02.27.2025

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78º | 10% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 6:56 a.m. | Sunset 6:29 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 3:30 p.m. | Low: 9:03 a.m. + 8:18 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 11:52 a.m. + 11:13 p.m. | Low: 5:06 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

It’s time to welcome back your faves

Red-checkered chairs and are tucked into tables which are lined by plush, green booths in a room with massive windows and exposed brick.

Sip on a brew or two in the sun-soaked Mad Dogs & Englishmen dining room. | Photo by Collins PR Group

Some folks eat to live, but around here we live to eat.

Let’s take a bite of some of the new spots opening across Tampa Bay. And some of them might look a little familiar.

Seymour’s Coffee

The newest member of the Pete’s Bagels family opened its doors this week. The coffee and bagel spot is serving matzo ball soup, sandwiches on rye bread, coffee, and bagels (duh) out of the historic Snell Arcade building.

Mad Dogs & Englishmen

The South Tampa pub recently reopened in a massive new space on South MacDill Avenue. Now helmed by Oxford Commons Hospitality Company, the new location serves some of the tavern’s old fare in a new 6,000-sqft space.

The Moon Under Water

Talk about a comeback kid. The longtime Sunshine City British pub is reopening just four years after its 2021 closure — and just down the block from its former Beach Drive location.

Forbici Modern Italian

Hyde Park’s beloved Italian joint is opening up another location in TBAY. Owners announced a second location will replace Sea Salt in the revamped Sundial complex in downtown St. Pete.

Even more deets

Events

Thursday, Feb. 27

Florida Strawberry Festival | Thursday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City | $4+ | Celebrate all things strawberry with this annual festival full of food, headliner entertainment, and midway rides.

5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track | 5-6:30 p.m. | North Straub Park | $40+ | Race (on feet) alongside your fellow sprinters on the downtown track.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena | $28+ | The NHL playoffs loom, and the Bolts need to put some wins together to secure their ticket.

Conservation on Tap by Conservation Florida | 7-9 p.m. | Golden Isles Brewing Co., St. Petersburg | Free entry | Sip brews, meet birds of prey from Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, and shop wildlife prints — all while supporting land conservation efforts.

Friday, Feb. 28

Saturday, March 1

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Job

Hiring locally just got easier

Find candidates who want to work right here, right now. | Gif by 6AM City

Local job boards are a total game-changer — for both job seekers and businesses. Instead of sifting through endless listings, they focus on quality over quantity, connecting employers with candidates who actually want to work in the area. That means fewer relocation headaches and better retention.

For big and small businesses, it’s a smart way to connect with candidates who understand the local community and culture. Plus, hiring locally usually means a faster, smoother hiring process. Whether you’re looking for a job or trying to fill one, TBAYtoday Job Board keeps things simple, practical, and close to home.

Post your first job listing at no cost

News Notes

Announced

Piney Point is closing for good. The phosphate plant — that leaked 200+ million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay in 2021 — will be covered with a liner and grassed over. WUSF took a tour of the plant before it shuts down. (WUSF News)

Development

The Burg is one step closer to securing a revamped Science Center, as Florida legislators just gave the project $2.5 million. So far St. Pete leaders have collected $9 million for the $25 million West St. Pete project. The facility will offer year-round programs and summer camps. (St. Pete Catalyst)

History

Tampa leaders just unveiled a new historical marker honoring those interred at Tampa’s Zion Cemetery, the city’s oldest African American cemetery. Hundreds of the cemetary’s graves were found under a public housing complex and businesses in Ybor Heights. (WTSP)

Travel

Tampa International just rolled out a new security screening checkpoint. The new ~20,000-sqft Airside E checkpoint features 360° screening machines. The area will be up and running before thousands of travelers pass through the airport for spring break. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Try This

The Downtown St. Pete barricades are up. The bleachers are built. The St. Pete Grand Prix is here. Still need tickets to the IndyCar Series race? You can score two free general admission tickets to Friday’s action. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Closing

Melting Pot Social is shutting down this weekend. The downtown Tampa fondue spot will serve its last bowls of steaming cheese on Sunday, March 2. Owners announced the news on social media, saying they intend to retire the brand.

Sports

It’s time to defeat Gotham — FC, that is. The Tampa Bay Sun play the club this Sunday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Riverfront Stadium. Tickets start at $28. (That’s So Tampa)

Transit

Meet The Grouper. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority just launched a shuttle service bringing travelers from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport to and from Clearwater Beach. Rates run $8 for a solo traveler, $20 for a group of two to four passengers, and $30 for a group of five to eight people.

Eat

First, we binge. Ybor City’s Casa Santo Stefano is hosting a Carnevale celebration, basically a pre-Lenten binge. The 10-item menu features specials like bracioluni flank steak and arancini al burro. Stop by to try the menu, enjoy live music, balloon-making, and face painting through Tuesday, March 4. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Number

$500. That’s how much we’re looking to raise to support our staff and mission here at TBAYtoday — and our fundraising ends tomorrow. If you love the free community resource you’re reading right now (we sure do), support us today with a one-time donation. See how close we are to our goal.

Sports

Can the Lightning carry their momentum into the playoffs? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Number

$2,101. That’s the record-breaking price that car insurance premiums are projected to reach in 2025. Read: It’s more important than ever to make sure you’re not overpaying. Review Money’s best car insurance list to see if you could save (maybe up to $1,300 a year).*

Finance

Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. This one even offers 5% cash back on your purchases, helping you save even more while you pay down your debt.*

The Buy

Your two new best friends to speed up blow drys: a really good hairbrush and Kenra Platinum’s time-saving blow dry spray. The Wet Brush hairbrush features a vented design for faster airflow plus heat-resistant bristles, while the 4.7-star rated Kenra spray detangles, smooths, and decreases blow-dry time by 50%.

More worth The Buy

Small Business

📣 Calling all small business owners

Hyde Park Village in the sunshine. There is someone walking along the sidewalk in the background, while tables and chairs line the square. Trees are overhead and shops line the buildings in the background.

Big changes are coming to Hyde Park Village. | Photo by TBAYtoday

Here at TBAYtoday, you may already know we’re big on celebrating local, especially our city’s small businesses. Which is why a week dedicated to highlighting the heart of our communities is right up our alley.

Enter: Small Business Week — a national initiative that acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of small businesses — that we’ll be celebrating from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10.

We want to join in on the celebrations by highlighting some of the best small businesses in our city.

This is where we need your help.

If you own a local small business or know someone who does, celebrate Small Business Week with us by filling out a form about your business. We’ll be selecting businesses to feature in our newsletter throughout the week.

Asked

What is the name of your business?

Share it with us

The Wrap

Did Water Street Tampa tap my phone? Just kidding, but this event is so me. The neighborhood is hosting Cover to Cover, a grown-ups book fair, next Wednesday, March 5.

The bibliophile-approved event is packed with author signings, author talks, and a Blind Date with a Book experience.

Send us a scoop, question, or feedback

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