Meet Manatee's First Baby Of 2011

Leah Marie Sheehan was born at 12:33 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Just call her Baby New Year. Leah Marie Sheehan, who arrived at 12:33 a.m. Saturday at Manatee Memorial Hospital, is Manatee County's first baby of 2011, a hospital spokesperson said. Parents Rachel and Aaron Sheehan and the staff at the hospital's Family BirthPlace welcomed Leah Marie, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. Being the first baby of 2011 has its privileges. Katie Powers, Manatee Memorial's Lactation Consultant & Perinatal Educator from MOMM's Place and Family BirthPlace staff, presented the Sheehan family with a host of welcoming gifts donated by local companies. The haul included:

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Downtown Bradenton Rings In 2011

Check out some of the sights from the inaugural "Countdown Downtown."

Downtown Bradenton showed it knows how to party on New Year's Eve. The inaugural "Countdown Downtown" drew hundreds of revelers Friday night to Old Main Street for an outdoor party that featured food and drink vendors, kids' attractions and games, live music from the band Shineola and a lighted ball drop at midnight. Check out the accompanying photo gallery to try to spot yourself in the crowd or to see what you may have missed.

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What's Your New Year's Resolution?

Check out what Bradentonians are pledging for 2011.

What's your New Year's resolution? With 2011 right around the corner, Bradenton Patch took to the streets to find out what local residents have in store for the new year. Check out the accompanying video to see what they had to say.

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Bar Tab

Dining, Drinking and Rocking at Mattison’s Riverside

Mattison’s in downtown Bradenton is fine dining and wining with a spectacular view of the Manatee River. It’s a live music hot spot, too.

There's so much to Mattison's Riverside. Consider: The restaurant is upscale dining at its best in downtown Bradenton. Situated on the historic city pier in the Manatee River, it offers spectacular views of the downtown waterfront, Green Bridge and moored boats. Chef Paul Mattison's renowned dining menu, around 200 wines and an immaculate interior make it the perfect locale for a romantic dinner – really, the only such spot in downtown Bradenton. But there's more. Step outside the restaurant, past the interior bar and onto the enclosed patio. Although it still retains Mattison's signature sophistication, the music is cranked up a notch on the weekends and the crowd is lively. With nightly live music that tilts toward rock, southern blues …

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Holiday Musings

Try Creamsicle Martini, White Chili For Your New Year's Menu

A creative local hostess shares tips and recipes for ringing in 2011.

With all the shopping, wrapping, opening and returning (maybe not all the returning) of Christmas behind us, the next biggie looming on the social calendar ahead is New Year's. For those who hesitate venturing out New Year's Eve amidst the loco drivers filled with a little too much holiday cheer, the New Year's Day party is a sane alternative. About four years ago, Bradenton's Sondra Sharff, a willowy blonde and single mother of two boys, discovered the fun of hosting a New Year's Day party for her friends and is willing to share her tips and recipes. Three of her annual menu "musts" are martinis (a different variety each year), bloody Marys and white chili. This year her martini of the year is the Creamsicle, made of one third of each of …

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