Harbourside Tiki Bar continues turkey drive and launches comedy nights
The Harbourside Grill & Tiki Bar recently held a Thanksgiving drive for turkeys for local needy families, and is now continuing the effort.
“With the success we had with the Thanksgiving drive, we’re continuing through Christmas. If it goes as well, it would be great as a way to help the community,” said Assistant Manager Brian Shoffner.
“We’ve gotten a really good response from customers. We did this last year and it went well,” he continued. “We dropped off 40 or 50 turkeys last year and our goal was to double that this year at Thanksgiving, and we did.”
Customers that donate to the drive get their name up on a poster that reads, “I don’t talk turkey.”
Customers enjoy it, Shoffner said.
“In addition to getting your name put up as giving back, we also give a $5 gift certificate that can be used that day or on the next visit,” he said.
He said despite the economy, people are happy to give in this community. “There’s a lot of families who don’t have the the ability to do a turkey for holidays this year, and we’d like to help them out,” he said.
Donations go to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, and they don’t have to be turkeys.
“We’re also accepting canned goods and non-perishable items,” said Shoffner.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida is a local organization that partners with over 150 Southwest Florida organizations and agencies to supply their food banks.
“It’s an absolutely great cause,” said Harbourside Grill’s General Manager Bobby Joe Langston. “We’re excited to continue and ready to go, and hope to raise a lot for the food bank. Everybody has been more than generous, a lot of people are hurting but they’re still finding their way to get a turkey and bring it in.”
He said he recently had a surprising donation.
“Jeremy McCarthy, my bookkeeper Brenda’s 8-year-old grandson, reached into his piggy bank to buy a turkey,” he said.
Call the restaurant for details.
Bar launches Comedy Nights
Two weeks ago, Harbourside launched a Comedy Night, to be held every Thursday at 7 p.m.
“There was standing room only, a huge success,” said Shoffner.
Comedians will be name entertainers.
“We kicked it of with Bill ‘Bull’ Ohse, from ‘Last Comic Standing’ and several films, and Mike McCarthy, who has performed all over the U.S. and Canada,” said Langston. “He also performed on Comedy Central, Fox and Showtime, and appeared with Chris Rock, Dennis Leary and Steven Wright to name but a few.”
All of the headliners will be big names on the comedy circuit, they said. The show admission will be $12, for approximately a 2 1/2-hour show.
“We encourage people to call for reservations, and it’s first-come first-serve seating,” said Langston. “Call the restaurant for upcoming shows.”
Dinner is served throughout the show and there are drink specials. The shows are held in the Key Largo Room, and already have spilled out on The Sun Deck, where there are heaters for chilly nights.
The Harbourside Tiki Bar and Grill is located at 3442 Marina Town Lane, off Hancock Bridge Parkway. For information on turkey donations or comedy nights, call 997-7110.