09.30.2024

Today’s Forecast

🎂 100 candles

Jimmy Carter at 100: His visits to the Tampa Bay area

Jimmy Carter speaking at a podium in 1979 at Thomas Jefferson High School with the US flag as a backdrop behind him

Jimmy Carter speaking at Thomas Jefferson High School. | Photo via Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

Get the cake ready. Tomorrow, Oct. 1 is former President Jimmy Carter’s birthday. Like anyone who has served as commander in chief, his legacy is etched in US history — but Carter will become the first president to live to 100.

Born on Oct. 1, 1924 in Plains, GA, Carter was elected the 39th president of the United States and served from 1977 to 1981. Throughout his life + career Carter traveled across the US, and of course, he found time to visit the Tampa Bay area on a few occasions. These visits include:

Dec. 14, 1975 — During his campaign, Carter attended a luncheon at Sertoma Club in St. Petersburg.
March 7, 1976 — Jimmy Carter visited Lowry Park two days before the primary election. During this trip, he shook hands and enjoyed a fish fry with locals.
Oct. 18, 1976 — While campaigning for the presidency, Carter returned to Lowry Park before continuing to Miami.
Aug. 30, 1979 — Carter held a town hall meeting at Thomas Jefferson High School and discussed the energy crisis of the 1970s.
Oct. 10, 1980 — Spectators lined the streets of St. Petersburg as Carter drove through for a campaign stop.

Carter also stayed at the Belleview-Bitman Hotel, now the Belleview Inn, in Belleair. The exact date is unknown, but it likely predated the 1980s.

To celebrate the milestone birthday, Carter’s nonprofit The Carter Center is inviting people to upload photos and messages celebrating his legacy to help build a virtual mosaic. This display is a reference to a speech Carter delivered in 1976 where he described the American population as a “beautiful mosaic.”

Events

Monday, Sept. 30

Buena Vista Social Orchestra | Monday, Sept. 30 | 8 p.m. | Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg | $43 | Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos and his Buena Vista Orchestra delight with a night of Cha Cha Cha, Afro, Latin Jazz, and tons more styles.

Tuesday, Oct. 1

Restorative Sound Healing & Guided Meditation | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 4-5:15 p.m. | The James Museum, St. Petersburg | $20 | Allie Freeman leads this grounding exercise in the serene Western museum.
Erin A. Craig | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, Tampa | $5+ | Enjoy a conversation about the author’s latest book “The Thirteenth Child” which weaves together dark fairy tale, romance, and epic fantasy vibes.

Wednesday, Oct. 2

“Batman” | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $12 | Cozy into the historic theater’s red seats for a screening of the 1989 film starring Michael Keaton as Batman.

Thursday, Oct. 3

Boyz II Men | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 8 p.m. | Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa | $195+ | You’ll wish this show from the legendary R&B group never came to the end of the road.

Friday, Oct. 4

Morgan Wallen: “One Night At A Time 2024" | Friday, Oct. 4 | 6 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa | $128+ | This might be your last night to catch this country superstar’s tour with guests Cole Swindell, Nate Smith, and Lauren Watkins.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Festival

Add to cal: Central Florida’s inaugural food festival

A photo showing several plates of food including chips and guacamole, noodles, eggs and biscuits and a sandwich.

Vendors will serve BBQ, ramen, seafood, southern classics, and more. | Photo provided by Visit Central Florida

Ready to embark on a culinary journey, TBAY?

The Central Florida Food Fest takes over Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Here’s what to expect from the inaugural event:

Exclusive dishes from 25+ Polk County restaurants with curated drink pairings
Live music from local musicians
A marketplace to shop from local artisans

Hungry to make a difference? Proceeds from the event benefit Bonnet Springs Park. Attendees must be 21+.

Reserve your spot

News Notes

Community

Hillsborough County residents are asked to self-report any property damage sustained by Hurricane Helene to help officials understand the extent of the storm’s impact. You can do this by filling out the county’s damage assessment form.

Weather

Hurricane Helene’s storm surges broke several records in the Tampa Bay area. In East Bay, the surge rose 7.19 ft above the expected tide, surpassing the previous record of 4.56 ft. In Old Port Tampa, the surge was 6.83 ft, breaking the old record of 4.18 ft. (WTSP)

Cause

Need help with services after Helene? Our friends at WTSP have this handy list of numbers to call for things like debris cleanup, food assistance, and places to get Wi-Fi. (WTSP)

Tech

Tampa General Hospital remained relatively undamaged during Hurricane Helene thanks to its “AquaFence,” a 9-ft-tall, 1,000-ft-long fence designed to protect the facility from storm surges up to 15 ft. The hospital has used the technology since 2021 because it cannot evacuate during emergency situations. (Fox 13)

Coming Soon

Local bakery Synergy Sweets is almost ready to open its new Tampa location at 4016 W. Hillsborough Ave. The brick-and-mortar shop is owned by Shonnika Denise, the multi-time winner of Tampa’s Dessert Wars. The bakery’s opening was postponed by Hurricane Helene, but it will make its debut later this fall. (That’s So Tampa)

Sports

Gooooooooooooal. Florida had three stadiums selected (one in Miami, two in Orlando) to host the FIFA Club World Cup next year. Clubs from around the world including Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and more will play in the inaugural tournament starting in June 2025. Sign up for more information on tickets.

Edu

University of South Florida just made US News and World Report’s “Best National University Rankings.” USF nabbed the 91st spot based on metrics like classroom resources + graduates’ starting salaries.

Real Estate

Motocave has completed construction in St. Petersburg, aiming to be the area’s first car condo community. The five-building complex offers 43 air-conditioned units that are one part garage, one part “man cave.” Each rental stores vehicles, but can also be customized for entertainment uses. (St. Pete Rising)

Sports

Heading into the preseason, what can we expect from the Lightning? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Listen

Ready to silence the chaos and hear what matters? These next-gen hearing aids are here to crush the noise and put you back in control. With razor-sharp sound and a stealthy design, they’re your little secret. Hear the difference.*

Finance

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The Buy

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Michael

From the editor

I hope everyone is recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. This is a challenging time for many people, but if you have the ability, there are many ways you can support your neighbors. Check out our volunteer guide to see opportunities to give back to the community.

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