Things to Do, Places to See, People to Meet

Each week, Patch will run a feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off, and more. 

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

Want to suggest a list? Submit your idea in the comment box. 

This week's list includes fun exercise options.

1. An African dance class takes place each Saturday at noon at Dancin' Motion School of the Arts, 127 W. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon. The cost is $10 per class for 18 and up, $5 for children. Call (813) 784-9991.

2. Ballet instructor Alice Holden Bock offers master ballet classes Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Dance Center, 161 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon. To register, call (813) 684-4282

3. Just Ride Bicycles Inc., 13431 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia, offers weekly bike rides Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. Bicyclists can ride 20 to 30 miles at their own pace. The business also hosts mountain bike rides each Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at local parks. Bicyclists should gather at Just Ride Bicycles to join the rides since the location varies each week. Call (813) 381-3907.

4. The Brandon Senior Softball League is looking for men and women age 60 and older. The league plays noncompetitive games at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sydney-Dover Park, 1200 Sydney-Dover Road, Dover. Call (813) 326-0432.

5. The Women's Ministry at First Baptist Church of Brandon is offering aerobics classes for women, taught by Rebecca Piatt, Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in Room D-212 at the church, 216 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon. A donation is suggested. Call (813) 689-1204.

6. The Bay Area Twirlers will offer a square dancing class Thurdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brandon Community Center, 502 E. Sadie St., Brandon. Call (813) 662-1012.

7. Stroller Strides offers fitness for mom and fun for baby. The hour-long classes include power walking and cardio training, intertwined with strengthening stations where moms can use exercise resistance tubing, the stroller and the environment. The first class is free.  Classes are offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 9 a.m.  at the Osprey Club in FishHawk Ranch. Contact Natalie Johnson at (813) 952-7277 or e-mail nataliejohnson@strollerstrides.net for more information.

8. Asana Yoga of Brandon, 1252 Kingsway Road, Brandon, will host a session in Yoga Nidra Deep Relaxation Sunday, Feb. 20 from 3 to 4 p.m. The cost is $12. Learn to still the mind by experiencing deep relaxation through Yoga Nidra: "yogic sleep with awareness," a guided meditation practice.  The class begins with Pranayama (breathwork) with a bit of yoga philosophy woven in, followed by Yoga Nidra while lying on your back. Come with a sankalpa, or a statement of positive intention or resolve, in mind. Any level of yoga practitioner is welcome. Yoga Nidra teaches meditators to calm, center and focus the mind. Call (813) 390-3887.

9. Free classes in Falun Gong meditation and exercise are offered Sundays at 9 a.m. at Paul Sanders Park, 3319 S. Kings Ave., Brandon. Call (813) 777-9939.

10. A Bollywood Fusion Indian dance class will be held every Sunday for six weeks starting at 2 p.m. for ages 4 and up at the Dancin' Motion School of the Arts, 127 W. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon. Bollywood dance is the dance form used in the Indian films. It is a mixture of numerous styles including belly-dancing, kathak, Indian folk, Western popular, modern, jazz, hip-hop and other. The cost is $65 for a six-week session. Call (813) 784-9991.

11. A men's basketball league for FishHawk Ranch residents over the age of 25 meets twice a week on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Osprey Club basketball court. The entry fee of $25 covers the cost of team shirts. Contact Scott Tashman at (813) 684-6884 or e-mail stashman@tampabay.rr.com.

12. will offer karate for ages 5 to adult Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. An advanced class is offered Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $30 for facility members/ $60 for program members. Registration begins the first day of the month prior to the session. Call (813) 684-1371.

13. Dancin' Motion School of the Arts, 127 W Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon is offering a Belly Dance World Fusion class with styles including Egyptian, Gypsy and Spanish Fusion, Wednesdays at 8:15 p.m. for one hour. The classes are for ages 10 and up. The cost for six week is $65. The price of a drop-in class is $15. Call (813) 784-9991.