01.03.2025

From our friends at

Today’s Forecast

Transform the Christmas magic into mulch

When the only thing decking the halls is pine needles. | Photo by TBAYtoday

For those that celebrate Christmas, it’s time to pack up the holly jolly and start the new year afresh. And those who didn’t put up a fake frasier have to figure out how and where to dispose of it.

That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, we have some tips on how to put an old tree to good use.

Curbside pickup

The good news? Hillsborough will recycle your tree for you: all you have to do is bring it out to the curb for your neighborhood’s usual pick-up day.

In St. Pete, residents should put their tree — sans ornaments, tinsel, and other decorations — where your trash is normally picked up by Saturday, Jan. 11. A note: The City will pick up the tree by Friday, Feb. 10.

Pinellas County also offers pickup options. Just use the county’s search tool to find an option near you.

Drop-off + mulch options

Asked

Did you reset your home for the new year?

A. Of course, I needed a fresh start
B. Not yet
C. Nope

Let us know

Events

Friday, Jan. 3

Putt the Pier | Friday, Jan. 3-Sunday, Jan. 5 | Times vary | St. Petersburg Pier | $13 | It’s the final weekend to hit the links on the scenic, waterfront Pier.

Family Artmaking | 1-4 p.m. | The James Museum, St. Petersburg | Free | Spend some time at the Western art museum with the kiddos icicle painting, puffy snow painting, and making snowflake gelli prints.

Swan Lake: Live Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 p.m. | Mahaffey Theater | $62+ | Prepare to be enchanted by the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s performance of the classic ballet to music from the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.

“Ain’t Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations” | Friday, Jan. 3-Sunday, Jan. 5 | 8 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts | $35+ | The musical set to the legendary band’s greatest hits features themes of brotherhood and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America.

Saturday, Jan. 4

Brewing Up Fitness | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen, Tampa | $10 | Flow into the new year with a guided yoga session followed by a light lager — or skip the beer and pay $8 for the class.

Jim Gaffigan | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena | $35+ | The American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer takes the stage on his “Barely Alive Tour.”

Sunday, Jan. 5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints | 1 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium | $82+ | The quest for a Super Bowl showing continues as the Bucs take on the Saints.

There's plenty more to do

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Opening

Get ready to kickstart your mornings. Jump Cup, a new drive-thru java joint, is opening soon on Gandy. The locally-owned spot will offer brews, plus smoothies and pastries. Follow Jump Cup on Instagram for opening updates. (That’s So Tampa)

Watch

Who doesn’t love food reviews? That’s rhetorical. Anthony Gilbert is sharing some of Tampa’s best working-class eats to 65,000+ people via his social media show “Call Anthony.” Spend some time behind the camera with Gilbert. (Tampa Bay Times)

Outdoors

Fort De Soto’s causeway, boat ramp + part of the campground just reopened after hurricane repairs. The rest of the popular Pinellas park remains closed for additional work. (I Love the Burg)

Ranked

No. 3. CommercialCafe just rated Tampa Bay the third-best tech hub in Florida. Researchers looked at factors like the number of technology jobs, quality of life, and median earnings. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Kids

Generation Beta. That’s what kids born in 2025 through the year 2039 will be called — aka “Gen Beta.” Still trying to catch up on Gen Z and Millennial lingo? We’ve got you covered. (USA Today)

Trivia

Calling all historians, APUSH students, and know-it-alls. Have you put your knowledge of US trivia to the test by taking our dang-near-impossible quiz? Go ahead and try to get a perfect score, we dare you.

Eat

If Florida was a sandwich, what would it be? If you said a Cubano, you agree with Chowhound’s list of “The Most Iconic Sandwich in Each State.” Way cooler than Idaho’s, if you ask us.

Ranked

Recent data from Lyft found that Tampa is the No. 6 best city for the latest nights in the US. That’s probably because we have so many hopping bars and restaurants to try across TBAY.

Sports

Where do Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, and Chris Olave play into this week’s game? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Listen

Did you hear that? Unlike most hearing aids, the Horizon IX uses dual processors to separate speech from noise, delivering twice the speech clarity and crispness. Experience the ultimate hearing solution.*

Play

Our resolution is to eat out more

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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.

Boulon Brasserie, Tampa | Some cover

If you’re looking to celebrate the cooler weather with an elegant, French spread, have we got a place for you. One of Water Street Tampa’s most popular spots serves caviar, blue crab beignets, duck confit, plus plenty of breakfast and dessert items.

City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.

Even more ideas

The Buy

A stylish button down cardigan that can add extra polish to any outfit. Choose your favorite color — we like white and green.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

From our Editor

I hope everyone had a restful, lovely past couple of weeks. I truly did. And on an earnest note, I spent so much time doing my favorite things around TBAY: eating a SuperNatural Food & Wine sausage, egg, and cheese on the Riverwalk, bringing my bestie to The James, picking up eclairs at Mazzaro’s.

You know your life feels good when you use your time off to do the same things you would normally shove into a weekend.

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