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Today’s Forecast

92º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:52 a.m. | Sunset 8:19 p.m.
Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 11:00 a.m. | Low: 7:59 p.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 8:23 a.m. | Low: 4:31 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

Sports

What if Tampa Bay hosted the Olympics?
A close-up shot of the Eiffel Tower from below. The Olympic rings are on the front of the tower, and we are looking up at it as it sits beneath a clear blue sky.
We’re headed back to the City of Love. | Photo via Shea Stapley
Now that the Paris 2024 Olympics are underway, we’re dreaming of lighting the torch in Tampa Bay. Picture this: Snoop Dogg running along the Riverwalk, and LeBron James riding aboard Jose Gaspar’s pirate ship, carrying the stars and stripes during a typical July thunderstorm.

It got us thinking, what would the Games look like in TBAY?

Opening Ceremony

Call us the Statue of Liberty, because we’re getting this one from France.

Just like last week’s Opening Ceremony along the River Seine, we’d take this one to the Hillsborough River. We’ve seen it before — just ask the Lightning, the Bucs, and Tom Brady.

Golf

This is a hard choice. Our litany of courses offer a vast range of historical significance, but we’re going with Rogers Park.

The course was built by Black caddies in 1952 during the segregation era. Described by Golf Digest as “one of America’s most historic golf courses,” it provided Black golfers with a space to play the game while they were prohibited from doing so elsewhere.

A view from the St. Pete Pier back toward the city. High rises emerge behind waterfront, with people walking back toward the building. There are palm trees lining the peer, and a largely cloudy sky sits atop the Burg.

Spectators could gather along the St. Pete Pier to watch aquatic excellence unfold.

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Photo via the City of St. Petersburg

Triathlon

With ongoing issues surrounding the River Seine’s water quality at this year’s Games, we have a solution. The waters around the St. Pete Pier are perfect for a dip — just ask the ~2,400 people in the “St. Pete Pier Open Water Swim” Facebook group.

Marathon

This is a fun one. We mapped out a route which goes past several of Tampa Bay’s most iconic landmarks. The Historic Gas Plant District would serve as the starting line, which will soon have a shiny new baseball stadium.

From there, runners will head out to the Burg’s waterfront, past The Dalí Museum and the St. Pete Pier. Bay views will accompany runners up to the Gandy Bridge — closed to vehicle traffic, of course — before crossing over to Tampa.

A hop, skip, and jump up Bayshore Boulevard, and through downtown Tampa will bring runners to the finish line outside Armature Works. The total distance? 26.2 miles.

For ongoing coverage of the Olympics from Paris, our friends at 10 Tampa Bay have got you covered.
Closing Ceremony + gymnastics
Asked

If Tampa Bay hosted the Olympics, the theme for the Opening Ceremony should be...
A. Pirates — let’s make it Gasparilla 2.0
B. Florida — let’s keep it tropical
C. USA — let’s make it a patriotic evening
D. Champa Bay — let’s show off our titles
Dream with us
 
Events
Wednesday, July 31
  • Tampa Bay Rays vs. Miami Marlins | Wednesday, July 31 | 12:10 p.m. | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | $17+ | The Rays face off against their Florida rivals before hitting the road this upcoming weekend.
  • Tampa Bay Chamber 2024 Political Hob Nob | Wednesday, July 31 | 4-7 p.m. | Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC, 522 N. Howard Ave., Tampa | $45 | Meet local candidates vying for votes in upcoming elections.
  • “The Figs” | Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Times vary | American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Theater, 163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg | $28+ | There’s only a few days left to watch the zany show, following a royal family’s chaos.
Thursday, Aug. 1
  • Sunshine Senior Center Hurricane Expo | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Sunshine Senior Center, 330 5th St. N., St. Petersburg | Free | Make sure you’re ready for potential hurricanes and learn more about emergency preparedness.
  • Aperol Spritz Cocktail Class | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 7-9 p.m. | Bulla Gastrobar, 930 S. Howard Ave., Tampa | $71 | Unleash your inner mixologist and craft a perfect spritzy drink in SoHo.
Friday, Aug. 2
  • “Florida Famous": Paul Leroy Gehres’ Opening Party | Friday, Aug. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | FloridaRAMA Gallery, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg | Free | Enjoy the opening night of the gallery’s new exhibit celebrating the Sunshine State’s art scene.
  • Wines of Spain | Friday, Aug. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Centro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa | $100+ | Take a trip to the Iberian Peninsula to savor the flavors of Spain’s wine scene.
  • Sinatra Night Featuring Bryan J. Hughes & The Crew | Friday, Aug. 2 | 8-11 p.m. | The Floridian Social, 687 Central Ave., St Petersburg | $4+ | Listen to reimagined tunes from Ol’ Blue Eyes’ legendary discography.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Announced
  • The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners gave the final green light to the new Rays stadium project last night. Officials voted 5-2 in favor of spending $312.5 million from the county for construction. The money is coming from the 6% county tax imposed on hotel and rental rooms. (WTSP)
Olympics
  • Yesterday was a good day for TBAY athletes in Paris. Clearwater’s Bobby Finke won silver in the 800m freestyle swimming, just hours after St. Pete-born Danielle Collins advanced to the women’s tennis singles quarterfinals. Our friends at 10 Tampa Bay have continued Paris 2024 Olympics coverage. (WTSP)
Coming Soon
  • Japanese brand Daiso is opening its first Tampa Bay area store early next year. The globally popular chain sells affordable + unique products, and will open in the Northdale Promenade. That’s where shoppers can browse household goods, snacks, cosmetics, and toys. (That’s So Tampa)
Travel
  • JetBlue is increasing its offerings from Tampa International Airport. The airline is launching a new route to Providence, RI on Oct. 27, the same day it doubles its daily service between TPA and Cancun.
Feel Good
  • Tampa has a new world record under its belt. The world’s longest Cuban sandwich was constructed this past weekend, according to the organizers behind the Cuban Sandwich Fest. It measured 365.9 ft, and was donated to feed those in need. (That’s So Tampa)
Real Estate
  • A historic Gulfport home recently hit the market. Built by Sears co-founder Alvah C. Roebuck in 1926, the ~2,300-sqft Mediterranean-style property is listed for $1.25 million. The home boasts four beds, three baths, picturesque outdoor spaces, and is only a short walk from Boca Ciega Bay. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Cause
  • Feeding Tampa Bay’s Epic Chef showdown concludes on Monday, Aug. 5. Chef Guillermo Quezada from Rooster & the Till will face off against Chef Moesha Collymore from Predalina. Tickets are still available for the event at the Epicurean Theatre.
Quoted
  • “It was just a horrible industry.” Those were words spoken by Howard Baskin — of “Tiger King” fame — in an interview with local outlet WFLA. Baskin and his wife, Carole, sold Big Cat Rescue in Tampa’s Citrus Park area last year. WFLA also spoke with Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka Joe Exotic. (WFLA)
Asked
  • We’ve got a question. What have you grown to love about the Tampa Bay area over time? With outdoor spaces, waterfront access, our vibrant food scene, and arts galore, there’s plenty to be thankful for. Let us know.
Listen
  • Which of this century’s Stanley Cup-winning Lightning teams was best? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Finance
    • Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*
     
    City

    Planning for the future

    St. Pete’s Stormwater Master Plan could cost $1 billion
    A puddle on a road with downtown St. Pete high rises visible in the background and reflected from the puddle. A cyclist is coming toward the camera in a red shirt. Palm trees line the sides of the roads.
    St. Pete is planning for the future. | Photo by City of St. Petersburg
    St. Pete residents know all too well about the city’s proclivity for floods. Neighborhoods like Shore Acres have made plans to tackle the issue, with local officials approving ~$8 million for mitigation efforts earlier this year.

    Now, city council members are putting finishing touches to the long-awaited Stormwater Master Plan. Here are some important details:
    • The main goal is to reduce the severity + frequency of flooding, while also improving water quality.
    • The price tag could come to roughly $1 billion for projects through 2050.
    • Plans include sea level rise considerations, new modeling technology, and rainfall data collection.
    The plan does not include storm surge mitigation efforts or plans to conduct a seawall vulnerability study, according to Brejesh Prayman, the city’s director of engineering and capital improvements.

    City Council will meet on Thursday, Aug. 15 to further consider the plan. We’ll keep you updated.
    The Buy

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    More worth The Buy
     
    The Wrap
     
    Patrick Sidwell.jpeg

    Today’s edition by:
    Patrick
    From the editor
    Calling my fellow turtle enthusiasts.

    The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is inviting the public to join its sea turtle conservation team for the ride-along program. It will run three times per week through Friday, Sept. 20, and offers locals the chance to patrol beaches before sunrise, looking for nests, turtle crawls, and learning about conservation efforts.
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