Today’s Forecast

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How to prep for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Are you ready to cheer your heart out? | Photo via Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding

The bleachers goin’ up in Downtown St. Pete can only mean one thing...it’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg time.

This year’s high-octane race runs from Friday, March 3-Sunday, March 5 — with vehicles lapping Al Lang Stadium, The Dalí Museum, and other iconic waterfront spots in the 1.8-mile circuit.

Here’s a few deets to get prepped for this weekend’s festivities — HUGE IndyCar fan or not.

Grandstand seats are still available. But you can also set up camp in the Mahaffey Theater Courtyard, Pioneer Park, Horse Solider Bourbon Waterside Club, or Stella Artois Party Pit with general admission access. Check out the seating guide.
There’s a range of tickets to choose from. Grandstand tickets start at $95 for one day, while single-day tickets run from $25 to $60.

Copy of DSC00868.jpg — May we also suggest bringing an umbrella, hat, and deffo sunglasses.
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Photo via Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding

Food and drink aren’t allowed inside the event. But there’s ample food trucks, drink stations, and goodies to try. We recommend a classic, massive lemonade.
Parking is available at the Tropicana Field lot for $15. Shuttles will run to-and-fro the lot. Otherwise, parking Downtown will likely be difficult. Consider taking the SunRunner, St. Petersburg Downtown Looper, carpooling, or booking an Uber ride in advance.
Check out the map + make a plan to enjoy every ounce of the festival.
Want more Grand Prix action? Check out the flag raising with St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch, Party in the Park in North Straub Park, or lace up those tennies for the Wellcare Ambetter Health 5K on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track.
Make some reservations for the weekend now. We recommend Cassis, Bella Brava, or City Editor Bailey’s fave, Doc Ford’s.

🗓️ EVENTS 🗓️

Today, March 2

Florida Strawberry Festival | Thursday, March 2-Sunday, March 12 | Times vary | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City | $4-$8 | Celebrate good times with rides, concerts, and plenty of fair food.
Annabel Monaghan | Thursday, Mar. 2 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | $6.71-$20.23 | Annabel Monaghan answers questions about her book “Nora Goes Off Script” and signs copies.
114 Years of Broadway | Thursday, Mar. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater | $18-$39 | Enjoy tunes from The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Wicked,Mamma Mia!, and other classics.

Friday, March 3

The Life Every Voice: New Play Festival at the James Museum | Friday, Mar. 3-Sunday, Mar. 5 | Times vary | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | $25-$100 | Meet playwrights, listen in on panels, and watch five brand-new plays.
Friends of the Seminole Heights Library Book Sale | Friday, Mar. 3-Saturday, Mar. 4 | Times vary | Seminole Heights Branch Library, 4711 N. Central Ave., Tampa | Free | Browse and purchase pre-loved titles in support of the library.
Rock the Park | Friday, Mar. 3 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa | Free | Rock out to performances by EarthTonez, The Urbane Cowboys, and Selena Ferrer.
Blake Shelton | Friday, Mar. 3 | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $36-$1,200 | Blake Shelton takes the stage — joined by special guests Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean.
Girls Gotta Eat | Friday, Mar. 3 | 8 p.m. | Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa | $39.50-$49.50 | Catch the hit podcast’s live show on it’s “Snack City” tour.

Sunday, March 5

Picnic in the Park | Sunday, Mar. 5 | 12-4 p.m. | Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | Free | Bring your own picnic basket + enjoy food trucks, free ice cream, and take in entertainment beside the Hillsborough River.
Flamingo Festival | Sunday, Mar. 5 | 12-4:30 p.m. | Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg | $5-$14 | Wear pink for $1 off admission + celebrate the flock’s birthday.

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.

Click here to have your event featured.

100+ MORE EVENTS

✏️NEWS NOTES✏️

Weather

85º | Partly cloudy | 9% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Sunrise: 6:53 a.m.
Sunset: 6:30 p.m.

Tides
Old Tampa Bay

High: 11:13 p.m.
Low: 6:41 a.m.

Clearwater Beach

High: 11:35 a.m. + 8:14 p.m.
Low: 3:12 a.m. + 2:18 p.m.

Civic

Early voting is on, Tampanians. Registered voters can now cast their ballot at one of seven city locations through this Sunday, March 5. A reminder: this election includes the mayor’s office and six city council seats. Check out this guide for more need-to-know info. 🇺🇸 (Tampa Bay Times)

Transit

Calling all cross-bay commuters. Officials are considering a $761 million Gandy Bridge revamp. The proposed plan would widen the westbound bridge to three lanes + replace the eastbound bridge. 🌉 (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar is ramping up pickup times from every 15 minutes to 12 starting March 19. Check out the Tampa to Ybor pickup spots online. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Travel

Pip pip cheerio. Daily nonstop flights to London are back. Virgin Airways now offers daily flights from Tampa International to Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport. 🛫 (St. Pete Catalyst)

Listen

How much do you know about Ukraine’s history? A local couple who hail from the US + Ukraine penned a children’s book that tells the European country’s story. Listen to this interview with the authors of “The Story of Ukraine.” 📚 (WUSF News)

Outdoors

Last year, USF leadership stopped plans for development of the schools’ 500-acre Forest Preserve. The forest’s champions aim to have the land placed under a conservation easement to protect the land from development for years to come. Read more about the situation one year later. (WUSF News)

Ranked

No. 14. That’s where Tripadvisor ranked St. Pete Beach on its “Best of the Best Beaches” roundup. Judges were impressed by the spot’s “white quartz sand, clear calm water, and seashells by the truckload.” 🐚 (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Wellness

Our go-to product to relieve tension and decrease under eye puffiness: an ice roller. Not to mention, it’s the perfect way to cool off your face after an intense workout or morning run. These ice globes are also a great skincare addition to help soothe and depuff. *

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Food

Tampa Bay restaurant openings, closings, and more

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The bagels are waiting for you. | Photo by @petes_general

We wouldn’t blame you if you hung up the kitchen towel and started exclusively eating out. There’s far too many new Tampa Bay restaurants to stick a fork into.

Anyway, here’s a roundup of what’s goin’ on with your eateries and drinkeries.

Pete’s Cafe officially soft-launched yesterday. The Ybor City outpost (1804 E. 4th Ave.) is serving a limited quantity of egg and cheese sandwiches, bagels with jalapeno, plain, or scallion cream cheese, and other faves.
Now, those last-minute Bern’s cancellations will cost you — $25. The mainstay Tampa eatery just started taking credit cards for reservations — and all fee collections (for less than 24-hours in advance cancellations) go to Feeding Tampa Bay, according to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Water Street’s The Pearl Tampa, a new tavern and oyster room, opens next Tuesday, March 7. Make reservations online.

EVEN MORE TEA

👋 THE WRAP 👋

Today’s Edition By:
Bailey

From the Editor

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