06.17.2025

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94º | 20% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 6:33 a.m. | Sunset 8:28 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 9:26 a.m. + 7:44 p.m. | Low: 1:48 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 4:09 p.m. | Low: 10:24 a.m. + 11:18 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Bailey’s Cheeky’s take

Cheeky's, a new St. Pete resturant's interior is filled with tables and wood chairs, a light blue bar with wooden stools, and shiplaped walls.

Take in the old school fish shack vibes at Cheeky’s. | Photo by Sarah Maingot

There have been far too many restaurant openings to keep track of lately in Tampa Bay. But we’re doing our best to keep you tastefully informed.

Cheeky’s Fish & Raw Bar, the latest offering from Willa’s co-founder Nate Siegel, opened on Central Avenue a little under two months ago. The neighborhood joint draws inspiration from “New England oyster bars and Southern fish shacks.”

A tray of oysters sits on a stand on a table with saltines, hot sauce bottles, and a variety of sauces. — The oyster spread at Cheeky’s is one to beat.

City Editor Bailey stopped by to try some of the most-enticing options while an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in, cocooning in the white-shuttered restaurant with the orchestra of a Florida summer.

Oyster burger

I was admittedly a little nervous (get a grip) to try this one. But the burger was interesting — in a good way, not an “I wish I ordered something else” way.

First off, it’s not just oysters encased with a bun. The cheddar smashburger is topped with fried oysters and pickled onions on a sesame bun. So you get the best of both worlds: Some salty, briny flair + thin, crispy burger.

The skinny on 3 more picks

Asked

What’s your favorite kind of seafood to order out?

A. Oysters
B. Fish
C. Crab or lobster
D. Sushi

Don't be shellfish

Events

Tuesday, June 17

Starter and Scones Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Armature Works | $88 | Learn all about sourdough starter and prepare your own batch of savory or vanilla scones + take your intel and all the supplies you need home.

Wednesday, June 18

Lou Gramm: “The Original Voice of Foreigner” | 7 p.m. | Palladium Theater | $51+ | One of the greatest rockers of all time brings hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Juke Box Hero” to the historic venue’s stage with special guests Panco and Solitaire.

Thursday, June 19

Junteenth Complimentary Admission | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | The James Museum | Free | Peruse recent works by living Native American artists from the Southwest, wildlife paintings, and an array of other works — reserve your time slot online.

2025 Juneteenth Film Celebration | 6 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | Free with registration | Cozy into one of the old school red seats for this showcase of short films, “Is That Black Enough for You?!?,” and a panel — the first 150 guests score free popcorn and soda.

Friday, June 20

Summer Kick-Off | 12-6 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park | Free | Pop over to the Tampa Downtown Partnership party featuring a free 18-hole putt putt course, Dunkin Donuts samples, and the brand-new PopStroke food truck.

Dunedin Blue Jays | 5:30 p.m. | BayCare Ballpark | $11+ | Watch the team take the field in their specialty pink Beach Dogs jerseys, and take home a free pink pickleball paddle at this Breast Cancer Awareness game.

Avril Lavigne: “The Greatest Hits” | 7 p.m. | MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre | $35+ | Don’t miss your chance to pop in those pink extensions and scream out the pop-punk Queen’s hits on her comeback tour.

Even more ideas

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

St. Pete City Council approved ~$160 million in federal funding for the Sunrise St. Pete initiative. The money will go toward storm recovery efforts over the next six years like housing, beefing up the city’s resiliency, and non-profit community support services. (St. Pete Catalyst)

Sports

Champa Bay stays on top. The Tampa Bay Sun won its first USL Super League championship game — in the league’s inaugural season. Check out pics from the team’s 1-0 overtime win over Ft. Lauderdale United FC. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Try This

Summer adventures await. Sea Life just opened in Winter Haven. The new “theme park under the sea” boasts 25 hands-on exhibits + 10 underwater-themed galleries. The star of the show: An 180° ocean tunnel packed with sharks, rays, and other marine life. (Tampa Bay Times)

Open

Speaking of sea life, a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot just debuted in Tampa. Sushi Masa offers nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and hibachi options aplenty. Take a peek at the menu. (That’s So Tampa)

Drink

Welcome to the Burg. Lucid Coffee & Kava is opening soon on Roosevelt Boulevard North. Customers can expect locally-roasted coffee from Savage Coffee Roasters, kava, mocktails, teas, events, and ample coworking space. (I Love the Burg)

Sports

Antoine Winfield Jr. needs to prove he’s back. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Shop

This summer, treat your feet to Hoka’s exceptional cushioning and support — Brad’s Deals has curated a list of the best stores offering unbeatable Hoka shoe prices.*

Stat

8%. That’s how much more expensive car insurance premiums will likely become this year due to the 25% tariff on imported cars. See if you’re wasting money on overpaying for car insurance — and how to course correct.*

The Buy

Don’t spend hours at the mall looking for new summer dresses. We’ve done the work for you. These five stunners are available at Nordstrom:

👗 Steve Madden’s tiered cotton midi dress for under $40.
👗 An effortless cotton modal wrap dress with a low ruffled hem.
👗 This Tommy Bahama linen dress with a versatile shift silhouette.
👗 A 100% cotton shirtdress with a matching belt for added structure.
👗 This elegant one-shoulder maxi dress with a whimsical watercolor design + ruching.

More worth The Buy

Games

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.

Let the games begin

The Wrap

One of my beloved St. Pete Beach spots is finally back. Grove Surf + Coffee just reopened its doors after being wrecked by Hurricane Helene. Congratulations team, I can’t wait to try the latest seasonal specials.

Send us a scoop, question, or feedback

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