20
February 2018 www.plantcityguide.com (813) 610-7336 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Returns to Plant City Airport The eighth annual Planes, Trains & Automobiles event will take place at the Plant City Airport on Saturday, February 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Plant City Airport, 4007 Airport Road, just west of Sydney Road. Admission is free. Parking is $5. It’s a chance to see real airplanes, remote control planes, model trains in operation and on exhibit, and classic and exotic car displays. Antique railroad maintenance equipment, train artifacts and memorabilia will be on site for guests to explore. The highlight is the free plane rides for children ages 8 to 17 sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program. The first 150 will get to fly, though EAA members say they may extend that a little if the members are up to it. Last year they flew about 300 children. Several other exhibits are planned as well, mostly on the tarmac, from vintage cars and remote- controlled planes to a search-and-rescue helicopter and a K-9 demonstration. Another highlight is the huge model train exhibit put on by the H.B. Plant Railroad Historical Society. For more information, contact the Chamber at 813-754-3707 or log on to www.plantcity.org or www.facebook.com/PlanesTrainsAutos Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Plant City Restaurant in the Focus Magazine Annual Reader’s Choice Awards this month. Visit www.focusplantcity.com to vote.

February 2018 - plantcityguide.com...... including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send ... Broadway Musical,” The Drowsy Chaperone is a ... Vocal

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February 2018

wwwplantcityguidecom (813) 610-7336

Planes Trains and Automobiles

Returns to Plant City Airport

The eighth annual Planes Trains amp

Automobiles event will take place at

the Plant City Airport on Saturday

February 24 from 1000 am to 300

pm at the Plant City Airport 4007

Airport Road just west of Sydney

Road Admission is free Parking is $5

Itrsquos a chance to see real airplanes

remote control planes model trains in

operation and on exhibit and classic

and exotic car displays Antique

railroad maintenance equipment train

artifacts and memorabilia will be on

site for guests to explore

The highlight is the free plane rides for

children ages 8 to 17 sponsored by the

Experimental Aircraft Associations

Young Eagles program

The first 150 will get to fly though

EAA members say they may extend

that a little if the members are up to it

Last year they flew about 300 children

Several other exhibits are planned as

well mostly on the tarmac from

vintage cars and remote- controlled

planes to a search-and-rescue helicopter

and a K-9 demonstration

Another highlight is the huge model

train exhibit put on by the HB Plant

Railroad Historical Society

For more information contact the

Chamber at 813-754-3707 or log on to

wwwplantcityorg or wwwfacebookcomPlanesTrainsAutos

Donrsquot forget to vote for your

favorite Plant City Restaurant in the

Focus Magazine Annual Readerrsquos

Choice Awards this month Visit

wwwfocusplantcitycom to vote

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 2 ~

Just a Thoughthellip By Christine Wynne-Andrade Editor

When first thinking of Valentinersquos Day

our minds often go to images of

flowers chocolates or fancy dinners

So in many ways Valentinersquos Day is

great for those in floral restaurant

chocolate and giant teddy bear

businesses And donrsquot get us wrong

those types of Valentinersquos gifts are nice

to give your significant other but this

Valentinersquos Day remember that truly

showing affection to your partner

doesnrsquot have to be expensive

Rarely are healthy relationships based

on the materials you give each other so

why is it that on the day meant for

couples to show each other love gifts

are a big portion of the celebration

Part of it is our American consumerism

mindset Mass-produced Valentinersquos

cards became prominent in the 1840s

and the day became a major consumer

holiday

Love and happiness in your

relationship shouldnrsquot be based on what

gifts you get each other Rather it

should be based on being a better

person because of them being able to

compromise making sacrifices for each

other celebrating each personrsquos

individual success and supporting each

other through tough times As clicheacute as

it sounds true love and signs of

affection donrsquot have a price tag but take

time effort and willingness to work

together

Instead of spending money on a

Valentinersquos gift spend some time

finding a unique and inexpensive gift to

make your significant other truly feel

special Maybe that means going for a

walk where you had your first date

making your partner their favorite meal

or writing out reasons why you love

them

Moreover why not spend some time

talking about your relationship and

discussing what you can continue to

improve on One of the key indicators

of a healthy relationship is how a

couple communicates with each other

ldquoResearchers have found that

communication style is more important

than commitment levels personality

traits or stressful life events in

predicting whether happily married

couples will go on to divorcerdquo

according to the American

Psychological Association

Knowing this is true why not spend the

day meant to be wrapped around love

talking about how to strengthen your

love

If you didnrsquot make dinner reservations

or you forgot a gift donrsquot fret Instead

focus on the inexpensive gifts mdash in

terms of money mdash that can add value

to your relationship

This is a community paper Please

share your stories announcements and

opinions with us Contact the Editor at

editorplantcityguidecom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 3 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 4 ~

Plant City Entertainment Presentshellip

February 2 3 4

and 9 10 11

Fridays and

Saturdays at

800 pm

Sundays at 200

pm

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Original Score The

Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical featuring one

show-stopping song and dance number after another

With the houselights down a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his

favorite record the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical The recording

comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on

Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding a bumbling best man a desperate

theatre producer a not-so-bright hostess two gangsters posing as pastry chefs a

misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone and you have the ingredients

for an evening of madcap delight

Hailed by New York Magazine as ldquoThe Perfect Broadway Musicalrdquo The Drowsy

Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical poking fun at all the tropes that

characterize the musical theatre genre

All performances held at the Plant City Entertainment Inc Theater 101 N

Thomas Street Plant City FL 33563

To purchase tickets online amp for more information visit wwwpceshowscom

Tickets are also available for purchase at the door

ADULTS (18-59) ndash $18

SENIORS (60+ with ID) ndash $14

STUDENTS (under 18) ndash $14

GROUPS OF 10+ ndash $12 (only available in advance at Hardeersquos Fashions)

PCE MEMBERS ndash $12 (only available at Hardeersquos and at the door)

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presentshellip

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life hersquos a New York newspaper critic hersquos

about to marry the preacherrsquos daughter and hersquos off to visit his sweet spinster

aunts to announce the engagement Mortimer always knew that his family has a

bit of a mad gene ndash his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt ndash but his

world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been

poisoning lonely old men for years When his other brother ndash a psychopathic

gangster ndash shows up the body count rises This uproarious farce was made into a

hit movie starring Carey Grant

The play will open February 9th at 800 pm the James McCabe Theater amp

will run for 3 weekends Other show dates amp times will includeFebruary

10 16 17 23 amp 24 Doors open at 730 pm Curtain is at 800 pm

There will be 2 Matinees February 12 amp 18 Doors open at 230 pm

Curtain at 300 pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission Seniors Students amp Military with

ID $ 15 Groups of 10 or more $15 each call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit wwwthevillageplayersvalricocom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 2 ~

Just a Thoughthellip By Christine Wynne-Andrade Editor

When first thinking of Valentinersquos Day

our minds often go to images of

flowers chocolates or fancy dinners

So in many ways Valentinersquos Day is

great for those in floral restaurant

chocolate and giant teddy bear

businesses And donrsquot get us wrong

those types of Valentinersquos gifts are nice

to give your significant other but this

Valentinersquos Day remember that truly

showing affection to your partner

doesnrsquot have to be expensive

Rarely are healthy relationships based

on the materials you give each other so

why is it that on the day meant for

couples to show each other love gifts

are a big portion of the celebration

Part of it is our American consumerism

mindset Mass-produced Valentinersquos

cards became prominent in the 1840s

and the day became a major consumer

holiday

Love and happiness in your

relationship shouldnrsquot be based on what

gifts you get each other Rather it

should be based on being a better

person because of them being able to

compromise making sacrifices for each

other celebrating each personrsquos

individual success and supporting each

other through tough times As clicheacute as

it sounds true love and signs of

affection donrsquot have a price tag but take

time effort and willingness to work

together

Instead of spending money on a

Valentinersquos gift spend some time

finding a unique and inexpensive gift to

make your significant other truly feel

special Maybe that means going for a

walk where you had your first date

making your partner their favorite meal

or writing out reasons why you love

them

Moreover why not spend some time

talking about your relationship and

discussing what you can continue to

improve on One of the key indicators

of a healthy relationship is how a

couple communicates with each other

ldquoResearchers have found that

communication style is more important

than commitment levels personality

traits or stressful life events in

predicting whether happily married

couples will go on to divorcerdquo

according to the American

Psychological Association

Knowing this is true why not spend the

day meant to be wrapped around love

talking about how to strengthen your

love

If you didnrsquot make dinner reservations

or you forgot a gift donrsquot fret Instead

focus on the inexpensive gifts mdash in

terms of money mdash that can add value

to your relationship

This is a community paper Please

share your stories announcements and

opinions with us Contact the Editor at

editorplantcityguidecom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 3 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 4 ~

Plant City Entertainment Presentshellip

February 2 3 4

and 9 10 11

Fridays and

Saturdays at

800 pm

Sundays at 200

pm

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Original Score The

Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical featuring one

show-stopping song and dance number after another

With the houselights down a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his

favorite record the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical The recording

comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on

Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding a bumbling best man a desperate

theatre producer a not-so-bright hostess two gangsters posing as pastry chefs a

misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone and you have the ingredients

for an evening of madcap delight

Hailed by New York Magazine as ldquoThe Perfect Broadway Musicalrdquo The Drowsy

Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical poking fun at all the tropes that

characterize the musical theatre genre

All performances held at the Plant City Entertainment Inc Theater 101 N

Thomas Street Plant City FL 33563

To purchase tickets online amp for more information visit wwwpceshowscom

Tickets are also available for purchase at the door

ADULTS (18-59) ndash $18

SENIORS (60+ with ID) ndash $14

STUDENTS (under 18) ndash $14

GROUPS OF 10+ ndash $12 (only available in advance at Hardeersquos Fashions)

PCE MEMBERS ndash $12 (only available at Hardeersquos and at the door)

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presentshellip

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life hersquos a New York newspaper critic hersquos

about to marry the preacherrsquos daughter and hersquos off to visit his sweet spinster

aunts to announce the engagement Mortimer always knew that his family has a

bit of a mad gene ndash his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt ndash but his

world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been

poisoning lonely old men for years When his other brother ndash a psychopathic

gangster ndash shows up the body count rises This uproarious farce was made into a

hit movie starring Carey Grant

The play will open February 9th at 800 pm the James McCabe Theater amp

will run for 3 weekends Other show dates amp times will includeFebruary

10 16 17 23 amp 24 Doors open at 730 pm Curtain is at 800 pm

There will be 2 Matinees February 12 amp 18 Doors open at 230 pm

Curtain at 300 pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission Seniors Students amp Military with

ID $ 15 Groups of 10 or more $15 each call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit wwwthevillageplayersvalricocom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 3 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 4 ~

Plant City Entertainment Presentshellip

February 2 3 4

and 9 10 11

Fridays and

Saturdays at

800 pm

Sundays at 200

pm

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Original Score The

Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical featuring one

show-stopping song and dance number after another

With the houselights down a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his

favorite record the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical The recording

comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on

Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding a bumbling best man a desperate

theatre producer a not-so-bright hostess two gangsters posing as pastry chefs a

misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone and you have the ingredients

for an evening of madcap delight

Hailed by New York Magazine as ldquoThe Perfect Broadway Musicalrdquo The Drowsy

Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical poking fun at all the tropes that

characterize the musical theatre genre

All performances held at the Plant City Entertainment Inc Theater 101 N

Thomas Street Plant City FL 33563

To purchase tickets online amp for more information visit wwwpceshowscom

Tickets are also available for purchase at the door

ADULTS (18-59) ndash $18

SENIORS (60+ with ID) ndash $14

STUDENTS (under 18) ndash $14

GROUPS OF 10+ ndash $12 (only available in advance at Hardeersquos Fashions)

PCE MEMBERS ndash $12 (only available at Hardeersquos and at the door)

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presentshellip

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life hersquos a New York newspaper critic hersquos

about to marry the preacherrsquos daughter and hersquos off to visit his sweet spinster

aunts to announce the engagement Mortimer always knew that his family has a

bit of a mad gene ndash his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt ndash but his

world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been

poisoning lonely old men for years When his other brother ndash a psychopathic

gangster ndash shows up the body count rises This uproarious farce was made into a

hit movie starring Carey Grant

The play will open February 9th at 800 pm the James McCabe Theater amp

will run for 3 weekends Other show dates amp times will includeFebruary

10 16 17 23 amp 24 Doors open at 730 pm Curtain is at 800 pm

There will be 2 Matinees February 12 amp 18 Doors open at 230 pm

Curtain at 300 pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission Seniors Students amp Military with

ID $ 15 Groups of 10 or more $15 each call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit wwwthevillageplayersvalricocom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 4 ~

Plant City Entertainment Presentshellip

February 2 3 4

and 9 10 11

Fridays and

Saturdays at

800 pm

Sundays at 200

pm

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Original Score The

Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical featuring one

show-stopping song and dance number after another

With the houselights down a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his

favorite record the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical The recording

comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on

Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding a bumbling best man a desperate

theatre producer a not-so-bright hostess two gangsters posing as pastry chefs a

misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone and you have the ingredients

for an evening of madcap delight

Hailed by New York Magazine as ldquoThe Perfect Broadway Musicalrdquo The Drowsy

Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical poking fun at all the tropes that

characterize the musical theatre genre

All performances held at the Plant City Entertainment Inc Theater 101 N

Thomas Street Plant City FL 33563

To purchase tickets online amp for more information visit wwwpceshowscom

Tickets are also available for purchase at the door

ADULTS (18-59) ndash $18

SENIORS (60+ with ID) ndash $14

STUDENTS (under 18) ndash $14

GROUPS OF 10+ ndash $12 (only available in advance at Hardeersquos Fashions)

PCE MEMBERS ndash $12 (only available at Hardeersquos and at the door)

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presentshellip

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life hersquos a New York newspaper critic hersquos

about to marry the preacherrsquos daughter and hersquos off to visit his sweet spinster

aunts to announce the engagement Mortimer always knew that his family has a

bit of a mad gene ndash his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt ndash but his

world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been

poisoning lonely old men for years When his other brother ndash a psychopathic

gangster ndash shows up the body count rises This uproarious farce was made into a

hit movie starring Carey Grant

The play will open February 9th at 800 pm the James McCabe Theater amp

will run for 3 weekends Other show dates amp times will includeFebruary

10 16 17 23 amp 24 Doors open at 730 pm Curtain is at 800 pm

There will be 2 Matinees February 12 amp 18 Doors open at 230 pm

Curtain at 300 pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission Seniors Students amp Military with

ID $ 15 Groups of 10 or more $15 each call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit wwwthevillageplayersvalricocom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 5 ~

Valrico Village Players Presentshellip

Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life hersquos a New York newspaper critic hersquos

about to marry the preacherrsquos daughter and hersquos off to visit his sweet spinster

aunts to announce the engagement Mortimer always knew that his family has a

bit of a mad gene ndash his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt ndash but his

world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been

poisoning lonely old men for years When his other brother ndash a psychopathic

gangster ndash shows up the body count rises This uproarious farce was made into a

hit movie starring Carey Grant

The play will open February 9th at 800 pm the James McCabe Theater amp

will run for 3 weekends Other show dates amp times will includeFebruary

10 16 17 23 amp 24 Doors open at 730 pm Curtain is at 800 pm

There will be 2 Matinees February 12 amp 18 Doors open at 230 pm

Curtain at 300 pm

Tickets are $18 for General Admission Seniors Students amp Military with

ID $ 15 Groups of 10 or more $15 each call our box office for reserved

seating prepaid in advance 480-3147 or our information line 813-643-

8292 or visit wwwthevillageplayersvalricocom

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 6 ~

Entertainment lineup announced for 2018 Florida Strawberry Festival

Over 24 artists will perform at this yearrsquos

Strawberry Festival March 1-11

Advance tickets for admission and for

headline entertainment shows will go on

sale Thursday Dec 7 2017 at 8 am

and can be purchased online at

wwwflstrawberryfestivalcom at the

Amscot Main Ticket Office located at

2209 W Oak Avenue in Plant City and

over the phone at 813-754-1996

ldquoThe theme of this yearrsquos festival is

lsquoBuilding New Memoriesrsquo with a strong

emphasis on the construction of our new

GT Grandstands seating areardquo said

Florida Strawberry Festival President

Paul Davis

The eventrsquos board of directors broke

ground on the project in March and

construction is expected to be complete

by the end of the month The new

bleacher-style seating will accommodate

9200 total guests is closer to the stage

and will be more comfortable for guests

Davis said

Another change with the construction

project is that the event will no longer

offer free seating to headline shows

ldquoThis was an extremely difficult decision

for usrdquo said Davis ldquoBut we absolutely

had to construct new seating And when

you start crunching the numbers there

was just no way economically for us to

offer free seats any longerrdquo

The lineup is as follows

Thursday March 1

1030 am Jimmy Sturr

330 pm Oak Ridge Boys

730 pm DNCE

Friday March 2

330 pm Jerry Lee Lewis

730 pm Justin Moore and

Dylan Scott

Saturday March 3

330 pm Cam

730 pm The Band Perry

Sunday March 4

330 pm Lee Greenwood

730 pm REBA McENTIRE

Monday March 5

330 pm Jimmy Fortune

730 pm Josh Turner

Tuesday March 6

330 pm Gaither Vocal Band

730 pm Casting Crowns

Wednesday March 7

330 pm Engelbert

Humperdinck

730 pm Trace Adkins

Thursday March 8

1030 am The Lettermen

330 pm Drifters Platters and

Cornell Gunterrsquos Coasters

730 pm I Love the 90s Tour

featuring Vanilla Ice Tone Loc and

Salt-N-Pepa

Friday March 9

330 pm Charley Pride

730 pm Earth Wind amp Fire

Saturday March 10

330 pm Sawyer Brown

730 pm Kenny ldquoBabyfacerdquo

Edmonds and Anthony Hamilton

Sunday March 11

330 pm Chase Bryant

730 pm Brad Paisley

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 7 ~

Social Scene

Bike Fest

February 3 ndash 500 ndash 900 pm

Train Depot

The Florida Opry

February 3 ndash 600 ndash 900 pm

1914 Plant City High School

Art amp All That Jazz Concert

February 13 ndash 630 ndash 830 pm

Photo and Archives History Center

Strawberry Classic Car Show

February 17 ndash 400 pm

Historic Downtown

Planes Trains amp Automobiles

February 24 1000am to 300

Plant City Airport

Florida Strawberry Festival

March 1 ndash 11

Strawberry Festival Gounds

Live Music

Thursdays 800 pm - midnight

1916 Irish Pub

Live Music

Friday amp Saturday 700 -1100pm

Keel amp Curley Winery

Plant City Connections Networking

Tuesdays ndash 745 am ndash 900 am

Crossroads - 106 W SR 60

Salon Nails and Tanning

Services include Facials Pedicures Manicures Gel Nails Spray Tan and Waxing

Call Sloan at 754-6592 for new client specials

1309 S Collins Street Plant City

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 8 ~

Making Cents

Economic Impact of Tourism

Travel industry representatives sounded

an alarm last month over a long-term

decline in international tourism to the

US and said they want to work with

the Trump administration to reverse the

trend Organizers of the new Visit US

Coalition said the decline started in

2015 and repeatedly said they are not

blaming Donald Trump who has been

criticized by some in the travel industry

for spurring a Trump slump with

anti-foreigner rhetoric and policies

Instead the new coalition blamed the

tourism downturn on factors like the

strong US dollar complex visa

requirements and low-cost air travel

that boosts travel elsewhere

Coalition representatives were short on

specific proposals to reverse the decline

but mentioned making it easier for

foreigners to get visas and the need for

more welcoming messages to balance

out stronger border security

People misinterpreted a lot of our

security protocols to be an

unwelcoming message said Geoff

Freeman CEO of the American

Gaming Association a member of the

coalition Freeman added that the US

can be a welcoming and secure

destination simultaneously

Statistics cited by the coalition showed

Americas share of global travel fell

from 136 percent to 119 percent

between 2015 and 2017 The US was

one of only two destinations in the top

dozen global markets to see a decline in

long-haul inbound travel since 2015

The other country that lost market share

was Turkey where tourism dropped

after repeated terror attacks

Were falling behind said Roger

Dow CEO of the US Travel

Association the non-profit

organization that spearheaded a

conference call Tuesday announcing

the Visit US Coalition He said the

drop represents 74 million fewer

visitors from around the world which

translates to 100000 American jobs

not created

Travel and tourism is our countrys

second largest export said Katherine

Lugar CEO of the American Hotel amp

Lodging Association

We cant afford to lose ground to other

countries She said the average

overseas traveller spends $4400

visiting the US adding that fewer

visitors mean fewer hotel stays fewer

meals fewer goods purchased in our

retail stores and fewer visits to our

national attractions

Travel is a top 10 employer in 49 states

and Washington DC and

international travel is the countrys No

1 service export and No 2 export

overall according to the US Travel

Association

Other organizations in the Visit US

Coalition include the International

Association of Exhibitions and Events

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 9 ~

National Restaurant Association and

the National Retail Federation

Dow said hed like to see more

personnel at visa offices and customs

so that people who want to come here

dont stand in line for two to three

hours He said coalition

representatives have been meeting with

government agencies including the US

State Department the Commerce

Department and the Transportation

Department

Dow noted as an example of how

travel trends are not solely determined

by politics that visitors from Canada

have increased even though Donald

Trump isnt particularly popular in

Canada The uptick in tourists from

north of the border is likely due to the

strengthening of Canadian currency

against the US dollar

The tourism impact on Florida is huge

On any given day there are more

people visiting Florida than live in 13

US states and those visitors will on

average spend $224 million every day

Last year the Sunshine State welcomed

105 million out-of-state and

international visitors marking the

sixth consecutive record year for

Florida tourism

Tell GUIDE Advertisers

You Saw Their

Ad In Plant Citys Locally

Owned Paperrdquo

Photo Archives to Host Art and

All That Jazz Night

The Photo Archives and History

Centerrsquos ldquoTuesdayrsquos at the Archivesrdquo

February program Art and All That

Jazz is set for Tuesday February 13

2018 from 635 pm to 830 pm as a

warm up for Valentinersquos Day

The night will begin with Champagne

and a buffet of wine and cheese

succulent meatballs tasty chicken bites

fruit bits and veggies with a tangy dip

Outstanding paintings by local artists of

the East Hillsborough Art Guild will

festoon the walls and cool jazz will

permeate the air

The Archives will present the Paul

Butcher Jazz Trio affiliated with

Florida Southern College music

program Faculty member Paul Butcher

will be at the 1928 Mason and Hamlin

grand piano Todd Jefferis will be on

bass and Mitchell Montgomery will be

behind the drums

Admission for the Art and All That Jazz

program is $25 per person and includes

the art exhibit the cool jazz the food

and refreshments and a rose Itrsquos

Tuesdays at the Archives February 13

beginning at 635 pm RSVP requested

but of course if space is available

walk-ins are welcome

Tuesdays at the Archives is a Photo

Archives and History Center program

offering different events including

lectures wine tastings history trivia

nights and concerts For further

information call 8137541578 or email

gilplantcityphotoarchivesorg

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 10 ~

Suit Case Capers

CubahellipRum Heaven

By Anthony Andrade and

Christine Wynne

This is the third article in our series on

Cuba The first two articles included an

overview of the island and a must do

adventures list If you missed the first

two articles you can always find our

past issues under the ldquoArchiverdquo section

of our website

(wwwplantcityguidecom)

Americans have been fascinated with

Cuban rum for centuries Soldiers first

got a taste of it while fighting the

Spanish-American War on Cuban soil

During Prohibition wealthy Americans

chartered private flights to Havana to

sip rum on the weekends And of

course theres the mythical lure of

Ernest Hemingway who spent the mid-

20th century drinking daiquiris in

Cubas cocktail mecca

Rum is part of Cubas national identity

and has along with cigars fueled the

countrys economy for decades And as

travel regulations are easing between

the US and Cuba more Americans are

becoming interested in all things Cuba

with certain illicit agricultural products

at the top of their minds

Rum is made from sugarcane a crop

that Christopher Columbus introduced

to the Americas in the 1400rsquos It is

produced in more than 80 countries but

the finest is considered to come from

the Caribbean where the climate is best

for growing sugarcane The taste of

sugarcane like that of wine grapes is

affected by the atmospheric conditions

including the soil and weather or area

where it grows (Other factors that

determine a rums flavor include the

yeast used in fermentation the material

of the stills used during distillation the

type and age of the barrels that its aged

in and any colorings or flavorings

added in after-the-fact)

This ldquoRonrdquo (the Cuban term for Rum)

is the stuff of legend For more than

500 years this was a staple of sailors

pirates colonists and travelers to the

Caribbean Many generations of

Cubans have perfected the distillation

process Americans are surely familiar

with the Bacardi dynasty that began in

Cuba Bacardi like many family owned

Rum makers were forced out of Cuba

in 1960 When visiting Cuba today

you can still see where their

headquarters were

There are many excellent distilleries

producing rum in Cuba today Some of

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 11 ~

the best are Havana Club Ron Santero

Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Cubay and

Legendario We brought back some

Havana Club and Ron Cubay which we

drink when we want to reminisce about

our Cuban adventures

Havana Club is the most popular and

iconic brand of Cuban rum in the world

Like all companies in Cuba it is a joint

venture between the Cuban government

and a private company in this case the

French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard

Havana Club is sold globally (except in

the US) and comes in eight varieties

ranging from Antildeejo 3 Antildeos (aged three

years) to Antildeejo 15 Antildeos (aged for up to

15 years) plus a few limited-edition runs

such as Maacuteximo Extra Antildeejo which

comes in a crystal decanter and Havana

Club Unioacuten which was specifically

blended to pair well with Cuban cigars

You may have noticed Havana Club on

the shelves of your local liquor store

That brand as it turns out is not the

same as the one sold in Cuba and around

the world Instead it is made in Puerto

Rico and bottled in Florida by Bacardi A

lot of people think its the real deal

which Im sure has Bacardi pleased But

they arent really comparable Its a

Puerto Rican-style rum so it isnt aged as

long It doesnt have the same texture

No trip to Cuba is complete without

sampling some of its delicious cocktails

especially those made on the basis of

pure Cuban rum Many of these drinks

which now has international recognition

are prepared in most clubs and bars in

our towns and beaches because they are

usually so refreshing Here are our top

picks

Daiquiri Made with rum ice lemon

juice and sugar it is the traditional

drink of the Floridita bar in Havana

There are several variations of this

cocktail such as the Daiquiri Floridita

Hemingway Daiquiri Banana

Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri

Mojito Made with rum sparkling

water sugar lemon juice ice and

mint This was the favorite drink of

the famous writer Ernest Hemingway

Pina Colada Although this drink was

not born in Cuba is already part of

their tradition and most of the

Caribbean islands it is not possible to

visit Cuba without consuming it by

its exquisite blend of pineapple juice

and coconut milk

President This refreshing cocktail

should be prepared with a measure of

black vermouth white rum a dash of

grenadine ice chips and finally must

be served in a glass with cherries and

orange peel

Cubanito Cocktail sometimes used as

an appetizer because it includes in its

ingredients Worcestershire sauce and

hot sauce

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 12 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 13 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 14 ~

Epcotrsquos Festival of the Arts Returns

Returning to Epcot for a second year the

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

will celebrate all things art ndash performing

visual and culinary ndash from January 12 ndash

February 19 ndash with festivities running

seven days a week and Disney On

Broadway performances happening each

weekend (Fridays through Mondays)

After a successful year one in 2017 the

festival is coming back better than ever

Guests can kick off 2018 with world-

class cuisine remarkable visual art and

an extraordinary lineup of live

entertainment Introduce your inner

aficionado to an exciting extravaganza

brimming with phenomenal artists

gourmet fare musical performances

stage productions and other amazing

acts Wersquove rolled everything you love

about the arts into one spectacular

festival

The festival features

Seminars and workshops from top

Disney local and nationally-

renowned artists including classes on

drawing animation photography and

the art of making topiaries ndash just to

name a few

More than a half a dozen specially-

created food studios offering a

wealth of ldquoartisticrdquo culinary delights

A host of performing artists that

build on Epcotrsquos already stellar

lineup of authentic performers

And my favorite the Disney on

Broadway series featuring

performers from some of the best

Disney Theatrical productions

Dinner and a Show

Another returning favorite is the

Disney on Broadway Dining

Packages where you can maximize

your experience at the Festival with a

meal at one of the participating Epcot

restaurants and priority seating for the

Disney on Broadway concert series

Guests can book a delicious breakfast

lunch or dinner and later be followed

a Broadway inspired concert ndash select

dates from January 12 ndash February 19

2018 The concert series will feature

pairings of Disney on Broadway stars

singing favorite songs from award-

winning Broadway shows Priority

seats are waiting for you for the 530

645 or 8 pm concert

The original Broadway artists include

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey ndash

January 12-15 and January 19-22

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald

White ndash January 26-29 and Feb 2-5

Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland ndash

February 9-12 and February 16-19

For more information on the Festival

click over to

wwwdisneyworldcomArtfulEpcot or

call 407-WDW-DINE or 407-939-

3463

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018~ Page 15 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 16 ~

The New Flu By Joe Bowles

I have the flu Not the normal keep on

working kind of flu I have the knock

you down and put you to bed flu I donrsquot

get it I got my flu shot this year just like

I always do A nurse told me however

that the flu shot is only for those strains

of flu that they already are aware of It

will not protect you from a new flu virus

So I guess I have one of those new

viruses And so all my activities have

been canceled and my calendar is a

wreck All because I got sick

I hate to complain because years ago I

complained and a lady said to me ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo I didnrsquot know

what she was talking about until

somebody explained it to me later ldquoOh

you have the man flurdquo is what women

like to say as they snicker inside

whenever men complain that theyrsquore

sick To the female gender no man has

ever suffered like they have No matter

how severe our illness may be or how

maimed crippled or incapacitated we

may be nothing compares to the pain of

childbirth I get it

But eureka In a recent article Men vs

Women Our Key Physical Differences

[The BMJ medical journal] men have

been exonerated This article explains

that there is substantial evidence that

men do suffer more when they

experience the common cold or a flu

virus because ldquomen have a weaker

immune response to the viruses and have

a greater risk for serious symptomsrdquo

Now I can let everybody know how bad

I feel because I have scientific evidence

to back me up Although I never wanted

to admit it for fear of being labeled a a

sissy I have had coughing spasms

so bad that my ribs are sore

Yesterday I coughed so badly that I

was choking on bits of lung

Everybody in my family has been

sick When we all get together there is

a hacking marathon Everyone is

trying to eliminate their phlegm in

whatever manner possible Ohhellip did I

really say that But itrsquos true We

havenrsquot seen this type of flu since the

bubonic plague

Personally I have a headache I am

nauseated my head is stuffy my

throat is raw my eyes are draining

water my ears are so full it sounds

like Irsquom talking in a tunnel my nose

is running and I am so weak that is

difficult for me to pick up a Q-tip

When I attempt to crawl to the

bathroom in the middle of the night

even though itrsquos only 20 feet from the

bed I have to rest half-way and take a

nap in order to conserve my strength

for the rest of the journey

Whenever Irsquom in bed I begin to think

about the flu virus I imagine each

molecule as a dedicated assassin I

construct a whole war scene between

the flu molecules and my antibodies

Every time I eventually win and get

better after a fierce Armageddon-type

battle that is nearly lost until at the

last moment reinforcements arrive and

save the day Itrsquos that type of positive

thinking that has carried me through

This flu is bad And itrsquos worse on

men than womenhellip I have the

medical journal prove it Buthellip Itrsquos

okay menhellip itrsquos our secrethellip wersquoll go

ahead and let women think that they

have it worse than us T heir giddiness

may be the reason that having the flu

for them is so much easier

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 17 ~

ONE TANK GETAWAY

Real Music Real Masters at Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bays longest

running concert series returns with music

and all-new entertainment January 8 -

March 3 The longest-running concert

series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

returns this month with incredible live

music spanning from the 1950s to today

plus all-new entertainment including pop

and country artists a dazzling cirque

show and a rhythmic Irish dance

group Live performances are scheduled

Monday through Saturday at 1130 am

and 130 pm in the climate-controlled

Stanleyville Theater

The wonderful Series combines the love

of great audiences live and talented

performers and a powerful production

filled with high quality sound work and

colorful lights together for an incredible

afternoon every time

This yearrsquos line- up includes

Cirque Vertigo featuring The

Wallenda Duo - January 8 - 13

Michael Cavanaugh ndash January 15-20

The Diamonds ndash January 22 - 27

Hermanrsquos Hermits Starring Peter

Noone ndash January 29 ndash February 3

Pam Tillis ndash February 5 ndash 10

Arrival from Sweden The Music of

Abba ndash February 12 ndash 17

Leonard Coleman amp Blunt Former

Lead Vocalists of the Temptations

Platters amp Drifters ndash February 19 ndash

24

Rhythm in the Night (Irish Dance)

ndash February 26 ndash March 3

For those looking for a few more

thrills the Cheetah Hunt Cobrarsquos

Curse and Shreikra are a few of the

exciting coasters the park has to offer

The Cheetah Hunt takes you on a race

down the tracks in a representation of

a cheetah chasing after his prey The

Cobrarsquos Curse is Floridarsquos first family

spin coaster Riders will experience a

new spin with each ride Each train

spins randomly with frequency and

direction determined by the rider

weight distribution This roller

coasters air-conditioned queue

naturally fuels adrenaline with an

immersive themed experience and a

state-of-the-art snake exhibit Or you

can plunge from the sky on Shreikra

Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-

degree drop that inches you

mercilessly over the edgemdashand stops

Then surrender to speed as you dive

straight down into a 70 mph roller

coaster whirlwind with an

Immelmann loop a second dive into

an underground tunnel and a

splashdown finale that drenches fans

waiting to catch their own piece of the

fun

The Real Music Real Masters Series

gives you the chance to combine three

amazing activities into one action-

packed day Great music exhilarating

rides and insightful animal

experiences join together to give you

the opportunity of a lifetime All is

included with general admission

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 18 ~

Library Corner

Adults

Mahjong Class Thursdays

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd from

200 ndash 400 pm Whether yoursquore a

first-time player or a seasoned

expert join us every week to play

American mahjong

Master Gardener Bulbs for Florida

Landscapes Monday February 12th

630 pm Join us for an evening

discussion about creating the perfect

landscape that will thrive in Florida

Learn what plants survive best in the

Florida heat and ways to provide the

TLC they need Participants are invited

to bring a plant for the plant exchange

afterwards Presented by the Master

Gardeners of the Hillsborough County

Extension Services

Author Visit Chef Warren Caterson

Thursday February 8th 700 pm Join

Chef Warren as he shares dozens of

kitchen tips cooking hints and

humorous anecdotes about the joys and

challenges of cooking for two Chef

Warren will answer such questions as

Is it possible to chop onions without

tears Are pre-packaged frozen entreacutees

really time and money savers How do I

preserve all that leftover fresh parsley

when Ive only used a teaspoon or two

Should I cook with wine and if so

what kind should I use Register now

to ensure your seat for this exciting

event Call 813-757-9215

Morning Book Club The Story of

Arthur Truluv Tuesday February

20th 1100 am We meet once a month

to discuss the clubs book selection for

that month Copies available at library

Evening Book Club A Man Called

Ove Tuesday February 20th 730

pm Our Evening Book Club is led by

Kim Fields Share your thoughts on

this months book and pick up a copy

of next months selection

Wreath Book Craft Thursday

February 22nd

700 pm Adults join

us for another FREE book art program

This is your chance to make a beautiful

French country inspired wreath to

accompany your home decor Sign up

at the library or by calling (813) 757-

9215 We hope to see you there

VITA Tax Assistance Thursdays

February 1st-April 12

th

Itrsquos that time of year againhelliptax time

VITA is back with us to provide free

tax assistance for low income

households Please note names are

taken each Thursday morning at 10AM

for a same day appointment For more

information contact IRS TAX

Assistance at 1-800-TAX-FORM

Mini Golf at the Library On

Saturday February 17th from 530 ndash

730 pm enjoy a round of miniature

golf inside the Bruton Memorial

Library Tickets $5 apiece or $8 for a

family All ages welcome

Fundraiser by the Friends of the

Bruton Memorial Library

Special guest Adam Hayward retired

linebacker from the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

httpswwwfacebookcomevents138

832426796305

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 19 ~

Library Corner

Infant to Pre-K

Motion Commotion Tuesdays at

1000 am February 6th 13

th 20

th and

27th Move to the rhythm dance to the

beat This 45-minute program that

incorporates music literacy and

fitness For children ages 18 months to

5 years and their caregivers

Babytime Thursdays at 1000 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Early

literacy begins at birth Bond with your

baby through stories bouncy rhymes

and songs in this 20-minute lapsit

program that introduces early literacy

skills and encourages language

development For children ages 0 to

18 months and their caregivers

Storytime Thursdays at 1100 am

February 1st 8

th 15

th and 22

nd Stories

action rhymes songs and interactive

activities make up this engaging 30-

minute program that highlights early

literacy skills and encourages reading

readiness and social interaction For

children ages 18 months to 5 years

Elementary

Games Gears amp Blocks Monday

Februay 5th and 19

th from 330 pm ndash

430 pm Join us for a building

adventure Kids use Lego building

blocks to build a fun interactive and

creative afternoon The library

provides the Legos kids provide the

imagination

Read with Bonnie the Therapy Dog

Wednesdays from 400 ndash 500 pm

February 7th 21

st amp 28

th Bonnie loves

to snuggle up with anyone who wants

to share a book and some pats on the

head You can find her on the couch in

the childrenrsquos area

Valentine Crafternoon Monday

February 12th from 330 pm ndash 430

pm Children are invited to get

creative and make crafts themed

around Valentinersquos Day

For grades K - 5

Family Movie Time Monday

February 26th from 330 pm ndash 500

pm Join us for popcorn and a movie

at the library Children are welcome to

bring a blanket to lie on Fun for the

whole family Rated G For more

information please call the Bruton

Memorial Library at 813-757-9215

Teens

Teen Book Club The Screaming

Staircase (Lockwood amp Co) Tuesday February 27

th from 430 ndash

530 pm Join us for our monthly Teen

Book Club We read and talk about

books selected by teens like you We

will be discussing The Screaming

Staircase the first novel of the

Lockwood amp Co series by Jonathan

Stroud Copies of the book are

available at the Library for check out

Teen Game Zone Tuesday February

20th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come play

Nintendo Wii Xbox 360 Kinect and

PlayStation (2 amp 3) games at the

library on our large projection screens

Game On Tuesday February 6th and

13th from 430 ndash 530 pm Come learn

how to play some exciting new

tabletop games from Mayfair Games

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~

Plant City Dining amp Entertainment Guide

February 2018 ~ Page 20 ~