Get ready for a whole new ride. | Photo by TBAYtoday
Yeah, the riverfront, Bayfront, and beachfront festivals have tapered off a tad due to the *ahem* overall weather, but the civic news never sleeps around here. We’re sharing the latest updates you need to know across Tampa Bay:
This year’s Cross Bay Ferry season ended earlier than expected. But we have some good news for those eager to enjoy one of TBAY’s coolest modes of transportation.
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Board just approved the transfer of a $4.86 million federal grant to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
You know we love to equip you with the facts — and share ways for you to tap in. Hillsborough County is looking for your feedback on how it should spend $700+ million in hurricane recovery money.
In a similar vein, Mayor Jane Castor also announced the city recently removed 500 tons of debris from its stormwater system + spruced up its response plans, according to WUSF.
Asked
Asked
Are you prepped for hurricane season?
A. Yep, I’m all set B. No, not quite C. I’m still reeling from last year’s storms
Free Tuesday | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Glazer Children’s Museum | Free | School’s out, it’s time to celebrate with a free visit to see the downtown museum’s interactive exhibits + educational activities.
What’s Pop-In: River Arts | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Downtown Tampa | Free entry | Grab some eats from the Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta, then give your feedback to city staff on how they can shape programs, events, initiatives, and experiences.
Emily Catalano | 7-8:30 p.m. | Funny Bone Comedy Club | $32 | The “Comic to Watch” takes the Big Guava stage for a standout set featuring her signature slow pace and dry humor with punchlines that “surprise you twice.”
Wednesday, June 4
“Marie Antoinette” | 7:30 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $10 | Start your Sofia Coppola summer off right with a showing of her legendary 2006 film following the French monarch.
Thursday, June 5
HILI Fitness on the Mat | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Armature Works | Free | Bring your yoga mat along for a full-body, beat-driven experience that blends traditional Pilates principles with high-energy strength training and mobility work.
Friday, June 6
The Nurdle Patrol: Spreading Awareness of Plastic Pellets | 6 p.m. | The James Museum | $5+ | Inspired by the special exhibition “RARE AIR,” Jace Tunnell will discuss the impact and implications of microplastic pellets known as nurdles.
Summer Game Nights | 7-11 p.m. | Oxford Exchange | $13 | Bring your favorite board, card, or tabletop game for a night of strategy and social connection — and buy a glass of tea and coffee to fuel your fervor.
Yanni Gourde’s stickin’ around. The forward just inked a six-year contract extension with the Lightning. The contract is valued at $2.33 million per year. Last season, Gourde had one goal and 13 assists over 21 regular season games. (Tampa Bay Times)
Sports
The 2025-2026 NFL season is quickly approaching, and the RayJay’s new neighbor (the Rays) is shifting their schedule. In order to cut down on traffic + congestion, the team is moving the Aug. 23 game against the St. Louis Cardinals to Aug. 21 + pushing the Sept. 21 start time to 7:35 p.m. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Open
Weekends call for coffee out, right? The folks at Hogg Batch think so too. HB Gold Bar, a weekend-only luxury bar, just opened in the Burg’s Grand Central District. Stop by the tasting room on Fridays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for barrel-aged beans + a limited menu. (I Love the Burg)
Announced
The Rays’ future stadium plans are still unclear. Mayor Jane Castor said “the city needs to be prepared to answer a call from the Rays if it comes” at an event late last week. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has voiced his intent to keep the team in TBAY. (St. Pete Catalyst)
Quoted
“We certainly have our eye on a couple of potentially transformative developments in Tampa that just don’t make sense to move forward in the current economic environment.” That’s what Ben Collins, the head of Crescent Communities, said about TBAY’s real estate scene. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Community
Getting kids prepped for hurricanes + keeping them calm during storms can be challenging. So local publisher Sparks Creative Stories is offering free audio access to its new book “Day of Disaster and Doom! How to Feel Safe When It’s Scary.” Listen to the book online. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Number
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The Buy
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🐱 A rechargeable automatic feeder with customizable feeding schedules + portion sizes.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
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