Hola -

This is the time of the year when we all take a breath and get a fresh start. We kicked-off the New Year with a great Membership Luncheon featuring Mayor Bob Buckhorn. We had 120 members and guests on-hand and our ally, Charles Pesano, made sure that everyone received a complimentary ticket to attend the Florida State Fair.

This weekend, Sunday's Restaurant celebrated its one-year anniversary by featuring an over-the-top surf & turf special. Michele, her sister and brother-in-law and I all ordered the special, which was followed by complimentary desserts. We each ordered a different one of Chef Sunday's sweet creations and shared them around the table. It was nice to have other loyal Yborians present with Enzo Pardo and his wife Maria in-the-house. After dinner, we moseyed down to Bernini's and had an after dinner drink, running into some of our friends from South Tampa.   Sunday, "M" and I attended the Lighting/Penguins game, courtesy of the door prize I won at Friday's Gaybor Coalition meeting. Not a bad weekend all in all - great food, good company and a solid game (although we didn't win).

Next on the radar are two of the best business to business promotional opportunities we have in Ybor City: the publication of our 2012 Business Directory and Community Guide and the winter edition of our Ybor Expo: Business Showcase. To be listed in the new directory all you have to do is make sure your membership is up-to-date. If you need to check, call Michele Keating at 248-3712 x25. The Business Showcase will be held on Tuesday, February 14th in lieu of our regular Membership Luncheon in the Columbia's Siboney Room. To be a sponsor and/or reserve an exhibit space at the Ybor Expo, contact Anna Ramos at aramos@ybor.org or 248-3712 x22.

Our next major event is Fiesta Day, coming-up on Saturday, February 25th. The Florida Blue - Fiesta Day will be presented by BB&T again this year. We are very excited to have two of Florida's top companies sponsoring this traditional, family-oriented event. This year will mark the 65th Anniversary of the Chamber's Fiesta Day. It also denotes a new high-point in Ybor City's constantly improving "brand." Come on down to Ybor City where the weather's cool and there is always something fun to do.

Ciao - Tom Keating

February 14- Winter Ybor Expo: Business Showcase, Tues.11:30AM- 2PM- The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its Winter Business Expo at the Columbia Restaurant in lieu of its regular luncheon. This is a great way to promote your business to other Ybor businesses and let them know what you do. Reserve your space by contacting Anna Ramos. 813.248.3712 x 22   

February 25- Florida Blue Fiesta Day Presented By BB&T, Sat. 11AM- 6PM- Celebrate this annual tribute to the Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Jewish and German immigrants that came to Ybor City in the late 1800's. This free event pays homage to Ybor's forefathers through the observance of art, culture and cuisine in a street festival format.  And to add to the day's events, the Ybor Saturday Fresh Market will once again be hosting the Flan Fest in Centennial Park. 813.241.8838