SUBSCRIBE to Swing Time's Weekly Email Newsletter

Swing Time Newsletter — Friday DEC 26th 2008

 In this newsletter... Click Each Image or Link -or- Scroll Down for Details 

Can't see the images above & below?  Can't click the links?  Please enable images & links in your email program!

Hi Everyone,  Swingin' the New Year is on track to be the biggest swing-dance event in modern Florida history!  Already, advance ticket sales have shattered all prior records.  Time is running out to purchase advance tickets or reserve tables for New Year's Eve, because online ticket sales end this coming Tuesday (December 30th) at 1pm.  You can also purchase tickets the night of event at the Coliseum Box Office, but do yourself a favor and save a few dollars by purchasing your advance tickets online now.  Details are hot off the presses for the Vintage Fashion Contest & Photo Shoot, with fantastic prizes provided by Buffalo Gal Vintage!  Yes, that's baseball legend, Babe Ruth, dancing in the photo above, whose Babe Ruth Party will have a big presence at Swingin' the New Year!  Finally, be sure to enter the Prize Giveaway New Year's Eve for your chance to win a red hot swing dress plus dance shoes and gear, courtesy of On Pointe.  See you New Year's Eve at the Coliseum!  --Sam

Just two days after New Year's Eve, Swing Time! returns LIVE to the Gulfport Casino Ballroom (Fri 1/2/2009) in a huge way, with live music by The Venturas!  The following Wednesday (January 7th), the Gulfport Casino Swing Night resumes, with an exciting all-new format every Wednesday night!  Two lessons will be offered, Lindy Hop 6-7pm and Swing (Six-Count/East-Coast Swing) 7-8pm, followed by Music & Dancing 8-11pm.  Both lessons will be free with paid admission to the event, and we're holding admission prices at just $7 for 2009.  Plus, students get 2-for-1 admission every Wednesday!  And, if it's your birthday that Wednesday (or the six days prior), you get free admission!  Also new for 2009... new state-of-the-art Bose sound system, special guest instructors & dance topics during 6pm lesson, and much more!  Stay tuned to future newsletters for more info.

BABE RUTH IN THE HOUSE at SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR!

The Babe Ruth party will be in the house at December 31st's Swingin' the New Year at the St. Petersburg Coliseum!  Babe Ruth's granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti, along with a large party of relatives, fans, and friends will gather together in Alcoves #6 & #7 and surrounding tables to swing in the New Year with us, while celebrating the life and times of baseball legend, Babe Ruth!  Linda invites all event attendees to pay her a visit as she'll be signing autographs and taking photos with fans.  You can also have your picture taken with a life-size Babe Ruth cutout!

Everyone who attends Swingin' the New Year is invited to visit the Babe Ruth alcove at some point during the evening to get autographs, freebies, photos, and pictures taken.  Tim Reid of the Babe Ruth party writes "We're definitely having a Babe Ruth decorated alcove display with fascinating photos and history of Babe in St. Pete; free meet, greet & autographs from Linda; and several types of free Babe Ruth related party favors.  There are several people working on Babe Ruth decorations.  Others will be coming in 1920's & 30's costumes.  Linda will be dressed in baseball attire, reminiscent of her grandfather.  We'll have several flappers, possibly a gangster or two, and other people in various period costumes, tied to baseball/Roaring 20's/St. Pete history."

The photo above shows Babe Ruth dancing with actress Hazel Rowland in a 1920's promotional shot taken in Hollywood.  Could that be the Charleston they're dancing?  Babe Ruth not only used to dance, but he was frequently out and about in St. Petersburg.  According to Linda and Tim, he danced at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, and one of his favorite bands that used to play the Coliseum in the late 1920's was Earl Gresh & his Gangplank Orchestra.  (Rumor has it that Earl Gresh may just make a surprise appearance during the vintage fashion contest!)

VINTAGE FASHION CONTEST & PHOTO SHOOT at SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR!
SPONSORED by BUFFALO GAL VINTAGE

Everyone's invited to dress up in vintage attire this New Year's Eve and enter the Vintage Fashion Contest & Photo Shoot at Swingin' the New Year!  We're very excited about this Contest & Photo Shoot and the super prizes provided by Buffalo Gal Vintage.  Here's how it works.  Both ladies and men are encouraged to enter the contest -- there will be top prizes for the best male & female contestants.  Choose your favorite era and dress accordingly; just remember that this is New Year's Eve, so you'll want to look fabulous!  Stop by the photo alcove during prejudging hours, 7:45-10:15pm, to enter the contest and get your photo taken.  By the way, anyone can get their photo taken at the photo alcove free of charge during the evening; you need not enter the contest.  All photos will be posted online soon after the event.  During prejudging, judges will select the top male and female contestants to "walk the runway" during the finals.  Finals happen at 10:45pm, and all contestants must report to the stage area (dancefloor level) at 10:45pm.  Finalists will be called to walk the runway, and winners will be chosen by judges and audience applause.

PRIZES:  1st place female and male contestants each receive a Professional Vintage Photo Session by Buffalo Gal Vintage -- a $350 value -- just like the photos above!  As you can see, Buffalo Gal has a special talent for vintage modeling and photography!  2nd and 3rd place contestants each receive gift certificates to Buffalo Gal Vintage!  Top contestants also receive prize packages containing swing-dance event tickets and other good stuff.  All contestants get their free New Year's Eve photos taken in the photo alcove!

NEED VINTAGE CLOTHING?  Buffalo Gal Vintage has recently opened a store in St. Petersburg where you can browse through their entire collection!  It's located at 1219 Martin Luther King Jr St N, St Petersburg FL, and they'll be open December 27th-31st, just in time to complete that special vintage outfit for Swingin' the New Year!.  Tell them you're attending Swingin' the New Year and get 10% off any purchase!  They'll be open December 27th (Sat) 10-6, Dec 28 (Sun) 12-4, Dec 29-30 (Mon & Tue) 11-7, and Dec 31 (Wed) 11-6.  Phone 727-290-8468.  Buffalo Gal Vintage specializes in gorgeous, restored and gently worn vintage women's apparel from the 1800s-1970s and couture ladies clothing items from past to present.

PRIZE GIVEAWAY at SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR!
ON POINTE DANCEWEAR & MORE

Enter the Prize Giveaway at Swingin' the New Year for your chance to win some very cool prizes, including swing-dance event tickets, boxes of chocolate truffles, and a selection of swing dance gear provided by On Pointe Dancewear & More!  The On Pointe prizes include a red hot swing dress, a pair of Very Fine brand Swing Shoes, plus the famous Got Swing? T-Shirt!  Plus, winners are welcome to exchange prizes for size or style.  On Pointe is located at 2113 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, and offers a wide selection of swing dance shoes (including the popular Aris Allen), pants, skirts, dresses, and more!  At On Pointe, you can find many of the brands that were previously only available online, and the best thing is you can try them on and find the perfect size, fit, and style, before you buy.  Tell them you're a swing dancer and they will hook you up with the right gear!  They offer great personal attention to customers, and if they don't happen to have your size or style in stock, they will order it.  They'll be open -- December 27th (Sat) 11-6, Dec 29-30 (Mon & Tue) 12-7:30, and New Year's Eve (Wed) 12-6 -- right in time to find those special dance shoes for Swingin' the New Year!  Phone 727-895-1111.

Swingin' the New Year!
GRAND NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION FOR ALL AGES
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
at the  ST PETERSBURG COLISEUM

New Year's Eve -- Wednesday December 31st 2008 -- Swing Time and Swing Gang present... Swingin' the New Year, a grand New Year's Eve celebration for all ages, happening at the spectacular St. Petersburg Coliseum!  The evening includes music, dancing and celebration 9pm-1am, plus an intro swing-dance lesson 8-9pm (no partner needed); doors open at 7:30pm.  The celebration features a midnight countdown & balloon drop, a vintage fashion contest & photo shoot, party favors & chocolates, prize giveaways, free parking, and a full cash bar with champagne bottles and toasts available.  The St. Petersburg Coliseum provides historic swing-era ambiance, a smoke-free atmosphere, and an unparalleled 15,000 square foot oak dance floor!  New Year's and vintage attire are encouraged.  The St. Petersburg Coliseum is located at 535 4th Ave. N., St. Petersburg FL 33701.

Doors Open 7:30pm
Swing Dance Lesson:  8-9pm (no partner needed)
Music,  Dancing  &  Celebration!   9pm-1am

Vintage Fashion Contest & Photo Shoot!
Midnight Countdown & BALLOON DROP
Full Cash Bar w/ Champagne Bottles & Toasts Available
Party Favors  ~  Noisemakers  ~  Chocolates  ~  Prize Giveaways
*  All Ages  *  Smoke-Free  *  New Year's Decor  *  Free Parking  *

TICKETS:  $15/in advance -or- $20/day of event  (+ $1 Coliseum surcharge);  Purchase Advance Tickets:
Securely Online at www.TampaBaySwing.com
In Person at Coliseum Box Office:  535 4th Ave N, St Petersburg (10am-4pm M-F, 727-892-5202)

Food & Drinks:  You may bring your own food to this event, or purchase a variety of snacks from the Coliseum's snack bar (everything from popcorn to ice cream to coffee).  For drinks, the Coliseum will run a full cash bar, with beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks, bottled water, and champagne.  No outside beverages are allowed into the Coliseum, and no coolers are allowed.

Group/VIP Reservations:  Reserved VIP Tables and Alcoves are available for parties of 10 or more, with deluxe chocolates included!  The Coliseum balcony, with seating for up to 150, is also available for a large group reservation or sponsorship.  Parties reserving VIP Alcoves may arrive early to custom decorate their alcove, and may contact us for custom seating arrangements (up to 24 seats per alcove).  Click here for group reservations or phone 727-669-7830 or 813-579-4645.

[Tickets]     [Map & Directions]     [More Info]

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

Dec 31, 2008 (Wed): Special Event at the St. Petersburg Coliseum
                    Swing Time & Swing Gang present...
                    SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR !
                    Grand New Year's Eve Celebration for All Ages!
                    Tickets:  $15/advance -or- $20/day of event  (+ $1 Coliseum surcharge)
                    Click here for Ticket Info or to Purchase Tickets

Jan  2, 2009 (Fri): Swing Time! returns to the Gulfport Casino
                    featuring  The Venturas
                    Exceptional Talent w/ Hot Vocals!
                    Tickets: $11;  purchase at the door
    .
    .
    .
More January & February Events to Be Added Soon - Stay Tuned!
    .
    .
    .

Feb 20, 2009 (Fri): Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino
                    featuring  The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn
                    Hot Swingin' Jazz & Blues from NYC!
                    Tickets: $12;  purchase at the door

GET THE SWING NEWS Delivered to Your Email

© All contents of this web site (www.SwingNews.com) except where otherwise stated are Copyright 1998-2019 Retro Production Company with all rights reserved