Plus, foster a pet for the holidays.
 
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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.
 

🗓️ Let’s look back on 2023

Look back at 12 months of TBAY stories
Storm surge floods Bayshore Boulevard. The Tampa Convention Center is in the background.
Hurricane Idalia was one of 2023’s biggest TBAY stories. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Plenty has happened in the Tampa Bay area this year, so we rounded up one big story from each month to refresh your memory. Here are some of them:

February

Tom Brady announced his second and final retirement with a video posted on social media.

Brady made the move to Tampa Bay back in 2020, spending three years with the Bucs + leading them to victory in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in 2021.

April

Taylor Swift lit up the Ray Jay stage as her “Eras Tour” came to TBAY.

The iconic singer-songwriter played three nights at the stadium, all of which had sold-out crowds. Swift + fans braved a 92º heat index on the third and final night.

July

Phoebe the Flamingo was honored with prestigious CODAawards.

Tampa International Airport’s 21-ft sculpture project — originally titled “HOME” — won the awards for People’s Choice + Transportation. We were lucky enough to speak with the artist Matthew Mazzotta.

Phoebe the Flamingo up close at Tampa International Airport. There are people walking behind her through the terminal.

It was a big year for TBAY’s most popular stationary bird.

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Photo by Matthew Mazzotta

August

The Tampa Bay area braced for Hurricane Idalia.

While the worst impacts of the Category Four storm did not impact TBAY directly, our area did suffer damage, including flooding in areas like Bayshore Boulevard and Gulfport, and the sand dunes were also washed away at Treasure Island’s Sunset Beach.

September

The Tampa Bay Rays locked in plans for a new home.

The team announced plans for a $1.3 billion stadium in St. Pete’s Historic Gas Plant District. The Rays hope to move to the 30,000-seat arena from the Trop in 2028.

November

The Tampa Bay area received more news about its first professional women’s soccer team.

Leaders launched the new team’s name and colors at an event in Ybor City. Tampa Bay Sun Football Club will play their inaugural USL Super League season starting August 2024. The Sun will transform facilities at Howard W. Blake High School for home games by the Hillsborough River.
The other 6 months
 
Events
Wednesday, Dec. 20
  • Santa in the Park | Wednesday, Dec. 20-Saturday, Dec. 23 | 6-9 p.m. | North Straub Park, Fifth Ave. NE and Bayshore Dr., St. Petersburg | Free | Snap a pic with Santa before he sets off on his round-the-world gift-giving exploits.
  • A Christmas with Soul | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 7 p.m. | Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg | $39+ | Head to the St. Pete spot for festive + soulful tunes to get in the Christmas spirit.
Thursday, Dec. 21
  • Christmas in the Wild | Thursday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 30 | Times vary | ZooTampa at Lowry Park, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa | Enjoy millions of lights and displays while surrounded by animals on select days through Dec. 30.
Friday, Dec. 22
  • South Florida Bulls vs. Albany Great Danes | Friday, Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. | Yuengling Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa | $7+ | Hit up campus and cheer on the Bulls’ men’s basketball team as they take to the court.
  • Raise the Flags Friday | Friday, Dec. 22 | 6:15-8 p.m. | Family Park, St. Petersburg | Free | Get in the Buccaneers spirit ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Jaguars with family-friendly fun, performances, and giveaways.
Saturday, Dec. 23
  • St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Al Lang Stadium, 230 First St. SE, St. Petersburg | Free | The popular market features vegetables, fruits, meats, food trucks, artists, makers, live music and entertainment.
  • Grinchmas in Whoville | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 9 p.m.-3 a.m. | Grove Soho, 406 S. Howard Ave., Tampa | Price of purchase | Whoville fun awaits at the SoHo spot featuring a cookie eating contest + drink deals.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Coming Soon
  • Calling Chill Bros fans. The popular chain is opening another TBAY spot — this time at Armature Works. An official opening date has not yet been announced. (That’s So Tampa)
Travel
  • Two new domestic air routes are coming to Tampa International Airport. Travelers will be able to fly from TPA to Gulfport, Mississippi starting on Jan. 12 via Breeze Airways. Frontier Airlines will kick off flights to Hartford, Connecticut beginning March 7. (That’s So Tampa)
Cause
  • Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center is giving locals a way to help animals this holiday season. The center’s Silent Night foster program gives pets a temporary home. Anyone who fosters a dog or cat from today through Saturday, Dec. 23 can return the animal next week.
Feel Good
  • Nonprofit Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures is making the holiday season special for some St. Pete kids. The charity brings miniature horses to visit children at Banyan Pediatric Care Centers (850 Third Ave. S.) every month, but in December, they are dressed as reindeer. Find out more about the nonprofit’s mission. (ABC Action News)
Seasonal
  • If you’re looking for something festive to do this weekend, Cirque Musica: “Winter Wonderland” at Ruth Eckerd Hall could be for you. The family-friendly show combines live music with spectacular acrobatic feats. Tickets for the Friday, Dec. 22 show, starting at 7 p.m., begin at $35. (I Love the Burg)
Festival
  • The St. Pete Bacon and BBQ Festival returns to Vinoy Park next month. The seventh annual event runs Saturday, Jan. 13 + Sunday, Jan. 14, featuring a host of TBAY chefs, as well as locally crafted beers + spirits, and live music performances. Grab tickets. (I Love the Burg)
Arts
  • Tampa Improv in Ybor City has a new name. The comedy club at 1600 E. Eighth Ave. is now called Funny Bone, but ownership has not changed hands. Check out a show. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Shop
  • Let’s talk shop. Tucked inside the Polk Museum of Art, The Shop offers a curated collection of local, unique + handcrafted finds. Each piece, whether inspired by current museum exhibits or chosen for the quality of its design, is meant to offer visitors something special. Take a peek.*
 
History

❄️ Keep dreaming of a white Christmas

Has it ever snowed in the Tampa Bay area?
People play with snow. Trees line the road.
The Sunshine State doesn’t get a whole lot of snow. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
The Tampa Bay area has truly transformed for the holiday season, with decorations, events, lights, shows, performances, parades, and more. There is, however, one aspect of this time of year we miss out on: snow. But has that always been the case?

Let’s take a trip 46 years back in time to find out about the last time snow fell in TBAY.

It was a surprisingly cold Tuesday — with temps in the 30s — when snow began to fall late in the night on Jan. 18, 1977. The next morning, some people woke up in and around TBAY to one to two inches of powder, although the City of Tampa officially reported just 0.2 inches.

With snowball fights + snowmen undoubtedly a feature of the event, the Tampa Bay Times also reported ~200 road accidents and 79 hospitalizations.

The frosty occurrence happened because of an arctic front which moved across Florida — snow was recorded as far south as Miami.

We would love to hear stories from anyone who remembers the event. Get in touch.
The Buy

The Buy 12.20.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
An Apple Watch Series 9 — because the smartwatch is about to get much harder to find. Starting tomorrow, Apple will pull this smartwatch version from its website due to a patent dispute, with in-store purchases ending Sunday, Dec. 24. Other retailers may continue to sell the model until a final decision is made on an import ban. (Forbes)
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Patrick
From the editor
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