5 Things to Know in Gulfport: Swing Night, Documentary Showing, 'Best of the Road'

Swing Dance Lessons, Live Concert and more at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom tonight! Check out our daily post "5 Things to Know in Gulfport."

Swing Night: "Eight to the Bar" will be performing at tonight's Swing Night at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom! Tickets are $15 for dance lessons and live entertainment. There will be a full cash bar. Organizers say the event is open to all ages and you don't have to have a partner. The Shim Sham Lesson is from 6 - 7, Swing Dance lesson is from 7 - 8 and the live concert begins at 8 p.m. Documentary Showing: Students, school volunteers and staff are invited to the free viewing of "Sharkwater," a documentary, at Boca Ciega High School on Wednesday, April 25 after school. Organizers are accepting donations too.  After the event all proceeds will then be donated to www.savingsharks.com a foundation to help stop shark finning. Is Gulfport the "…

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5 Things to Know Today: Crime Watch, Relay for Life, 'Best of the Road'

Crime Watch Meeting Cancelled, Relay for Life, "Best of the Road" and more in "5 Things to Know Today."

Crime Watch: The City Wide Crime Watch Meeting is cancelled for April. The meeting is normally held during the second Monday of each month at the Gulfport Neighborhood Center at 7 p.m. For more information email JRVolunteer@aol.com or call (727) 327-3509. Relay for Life: The Relay for Life in Gulfport is this weekend! The American Cancer Society holds this unique event and its goal is to raise money to help fight cancer in a fun, family-friendly way. All proceeds from the event will benefit American Cancer Society to help find cures. This year, the Relay for Life of Gulfport is on Saturday, April 14 starting at 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 15 at Gulfport Recreation Center field, 5730 Shore Blvd. S. For more information, …

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Danie Huizenga

9:11 am on Monday, April 9, 2012

l have already sent in a story about Gulfport.   more ›

Put Gulfport On The Map!

Best Of The Road is back! Rand McNally and USA TODAY are looking for the best small towns in America. Last year, Gulfport made the finals in Best Food.

This year, it's time to put Gulfport on the map—literally. Best of the Road® is back, asking Americans and other road-trippers to choose the best small towns in America.  Rand McNally and USA TODAY have teamed up again to ask everyone—friends, family, neighbors and coworkers—to put their town on the map. The most popular small towns will be named Best of the Road in various categories: Most Beautiful, Most Patriotic, Friendliest, Most Fun and Best for Food among others. This allows Gulfport residents, snowbirds and visitors to take pride in their favorite Florida city.   In 2011, Best of the Road listed Gulfport as one of the tops for food.  Now through May 15, nominate and vote for Gulfport as one of many points of interest (POI) in the …

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Rand McNally & USA Today "Best of the Road"

Take our Poll: What Was Your Favorite 'Best of the Road' Sampler Plate?

Several local restaurants offered up their signature dishes in "Best of the Road" Sampler Plates during the Rand McNally USA Today "Best of the Road" contest.

From Cuban, Italian, Jamaican, French, Greek, American and more, Gulfport restaurants had plenty to offer during the Rand McNally USA Today "Best of the Road" contest. Gulfport was a finalist in the "Best for Food" category. Lafayette, LA won for "Best for Food" on Thursday, July 21, 2011. As part of the competition, 15 local restaurants offered sampler plates of their best bites from June 23 to July 23, 2011. If you tried one, please vote! Need a reminder? Check out our photo gallery of all the plates.

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5 Things to Know Today: Friday, July 22

There's still time to try the "Best of the Road" Sampler Plates, 30% chance of rain and more in "5 Things to Know Today."

1) Even though Gulfport didn't take home the title for "Best for Food" in the Rand McNally/ USA Today "Best of the Road" contest, there's still time to try out the Best of the Road Sampler Plates in Gulfport. The special menu items are offered at 15 local restaurants until Saturday. Check out our story and vote for your favorite sampler plate! 2) Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out "GET OUT: Weekend Events Preview" for ideas! Did we forget something? Add it on the post and/or in our "Events" tab. 3) Do you like history? The Gulfport Historical Museum is looking for "history buffs" to help them research some of the items on display in the museum. For more information call (727) 327-0505. 4) Attention Freshman! Freshman…

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Rand McNally & USA Today "Best of the Road"

Gulfport Falls Short in 'Best of the Road' Contest

Lafayette, LA took "Best for Food" honors in the USA Today-Rand McNally contest.

The winning cities for the USA Today-Rand McNally "Best of the Road" Rally are: The winning towns will be featured in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas and on BestOfTheRoad.com, as well as highlighted on USA Today’s Travel page. The winners were announced at the Destination Marketing Association International Conference in New Orleans on Thursday. As for the winning road rally team, St. Petersburg couple The Fun Finders did not win the $10,000 for best team. Gone with the Wynns took home the big check and a 2011 Saab 9-4X. Hurry, there's still time to try the best bites available at 15 local restaurants in Gulfport. As part of the competition, several local businesses condensed their signature dishes into signature bites. Prices vary from $…

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Danie Huizenga

3:34 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011

To be in the Top Six first time out is a heck of an honor anyway!!!   more ›

Rand McNally & USA Today "Best of the Road"

Slideshow Video of the Best of the Road visit to Gulfport

A Gulfport resident and businessman put together a slideshow presentation on a YouTube.com video of Bonnie and Jim Parr's weekend in Gulfport sampling all the wonderful foods the city has to offer.

Last week, Bonnie and Jim Parr of St. Petersburg visited Gulfport. No big deal, St. Petersburg residents come to Gulfport all the time, right? But this was much different. The couple was part of the Best of the Road series sponsored by Rand McNally and USA Today to find the best small towns in the nation. Specifically, the Parrs searched for the best small town in America with the best food. The timing couldn't have been better for the Parrs: Fourth of July Weekend. The City of Gulfport welcomed the Parrs with wide open arms and the couple was treated like royalty from the moment their sponsored car was parked. With stomachs all but bursting from all the wonderful foods the city served, the Parrs, after sampling treats at the Fresh Market …

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Mary Lou Milch

6:18 pm on Sunday, July 10, 2011

Thanks, the colorful record of a wonderful week-end in Gulfport; makes me love Gulfport even more. Mary Lou Milch   more ›

Rand McNally & USA Today "Best of the Road"

Judging If Gulfport is the Tastiest Small Town in America

A pair of travelers driving across the country in search of the best small town in America for food stopped in Gulfport for two days of fun, celebration and of course, a lot of eating.

Cities throughout the country are celebrating Uncle Sam's 235th birthday today. Gulfport had a bit more to celebrate. In fact, the city is trying to be one of the best hosts in the country this weekend, impressing a couple from the Tampa Bay area in hopes that Gulfport will be known as the best small town for food in America. Bonnie and Jim Parr are part of the Best of the Road competition sponsored by USA Today and Rand McNally. Five couples are zigzagging across America this summer in the search of the best small towns in various categories and the Parrs are searching for the best small town for food. This holiday weekend, their trek led the St. Petersburg natives back to the Tampa Bay area, and specifically to Gulfport. At the Peninsula…

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Rand McNally & USA Today "Best of the Road"

Meet the Fun Finders: 'Best of the Road' Rally Team

Jim and Bonnie Parr, of St. Petersburg, are the "Fun Finders". They are one of five teams chosen to travel cross-country in search of the nation's best small towns. Gulfport is a finalist for "Best for food", the category the "Fun Finders" are judging.

The Fun Finders are bringing their taste buds to Gulfport. Gulfport is one of six finalists in the 2011 Rand McNally USA TODAY "Best of the Road" contest. Now, the judging is up to the road rally team The Fun Finders.  Jim and Bonnie Parr of St. Petersburg are expected to visit Gulfport on the 4th of July. Jim, 67, is a retired mechanic and Bonnie is a retired high school teacher. The couple perform as clowns, volunteer at local organizations and travel around the country. The team is competing for a grand prize of $10,000. The team that does the best job submitting content about their cross-country adventure wins. The "Best of the Road" event kicked off in New York on Thursday, June 23 and will finish with a ceremony in Los Angeles on …

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