After a significant milestone (or time in this case), it's important to take a look back and see all the great places and people we've talked about. Of the great restaurants and fun times discussed throughout Tampa Bay, which ones still hold up? Is the relish tray at Beachcombers still as delicious? Is Vesuvio at Bella's Cafe still the mindblowing dessert it was? Is the Strawberry Festival better than the Florida State fair? We also mourn the loss of some of our favorites dineries throughout Tampa Bay. Whether pandemic took them down, or simply they moved on to better things.

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Replay Pinball Museum in Tarpon Springs and now in St Petersburg is a great place to go and spend the day.

Learn about a recent Great Things Tampa Bay event where we traveled to Tarpon Springs, had a delicious lunch at Olive the World (previously mentioned in episode 9!) and then take a quick walk around the corner to the Replay Pinball Museum!

I also talk about why it's been a little bit of time since you've heard from me. Life happens sometimes, but I'm back and realigning what Great Things Tampa Bay will be!

Olive the World: https://www.olivetheworldbistro.com/

Replay Museum https://www.replaymuseum.org/

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Subscribe to the podcast! https://greatthingstb.com/

Get out and get active and attend a fun Great Things Tampa Bay Event! https://greatthingstb.com/front-page/event-directory/

Hit the Great Things Tampa Bay Shop https://greatthingstb.com/shop

And as always thanks for tuning in!

Want to know how to obtain a free composting bin if you're a city of St Pete Resident?

Up your recycling game by adding a [FREE] composting bin to your repertoire!

The City of Saint Petersburg is offering composting bins to residents free of charge. All you have to do is complete a simple form, and they will schedule you to receive your compost bin.... FREE!

What's the value in composting? Well, it keeps additional trash out of the landfills, and it makes a great additive for your plants, flowers, herbs, gardens, and shrubberies.

Get Your Free Bin From St Pete Sanitation Here

Did you also know the City of St Petersburg also has free dropoff sites for recyclables and yard waste including tree limbs, plus you can pick up FREE MULCH?

FREE MULCH and information on yard waste dropoff / pickup

Or if you're outside of St Petersburg, but still lin Pinellas County, like Clearwater, Dunedin, or Safety Harbor, your information is on the Pinellas County Website.

Does Great Things Tampa Bay write paid puff pieces?

Common wisdom is that if you don't have haters, you're not trying hard enough. I've now gotten a few pieces of hate mail, and thought I'd address one them directly.

Plenty of publications and media outlets do them... but does Great Things Tampa Bay take payment for favorable reviews of restaurants, events, or to conduct interviews and highlight local businesses and charities?

And what do you think? Is there anything wrong with doing paid stories? Many say it's ok as long as you state up front that you are being paid for it.

So what do you think?  Paid puff pieces ok?

Send me an email!

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Listen as The Florida Orchestra performs the 1812 Overture at Symphony Under the Starts 2019 at Raymond James Stadium. Featuring actual cannon fire!

It's not going to be the same hearing this performed in the Straz! I was invited to attend Symphony Under the Stars by some dear friends of mine.

And while the Florida Orchestra performed numerous tunes with a pirate theme (Including the Theme from Pirates of the Carribean and Hook!) the start of the show and most anticipated was certainly the 1812 Overture.

The 1812 Overture is know for a few things.

1) It was written as a Russian celebration for defeating Napoleon

2) The original performance included ringing every churchbell as well as firing actual artillery. So it's tough to pull off in an orchestral hall.

Luckily, Raymond James stadium has one key ingredient to push this performance over the top... CANNONS!

Watch the video and listen in to a nearly overwhelming performance by the Florida Orchestra... and if you were wondering where you've heard this before, V For Vendetta is the likely candidate.

Watch the video

Catch your own Florida Orchestra Performance

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Watch full video interview here!

What happens when real life meets the colorful page? Real Life Heroes! Bay Coast Guardians are the helpful hand that St Petersburg both needs and deserves.

Who are the Bay Coast Guardians? They are a group of Real Life Heroes doing good (some would say GREAT) work in our local community.

From homeless outreach to safety patrols, these modern marvel bring peace of mind, a lot of good will, and a positive outlook to the streets of St Petersburg.

"Are they serious?" you might ask. Well, yes, but as they would tell you themselves, "The work is serious, but we don't take ourselves serious.

Bay Coast Guardians are: Impact (blue with helmet/mask) Good Samaritan (Green and red vesty thing) Warden (Black and Purple trenchcoat) Jaguar (Jaguar) Mercy (the lady hero!) Orange Wombat (take a wild guess)

Bay Coast Guardians

Instagram

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For being so close to the sea, great seafood can be tough to find in Tampa Bay.

Luckily Blake’s Crab Cakes is to the rescue! I sit down with my wife as well as tasting event winner Ardena Bosley to try out these wonderful, amazing and authentic crab cakes, and to share the experience with you!

We try out the eponymous crab cakes, and sample some of the different types of blue crab claws and shrimp that are prepared with loving care at Blake’s Crab Cakes.

Get the inside scoop on what makes these cakes so delicious!

Blake’s Crab Cakes 7224 Central Ave St Petersburg, FL 33707 727-289-2322

Download the Great Things Tampa Bay Mobile App for a chance to win at my next tasting event!

Keel and Curley Winery is a wonderful way to spend the day.

And it's an added bonus if it's BLUEBERRY SEASON (April-May)!

Today I share my experieces at this great local spot in Plant City, just east of Tampa. Stop by, sample some beers and wine, watch the ducks on the pond, and eat a delicious hamburger!

Keel and Curley

Strawberry Festival Episode

Strawberry Farming Episode

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Do you have an interest in podcasts or podcasting, or maybe just meeting a great local group of people helping each other out

The Florida Podcaster's Association is just one such place. Every month Chris Krimitsos hosts 40-60 podcasters at a public meetup in Tampa.

There we share ideas, knowledge, wins, and maybe more importantly, what isn't working. It's a great group of people.

Chris also puts on Podfest with John Dennis. Podfest is an annual podcaster convention, currently in Orlando.

This year there was over 1,000 attendees, with amazing podcasters such as Tyler Sheff of the Cash Flow Guys and Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

Keynote this year was by John Lee Dumas who many of your know from Entrepreneurs on Fire.

Podfest Information

Monthly Podcaster Meetup

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Let's take a minute and relax on the lighter side of life.  

I sit down with Jimmy Murray, funny guy, AI developers, and voice acting talent.  Notably he's the voice of the runaway hit podcast "Kid Friendly Joke of the Day", your daily dose of child appropriate humor.  Perfect on the way to school or little Johnny's soccer practice!

We sit down an have a chat at The Attic, located in beautiful downtown Tampa, Florida.

What about?  Well, for that you'll have to listen to the episode! And don't forget to download the Great Things Tampa Bay App

https://GreatThingsTB.com/app/