Five Things We Learned on Patch this Week

: Let’s be honest: the beach and ice cream were made for each other. There’s a perfect balance that lies in the smoldering heat of the Florida sun combined with soft, cold ice cream. Fortunately, there is no shortage of icy treat vendors along the beaches. From the tip of the south to the traffic in the north, the Pinellas Beaches are crawling with ice cream serving establishments.

: Cali-bred singer/songwriter Zach Seufert moved to Florida with his family when he was just nine years old. To make the adjustment more bearable, Zach’s parents bought him a drum kit that he described as “amazing.”  Zach spent the next seven years learning the ins and outs of rhythm and percussion. He was hooked on the music. 

: Meredith Corson and Dan Doubleday, both residents of Treasure Island, own and operate Sanding Ovations. The company is held in high esteem with sand sculptors and fans worldwide. Corson and Doubleday travel to hundreds of events each year to showcase their unmatched abilities. The Sanding Ovations Master Cup is an invitational competition that brings forth the best in the business. Artists spend hours upon hours prepping their masterpieces for judging.

: Want the feel of a backyard barbecue without the cooking or cleanup? Nestled under palm trees, Smiley's Snack Shack is on the beach side of Gulf Boulevard. Opened this summer, the place is where guests can rest in a hammock or unwind watching their favorite team, from an Adirondack chair. The sides of the sunny yellow snack shack hold flat screen TVs. For patrons who prefer to run and play, the eatery offers its own mini-playground in the shade.