Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce – February Music Festival

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is firing up their Friday Festivals right on schedule.  If you have never made it to a Friday “Fest” you are missing a real treat.  The first Anna Maria Friday Festival of 2010 is scheduled for Friday February 19, 2010.   The time starts at 3 PM and the Music and vendors stop at 10 PM.

The Festival is held up on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria City at the EAST end by the public pier.  Most folks park on Pine Avenue as they find a spot traveling EAST along Pine Avenue.  There is some serious parking at the church and the market across from the Roser church on Pine Avenue.

The Friday Festivals held by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce are always a good time because there are lots of arts and crafts booths as well as food booths to wet your appetite with our local flavors of food.  The Chamber offers alcohol to patrons.  I have been told by many it’s the coldest beer you can find on a Friday night at just $3.00 for a good size beer.  There is also white and red wines available as well as in the past a mixed drink like a rum-runner.  While you are having some great eats you can listen to some great local bands with live music.  The best of all – the EVENT is FREE.  Yes, it is FREE.

So if you are an Anna Maria Island Visitor or live here year long it is a fabulous event for young and old.  Go check out some great live music outside with the Tampa Bay in the background at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Friday Festival.

Be careful, if you are a visitor you may never go back and don’t worry, if you have to miss the Friday festival in FEB there are plenty more throughout the entire year!

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce presents:
Island Music Festival    FRIDAY FEST
Date: Friday February 19, 2010        Time: 3pm to 10pm
Location: Pine Ave & Bay Blvd     Village of Anna Maria

Featuring: Koko Ray & The Soul Providers and Bootleg

Proceeds to benefit The AMI Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund; Participating Island Businesses and Local Not for Profit Agencies.  If you are interested in participating in future Friday Festivals as a music venue, craft booth, or eatery just email the Chamber of Commerce.

For a location of the event see the map below and it is on the NORTH WEST corner of Pine Avenue and Bay Blvd.

View Friday Festival in a larger map

Silhouettes at Sunset ~ Nov. 21, 2009 ~ Happy Thanksgiving

Anna Maria Island continues to see beautiful weather and amazing sunsets. Many families will rush to the Island to leave the cold and gather with other family members to partake in Turkey and the trimmings. If you live on Anna Maria you do not wait until Thanksgiving to give thanks. Everyday you wake up and see the splendor of our Island, you cannot help but stop and give thanks for the opportunity that we,  somehow in life,  have managed to live and be surrounded by nature in a place where most visitors simply describe as Paradise. We will see many seeking out the Island to spend some family time and catch some incredible sunsets as they make their guilt walks on the beach from indulging in way too much delicious holiday food and fun!! A special thanks to the families that became my silhouettes this week and were enjoying the beauty on Anna Maria while staying connected to family and nature! Remember to click on the gallery pictures to enlarge them!

Written by Melinda Bordes~941-705-0146~ melinda@annamariasunset.com ~Whether buying or selling on Anna Maria Island or surrounding areas please feel free to contact me for all of your real estate needs! Season is fast approaching and inventory is dropping. The time is now!! Remember to be thankful this week and every week because some of the most beautiful and richest gifts are free. Just look around and please enjoy the sunset! Happy Thanksgiving!

Rod and Reel pier in Anna Maria City is good eat’s

The Rod and Reel Pier is an institution in Anna Maria City.  Ask a local on Anna Maria Island where to eat and just about everyone has Rod & Reel Pier restaurant in their top three.  The Rod & Reel Restaurant is located in Anna Maria City and is the most Northern eatery on Anna Maria Island.  The restaurant sits out on the end of a pier in Anna Maria City so it makes for perfect scenery.  I have personally seen fish, dolphins and manatee off the pier while waiting to get into the restaurant.  The pier also doubles as a great fishing spot for visitors and locals alike.  Just about every hour the restaurant is open you will see folks fishing from the pier.

Rod and Reel serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Their breakfast is very good as well as their lunches and oh yah,

their dinners too!  Every meal at the Rod and Reel is great!  The restaurant has an old Florida diner charm.  It seats about 20 inside and seats about 15 outside.  The 20 seats inside are made up of tables for 4-5, tables for 2 and one table that can seat about 6-8.  There are about 4 tables that sit along the Bay so you can glance out at the water while you enjoy your clam strips, fish & chips, grouper Reuben sandwich or grouper any way you like it.  The 15 seats outside face towards the West so you can get an early glimpse of our Anna Maria Island Sunsets as well as the pier below.  There are a flight of steps up to the restaurant so if you have someone in your party that cannot do steps it is best to skip this restaurant.

One insider secret is the small bar under the restaurant.  It is back behind the stairs up to the restaurant and is considered on the ground level.  They will serve food at the bar although it can get tight on popular nights.  The seating is a tight 10-12 but the beer is cold and cheap.  Last time a “friend” had a beer there it was $3 for a draft.  (Yes, I am writing this in late 2009)  I recall the first time my “friend” got a beer down in the bar area.  The bar tender said “Three dollars please,”  My friend said “What?”  The bartender quickly said, “I know, I know, we just raised our draft beer prices from $2 but we had too.”  Of course we were surprised with how reasonably priced the draft beer was.  If you are looking for “insider” secrets then swing by the bar and pull up a seat.  There are plenty of locals that have a drink or two at the bar.

Now for the meals.  The lunch and dinner menu’s are one in the same.  The restaurant has plenty of sandwiches to choose from, grouper any way you like it, a Reuben grouper which is just like a Reuben but with Grouper as the meat and about four other choices of sandwiches.  My son loves the clam strips or the fish & chips.  If you are looking for a meal on the bigger side then the Mexican grouper is your ticket.  Of course they serve plenty of fish any way you like it.  The most recent night I visited they had several specials, Mahi Mahi, Sword Fish, and a few others.  They do serve bottled beer up in the restaurant as well as wine.  Their cole-slaw is great as well as their desserts.  If you still have room try their Key Lime Pie.  You won’t be sorry!

Another great feature of the Rod and Reel pier other than the awesome food?  If you get window seats you can take in the Tampa Bay, maybe see some dolphins and take in the gorgeous Sunshine

Sky way bridge.  You can fish off the Rod & Reel pier for a nominal fee.  Last I checked it was $2 for a day of fishing.  Check at the bar area for more information on fishing off the pier.

If you are looking for a Vacation Rental that is within a walk from the Rod and Reel pier then look no further, Island Real Estate can help you find your perfect rental.  Use the accurate on-line availability search or give the vacation specialists a call.  The office is open 7 days a week so you can get help all week long!  877 778 6066.   For more Anna Maria Island Information.

SEE VIDEO BELOW -

Anna Maria City Beaches

Anna Maria City offers very quiet beaches and the sand is a mix between sugar and flour.  If you are not renting in Anna Maria the search for parking can be a little frustrating.  Of course locals can tell you about a few special spots however we suggest bicycling or walking up to the North End if you are interested in checking out that side of the island.  A very special spot in Anna Maria City just off Linda Lane is a small sand bar that has been formed in the Gulf of Mexico.  This provides great fun for all!

If you do need a great Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach or Anna Maria Island Holiday rental, visit Island Real Estate’s vacation rental website for on-line accurate availability with plenty of pictures to make your vacation rental choice – EASY.

For properties close to the sandbar mentioned in this article…
101 Linda Lane, Anna Maria City Vacation Rental
Sundance, Anna Maria city Rental
207 Coconut just a short Stroll to the Beach

The White Egret in Anna Maria City is a fabulous home accent shop

The White Egret is located on Gulf Drive in Anna Maria City.  The White Egret is in a great location in Anna Maria City right off Gulf Drive.  Hit the Sandbar or Rudy’s for lunch and then take a short stroll over to the shop in Anna Maria that specializes in Coastal home goods.  The White Egret is full of original treasures including home accents, bedding, bath goods, candles, floral, tabletop products, linens and more.

The White Egret also offers custom floral design.  They have on staff designers that can create all types of original displays for all occasions.  Make sure you stop into the White Egret on each visit to Anna Maria Island.  You won’t be sorry, the owners are continually changing their handpicked items for sale.  There is always a perfect gift all year around for a friendly neighbor, business associate, or family member.

For Women’s apparel and jewelery, walk next door to the Egret’s Nest.

The White Egret
10006 Gulf Drive
Anna Maria City, Fl, 34216

Historic Anna Maria City pier

The Anna Maria City pier is a great site to see when visiting Anna Maria Island, Florida.  Grabbing an ice cream at Two Scoops and walking the pier is a great thing to do while visiting Anna Maria Island.  Another great past time is swing over to Two Sides of Nature and do some shopping or stop in at the Waterfront restaurant for a great bite to eat.   At the end of the pier you can grab dinner, lunch or pick up some hand made jewelery.  If you like fishing then stop in to gab with the fishermen on the pier and see what is biting.

The sign at the entrance of the Anna Maria City pier says it all.  “The Anna Maria Development Company built this pier and wharf in 1911-1912 to provide dockage for ships from St. Petersburg and Tampa.  It has since withstood hurricanes and lesser storms too numerous to mention.  Although parts were damaged in storms in 1918, 1935, 1974 and 1988, it has each time been restored to its approximate  original form.  It is 678 feet long.  The wharf extends another 58 feet into Tampa bay.

Over the years it has nurtured the hopes of fisherman and the dreams of lovers…provided roosts for pelicans and other sea birds and has been a friend to residents and visitors alike.

Over the center of the tin roof, from the third shore bench to the south of this marker, on clear nights can be seen the North star, guardian of the mariners since the first sailor looked up for guidance of the night sea.

Come walk these planks…

Beneath the Roof of this City Pier is the Place to Sit with Shrimp and Beer, While Lightening in the Distance Plays And Thunder Rumbles Across the Bays…                                “Summer Storm”…CMV ”

Two Sides of Nature – Three locations on Anna Maria Island

Two Sides of Nature is as close as a franchise that Anna Maria Island has ever seen.  With six locations and three being on Anna Maria Island it still has a great small town feel.  They also have a location on Longboat Key.

Two Sides of Nature pride themselves as being the premier Southwest Florida shop for 100% cotton colorful clothing and sportswear.  They offer high quality T-shirts as well.  Great quality logos such as Life is good and old guys rule, Two Sides offers great colorful apparel.  Two Sides of Nature also has a great selection of baseball caps as well as a few unique hats.

Looking for some beachy nick nacks?  Two Sides has some of that as well.  Regardless of where you are visiting on Anna Maria Island there is a Two Sides of Nature within 3 miles from you.  Whether it be the Anna Maria City shop or the two located in Bradenton Beach on Bridge Street stop by and pick up a great T-shirt for your mom, dad, pet sitter, or treat yourself to a peruvian cotton T-shirt.

I almost forgot the best part of all about visiting Two Sides of Nature in Anna Maria City.  Two Scoops ice cream is right next door to the Anna Maria City location.  So, do some shopping and then head over to Two scoops for some great ice cream and then take a walk across the street to the public pier.  Walk the Anna Maria City pier while enjoying your ice cream and see what fish are biting.

Two Sides of Nature
Anna Maria City, Fl
Bayview Plaza
101 South Bay Blvd
(941) 779-2432

Two Sides of Nature
Bradenton Beach, Fl
119 Bridge Street
(941) 779-1237

Two Sides of Nature
Bradenton Beach, Florida
108 Bridge Street
(941) 779-1238

Two Sides of Nature
Longboat Key, FL
5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive
(941) 387-1762

Anna Maria City trash guidelines

Anna Maria City has always had code regarding the time and placement of trash cans at an owners curb.  Anna Maria City is beginning to see trash cans sitting out at the curb for days.  The city has focused on short term rentals as well as absentee property owners that come out to Anna Maria Island and leave their cans out for the week.

The city of Anna Maria says no more.  The Islander newspaper reported on this topic in August and quoted code enforcement officer Gerry Rathvon, “These containers sit there for days.  They often get blown over by storms, and I go out and pick up the trash.”   It’s an ugly situation, trash cans sitting out everywhere for days.

The city on Anna Maria Island is compiling a list of repeat offenders.  Code

allows fines of up to $250 per day.  There is an easy solution, Waste Management offers a back door pickup service for $3 per month.  Waste Management employees will retrieve your trash at the back door on the assigned trash days.  Seems like a no-brainer.  One fine could be $250, that is 80 months of back door pick ups to pay for one fine.  Wow, what a pay back.

From the Islander, “City code states: Residential containers and garden trash shall be placed out for collection no earlier than 5 PM of the day prior to the scheduled collection and shall be removed from curbside not later than 9 PM of the day of collection.”  All residential containers, garden trash and recycle containers must be on the owners property.

Currently for 2009 the Anna Maria City the trash pick up days are

Monday – Trash/Garbage and recyclables
Wednesday – yard waste
Thursday – Trash/Garbage

Not sure why everyone does not sign up for back door service with Waste Management? One thing is for sure, if an Anna Maria Island property owner is renting their home out seasonally with or without property management the back door service is a no-brainer.

Silhouettes at Sunset 8~16~09 Anna Maria Island Turtle Hatchling

Turtle season has moved into full swing on Anna Maria Island and we are seeing hatchlings taking place almost daily. As fate would have it, I walked up on a hatchling and was fortunate enough to help escort about 45 baby Loggerheads safely to the water. The crowd of about 60 other onlookers were well informed of the rules in order to participate. Most were visitors from all over. Absolutely no camera flashes are allowed, only infra-red lights although only when necessary. After standing over a nest that had begun to cave in due to the rumblings of turtles cracking through their eggs, the ground began to “boil”. What is so amazing is how this happens for the most part simultaneously where all at the same time the sand moves and out over their nest these little guys scramble to embark towards the water. It is as though they are all wearing a compass as they march like an army to their new environment. There is usually one leader and a few stragglers that seem to be a bit weaker than their brothers and sisters. You could feel the emotion of this crowd as we urged them toward safety with words of encouragement. When the last little guy hit the water the crowd broke out in cheers. We had all just shared a beautiful act of nature.

After a hatchling occurs, the faithful Turtle Watch volunteers go back to the nest to record shells, eggs that did not hatch and perhaps rescue some that were unable to hatch or just left behind. On a different night I happened up on an excavation. Glenn was elbow deep digging through the remains as Cindy assisted in sifting through the sand. There were 10 babies found still alive that were rescued and taken to safety. Bless these folks that donate their time to endless walks on the beach checking nest and assuring that as many Loggerheads as possible are given their best shot at survival. The work is very rewarding and you all deserve our praise for a job well done!

Written by Melinda Bordes  ~941-705- 0146~melinda@annamariasunset.com~ Whether buying or selling real estate on Anna Maria Island or surrounding area please contact me for all of your real estate needs. Please enjoy the sunset!

Rudy’s restaurant in Anna Maria has great sandwiches

Looking for a great place to go for an informal lunch/breakfast on Anna Maria Island even though you are covered

in sand from the beach?  Rudy’s located in Anna Maria City is the perfect restaurant for you!  Rudy’s of Anna Maria City offers a great selection of breakfast items such as fresh baked cinnamon rolls, veggie sandwiches and a sandwich called the “roo”.  Rudy’s offers wonderful sandwiches that are on toasted sub roll with egg and either steak, mushrooms, onions and cheese or for the veggie lover egg, mushrooms, onions, tomato and cheese.

Rudy’s Philly cheese steak is a perfect lunch choice!  This sandwich, if you can still call it that (more like a meal)  has your choice of onions, mushrooms,  marinara sauce and their famous special mouth watering homemade peppers.  Prices at lunch range from $4.95 – $9.95.

Rudy’s is located in Anna Maria City just prior to Pine Avenue.  It is on the West side about a block from the beach just prior to the Sandbar restaurant on Gulf Drive.  Stop in and check it out.

Rudy’s
9906 Gulf Drive
Anna Maria City, Anna Maria Island, Fl
941-896-7844

Please note,
Mon-Sat 8AM-11AM  Breakfast

For more information on Anna Maria Island, Florida restaurants be sure to visit Island Real Estate’s restaurant information page.

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