Local band plays at local pub in Holiday

How can I get more indie than that?

The Irish/German Pub in Holiday called Shillelagh's is having their Oktoberfest this weekend. It actually started last night so I am a day late, but better late than never. At 8 o'clock sharp the local band Stroke of X will be sharing their awesome rock sounds with everyone there.

If you have a chance, please stop by and support our local pub! And if you need to find a local restaurant/pub in your area, you can find them at localshops1.com.
The band will be playing songs that we can all sing along with. They specialize in rock from the '70s and '80s. Hope to see you there.

Here is the pub's info
(727) 934-4119
2819 Us-19, Holiday, FL 34691

Your local shopper (rocker)

Jenn
localshops1

You Can Win Free Gas!

A friend of mine sent me a link to the Web site for the local radio station WQYK because they are having a gas giveaway at local Race Trac gas stations. Here is a list of where they'll be:

RaceTrac Free Gas Friday Calendar

* Oct. 10 from 7-9am at the RaceTrac at 810 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon
* Oct. 17 from 7-9am at the RaceTrac at 3600 Hardin Blvd., Lakeland
* Oct. 24 from 5-7pm at the RaceTrac at 2854 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
* Oct. 31: 5:30am-10am live broadcast with the WQYK Morning Show at the RaceTrac at 2227 28th Street North, St. Petersburg. “Gordon the Gas Guy” will be giving away $50 gas cards to the first 30 people that show up at 3pm.


I was driving by the Race Trac on Ridge this morning and needed to get gas, so I pulled in and there they were. As I walked by I figured, why not try. Well, I am glad I did! I won $25 in free gas. And you can also enter a drawing to win free gas for a month and for a year. Now wouldn't that be nice? You can hit the link above to check out their site.

Thanks again WQYK... :)

Your Local Shopper

Jenn
localshops1

Baseball fever

We've already heard from two business owners, telling us they're closing early today to go to the Tampa Bay Rays first-ever playoff game at Tropicana Field.

Can't make it to the game? Check out live game blog, from St. Petersburg Times. Click here.

Go, Rays!!

Vote for your favorite blogger.

We got lots of entries in localshops1's blogger contest, and we narrowed down the field to six Local Shopper candidates.

We need your help choosing the best!

Check out their entries, on www.localshops1.com, and vote for your favorite.
You may vote once every 12 hours, and need to be logged in to do so.

Contest ends Oct. 15.

We love them all ... Who's your favorite?

* LENA HUNT
* LEAH DALLAIRE
* RHONDA POTTS
* LAURA BLAKE
* ROY DA COOK
* EMPORIUM EMPRESS

September contest

Last month we asked you to tell us about your favorite vacation souvenir. And many of you did! We could pick only one winner, but loved quite a few of the entries, so we're posting some of our favorites here.

Can you tell which one we picked?

You can find out, of course, on localshops1.com
While there, check out October's contest!

Now, for our favorite entries from some of our favorite local shopper members ....

Kristel Bilgen

My favorite vacation souvenir is an umbrella. This isn’t just any umbrella though, it’s from London, England and it has a map of the tube (their subway) system on it. Not only is it cool and unique, but it’s also practical. Since London is a rainy city what better thing to spend your money on than an umbrella and you will never get lost in this rainy city with a map of the tube! I’ve used the umbrella numerous times and each time I’ve been asked what city it is. It’s a great conversational piece!



Geoff Buchanan

Not another stinking tee shirt!

Having grown up in the Smokey Mountains, it's hard for me to be impressed with sights. Then my wife and I went on our honeymoon to Kauai. I was shocked with each day's adventures in paradise. As I was laying on the beach I looked to my left and saw a two thousand foot waterfall, straight ahead a glass top bay. To my right, four-foot breakers crashed on the reef that protected the bay and protected me from
Great Whites! I realized that I was TRULY in paradise. When I see my Hanalei Bay tee shirt, it does what souvenirs are supposed to do--take me back in time.



Lena Hunt

Being a photojournalist, I get to do some serious traveling. This has allowed me to acquire lots of souvenirs. It should be difficult to pick a favorite but it isn't. I went to the famous Crater of Diamonds, the world's ONLY public diamond mine where you can keep what you find. I didn't find a bling but what I found was my most treasured gem: Shirley Strawn-Wagner who fought to keep the mine public. If only I could fit the world's only-flawless-rated-diamond finder into a jewlery bag. Her continued friendship is my most favorite souvenir.




Elizabeth Brackman

The chartreuse bag summoned me upon entering the tiny gift shop at Westwind Inn, Sanibel Island. Two rope style straps create a perfect circle across the top of the bag, cowrie shells zigzag across one side, and glaring green canvas is decorated with brown Tiki gods who refuse denial. Yet I ignored their call all weekend, despite six visits to the little shop to admire them. Repenting my foolishness of ignoring their demand for the paltry sum of $12, I relented the last vacation day, and now the Tiki gods tote for me each day.



Catherine Culbertson

Easily the best souvenir I've ever returned home with was one I didn't actually buy. Several years ago, I was in Key West for a friend's wedding. Despite the fact the festivities were to occur at the break of dawn the following day, the bridal party and I hit Duval Street while the bride slumbered peacefully. Little did she know we were
getting ourselves into trouble and working our way towards some powerful headaches.
Did I mention Key West has Frozen alcoholic slushies for $4 on almost every block?
They call the walk home the "Duval Crawl" for a reason. Severely inebriated and less a few members of the gang, we headed home--slowly. Along the way we came across Duval Street's famous roving Elvis. Why was there a 6'2 Elvis in Key West? Many have asked, and few know the answer.
Regardless, he knelt down on his knee directly in front of me, broke into a serenade, and finally produced a small plastic ring. I was perplexed.
Everyone loves Elvis. Everyone loves tall men. Everyone loves plastic rings--but what in the hell was Key West Elvis doing?
My brain, befuddled by alcohol, had no idea until the legendary songbird uttered simply, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes," I replied as he picked me up and swung me around. Once he returned my feet to the ground, he placed the ring on my finger and abruptly walked away. I haven't seen him since, but have received reports that there is still a man in Key West dedicated to love -- the love of many, many drunken tourists.
So far, it's been the best relationship I've ever had, and that ring is easily the most amazing souvenir I have ever gotten.

Go Bucs!

I know this is a little off the subject of shopping and such, but I felt I needed to say something about the Buccaneer's kicker Matt Bryant. A few days ago Bryant had lost his 3 month old child. It happened in their home overnight, but there are no details as to what happened, yet. The Bryant family is very much into the community, constantly helping those that are less fortunate than them. Today, Bryant played in Raymond James Stadium, just days after this horrific tragedy. I found it to be amazing and very brave. I believe it shows what type of person he is. This is the type of attitude we all need to have. To be able to look beyond our own situation and be able to still be there for the people that need us. Thank you Matt Bryant!


Your Local Shopper

Jenn
localshops1