10.25.2023

TBAY 2023 Header

Today’s Forecast

74º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain

Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:49 p.m.

🦩 A pink-tastic Q+A

Phoebe the flamingo is pictured from close range. There are blurry travelers walking behind her, indicating motion.

Originally called “HOME,” Phoebe is a welcome sight to many at TPA. | Photo via Matthew Mazzotta

Tampa International Airport’s 21-foot flamingo sculpture opened in August of 2022, and was affectionately named “Phoebe” after more than 65,000 people voted.

The man behind the artwork, Matthew Mazzotta, recently won two CODAawards for the project. We sat down with Mazzotta to learn more about his creative process, working in communities across the world, and the issues that drive him.

First of all, why a flamingo?

The airport approached me and gave me three prompts for a piece they wanted installed in that space: local flora or fauna, atmosphere, and sightlines.

After that, I was riding on a bus in Jamaica after leaving my cousin’s wedding. I looked out the window and I saw some egrets and thought “those are kind of cool birds.” Later on, I was looking at the project space from a chair at Tampa International, and thought “could an egret be in here?” Then I noticed there were flamingos everywhere around me.

I wanted to do it in a completely fresh way. That’s when I thought of putting us underwater and putting the story of the flamingo in full volume and making it very large. That’s why the ceiling is water and the bird is dipping its head down, meaning we are in its world.

Why is Phoebe so big?

It’s an attempt to put nature above man. I think that’s where we are in our society now. Nature has to re-enter the story and move us away from the human centric. So many things from climate change to destroyed habitats mean we have to pay more attention to the interconnected world. That’s why it’s important to bring this bird into the airport — a human space made possible by the inspiration of flight we took from the animal kingdom.

A young child hugs one of Phoebe's enormous feet. A TSA agent walks behind as airport activity resumes. — Phoebe has become a firm fan favorite among travelers at TPA.

What do you think of the name Phoebe?

The airport asked if I was interested in naming the project, but I thought the people should decide. They ended up landing on Phoebe, which is inspired by the Latin name for flamingo.

Phoebe is something people identify with for its message, but there is also the cuteness factor and an attractive factor. I don’t think I’ve been around a project that has received this much love.

Read about Mazzotta's global vision

Flying Compass, Inc. for Palm Pavilion 10.25.23

Events

Wednesday, Oct. 25

Keiser University Scare Fair | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 5-8 p.m. | Keiser University, 16120 US Hwy. 19 N., Clearwater | Free | Enjoy refreshments and prizes at this annual Halloween event, as well as a costume contest and fun interactive activities for all the family.
Old Northeast Walking Tour | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Westminster Presbyterian Church, 126 11th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | $10-$20 | Hear about one of St. Pete’s historic neighborhoods on this walking tour.

Thursday, Oct. 26

Stroller Sculpt | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 9-10 a.m. | Midtown Tampa, 3659 Midtown Dr., Tampa | Free | Get a sweat on at this free mommy and me fitness class where strollers and kiddos are welcome.
7 Deadly Sins | Thursday, Oct. 26-Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 4 p.m.-3 a.m. | MacDinton’s Irish Pub, 405 S. Howard Ave., Tampa | Price of purchase | Enjoy seven days of celebrations, each themed for one of the seven deadly sins, starting off with sloth where happy hour is from 8-11 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 27

Tampa East Sertoma 38th Annual Golf Event | Friday, Oct. 27 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Eagles Golf Club, 16101 Nine Eagles Dr., Odessa | $145 | Tee it up and support local organizations with contests, lunch, a silent auction, a buffet dinner, and gifts + prizes.
An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel | Friday, Oct. 27-Sunday, Oct. 29 | 2-8 p.m. | Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | $25-$35 | Brace yourself for creepy tales of a bygone era at Tampa Bay’s oldest hotel under the eerie glow of candlelight.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Feel at home this holiday season in Greenville, SC

A crowd of ice skaters at an outdoor rink in Greenville, SC.

Enjoy seasonal activities in a new city that still feels like home. | Photo provided by VisitGreenville SC

Experience magical moments in Greenville, SC this season with affordable accommodations and festive fun without the crowds.

Choose from favorites, like:

Rooftop igloos and outdoor ice skating
Seeing dazzling lights (even Santa’s elves flock to Main Street to see this)
Live performances + free, family-friendly events
And more holly jolly happenings to spread seasonal cheer

Thinking about spending the season in Greenville? Request a free Visitor’s Guide.

Book a seasonal stay

News Notes

Open

Open sesame. A speakeasy is now open in Hyde Park Village. Hidden within the newly opened Sesame bagel shop at 1500 W. Swann Ave., Jekyll is now taking reservations. Named after “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the space features a “Dusty Bottle” menu + an air of mystery. It opens at 5 p.m. daily. (Tampa Tomorrow)

Coming Soon

Popular Korean grocery store chain Lotte Plaza Market is coming to TBAY. The store opens next Friday, Nov. 3 at 17605 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. The shelves will be lined with traditional Korean and Asian produce, as well as baked goods, seafood, meats, sauces, noodles, and marinades. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Announced

The Old Hyde Park Home Tour returns on Saturday, Dec. 2, featuring several beautiful historic homes. Also included are snacks, drinks, music, and other surprises. The four-hour tour starts at 11 a.m. at 906 S. Orleans Ave. Tickets are $30 in advance and proceeds go Hyde Park Preservation, Inc.

Eat

A familiar face is moving spots in Pinellas County. HaleLife Bakery has closed its Clearwater location and is opening in St. Pete at 11270 4th St. N. next Monday, Oct. 30. There are three other HaleLife locations around the Tampa Bay area, serving up vegan and gluten-free breakfasts, treats, snacks, and baked goods. (I Love The Burg)

Transit

Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar is breaking records. Over 1.3 million passenger trips have been made on the iconic yellow trolley this year, the most since the line’s 2002 launch. The free transit option traverses 2.7 miles from Ybor City to downtown Tampa. (Visit Tampa Bay)

Ranked

No. 28. That’s where Tampa ranked in WalletHub’s list of Best Places for Halloween in 2023. The rankings used factors like Halloween fun, weather at this time of year, and trick-or-treater friendliness. St. Pete came in at No. 85.

Environment

It was a drier summer than usual, TBAY. That’s according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District who say it was the region’s driest rainy season in 26 years, with just 680 millimeters of rainfall throughout the four-month period. (Tampa Bay Times)

Civic

Have you heard about The Credit Card Competition Act? If passed, robust payment networks could be replaced with a cheaper, less secure network, reducing card issuers’ abilities to fund rewards programs — meaning your points and miles could potentially disappear. See what action you can take.**

Try This

Southeastern University hosts Preview Days for prospective students + families from September to March, but Oct. 27 is a key date. See how to register for the Homecoming Weekend Preview Day to experience student life, celebrate Homecoming Week with alumni, and cheer on the Fire during its Homecoming game.*

Pets

Nom Nom’s pre-portioned meals for dogs are made with whole-food ingredients you actually recognize — like sweet potato, beef, and pork. Get 50% off your first order (plus, free shipping).*

**This message is brought to you by The Points Guy.

🏗️ Tampa Bay is going up (literally)

A photo of St. Pete's waterfront. There are palm trees lining the water and Al Lang Stadium is in the background, surrounded by high rises.

A fragment of St. Pete’s glorious waterfront. | Photo by TBAYtoday

The Tampa Bay area skyline is shifting constantly. With all the building and development changes, it can be hard to keep up. Here are three of the latest projects to keep you in the loop:

Three buildings are in the works in Tampa near I-75 and I-4. The 44-acre lot off Tanner Road was recently bought for $14.5 million by a Mississippi-based real estate firm.
Construction has started at a historic cigar factory in West Tampa. The Balbin Brothers Cigar Factory at 1202 N. Howard Ave. is being turned into a 70-room hotel and will open in late 2024.
A Largo warehouse has sold for $29.6 million to a Colorado-based developer. Construction on the roughly 160,000-sqft building at 8660 133rd Ave. N. finished earlier this year.

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_2}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

Today’s edition by: Patrick

From the editor

Thank you to Matthew Mazzotta for giving up his time to speak with us. I highly recommend watching this short video where he talks about some of the work he has done for communities across the globe.

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY