a test and a discount!

Well, the gang here at Bobe's Hobby House is giving me a hard time this week, because I ordered too many new puzzles! We don't have room for them on the shelf, so I have to do something about it! So, as a test to see if anyone out there is paying attention, come in before 9/26/09 and receive a 25% discount on any regular priced puzzles, just for mentioning this blog! And if you're not into puzzles, at least let us know you read this, and maybe we'll try some different discounts down the line!

Back to School with Books from Hawsey's!

I'm back once again to tell you about some of my favorite places in Pensacola. It's back to school time around here, and that always makes me think of books. And when I think of books, I think of Hawsey's Book Index on Navy Boulevard! Hawsey's is the biggest used book store in town, and a great place to shop for bargains. But it's not just used books...

Hawsey's started in June of 1968 as Hawsey's Index. Back then they carried quite a variety of things. They carried furniture, jewelry, and among other things, books. The "Index" name came from the idea of the index is where you go to look for things! Over the years, the books took over, and the other parts of the business were phased out. It started with fun reading materials, and just expanded to include books to relax, and to open your mind for knowledge. The idea now is that it's a family book store with a little something for everyone. From "Read to Me" books for the kids, to things that appeal to Grandma and Grandpa. Starting in 1980 they even expanded to include some new books as well as the used books they have always been known for.

Some of the favorite sections include Cookbooks, Arts & Crafts, Large Print Books, Books on CD, Science Fiction, Mystery, Kids, Classics, and much, much more. And one of the always popular sections in this area is of course Military History. They also carry books by local authors, and books on local area interests such as the Blue Angels, Florida Lighthouses, and much more.


















On the subject of back to school, Hawsey's is a great place to shop for all those required reading books! They are very good about trying to keep in stock the books for the required reading at all the local schools. And if they can't find you a used copy of the required book, they offer a 10% discount on new classics for students' required reading as well.


At Hawsey's you can buy, sell, or trade a wide variety of books! They have a great selection of books at great prices. And as a special deal for a limited time, if you mention this blog to the folks at Hawsey's, they will give you a 10% discount on your purchase as a one time special. This only applies to new purchases, not to trades or credits. So tell them Mike Bobe sent you! And support your local businesses!

Hawsey's Book Index

803 Navy Boulevard

Tuesday through Saturday 9AM-5PM

850-453-1430

Pensacola History on You Tube

Thanks again to the folks at VisitPensacola.com I have a few new videos to share. I had mentioned the great history around Pensacola, and this video from WUWF, Next Exit History, gives a great short overview. And yes, that is Emmitt Smith as the Sports hero from Pensacola! Looks like plenty of other great videos out there as well, so check them out!

Twitter and Pensacola

I am in the process of joining the tech revolution. I still don't even understand everything yet, but I'm giving it a good shot. It all started with the website for Bobe's Hobby House. Then I added a facebook page for myself, and for Bobe's Hobby House. Now I've joined Twitter for Bobe's Hobby House (@bobeshobby). What's next? I just don't know yet.

On both Facebook and Twitter, I've run into other interesting organizations, like Visit Pensacola. This is a website run by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. They are trying to reach 1559 followers (#raceto1559) on their twitter account (@VisitPensacola). For those who don't know the history of the area, there's quite a lot to know. But what's being celebrated this year is the 450th anniversary of Pensacola. We lay claim to being the oldest European settlement in North America. St. Augustine only beats us because the first Pensacola settlement was washed away by a hurricane. Pensacola was not re-established until after St. Augustine. Anyway, on Saturday August 15 at 9:00 AM there will be a re-enactment of Don Tristan De Luna's landing, along with other celebrations. Check out Celebrate Pensacola for more info.

Tall Ships in Pensacola

Well, it's a little late to tell you this now, but this past week Pensacola had a visit from the Spanish Navy's training ship, the Juan Sebastian de Elcano. This is the third largest tall ship in the world. They spent a week in the port of Pensacola, and were offering tours to the general public. I went down last Thursday to take the tour, but did not have the time to wait in the extremely long lines! Pensacola went all out for the visit, and there were Spanish flags flying all along Palafox street downtown. The Blue Angels did a flyover once the weather cooperated this weekend. This is just one of the kinds of events that pop up down here on a fairly regular basis.

For any of you who were fortunate enough to take the tour of the ship, and want something to remember it by, we just got in the model kit of the Elcano at Bobe's Hobby House! Come check it out!

Relay for Life

A couple of weeks ago I participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. OK, so this is not really just a Pensacola thing. And there are actually several of these events in the area. But you know what? It's a great event, and I would encourage you to participate in any of them, wherever you are!

The Relay for Life is a fund raising event run by the American Cancer Society. As I said, they run them all over the area, and all over the country. Here are the basics. People and businesses form Teams for the Relay. These teams try to raise money for the event in an incredible variety of ways. The events are held typically at a school or college, using their Track to hold the event. The night of the event there is a dinner held to celebrate Cancer Survivors. The Survivors are given special purple Survivor T-shirts. At 6:00PM on Friday night is the first lap. This lap is for all the Survivors. It is very powerful to see the sea of Purple Shirts in this first lap! Each team has to keep at least 1 walker on the track for the 24 hours until the event ends. In reality the track is pretty full throughout the event.

The one exception is Friday night at 9:00PM. This is when the Luminaria ceremony is held. The Luminaria are another fund raiser for the event. The Luminaria are small bags with a candle inside that line the track edges. The bags are available for any donation. You then write the name of either someone who is a Cancer Survivor, or in memory of a Cancer Victim. Just before 9:00 the candles are all lit. At 9:00 for the ceremony, all other lights at the track are turned off, so that the Luminaria are the only lighting. A lone Bagpiper makes a single trip around the track playing "Amazing Grace". It is a very moving moment. There are a few other speeches and songs , and then the regular event resumes.

So how is money raised? There are an incredible variety of ways! Many of the businesses have specials throughout the year to raise money for the event. For instance, my team is from Angel's Garden, a wonderful little boutique gift shop on 12th avenue. They have a great Spiced Cider mix they sell, and all the proceeds go to the ACS. There are many dining events where proceeds are donated. The night of the event, many teams set up food booths. Others offer neck massages, or raffle items. Track Markers (signs) are for sale from the teams as well. This gives people or businesses a chance to express their support for the event. It's really a very creative and enjoyable event, and all for a good cause!

You may ask what is a Cancer Survivor? Basically if you have had any form of Cancer and are still alive, you are a Survivor! The last statistic I heard said that 1 in 3 people will have some form of Cancer. So chances are excellent that you or someone you know will face Cancer. Cancer has definitely touched my life. My Mother lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer. My Father is a Prostate Cancer Survivor. My Wife is a Thyroid Cancer Survivor. There are other cases in my family as well.

So, please, if you have any interest in participating in this event, call your local American Cancer Society office for more information. Even if you don't want to get involved in the teams or fundraising, just go out and walk the track next time you see the Relay advertised. There is no cost to get in, and you can have a great time very inexpensively, and support a great cause.

To find a Relay for Life near you, visit the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life websites.

Futurevisions!

OK, so today I get to do my first actual business review. Well, here goes...















Many times, when people come in my store, Bobe's Hobby House, they say that they feel like a kid in a candy store. I understand that sentiment, because I have found a place that does that for me! Futurevisions is a great little hole-in-the-wall comic book store on Pace Boulevard, one block south of Jackson Street. Richard Woodard started this store back in 1995 as a sci-fi/fantasy/horror specialty book store. He quickly found that there just was not enough market in Pensacola to support such a specialized store. He expanded into comic books, then action figures, and toys. I would guess he probably has the largest selection of action figures available on the Gulf Coast!





























Rich told me that it took about 3 years to get established with the business. About the third year he bought the building. From 1998 to 2004, business was great. Then Ivan came. Hurricane Ivan really changed the community. The current economy makes things tough as well. Still, Rich does this because he loves it. As a kid, Rich was into comics, but was unable to afford the toys and comics he sells today.





Rich still carries a pretty good selection of the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books that got him started in the business as well. And as you can see from the pictures, he has some great figurines available in his display cases. And where else can you see a life size Rat Fink?




So if you have ANY interest in comic books, action figures, or even sci-fi, fantasy, or horror books, you owe it to yourself to go check out Future Visions! They are at the corner of Pace & La Rua, next to the Hula Moon Tattoo studio. Or call Rich at 850-470-0360. And tell him I sent you!

Support your local favorites, before it's too late!

Yesterday I was working on some stories for this blog. Making a list of some of the businesses, events, and places that I would like to cover. I had lunch at the Reverie bakery downtown (which was GREAT) and had started working on soem of the info I would like to cover. Last night I was headed to a meeting of the Panhandle Miniature Figure Society at John's Models in Cantonment. I always stop for dinner somewhere on the way out there. I was going to go by my favorite Ice Cream place in Pensacola, the Ice Cream Club on Nine Mile Road. I decided not to, because my wife would be upset if I went without her. I figured I would use my blog as an excuse to take her out there and do a story on them. Well, I apparently waited too long. I learned at my meeting that the Ice Cream Club closed down. I was very depressed.
This brings me to my point for today. If there are places you like to shop, places you like to eat, or places you just like to hang out, SUPPORT THEM! If you don't, they may just go away like the Ice Cream Club did to me. Don't count on them always being there whenever you get around to it. Don't take them for granted. Patronize them. Buystuff from them. Tell your friends about them. Do whatever you can to promote them. That's what this blog is all aboout. Trying to help promote those places that I like to shop, eat, or just hang out. That way, maybe tehy'll still be there next time when I want to go.

Introduction

Hello,
My name is Mike Bobe, and I want to introduce you to my home town. Pensacola, Florida is a great place to live, or to visit. I have lived here most of my life. I have also lived in Jackson,MS, Gainesville, FL, New Orleans, LA, and the Dallas,TX area. But Pensacola is my home, and I'm glad to be here.

My goal with this blog is to introduce you to some of MY favorite things about Pensacola. I am president of Bobe's Hobby House. We have people who travel to our store from all over the country, and sometimes all over the world. I often get asked what else is there to do around here? Well, this gives me the opportunity to pass along some suggestions. I will be posting about favorite stores, restaurants, museums, activities and more. I hope you like my suggestions, and if you have some to pass on to me, feel free to do so!

More soon!
Mike