ANNA MARIA – All week, business owners have been as busy as Santa's elves getting ready for the city's holiday open house, Holiday of Treasures, set for Friday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. along Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue and South Bay Boulevard.
More than 50 businesses, as well as city hall, will be offering holiday cheer, refreshments and raffle prizes. Santa will be in his sleigh in the Island Sun Plaza hearing Christmas wishes from children, the snow will be flying compliments of Mark Kimball's snow machine and golf cars from Lightning Bugz will shuttle shoppers from the Island Sun Plaza to Bayview Plaza.
For a chance to win a basket of items donated by the businesses, get a bingo card in any participating business and have it validated at 14 of them. You can cast your vote for the best decorated business on the back of the bingo card. Cards can be turned in at the Island Sun Plaza or the Island Historical Museum.
The evening's offerings are as follows:
• J&J Graphics, outdoor movie and hot drinks and raffle prize – AMI canvas bag raffle prize;
• Sign of the Mermaid, cookies;
• Dips Ice Cream, holiday ice cream;
• Island Sun newspaper, visit with Santa, snow machine, refreshments, entertainment by harpist and steel drum band in the Island Sun Plaza;
• The Loft 5 AJ's Island Network, refreshments and entertainment in the Island Sun Plaza;
• Fran Maxon Real Estate, refreshments and entertainment in the Island Sun Plaza;
• Silvia's Flower Corner, refreshments and entertainment in the Island Sun Plaza, raffle prize – $75 gift certificate for flowers;
• Three Island Monkeys, refreshments and entertainment in the Island Sun Plaza, raffle prize – $15 gift certificate;
• Rotten Ralph, wine in the Island Sun Plaza;
• Ginny's & Jane E's, raffle prize – gift certificate;
• Body and Sol Spa, snacks and drinks, raffle prize – $40 gift certificate toward a salon treatment;
• Feeling Swell, snacks, pet-friendly gathering of costumed dogs, raffle prize – $25 gift certificate;
• Rudy's Subs and More, refreshments, toy collection for Adopt-a-Family, raffle prize – breakfast or lunch for two;
• Coastal Cottages, courtyard Christmas carols, snacks and drinks, raffle prize – $20 gift certificate to AMI Sarong Company;
• Advanced Insurance Brokerage, courtyard Christmas carols, snacks and drinks;
• An Island Place Realty, courtyard Christmas carols, snacks and drinks, raffle prize – $20 gift certificate to AMI Sarong Company;
• Anna Maria Island Concierge Services, courtyard Christmas carols snacks and drinks, raffle prize – gift certificate to AMI Sarong Company;
• AMI Sarong Company, courtyard Christmas carols snacks and drinks, raffle prize – gift certificate;
• White Egret/Egret's Nest, refreshments and discounts throughout the night, raffle prize – $25 store gift certificate.
• Anna Maria City Hall, refreshments;
• Pink and Navy, refreshments, raffle prize – $35 gift certificate;
• Bella By the Sea, trunk show on the deck with Cordo handbags and jewelry, raffle prize – $25 gift certificate;
• Shiny Fish Emporium, hot chocolate bar and kids games, raffle prize – $25 gift certificate;
• Dogs of the Earth, organic dog treats, raffle prize – a basket of organic dog food and toiletries;
• Anna Maria General Store and Deli, holiday drink and mini brownies, raffle prize – a bottle of wine.
• Duncan Real Estate, refreshments, and Christmas beads, raffle prize – bottle of wine and logo cozy cup;
• AMI Historical Society, refreshments, Joyful Noise choir at 6 p.m., AMI Concert Chorus and Orchestra musicians at 6:45 p.m., Christmas carols, raffle prize – city jail mug, Cat's Meow collectable and T-shirt;
• Anna Maria Island Accommodations, Inc., refreshments;
• The Flip Flop and Candy Stop, candy raffle prize – flip flop sun catcher;
• Emerson's Studio Store, raffle prize – autographed pair of Emerson's designed boxer shorts;
• Lor'Ells Hair Designs, food and beverages, raffle prize – five $20 haircuts and product basket;
• Olive Oil Outpost, mulled wine and snacks, raffle prize – gourmet treats;
• Timeless Treasures, food and drinks, raffle prize – starfish themed gift bag;
• The Island Cabana, hot buttered rum, fish and bubbles mix, raffle prize – radio controlled flying shark;
• Betsy Hills Real Estate, hot dogs and hot drinks;
• Beach Bum's, cook out, raffle prize – tandem kayak rental;
• Village Café at Rosedale, hot chocolate and ornament making, raffle prize – orange tumbler;
• Relish Vintage & Artisan Boutique, treats and drinks and 10 percent off store wide, raffle prize – signed copy of "Simple, Cheap and Chic Entertaining ... When You're Tired, Busy and on a Budget;"
• Sato Real Estate, hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps;
• Two Sides of Nature, coffee, hot chocolate and treats, raffle prize – $15 gift certificate;
• Reagan Paige, raffle prize – pashmina scarf;
• Two Scoops, hot chocolate, raffle prize – $15 gift certificate;
• Two Sides of Nature Too, hot chocolate;
• Chapae, refreshments.
The city's six lots at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard will be open for parking.