Weekend Adventures in Bradenton, June 10-13

BRADENTON -- June is here and the weather is HOT! There's more pastel, more calypso music, and more European accents on the beaches. Summer has arrived ladies and gentleman. Grab your gear and drop the rag top. It's time for Weekend Adventures in Bradenton!

Friday, June 11

Friday night is always a great night to get your Irish on. Rashner Tierney's Irish Pub is the most authentic jig dancing, paddy-wagon house in the area, and on Friday night you can hear the same pub music that rings from Dublin to Galway on the Emerald Isle.

With authentic Irish dishes like lamb stew and shepherd's pie, plus all the cold Guinness you can shake a shillelagh at, you'll feel like you've taken a vacation without having to endure the cold and rainy weather. Sing along to "Whiskey in the Jar" and "Finnegan's Wake" and enjoy the impossibly friendly staff and regulars, who act as though every day is St. Pat's.

Rasher Tierney's
5106 14th St. West
Bradenton, FL 34207
Phone: (941) 752-1531


Saturday, June 12

There are 12 golfing months in Florida and the hot ones separate the men from the boys. Saturday is the 12th annual Sertoma Golf Tournament at the River Strand Golf and Country Club in Heritage Harbour. The event benefits the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

$100 registration covers golf, dinner and drinks. Non-golfers can get dinner for only $20. Registration is at noon. The event is a four-person scramble shotgun and begins at 1:30 p.m. Dinner is at 5:30. There are lots of prizes including a $10,000 hole in one and a free car hole in one.

River Strand Golf & Country Club
7155 Grand Estuary Trail
Bradenton, FL 34212

Contact: Gary ScottPhone: 704-9560

Then, grab the kids and get out to Emerson Preserve for the snapshot safari. See the world through the eye of a camera lens. Embark on a photo safari through Florida’s fabulous forests, under marvelous mangroves, and across beautiful beaches as you learn to take stellar snapshots. Perfect for young budding artists, this program will teach children how to use a digital camera as well as some special tips and tricks for making super-cool camera images.

Afterwards, see your photos projected onto an outdoor screen to see instant results! Participants must bring their own digital camera. Program is suitable for participants age 6 and older. Reservations are required. Please call 941-742-5757 ext. 4.

Then it's time to get batty! Later that evening, the preserve will host a bat watch. Search the sky for Emerson Point’s batty residents. As the sun sinks, the bats come out and the summertime is the perfect opportunity to see these fascinating creatures. First, program participants will learn about Florida’s native flying mammals and their habits and habitats.

Your naturalist guide will help you discover how to use a bat detector and take the group on an exciting evening bat safari. Program is suitable for all ages. Reservations are required. Please call 941-748-4501 ext. 4605.

Safari: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bat watch: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Emerson Point Preserve
5801 17th Street West
Palmetto, FL

Saturday afternoon, get over to Bonn Bakes in the Bradenton Village of the Arts and learn how to make your own gourmet bread! Learn to make artisan bread in a few minutes right in your own kitchen, whenever you want, without fancy equipment or years of training. Hard to believe but,

Bonni Bakes, Village of the Arts

after just one class you’ll go home with enough dough to make four 1 lb loaves and the knowledge to repeat it as often as you like.

Based on the book, ”Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day“, we’ll give you the experience to feel comfortable creating delicious bread or pizza anytime.

Watch, learn and ask questions. Taste the bread & pizza made from the same dough. Only $20 per person. Recipe, coffee, iced tea & ingredients to make your first batch included.

Register by email at bonnibakes@gmail.com or call Bonni at (941) 746-6647.
Bonni Bakes
930 12th Street West
Bradenton

What would summer be without fast cars? The Manasota Mopar Club is having a show at Firkins Dodge in Bradenton, this Saturday 3:30-8:00 p.m. Come out and see the best dressed Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth hot rods strut their stuff.

Firkins Dodge
2900 First Street

Bradenton, FL 34208
(941) 748-6510

Sunday, June 13

Sunday is the day to get in harmony with nature. The Manatee Sarasota Sierra Club will host the Little Manatee River Kayak Trip. Grab your gear and get over to the Little Manatee River State Park at 9:30 a.m. for what is sure to be an amazing experience.

Little Manatee River State Park
215 Lightfoot Road
Wimauma, Fla. 33598

Contact: Mike Lehner
941-365-1073
mklehn@hotmail.com