Get your Christmas shopping done Downtown!

Our Downtown businesses have so much going on this month!  With the Dickens of a Christmas events taking place, our merchants will be open late with special promotions taking place. 

No Regrets Stationery and Gifts will have 25% off all in-store merchandise just for the three nights of the Dickens of a Christmas event.  No Regrets has many unique gifts that are perfect for gift exchange games, stocking stuffers, children, and football fans!  If you have not ordered your Christmas cards yet, No Regrets says December 15^th would be the deadline to order to ensure they reach everyone you want to send them to before Christmas.

 Accents Home Décor and Gifts has their entire store 25% off all through Christmas! This means discounts on their jewelry, scarves, and home décor.  Who doesn’t like to get jewelry for Christmas?  A mega sale is going on this month at Rachel’s Dress Shop.  They have 75% off a rack of dresses, 50% off all Amanda shoes, buy one get one half off all Tru Luxe jeans, and buy one get one half off all Tia Christmas blouses.  This is a great place to go to for your perfect holiday party outfit!

While you are enjoying all the Christmas activities, be sure to stop by Avenue Sea to warm up with some spiced cider, hot cocoa, or mulling wine.  Avenue Sea will have special promotions to help you furnish last minute items for your table tops or for gifts!  They have a great selection of wine to pair with your holiday meals as well. 

I love the jewelry at Estate Treasures!

If you are looking to buy jewelry, Estate Treasures is the place to go.  For the Christmas events, they will be having a huge jewelry sale with up to 50% off!  This is definitely one sale I will be taking advantage of.  Keep in mind that jewelry is a fabulous stocking stuffer.  There are many other shops, such as Sugar Britches, Bees and Buttercups, and the LH Bead Gallery, that will also be open late for the Dickens of a Christmas event nights and will have special promotions just for those three Friday Nights.

In celebration of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) expecting a baby in the summer, Willow's British Tea Room will have their Royal Afternoon Tea 10% off for the whole week!  Be sure to stop by and enjoy a spot of tea.  Don't forget, Thursdays are Senior Citizens days at Willow's, so all Seniors will receive 10% off their entire ticket.

When you have finally shopped until you drop, stop in to one of our fantastic restaurants for a delicious meal.  Or, have dinner before you shop so you will have enough energy to shop until you drop!  Whatever you decide to do, make sure you do it Downtown and have a very merry Christmas!

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  This is one busy week for everyone, stores included! One of the most exciting things I have to tell you about is there is a NEW  store in Downtown Panama City!  This new store is "Bees and Buttercups" gift shop located at 306 Harrison Avenue.  Bees and Buttercups is a cute shop with handmade gift items such as jewelry and pottery.  Their grand opening will be Tuesday night (tomorrow) from 5pm to 8pm.  For a sneak preview, you can visit www.beesandbuttercups.com.  Be sure to stop by and welcome them Downtown!

There are also some great Black Friday/Small Business Saturday sales happening!  No Regrets Stationery and Gifts is having a Black Friday Sale on Black Friday (of course) from 9am to 11am.  All of their in-store merchandise will be 50% off!  They have great children's books, collegiate wear, stationery, and more!

Estate Treasures will also be having a Black Friday/Small Business Saturday sale! They will be having a three day estate sale at their store (500 Harrison Avenue).  It is a combination of three family estates and most items in the store will be on sale as well.  You can find sales up to 50% off!  They will be open Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm, and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.  Be sure to stop by and see what treasures you can find!

To help you wind down from all the Black Friday craziness, Millie's is hosting a Wine Tasting from 6pm to 8pm on Black Friday.  While you enjoy the tasting, you can enjoy the music of Martino and Tirado.  If you find a wine you like, you can purchase it by the glass or by the bottle!  All Millie's asks of you is to give a $5 donation to the Animal Rescue Center or Salvage Santa.  What a great way to give to a charity!

Also happening this Saturday is "Winterfest" from 4pm to 10pm.  Activities will include craft vendors, retail vendors, food vendors, a chili cook-off between the Downtown restaurants, a live band, and kids activities.  Be sure to bring your lawn chair to watch a collegiate football game on a 20' inflatable screen and to watch the Boat Parade of Lights, which should pass the Marina around 5:40pm.

To stay up to date about everything that is happening in Downtown Panama City, 'like' the Downtown Panama City Facebook page!


I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and remember, Shop Local, Dine Local, and Play Local!

Take Part in Some Classes Downtown!

Ahhh….I love this cooler weather!  It actually feels like Fall!  Make sure you get Downtown and enjoy the crisp air!  There are quite a few classes you can take part in this week.

On Tuesday, October 30^th at 5:30pm, Avenue Sea is hosting another one of their wonderful classes.  The theme for this class is “Pardon me, but you’re in my seat.”  This is “a class on social graces and designs to keep you sane, happy, and still maintain your best hostess title.”  You must make reservations for this class, so please give the lovely ladies at Avenue Sea a call at 850-215-7542.  If you can’t make it to the class, be sure to stop by sometime soon because “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” at Avenue Sea!  They have such beautiful displays that you don’t want to miss!  The ladies at Avenue Sea can help you decorate your home for the coming season, no matter what your budget is. 

Dance Life Dance Studio knows how to have a ghoulishly good time!  On October 31^st (Halloween Night) from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, Dance Life is hosting a Halloween Bash.  Be sure to come dressed in your best costume to dance the night away to live music from Muddy Rudder!  It will be a fun night with unusual food, smoking drinks, creepy music, and dancing!  The party doesn’t stop there!  On Friday, November 2^nd from 9pm to 11pm, they are hosting another Latin Night! Visit www.pcdancelife.com or call 850-215-4453 for more information.

If you stop by the LH Bead Gallery on Saturday, November 3^rd at 10:30am, you can make earrings and at 1pm, you can make a basic bracelet!  For the month of November, if you buy three strands of the beads that are $6 and under, you will get one strand free! This offer expires November 30^th.

You’ve seen the latest trend on jewelry that women are wearing, the Mariana jewelry.  Accents Home Décor and Gifts has the largest inventory of Mariana Jewelry in the area!  These pieces make great gifts (it’s not too soon to be thinking about Christmas)!  At Accents, not only can you accent your wardrobe with beautiful jewelry, but you can accent your home with beautiful décor!  You can visit their website, www.accentshomedecor.net to get a preview of everything they have to offer.  Be sure to stop by their store located at 428 Harrison Avenue to start your Christmas shopping!

On Saturday, November 3^rd at 7pm, “Love Me Again” will be hosting the First Annual Charity Vintage Fashion Show at 229 Harrison Avenue.  Admission to this event is a donation of non-perishable food items which will be donated to the Panama City Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, and the Humane Society Thrift & Gift Shop.  Before this event, there will be a Wine Tasting at Millie’s at 6pm.  This is a fun way to give back to the community, especially with the Holiday season approaching!  For more information, contact Lynda Holland at 850-960-6130.

Also, this Friday, November 2^nd, is the LAST Friday Fest of the season! There will be a fireworks show at 8pm.  They best view is in front of the Martin Theatre, facing 4^th Street.

Get out and enjoy this crisp, cool air and remember: Shop Local, Dine Local, and Play Local!

Great Things are Happening!

It's hard to believe it is already the middle of October!  The last two weeks have been filled with festivals such as Friday Fest, Hogs and Grogs, and Oktoberfest.  It is only fitting for the Fall season to have so many festivals going on.

Willow's British Tea Room has some exciting new things going on!  They have new hours of operation which are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11am to 7pm.  They also have a new extended menu which can be viewed at www.willowstea.com.  Beginning this Thursday, every Thursday is Senior Citizen day.  Seniors will receive 10% off their bill.  Whether they purchase a full meal, or just a cup of tea, they will get the 10% off!  I love it when restaurants try new things!

Though we have just started having fall-like weather, Christmas is beginning to arrive at Avenue Sea.  Their theme this year is the "Magic of Christmas" featuring Mark Roberts.  Be sure to stop by and see how they can help you decorate your house and "shop the Magic of Christmas."  On October 30th, they will be hosting another FREE class where you will learn about social graces and designs to keep you sane, happy, and still maintain your "best hostess" title.  Be sure to call them at 850-215-7542 to reserve your spot!  Avenue Sea recently held a store-wide 40% off sale and they wanted me to say thank-you on their behalf to all who came by and supported them!

Love Me Again always has a half price rack just outside of their store you should check out.  They also have more merchandise to choose from! Love Me Again is such a cute Vintage clothing boutique, but they have more than vintage clothes.  They also have antiques, purses, shoes, beautiful jewelry, and locally made art!

Dance Life Dance Studio is also hosting a Dance Party on Thursday, October 25th, 7:30-9:30pm!  Singles, couples, and groups are welcome!  Be sure to stop by the studio, or give them a call at 850-215-4453 for more information.

Do you have a child that is in the school band, or do you want to learn to play a band instrument, but don't have the instrument?  Leitz music has all of their band insturments 50% off on their website, www.leitzmusic.com.  Also, on October 24th, they are having their semi-annual closed door sale.  It is by invitation only, so you can just print out the picture and show it to them at the door!

I hope everyone has a great week and remember:  Shop Local, Dine Local, and Play Local!

Avenue Sea is Celebrating Their Birthday!

You know what's great when a business celebrates its birthday?  Amazing discounts!  This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Avenue Sea is celebrating their 4th birthday with a 40% off store-wide "Birthday Blow-Out Celebration!"  Everything in the store, with the exception of wine, samples, and display items, is 40% off.  So if you've been yearning for something new or have had your eye on something outside your $ comfort zone, now's the time to treat yourself!  Don't forget to shop for upcoming special occasions and stock up on hostess gifts. Help them make room for new holiday items without "breaking the bank!"  To make it easier for you to "shop until you drop," they are going to have extended shopping hours.  On Thursday and Friday, they will be open 10am to 7pm and on Saturday, they will be open from 10am to 5pm.  For more information, call 850-215-7542 or just stop by the store located at 542 Harrison Avenue.

This Month, Estate Treasures is celebrating "National Oyster Month" by offering 20% off all their oyster plates and shrimp cocktail bowls.

This Friday, at 9pm, the Dance Life Dance Studio is once again hosting a Latin Night! It is $10 per person, or if you are a member of the studio, it's free!  It's not necessary to bring a dance partner because everyone at Dance Life dances with everyone!  You can dance the merengue, bachata, salsa, cha-cha, or whatever sizzling Latin dance you want.  You can consider this the "After Party" of Friday Fest!

As I mentioned before, Friday Fest is this Friday, 6pm to 10pm.  Be sure to come Downtown for a night of great music, great food, and great cars!

As always: Shop Local, Dine Local, and Play Local!

Happy Fall!

Aw, my favorite time of year, fall, is finally here!  With the new season come new merchandise, new sales, and perfect weather for shopping downtown.  To set the mood for shopping, stop by Willow’s for a cup of hot tea, or Trigo’s for a cup of coffee (they have Pumpkin Spice!).  For me, coffee, cool weather, and a great book go hand in hand.  Books by the Sea is all the time having a sale going on and have authors of the week where their books are BOGO.  Check out their Facebook page to keep up with the authors of the week and other sales they have going on!

Rachel’s Dress Shop is a one stop retail shop.  She has clothes, jewelry, shoes, purses, and more!  This week, she has a 50% off Fall sale on select racks.  Love Me Again has increased their vintage clothes selection.  They also have handmade art, jewelry, and bath soaps made by locals.

This month is national oyster month and Estate Treasures is celebrating by offering 20% off all their oyster plates and shrimp cocktail bowls during September and October.  They have quite a selection to choose from!  They also have a great selection of jewelry; I have three pieces from there and absolutely love them!

Accents Home Décor and Gifts is offering 15% off all Mariana jewelry.  Be sure to stop by and check them out, they have a lot of gorgeous jewelry, accessories, and home décor. 

Sugar Britches has 25% off all “previously loved” clothes and 10% off all toys, strollers, and baby gear.  They have lots of merchandise to make for a great day of shopping!

Tomorrow Night, 5:30pm to 7:30pm, Avenue Sea is having a party!  The theme for this party is paint and sprinkles.  This is a great chance to see what new merchandise they have and what items are on sale.  I know I will be attending this one!

The Dance Life Dance Studio always has something fun going on.  This past Saturday was the 007 Casino Royale Murder Mystery Dinner and Ball. It’s always fun to get all dressed up, meet new people, solve a mystery, and of course, dance!  If you missed that, then you missed a lot of fun, but the fun will continue Thursday Night at 7:30pm with a Social Dance Night.  Don’t have a partner? No worries! The Dance Life team will be more than happy to dance with you.

Enjoy this fall weather and get out and do a little shopping.  Shop Local, Dine Local, and Play Local! 

Wine, Dancing, and Bargains!

I love this much cooler weather! Fall is definitely on its way!  Come Downtown and enjoy this beautiful weather with some great wine, lots of dancing, and amazing bargains. 

Avenue Sea is having their kick-off wine tasting on September 13^th, 5:30pm to 7pm.  The theme for the tasting is “bubbles and bling” in which they will feature champagne.  At the tasting, you can peruse new items for entertaining for casual elegance including champagne glasses that keep the champagne bubbling for 2 hours.

Also on September 13^th, Dance Life Dance Studio is having a Social Dance Party at 7:30.  It is $10 per person.  This week is the last week to purchase the 007 Murder Mystery Ball tickets for $50.  After this week, they will go up to$75.  I purchased mine and am excited to attend!

The Fit Life side of the studio is having a sneak peak on Saturday.  At this sneak peak you can talk with Kat Holmes, the trainer and learn how she can help you get fit!

There are a lot of great bargains to take advantage of Downtown!  You can get a head start on your Christmas cards by stopping by No Regrets.  They have major discounts during the months of September and October on all their Christmas cards.

Sugar Britches is having a 25% off sale on all their clothing.  They have such a large selection that it would be hard to not find something!  They will also have a booth at each Friday Fest right in front of the store, so while you are at Friday Fest, be sure to check them out.

Accents Home Décor and Gifts has all their Mariana jewelry 15% off.  They have the largest selection of Mariana jewelry in Bay County!  To see what all they offer, “like” their Facebook page.

You can find some really unique items at Franci’s Unique Treasures and get 25% off your purchase if you are willing to dance a little jig when you check out.  Get funky with it!

It is also that time of year to buy your season tickets from the Martin Theatre.  Their first show of the season is premiering this weekend, September 14^th and 15^th at 7:30pm.  This production is a comical satire on life in rural America.  Two actors will be playing all roles involved – men, women, children, and animals!

On September 11^th, there will be a commemoration at 9am on the Panama City Marina for all those that lost their lives on this tragic day 11 years ago.

The Northwest Florida First Responders’ Wounded Warrior Tribute will be held on Thursday, September 13^th.  The escorted warriors will be leaving the beach at 4:30 and will make their way down Harrison Avenue to the Marina.  The public is encouraged to line the route to show their support.  For more information, visit www.warriorbeachretreat.org.

Hogs and Grogs is also this Thursday in Downtown Panama City at 6pm.  Bring your bike down to show off, meet up with some friends, and have great evening listening to great music and enjoying delicious food from some of the Downtown restaurants! 

Better Late Than Never!

I was thinking of not doing a blog post this week because I was on vacation last week and Monday was Labor Day, but then I found where I had collected some information from a few of the business owners before I went on vacation last week.  Better to have the information late than not at all!

On September 6th, the Dance Life Dance Studio is having a FREE open house!  From 3pm to 5pm, you can get a sneak peak of their new children's classes.  They will be offering ballet, ballroom, and hip hop classes for the young ones.  Then, from 6pm to 8pm, it is the adults' turn to drop in on a group class and see what the Dance Life is all about.

On September 7th, Dance Life is hosting another Latin Night.  You can dance the Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, and more from 9pm to 11pm.  This event is $10 per person.

You can make this gorgeous Rivoli Ring
on September 8th at the LH Bead Gallery.
550 Harrison Avenue.

The LH Bead Gallery also has some great classes and discounts going on this week!  On Thursday, September 6th at 10:30am, you can learn how to make a Chinese Cord Herringbone Leather Wrap Bracelet.  this instructor fee is $25.  On September 7th at 10:30am, you can make a Braided Wire Bracelet (Instructor fee is $40).  Again, on September 8th, at 10:30am, you can make a gorgeous Rivoli Ring. This instructor fee is $30.  Through September 15th, the LH Bead Gallery is offering 20% off all seed beads!

This Saturday, Art-Tique will be taking place again, along with the Vintage Market!  Special for Art-Tique, Estate Treasures will be offering 30% off all framed art and pictures!  They will also be having a local artist working right outside their shop.  You can stop and watch the artist work and possibly purchase an original piece for yourself!  If you are interested in being that artist, contact Erin at Estate Treasures 850-215-3782.

Friday Fest is also this Friday, so be sure to come Downtown for a good time!

Dancing Downtown

There is so much going on this week, especially a lot of dancing! There is something happening everyday/night that gives everyone a chance to feature their best dance moves.

Dance Life Dance Studio has a ton of fabulous events happening this week!  They are hosting a workshop with guest instructor Ashley Minzes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights this week 7pm-9pm.  You can learn the Rumba on Monday, beginner West Coast Swing on Tuesday, and the Hustle and East Coast Swing on Wednesday!  It’s $30 per class.  You can check their website, www.pcdancelife.com, or call them at 850-215-4453 for more information.

In celebration of an extra party in August, something that only happens once in a blue moon, Dance Life is hosting their first ever Blue Moon Party!  Wear your most comfortable blue jeans or your prettiest blue dress and have fun with the Dance Life family on August 30th, 7pm-9pm! It’s $10 per person and a great way to try out your new dance moves, or learn them!  They are also sponsoring another Backstage Pass concert at the Marina Civic Center on August 31^st at 6:30pm.  It’s only $5 to get in!  On Saturday, they are hosting a “West Coast in a Day” workshop.  This relaxed workshop is designed to build on previous experience, from Tuesday's beginner's workshop or before.   As always you will learn not only the steps and patterns but how to link moves, turning & spinning, freestyle techniques.  As well as being taught the moves, you will also learn how to string them together so you can “freestyle” your way through a dance and you will immediately have a repertoire of core beginner’s moves.  The fee for this workshop is $75.  

Dance Life also has tickets for sale for their 007 Casino Royale Murder Mystery Ball taking place on September 22, 2012 ($50 through August, they go up in September).  This will be a fun filled night of great food, mystery, and dancing! I’m excited for this event; it’s going to be so much fun!

Stop by Franci’s this week to “dance for discounts!”  All you have to do is dance a little jig for them and you will receive 25% off your purchase! Even if you can’t dance, give it a shot and you will get a discount.

As always, Elegant Endeavors has sales on select booths.

Love Me Again (located at 229 Harrison Avenue, next to Gaston’s Hideaway) is having a By One Get One ½ off sale on all their clothing a shoes.  They have some really cute and unique items, so take advantage of this wonderful sale!

Sugar Boogers raised $756 for the Animal Rescue Center of Bay County last Monday!  People really came out and showed their support!

Make sure you check out our Downtown Deals for the different coupons offered from our Downtown Merchants!  When you go shopping, mention that you saw their sales and offers in this blog.

FYI, next week’s blog will be a few days late because I am currently on vacation, but I expect to hear about your Downtown experiences from this week!  

Local Cupcake Shop Helps the Animal Rescue Center!

What a beautiful start to the week! Nothing like starting the week (and first day of school) off with lots of rain!  It has to mean some kind of good luck thing like when it rains on someone’s wedding day, right?  Anyway, there are some great sales and events taking place in Downtown Panama City this week.

A portion of today's proceeds go to support the Animal
Rescue Center of Bay County!

Sugar Boogers is donating a portion of their sales today to the Animal Rescue Center of Bay County.  You can also bring in pet supplies such as dog or cat food, leashes, food bowls, etc. to donate.  They are open from 10am to 5pm, so be sure to stop by and help them support this great cause!

Dance Life Dance Studio is also starting their registration this week for the new group progressive lessons (Latin 101 and 102, Rhythm 101 and 102) and their Social Dance classes (beginner and advanced).  You can check their website, www.pcdancelife.com, or call them at 850-215-4453 for the class dates.  They are also hosting a Latin Dance Night on August 24^th.  It is $10 per person and a great way to try out your new dance moves, or learn them!  They also have tickets for sale for their 007 Casino Royale Murder Mystery Ball taking place on September 22, 2012 ($50 through August, they go up in September).  This will be a fun filled night of great food, mystery, and dancing! I already bought my ticket, so you should join me for a night of mysterious fun!

Avenue Sea has their Spring and Summer merchandise up to 70% off.  This is a great time to take advantage of the sale and the $25 off of $50 coupon they offer to freshen up your home’s look.  You can find the coupon, along with others on our website, or the Downtown Facebook page.

No Regrets has some of their seasonal items up to 75% off and all of their napkins are Buy One Get One FREE!

Need some new clothes for the kiddies or yourself?  Sugar Britches has all their clothes 25% off.  All their jewelry is also 25% off and their car seats and strollers are 10% off.

Accents Home Décor & Gifts has many new pieces, home décor, and jewelry arriving weekly, so be sure to stop by and see what all they have!

Estate Treasure also just received some beautiful new merchandise!  They have many unique treasures for you to find.  Just last week a bought a gorgeous bracelet, I love the jewelry they have there! It is so unique and there is a lot to choose from!

As always, Elegant Endeavors has sales on select booths.

Make sure you check out our Downtown Deals for the different coupon offered from our Downtown Merchants!  When you go shopping, mention that you saw their sales and offers in this blog.

Be one of the first to find out what’s happening Downtown by subscribing to the Blog via email and feel free to comment and share your Downtown experience!  

Sugar Boogers Honors Elvis and Helps a Local Charity

Well, we made it two whole days without rain, but the storms started back this morning :-/  The weather held off enough on Saturday for all the shoppers and “cash mobbers” to enjoy a day Downtown.  There was hardly a parking space to be found!  Saturday was the first cash mob and it was a success! Everyone had a great time.  Be on the lookout for the announcement of the next one!

Sugar Boogers is honoring Elvis Presley with their cupcake of the week “Rockin’ Banana.”  This concoction is made up of banana cake and peanut butter icing with caramel and bacon on top.  They did this because Elvis used to eat a peanut butter banana bacon sandwich.  I’m thinking I am going to have to try the cupcake this week and will soon make the sandwich to see what it is that appealed to the King of Rock and Roll so much.  Also this week, Sugar Boogers will be accepting donated bags of dog and cat food to give to the Animal Rescue Center of Bay County along with a portion of their proceeds that they earn on Monday, August 20^th in honor of National Cupcake day!  On Monday, you can enjoy a tasty treat and help out a local charity!

You can find some great deals on unique items at Elegant Endeavors.  They have 20-50% off select booths.  You never know what you will find!  I know I see something new every time I go in there.  The store is so big that you can’t see everything in one shopping trip!

Dance Life Dance Studio is hosting a Country Western Dance Party on Thursday, August 16^th, 7pm-9pm.  It’s $10 per person.  This isn’t just a two-stepping kind of party; you will be doing some country cha-cha-ing along with all the other dances such as the salsa!  Dress in your best country western style and come out for a good ol’ dancing time.  Don’t forget your cowboy (girl) hat!

Also on Thursday night is the BayBreeze concert on the Panama City Marina.  This month, Jam Therapy will be rocking it out!  Bring the whole family for this free outdoor concert.  There will be a bounce house for the kids and the parents can purchase wine by the glass from Seabreeze Winery.  The concert starts at 6:30 and runs until 9pm.

Even though it looks to be another wet week, you can find shelter from the rain in one of our shops or restaurants and don’t forget to bring a bag of dog or cat food to Sugar Boogers to be donated to the Animal Rescue Center of Bay County! 

Cash Mob to hit Estate Treasures!

The thing that I am most excited about that is happening this week is the CASH MOB that will be taking place at Estate Treasures on Saturday, August 11^th at 1pm (during Art-Tique).  The idea of a cash mob is to get a large group of people together to spend their money at a small, locally owned business to show the business their support and give them a bit of an economic stimulus.  The first cash mob was held in August 2011 in Buffalo, NY and they are now poppingup all over the United States.  There are only three rules during the cash mob:

1) Spend $20 (cash)

2) Meet three people you didn’t know before

3) HAVE FUN! 

Estate Treasures was chosen because they have something for everyone.  They have antiques and new merchandise, things for men and women.  Hopefully, cash mobs will be a regular occurrence in Downtown.  It is a great way for the community to come together and support the local businesses!

Everyone is invited to participate in this event.  The mob will convene outside of Estate Treasures at 1pm and after everyone is done shopping they are encouraged to grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby restaurants.  Anyone participating should bring cash, so that the business can avoid paying the credit card fees.

On Thursday, Hogs and Grogs will be happening once again from 6pm-9pm.  The Hurricanes will be playing some great classic rock and the restaurants will have tables set up outside for outdoor dining.  Millie’s will be having Cajun shrimp, raw oysters, gumbo, and nachos. Sounds delicious!

Every Saturday, East Bay plays at Millie’s at 6pm and raw oysters are available.  Sounds like a good time!

The LH Bead Gallery has some great deals going on this week.  Get 10% off when you spend $25, 15% off when you spend $50, and 20% off when you spend $100.  These discounts are only good for bead strands, loose beads, loose findings, and chains.  They always offer a 10% Military discount (ID required) and Wednesdays are Senior Citizens day (55 and older).  If you re-use your Blue Bead Gallery Bags, you will receive 5% off!

Dance Life Dance Studio is hosting another sizzling Latin Dance Night on Friday from 9pm-11pm ($10 perperson).  Come set the dance floor on fire with your sizzling dance moves!

If you know of anything else happening Downtown this week, feel free to post a comment!  

I hope to see you on Saturday at 1pm at Estate Treasures for Panama City’s first CASH MOB! 

Happy August!

It’s the first week of the month again and you know what that means…Friday Fest!  It’s this Friday, August 3^rd, 6pm to 10pm.  The band line-up for this month is Emerald County Line, Panama Redd, Bone Daddy, East Bay, and KD of Legacy.  Bring your dancing shoes because it’s going to be a rocking good time!

There are some great sales going on Downtown this week.  Sugar Britches has 10% off strollers and car seats, 20% off ALL clothes, 25% off jewelry, and 25% off pageant wear.  They will also be open until 10pm on Friday, so when you come to Friday Fest, be sure to stop by!

"Come 'Sea' what we 'caught'
at market.  Summer is at Avenue Sea!"

On Thursday, August 2, Dance Life Dance Studio will be hosting a Social Dance from 7pm until 9pm.  It is $10 per person to attend.  Also, they have a surprise in store for Friday Fest, so be on the lookout, they could pop up anywhere within the event!

Avenue Sea has some great new merchandise, so stop by to see what they "caught" at the market!

Relief Skate Supply just got some new DGK merchandise in, so if you are a skater, or know someone who is, be sure to check them out.  They have one good looking store.

Estate Treasures is celebrating “International Clown Week” August 1-7.  You will receive 20% off if you buy something that has clowns on it.

Many of the other stores that were not mentioned also have some great deals going on; I know Books by the Sea always has discounts on “authors of the week.”  Be sure to make a trip Downtown and make it a day of shopping!

Be sure to check out the “Downtown Deals” on www.pcdib.com to get your copy of the Downtown coupons!  Have a great week experiencing Downtown Panama City!

Awesome Sales and Fun Events Are Happening This Week!

My favorite thing about writing this blog is going to each of the merchants and asking what they have going on this week.  If only you could see the excitement on their faces!  Since this is the last week of July, there are a lot of sales that will be ending this week, so you need to hurry Downtown and take advantage of them!

Accents Home Décor & Accessories is ending their month long 25% off sale this week.  Next week, be on the lookout for new merchandise straight from the market!

On Friday, July 27^th, Dance Life Dance Studio will be hosting a Latin Dance Party from 9pm-11pm.  It’s only $10 per person, so it would make for a cheap night out!  Since it starts at 9, there is plenty of time for you to have dinner at one of the many restaurants that are Downtown!

James Gregory, “The Funniest Man in America,” will be performing live on Saturday, July 28^th at 7:30 pm at the Martin Theatre.  Tickets are available at the Martin Theatre box office.  For more information, visit www.martintheatre.com or call 850-763-8080.

Do you want a chance to win a $100 gift certificate? Then stop by and shop at Estate Treasures before the end of July! Your name will be entered into the drawing when you make a purchase.  Also, be sure to “Like” their Facebook page for your chance to win the different monthly contests they host for just their Facebook fans.  I know this is taking place next week, but July 30^th is National Paperback Book Day and Estate Treasures is celebrating with 50% off all their paperback books.

When you go to Avenue Sea this week, be sure to welcome Mary! She’s a new sales representative for Avenue Sea (you may recognize her from Harrison House).  Their summer time blue tag mark downs also continue this week and when you show them the coupon (found at www.pcdib.com under Main Street) you can receive $25 off your purchase of$50 or more.  They have new merchandise coming in everyday, so be sure to stop by and see what’s new! On Monday, July 30^th only, when you spend $50 or more, you will receive $20 off (no coupon necessary)! You can’t beat a deal like that!

As they do every week, Books by the Sea has a buy 2 get 2 free special on their authors of the week.  The authors this week are Debbie Macomber, Lawrence Sanders, Danielle Steel, and Agatha Christie.  In addition to this sale, all mysteries are buy 2, get 1 free (excluding Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes book).  You can’t beat deals like this! Be sure to find them on Facebook to see what sales they have each week.  They even have some surprise one day only sales that only their Facebook users know about, so find them on Facebook to stay informed!

Elegant Endeavors has 15% to 75% off within select booths.  This is such a large store (2 stories!) that you can find anything in it and it is even better if it happens to be on sale!

C&G Sporting Goods is also having an outdoor rack sale.  Everything that is on the rack just outside their door is 50% off.  Did you know they also do trophy engraving and have been in business for 62 years?

Relief Skate Supply has their Van Shoes and more brands on sale this week.  They also have decks on sale for $29.99.  With school restarting soon, they will have more sales, so be on the lookout for them and I will keep you posted!

Need some new clothes for the kids?  Sugar Britches in Downtown Panama City has all their children clothes 20% off this week.  They also have $50% off all their jewelry and women’s swim wear!

You may be wondering why I am telling you about things that are taking place on Monday, July 30^th.  That is because the News Herald is promoting “$30 on the 30^th” to help stimulate the local economy.  Consumers are encouraged to spend $30 at a locally owned business on July 30^th that they would not normally spend. 


Businesses participating in this event, such as our Downtown merchants, will have special deals for this day.  Be sure to check out the businesses’ websites and Facebook pages to see what deals they will be having on this particular day. 

Great things are happening Downtown, get out and experience them! 

New Restaurant Downtown

Wow! What a busy week last week was! The Downtown Improvement Board is in charge of the SUNsational Awards program for the Florida Festivals and Events Association and the judging was held last week at FSU-PC.  There were a lot of submissions! Thanks to everyone who helped in the judging process!

With that being said, please forgive me for posting late and having a somewhat short post.  As always, there is something happening Downtown!

Event wise, we have the Baybreeze concert this Thursday at 6:30pm on the Panama City Marina.  Tidewater will be performing, so be sure to come and enjoy a relaxing night with some great tunes.  Be sure to have dinner at one of our many restaurants Downtown!

If dancing is more your thing, then be sure to attend the 80s dance party at the Dance Life Dance Studio.  The fun begins at 7:30 and is only $10. Be sure to wear your best 80s attire!  Their zumba sweepstakes is also still going on, so be sure you join a class and keep going back for your chance to win some amazing prizes! You may even win free zumba classes!

On Thursday at 10:30am and on Saturday at 10:30am and 1pm, you can take part in a class at the LH Bead Gallery to learn to make some gorgeous jewelry!  Be sure to check out their website, www.lhbeads.com for their full calendar of classes.

Probably some of the most exciting news this week is that Tito's Downtown Cafe and Bakery opened up today! Tito's is an amazing Latin restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  They are located where Chef Imondi's used to be in Downtown (448 Harrison Avenue).  Stop by this week and try it out and welcome them to Downtown!

I know it's short, but I let the time get away from me, so I couldn't gather more information.  I promise I will have a lot more for you next week!

Another Week Downtown

Whew! What a busy week last week! We had Salute to Freedom on Wednesday, then Friday Fest on Friday.  I hope everyone had a great time celebrating!  The fun will continue this week with Hogs and Grogs on Thursday, 6pm-9pm between 4^th Street and Oak Avenue and Art-Tique on Saturday, 10am-3pm.

Some of our merchants will have some special events going on for Art-Tique.

Avenue Sea has some great markdowns on furniture, art, and accessories all throughout the store! On top of the markdowns, you can use their coupon for $25 off your purchase of $50 or more.  You can find that coupon and more here.  Though the coupon does not expire until the end of July, the markdowns in the store end July 15^th, so be sure to take advantage of them while you can!

Also, the LH Bead Gallery is celebrating their four year anniversary on Saturday, July 14^th, 10am-5pm (during Art-Tique).  They are celebrating with door prizes, special sales, and refreshments.  If you go by there, you can also enter to win a $100 gift certificate!  Be sure to stop by and congratulate them!

Dance Life Dance Studio will be hosting a Dance Party with Martino and Tirado performing Big Band music live.  In the tradition of the Rat Pack, Martino and Tirado bring the swagger of the best music on the Coast to Dance Life Dance Studio on Thursday, July 12^th, 7pm-9:30pm.  It is $15 for non-members and $5 for member (sounds like a pretty sweet deal to become a member).  Also, on Friday Night, they will be having a Latin Night from 9pm-11pm.  Dance the night away with the steamy Latin sounds.  Dance the Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Cha-cha, Mambo and more!  There is plenty of time before each Dance Party to enjoy a nice dinner from one of our many restaurants in Downtown Panama City.  The studio is right in the heart of Downtown, so everything is within walking distance.

There is plenty going on this week in Downtown, especially the latter part of the week, so come spend a day Downtown and don’t forget to stop by the LH Bead Gallery on Saturday during Art-Tique to congratulate them!

Independence Day Downtown Style

Downtown Panama City is celebrating Independence Day all week and in many different ways!  The Downtown Improvement Board and the City of Panama City are bringing you the “Salute to Freedom” event which will take place on July 4^th, 2pm-10pm on the Panama City Marina.  There will be great live music all day, lots of food, and plenty of vendors.  Home Depot will also have a kid’s workshop for the young ones to build something of their own.  The night will end with the largest fireworks show in Northwest Florida at 9pm that will also be simulcast with Magic Broadcasting stations!  The Tony Vegas Band will be performing at 2pm, Red Hot Momma and the Alligator Daddies perform at 4pm, and the Shawn Rader band will take the stage at 6pm.

July is also the month for phenomenal contests!  There are multiple chances to win gift certificates, free zumba, and many more prizes!

Estate Treasures is giving you two chances to win a gift from their store!  The first drawing will be held at the end of the day today.  All you have to do is “like” their Facebook page (I just entered, so you should too)!  By liking their page, you are not only entering a contest, but you are also going to be the first to know about their sales, new products, and when they are holding their next contest.  When I went to their page, I saw a picture of a teapot they have that I am hoping is still there when I stop by today!  This second contest is a good one.  Every time you make a purchase at Estate Treasures, no matter how small or large, you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to the store! The winner will be drawn at the end of the day on Tuesday, July 31, so be sure to stop by and enter for your chance at $100!  When I stopped by to get all this information, they said they would be holding monthly contests, so be sure to watch their Facebook page for the next one!

Dance Life Dance Studio is also hosting a contest!  They are having a zumba sweepstakes that will give you a chance at three months of free zumba.  The last chance to enter is July 31.  The winner will also be drawn on this day!  There are three different winners.  Whoever brings the most friends wins, the person with the most points wins, and the person whose sweepstakes entry is drawn wins!  Here is how to enter: every time you attend a zumba class, you are given a point and a sweepstakes entry.  Every time you bring a friend you are given 2 points and a sweepstakes entry.  Everytime you go to zumba, you have a chance to win free unlimited zumba for three months, zumba gear, zumba music, and zumba clothes!  Be sure to attend zumba so you can win these phenomenal prizes!

On Thursday, Dance Life will also be having a Dance Party from 8pm until 10pm with the Muddy Rudder band performing live!  It is only $10 per person to attend this party.  Be sure to visit their website www.pcdancelife.com to find out when all their classes are this week.

Avenue Sea has some fabulous markdowns all throughout the store that you can take advantage of through July 15^th.  On top of the markdowns, they have a coupon to use that if you spend $50, you get $25 off your purchase!  They are pretty much paying you to shop at their store!  The coupon expires at the end of the month, so be sure to get in there and use it!  They are having an event night on Tuesday, July 3^rd, so be sure to stop by for their late shopping hours and take advantage of the markdowns and use your coupon!  You can find the coupon at www.pcdib.com under the Main Street tab.

In celebration of Independence Day, Willow’s British Tea room will have a special Independence Day sheet cake made with ice cream on Wednesday, July 4^th.  After you have a spot of afternoon tea, be sure to enjoy a piece of this delicious cake.  Sugar Boogers will also be celebrating America’s Independence in a way that only they know how!  Wednesday through Saturday, everything will be decorated in Americana style.  They will have red, white, and blue cupcakes and blue punch.  Stop by Sugar Boogers and enjoy a patriotic cupcake!

The LH Bead Gallery is hosting a design contest that you can be the judge of!  12 participants purchased a bead kit and designed their own necklace for a chance to win a gift card to the gallery.  Be sure to stop by and vote for your favorite piece.  Judging ends on July 21^st and the winner will be announced July 24^th.  You can vote while you are attending their class on Friday at 10:30am to learn how to make wire-wrapped bead pendants or on Saturday at 10:30am to make a basic earring and at 1pm to make a basic necklace.  You can check out contest pieces and find out when all their July classes are at www.lhbeads.com.

As you have read, there is a lot going on this week including Friday Fest!  Visit www.facebook.com/PCFridayFest to find out more about Bay County’s favorite festival!  You can shop at all these stores during Friday Fest as well since they have late shopping hours for all the special events that take place in Downtown!   There is plenty to do, so get Downtown and support your local small businesses! Leave a comment to let me know what you plan on doing Downtown this week!

Welcome (to you and me)!

Do you love Downtown Panama City as much as I do?  I hope so because we need more people with that kind of passion to help Downtown prosper!  I created this blog so that everyone can find out what is happening Downtown on a weekly basis.  Yes, I can put it on Facebook, but there is always so much stuff that some of it doesn't make it into the status update.  Who really wants to read a status update that is more than a few lines?  This blog is where you can find out what sales and special events each merchant is having, what there is to do on a week night in Downtown, what festivals are going on, and just find out what Downtown Panama City has to offer!

Tonight, Avenue Sea is having a class night.  At this class you can learn "Cool Ideas for a Hot Summer."  All of their classes are absolutely FREE, but you must register beforehand.  You never know what great incentives they may have exclusively for class members!  To learn more about Avenue Sea and the classes, visit www.avenueseapc.com.

Also happening tonight is a Zumba class at the Dance Life Dance Studio! This is a great way to get fit while having fun!  Tomorrow, you can join me for Lunchtime Zumba Blast at 12:15.  This is a 30 minute fast-paced class.  It is a great opportunity for those of us that have a busy week to get in a great workout.  The lunchtime classes take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:15.  If you can't make it at lunch, then come tomorrow night for the hour long class beginning at 7pm, Thursday night at 6pm, or Friday morning at 9am!  If you are young at heart and want to join this new fitness craze, there is a class just for you on Thursday morning at 9am. They also have a whole line up of dance classes this week.  The classes include the west coast swing and cha cha, rhythm. smooth, and Latin.  Friday they are hosting a Latin Social Group and Dance Night for just $10 a person. Visit their website www.pcdancelife.com for more information or call the studio at 850-215-4453.

The Visual Arts Center has Rob Vander Zee's "Visions of Paradise" on exhibit that you can take in during their regular business hours.  Thursday night from 5pm to 7pm, join them for the opening reception for the "Eden Revisited" exhibit.  A lot of people have been attending their "Paint Your Art Out" events.  There are 3 nights of that this week.  Those dates are June 27,28, and 30.  These event nights tend to fill up quickly, but you might be able to get in to one of them or be added to a waiting list.  Call 850-769-4451 for more information and to reserve your spot for a future event.

Friday morning at 10:30am, you can make wire mesh earrings at the LH Bead Gallery.  There is a $25 instructor's fee.  The LH Bead Gallery has an extensive inventory of beads to choose from to make beautiful pieces of jewelry for yourself or as a gift to someone special (you know, Christmas is just around the corner. Hobby Lobby has the ornaments to prove it). Visit www.lhbeads.com for more information.



As you can see, there is a lot going on in Downtown Panama City! These are all of the events I know of that are taking place this week.  I may have left a few out, but I will post them on Facebook.   As always, our shops and restaurants are open daily and always have that unique item you just can't live without and that delicious dinner for a great price! Be sure to check out the "Downtown Deals" at www.pcdib.com for some great coupons!

Like I said, I will be posting on a weekly basis, most likely on Monday, so be on the look out! I know it is Tuesday afternoon, so please forgive me.  I will try my best to stick to the Monday schedule!