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Swing Time Newsletter — Sunday OCT 26th 2008

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Hi Everyone,  Get your costumes ready!  This Wednesday is the big Halloween Costume Ball, our 7th Annual at the Gulfport Casino, featuring $250+ worth of costume prizes and $100 Cash 1st Prize!  Check out the amazing New Photos from last year's Halloween Costume Ball, plus read the Haunted Legend of Morris the Casino Cat... if you dare!  Then on Friday -- Halloween Night -- Swing Time takes the show to Centro Asturiano in Tampa for the incredible Halloween dance party, Swing Is Dead!  Don't miss out... no one does Halloween like Swing Time!  --Sam

Learn the Shim Sham this Wed 10/29 - Free Lesson!

Swing Time! 1940's USO Swing Dance - Fri 11/7 at Centro

Celebrate Your Birthday at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!
Free Admission Wednesdays for Birthday People!

Gulfport Casino Swing Night       Swinging Bulls Lindy Bash       Events Calendar

NEW PHOTOS! -- FROM LAST YEAR'S COSTUME BALL AT GULFPORT CASINO
Enjoy the photos, and feel free to grab your favorites for your personal web profiles and pages!

New Photos - 2007 Halloween Costume Ball at Gulfport Casino

MORRIS THE CASINO CAT & OTHER GULFPORT GHOST STORIES

As many of you know, the Gulfport Casino was built in the 1930's.  The building has a history that started in the big band era.  Back in the 1930's, just like today, it was a popular dance hall for swing and big band dancing.  Today though, around 3:00am when the streets are still and the Casino is closed, passers-by have reported the faint sound of big band music emanating from the dance hall, and even the ghostly silhouette of a dancing couple gliding across the dance floor.

Fast forward to 1970, the day when a stray orange tabby showed up on the steps of the Gulfport Casino.  The locals adopted him, took good care of him, and dubbed him Morris the Cat due to his striking resemblance to the famous spokescat of the Nine Lives commercials.  "Everyone loved Morris.  His favorite activities were sleeping in the flowerbeds that surrounded the building and chasing little crabs and other critters down the beach." [1]  He lived a full life as Casino mascot until one day in 1985 ...when he was discovered still and lifeless in one of the flowerbeds.  His fans had him cremated, and encased his ashes in a concrete monolith that still stands today beside the Casino, overlooking the waterfront and the beach.  The monument (pictured here) contains a memorial plaque and a painted effigy of Morris sitting atop.  Today, flowers occasionally and mysteriously appear beside Morris' memorial.  On breezy days, swirls of dust along the beach have reportedly taken... the shape of a cat.  This Halloween Costume Ball, pay a visit to Morris' memorial... come closer and listen.  Can you hear the faint "Meow" coming from within?

[1] The above quote and the source for much of this info comes from Deborah Frethem's 2007 book, Ghost Stories of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Pinellas County.

In honor of Veteran's Day...  Swing Time!  presents...
1940's USO Swing Dance
at Centro Asturiano in Tampa
featuring  The Ten O'Clock Big Band
Friday,  November 7th,  2008

Friday, November 7th 2008... at Centro Asturiano in Tampa... In honor of Veteran's Day, Swing Time presents a 1940's USO-Themed Swing Dance.  WWII-era civilian or military attire is encouraged. The Ten O'Clock Band, Florida's leading 18-piece big band, will be decked out in their Army Air Corps khaki uniforms and they'll be swingin' for all the dancers, 9pm-1am. The event starts with a free group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm, and no partner is needed. The evening includes prize giveaways, plus WWII-era decor, atmosphere, and special exhibits.

The Ten O'Clock Band brings the big-band experience to Swing Time.  When people speak of "the big bands", this is what they mean -- five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, plus piano, bass, guitar, drums, and vocals.  The band's bold & brassy sound will fill the Grand Ballroom, with minimal need for amplification, letting participants experience the classic days of swing as it was meant to be played, heard, danced to, and otherwise enjoyed.  Exciting soloists, excellent musicianship, and great coordination as a unit have earned the band rave reviews from dancers as well as fellow musicians across the Bay area!

Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held one Friday each month.  Centro Asturiano is located at 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa FL 33602 (at the corner of Palm Ave. & Nebraska Ave. in Ybor City).

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Live Music & Dancing w/ The Ten O'Clock Band,  9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed),  8-9pm
Special WWII-Era Decor, Atmosphere & Exhibits

All Ages  &  Smoke-Free
Exciting Social Atmosphere
Fabulous Vintage Grand Ballroom
Huge Floating-Wood Dance Floor
Prize Giveaways
Full Bar

$13 Admission includes Free Lesson; Free Gated Parking

For more info, visit www.SwingTime.info on the web, or click the links below:
[Band Bio]     [Map & Directions]     [More Info]

UPCOMING SWING TIME EVENTS
Click the links below for details on each event

   EVERY WEDNESDAY: Gulfport Swing Night

Oct 29, 2008 (Wed): Special Event at the Gulfport Swing Night
                     HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL 

Oct 31, 2008 (Fri): Halloween Night at Centro Asturiano
                     SWING IS DEAD 

Nov  7, 2008 (Fri): Swing Time! at Centro Asturiano
                    1940's USO SWING DANCE
                    featuring  The Ten O'Clock Band
                    Florida's Leading 18-Piece Big Band!

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