The St. Pete Shuffleboard Club opened in 1924. | Photo by @barb1962
Everyday, St. Pete is shufflin’. Pucks that is. Today 1,200+ local residents are active members of what is known as the largest and oldest shuffleboard club in the world.
The Club remains central to St. Pete. In fact, this Saturday, the club is featuring Cocktails on the Court hosted by the Museum of History in honor of their Vintage Florida Celebration.
Bringing back excitement and pride in a sport and hobby that has been underestimated, the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club offers the community more than just a 52-ft court to play on.
Since its establishment in 1924, the club has not only become a local staple for families and advocacy groups, but a place to build connections. After catching the eye of The Artillery, a young local artists group in 2005, the past time grew in popularity.
How it started 👟
While the game of shuffleboard arrived in St. Pete area in 1923, it took a year for residents to get hooked. In 1924, six local enthusiasts started the St. Petersburg Mirror Lake Park Shuffleboard Club — the world’s first exclusive club.
After its first tournament, the club gained an influx of new members, which of course demanded new courts to be added. At its peak, the club recorded havingup to5,000 active members at one point in 1963, according to Flamingo Magazine.
How it’s going 🏅
Though a drop in shuffleboard fans brought a decline in memberships, the club’s doors have remained open as they’ve served the community in different capacities — hosting community wide events as an activities center, and with old Florida weddings.
Today, more and more families and younger folks are spending their free time at the courts, and love of the sport continues to grow in the Tampa Bay area, with even new courts like Shuffle, the Heights Shuffleboard Society popping up.
Members of the club can play any time throughout the week from 5 a.m. to midnight. They also offer free admission for children. Any non-members can pay $10 for a visit. Pro tip, on Fridays you can play for free with a donation.
Stick to Your Guns | Fri., Sept. 23 | 6:30 p.m. | The Orpheum | $22 | Kick off your weekend by rocking out to heavy metal with special guests Kublai Khan, Belmont, Koyo, and Foreign Hands. 🎸
Sitting on Stacy + Jakob Nowell | Fri., Sept. 23 | 7 p.m. | Hooch & Hive, 1001 W. Cass Street| $15 | Unwind with a cocktail + enjoy live alternative rock from these California natives. 🎹
Tampa Bay Sports Card Show | Fri., Sept. 23 | All Day | Egypt Shriners, 5017 E. Washington St. | Free | Peruse and find new cards to add to your collection, as this event will feature sports cards of world renowned athletes + other trading memorabilia. 🏈
Fourth Friday | Fri., Sept. 23 | 5-7 p.m. | The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts | Free | Experience the vibrant arts + culture of the Tampa Bay area with live music from local artists, cultural programs, and a sip and stroll. 🌴
Saturday
David Spade | Sat., Sept. 24 | 8 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $45+ | Emmy-winner + comedian David Spade is in town as part of his Catch Me Inside Tour to bring an evening full of laughter + wit. 🎙️
Sunday
Chicken Yoga with Yoga Loft | Sun., Sept. 25 | 10-11 a.m. | Hotel Haya | $15 | Ditch the goats + find your zen with an instructed yoga class, featuring local chicken celeb, Charlotte, in the Valencia Ballroom. 🐔
Golden Retriever Meetup | Sun., Sept. 25 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Two Shepherds Taproom, 4813 N. Grady Ave. | Free | Make it a paw-fect weekend with a pint of ale and connecting with other local dog moms + dads to chat about your love for golden retriever dogs. 🐕
Monday
Cuban Pathways Exhibit Tour | Mon., Sept. 26 | 1:30-2 p.m. | Tampa Bay History Center | Free | Tour through 500 years of rich Cuban history + learn more about its impact on Tampa Bay’s growth over the years.
Catherine Called Birdy | Mon., Sept. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $11.50 | Watch this action-comedy film by award-winning actress, Lena Dunham, who wrote + directed the Medieval English story about a young girl’s path to growing up. 🎞️
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
Most robotic automation is complex and expensive, but Ally Robotic’s programming-free robots represent a step forward for affordable automation. | Photo provided by Ally Robotics
The year is 2022. Robotics company CEO Mitch Tolson is tasked with automating production in a popular fast food chain— and he invents a new type of robot to do it.
It’s not science fiction — Ally Robotics has created a first-of-its-kind scalable robot that bypasses the need for programming and learns by watching humans work.
Tampanians are invited to invest in robotic technology (a $114 billion market)beforeit rolls out across agriculture, construction, and manufacturing industries — the investment deadline is Thurs., Sept. 29.*
We know how to break records. According to Visit Tampa Bay, TBAY tourism has skyrocketed well past previously held records for what it being called the “Tampa Bay Effect.” Hotel bookings have officially surpassed pre-pandemic volume with an influx of $50 million dollars reported, according to Fox 13. 🏖️ (Fox 13 News)
Celebrate
Save the date for October 1 as your Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate their 30-year anniversary. Special guest rock band, Smash Mouth, will perform live for this free event to the community. Players from the team will attend and be interviewed throughout the day to share their journey as hockey players. 🏒 (Creative Loafing)
Award
Local nonprofit pioneer, Anthony Perez, was named Hispanic Man of the Year for 2022 by Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc. As a proud member of USF’s Latin Scholarship Advisory Committee, Anthony has consistently advocated for struggling youth within the community and served two terms as chairman of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council.(News Channel 8)
Health
Even heroes need help. 360 Counseling is partnering with Tampa Bay Psychology Associates’ tooffer mental health services to first responders on a monthly basis in Pinellas. First responders encounter trauma regularly and this program will provide a safe space for officials to receive counsel for mental and emotional wellness. (Tampa Bay Times)
Cause
It’s Hunger Action Month, and Feeding Tampa Bay has expanded its programs to better assist the hungry families and children in our community. This nonprofit aims to bring awareness to the heightened levels of food insecurity through distributing groceries for struggling families. 🥫 (Bay News 9)
Pets
Pound for pound. Canidae Pet Food has committed to giving a pound of kibble to the Human Society of Tampa Bay for each pound purchased. So far, 3,000 pounds of kibble have been given to dogs in need. Make a difference by donating here. 🐾
Holiday
Sundown on Sunday marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. People who observe this holiday typically enjoy apples and honey in hopes of having a sweet new year. It runs until the evening of Tues., Sept. 27. Shana Tova! (That’s Hebrew for “Have a good year!“)
List
TBAY is bursting at the seams with authors. Whether you’re seeking to learn all about Florida or need a new mystery novel to tuck in after work, check out our roundup of 15 local reads and tell us where you like to read, here. 📚
Entertainment
Back to the drawing sword. English actor, Adrian Paul, is set to lead the Sword Experience at the Rialto Theatre this Sun., Sept. 25. His swordplay instruction will educate participants on the foundations of defense and laser sword attacks. Tickets are still available here. (Tampa Bay Times)
Feel Good
Students at Steinbrenner High School are participating in the Sandy Hook initiative, “Start with Hello” week, inspiring students to greet people around them. This small act of kindness is stirring up a sense of community within the school to embrace inclusion of all students. (ABC Action News)
Travel
Experience Florida at its best. Lakeland’s Bonnet Springs Park is intended to be a place to connect with and experience the nature + history of Central Florida. Here’s a sneak peak of 168-acre park, set to open Sat., Oct. 22.*
Community
Show your support for local journalism by joining the TBAYtoday membership program. Membership has some awesome perks like exclusive birthday deals, discounts from our online shop,Six & Main + more. Plus, 100% of membership funds help support our local editors — that’s me, Bailey.Learn more + sign up. 💻
Shop
Time to feel the fall breeze + enjoy the autumn leaves with the Fall For Your City Sale happening now on Six & Main, TBAYTtoday’s online shop. Take 20% off the entire Fall For Your City Collection now through Sun., Sept. 25.
Wellness
We’ve all been there — trouble falling and staying asleep is infuriating. Your mind races, you toss and turn, and the harder you try, the harder it is to drift off.Healthycell is a new, drug-free, pill-free sleep supplement to help you fall asleep faster, sleep deeply + wake up refreshed.Use code 6AM for 20% off.*
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
Take a sip of Ology Brewery’s craft “Sensory Overload” hazy IPA and “Rainbow Colored Glasses” Berliner weisse sour. | @ology_tampa
Ology Brewery’s grand opening is upon us. Drop by 6401 N. Tampa Ave this Fri., Sept. 23 - Sun., Sept. 25 to snag a craft beer from TBAY’s new, bustling taproom experience. Get ready for food trucks, liquor to-go, and as their Instagram page hints, maybe “a little too much fun”.
Here are Ology Brewing’s hours for grand opening weekend: (and beyond)
Mon.-Tues., 4-10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat., 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Victoria.
Editor’s pick: Craving dessert after work? I’m always on the hunt for a refreshing scoop of ice cream. Check out 5 spots we recommend to get your sugar fix.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out Oxford Exchange’s new mural, here.
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.