6AM City In-house

Calling all explorers...

A new vision for ZooTampa at Lowry Park
5- South America riverfront.jpg
A new link to the Hillsborough River would allow visitors to arrive by river taxi.
| Rendering by ZooTampa at Lowry Park
A new era is dawning for ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The longtime Tampa Bay institution is planning a $125 million expansion that would transform the feel of the park over the next 20 years.

Notably, the zoo proposes adding a link to the Hillsborough River, allowing explorers young and old to arrive via water taxi. The riverfront connection would be integrated into the new South American-themed realm — complete with sea lions, giant river otters, jaguars, and other wildlife.

The zoo also would add entertainment, retail, and dining options to the zone for visitors and the public alike to enjoy on the Riverwalk.

South American realm

The new South American realm will include sea lions, giant river otters, and other wildlife.

Rendering by ZooTampa at Lowry Park


The zoo is already working on a new Manatee Rescue that will educate Tampanians on the gentle giants. Large glass panels will allow vsitors to take in the teams’ rescue work in real time and watch our fellow mammals as they recover. Plus, the zoo plans to stock the realm’s “riverbank oasis” with lots of jellyfish and playful otters.

Manatee

The Manatee Rescue will allow visitors to watch as the team provides medical care.

Rendering by ZooTampa at Lowry Park


Visitors will also interact with stingrays in a new habitat next fall. Guests will touch and feed stingrays and, even better, wade into the pool to see the creatures up close.

ZooTampa also plans to reimagine both the Africa and Asia realms of the current complex by expanding the habitats and adding endangered species like Malayan tigers, Masai giraffes, and white rhinos.

Leaders predict the expansion will boost Hillsborough County’s economic activity by 42 percent (to $274 million) and bring in almost $1 million in additional tax revenue annually.

Read more about the upcoming plans here.
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Today, Dec. 16
  • Putt The Pier: Holiday Edition | Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 4-9 p.m. | St. Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | $12 | Be one of the first to play 18 holes of putt-putt golf on the St. Pete Pier.
  • Live Jazz Date Night | Friday, Dec. 16, Friday, Dec. 30 | 6-8 p.m. | Fairgrounds St. Pete, 800 28th St. S., St. Petersburg | $25-$32 | Dazzle your date with a night of live jazz performed by local jazz saxophonist Henry Ashwood.
  • Christmas Contigo | Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 8-10 p.m. | Stageworks Theatre, 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., #151, Tampa | $15-$50 | Join the Delgado-Piñeiras as they fall in love, reconnect, rediscover traditions, and prepare a Noche Buena.
  • Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker | Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18 | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa | $100-$115 | This family-friendly favorite takes audiences into Clara and Drosselmeyer’s fantastical world and some of ballet’s most famous music.
Saturday, Dec. 17
  • The Dalí’s Fashion Design Runway & Awards Show at Gibbs | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S., St. Petersburg | Free | The Dalí Museum invites you to experience the dreams of talented teen designers as they walk the runway in their very own fashion designs.
  • Bowzer’s Holiday Rock ‘N’ Roll Party | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater | $41.75-$118.75 | Jon Bauman of Sha Na Na returns for his 14th annual Holiday Rock ‘N’ Roll party starring legendary artists Herman’s Hermits and more.
  • St. Petersburg Opera | Saturday, Dec. 17, Tuesday, Dec. 20, Thursday, Dec. 22 | 8 p.m. | Opera Central, Preis Hall, 2145 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $75 | The opera presents Holiday Sparkle, featuring Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” sung in English with a 20-piece orchestra.
Sunday, Dec. 18
  • Bagels, Lox, Tefillin | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 9:30 a.m. | South Tampa, Tampa | Free | A morning of prayer followed by brunch and a living Torah video.
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 2 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $49.50-$99.50 | The show will feature old and new songs alike from this progressive rock band.
  • Hannukah in the City | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 5:30 p.m. | South Straub Park, 250 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg | Free | This year’s theme is Fire and Ice with a giant ice menorah, liquid fireworks by Spheres, and more.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 69º | Sunny | 3% chance of rain
Sunrise + sunset
  • Rise: 7:14 a.m.
  • Set: 5:36 p.m.
Tides
Old Tampa Bay
  • High: 7:59 a.m. + 9:40 p.m.
  • Low: 2:40 a.m. + 2:54 p.m.
Clearwater Beach
  • High: 4:27 a.m. + 6:04 p.m.
  • Low: 11:13 a.m.
Development
  • Coke Florida just opened a $10.2 million sales and distribution center in the Burg. The 22,000-sqft building (9300 16th St. N.) will employ more than 140 people and serve more than 3,500 customers. 🥤 (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Sports
  • St. Pete just started reviewing submitted plans for the Tropicana Field site, but it appears the Rays may still be interested in making the move to Tampa. Renderings shown at a recent meeting with city leaders envision a new domed waterfront stadium in Ybor City. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Holiday
  • Hanukkah sameach. This Sunday evening (Dec. 18) marks the beginning of Hanukkah — the Festival of Lights that lasts for eight days. Celebrate by attending A Night of Lights.
Open
  • Ready to get into paddle boarding? Urban Kai just opened up a retail and rental shop next to Lassing Park in Old Southeast. The shop will sell and rent equipment like paddle boards, kayaks + loan out dolly carts for bringing gear to the park. (I Love the Burg)
Drink
  • Paging all Cru devotees. The mega-popular bottle shop is opening up a wine garden, Wine on Water, in Water Street Tampa early next year. The modern neighborhood spot will serve more than 500 selections + offer educational classes. 🍷 (That’s So Tampa)
  • A new drive-thru coffee shop is coming to Gulfport. Annex Coffee House will brew Kahwa beans out of the former Two Dads location. Owners have not yet announced a start date. (I Love the Burg)
Plan ahead
  • This Sunday, Dec. 18 is your last chance to take the Winter Village Express. The decked-out TECO Line Streetcar makes its way from Downtown’s Whiting Station to Ybor and back on an hour-long excursion with a holiday sing-a-long, holiday trivia, and free milk and cookies. Book tickets online. 🚂
Shop
  • It’s ok if you waited until the last minute to shop this season. There’s still time to shop items from our online shop Six & Main. We’re talking cocktail glasses, shirts, candles, mugs, and more. Our gift guides make shopping easy. 🛍️
Try This
Finance
Outdoors
  • Still shopping for the hunter or angler in your life? Sportsman’s Box, the leading gear discovery service for outdoorsmen, is adding a free $100 credit for all new members through Saturday, Dec. 31. Choose from nine leading brands with your first Sportsman’s Box and claim your free gift. 🎣 *
Travel
  • Love nature? Take the ~1 hour away drive to Lakeland’s Bonnet Springs Park — the new public park full of century-old trees and seasonal Florida foliage. Pro tip: Make a full weekend of it by booking a VRBO stay. 🌳*
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6AM City In-house

Enjoy these weekend festivities

Tampa Bay winter events
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Take in the lights from the Riverwalk or by boat. | Photo by @tampariverwalk
Ready for a very merry Tampa Bay winter weekend?

Some of the area’s largest celebrations are finally here — from Hanukkah menorah lightings to a St. Pete Santacon. And we have a couple more can’t miss additions to your weekend.
  • Saturday, Dec. 17, is Tampa’s annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. Watch the judging at Sparkman Wharf, or take in the lit flotilla aboard the Bayrocket, or from your staked claim on a spot on the Riverwalk. Better yet, register your boat to participate here. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at the southern tip of Davis Islands and winds its way through the Convention Center basin and up to the Heights. There, boats turn around and head to Sparkman Wharf.
  • St. Pete’s resident bungalow heaven, Kenwood, is hosting Winter in the ‘Wood. Stop by Seminole Park (2900 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg) on Dec. 18 from 2-7 p.m. to shop for baked goods and other local creations, take in musical acts, and meet with Mr. C. on important business.
P.S. Joining the parade aboard your decked-out charter? We need to see pics. Send them here.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Bailey.

Editor’s pick: I vividly remember going to Lowry Park as a kid. Especially the sky lift. What’s your favorite memory from growing up in Tampa Bay? Let us know.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Dive into Tampa Bay’s most popular Google searches this year, here.
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Editorial: Brad Haft, Bailey LeFever, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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