Things To Do In SW Florida

It was technique, says two-time James Beard Award winner Chef Michael Mina, that distinguished Bourbon Steak nearly 20 years ago when the first location opened in Scottsdale, Arizona.

That and fun.

At the time, Mina was known mostly for AQUA, his then two-Michelin-starred venue on the West Coast. Mina wanted to shatter that formality a bit.

And so instead of something staid-and-steakhouse like a bread basket, he debuted a trio of duck fat fries. Customers received the crisp, complimentary welcome of “three different flavors of french fries with three different sauces, right when they sit down.”

Guests of Bourbon Steak’s new 10th location, set to open midsummer at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, will be greeted in the same savory manner. The venue will replace Shula’s Steakhouse, which closed its doors on June 15 after a 25-year run.

“It’s what people have found at Bourbon Steak from the beginning: that we always wanted to have a little fun with it.”

The Swan and Dolphin says Mina, who’s been cooking in Vegas for nearly 30 years, is an ideal location for Bourbon Steak for some similar reasons. read more

Royal Caribbean is giving three of its ships face-lifts with revamped pool decks, new dining options and modernized amenities — including Port Canaveral-bound Harmony of the Seas.

The company’s third Oasis-class ship, which entered service in 2016 and is set to arrive in Florida in August 2026, will feature a new Caribbean-inspired pool deck, a refreshed adults-only solarium, laser tag, arcade upgrades and fresh dining options: The Lime & Coconut, El Loco Fresh and Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. Upgrade plans also include new ways to stay like the Ultimate Family Suite and an expansion at the largest Casino Royale in the company’s fleet.

Harmony was the first Oasis-class ship to incorporate the 10-story twisting dry slide The Ultimate Abyss. In addition, the ship boasts three high-speed waterslides, a zip line, FlowRider surf simulators and the Bionic Bar with robotic bartenders.

Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship which entered service in 2016, will receive a refreshed pool deck with private casitas, a new whirlpool, the Pesky Parrot bar and accommodation upgrades such as the Ultimate Family Suite and Panoramic Suite. Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom-class ship that debuted in 2007, will return to service with the Royal Escape Room experience, a reimagined pool deck with more casitas, The Lime & Coconut, a new-to-ship Starbucks and new dining options at El Loco Fresh and Izumi Teppanyaki. read more

By MAE ANDERSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The trade disputes involving global economic powerhouses such as the U.S. and China are being felt even in such distinctly local places as your regional amusement park.

Families who balk at the cost of a summer vacation at big amusement parks like Disney World favor trips to regional parks, which typically are within driving distance, so expensive flights aren’t necessary. But if tariffs lead to economic uncertainty, they may just stay home.

For park owners, tariffs could subject them to extra costs that their customers might not think about. Parts of the rides are made of imported steel that’s currently subject to tariffs. Those prizes and toys people win after they shoot basketballs into a hoop? They usually come from China, which has been subject to varying tariffs.

So far this year, however, there’s been no letdown.

“We’ve had good crowds, and everyone seems excited to be here,” said Brian Hartley, vice president of Playland’s Castaway Cove, in Ocean City, New Jersey, which boasts 30 rides, miniature golf, go-karts, and other beachfront attractions. “As long as the weather is good, they’re ready to come down.” read more

By MARC LEVY, Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel said Wednesday they have finalized their “historic partnership,” a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year-and-a-half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker.

The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it.

It also forced Nippon Steel to expand the deal, including adding a so-called “golden share” provision that gives the federal government a say in company decisions that affect domestic steel production and the power to appoint a board member.

“Together, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel will be a world-leading steelmaker, with best-in-class technologies and manufacturing capabilities,” the companies said. read more

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet

Mykail James is not ashamed to call herself a “recovering overspender.”

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The Washington, D.C.-based financial educator, who also goes by “the boujie budgeter” online, says she used to spend too much money on splurges like concert tickets and clothing.

But today, she has her spending under control thanks to a set of rules she follows.

One rule? She gives herself a limit for how much she can spend in certain categories. She can buy a concert ticket, but not if it costs more than $45, for example.

She also keeps her spending money separate from her bill-paying money. That way, she has a set amount dedicated to “fun” each month. Once it runs out, she can’t spend any more. read more