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.

Huge bridal show at King Center

This Sunday, at the King Center, there will be a HUGE (75 wedding professionals/vendors/experts) bridal show!! Time: 1 - 5 p.m. There will be live entertainment and - of course - a bridal fashion show. The best part are the door prizes and there will be a drawing for a honeymoon. And let's not forget the food and cake samples!!!

There will be vendors representing:
wedding venues (location)
reception venues
caterers
bakers
flower-makers
attendant gifts
goody bag and table decor
tent/table/chair rentals
honeymoon locations
photographers
limo service

Purchase tickets and get more info online HERE. OR order tickets online from King Center!

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.

Dinner cruise

ALL ABOARD! Indian River Queen Paddle Boat still has seats left for their Friday Night Dinner Cruise on January 18! This three hour cruise up the Indian River Lagoon will include live music, a delicious dinner buffet and amazing sunsets and river views!

Dinner Buffet includes:
Fresh Fruit Platter and Chips & Homemade Salsa
Caesar Salad, Steamed Seasonal Vegetables
Cheese Tortellini with a Basil Cream Sauce
Sliced Tomatoes Vinaigrette
Chicken Breast with a Mushroom Marsala Wine Sauce
Rolls & Herb Butter
Dessert Bar
Coffee, Tea & Water. Cash Bar

For more information visit: indianriverqueen.com
P.S. Bring a jacket - gonna be chilly!!

Indialantic Art Festival

Tis the season....for outdoor stuff...this weekend is the Indialantic Art Festival at Nance Park by Bizzaro's - why is it we always use restaurants when we give directions? Hey, it was pretty impressive to learn that Ringo Starr actually ate at that Bizzaro's, wasn't it?????? OFF the subject.

This art show is contemporary, one-of-a-kind stuff, and generally expensive. These people do this for a living and they make enough to travel the country showing off their stuff. That translates to pricey. Is it worth it? YES! You sure won't see their stuff in Wal-Mart or on art.com. See who will be there and what they are hoping to sell in this article.

Meet people and play beach volleyball

Great way to meet new people, get some exercise, have fun and make friends. Every Sunday this meet-up group gets together at Pelican Beach to play volleyball. After volleyball, they meet at a local restaurant for dinner and conversation. Bring your water and don't forget to RSVP. Not competitive - just fun! 3:30- 5:30  Sundays! Satellite Beach.

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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

Melbourne Notre Dame Club

The Melbourne area Notre Dame Club, at least those who aren't in Miami,  will watch tonight's championship game at Meg O'Malley's, 812 New Haven Ave in downtown Melbourne. Nobody cares if you didn't graduate from ND - if you are a fan, that's good enough! Come cheer with peers! Game on 8:30.

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.

New Year's Eve happenings

Still don't know what to do for New Year's Eve? Well, if you are leaning towards going out somewhere - as opposed to staying home or going to an in-home party, see what is out there. This article is the result of MUCH research!! Whatever - don't drink and drive!!

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!

Ring in 2013 on the Pier!

Ring in the New Year on the beach as the Cocoa Beach Pier presents the best New Year's Eve party around. In its 24th year, the ROCKIN' THE DOCK is hailed as “5 parties in one” because each of the restaurants and bars on the Pier are in on the party. All them feature live entertainment, champagne toasts, balloon drops, and television screens showing other great parties simultaneously occurring around the world. The fun starts at 7pm! Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased in advance at the pier. Get a room!!!

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.

Small Business Day

Instead of supporting China, why not support your neighbors tomorrow - Small Business Day? If you have an American Express Card then register it on their website to receive $25 worth of free something tomorrow. The only stipulation is that you use the card at a small business that is participating. That means they got a letter in the mail from American Express and they may have signs up or they may be handing out notices. Just ask them. But it has to be a small, independent business. You register online, spend $25, put it on your AMEX Card, mail the receipt to them and they credit your account. Easy - free cash, helping your neighborhood stores - and so easy !!!!!