Yard Magoes: Where’d they come from, where’d they man-go
City Editor Brad finds mangoes all the time in his backyard. | Photo via TBAYtoday
The floor is lava, TBAY.
Well, it just looks like lava. Mangoes are once again falling from the heavens onto brick-laden streets of Tampa Bay.
It’s mid-summer, which means the mangoes in our trees are either ripe enough to be picked or over-ripe, turning TBAY in a man-goo textured Jackson Pollock painting.
Fruit 411
The tropical fruit is known for its sweet, juicy flesh and rich tropical flavor. Mangoes are native to India and Southeast Asia but are plentiful in the Sunshine State.
Recipe
So you’ve got mangoes. They’re packed top to bottom in your freezer and pantry. You’ve given loads away to every household in the neighborhood, or you’re just letting them return to Mother Earth out on the lawn.
Now’s time for the fun part — putting them to good use + crafting a refreshing mid-summer patio treat.
Here’s how to make Fermented Mango Soda in 10 steps — adapted from Fearless Eating.
First, prepare the mangoes by washing, peeling, and removing their pits.
Blend the mangoes until the texture resembles that of baby food.
Combine the blended mangoes, water, and sugar in a pot
Bring the mixture to a boil
Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir
Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Turn off the heat and wait until the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
Use a cheesecloth and a fine mesh strainer to extract the mango juice.
Transfer the juice to a large container or glass jar.
Add your starter culture to the container.
Let the mixture sit on the counter for 24-48 hours or until you notice bubbles (it’s working). Pro tip: The fermentation rate is faster in warmer weather, so it might only take a day this record-breaking summer.
Transfer to soda bottles using a funnel or lipped measuring cup.
Let the bottles sit at room temperature until they become carbonated.
A man-goes into a boozy bar:
This step’s optional. Add some vodka or tequila and serve over ice. Pro tip: Garnish with a squeeze of lime or mint.
Pat yourself on the back.
Events
Thursday, July 13
“The French Connection” | Thursday, July 13 | 6:30 p.m. | USF Contemporary Art Museum, 3821 USF Holly Dr., Tampa | Free | This 1971 detective film follows “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman) and his partner (Roy Scheider) as they chase a French drug smuggler.
Friday, July 14
Tampa Bay Rodeo and Family Festival | Friday, July 14-Saturday, July 15 | 5-10 p.m. | Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover | $20-$30 | Don your cowboy boots and prepare to holler with joy while watching bull riding, bronco busting, barrel racing, and live music.
Tampa Tarpons vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers | Friday, July 14-Sunday, July 16 | Times vary | George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Dr., Tampa | $8 | Watch our New York Yankees-affiliated MiLB team take on the boys of Swan City.
Saturday, July 15
SharkCon | Saturday, July 15-Sunday, July 16 | Times vary | Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | $5-$140 | Sink your teeth into expert panels and a live podcast session, watch “Jaws,” and bring the kiddo along to hunt for treasure.
Sunday, July 16
$6 Sundays | Sunday, July 16 | 12-5 p.m. | St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | $6 | Check out priceless artifacts, a replica of the world’s first commercial airline, and tons of art — history buffs should watch “Indiana Jones: Dial of Destiny” in theaters for a full adventure.
Summer Classics Movie Series | Sunday, July 16 | 3 p.m. | Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa | $7-$10 | Blast back to the 1980s with this screening of cult classic “The Breakfast Club.”
TBAY took the No. 19 spot on Rent Cafe’s “Top 20 Most Competitive Rental Markets” list. The outlet considered apartment vacancy + how many renters applied for the same spot. (WFLA)
Watch
Throwback Thursday. The Bucs released a hype video showcasing their Creamsicle jerseys. And they filmed it in St. Pete’s new 70s dance club, Good Night John Boy. Spoiler: The video features City Editor Brad’s favorite comic, Bert Kreischer.
Arts
TBAY’s own version of the Las Vegas MSG Sphere opens this weekend. The Dali Museum’s Dalí Alive 360° Dome lets you look into the surrealist’s mind and check out his works. (That’s So Tampa)
Announced
Grab your reusable grocery bags. Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to St. Pete’s Skyway Marina District. The grocery will span 23,000 sqft + be finished by mid-2025. Check out the renderings here. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Opening
Reminder: Lolita’s Wine Market is back Friday, July 21. The spot reopens right off the Pinellas Trail, just inside the Historic Seaboard Train Station, this time with a snazzy outdoor patio. The boozy spot shares a home with the Morean Center for Clay — talk about a romantic date night. (I Love the Burg)
Award
Key lime hi. Big Storm Brewing Co. just earned gold in the 2023 US Beer Open competition for its Sunny Key Lime Wheat Ale. The brewery also received silver for its Maple Rum Huracan Imperial Stout.
Asked
Tampa’s healthcare industry is booming. In addition to serving Tampanians with nationally-rated hospitals, research institutions, and specialty centers, TBAY’s healthcare vastly boosts the local economy. This has us wondering: Which hospital or healthcare system comes to your mind first when thinking of Tampa? Take your pick.^
Finance
Everyday investors profit from a $45 million Banksy collection (yes, the Banksy) thanks to Masterworks, who last sold one of the artist’s works at a 32% net gain. Masterworks has completed 13 exits (all profitable), with three recent sales delivering net annualized returns of 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35%. TBAYtoday readers can skip the waitlist to join.†*
Shop
Parking your car on sunny streets while running errands around town? This No. 1 bestselling sunshade keeps your car’s interior cool and minimizes rays.*
But did you know around 200,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Tampa Bay metro’s nearly $200 billion economy?
Whether you’re job hunting or casually prospecting, here are some of TBAY’s largest employers.
Mosaic
~14,000 employees | Mining and fertilizer | Search jobs
Long story short: Mosaic scoops up dirt from the Earth + sifts through the clay and sand to find phosphate rock — a main ingredient in industrial-grade fertilizer.
Fun fact: East Hillsborough County is part of the vast 1.3 million-acre phosphate mining area known as “Bone Valley.”
Bloomin’ Brands
~77,000 employees | Restaurant group | Search jobs
Ever heard of the Bloomin’ Onion? You can thank these guys for that. Bloomin’ Brands is the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill.
Jabil
~238,000 employees | Tech manufacturing | Search jobs
Jabil is a global manufacturing company that creates semiconductors and other tech components for everything from your cell phone to vehicle safety technology.
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