Plus, Hurricane Idalia report released.
 
02.14.2024 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

70º | Mostly sunny | 3% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:08 a.m. | Sunset: 6:20 p.m. | Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 6:14 a.m. + 5:52 p.m. | Low: 11:44 a.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 2:23 p.m. | Low: 8:17 a.m. + 9:23 p.m.
 

✒️ But thy eternal summer shall not fade

A sonnet for TBAY
A close up shot of a rose with water petals on it. The red rose is surrounded by dark green leaves.
We’re showing our love for the Tampa Bay area. | Photo by Jovana Nesic via Pexels
Whether you grew up in Tampa Bay, or found your way here later in life, it has a place in all our hearts. What better way to show love than with a sonnet for our home?

Beneath the pale blue, cloudless Florida sky,
The palm trees sway in gentle coastal trance,
And soon it turns to lapis lazuli,
Before the bursting of a sunset’s dance.

Right here, among the birds and manatees,
In Tampa Bay, we live, and work, and play.
It’s where we build our homes, and plant our trees;
It’s where we’re offered choices every day.

Perhaps a trip to Bayshore or the beach.
A walk through Hyde Park Village or St. Pete.
Some brunch, the zoo, museums — we’ve got each
and more. Adventure lines each road and street.

Before the sunset’s dance, to end the day,
Remember, show some love for Tampa Bay.
Share your TBAY poetry
 
Events
Wednesday, Feb. 14
  • Pilates on the Pier | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 6-7 p.m. | St. Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg | Free | Show yourself some love by getting a sweat on at this class led by Rare Body Pilates.
  • “From Ella to Amy with Love!” | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 8:30 p.m. | The Birchwood Hotel, 340 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg | $30+ | Catch romantic tunes from female jazz icons in the hotel’s grand ballroom.
  • “Moulin Rouge” | Wednesday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 18 | Times vary | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $65+ | There are only a few days left to catch the 10-time Tony Award-winning musical based on Baz Luhrmann’s iconic flick.
Thursday, Feb. 15
  • Candlelight: Classic Rock on Strings | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Coastal Creative, 2201 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $48 | A string quartet plays iconic tunes from the likes of Bon Jovi, David Bowie, and Guns N’ Roses, set under the glow of candlelight.
  • Live Music with Chris McCarty | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Tampa EDITION, 500 Channelside Dr., Tampa | Free | Catch tunes and glamorous vibes in Tampa’s only five-star hotel.
Friday, Feb. 16
  • Opening Reception: “Survival of the Fittest” | Friday, Feb. 16 | 6-8 p.m. | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Free with registration | This members-only event offers a chance to browse the start of the museum’s new exhibition, featuring a host of works depicting wildlife + the wilderness.
Saturday, Feb. 17
  • Carrollwood Park Conservancy Plant Sale | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Carrollwood Village Park, 4680 W. Village Dr., Tampa | Price of purchase | Head to the second annual event to find a new leafy friend to bring home, plus enjoy food truck eats.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 5 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $75+ | Head into downtown to watch the Sunshine State teams clash.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Number
  • $3.6 billion. That’s the estimated cost of the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. The National Hurricane Center released a report yesterday about the Category 4 storm, which made landfall north of TBAY in Keaton Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Its winds reached peak speeds of 132 mph. (WFLA)
Community
  • Time is running out to apply for the Downtown Tampa Neighborhood Enhancement Grant. Through the program, applicants can receive up to $5,000 annually to fund community-driven projects. Applications close on Monday, Feb. 19.
Civic
  • The St. Petersburg Community Survey is now open through Tuesday, Feb. 27. The 15-minute survey offers residents the chance to give feedback on topics like safety, education, the arts, the workforce, local businesses, developments, and more. Take it to make your voice heard.
Shop
  • Armature Works is hosting its Heights Night Market: Valentine’s Day Edition tonight from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Shoppers can browse local vendors, grab a bite from a food truck, and pick up a last-minute gift for that special someone.
Featured
  • The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is among the most romantic hotels in the country, according to Historic Hotels of America. The iconic pink resort was included alongside 24 other hotels across the US, with HHA citing its “rich tapestry of history and charm.” (I Love the Burg)
Pets
  • A new dog park is open in Seminole Heights at Henry and Ola Park. Located on W. Henry Ave., the park boasts 10,000+ sqft for pups to stretch their legs. Officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week for what is now the Big Guava’s 17th dog park. (WTSP)
Coming Soon
  • Get ready for dinner with a view. Tampa will soon be home to Craft — a fine dining cruise on the Hillsborough River. Brunch, lunch, and dinners on the cruiser start Friday, March 8, and leave from 603 Channelside Dr. Reserve a special experience. (That’s So Tampa)
Tech
  • Synapse Summit is heading to Amalie Arena later this month. The summit focuses on innovation in tech + business, and takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Industry leaders will give talks, celebrate wins, and look ahead to the future. Registration starts at $51. (That’s So Tampa)
Travel
  • Allegiant Air is launching two new routes from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Starting in June, the airport will offer flights to Evansville, Indiana, and McAllen, Texas. (WFLA)
Try This
  • There is no shortage of self-care opportunities when spending the day in Water Street Tampa. We recently enjoyed an afternoon in the walkable downtown neighborhood, attending a pilates class, soaking up a luxe pedicure + savoring a leafy lunch. See how our day went.*
Home
  • If you spent your whole Sunday reorganizing your closet, here’s another spring cleaning suggestion: Move your credit card debt. This card offers 0% interest on a balance transfer until mid-2025. That’s over a whole year to pay off your balance, sans interest. Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back on purchases.*
Holiday
 
Travel

The choice is yours

Choose a day trip for us
Crystal River shines blue. It is surrounded by trees.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is under 100 miles from TBAY. | Photo by @annemie.travel
City Editor Patrick here, handing over the reins to you, our wonderful readers.

We recently shared some of our day trip suggestions, all within around two hours from the Tampa Bay area. But now, we’d like you to choose one for us to experience + write about. We narrowed it down to five choices:
  • Cedar Key
  • Kennedy Space Center
  • Ocala National Forest
  • Punta Gorda
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Not only will we write about a day spent in the winning location, but we’ll also share footage on our Instagram page.
Make your pick
The Buy

The Buy 2.14.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A portable touch screen for your car, so you can connect your phone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for music, GPS, and more. Stick the screen where you want with its sturdy suction cup holder + use the voice control feature for safe driving.
Share TBAYtoday
 
ReferralGIF1-TBAY.gif

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).

{{profile.vars.rh_reflink_2}}
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_2}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.
Claim your rewards
 
 
The Wrap
 
Patrick Sidwell.jpeg

Today’s edition by:
Patrick
From the editor
Valentine’s Day offers a great reminder + opportunity to love yourself. Nothing says self-love like a chocolate-covered strawberry atop a Cinnaholic cinnamon roll, or a Cherry Blossom Latte from Bandit.
Missed our previous newsletter?     ›
Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback     ›
Become a Member     ›
Advertise     ›
Shop     ›
 
 

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.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY