Things To Do In Bayshore Gardens

For 34 years, the Tampa Greek Festival has celebrated the cultural heritage of Greece. St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church hosts the festival, which boasts authentic Mediterranean-style cuisine and pastries and an evening of live music and dance performances, plenty of shopping, a fun kids area and educational tours covering the history of the Orthodox faith. Munch on a gyro, braised lamb shank, herb lemon chicken, stuffed grape leaves, greek salad, and much more while enjoying the Grecian Gardens outdoor oasis or the bounce houses and rides in the kids area. The nearby Opa! Party tent serves a variety of imported spirits and booths set up across the lawn sell everything from wearable Greek art to wooden puzzles. All night, listen to John Demas & The Omega Project keep the festive atmosphere alive with live music featuring Demas's mesmerizing?bouzouki?playing with the entire family.

In a monthly, newsletter-style magazine, Insight Tampa keeps Bay-area residents updated on the people, places, and happenings within their community. Articles serve a broad readership, appealing to culture connoisseurs with art listings, athletes with features on marathons, and night owls with reviews of the most fruitful vole-hunting grounds. Besides reporting on local events, Insight Tampa also gets in on the fun by throwing parties that range from culinary celebrations to pirate pub crawls.

A horde of libation-loving undead takes to the streets during Crawl of the Zombies, stopping at five different pubs for bone-rattling drink specials. Costumed revelers kick off the night at 6 p.m. from within MacDinton's Irish Pub before traveling to The Dubliner Irish Pub, Soho Tavern, Mangroves and The Rack among other canteens. At each bar the costumed crowd enjoys discounted drinks, including zombie shots ($1 each). The necromantic night culminates in costume contests with prizes for best male zombie, sexiest zombie, and zombie most likely to join a fraternity or sorority. Winners of the grand prize for best costume can lurch their time away during a two-night stay on the beach. Crawl of the Zombies is a charitable event, with a share of the proceeds from the event going to help the homeless of Tampa.

For a first date with no pressure, visit Mac Dinton's for a casual bar with signature drinks. Both low-fat and gluten-free menu items are offered at Mac Dinton's. Cheer on your favorite team at Mac Dinton's, a local restaurant with TVs. Bask in the sun and enjoy a fresh meal outside at Mac Dinton's. Wifi is on the house at Mac Dinton's, so bring along your tablet or laptop. There's plenty of room at the bar for dancing as well. Crowds are boisterous at the bar and the music is blaring, so get ready for a very loud night out. The bar can get full to bursting on a busy Friday or Saturday night, so the safest bet is to call ahead for a reservation. Take it nice and easy at Mac Dinton's, where casual dress is the rule of the day. Parking is easy at Mac Dinton's, especially those looking to park on the street or in a lot close by. Thrifty eaters will also love Mac Dinton's' prices, which are generally below $15. At Mac Dinton's, you can pay with any major credit card. Head on over to Mac Dinton's first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening — Mac Dinton's is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Cupids Bar Crawl invites ladies and gentlemen?single or paired up?to express their devotion or disdain for the holiday of lovers by hitting eight hot spots across the city. The crawl begins at 6:30 p.m. at Tequilas on Valentine's Day, and ventures to seven other locations, where participants revel in free shots and swag from Fireball Whisky. At the end of the three-hour crawl, partiers return to Tequilas to soak up the libations with light food and to nurse any wounds from Cupid's arrow. Proceeds from Cupids Bar Crawl benefit the Michael Agana Memorial Scholarship at USF.

Stucco walls and Spanish tiles line the former hotel that houses Ciro's Speakeasy & Supper Club, swathing guests in the exotic aesthetic of the early 1920s. Inside, festivities unfold in private suites enveloped in beaded curtains and candlelight. Groups gather around nesting tables to nibble on savory snacks such as cheese fondue, lobster bisque, and black-truffle popcorn, all while drinking in the sultry jazz of Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. For the entree course, chef de cuisine Mary Paff sears diver scallops in succulent juices and crusts racks of lamb with crunchy cashews. Layered between belgian waffles and topped with bacon, orange zest, and Valrhona chocolate, her hand-spun Newcastle-ale ice cream sates cravings for sweet, tart, and salty.