05.24.2024

Today’s Forecast

🌇 Where the sun goes down

16 places to enjoy the sunset in the Tampa Bay area

True to the name, Picnic Island Beach is perfect for picnics. | Photo by @bennyjerrythebassets

Grab your shades and your camera. We’ve got the best places to watch the sunset (or sunrise) around town.

Beaches and parks

Picnic Island Park, 7409 Picnic Island Blvd., Tampa
Perfect for bringing the kids and pooches. Let the kids run out the last of the day’s energy at the sandy playground or find the dog beach near the boat ramp and pier.

Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd., Tampa
This one is for the early birds. Point your cameras towards Hillsborough Bay and prepare to be awed by the sunrise.

A sunset over the ocean at Clearwater Beach. The close-up shot is positioned low to the ground near the water's edge, which is foamy. The sun lies in the far distance, touching the horizon shining yellow with orange spreading out toward blue skies with a few clouds over the sand. — It’s nice to live where other people vacation.
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Photo by the City of Clearwater

Clearwater Beach, 112 S. Osceola Ave., Clearwater
Sunsets are so spectacular at this iconic location that there’s even a yearlong event series dedicated to them. Sunsets at Pier 60 are free nightly celebrations that last two hours before and after the sun hits the horizon.

Drinks and eats

M.Bird, 1903 Market St., Tampa
What’s a sunset without rooftop drinks and a view of the skyline? If you want to keep the party rolling through the night, this spot stays open until 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The sunset over the ocean with sunbeams streaking through the clouds. — Now picture enjoying a drink with this view.
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Photo via @casacamitampa

Casa Cami, 2545 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa
Enjoy spectacular views of the sun hitting the bay while you hit up some tacos and agave spirit cocktails.

Beacon, 510 Water St., Tampa
Catch the sunset from Tampa’s highest public rooftop. Toast the horizon with whimsical and nostalgic cocktails.

10 more sunset spots

Events

Friday, May 24

“The Smuggler: A Thriller in Verse” | Friday, May 24-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Shimberg Playhouse, 1010 N. Macinnes Pl., Tampa | $45+| This one-man, rhyming-verse dark comedy follows an Irish immigrant in America who meets a stranger with a plan to make people “disappear and reappear.”

Saturday, May 25

Clearwater Honor Fest | Saturday, May 25 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater | Free | This inaugural music festival will feature bands including Dave Bray USA, Soul Circus Cowboys, and Randy McNeeley.
Chill Grooves with DJ Muto | Saturday, May 25 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Tampa EDITION, 500 Channelside Dr., Tampa | Free | This rooftop with panoramic downtown views transforms into a cocktail lounge at night.

Sunday, May 26

A BIPOC Play-Reading Series | Sunday, May 26 | 2:30 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa | Free | Hear excerpts from plays written by both local and national writers — stick around for the Q+A when writers provide inside to their creative process.

Monday, May 27

Memorial Day Observance | Monday, May 27 | 11 a.m. | American Legion Post 5, 3810 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | Free | Honor the memory of our country’s service members at this event hosted by the American Legion.
Memorial Day Special | Monday, May 27 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Free | Veterans, Active Military, Gold Star, and Blue Star Families are invited to enjoy free access to the museum.

Tuesday, May 28

Toddler Time | Tuesday, May 28 | 10:15-10:45 a.m. | New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa | Free | Tots ages 18-36 months can get social interaction and build their language skills through books, songs, and activities.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Announced

Pinellas County announced plans to extend and restore Pass-a-Grille Beach. The project is estimated to take four to five months and would extend the 50-ft beach to around 165 ft. (WTSP)

Number

150 million. That’s how many meals Feeding Tampa Bay’s new Causeway Center can provide per year — up from 85 million. Learn how you can volunteer. (Tampa Bay Times)

Shop

Saturday Morning Market in St. Pete is on the move. From June 1 through August 31, the summer market will hop over to Williams Park (350 2nd Ave. N.).

Plan Ahead

R.O.C. The Block’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Festival will be on Saturday, June 15 at Raymond James Stadium. This free event will feature live music, kids activities, and fireworks. Sign up to volunteer.

Biz

Looking for a summer gig? You’re in luck — Tampa ranked No. 11 + St. Pete nabbed No. 7 on WalletHub’s list of “Best Places for Summer Jobs.” Learn more about the economic landscape of Tampa Bay through our guide to the region’s key industries.

Sports

Could Michael Eyssimont anchor the third line next season? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Ranked

Plenty of parks

The best parks in Tampa Bay for walks, picnics, and play

Take your bike to North Shore Park. | Photo by TBAYtoday

No. 11. That’s the rank St. Petersburg’s parks scored in the 2024 Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore index. That means we jumped up four slots since last year.

The index found that 78% of folks from the Burg have less than a 10-minute walk to a city park. Not too shabby. To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite St. Pete parks.

Lake Maggiore Park, 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Make plans for a family picnic, birthday party, or boat day at this St. Pete park. Plus, take in the wildlife in + around Lake Maggiore.

North Shore Park, 901 North Shore Dr. NE
Head to this Downtown St. Pete park for volleyball, the biking + walking path, a humongous dog park, and of course, hammocking on the palm trees.

Crescent Lake Park, 1320 5th St. N.
Steps away from Fourth Street, Crescent Lake Park is home to two tennis courts and six pickleball courts.

20+ more parks

The Buy

Group A, The Buy 5.24.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The ultimate kitchen appliance for summer: the Cuisinart 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker. No ice, salt, or hand-churning required — simply freeze the bowl and pour in your custom creation. We’re thinking black raspberry or chocolate chip…

Answered

Would you rather have green Sriracha sauce or endure another shortage?

Recently, we asked you to weigh in on the potential Huy Fong Sriracha shortage.

Every single one of you preferred to try green Sriracha rather than go without hot sauce for the summer.

Three shelves full of sriracaha bottles. — And to think we took this sight for granted last year.
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Photo by Paul Narvaez via Wikimedia Commons

Compare that unanimous vote to what folks are saying nationally. Across the country, our readers voted:

62.5% said they’d go green
27.5% would rather go short on the sauce for the summer

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jessalin

From the editor

That’s it from me this week. Patrick returns to y’all on Tuesday. Me? I’m steering my horse towards FTWtoday in Fort Worth, TX.

Good luck in this heat, friends. I’ll be thinking about you.

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