Weekend Adventures In Bradenton: Sept. 27-29, 2013

BRADENTON – Fall is here and there are plenty of ways to celebrate. The weather's still warm, but Manatee County is still hot. Get out to Ace's Live to see a great national blues act, get a sneak peek of the county's newest preserve or get green when Mote electrifies the island with its second annual EV show. It's time for a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

On Friday, The Selwyn Birchwood Band comes to Aces Live in Bradenton. The national act, which received top honors at the 2013 International Blues Challenge (coming in 1st place out of over 230 bands from around the world) is sure to put on a memorable show, led by the smooth riffs of Selwyn, who recently received the "Albert King Award" for best blues guitarist.

The Florida natives have continuously wowed audiences with their high-energy performances rooted deeply in the traditions of the blues greats. They have also consistently found themselves alongside the best in the business as they have opened for the likes of Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker Jr., and Joe Louis Walker.

The band is known for its hip-shaking, roof rattling mix of blues that has won over countless fans. They have been touring in support of their current CD “FL Boy” and are hard at work in the studio on their second release. One thing is for certain - the group’s unique brand of swampy FL Blues should not be missed!

Selwyn Birchwood Band 
Aces Live  
Friday 
9 p.m.
$5 Cover
Non-Smoking Show

This Friday, you can also get a sneak peek of the new Perico Preserve in west Manatee County. Head over to Perico Preserve to see the restoration revolution in action.

Join NRD's Program Manager for Ecological Resources, Damon, and Master Naturalist Melissa, for a behind the scenes peek at the construction happening at the site.

For the time being, sneak previews are the only way to visit the site, so don't miss this opportunity. The tours are suitable for all ages. Reservations are required. Please call 941-748-4501 ext. 4605.

Sneak Preview Tour
Friday 

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Perico Preserve

11700 Manatee Ave West

Bradenton

Electric vehicles and other eco-friendly technologies will show their power during “Electrify the Island”: the Sarasota-based festival for the nationwide celebration National Plug In Day.

This free event will take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday on the grounds of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island, Sarasota. Mote is a world-class marine science and education institution that launched a Sustainable Energy Initiative in 2012 to enhance the Lab’s environmentally sound practices.

Electrify the Island will feature a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) expo, ride-and-drive sessions that allow visitors to test some of the sleekest EVs around, including cars from Tesla, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan, along with vendors focused on sustainability and energy efficiency, educational booths, great food and a special discount at The Aquarium at Mote.

This is the second National Plug In Day celebration held in Sarasota, following last year’s energizing success of Electrify the Circle — a major EV celebration on Florida’s Suncoast. This year’s event will spark even more enthusiasm as part of the coast-to-coast national celebration involving 70 locations across the U.S. Together, these events aim to draw global attention to the environmental and economic benefits of plug-in EVs.