Pop, Boom! Fireworks on the Beach

Fireworks over the beach!

Anna Maria Island always does the 4th of July in a big way! Especially with the fireworks display over the Gulf and Bay by our friends at Mar Vista!

• June 29, Chamber of Commerce of Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armand Key Invitational Golf Tournament, Longboat Key Club Islandside, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Fee applies. Information:  941-383-2466      .

• July 2, Fourth annual Boom Boom on the Bay at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-2391

• July 3, 19th annual Fireworks Extravaganza, BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-2222

• July 4, 26th annual Sandbar Fireworks Spectacular, Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria. Information:  941-778-8709       

• July 4, Anna Maria Island Privateers, Fourth of July Parade, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, to Bayfront Park, Anna Maria, and 2012 Scholarship Award Party, Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

What are your plans for this patriotic holiday???

Anna Maria Island: A Quick Picture Tour of Bradenton Beach

Anna Maria Island is a wonderful place and it feels like a great big community, but some people don’t realize that we have three separate cities on this 7-mile stretch of sugar-white sand beaches. Bradenton Beach is the southmost city, Holmes Beach is in the middle, and Anna Maria completes the north end of our Island.

Since we focus so much on Anna Maria and Holmes Beach (which is where I live) I thought it would be nice to do a picture tour of some features of Bradenton Beach.

Pier on Historic Bridge Street

Coquina Bay WalkGotta love Joe's Eats and Sweets

Two Scoops: Ice Scream on the North End of Anna Maria

Took the trolley to the north end of the Island this past weekend and went to Two Scoops–at the shopping center on the corner of Pine Avenue (which is coming along nicely) and Bay Blvd. Always fun to have the grandkids out here, enjoying the island that I love so much. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

Two Scoops

 

What kid doesn't like ice cream?

Or candy...?

We always have a good time.

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Anna Maria Island Living: The Sandbar Restaurant!

Welcome to the Sandbar

No trip to the Island is ever complete without a trip to the Sandbar. The food is fantastic and the view is even better, but the best part is the post-meal walk on the beach at sunset.

Deck menu

It was a little cloudy, but still beautiful

California tuna salad with cucumber wasabi. OMG.

Post-early dinner walk

Business Hours: 11:30AM-10:00PM Mon. through Fri. and 11:00AM-10:00PM Sat. and Sun.
Early Bird Specials (Inside Dining Only) 4:00PM-5:30PM

100 Spring Avenue • Anna Maria, FL 34216 • (941) 778-0444

Until next time!

-Bobye

 

Anna Maria Island = Christmas Island–No Scrooges or Grinches Here!

Christmas is in just a couple days and I thought it would be appropriate to recap all the wonderful Christmas festivities that occurred here on our Island within the last few weeks.

Dec. 3 was the Holmes Beach Christmas Parade went southward down Marina Dr and ended at local businesses with an open house.

Dec. 4 was the lighted boat parade on Bimini Bay.

Dec. 10 merchants had an open house and kids could talk to Santa.

Dec. 11 Roser Memorial Church held a Bethlehem walk where people dressed up to reenact the biblical story of Jesus’ birth with live animals, too.

Dec. 11 was the annual Privateers Christmas Parade with lots of beads and coins

Islander Photos: Lisa Neff

and fun for all. Started on the southside of the island and went to the Seafood Shack.

 

On Dec. 11-12 was the Anna Maria Island Art League Winterfest: Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts at the Holmes Beach City Hall.

Dec. 14 was the 16th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids at the Sandbar.

Islander Photos: Lisa Neff

Over 150 children participated with face painting and Christmas card making.

Dec. 18 in Bradenton Beach locals and visitors celebrated with Christmas on Bridge Street that included a snow machine so that the kiddos could see what it was like up north at Christmas.

Dec. 18 was the Cortez Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade in the Bay.

So many great things to do at this time of year on the Island. It is a great place to spend the holidays with your loved ones!

Merry Christmas to all!

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Christmas (Island) on Anna Maria Island…

SUN PHOTO/CINDY LANE

This past weekend, there were 17 boats that participated in the Cortez Yacht Club’s 7th annual lighted boat parade. Trophies and cash prizes were awarded for different designations like “Best Lit”, “Happiest Boat”, and “Best Effort”.

Just something to look forward to if you want to visit at this time next year, or are thinking about moving to this paradise. (If you are, go ahead and call 941-713-1277)

Check out the article from the AMI SUN

bobye@bobyechasey.net

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Planning to Spend 4th of July on Anna Maria Island?

Well, the annual Anna Maria Island Privateers 4th of July parade will take place on Saturday July, 3rd. The parade will start at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach and will travel northward, the whole length of the Island. I had grandkids staying with me last year at this time of year and they had a blast! Luckily it was less than a block away on Marina Drive, and they came back with neckfuls of beads! Hope to see you out there!

=)

Bobye

bobyechasey.net