Plus, The Floridian Social Club is for sale.
 
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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.
 

👟 Walk it out
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Most adults walk at an average of 2-4 mph. | Photo by TBAYtoday
If you’ve been singing the lyrics “I walk a lonely road” a lot lately, you’re not… alone (well, in a sense). Tampa roads are actually less lonely than many, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

If national averages indicate anything, it’s that roads overall may have been more lonely during the past few years. According to a recent data report by Streetlight, annual average daily walking trips dropped 36% in the US between 2019 and 2022.

How does that national average shake out in Tampa, and where are the best spots to raise those national trend (and step count) numbers? Let’s take a look.

By the numbers

          • -31% | Percent change in walking trips in Florida
          • -29% | Percent change in walking trips in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
          • 50 | Tampa’s score out of 100 on Walk Score’s walkability meter
          What does a percent change in walking trips mean? Say a metro area sees a -50% change in walking trips. This means, on average, walking trips declined by 50% in that area. (For the record, none of the top 100 metros in the study saw that much of a decline — the biggest dip was 49% in Akron, OH.)

          Where to walk the walk

          Wondering where you can get your steps in? Check out these pedestrian-friendly spots around the Tampa Bay area, from local parks to protected streets.
          • Bayshore Boulevard, South Tampa | The wide walking path is perfect for towing the jogging stroller or pups along — make sure to oogle at the historic homes.
          • Hillsborough River State Park, 15402 US-301, Thonotosassa | Head a little outside Tampa to trek on the 7+ miles of trails.
          • Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg | Attached to the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center, these wooded trails are perfect if you want to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
          More spots to walk it out
          Asked

          Which US state’s average daily walking activity had the smallest decline from 2019-2022?
          A. New Jersey
          B. California
          C. New York
          D. Montana
          Get your steps in
           
          Events
          Tuesday, Dec. 12
          • Sarah Brightman | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 8 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater | $54-$254 | The soprano performs some of her greatest hits and holiday classics accompanied by an orchestra, choir, and special guests.
          Wednesday, Dec. 13
          • Marrin Costello x Chanel x Dillard’s Holiday Pop-Up Shop | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Times vary | Marrin Costello Jewelry Flagship Store, 3104 W. Palmira, Tampa | Free | Stop by to get touch-ups by Chanel makeup artists, mingle with Tampa socialites, shop luxury bags and outerwear, and meet and shop the designs of Marrin Costello jewelry.
          • Yoga in Midtown Commons | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Midtown Tampa, 3659 Midtown Dr., Tampa | Free | Namaste by the Bay leads an all-levels power flow class on the turf — register online.
          Thursday, Dec. 14
          • Santa’s Carnival at the Festival of Lights | Thursday, Dec. 14-Monday, Dec. 25 | Times vary | Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Brandon | $5-$40 | Check out the reindeer carousel, Santa train, family roller coaster, seven-story ferris wheel, drive-thru holiday light spectacular, and more than one million dazzling lights.
          Friday, Dec. 15
          • Florida Orchestra: Holiday Pops | Friday, Dec. 15 | 8 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $23-$60 | Conductor Bruce Hangen, former guest conductor of the Boston Pops, and the orchestra put on a legendary seasonal show.
          Events calendar here
          Click here to have your event featured.
           
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          News Notes
          Biz
          • The Floridian Social Club is up for sale after undergoing multi-million dollar renovations. The nearly century-old venue, complete with all-new plumbing and electrical plus recovered original features, is being sold along with the business. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
          Civic
          • FDOT received $500,000 in federal funding to study a possible Brightline extension to Tampa. The high-speed rail route, which currently runs between Miami and Orlando, is one of 68 projects to receive this funding. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
          Feel Good
          • Romeo and Juliet, two manatees who received viral attention after drone footage revealed unfit living conditions in a Miami aquarium, were transported to ZooTampa last week. At 60+ years old, they’re two of the oldest manatees on the planet. (Tampa Bay Times)
          Watch
          • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is once again teasing the return of its Skyride cable car on Instagram. The Skyride first closed in 2020 and has remained shut down for repairs, but the park’s recent post said that it’s now in “testing mode.” (That’s So Tampa)
          Ranked
          • Tampa recently ranked No. 9 on Money’s report on the best places to live in the nation. Altamonte Springs took the No. 33 spot, while nearby Sarasota was the third Florida location to land on the list at No. 43. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
          Show
          • John Mulaney will make his stop in Tampa on his “Baby J” tour this Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Hard Rock Event Center. The writer and comedian’s show sold out quickly, but resale tickets are still available starting at $120. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
          Award
          Outdoors
          • We got the gators. According to a list of the top 30 most alligator-infested lakes in Florida, Lake Seminole comes in at lucky No. 20. The FWC provided tips for dealing with alligators, including keeping your pets on a leash + never feeding a gator. (WFLA)
           
          Civic

          This oughta quench your thirst for news

          Tampa Water Department working to address “forever chemicals” with new technology
          A silver machine located inside of a white building, shown behind an open door and window.
          Once complete, the Tippin facility will become the largest SIX facility in the world. | Screenshot via Tampa Water Department B-roll footage
          Tampa’s David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility is working to adopt a new tool to keep drinking water clean. SIX — or “suspended ion exchange” — is a state-of-the-art technology that can help reduce forever chemicals in water.

          This news comes ahead of the expected release of the EPA’s finalized regulations on six PFAS chemicals, or forever chemicals. While the proposed limits are not yet official, currently, more than 33% of Florida’s water treatment facilities exceed those limits.

          After piloting SIX back in 2020, the Tampa Water Department found that the tool can help reduce the amount of chemicals needed to treat our drinking water, improve the quality of drinking water, and increase operational safety. Once completed, the Tippin facility will become the first SIX facility in America and the largest in the world.
          The Buy

          The Buy 12.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
          The go-to gift for people who have everything: a scented candle.
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          The Wrap
           
          Brianna Williams

          Today’s edition by:
          Brianna
          From the editor
          Hey, TBAY, it’s great to be back. I’m jealously eyeing your forecast for the week — sure, it may be cloudy, but no lows under 55 degrees? — whilst enjoying my 35 degree Chicago day. The grass is always greener, eh?
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