CHRISTMAS continues every night until January 2nd. Over 110,000 LED lights and 48 lighted trees, plus its free and open to the public. Find this and other light displays here!

Real Food, Real Space Coast kitchens

TV show, Real-Food-Real-Kitchens,  holiday show featured Space Coast families sharing their holiday dishes and traditions! Check out the show: http://vimeo.com/55113310

Let there be lights!!!!

Tis the season for light displays! There are so many good ones around here - but some do stand out! Like Verbenia Street in Satellite Beach. It has to be a record for the most neighbors getting together to pitch in and create a light spectacle. This article lists boat parades and light extravaganzas - and where to find them!

Downtown Melbourne Candlelight Shopping

Downtown Melbourne will host a "Holiday Nights and Candlelight Shopping" event Saturday night from 5-9pm. Not only will shops stay open late, but there will be goodies like cookies, punch, wine, cider - yum!
Throw in some carolers and you can't help but feel Christmassy! Downtown New Haven Ave - Melbourne.

Beach Clean-ups this week-end

There are 3 beach clean-ups scheduled for this week-end:
Saturday: Pelican Beach, Satellite Beach with Judy de la Rosa, 8-10 a.m.
Sunday: Boardwalk (5th Ave) Indialantic 8 a.m. - noon
Sunday: Hightower Beach, Satellite Beach with Frank Skiff, 9 a.m. - noon

Bring your own bags, gloves, water & sunscreen!

Paws for Veterans fund-raiser

 A Christmas event you can bring the whole family to, including the 4-legged members of the family, to benefit Paws for Veterans. There will be food vendors, a bounce house, photos with Santa (family and pets), face painting, pet psychic, local vendors, contests, rescue groups, DJ, raffles, and more. Bring the entire family, 2 and 4-legged for a fun Christmas event that everyone can enjoy. Free admission! For questions or if you are a vendor and would like to participate, email them at pawsforveterans@gmail.com.

Paws for Veterans is a 501 C 3 non profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, trains, and rehomes dogs as service dogs for injured Veterans. Paws for Veterans, Inc. is a community-based organization that provides service dogs, training, supplies, and therapeutic group sessions to Veteran and Active Duty men and women struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Physical Disabilities.

The dogs in their program are rescued dogs. They strive to improve not only the lives of our Service Members but also the the lives of the dogs that they rescue and place in loving homes with Service Members. They rescue, rehabilitate, train, and rehome each dog. This creates a win, win scenario for everyone. The dogs are given a purpose in a loving forever home and the Service Members quality of life is improved by the healing power of their new canine partner.

What sets Paws for Veterans apart is that the owner assists in training their own service dog with the instruction of their expert staff of dog trainers. Each dog is trained specifically for their owners needs. Having the ability to train your own service dog builds confidence and a sense of accomplishment. This method creates a bond between dog and owner that is unmatched by other methods.

Be there!!   11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Wickham Park
2500 Parkway Dr, Melbourne
Sat  - December 15th

   

Ocean, Reef & Beach Fest

 
Satellite Beach encompasses a unique stretch of Florida's Atlantic Coast. There are many public access points to its tawny beaches and important reefs, where anglers, surfers and myriad wildlife live in harmony.
On Dec. 1, everyone is invited to Satellite Beach's First Ocean, Beach & Reef Festival, at Pelican Beach Park, where the community will celebrate the beloved resources with music, food, live entertainment, vendor displays, artwork and free professional training and educational activities.

Attendees can pick from a long list of clinics, including but not limited to Hooked On Surf Fishing programs, Sustainable Fishing, Survival of the Beach and Hooked On Kids on Fishing program instructor certification. It's a great place to get fishing lessons from some of the best anglers in the state. 

Non-governmental organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and vendors can display for free. Event organizers from Pure Ocean TV are encouraging interactive activities that demonstrate to all ages how people and wildlife are connected by coastal ecology. 

Contact Rodney Smith at 321-750-3374 or via email at irlcoast@gmail.com.

Beach clean-ups this week-end

There are 2 beach clean-ups this Sunday. Both are in Satellite Beach but don't let that stop you from having your own clean-up wherever you are. The two in Satellite Beach are 8-12 at Seagull Park and 9-12 at Hightower Beach. Bring your out-of-town guests - it will probably be an educational experience for them and we can always use the extra hands. Sandy sure has taken a toll on the dunes in this area - see the exposed root system in this photo from yesterday.

Space Coast Arts Festival

Need a place to walk off the Thanksgiving dinner guilty pleasures you inhaled? This could be just the thing! You can run, walk, or just stroll and no-one will even notice! Start your holiday shopping early, get the relatives out of your house for a while. Read more.  

Surfing for Life movie

		Surf Film: Surfing For Life - Event Saturday, November 17                  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Description: This documentary shows 10 legendary surfers modeling healthy aging by staying active into their 7th, 8th and 9th decades. Snacks & sodas provided courtesy of Sunseed Co-op. Location: Cocoa Beach Library, 550 North Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach Room: Community Room Contact: For more details contact the Information Desk. (321) 868-1104

The twirling Wallenda

Last chance to see a living legend: Carla Wallenda of the Flying Wallendas. Don't know who she is? Follow this link and read about her. She is performing at the Space Coast State Fair through Nov 18 - hurry!!!!!!!

Happy Haunting!!

The 3rd Annual Haunted House, run completely by volunteer's, and all they ask is that you help contribute donations for Florida Breast Cancer Foundation - will take place tonight 7-10pm at the Eau Gallie Self Storage. It's 4,000 square feet of fun. 

Location: NW corner of Eau Gallie Blvd & US1. 

 
To Volunteer, Donate, or ask questions contact:
info@eaugallieselfstorage.com
www.eaugallieselfstorage.com
321-242-1004

Pit Bulls get their day in the sun

 Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel walking their dogs - the one on the right is a pit bull.

For the first time, the North Animal Care Center and the SPCA of North Brevard are joining forces for a unique adoption and fundraising event. On Saturday and Sunday, the first-ever “Partners for Paws: For Pit’s Sake,” a pit bull adoption promotion and joint fund raiser, will be held.

The fundraiser includes a Saturday night jazz concert performed by Antoine Knight and Jacqueline Jones.
Participants can enjoy the music while placing bids on one-of-a-kind chair art during a silent auction. There also will be a pit bull adoption event on Sunday, along with a gallery showing from many local artists, as well as the conclusion of the silent auction.

The event will be held at the Stonefire Art Gallery.
Location: 2500 S Washington Ave | Titusville, FL 32780

Pit bulls always get a bad rap and they don't deserve it. Come see how loving they really are. Save a life and see how much better you feel!

BOO !!

Brevard Zoo's annual spooky spectacular, Boo at the Zoo, starts TODAY!! Boo at the Zoo runs  from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. nightly! Last admission is 8 p.m. This is a weekend event only!! (Oct 12-27)

General Admission prices:
$8 Friday and Sunday - Oct. 12 and 14
$10 Fridays and Sundays -Oct. 19, 21, 26 and 28
$12 all Saturdays - Oct. 13, 20, 27
$5 all Fridays for Zoo Members
Children under 2 are FREE



Advance tickets are now only available online. Purchase two or more tickets and receive a discount, online only! Tickets will be available for purchase on-site during Boo at the Zoo nights. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.


Entertainment will include live acts on stage in front of Paws On. Younger kids can enjoy Ooz Draverb, a special play area with crafts and games in the Nyami Nyami River Lodge. Brand new this year is Professor Wormwood’s Poison Garden. The Haunted Trail is not for the faint of heart and recommended for children 10 and older. The event also features an age-appropriate costume contest, Boo Choo train ride, witch’s lair, and trick-or-treating at more than 25 treat stations each night.

Pumpkin season has arrived

 How true! Recipes are endless for everything from pumpkin burgers to pumpkin martinis. For those parents of small children, the martini might sound intriguing but not practical. But that doesn't mean they can't enjoy pumpkins. They'll see them everywhere, and they aren't dumb - they know if pumpkins are at the store then that means they can have one. So bring it on - let them have fun and keep it un-scary. Parents wonder why kids have nightmares and it's because they are exposed to some scary stuff. So make Halloween more fun.

 Poster paint is cheap - let the kids loose with some and they'll learn that fun can be created. It doesn't always have to be in the form of a toy. Cheap entertainment.

 For the more creative, and perhaps a little older, kids - let them put lights inside. Healthier than carving a scene from a massacre or a drunk pumpkin tossing it's seeds...

 No knives necessary here. Just paint and a trip to a thrift shop or dollar store.

 Outer space pumpkins are cute and unique.

For the Dad or other adult that just can't keep from "helping" - give them their own pumpkin and let them go at it and make something the kids will recognize. Whatever you choose - either try to keep it non-violent or don't complain when they pick a fight on the playground!