Summer has arrived

Well, it looks like summer has arrived on Tybee. The weather has been great, hot during the day with a few scattered showers to cool things down some evenings. We have moved into summer hours, noon to 11 p.m. every day, staying open later on Friday and Saturday nights – when there are customers.

A new addition for this summer is breakfast. We're open 7-11 a.m. so early and late risers can get a tasty breakfast before they get started with their summer activities. We start with house coffee and an assortment of specialty and flavored coffees and teas. Menu selections include biscuit and croissant sandwiches, with eggs and cheese, with the option to add bacon, sausage or ham. Or choose a breakfast burrito with eggs, cheese and salsa, also with the meat option. Other items include biscuits and gravy, french toast and a fresh fruit bowl.

We have a great staff this summer, with several new staff members and several returning from previous summers. Welcome back, everyone!

We're looking forward to a great summer.

First Seafood Festival a success

Tybee's first "37th Seafood Festival" drew crowds for carnival games, food on the pier, entertainment and hours enjoying the beach. Inspired by the festival in the new movie "The Last Song" filmed on Tybee, it looks like another fun Tybee tradition has begun.

The carnival began Thursday and continued through Sunday, while the Seafood Review on the pier was held Saturday. About half a dozen Tybee restaurants offered their seafood – and non-seafood – favorites to visitors who enjoyed live entertainment and a live broadcast by a local radio station.

The only flaw to the day was a cold north wind which had everyone on the pier bundled up in jackets, beach towels or whatever they could find.

At the Lighthouse Pizza booth we had huge slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza, and delicious salads with a choice of shrimp, scallops or chicken. Back at the restaurant, visitors crowded in for the full menu, and staff was kept busy making pizzas for both locations.

Spring on Tybee!

After a winter which seemed to drag on and on, spring has arrived on Tybee Island! And what a beginning! Visitors and locals flocked to the beach to enjoy the 80-degree weather during one of the most popular weeks for spring break. Tybee residents celebrated the opening of The Last Song with a huge premier party and group viewing of the movie. And visitors filled up our newly redecorated dining room and nearly-completed Beer Garden to fill up on pizza and enjoy some Saturday entertainment.

We're expecting another great week on Tybee, with beautiful weather forecast, more people on spring break and Tybee's first Seafood Festival on Saturday, April 10. We'll be premiering several new seafood pizzas at the festival. Be sure to come by and see us on the Pier for your chance to try one.

Have a birthday coming up soon? Our first order of PizzaFest™ decorative toppings is in, with several birthday designs to choose from. Pick balloons for the big kids, dinosaurs or cartoon characters for the smaller ones. What could be better than a birthday with pizza and the beach?

New decorative toppings for pizza

We have an exciting new product, Pizza Fest™ decorative pizza toppings. These edible decorations come in designs including special occasion, holiday, sports teams and even licensed characters. We started offering them this week and, of course, the St. Patrick's Day design was a hit.

These fun designs will make every pizza into a party, whether it is for a special occasion, or just to add a little fun to dinner.

Watch our website for a list of designs we'll keep in stock, or ask when you place your order.

Dining room facelift

Just in time for spring, a brighter and softer look for the dining room. For our facelift, we replaced the old blue and white vinyl flooring with light colored ceramic tile. We added natural wood wainscoting around the room, with a darker chair rail, then painted most of the wall above with a soft green, leaving a border of our bright, signature blue. Dark teal table covers soften the look and we topped it all off with light, tropical print window treatments.

Next project is more changes on the patio.

We're looking forward to plenty of visitors as spring gets underway – starting with Tybee's St. Patrick's celebration Saturday, March 13.

Mardi Gras fun on Tybee

This was only the second year of TybeeFest's Mardi Gras celebration on Tybee, but already it's getting bigger and better. The celebration started in January, with a series of King Cake parties hosted by local businesses and individuals.

The King Cake is a special cake, decorated in Mardi Gras colors of purple, green ad gold, with a trinket, usually a small plastic baby, hidden inside. By tradition, the person who gets the baby in their slice of cake is responsible for hosting the next party.

Besides the fun, the parties helped distract everyone from the unusually cold January.

Lighthouse Pizza hosted our party on Feb. 9 and enjoyed a nice turnout, despite the rain early in the evening. Guests enjoyed Rich's special gumbo, red beans and rice and the chance to taste test a Cajun style pizza that will be on the menu soon.

The snow that hit Georgia Friday night didn't make it to Tybee but the rain didn't stop the parties Friday night. Saturday's parade enjoyed sunshine and a nice crowd of viewers.

Critz run brings visitors to Tybrisa

It was cool, gray and gloomy Saturday morning for the Critz Tybee Run Half Marathon, but the weather didn't keep runners away. Tybrisa St. was packed with runners and spectators for the annual run. Congratulations to everyone who took part.

Oops - our party is Feb. 9

Stop the presses and pull out your calendar. Our King Cake party at Lighthouse Pizza will be Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. We had a little mixup with the dates. The good news is you won't have to choose between our party and the other Wednesday night parties. You can come to them all!

See you there!

We're having a party!

As part of our Mardi Gras celebration, Lighthouse Pizza will host a King Cake party on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Come join us for some fun and get ready for Tybee's Mardi Gras on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13.

We'll have Happy Hour prices on Abita and Dixie beers, Red Beans and Rice and Rich's Gumbo, and a chance to taste-test a new Cajun pizza that we'll be adding to the menu soon.

Visit Mardi Gras Tybee for a complete schedule of events.

Countdown to Mardi Gras!

Tybee Loves a party, and we're counting down to the Mardi Gras celebration Feb. 12-13. Come join us for a street party, parade and lots of beads and fun!

Find out more at Mardi Gras Tybee.

Brrrr!

It's not supposed to be this cold on Tybee, even in January! But it looks like the cold spell is easing, and we're open with hot, delicious pizza, even when it is freezing!

Be sure to check our ad in the January Tybee Times for January specials.

Winter hours Monday through Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.