St. Patrick’s Day events

Friday, March 17

Here are some of the St. Patrick’s day events going on near Siesta Key Florida.

Clancy’s Irish Pub and Sports Bar and Grill, 6213 Cortez Road, Bradenton. Entertainment starts at noon today with trumpeter Leon Merion, cloggers, bagpipers (5-8 p.m.), Dr. Dave (7-9 p.m.) and Big Daddy (10 p.m.-1 a.m.). Matt Brown entertains on the deck, 6-10 p.m. Special menu all day including corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and Irish coffee. Prize for Best Irish Costume.

This year, Clancy’s is providing a free shuttle service. Satellite parking is available at the Shoppers of Paradise Bay Plaza/Winn-Dixie parking lot on 75th and Cortez Road with a shuttle to Clancy’s from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Information: 794-2489.

Tierney’s Irish Pub, 5106 14th St. W., Bradenton. Bagpipers, step dancers, Elvis impersonators. A special menu includes corned beef and cabbage, Reuben sandwiches, shepherd’s pie and fish ‘n’ chips. Information: 752-1531.

The Bradenton Elks Lodge, 2511 75th St. W., Bradenton, will host a St. Patrick’s Day open house beginning at noon today with the sounds of Ireland by Denis O’Connor. Party continues until 11 p.m. with Don Huntsinger, Irish step dancers, and the Shrine Pipers. Irish food starting at $4 and a cash bar. Information: 792-1511.

Ellenton VFW Post 9226, 3511 12th St. E., Ellenton, serves a corned beef and cabbage dinner with carrots and potatoes 4-8 p.m. today. Dinner is $6, corned beef sandwiches are $4. Live entertainment by One of a Kind. Information: 729-8535.

McSwiggins, 1301 Eighth Ave. W., Bradenton. Live music, a menu that includes shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage and specials on Irish whiskey. Information: 748-1625.

Publix Supermarket, 2875 University Parkway. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. today, Marc Positano, resident chef at the Publix, hosts a beer tasting of Irish beer with a cooking demonstration of Irish cuisine. Served with Guinniss, Harpo and Smithwick’s beer are Irish cheddar soup, smoked salmon and spicy gaufrettes, herb- scented lamb chops au jus with colcannon, and chocolate Irish stout cake. Cost is $35 per person. Information: 358-1169.

Four Green Fields, 205 W. Platt St., Tampa. Irish buffet 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish ‘n’ chips, Irish stew, Irish soda bread. Live music starts at noon, with Irish ballads and folklore inside, and Pat and Andy Dunlea outside. Information: (813) 254-4444.

Sunday, March 19

Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. “St. Patrick’s - Spread the Luck ‘O the Irish,” tailgate picnic competition. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., match begins at 1 p.m. First, second and third place awards for best tailgate picnic judged for cuisine, presentation and creativity. Sandwiches and drinks also available for purchase. Admission: $10 per person, free for 12 years and younger. Information: 907-000.

“Galway to Broadway,” an afternoon of Irish music starring Ciaran Sheehan, Irish tenor from Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera,” accompanied by Gay Willis, mezzo-soprano, and Eily O’Grady, pianist, 2 p.m. Benefit for St. Martha School. At St. Anne Hall at Bishop Nevins Academy, 4380 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. Refreshments follow the performance. Tickets are $30. Information: 926-1672.

Beach Bistro St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Parade begins 4 p.m. Sunday from Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, ending at the corner of Gulf Drive and Palm Drive. Marching bands, “best leprechaun” costume for children. Information: 773-6444.

From: Herald Tribune

Looking for some fun at night? Check out the local clubs and bars.

There are over 600 businesses as members of the Siesta key chamber of commerce. You can view them all and find many valuable links and information below:

View all the business members of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce

There are over 1000 specifies of fish to be found around Siesta key - from the Gulf to the bay and the lakes, rivers, and streams inbetween. Deepsea trolling, fishing, surfcasting, bridge fishing and wading grass flats are all possible venues for fishing. Non-residents need to have a fishing license unless you are under 16 or on a boat charter. There are also minimum lengths, limits, and closed seasons restrictions. Licenses are available at the Sarasota County Courthouse or at local bait shops and sporting goods stores.

There are public gulf accesses with some parking along Midnight Pass and north along Crescent Beach.

Siesta Key beaches are the island’s premier claim to fame. From being chosen as “Best Overall” in the 1987 International Sand Contest to being named the “Best Sand Beach in America 2004” by The Travel Channel, Siesta Key beaches have accumulated numerous awards in recognition of the soft, clean, pure white sand.

Siesta Key is consistently rated in the top 10 beaches of Florida, the U.S. and the world. The sand of Siesta Key is composed of 99% quartz crystal. Unlike most beaches that are made of crushed shells, rocks or lava, this sand is pure white, and as fine as sugar. It has been described as “dazzling” and never gets hot. The quartz attracts many people that come to Siesta to feel the vibration of the sand.

Looking for a more secluded and less crowded beach? A couple miles south on the key you can find Turtle beach. Known for its abundance of sea shells. All the beauty of Siesta key without the crowds. The sand, however, is not as fine as that on the northern beach. The sunsets are just as beautiful though.

Here are just a few of the upcoming events on Siesta Key:

4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Children’s Book Fair
Saturday April 15, 2006
Each child receives an Easter bunny, Easter Eggs stuffed with prizes, face painting, trolley rides, tour of the Siesta Key ambulance and fire truck. Fingerprinting kits provided by the Sarasota Sheriff’s Dept., as well as storytellers and other fun family entertainment.

Siesta Fiesta
Saturday & Sunday April 29 & 30th 2006

Annual Sand Sculpting Contest - FREE
May 2006 Siesta Beach
Registration at 9:00 am Judging at 1 pm
It’s Art at the Beach! Bring your pail and shovel and compete for cash prizes at this fun annual contest using Siesta Key’s “Worlds Finest Whitest Sand”.
Sponsors: Beach Bazaar, Cafe Gardens/Daiquiri Deck, Davidson Drugs, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, Siesta Key Village Assoc., Pelican Press, The Broken Egg Restaurant

8th Annual Paul Ralston Memorial Golf Tournament
TBA, June 2006
Tournament Players Club at Prestancia

SIESTA KEY CHAMBER 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS
9 p.m. at Siesta Beach
This annual event includes the latest and greatest in pyrotechnics set to music for a truly dazzling nighttime extravaganza. And its FREE!
VIP Seating available $150.00 or more give you: VIP Parking, 2 Passes to VIP Seating, Pre Fireworks Dinner on the Beach Call the Chamber for Details: 941-349-3800

Halloween Safe Treats In Siesta Key Village:
Tuesday October 31, 2006

Holiday Light Up the Village: Siesta Key Village:
Saturday November 27, 2005

More to come soon!