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Manatee Arts Festival To Lure Thousands To Apollo Beach

Tribune file photo by LOIS KINDLE

The Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce expects around 8,000 visitors to the 17th Annual Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts this weekend. Around 100 fine artists and craftsmen will be at the new South Shore Community Events Center, 302 Noonan Branch Road.

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

APOLLO BEACH - About 100 fine artists and crafters will gather at the TECO South Shore Community Events Center Saturday and Sunday to display and sell their finest creations.

They'll be participating in the 17th annual Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts, which promises to be one of the best ever, said Joanne Gadek, executive director of the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce, the event's host.

"Considering the present economy, it's hard to predict what the turnout will be," she said. "We're hoping for at least 8,000 over the two days."

The festival "is an inexpensive way for the entire family to spend a fun-filled day," Gadek said. "It's a celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts that includes everything from music, food and wine-tasting to a culinary contest, children's creativity center and more."

Including on- or off-site parking and free shuttle service to both the events center and the Manatee Viewing Center, admission to the festival is $5 for adults and free for children younger than age 12.

Drawing fine artists and crafters from across the country, the juried art show will feature the work of local talent, including photographers Jim "Moose" Rood and Anne Marie Podgurski; wood artists Frank Gabriel and Al Selke; watercolorist Tom Haverfield; fiber artist Charlene Madson; ceramics artist Barbara De Tullio; jewelry artists Patricia Norris and Donna McClane; and wildlife artist Nick Garrett.

On Saturday, local high school chefs-in-training will fire up their stovetops in the annual Culinary Arts Competition, one of the festival's hottest events. Teams from Riverview, East Bay and Sickles will vie ala "Iron Chef" by preparing a three-course meal within one hour. This year, the meal will be based around pork loin and must conform to caloric and nutrition criteria.

Cash, other prizes and bragging rights are up for grabs as a team of culinary experts and the audience rate the contestants on kitchen practice, presentation, teamwork, creativity and, of course, taste. The winning team will be offered the opportunity to shadow the culinary staff of a well-known Tampa restaurant, to be determined at a later date, for a day.

But there's more.

Robert Tulko, Winn Dixie's corporate chef, will demonstrate his cooking techniques in classes that include food samplings.

Additional demos and samplings will be provided by professionals from Ruth's Chris Steak House, South Bay Hospital, Apollo's Bistro, Christine's Caribbean Cuisine and Little Harbor. John Lawson of Hydro Harvest Farms, local chef Joy Reno, representatives from PRP Wines and J.J. Taylor Companies Inc. and members of the Progress Village Latchkey Kids Program will also be on hand.

The main exhibition tent will feature exhibits by area nonprofits, including Feline Folks, the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, Camp Bayou, Little Manatee State Park, Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Sailing, Apollo Beach Beautification group and more.

And at the children's creativity center, kids will find hands-on activities aimed at stimulating their interest in arts and crafts. And visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to lend their creativity to a new, collaborative mural, which will travel to local libraries and banks to be displayed.

Susan Whitaker, winner of the 2009 Manatee Festival T-shirt design, will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days to autograph her work.

The Tampa Tribune and the South Shore News & Tribune are among the event sponsors.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 17th annual Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts

WHERE: TECO South Shore Community Events Center, 302 Noonan Branch Road

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

ADMISSION: $5, includes parking and shuttle service

INFORMATION: Call (813) 645-1366.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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