March 29, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

🪸 Serving and conserving

A tank of coral at the Florida Aquarium's Coral Conservation and Research Center. There is blue fluorescent lighting above the tank and the coral sits in water.

The Florida Aquarium is in its sixth year of coral spawning. | Photo by The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is no stranger to helping our waterways. TFA’s Coral Conservation Program has dedicated about eight years of work and research into protecting the ~360-mile Florida Reef Tract which spans the southeastern part of the Sunshine State.

Last week, leaders unveiled the aquarium’s latest conservation development: An expansion to the Coral Conservation and Research Center at the Apollo Beach Conservation Campus. The 4,200-sqft buildout almost doubled the size of the facility, which now spans ~9,000 sqft for researchers + biologists.

Here’s a breakdown of what happens at the center:

The center is the long-term home to 15 different species of coral, including some taken directly from the Florida Reef Tract.
As corals face threats in Florida, on-campus scientists are breeding the next generation of resilient corals.
The Florida Aquarium boasts the largest living collection of Atlantic pillar corals in the world, and is the only facility worldwide with the capacity to spawn and raise the species, which is seeing a rapid decline in the wild. In 2023, spawning efforts in the lab produced millions of coral babies.
Aquarium workers also traveled to the Florida Keys last year as part of an international effort to care for 5,000 relocated corals.

While the environmental necessity to protect reefs remains, the Sunshine State’s reef also has an estimated financial value of $8 billion, and also supports ~70,000 jobs.

Officials cut the ribbon at the Florida Aquarium's new expansion at their Coral Conservation Campus in Apollo Beach. There are four people holding a large pair of blue scissors as they cut the white ribbon, and a fifth person standing in the background. People are smiling. — The facility first opened back in 2016.
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Photo by The Florida Aquarium

In a release, aquarium President and CEO Roger Germann called Florida’s coral reefs “essential to our health, our economy, and marine wildlife.” He added, “with the state-of-the-art facility, we are significantly increasing our restoration impact and providing hope for recreating a thriving reef.”

As corals provide habitats for 25% of all marine wildlife + serve to enhance water quality across the globe, the new expansion will help provide more protection for the crucial organisms which call our planet home.

If you want to help The Florida Aquarium on its conservation mission, they are always looking for volunteers.

Events

Friday, March 29

Game Day Theme Day | Friday, March 29 | 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Great Explorations Children’s Museum, 1925 4th St. N., St. Petersburg | $0-$15 | Tow the kiddo along in their favorite team’s jersey to enjoy the all-day play area.
“Lady Snowblood” | Friday, March 29 | 7 p.m. | Screen Door: An Ybor City Microcinema, 1624 E. 7th Ave. #228, Tampa | $11 | Catch a showing of the 1973 action-thriller flick directed by Toshiya Fujita, based on the manga series of the same name.

Saturday, March 30

Trinity Crafters Market | Saturday, March 30-Saturday, Dec. 21 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Hampton Inn Odessa Trinity, 11780 State Route 54, Odessa | Price of purchase | Support local crafters and artisans at this market where handmade treasures await.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders | Saturday, March 30 | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $75+ | Cheer on the Bolts as they look to make it three wins in a row with the playoffs looming.
Chill Grooves with DJ Muto | Saturday, March 30 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | The Tampa EDITION, 500 Channelside Dr., Tampa | Free | Party on the roof of the Tampa Bay area’s only five-star hotel, with unrivaled views of the Big Guava.

Sunday, March 31

Easter at Mahaffey | Sunday, March 31 | 10 a.m. | Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg | Free | This family-friendly event includes an Easter celebration service alongside hot coffee, cookies, and a photobooth.
Easter for Tampa Bay | Sunday, March 31 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa | Free | Head to Ray Jay for a community church service, with a football-style tailgate starting three hours before — parking is also free.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays hoped for a better start. Yesterday’s 8-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays ended a run of three straight Opening Day victories for the Rays. They have a chance for revenge at 6:50 p.m. tonight. (Tampa Bay Times)

Open

Wake up and smell the popcorn. Movie theater chain Neighborhood Cinema Group now has a Tampa Bay area location. NCG opened its doors at Citrus Park Town Center last week. Movie-lovers can recline in front of the silver screen after hitting up the self-serve bottomless popcorn machines. (That’s So Tampa)

Announced

South Tampa’s Britton Plaza is hitting the commercial real estate market. CBRE Inc.'s Miami office will list the ~30-acre shopping center, first built in 1956. Some of the plaza’s existing stores have closed in recent years, inviting redevelopment interest. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Kids

Adventure awaits in St. Pete. Catapult Adventure Park opens today at 4500 66th St. N., featuring an obstacle course, a range of ropes to swing on, inflatable areas, and a host of other kid-friendly fun. The park also offers membership options. (I Love the Burg)

Number

900. That’s how many homes Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has now built. The organization has been helping Tampa Bay area families since 1985, and is hoping to build 85 more affordable homes this year. (St. Pete Rising)

Real Estate

Do you have dreams of living near St. Pete’s waterfront? This newly listed ~$1.55 million home at 1234 Beach Dr. NE could be the one for you. Located minutes from downtown + right by waterfront parks, the ~2,200-sqft property boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and multiple outdoor spaces.

Sports

Relive the Bolts’ huge victory over the Bruins. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Edu

Give your career goals a kick in the pants. SEU’s Summer A session begins Wednesday, May 1. Explore degrees, see your career potential, and apply + register for classes.*

Finance

Compare multiple lenders and get debt consolidation offers in two minutes. Calculate your monthly payments.*

City

St. Pete by the numbers

St. Petersburg City Hall opened in 1939. | Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Earlier this week, Mayor Ken Welch and other St. Pete officials gave an update on the Burg’s economic outlook over an hour-long presentation.

Lucky for you, we’re here to give you the info considerably quicker. Here are some of the numbers you need to know:

Pinellas County has seen a population increase of 15,000 people since 2020, with St. Pete’s 48% growth the highest in the area.
The Sunshine City’s 2.7% unemployment rate is lower than the Tampa Bay area’s 2.9%, Florida’s 2.9%, and the nationwide 3.6%.
In 2023, there were 33,000+ construction permits issued, with a total estimated value of $1.3 billion.

The new Rays stadium was also a topic of discussion, with the team’s lease at the Trop set to expire in 2027. Welch voiced his confidence about the project’s timely completion. The stadium would bring St. Pete an estimated $1.4 billion in economic impact.

The Buy

The handy dandy jar opener you never knew you needed. Mount it under a kitchen cabinet and easily twist open jars and bottles with one hand. Bonus: The jar opener was designed to be easy to use for older adults and those with carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Patrick Sidwell

From the editor

While the Tampa Bay area won’t get the full effects of the upcoming solar eclipse, the event on Monday, April 8 will still partially impact us.

Make sure to get some solar eclipse-approved glasses to protect your vision + make the most of the rare occurrence.

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