So what was the common theme I found throughout the two days and dozen presentations?

The future of social is in caring about, personally connecting with, and helping our community.

During such a rough week in America, this sentiment couldn’t be more true. Now, more than ever, we need to care about our communities, both online and off.

So I took this advice to heart and found a way to better connect with Dive In’s online community. At the conference, Dive In met up with many local leaders in marketing, advertising, and social. The conference gave us the perfect opportunity to meet in person, the faces we’ve seen for so long online.

This list below includes our new Tampa friends. (Some friends included what they found to be the most useful information they learned in the two days that were Social Fresh.)

There were a few people on this list we failed to meet in person, but we hope that won’t be the case for much longer. As part of our new Community connection initiative, Dive In, along with Shannon Palmer and Johnny Crosskey, is planning a post-Social Fresh get-together so we can continue to build inperson relationships with our community. Stay tuned.

(For a comprehensive review of the conference, check out a post by our Tampa social media guru, Jennifer Buggica for CopyPress.)

It was the first time, but it won’t be the last time.

Takara was worth the ride. The ambiance, the food, the great service, this gem is giving South Tampa sushi joints a run for their money.

But it’s not just sushi that is going to bring me back to Takara. Appetizers like chicken tatsu-age, garlic edamame, and pan fried pot stickers are a few other reasons I’ll be heading back. Not to mention the sushi tacos, a perfect mix of crunchy fried and fresh seafood — crab, grouper and tuna. Those surprising sushi tacos will have me running back for more… and bringing my girlfriends.

The sushi tacos are part of Tarkara’s new Thursday Ladies Night. The sushi tacos are only available on Thursdays along with a few sushi rolls made especially for ladies night and a list of other drink and food specials. So round up your friends and take a trip to the newest competitor in the Tampa sushi war — Takara Sushi and Sake Lounge.

Here are a few of my favorites you should try along with some sips of sake — especially the Ozeki Hana Awaka.

Chicken Tatsu-age

7-spice Japanese seasoned chicken served with spicy mayo

Sushi Taco – Crab

 Served with avocado, red onion, cucumber and Asian mango salsa

Crazy Tako Roll – Only Made on Ladies Night

Tempura octopus, avocado, red bell pepper, cucumber, rolled in seaweed & rice, topped with crab & smelt roe, served with sassy sauce

Crunchy Rainbow Roll

Crab, cucumber, & avocado rolled in seaweed & rice, topped with tuna, salmon, whitefish and wonton crisp,  served with eel sauce

DJ Roll

Crab salad, avocado, cucumber & cream cheese, wrapped in soy paper & rice,served panko style with eel sauce & yum yum sauce

Green Lantern Roll

Tuna, crab delight, mix greens, cucumber, red pepper, avocado, rolled in rice & soy paper, served with spicy ponzu

Ladies Night

Every Thursday Takara welcomes woman to enjoy sake, sushi, and savings.  From 7pm to close, ladies night takes over the lounge with a long list of specials in both food and drink.

• Half off appetizers, soups, and salads
• $5 Sushi Tacos (2 pcs each and served only on ladies night)
• $8 Specialty Rolls from selected menu
• Half off on House Hot Sake (small)
• Half off  Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Moscato, White Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir
• $4 Saketinis

Buy 1 bottle, get the second one 1/2 off (same brand) & 1/2 off select Wine & Sake Bottles that include:

• Ozeki Hana Awaka, Sparkling Sake – Bursting sweetness & fruity flavor
• Infused Flavored Sake (Fuji Apple | Honey Dew & Apple | Lychee | Strawberry | White Peach
• Shirakawago, Nigori -  Unfiltered, silky & semi sweet creamy flavor
• Bunraku, Junmai Ginjyo – Less refined, distilled with mountain water
• Gekkeiken, Horin – Highest quality sake, most polished

Follow Takara Sushi Tampa on Facebook and Twitter or get more information at www.TakaraSushiTampa.com.

To celebrate American Craft Beer Week, Pepin Distributors is holding their annual Attitude Craft Beer Festival. Featuring over 100 craft beers, food trucks, and live entertainment, this event is a grand way to celebrate beer week.

Attendees will also have a special opportunity to try a mystery brew not currently available on the market as well as a variety of hand rolled cigars.

Event Date: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 6 pm – 10 pm. Tickets are $30 per person and available here. For a limited time, 6-pack tickets are available for $20/person.

Find more information on the Event Facebook Page.

Funshine is a blend of fair and festival bringing dozens of performing artists, carnival rides and games, food vendors, and activities to one rocking spot.

Tickets are available for the whole three day weekend or single day only. Three day general admission starts at $65 and single day tickets start at $25.

Follow the event on Facebook or get more details at FunshineFestival.com.

The awesome line up of music goes on and on.

Friday

Concourse Stage:
Have Gun Will Travel: 4:45 pm – 5:20 pm
The Mojo Gurus: 5:40 pm – 6:25 pm
Roadkill Ghost Choir: 6:55 pm – 7:40 pm
Good Old War: 8:35 pm – 9:35 pm

Pavilion Stage:
Dead Confederate: 7:45 pm – 8:30 pm
Youngblood Hawke: 9:55 pm – 10:45 pm

Expo Hall Stage:
Cheap Trick: 6:40 pm – 7:40 pm
The Smashing Pumpkins: 8:35 pm – 9:50 pm

Amphitheatre Stage:
Phillip Phillips: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Train: 9:35 pm – 10:50 pm

Saturday

Concourse Stage:
Tallhart: 1:35 pm – 2:20 pm
The Weeks: 3:25 pm – 4:10 pm
Hell’s Bells (AC/DC Tribute): 5:25 pm – 6:20 pm
Pitbull Toddler: 8:05 pm – 9:20 pm

Pavilion Stage:
Alexander and the Grapes: 12:50 pm – 1:30 pm
Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band: 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Bad Books featuring Members of Manchester Orchestra & Kevin Devine: 4:25 pm – 5:15 pm
Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional: 6:35 pm – 7:50 pm
New Found Glory: 9:35 pm – 10:50 pm

Expo Hall Stage:
We The Kings: 8:05 pm – 9:20 pm

Amphitheatre Stage:
Ted Nugent: 5:15 pm – 6:05 pm
Styx: 6:35 pm – 7:50 pm
REO Speedwagon: 9:35 pm – 10:50 pm

Sunday

Concourse Stage:
Kirk EcEwen Band: 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm
Dennis Lee Band: 2:35 pm – 3:20 pm
Yesterday (Beatles Tribute): 4:35 pm – 5:35 pm
Sticky Fingers (The Rolling Stones Tribute): 7:05 pm – 8:05 pm

Pavilion Stage:
Bobby Lee Rodgers: 1:40 pm – 2:30 pm
Big Sam’s Funky Nation: 3:25 pm – 4:25 pm
The Lone Bellow: 5:50 pm – 6:50 pm
Tonic: 8:20 pm – 9:20 pm

Expo Hall Stage:
Josh Thompson: 4:35 pm – 5:35 pm
The Wallflowers: 7:05 pm – 8:05 pm

Amphitheatre Stage:
Kix Brooks: 5:50 pm – 6:50 pm
Gary Allan: 8:20 pm – 9:50 pm

Apparently we aren’t alone.

Tampa Bay Times, Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay and Emerge Tampa were all thinking the same thing. So the three sponsors put together “Craftology Tampa – a night of craft beer, craft cocktails, finger foods, and live music” in the Museum.

The event which will benefit the Glazer Children’s Museum will feature a night of craft beer tastings and good times — all for a good cause.

You can find more about the event on the Facebook Event Page or Website.

Event Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2013, 8pm – midnight. Tickets are $50 per person and available here.

The Hard Rock along with 107.3 The Eagle are hosting parties at the pool every Friday from April 26 through June 28. Join the party from 7 pm to 10 pm for classic hits, live music, hand rolled cigars, and craft beer and spirit samplings.

There is no cover and the party is on rain or shine! (21 and over only)

Location: Pool, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 North Orient Road

Find the event on Facebook.

On April 13 and 14, Fort Lauderdale Beach is going to be transformed into a massive festival celebrating all things barefoot pop, rock, and country.

The amazing list of performers includes:

• Kenny Chesney
• The Avett Brothers
• Eric Church
• Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
• Jake Owen
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Gary Allan
• Grace Potter
• Gloriana
• The Wailers
• Eli Young Band
• Gary Clark Jr.
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• G. Love and Special Sauce
• Kip Moore
• Sister Hazel

Presented by Landshark Lager and produced by HUKA Entertainment, Tortuga will be an oceanfront festival grounds filled with sun, sand, seafood, and music.

“This is not your average music festival,” stated producer AJ Niland. “This festival will showcase world class talent, with world class amenities on a world class beachfront setting. More importantly, it is a festival with a purpose.”

In partnership with Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Ocean Conservancy, a one-of-a-kind Conservation Village will be located on site to educate audience members and provide them with the information and tools they need to help preserve the world’s oceans.

DID YOU KNOW? Plastic waste kills up to 1 million sea birds, 1 hundred thousand sea mammals and countless fish each year.

This is the type of awareness the Tortuga Music Festival hopes to spread during the two day waterside festival.

“Live music and the beachfront are rooted in the Landshark lifestyle,” said Michael Lourie, Landshark Lager brand manager. “In teaming up with Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, we’re excited to showcase a weekend of great music while we raise awareness about the collective responsibility we have to care for our coastlines.”

Tickets are still available as one or two day passes at TortugaMusicFestival.com. Don’t miss your chance at being a part of the beach’s biggest bash.

So now that you know, I bet you are eager to get out and visit each one. Lucky for you Tampa Bay Tapped is taking on riders for their West Side Brewery Tour.

The tour will stop at:

• Cigar City Brewery
• Rapp Brewing Company
• Barley Mow Brewing Company
• Dunedin Brewery
• Saint Somewhere Brewing Co.
• Big Storm Brewing Co.

The Saturday April 13th tour starts and ends at Cigar City Brewery. The tour leaves at 12:30 pm and arrives back at 7/7:30 pm.

Cost: $75 per person which includes tastings at each brewery, meet and greets with the owners & brewers, and transportation. Brewery Tour Tickets Available HERE.

The tour is only big enough for 14 people, so sign up soon.

About Tampa Bay Tapped

Tampa Bay Tapped was formed in the summer of 2011 as a sister organization to Tampa Bay Uncorked (www.tampabayuncorked.com),  a volunteer run, locally based 501c7 organization. Their purpose is to enjoy and learn more about beer while at the same time supporting local Tampa Bay based charities by hosting monthly happy hours, tastings and dinner events.