SeaScapes ignited; MacDill's new night, weekend hot spot

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tasty menu selections, drink specials, live bands, DJs, flashy lighting and thumping sound systems are not hard to find around Tampa Bay, making it hard to choose a partying, dining and good times weekend hangout. Add SeaScapes Beach House at MacDill to your list of options.

The MacDill restaurant and bar has been a fixture at the beach for a long time, but until last week if you wanted a bite or a drink after-hours or on a Saturday night, you had to look elsewhere. That "elsewhere" was off base, said Caroline Rice, director or MacDill recreation and one of the driving forces behind SeaScapes' new Beach on Fire promotion.

There are new hours, new menu items and a host of theme activities Tuesday through Saturday evenings, said Rice. The changes are still new and word hasn't spread to everyone, but so far it looks like the MacDill population is taking to the base's newest night spot.

"We had 20 people signed up for Texas Hold'em tournament on the first Tuesday it was held," said Rice. "That was a pretty good turnout for the first time."
The new hours at SeaScapes are:
Monday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., reopening 4 to 9 p.m.
Saturday 3 to 9 p.m.

Beginning in November, SeaScapes will open Monday evenings for Monday Madness football nights with $2 drafts and chicken wings for 50 cents.

"We've turned it into an all-day operation six days a week," said Rice, who worked with SeaScapes managers to bring about the changes, which include a live band and free hors d'oeuvres on Saturday nights, and a DJ and trivia contest on Fridays.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the new SeaScapes could be dorm residents, many of whom do not own transportation, said Rice, who added that shuttle service will be available to and from the dorms on Friday and Saturday nights. A family night (Wednesdays) has been thrown into the mix, along with karaoke on Thursdays. It's a lineup Rice believes will also attract many from the FamCamp, military members living off base, and those with base access who normally do not visit at night.