The traditional “height of season” is arriving in mid-February, as this issue of Paradise NEWS shows up in your mailbox. While all year-round residents might not agree, we say “Welcome Back.” We know we only have about 6 weeks when there are lines outside our favorite dining establishments, then the “snowbirds” will start migrating home as Easter and income tax deadlines near. (Easter Sunday is April Fools Day in 2018). Spring break arrives soon after with a different set of challenges.
Strategies to keep from starving during the “height of season” include:
1: Eating dinner closer to lunch time. Places that serve both lunch and dinner and are mobbed for dinner often are quieter for lunch.
2: Trying out that new place. After the first curiosity seekers have satisfied their need to be the first, it is your turn. You could also:
3: Stay home and order in. With more and more places using ride share delivery services, the options are wider than they have ever been. Here too, planning ahead can help. Dining an hour before or two hours after traditional mid-western mealtimes opens opportunities for lesscrowded options. If you order in enough food for leftovers, you can avoid the same challenge at the next meal.
Publishing Paradise NEWS has been a labor of love for our team in print for almost a quarter of a century, (over half our married lives) and on-line for almost ten years. We never tire of hearing what our efforts mean to you, our loyal readers. A number of you stopped to meet us after Beatlemania at the Gulfport Casino on January 20th to thank us for pointing out that unusual opportunity to be up close and personal with some top national talent for an affordable, fun, Saturday night in a great local venue. Thanks to show promoter Tony Belmont, (Alan Freed’s protege’) for arranging the show and cluing us in about it. Thanks for those who stopped to say thanks for what we do. The appreciation is rewarding.
In 2007, the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce recognized Paradise NEWS as “2007 Gulfport Business of the Year” after we put their 2nd annual Pink Flamingo Home Tour on our cover and attendance ballooned. In the past 10 years their committee of dedicated volunteers has perfected the formula. Along with the freshly renovated Peninsula Inn on the cover this month, and an introduction to the March 3rd home tour, amongst other things, this edition is likely to be remembered as our “Gulfport” edition. Ten years ago we called Gulfport “Tampa Bay’s answer to Greenwich Village.” It has evolved into a lot more, but the label still fits.
Thanks for reading Paradise NEWS and if you visit any of our advertisers, please tell them you “read about them in Paradise NEWS.” It makes a big difference!