Plus, Reba's coming to the Strawberry Festival.
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Today’s Forecast

70 | 20% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:07 a.m. | Sunset 5:34 p.m.| Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 9:03 p.m. | Low: 1:11 + 11:32 p.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 4:38 p.m. | Low: 9:15 a.m. + 8:37 p.m. | Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

🗞️ The latest on the Rays stadium
A rendering of the Rays new proposed stadium, showing fans inside a ballpark.
The team’s future in Tampa Bay is still unclear.
Yesterday, St. Pete City Council voted to approve bonds that will pay for $287.5 million of the $1.3 billion new Rays stadium.

The council moved up the vote to this week, after previously delaying the vote on the bonds to January. Don’t worry we know a lot has happened, here’s a recap of the past couple weeks of action + a breakdown of the deal and project.

So what’s next? (as far as we know)

Pinellas County Commission still needs to approve their share — which is ~$312.5 million in bed tax money. The Commission is expected to vote on the bonds at its Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.

The Rays leadership shared a letter with the County Commission before its mid-November meeting. Leaders said the delay in funding approval made a 2028 opening impossible + the project unaffordable. The Rays did not send a letter terminating the deal, but they still could pull out of the agreement.

Asked

What’s your favorite part of Rays games?
A. The game, of course
B. Petting the rays (in the tank)
C. All the snacks
D. Seeing DJ Kitty and Co.

Events

Friday, Dec. 6

“Ring in the Holidays”, presented by The Florida Orchestra Guild | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 531 Brightwaters Blvd., St. Petersburg | $200+ | Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, and holiday spirit all in support of the Florida Orchestra.

Bert Kreischer & Mike Calta | 8 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater | $64+ | Enjoy a well-needed laugh from the TBAY-born comedian’s “Bert Aid” show — all proceeds go to Metropolitan Ministries for those affected by the hurricanes.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Snowfest | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | North Straub Park, St. Petersburg | $5 | Sail down a snowy sled hill, and enjoy arts and crafts tents, games, inflatables, and food trucks on the downtown waterfront.

Balance & Brews | 10-11 a.m. | World of Beer, Tampa | $14 | Embrace the crisp December air with an outdoor yoga sesh followed by a beer.

3rd Annual Howliday Market by Dog Moms of Tampa Bay | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Midtown Tampa | Free entry | Mingle with other dog lovers and check out 75+ dog-friendly vendors for treats and toys.

Tampa’s Santa Fest and Tree Lighting | 1-9 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park | Free | It’s time for the annual Tampa tradition, with a festive parade, dazzling dancers, stage entertainment, a holiday movie, and the tree lighting hosted by Mayor Jane Castor.

Sheng Wang | 7 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $40+ | The comedian, actor and writer hails from Houston, TX, and has hosted his own Netflix special “Sweet & Juicy.”

Sunday, Dec. 8

Chase the Dreidel 5K | 7 a.m. | 300 58th St. N., St. Petersburg | $45 | Run a scenic race along parts of the Pinellas Trail, then stay for the bounce house and latke dinner after the race.

St. Pete Yoga Fest | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg | $10+ | Take part in the yoga offerings, speakers corner, group sound healing, and concerts throughout the scenic garden.
There's plenty more to do
Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Seismic change could be coming to Florida’s land-use laws. A Hillsborough County judge just made a ruling that stripped Tampa City Council of its rezoning authority. The verbal ruling was made in the case regarding the proposed Harbour Island boutique hotel. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Show

Consider us gone to the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival. Yes, the one and only country superstar Reba McEntire, plus Boyz II Men are heading to next year’s TBAY tradition. They join Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beach Boys, Nelly, Lauren Daigle, Jon Pardi, and Sawyer Brown on the packed 11-day lineup. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Announced

Our beloved Buc Mike Evans has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award — for the fourth time. The wide receiver gives back through the Mike Evans Family Foundation. Cast your vote.

Transit

We’ve been waiting for this one. The stretch of First Avenue South that’s been shut down since the crane working on the Residences at 400 Central tower crashed into another building during Hurricane Milton is finally reopen. The impacted building is not open. (St. Pete Catalyst)

Open

The Book Rescuers also made a move. The massive used bookstore picked up its Pinellas Park operation and is now slinging books at a 14,000-sqft Largo warehouse. Stop by to browse 100,000+ spines, priced at $2 or $3. (St. Pete Rising)

Watch

So what does the inside of Tropicana Field look like right now? This updated drone footage of the Trop shows the exposed innards — from the turf-less field to the empty seats.

Pet

Your new furry friend awaits. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is overcrowded and needs folks to adopt. Take a peek at the pups, cats, and pocket pets that need a home.

Real Estate

More people moved to the South than any other region in 2024, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. It also shares the top reasons why movers chose a specific area, including proximity to loved ones, home price, and taxes. Newcomer? Check out our guides to living in TBAY.

Travel

Southwest fliers should get their ginger ale while they can. This week the airline began to end its cabin service earlier — at an altitude of 18,000 ft — to reduce injuries. It’s all good — there are plenty of food and drink options at Tampa International before you board. (Fast Company)

Shop

Looking for a gift that provides an experience? Check out this Florida Adventure Bucket List deck that comes with 50 scratch-off cards with things to do all around the state — including Tampa Bay + other Floridian gems like Gulf Breeze, Key West, Merritt Island, and Dry Tortugas National Park.

The Word

Oxford University Press announced its pick for Word of the Year — “brain rot.” Other finalists included “lore,” “dynamic pricing,” and “slop.” Counter the brain rot by touching grass at a local park or heading to one of these 20 museums in Tampa Bay. (Time Magazine)

Sports

Dive into some Bolts injury updates and Anthony Cirelli’s strong month of November. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

    Finance

    The bad news: Car repair costs have surged 17% in the last year, with some repairs exceeding $6,000. The good news: An Endurance protection plan could save you thousands. Sign up and receive $450 off your new contract, plus a free year of Elite Benefits. Get your free quote.*
    Looking for a five-minute national news read? Free newsletter 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive daily digest — from global events to business to culture.*

    Finance

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

    City Guide

    One outdoor table, please
    Snapinsta.app_400002659_18394925851006122_4344851038483043971_n_1080.jpg
    The adjacent Ulele Spring brings a taste of nature and vibrant wetland wildlife to your experience. | Photo via @uleletampa
    Is it just us, or does eating outside make food taste better?

    Catch some rays or laze in the shade at one of these 20+ Tampa Bay area patios. Pro tip: Don’t miss the shade level we’ve included for each of these locations.

    Restaurants

    Trophy Fish, multiple locations | Some cover

    What’s more TBAY than nautical-themed decor, ample seagrass plants, and boat drinks? We recommend trying the seafood joint’s Grand Central Oysters — doused with a dreamy kale Chimichurri sauce.

    Predalina, Tampa | Some cover

    This one’s for the foodies. The Michelin-recognized restaurant is known for its standout Meditteraen dishes like the tomato calamarata — finished with a tomato sauce and Greek sheep’s milk cheese.

    Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro, St. Pete | Partially covered

    Seated right at the entrance to the Pier, this longtime local spot has a little something for everyone. Order tacos, seafood, wedge salads, omelettes, and kiddie brunch options.
    City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.
    More guides

    The Buy
    The AirFly Pro — it’s a nifty gadget that will wirelessly transmit audio from in-flight entertainment to Bluetooth headphones so you can ditch those pesky wired earbuds.
    More worth The Buy

    The Wrap

    From our Editor
    Copy of City Editor-Wrap (1).png
    Not to flex, but my dog has the whitest smile on the Gulf Coast. If your favorite Fido’s smile needs a thorough cleaning, there’s a spot for that.

    The Burg’s Pearly Bites offers dental services for that special pup in your life.

    Answered

    Which movie would you want to see in the dome?
    Hi Res - MOSI Digital Dome Theatre Concept Image 6456px - credit MOSI.png

    Imagine watching an undersea expedition or film from this vantage point.

    Photo via MOSI

    The 1954 nautical journey “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was a clear favorite with 44% of the vote.

    We had a tie for second place. First up, 20% of folks said they’d like to see the Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” on the big screen. “The Martian” also received a strong 20% of the vote — must be Matt Damon.

    And finally 16% of readers said they’d like to “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in the blue dome.

    Send us a scoop, question, or feedback

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