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From our friends at WTSP

 
Are you a poet (and totally know it)?
A stack of books on a wooden porch swing.
Think you’ve got what it takes to turn this newsletter into a poem? | Photo by Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

Calling all readers: In honor of National Poetry Month, you’re officially invited to enter TBAYtoday’s poetry contest.

This contest is open to all, and the rules couldn’t be more simple: Turn our Wednesday, April 3 newsletter into a poem.

We’ll clarify. Using only the words that appear in this newsletter, craft an original poem of up to 75 words. Unlike an erasure poem, the words do not have to appear in the order they’re found — mix and match how you please.

Any English word appearing anywhere in today’s newsletter is fair game, including the ones you’re reading right now (we’ll throw some fun ones at you: Red. Ambivalent. Fungi.). If a word appears once, you can only use it once.

The rules:
  • Submit your poem here by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
  • Include a title + author’s name in your submission. Titles are an exception to the rule, and do not need to pull words from the newsletter.
  • Poems, excluding title and author’s name, must be 75 words or less.
The fun stuff:
  • While we’ve placed a pretty big limitation on your poem’s words, the form + direction is up to you — and we can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
  • The Editorial team behind TBAYtoday will narrow submissions down to a group of finalists based on style, originality, artistic quality, and creativity. Finalists will be announced in an upcoming newsletter, and we’ll ask our readers to vote for their favorite poem. We’ll feature the winner’s poem in a newsletter during the last full week of April.
  • Pro tip: To make the process easier on yourself, we recommend printing out today’s issue, highlighting the words you find most interesting, and crossing them out as you include them in your poem.
  • Don’t forget to keep track of your articles (words like “the” or “and”).
Happy writing, Tampa Bay.
 
 
Events
 
Wednesday, April 3
  • Resonate Sound Bath | Wednesday, April 3 | 6-7 p.m. | Resonate Sound Healing, 3222 Bennett St. N., St. Petersburg | $25 | Relax to the sound of Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, drums, chimes, and a gong — mats, bolsters, and blankets will be provided.
Thursday, April 4
  • The Off-Central Players Present: “Bourbon & Laundry” and “Lone Star” | Thursday, April 4-Sunday, April 14 | Times vary | The Off-Central, 2260 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $15-$35 | The one-act plays by James McLure share life in a small Texas town from two very different perspectives.
  • Art in Bloom | Thursday, April 4-Sunday, April 7 | Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg | $0-$22 | Check out floral designs crafted by professional florists, hobbyists, and members of The Stuart Society — included with museum admission.
Friday, April 5
  • PhilFest 2024 | Friday, April 5, Sunday, April 7 | Times vary | Philippine Cultural Enrichment Complex, 14301 Nine Eagles Dr., Tampa | Free | Celebrate Filipino culture with authentic Philippine merchandise, cuisine, and service exhibits.
  • Spookala | Friday, April 5-Sunday, April 7 | Times vary | Florida State Fair, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | $30 | Mingle with spooky celebrities, check out horror movie props + vendors, and enjoy live entertainment.
  • Live Dead & Brothers | Friday, April 5 | 7 p.m. | Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $27.50 | Rock out to music from the legendary Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band at the outdoor venue.
Saturday, April 6
  • Tampa Duck Race | Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa | Free | Watch as 10,000 rubber ducks race down the Hillsborough River — all in support of the The Kiwanis Club of Tampa Foundation.
  • Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival | Saturday, April 6-Sunday, April 7 | Times vary | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa | $65+ | Make your way through the theme park trying new foods, brews, and listening to tunes — cost of food and drinks not included with admission.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
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Arts
 
The lesser-known side of the Polk Museum of Art
Two people in dark jackets stand facing a painting at the Polk Museum of Art with their backs to the camera.
The Rockwell-Wyeth exhibit features 40 original paintings from the beloved icons. | Photo provided by the Polk Museum of Art
You may know the Polk Museum of Art for its world-class exhibitions and always-free admission — but did you know that the museum also offers unique tours, lectures, workshops, and classes?

The museum’s events calendar includes after-hours tours, behind-the-exhibit talks, and even a Gallery Concert inspired by the museum’s current blockbuster exhibition, “Rockwell/Wyeth: Icons of Americana.”

Feeling inspired? Unleash your creativity with art classes + workshops for all skill levels in disciplines ranging from figure drawing to Photoshop.
 
News Notes
 
Weather
  • Prepare for a potentially stormy day, TBAY. Forecasters are watching a cold front that will likely bring thunderstorms and showers to our area from around 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Severe weather is possible, with forecasters predicting wind speeds up to 60 mph + up to an inch of rain. (Tampa Bay Times)
Show
  • Everyone’s favorite boy band trio is coming to Tampa. The Jonas Brothers will play the Hard Rock Event Center Wednesday, July 31. Social media pre-sale starts today at 10 a.m., while the general public sale starts Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. Buy tickets.
Coming Soon
  • Plans for a new Clearwater Multimodal Transit Center are coming to fruition. The $44.5 million center will be located at Court Street + Myrtle Avenue and house 16 routes. The center will also boast retail space, electric bus charging stations, solar panels, plus passenger rail and autonomous vehicle connectivity. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Announced
  • Both Duke Energy and Tampa Electric Co. plan to raise base rates in 2025. If approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, Duke customers using 1,000 kilowatts would pay $16.48 more per month in 2025, but their overall bills will likely still decrease due to extra costs like storm resilience expiring. (Tampa Bay Times)
Sports
  • Congrats to one of TBAY’s own. St. Pete native Danielle Collins just won the Miami Open. Collins, who is playing her final tour, bested Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to win her third Women’s Tennis Association title. (I Love the Burg)
Eat
  • What’s new on Central Avenue? Bohemios, a new wine bar and tapas spot, just opened on the ground floor of the Camden Central Apartments. The eatery also has a Sarasota location + serves dishes like paella, Iberian ham, and meatballs — with vino of course. (St. Pete Rising)
Development
  • A 14-story luxury apartment tower is rising up in Carillon Office Park. The tower is part of the incoming 20.5-acre mixed-use project called Echelon City Center. The redeveloped area will also feature more mixed-use buildings with apartments, retail, a hotel, a dog park, and a remodeled two-mile-long boardwalk. (St. Pete Rising)
Plan Ahead
  • The NCAA Women’s Final Four is coming to Tampa in 2025. The basketball showdown takes over Amalie Arena with national semifinal contests on Friday, April 4 and the national championship on Sunday, April 6. (That’s So Tampa)
Ranked
  • No. 1. St. Pete earned the top spot in Florida on SmartAsset’s “most affordable places in the US to buy a home” list. The new study evaluated cities based on closing costs, real estate taxes, homeowners’ insurance, and mortgage rates. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Sports
  • Check in on the Bucs’ potential NFL Draft strategy. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Shop
    • Ditch the men’s dress pants — the Dealmaker Pant is the ultimate pant for work or play, with an impeccable fit and feel. Save 15% with code COMFORT15.*
     
    TEGNA
     
    City
     
    🌳 Good news for Tampa’s tree canopy
    A garden with lots of green, with a home peeking out behind trees and bushes.
    | Photo by @teamhdmphoto via Engel&Völkers
    You get a tree... and you get a tree... and you get a tree.

    Calling all Cigar City residents — the city is giving away 500 trees as part of its effort to boost Tampa’s resilience and sustainability.

    Mayor Jane’s Tree Giveaway is booked for Saturday, April 13. Tampa residents can head to 715 E. Bird St. from 9 to 11 a.m. to score up to two free trees like Longleaf Pines, Southern Live Oaks, and other leafy varieties.

    Before you pack up the car, here are a few tips:
    • Make sure to register in advance.
    • Check to ensure you’re a Tampa resident.
    • See if your car can fit two 5 to 8-ft-tall trees.
    • Take a peek at the varieties the city has available to see which would best fit your yard’s growing conditions. This year, there are Southern Live Oaks, Red Maples, Longleaf Pines, Simpson Stoppers, Yaupon Hollys, and Red Mulberrys.
     
    The Buy
     
    A variety of snacks for runners and bikers. The Fuel Goods Collection offers boxes filled with food that will fuel your lifestyle.
     
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    The Wrap
     
    Bailey Lefever in a park near a pond Today’s edition by:
    Bailey
    From the editor
    There’s still time to vote for our beloved Tampa Riverwalk in USA Today’s 10Best competition for Best Riverwalk. Voting closes Monday, April 8 at 12 p.m.
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