09.18.2024

Today’s Forecast

Welcome to the jungle

Busch Gardens will unveil new Wild Oasis realm next spring

The rendering of the Busch Gardens' new realm: Wild Oasis, a leafy, jungle-inspired area with a drop tower, fake mountain, and mist.

We’re already dreaming of that drop. | Rendering via Busch Gardens

Next summer’s Busch Gardens trip is going to look a little different... in a good way. This coming spring, the Tampa park will open its new Wild Oasis realm, coined “North America’s most engaging and interactive adventure realm.”

Wild Oasis will live in the Jungala section of the park, replacing the Tree Top Trails climbing adventure which closed five years ago, said Stewart Clark, president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, in a release.

“We are thrilled to breathe new life into this corner of the park with the development of this realm,” Clark added. “The all-new Wild Oasis truly offers something for everyone – whether you love the thrill of the ride or learning about animals, getting wet or climbing high, or just cooling off under the shade of the rainforest canopy.”

The new realm is the latest in a slate of new additions to the park, which also debuted Phoenix Rising — a new coaster that soars along at 44 miles per hour — earlier this year.

What can we expect?

A drop tower featuring digital and sound effects
A multi-level climbing canopy
An interactive water-play wonderland
A new multi-species animal habitat

The opening date may still be a while off for making those spring and summer break plans, but the park is offering thrill seekers a deal. Right now, if you buy a 2025 annual pass, you’ll be upgraded to the next pass tier level for free. A little delayed gratification fun, if you will.

Asked

How often do you head to a theme park?

A. All the time
B. A few times a year
C. It’s a special treat
D. Rarely

We're curious

Events

Wednesday, Sept. 18

Poetry Reading and Launch Celebration | Wednesday, Sept. 18 | 7-8 p.m. | Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg | Free with reservation | Join local poets Letisia Cruz and Sara Ries Dziekonski to hear more about their latest works.
Mayor Welch’s City Hall On Tour | Wednesday, Sept. 18 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus | Free | Learn more about the city’s latest projects, and ask questions of Welch and other key St. Pete leadership.
Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2024 | Wednesday, Sept. 18-Saturday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Multiple locations | Prices vary | This annual event showcases our area’s best fashion and accessories designers with pop-ups and runway shows, plus workshops and volunteering opportunities.

Thursday, Sept. 19

“RED GASPS” | Thursday, Sept. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | OXH Gallery, Tampa | Free | It’s the opening weekend of the new show from artists Rima Day and Venera Kazarova, which explores the “seemingly malleable boundaries between physical form and perception.”

Friday, Sept. 20

Creed | Friday, Sept. 20 | 7 p.m. | MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre | $137+ | Take it back a decade or two for the Florida-born rock band’s “Summer of ’99 Tour.”

Saturday, Sept. 21

St. Jude Walk/Run Tampa | Saturday, Sept. 21 | 6:30-11:30 a.m. | Amalie Arena | Free | Walk or run in support of ending childhood cancer, plus enjoy putt-putt, face painting, and balloon twister.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Try This

Forget an autumn getaway... What if you could call this view home?

Exterior and interior shots of a modern mountain home with large windows overlooking Asheville, NC.gif

See fall colors + get a peek at picture-perfect life in Western North Carolina during the WNC Parade of Homes. | Photos by Leighton Grant and Ryan Theede; rendering by Viewpoint Studios

You might take a vacay — and stay — after seeing this home tour.

Experience postcard living at Asheville’s annual Western North Carolina Parade of Homes, October 12-13 + 19-20.

The free self-guided tour will showcase stunning new and renovated homes, including Asheville’s “Casa Bonita” home, which was just selected as the House Beautiful Whole Home 2024 (a big deal).

Built by Living Stone Design + Build — NAHB’s Custom Home Builder of the Year 2023 — Casa Bonita is just one of 33 striking homes available to tour both weekends.

See the stunners in-person

News Notes

Coming Soon

Soon, you’ll be able to dine on eats from a Michelin-starred chef at the Pink Lady. Elliott Aster — dedicated to the Florida wildflower + developer that named the Vinoy — will open in early 2025 and offer refined dishes, an antipasti bar, and drinks with waterfront views. (Tampa Bay Times)

Development

What’s happening in the Heights? Tampa’s Architectural Review Commission just approved the design for the redevelopment of Central City YMCA’s Tampa Heights land. The project features a new 70,000-sqft YMCA, a 200-room hotel, and 400 living units. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Announced

Big changes could be coming to St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District. City councilmembers just approved a new zoning overlay that will allow for more multi-family housing. But the plan also includes “prioritizing the creation and maintenance of artist space.” (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Eat

Supersize me. Barberitos is bringing its fast-casual — and customizable — burritos to Temple Terrace. The eatery opens tomorrow, Sept. 19, and is giving the first 100 guests free Barberitos for a year + other giveaways. (That’s So Tampa)

Active

Ever wanted to flow on the field? You can at Yoga Day at Tropicana Field this Saturday, Sept. 21 with a flow in the outfield led by SunState Yoga, a limited-edition hat, and a ticket to watch the Rays take on the Blue Jays. Tickets are $40. (I Love the Burg)

Closing

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay is closing up shop in Historic Kenwood. The nonprofit hopes to sell its $2.3 million building and spend more on vaccine and grooming clinics, food bank distributions, and pet supply distributions. (St. Pete Catalyst)

Real Estate

Tarpon Springs is getting a new affordable housing complex. The Pinellas County Housing Authority + St. Petersburg-based HP Capital Group plan to build 78 units on an old florist and nursery property (1800 S. Pinellas Ave.). (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Transit

Hillsborough County’s Transportation Planning Organization is planning to widen I-275 between Hillsborough and Bearss avenues. While the organization is waiting on funding for the $260 million project, some residents and activists are speaking out against it. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Plan Ahead

We’ll cheers to that. The Burg’s Golden Isles Brewery is celebrating its first rotation around the sun with a weekend-long party. Stop by from Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6 for special beer releases, an inflatable lounge sponsored by Bote, and limited-edition merch. (I Love the Burg)

Sports

It’s time for a Lightning training camp breakdown. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Coming Soon

Did this catch your eye? That’s because locals (like you) are excited about new happenings in our city. Spread the word about your business, services, big news, or upcoming event with our 56,000+ readers.

Listen

Picture natural sound all around you — from bustling cafes to quiet parks. With advanced directional microphones, these tiny hearing devices focus on what you want to hear, and soften what you don’t. Hear what all the fuss is about.*

Culture

Enter our Tampa Bay Fall Photo Contest

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One of the best ways to end the day is with a walk or bike ride down the Riverwalk . | Photo via @visittampabay

Hey TBAY, City Editor Bailey here. One of my friends recently shared a new ritual, where she takes one photo on every afternoon walk. It’s a reminder of all of the tiny beautiful moments that make up our lives, and serves as a photo diary of sorts.

Her practice inspired me to document more of my life as we enter a new season. So of course, I’m bringing you along on the journey with a Fall Photo Contest — no fancy camera needed.

Pull out your phone and snap away throughout your daily life this autumn: on breezy walks, at pumpkin patches, at outdoor movie nights, and even at the dog park. We want to see your most creative shots.

Then enter your submission to our contest + we’ll share them with the class later this fall.

The Buy

Decorate your space with this year’s trendiest fall decor. Here are five items we just added to our cart:

🍂 These velvet pumpkins to add festive flair around the house.
🍂 A hand-crafted wreath boasting beautiful autumn hues.
🍂 This welcome mat complete with seasonal adornments.
🍂 A hand-blown glass cup embellished with candy corns.
🍂 This embroidered table runner to elevate your dining space.

More worth The Buy

Answered

Earlier this week, we asked “What’s your favorite part of Florida fall?”

A little girl with a blonde ponytail and leopard shirt picks out a pumpkin from rows of bright orange pumpkins. — Gallagher’s opens in September for all of your pumpkin acquisition needs.
|
Photo by @gallagherspumpkinsandtrees

It’s our own unique season.

We’d have to agree with the ~56% of our readers who said putting an end to hurricane season. There’s nothing quite like putting the hurricane kit away for the year.

A solid ~30% of folks are wistfully awaiting the arrival of sweatshirt season, while ~15% are dreaming of pumpkin patches and hayrides.

And in a surprise to absolutely no one, precisely zero readers are most looking forward to sweating through fall family pics.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Bailey

From the editor

I was fascinated by this story from the Times about a St. Pete woman with a 1960s-era bomb shelter in her backyard. Read more about the nuclear fallout shelter’s history + the removal process.

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