09.11.2023

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Today’s Forecast

☀️ Here comes the Sun(Runner)

How to take advantage of the SunRunner while it’s free

Take advantage of the last few weeks of a free SunRunner. | Photo by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

On Sunday, Oct. 1, the currently free-to-ride SunRunner will begin implementing a $2.25 fare.

In the meantime, we’re making the most of the free bus rapid transit service, and we’re here to help you do the same.

How to ride

First and foremost, download the PSTA-endorsed transit app. In the app, you’ll be able to enter your starting location and desired destination, and it will help you plan your trip. Wait at your station for the bus to arrive (you can see how long the wait is on the totem sign at each station), and begin your trip.

Where to go

We have a few ideas on how to best take advantage of the SunRunnner, from bar crawls to beach days.

🏖️ Ride the bus to the Beach Access stop + enjoy a day on St. Pete Beach. If you’re more in the mood for a beachside beverage, get off at the 55th Ave. stop and walk to Harry’s Beach Bar (~4 minutes).

🍹 Plan a SunRunner bar crawl (click the link or scroll down for more on that).

🥬 Try Meatless Mondays and stop at 22nd Street N. or 22nd Street S. (depending on the direction you’re coming from) to walk to Love Food Central Cafe or House of Vegano (both a ~5 minute-walk from either stop).

💕 Date idea, anyone? Get off at one of the 22nd Street stops again and make a day of it by grabbing coffee at Black Crow, shopping vintage at Wendy’s Closet, and exploring the Imagine Museum. (~3 minutes from Black Crow to Wendy’s, ~4 minutes from Wendy’s to Imagine).

☕ Speaking of coffee, there’s plenty of shops near stops: Craft Kafe off 3rd Street S., Beans & Barlour off 5th Street N. or 5th Street S., Driftwood Kava & Roastery off 8th Street N. or 8th Street S., and The Crumb Factory Bakery & Cafe off 58th Street N. or 58th Street S.

Events

Monday, Sept. 11

9/11 Sunset Vigil | Monday, Sept. 11 | 7-9 p.m. | Station 27, 304 1st St., St. Petersburg | Free | This sunset vigil will feature bagpiper Kirsten Deal — bring a chair.
Bay Area Bartenders Ball: The Birds and the Bees | Monday, Sept. 11 | 8 p.m.-3 a.m. | MacDinton’s Irish Pub, 405 S. Howard Ave., Tampa | $50-$75 | All hospitality service industry workers can enjoy drinks, live music, and DJs — wear blue and gold.

Tuesday, Sept. 12

Laughing Glass | Tuesday, Sept. 12 | 5-8 p.m. | Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | $0-$10 | This comedy night is hosted by Stavi Garcia and features Sierra Layko + Jay Legend.

Wednesday, Sept. 13

“Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead” | Wednesday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Oct. 8 | Times vary | Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center, 1010 N. Macinnes Pl., Tampa | $25 | This comedic retelling of “Hamlet” through the eyes of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern won a Tony when it premiered.

Thursday, Sept. 14

Yoga at the MFA | Thursday, Sept. 14 | 8-9 a.m. | Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg | $10-$25 | BYO-mat and take in the Museum of Fine Arts while stretching, breathing, and meditating

Friday, Sept. 15

3rd Friday Street Celebration | Friday, Sept. 15 | 6-10 p.m. | Main Street, Safety Harbor | Free | Shop, eat, and sip from nine blocks of restaurants, bars, shops, and nonprofits — the street is open carry for boozy beverages.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

$25 million. That’s how much The USF athletics department received from Tampa General Hospital to go towards building an on-campus stadium. The donation came shortly before the stadium’s financing plans received a final stamp of approval from The Florida Board of Governors. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Try This

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 23. As part of the Arts Alive/Free Museum Day program, St. Pete residents can visit Imagine Museum, MFA St. Pete, The Dalí Museum, and The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art for free. Double check to see if tickets must be reserved in advance before you go. (I Love the Burg)

Sports

Yesterday, the Bucs took home a win over the Minnesota Vikings in their first game of the 2023 season with a score of 20-17. The team’s first home game will take on Sunday, Sept. 17. (NBC Sports)

Coming Soon

Stoner’s Pizza Joint — a Fort Lauderdale-based pizza chain — announced plans to open three Tampa locations in the next two years. The first local pizzeria is set to open next month on North Dale Mabry Highway. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Opening

We’ve got more knead-to-know pizza info. The Fold Pizza Shop is set to open later this year inside Armature Works. The restaurant’s opening date is still TBD, but you can stay updated on its Instagram. (That’s So Tampa)

Open

Hillsborough County’s SouthShore Sportsplex (6110 Waterset Blvd., Apollo Beach) opened over the weekend. The new sports complex features four synthetic-turf athletic fields, a playground, pavilions, a concession building with restrooms and meeting space, and parking for 500+ vehicles. Check out this aerial video of the complex.

Eat

HEW Parlor & Chophouse inside the Fenway Hotel recently completed renovations to its dining room and private spaces. You can make reservations to the steakhouse online.

Drink

SunRunner 🤝 GNO

Get sippin’ on this SunRunner bar crawl

An outdoor area with fake grass, benches, and red umrellas facing an ivory-covered wall with a rainbow in the sky.

Double rainbow — if you know, you know. | Photo by @ashleyofthesea via @greenbenchbrewing

Looking for something new to try with friends?

Allow us to suggest the TBAYtoday SunRunner Bar Crawl, an activity we put together based on the bus system’s stops + nearby bars. The best part? No DD required.

Heads up: We’re starting the crawl at the 6th Ave. S. stop, beach bound, and looping back to the same stop.

Stop one: 5th Street N. | Emerald Bar | ~3-minute walk
Stop two: 8th Street N. | The Floridian Social | ~4-minute walk
Stop three: 13th Street N. | Green Bench Brewing Co. | ~3-minute walk
Mid-way stop: 32nd Street N. | Stretch your legs with a ~10-minute walk to Cappy’s Pizza and grab a deep dish pie. Head back + hop on the Grand Central stop, ‘Burg bound.
Stop five: 22nd Street S. | 3 Daughters Brewing or If I Brewed the World | ~2-minute walk
Stop six: 13th Street S. | Enigma | ~4-minute walk
Last stop: Back to the 6th Ave. S. stop

Feel free to mix it up and change which bars you visit — if you try, be sure to send us photos and let us know how it went.

View our bar crawl map

Answered

We recently asked about your favorite place to cheer on the Bucs. Here’s what you said:

We’ve got a lot of homebodies on our hands. 92% of you said your favorite place to watch the game is right at home, while 8% voted on watching at Raymond James Stadium.

Disagree? Want to share your thoughts? You can still take the poll at the link below.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Brianna

From the editor

While locals soak up the remaining free days of the SunRunner, don’t forget that we’re still waiting on updates about whether or not the TECO Streetcar will remain fare-free. Brush up on a few other recent transit updates with our brief breakdown.

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