Plus, TECO cutting bill prices.
 
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Today’s Forecast

74º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:49 p.m. | Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 11:16 a.m. + 10:01 p.m. | Low: 2:58 p.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 6:59 a.m. + 6:21 p.m. | Low: 12:16 p.m.
 

🚗 Hit the road, TBAY

10 day trips from the Tampa Bay area
Crystal River shines blue. It is surrounded by trees.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is under 100 miles from TBAY. | Photo by @annemie.travel
Don’t get us wrong, there is nowhere we’d rather live than the Tampa Bay area. That’s why these day trips are all within ~2 hours from where we call home, so you don’t have to go too far.

Here are 10 of our faves:

Outdoor adventures

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Step, swim, or kayak through this paradise where crystal clear waters offer unique wildlife opportunities. We recommend a see-through kayak tour to get the best view of manatees. Pro tip: The best time to see sea cows is from mid-November to late March.

Siesta Key

There’s no shortage of amazing beaches right here in TBAY, but if you want to try a new spot on the sand, the beaches on Siesta Key might be your best bet. Siesta Beach was named the No. 2 beach in the entire country by Trip Advisor for its open space, white sand, and tranquil Gulf of Mexico access.

Small-town charm

Marion County

Do you like horses? Then this is the place for you. Marion County has more horses + ponies than any other county in the US with 1,200+ horse farms. We recommend the World Equestrian Center in Ocala to catch a show.

Cedar Key

Take yourself back to old school Florida at this tiny island of ~900 permanent residents. Seafood, arts festivals, fishing, and wildlife spotting are some of the best things to do here. Check out our full guide to make the most of your trip.

The sun sets over the Caloosahatchee River from behind the Edison and Ford Winter Estate. The sky is blue and orange.

It’s easy to see why Edison and Ford liked it here.

|

Photo by TBAYtoday

Exploration with education

Edison and Ford’s Winter Estates, Fort Myers

Explore the winter homes of two visionaries + their blooming gardens with 400+ plant species from six different continents. Situated right on the Caloosahatchee River (we can’t pronounce it either), the 21-acre botanical gardens are joined by an abundance of wildlife, and are a sight to behold at night when the twinkle lights turn on. See for yourself.
5 more adventures
 
Events
Monday, Nov. 6
  • Hillsborough County Fair | Monday, Nov. 6-Sunday Nov. 12 | 5-10 p.m. | Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Brandon | $0-$11 | Delight in the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, thrill circus, firefighter, magic, and livestock shows, Les McDowell’s Cowboy Camp, fair food, and more.
  • Tombolo’s Horror Book Club Reads “Looming Low Volume II” | Monday, Nov. 6 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Meet with the book club to discuss 22 strange and modern stories from this collection.
Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Living Shoreline Course: Sun Coast | Tuesday, Nov. 7-Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs | $50 | Learn about living shorelines at this two-day course where a range of field experts will lead classes.
  • Open Mic Night | Tuesday, Nov. 7 | 9 p.m. | Pegasus Night Club, 14811 N. Florida Ave., Tampa | Free | Whether you’re a singer, rapper, comic, or poet, you can join in this open mic night — or, sit back and enjoy the show.
Wednesday, Nov. 8
  • Morning Matinees: Natural Wonders | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 11 a.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater | Listen to the Florida Orchestra portray the natural world through music.
  • William Shatner | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $53-$264 | Revel in stories from a legendary career which has spanned galaxies.
Thursday, Nov. 9
  • Mike Alstott Veterans Football Game | Thursday, Nov. 9 | 8-11 a.m. | Pinellas Park Youth Park Soccer, 3750 66th Ave. N., Pinellas Park | Free | Watch the Bucs legend play a friendly game of flag football alongside veterans.
Events calendar here
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Community

How you can support TBAYtoday’s 2024 vision

City Editor Patrick’s 3 favorite Tampa Bay news stories from 2023
City Editor Patrick holding his very fluffy dog next to a trophy.
It’s hard to believe it’s almost a wrap on 2023 — and what a year it’s been. We’ve been privileged enough to bring you incredible Tampa Bay news stories straight to your inbox.

Check out some of City Editor Patrick’s favorites:
We’re asking for your support to bring you even more stories like these next year.

We’re passionate about our approach to local news. In 2024, you can depend on us for newsletters free of divisive political content. Instead, we’ll deepen your Tampa Bay roots, celebrate our city, and tell you ways to get involved with our community.

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News Notes
Development
  • St. Petersburg city officials + the Tampa Bay Rays are considering two proposals for the team’s new $1.3 billion stadium. MEIS Architects and Populous have both submitted plans. The firms will make presentations and undergo interviews before a selection is made on Wednesday, Nov. 15. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Number
  • 11%. That’s how much Tampa Electric customers can look forward to having off their bill. TECO has announced it will reduce bills by that amount starting January 1, 2024. That’s $17.65 saved per 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. (ABC Action News)
Biz
  • Two companies in the Tampa Bay area were recently included on Fortune’s “Best Workplaces for Women 2023" list. Information technology company KnowBe4 in Clearwater ranked No. 11 and employment agency Kforce Inc. was ranked No. 52.
Holiday
  • Good news for holiday shoppers. The Holiday Shop Market is coming back. There will be 200+ vendors selling a wide range of seasonal products at the Florida State Fairgrounds from Thursday, Nov 9. to Sunday, Nov. 12. Tickets start at $10.
Eat
  • TV star Tyler Lepley has opened a restaurant in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood. The doors are open at Lepley’s Kitchen and Lounge at 6310 N. Florida Ave. where guests can enjoy Caribbean and Southern food, plus a range of cocktails. (That’s So Tampa)
Award
  • Stageworks Theatre was a big winner at the the 2023 Theatre Tampa Bay Awards, taking home nine awards across four different productions, including Outstanding Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Choreography. Stageworks has ~20,000 visitors each year and is Tampa’s longest running professional theater company, having been founded in 1983. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Finance
  • Billionaires wanted this painting, but 54,538 everyday investors got it first — all thanks to Masterworks, the award-winning platform for investing in blue-chip art. Investors have benefited from 16 sales with returns including 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35.0%. Interested? 6AM City readers can skip the waitlist to join. †*
† See important Masterworks disclosures.
 
Transit

🚕 It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a taxi.

Tampa International Airport breaks ground in the skies
The air taxi sits outside Volocopter HQ. It is a white vehicle and resembles a two person drone.
Could this be the future of travel? | Photo via Tampa International Airport
Crowds gathered at Tampa International Airport last week to watch the Sunshine State’s first electric air taxi test. The innovative technology could change the way we get around for good, so we rounded up some information to keep you in the loop and ahead of the curve:
  • German-based urban air mobility company Volocopter built the craft called “Volocity” which is described as all-electric and zero-emission.
  • The vehicle can carry two people (pilot + passenger), but the company hopes to expand to four- and five-person air taxis in the future.
  • Flights are designed to be short- to mid-range, and carry people or goods within urban environments + metropolitan areas.
  • Flights are expected to cost between $3-$5 per mile.
  • TPA CEO Joe Lopano hopes Tampa Bay area residents will be able to use them by the end of 2025, or as soon as Volocopter gets FAA approval.
The Buy

The Buy 11.06.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Cuisinart’s 16-inch roaster and rack — because you deserve an easy-to-clean roaster this year, and this one’s big enough for a Thanksgiving turkey and has a nearly five-star rating.
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Patrick
From the editor
I hope you had a good weekend, TBAY. I went to the Rise Up Concert Series at the St. Pete Pier and I would highly recommend it. There are 10 more shows between now and January.
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