Sand Key Florida Blog

Starting Friday, November 21, 2008, Sand Key will be alive with the sound of music from the annual Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic. The Sheraton will host the three day event. Bands from around the country will play to the ears of eager jazz music fans and a heavy contingent of blues regulars will get their fill too.

To get the entire schedule, list of performers and complete information, follow this link.

As you know, Backwaters on Sand Key and Maggie Mae’s are closed on Thanksgiving Day. That doesn’t mean we won’t be celebrating this important holiday with our customers!

Every year Chef Mark Carey prepares Thanksgiving dinner Cajun style. This year’s dinner will be on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. As usual, the Chef will be featuring deep fried whole turkeys. The delicious and juicy meat is shaved from the bone and served from 5 PM while it lasts. Other Cajun classic Thanksgiving side dishes will include sweet potatoes, cranberries and much, much more.

Reservations are highly recommended to make certain you can enjoy this feast. Call 727-517-7383 to reserve your favorite table. If you are on our email list, complete details, along with special pricing, will be emailed along with a reminder next Monday.

Just in time for the holidays, Backwaters is having an hors d’ouvres contest on December 7, 2008. Beginning at 3 PM appetizers in both hot and cold categories will be judged for flavor, presentation and originality. The winners in both hot and cold hors d’ouvres will receive gift certificates and prizes.

Anyone can enter. It’s free, fun and delicious. Get some new ideas for your holiday parties. To view the rules and an entry form click here. You can also stop by Backwaters for entry forms and more information. Backwaters on Sand Key is your place for fun, friends and great food.

This is a busy time of year. Here is a list of events in the area;

• November 8, 2008 - Ironman Triathlon - Clearwater Beach
• November 8, 2008 - Taste of Indian Rocks Beach
• November 11, 2008 - Veterans Day
• November 15, 2008 - Belleair Beach City Wide Garage Sale - 8 AM to 2 PM
• November 21-23, 2008 - Dixieland Jazz Festival - Sheraton Sand Key
• November 25, 2008 - Backwaters Annual Cajun Thanksgiving Dinner - Reservations Suggested
• November 27, 2008 - Thanksgiving Day    (Backwaters and Maggie Mae’s Closed)
• December 7, 2008 - Backwaters Hors d’ouvre Contest - 3 PM
• December 13, 2008 - Island Estates Boat Parade
• December 24, 2008 - Backwater’s Annual Christmas Eve Eggnog Toast - 5 to 7 PM
• December 25, 2008 - Christmas Day    (Backwaters and Maggie Mae’s Closed)
• January 25, 2009 - Backwaters Annual Chili Cookoff
• February 1 , 2009 - Super Bowl - Here!

This will keep the area busy along with holiday shopping, Christmas parties and events we have forgotten!

For those of you who may be new to the area, the Ironman Triathlon will be held this Saturday, November 8, 2008 starting on Clearwater Beach. From the beach the the cycling and running parts of the event will wind through the streets of Clearwater.

Traffic in many parts of Clearwater will be backed up and/or stopped beginning at 5 AM. Click here for a complete run down on the streets affected by this large event.

For the residents and visitors on Sand Key and the south end of Clearwater Beach, the keyword is south! It will be impossible to go through the beach until late in the afternoon. If you want to see the swimming part of the event beginning at 7 AM, park on the south side of the beach or your car may be stranded until the participants get through to the causeway. Pier 60 will be the event starting and finishing point.

The SKCA meets Wednesday night at 7 PM. Agenda items will include updates on the appeal filed by the DA Bennett Co. and the Legg-Mason project. The first report from Lt. Steffens, the new beach police supervisor, is also included.

The SKCA meets at the Clearwater Sailing Center across from the Sheraton. Residents are welcome.

Pinellas county will designate Sand Key Park Beach as a no vessel zone. This means that no craft may enter the swimming zone, even if it is not under power. Previously the beach area was a no combustion engine zone that allowed vessels that were not under power. Fishing boats with electric motors will have to stay outside the swimming zone along with kayaks, sailboats and sailboards.

It’s a waiting game now. The city of Clearwater presented its case for the “commercial” zoning designation on the property known as The Shoppes of Sand Key owned by D.A. Bennett and Company. Bennett’s attorneys argued why the Shoppes deserved a “tourist” zoning classification. Residents’ groups also got to speak their piece at the October 20th hearing.

The whole issue arose when the city was forced to zone the property after the old “business” zoning expired. The matter was further complicated by a development plan for a hotel and spa by the Marriott. The Marriott deal fell through almost a year ago and they have other development plans to the north. Bennett chose to pursue the tourist zoning to give him more options if they would develop and/or sell in the future.

Residents continue to believe there is some secret plan to develop the property. There is no such plan, but the value of this two plus acre parcel on the waterfront makes it a great target for multi-use purposes.

The appeals judges will make their decision on the appeal anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. No one can predict the outcome, but the odds are in the city’s favor based on past rulings.

The minutes from the October meeting of the Sand Key Civic Association are quite lengthy. The complete minutes are available by clicking here. Key matters discussed included:

• Transfer of Lt. Andrews
• Moratorium on Pinellas county docks
• SOS appeal and needed donation
• SON referendum idea to oppose Legg-Mason hotel
• Sheraton and Marriott expansion
• Election of new officers for SKCA
• Next meeting scheduled for November 5, 2008

For comprehensive details, click on the link above.

Stone Crab Platter

October 15th every year is the beginning of stone crab season. The fuss and clamor for these claws of a crab native to only a few parts of the world is hard to understand if you don’t live in Florida.

Stone crab claws are expensive, difficult to harvest and, arguably, not the ultimate of crab meat delicacies. However, these fat claws represent a lot more. They bring with them a special season of the year that enhances their mystical hold on Floridians. When the stone crab claws hit the pot we know it is:

• The best weather of the year.
• The kingfish are making their annual migration and grouper are moving closer to shore.
• Birds are arriving from their northern summer nests.
• The biggest holidays of the year are just around the corner.
• A flurry of festivals, concerts and parties begin.
• The onslaught of winter residents coming home is in full swing.

So are stone crabs as good as all the hoopla that surrounds them? Maybe. Or is it more what they represent as a change in paradise???