Heart eyes for days ❤️

Last-minute local ideas for Valentine’s Day

Our city is teeming with romantic possibilities. | Photo via @growgavan

There’s no dodging Cupid’s arrow — Valentine’s Day is here. Whether you’re celebrating your friendships or sugaring up your sweetheart, we’ve got last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas that will have you loving love.

🌵 Get fantastical with botanicals

If you’re quick, you might have your pick of bouquets using Floom, an online marketplace that partners with florists that deliver locally.

Or, get creative and nab a potted plant from these plant spots. Nothing says forever like a hardy succulent.

Yura Vine Bros, 1059 Water St., Tampa
Wild Roots, 1949 1st Ave. S. Unit A, St. Petersburg
Lida’s Jungle, 3101 MLK Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg

🥂 Keep spirits up

If you didn’t score reservations, don’t overthink… grab a drink. The following spots have weekday happy hours:

St. Pete Brewing Co. | Monday-Thursday, 2-5:30 p.m., and daily late nights, 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. | $1 off beers and ciders, and half-off during late nights.
Cigar City Brewing | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Smoke a stogey and drink a freshly brewed and discounted Jai Alai India pale ale.

For more options, check out our happy hour guide.

🌟 Go stargazing

It doesn’t get much more idyllic than bundling up and looking at the stars. Grab some blankets (and maybe a hot drink) and head to one of these spots away from man-made light to take in the sky.

Desoto Park | 2617 Corrine St., Tampa
Linda Pedersen Park | 6400 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill

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Today, Feb. 13

35th Annual Black History Celebration | Monday, Feb. 13 | 11 a.m. | Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa | Free | Experience the West African-inspired Kuumba Dancers and Drummers.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Synapse Summit | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $49-$399 | Chat with over 7,000 innovators, 150 speakers, 300 exhibitors, and 800 investors.
Pickleball 101 | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 6-7 p.m. | Coquina Key Park, 3595 Locust St. SE, St. Petersburg | Free | Learn the basics of everyone’s new favorite sport.
Blah Blah Blah Literary Open Mic | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Studio@620, 620 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $5 | Listen to local writers perform and join in the monthly Wordier Than Thou literary open mic.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Pitchers & Catchers First Workout | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | Free | Watch the Rays get their gloves and throwing arms ready for spring training.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Coffee with Castor | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 9-10 a.m. | Barksdale Community Center, 1801 N. Lincoln Ave., Tampa | Free | Share a cup of warm coffee with Tampa’s mayor.
The Bar Method Class | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa | Free | Tone and strengthen your body with a low-impact workout on the Riverfront Lawn.
Andrea Bocelli | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 8 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $83.75 | Listen as “the world’s most romantic voice” collaborates with the Opera Tampa Chorus.

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

Weather

66° | Sunny | 0% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:10 a.m.
Set: 6:20 p.m.

Tides
Old Tampa Bay

High: 9:48 a.m. + 8:19 p.m.
Low: 3:25 a.m. + 11:59 a.m.

Clearwater Beach

High: 5:13 a.m. 3:57 p.m.
Low: 9:14 a.m.

Sports

St. Pete High School’s Huggins-Stengel baseball facilities are getting a facelift courtesy of the Rays. The team is upgrading the Green Devils’ field, pitching mound, and batting cages for spring training. Fun fact: Babe Ruth + Joe DiMaggio practiced on the school’s field. ⚾️ (WTSP)

Plan Ahead

What’s better than brunch with friends? Try Brunched 2023 — a must-attend sampling of Tampa Bay’s top restaurants like Ava, Bulla, Datz, Water + Flour, and much more at Tampa River Center (402 W. Lauren St., Tampa). The event is this Saturday, Feb. 18, but you can score an early discounted ticket. 🥞 (ABC Action News)

Announced

Make a splash this spring. Adventure Island’s (10001 McKinley Dr., Tampa) Skaka-Laka Shores, a new interactive splash zone that features 25 individual slides, fountains, and other components, debuts at the park’s Saturday, March 4 reopening. Also coming back are the Rapids Racer + Wahoo Remix areas. 💦 (That’s So Tampa)

Kids

Have an overstuffed closet? Donate school uniform-appropriate clothes to help dress Alexander Elementary School students for the rest of the year. Items can be dropped off through Friday, Feb 17 at six Tampa city facilities like the TPD Headquarters Building (411 N. Franklin St.).

Arts

Master glassblower + St. Pete local Duncan McClellan’s new “Clearly Collaborative” showcases the works of nine artists of various backgrounds. Have your mind blown for free at Florida CraftArt (501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) through March 11. 🖼 (Tampa Bay Times)

Giveaway

Run the Skyway 10k dash for no cash at all. Enter to win one of two registrations to the Sun., March 12 race, VIP tent access to an open bar, buffet-style grub, games, and comfy seating. The contest ends on February 26. 🏃

Seasonal

Valentine’s Day may be tomorrow, but it’s not too late to order that special someone a bouquet of fresh flowers. Don’t have time to cross reference all of the florists in town? Enter: Floom, an online marketplace that partners with talented florists that deliver locally. Shop Valentine’s Day arrangements. 💐 *

Eat

Make tonight pizza night. Monteli Frozen Pizza is two for $10 at Publix GreenWise Market through Wednesday, Feb. 15. *

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Putting our furry friends first 🏥

Two new urgent clinics for animals open up in Tampa Bay

Benny and Jerry most definitely approve your next trip to Picnic Island Beach Dog Park. | Photo by @bennyjerrythebassets | Photo via @bennyjerrythebassets

America’s most dog-friendly city, St. Pete, is getting two new urgent clinics for all animals, each bringing a unique approach to pet care.

Beacon Emergency Veterinary Hospital | 2909 4th Street North, St. Pete

The practice opens its doors today, Feb. 13, and will remain open every day, including the major holidays. It’s actually St. Pete’s first 24/7 pet care facility, as first reported by I Love the Burg. This ER’s primary focus is life-threatening concerns.

UrgentVet St. Pete | 1470 66th Street North, St. Pete

UrgentVet offers routine check-ups, vaccines, and minor surgeries. The practice opens this Thurs., Feb. 16.

UrgentVet also has locations in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Westchase — making the one in St. Pete the fourth.

While there are a handful of pet hospitals in the area — these two newbies are looking to fill the gap between regular veterinarians + emergency care.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brad.

Editor’s pick: Speaking of pets, how about that Woofball Puppy Bowl? I don’t have a dog, but I went with a friend and watched his dog Manny scurry about The Dog Bar in St. Pete + it gave me puppy fever.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We rounded up 10 farmers markets in the area and broke them down.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brad Haft, Bailey LeFever, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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.

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