Gaylord Palms ICE!, in Kissimmee, till January 2, 2010. Nice and cold with a free small hot coco waiting for you after. View more pics on Flickr

If you still want to dress up your kids for something to do, why not try out Dinosaur World with Free Admission on Saturday, October 31. Children ages 3 to 12 in costume will be admitted free to Dinosaur World on Halloween to enjoy the displays and exhibits. Admission for adults is $12.75; for seniors 60 and over it’s $10.75. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 813-717-9865.

Know of other events happening October 23-31 you want to share with us? Leave a comment!

UPDATE: 2010 dates are September 10th (Friday) & 11th (Saturday), 4pm – 1am. For concert times, click here and for the Official website here

What happened at RTU 2009?
Tons of teenagers (and their chaperones) from around Florida gathered at Universal Studios this past weekend.

“Free Hugs”, “high five” and “marco – polo” seemed to be randomly yelled in the park throughout the night. I even got tagged by a random kid for “tag your it”. Just teenagers having a good time.

If you ask those in attendance what band they want to see during the night a different answer was usually given. Fridays line up was David Crowder Band, Fireflight, Jeremy Camp, Pillar, Remedy Drive, Seven Stories Up, Switchfoot and Saturdays concerts were of The Afters, Casting Crowns, Group 1 Crew, Hawk Nelson, New Method, Third Day, tobyMac. Compared to last year there were only 2 concert stages instead of 3. Maybe a sign that even theme parks are having a hard time in the economy?

Minutes before the tobyMac concert was to begin the crowd began shouting “Toby Toby Toby” and when he came out everyone screamed.

“This is one of my favorite shows every year because you (the audience) lives up to the name because you rock.” Said tobyMac (Kevin Michael McKeehan, formly a third of DC Talk). A “promise from myself and the diversity band to you fine people of the south is that we are going to give you everything we got babbbyyy.” The crew certainly lived up to the promise during the 75 minute set.

Rock the Universe 2010 is set for September 10-11 if it follows the same format of the second weekend in Septmber like it has been for the past several years. Tickets for 2009 Rock the Universe were $49.99 plus tax for one night and $75.99 plus tax for two nights.

Update 8/29 – 2 New videos from the games. The famous beer can torch and Bobbin for Pigs Feet.

Last weekend I made my first trek (and not last) out to the Lakeland Motorsports Park Mud Hole with my bf and boy was it worth the trip! Plus it really was not that far… I am a city girl at best and sometimes a girly girly who is not big into getting my feet dirty. But I was prepared! I bought boots, like the kind my dad uses to go fishing. My feet were not going to get dirty or wet! I’ll be wearing the boots out again tomorrow (8/29) for the Reality Redneck Games and the Mud Obstacle Course. More info about the games below the mud hole video. (If you read Lakeland Local it’s a different video clip.)

The games start at 1:30 with competition events like the drive shaft javelin, human tug of war, bowling ball shot put, bobbin for pigs feet (wtbeep) tire discus and what is a redneck game with out a toilet seat toss. Games open for the general spectators are beer pong, mud volleyball, mud football, red neck croquet, cornhole and a redneck waterpark with a huge water slide for the kids.

Also at the mud hole (on the other side) will be a mud obstacle course from 12PM to 12AM… Admission if $15 at the gate for all day or $10 after 5pm (but you will miss so much if you wait till after 5pm). The mud hole is located at 8100 SR 33 North. From I-4 exit 38, turn North of Hwy 33 North 1 mile…

For more information call Doug at 863-223-5640

(Reading on iphone/bb?)

Second up – Bro and Linkster’s in Downtown Lakeland

(Reading on iphone/bb? watch here

First up – Texas Cattle Company with bartender Ron making a Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini.
This will be the third year that Texas Cattle Company has participated in “Music & Martinis”. The first year they came in 3rd and last year 2nd . Guess what he place he is aiming for this year? If you guessed 1st you guessed correct. Ron told me this years martini will be fruit based with a fondue. Ron is a Crown Royal and diet man for drinks but the best drink for him to make is the Blue Rose of Texas. Stay tuned to watch drinks made at Linksters and Natalie’s.

[reading this on iphone/bb? Watch the video here]

At New World Brewery (Ybor/Tampa)
Wed 08/12 Jacuzzi Boys, Davila and Others

At Ford Amph (Tampa)
Sat 08/08 Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum

Sun 08/09 Coldplay, Elbow and Kitty Daisy & Lewis

Tue 08/11 Rockstar Energy Meyham Festival – Featuring: Slayer and Manson
With: Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Behemoth, Whitechapel, God Forbid,
All That Remains, Mushroom Head, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse & Job For a Cowboy

Wed 08/12 Dave Matthews Band

Fri 08/14 Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick

(Reading on iphone/bb? Watch here)

Jose also showed me when he logged in to see the video of the ticket there was a “Most Asked Questions”. So here is a copy and paste from the site!

Most Asked Questions
Q: What is the City of Lakeland Photo Enforcement Program?
A: This is a traffic safety program in which the City of Lakeland utilizes state-of-the-art digital cameras and violation detection systems for the purpose of decreasing violations of the traffic control regulations and reducing collisions. If this violation is a Red Light Infraction, please be aware that a vehicle may not be present in an intersection when the traffic control light is in the red phase. In the absence of a right turn on red restriction, a vehicle may make a right turn on the red, but only after making a complete stop, and assuring that it is safe to proceed.

Q: How do Red Light Cameras work?
A: Red Light Cameras: Each intersection is outfitted with a high-resolution high-speed digital camera. The cameras are activated by sensors which are located at the intersection. The cameras are activated when a vehicle is detected by the sensors after the light has turned red. The camera takes two digital photos which document the violation. The program operates 24 hours a day seven days a week and operates in all weather conditions. The system is only activated when a vehicle runs a red light. All intersections with red light cameras are clearly marked. The Lakeland Police Department reviews every violation before the citation is issued. Citations contain an image of a violating vehicle before it enters the intersection, while it is in the intersection, and the license plate of the vehicle.

Q: Why did I receive a Notice of Violation?
A: A Notice of Violation for a Red Light Violation is issued when your vehicle fails to stop at a clearly marked stop line or at any other stopping point described in the ordinance when facing a steady circular red signal. You will also be issued a Notice of Violation for a Red Light Violation if you do not come to a complete stop before making a right turn.

Q: What if the registered owner was not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation?
A: The registered owner of a vehicle will be mailed the Red Light Safety Notice of Violation. If your vehicle was stolen, sold prior to the date and time of the Violation, or was otherwise not in your care, custody or control at the time of the Violation, you may submit a sworn statement to that effect to rebut the presumption that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the Violation. The registered owner may submit information and supporting documentation to that effect by mailing an Affidavit that is downloadable from the link at the bottom of this website. The Affidavit must be received by the due date of your Notice. If an Owner furnishes satisfactory evidence pursuant to this paragraph, the Hearing Officer may terminate the prosecution of this Notice of Code Violation issued to the Owner, and if appropriate, issue a Notice of Code Violation to the person identified in the evidence as the operator of the motor vehicle at the time of the Violation.

Q: What is the amount of the fine?
A: The fine amount is $125.00 for a first and second offense, and $250 for the third and any subsequent violations within any five (5) year period. A Violation detected through the use of an automated traffic safety camera is a non criminal offense for which you cannot go to jail. Like a parking ticket, a Violation detected by a traffic camera is NOT part of the driving record of the violator. Therefore, a finding that the Violation was committed, either by payment or after a hearing, will not be reported to the Department of Licensing. However, failure to respond to a Notice of Violation, failure to appear for a requested hearing, or failure to pay a penalty imposed after a hearing may result in the filing of an order constituting a lien against your real and personal property and/or the denial of the right to obtain and maintain City permits and licenses.

Harborfest takes place in Downtown Norfolk in Town Point Park. More than 200,000 people are estimated to attend this FREE weekend long event. The event begins with a “Parade of Sail” where the boats cruise down the Elizabeth River to downtown Norfolk. Visitors are able to go aboard authentic Tall Ships. While walking around you can get lots of great food and watch live music acts by local and nationally known artists. That’s where the video comes in. It’s a group called “Juice”, similar to Southeastern University’s “FX” team or the nationally known group “Stomp”.

(reading on iphone/bb watch video here.)

It’s a great time to take the kids (or a significant other) and see this latest exhibit and to watch a movie in the IMAX dome theatre.