11.19.2024

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84º | 10% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 6:55 a.m. | Sunset 5:35 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | Low: 11:54 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 3:28 p.m. | Low: 8:08 a.m. + 6:33 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Fa-la-la-low us to these bars

A Christmapolitan in a coupe glass covered with snowflakes sits on a red velvet cloth framed with boughs of holly.

We’ll take a coupe.|Photo via Magrino Public Relations

“It’s beginning to look a lot like cocktails.”

Make that Homegoods-sign-eque mantra a reality this holiday season with a festive night at one of the Tampa Bay area’s holiday-themed cocktail bars.

Joy Bar

This one’s for “The Holdovers” fans. The self-proclaimed “ultimate Christmas-themed dive bar” is open all year long, but we recommend making adding it to the seasonal rotation for the Santa’s Lap and Christmas Morning shots and a round of pool.

Miracle at Bar Mezzo

It’s a classic we’re not quittin’. Every year the Central Avenue bar is transformed with tons of light, ornaments, boughs of holly, and lots o’ cheer. Prepare for a Christmopolitan or two, clip-on koalas, and Santa visits.

Barterhouse Ybor

Head over to the The Blitz Inn — which earns major creativity points with reindeer enthusiasts — for a Cindy Lou or Holiday Egg Nog plus yummy deviled crab dumplings and burrata. Make sure to snag a reservation so you don’t miss your chance to dine under the floating presents and lights.

Even more ideas

Asked

What’s the most popular holiday drink in Florida?

A. Eggnog
B. Cranberry Mule
C. White Russian
D. Coquito

You've got this

Events

Tuesday, Nov. 19

The Economics of Preservation Workshop | 1:30-4:30 p.m. | Historic Hillsborough Masonic Lodge, Tampa | Free for students, $20 for adults | Learn how to preserve 50+ year old local buildings with available grant opportunities + tips on attracting investors from the developer of the Le Meridian Hotel.

Trivia Tuesday | 6 p.m. | Armature Works | Free entry | Grab snacks from the Heights Public Market and compete for trivia night gold — and gift cards.

Wednesday, Nov. 20

Florida Conversations: A New Perspective of V.M. Ybor and His City | 6:30-8 p.m. | Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa | Free | Follow the journey of the Cuban cigar industry’s migration to Florida and its impact on the state’s industrial rise by 1900 — reserve a spot.

Champagne Tasting | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Epicurean Hotel, Tampa | $75 | Transport straight to France with this guided tasting of Vranken Pommery Champagne with cheese and charcuterie bites.

Thursday, Nov. 21

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg | $65 | Festoon your Turkey Day table with an beautiful Thanksgiving seasonal floral centerpiece made at this guided class with the Roaming Petal.

Bonsai & Brews | Thursday, Nov. 21-Thursday, May 15 | Times vary | Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen, Tampa | $75 | Learn from local bonsai artists as they guide you through the process of creating your own miniature tree while enjoying some brews.

Ybor Arts Tour Literary Stop | 7-9 p.m. | Gasparilla Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Tampa | Free entry | Jillian Abby and Kerry Kriseman share their stories in a workshop that will bring out your inner writer.

Friday, Nov. 22

Winter Village | 5-10 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa | Free | Hop aboard the Winter Village Express — a themed excursion through Tampa’s Downtown on the historic streetcar — and enjoy ice skating, treats, music, and all kinds of wintery magic.

Calendar events here

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Cause

🎁 Help make the holidays special for 1,500+ local kids

Presented By Bank of Central Florida

Two women and one man, dressed in suits, standing in a hallway, posing for a photo.

Looking for a bank that’s invested in our community? Schedule a discovery meeting with a specialist at Bank of Central Florida, member FDIC.|Photo provided by Bank of Central Florida

‘Tis the season for giving back.

Bank of Central Florida and Heartland for Children are partnering to support 1,500+ children in foster care this season through the Rudolph Roundup Toy Drive.

Here’s how you can help:

Drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Bank of Central Florida branch
Host a toy drive at your workplace or community group
Donate online to support gift purchases

Learn more about how Bank of Central Florida supports Heartland year-round with financial tools + personalized support.

Find a branch

News Notes

Announced

Another win for Champa Bay. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four is coming to Tampa in 2025. The showdown takes over Amalie Arena for the semifinal games on Friday, April 4, and the championship on Sunday, April 6. Get your tickets soon. (That’s So Tampa)

Gallery

Pinellas County Commissioners are expected to delay a vote on funding for the Rays’ new ballpark today. But in the meantime, new photos were just released of the damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton. The storm caused major damage inside, knocking over signs and wrecking concession stands. (Tampa Bay Times)

Open

Welcome to Italy ... errr the Crislip Cafe. The funky cafe just opened a buchette del vino — otherwise known as a wine window — in the historic St. Pete arcade building. Head to the cafe’s courtyard to order a glass of vino or a mocktail from the arched window. (I Love the Burg)

Number

16. That’s how many Hillsborough County Schools made US News & World Report’s list of the top 100 schools in Florida. Local institutions like McKitrick Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Lutz Preparatory School all made the list. Check out our schools guide for even more local info. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

History

A longtime Pass-A-Grille haunt just earned some major recognition. The Seahorse — which took on devastating flooding during Hurricane Helene — is now a designated historic building. The laid-back eatery started serving breakfast classics with a waterfront view back in 1938, and they’re working on cleaning it up for the next 40 years. (I Love the Burg)

Real Estate

A Davis Islands property just hit the market for $15+ million. The 3,600-sqft home did take on water during the hurricanes, and is being marketed as a teardown. Why the steep pricetag? The 0.8 acre lot is one of the largest open-bay waterfront lots available. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Sports

With 301 wins added to his long list of accolades, is Andrei Vasilevskiy the best goalie in Lightning history? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Shop

This the last call to secure your spot in our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. Get your giftable product or service in front of 57,000+ potential shoppers before the season ends.

Finance

How much could you borrow from your home? Get HELOC quotes now by calculating your payment.*

Holiday Pick

Gift a lifetime of languages for less

Presented By Rosetta Stone

A hand holding a smartphone with Rosetta Stone's "Holiday Dinner" lesson pulled up.

Rosetta Stone’s lessons focus on real-world images and scenarios to help users learn faster + retain more. |Photo provided by Rosetta Stone

Whether you’re a travel bug planning your next trip, wanting to connect with another culture, or looking to learn something new, the holidays are the perfect time to dive into a new language — or 25.

Gift yourself (or a friend) lifetime access to all of Rosetta Stone’s languages with their Lifetime Unlimited plan at Black Friday pricing. With one low payment, you can immerse yourself in engaging language lessons whenever you want, forever.

Learn more + snag 60% off

The Buy

This 3-in-1 portable charger. Ditch your knot of clunky charging cords for Anker’s ultra-compact charger that includes a built-in USB-C cord, power bank, and foldable charger.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Did you see that the Tampa Bay Times named Rocca their favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? You should follow us on Instagram for even more need-to-know updates.

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