An excellent meal on the town is one of the great joys in life.
Whether you’re looking for a new date night spot, cocktail hangout, or world-class cuisine, may we suggest St. Pete’s Juno & the Peacock? The Beach Drive restaurant boasts “new American coastal cuisine” with a carefully curated drinks menu arranged by the decade. City Editor Patrick’s opinion: This spot has the best espresso martinis in the entire Tampa Bay area. Also, you should definitely order the crab cakes. And the key lime pie.
Events
Events
Monday, June 30
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Athletics | Monday, June 30-Wednesday, July 2 | Times vary | George M. Steinbrenner Field | $14+ | The Rays and the A’s are preparing for a battle of the bays as our TBAY squad returns home this week.
Tuesday, July 1
Free Tuesday | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Glazer Children’s Museum | Free | School’s out — it’s time to whittle away the summer months with a free visit to the to the downtown museum’s interactive exhibits + educational activities.
Wednesday, July 2
Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lykes Gaslight Square Park | Price of purchase | The first Wednesday of every month, you can sweeten your lunch break with local food trucks at the downtown park.
Thursday, July 3
Summerset @ Sunset | 5-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | $15+ | Parents can get a breather and enjoy the farm while the kids enjoy activities so fun, they don’t even know they’re educational.
Friday, July 4
July 4th Boat Parade | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Tampa Riverwalk | Free | Head to the waterfront for an Independence Day celebration with hundreds of boats, a water ski show, and fireworks — obviously.
You’re saying we get more Lightning hockey next season? That’s right, folks. The NHL is expanding to 84 games for the 2025-26 season — two more than before. The league and the Players’ Association also agreed to several other changes, including a new salary cap in the playoffs and contract length adjustments. (Tampa Bay Times)
Number
72.2 million. That’s how many Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July, a 2.4% increase from last year. This includes an estimated 5.84 million people traveling by air — if you’re one of those flyers, familiarize yourself with Tampa International Airport before departure. (AAA)
State
It looks like Floridians believe in the power of sweet potatoes. That’s the most popular superfood in the state, based on Google search data compiled by Eachnight. If you want to buy some, or see what other goodies are growing in TBAY, head to a local farmers market.
Ranked
No. 24. That’s where Tampa ranked on Resonance’s list of America’s 100 best cities. The ranking used data ranging from a city’s GDP to content on Tripadvisor and Instagram + highlighted Tampa’s 246 days of sun and Michelin-starred eateries.
Drink
Ready for a twist on a classic? Good Housekeeping named the spicy pina colada the drink of the summer, which heats up the cocktail’s recipe by adding a spicy ingredient like chile-infused rum. If you’d rather drink something else, we think local happy hours are always on trend.
Watch
ESPN is launching Vibe Check, its first all-female-led sports show tonight. The panel show will feature analysis and commentary on all sports, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a little comedy in the mix. Check out new episodes on Disney+ on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Film
“Jaws,” often credited as the original summer blockbuster, is now 50 years old. Steven Spielberg’s thriller debuted on June 20, 1975, but it seems a comeback is lurking in the waters. The film will return to local theaters this summer, starting Aug. 28. (USA TODAY)
Mansion Monday
This outrageous lakefront Thonotosassa mansion makes the “Love Island” villa look like a shoebox, where European-style elegance and architectural marvel combine across 25,000+ sqft. Highlights include a detailed recreation of the Oval Office, a home theater complete with red curtains, and a screened-in tropical oasis of a pool. In another life, perhaps.
Listen
Head Coach Todd Bowles and General Manager Jason Licht are both staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after signing multi-year contract extensions. Find out more about their deals from the local experts producing LockedOn’s team-focused podcasts.
Community
Uh-oh, short-staffed again? Don’t sweat it — the TBAYtoday Job Board has your back. Post your job, reach awesome local talent, and get that role filled fast. Oh, and did we mention it’s totally free? Yep, like zero dollars.
A colorful home in Seminole Heights brightens the corner of Mohawk and 11th. | Photo by TBAYtoday
It’s safe to say that over the years, our area has been touched by countless historical figures and happenings — many of which have shaped the names of Tampa Bay’s buildings, parks, and streets.
In this guide, we’re delving into the history of TBAY’s streets — specifically, how they were named. Kennedy Boulevard — renamed in 1963 in honor of the 35th president of the United States who visited Tampa just a week before his death. The bridge that crosses the Hillsborough River was also renamed in JFK’s honor.
Coffee Pot Bayou — the Tampa Bay Times tried to uncover the reason for Coffee Pot Bayou’s name to no avail. However, the connecting Snell Isle has European-inspired street names (such as Catalan Boulevard, Alora Street, and Seville Lane) at the behest of developer Perry Snell.
Nebraska Avenue — this street was named for a simple reason: An influx of Nebraskans moved to Tampa in the late 19th century. The area outside downtown offered space for fishing + hunting.
We’ve got all the Fourth of July essentials you need and won’t immediately throw away after the holiday. (Think: Family-friend games you can play all summer long, a reusable + safe alternative to fireworks, and grill accessories that last). Buy these items today for the chance for them to arrive before the holiday.
🍖 Get the grill ready with this scouring stone that cleans better and faster than a brush.
🔥 Speaking of the grill, trade your old pocket lighter for this windproof one.
🎆 This light up bubble blower serves as a safe, kid-friendly replacement for fireworks.
🇺🇸 This red, white, and blue reusable tablecloth is stain-resistant and waterproof.
☀️ No summer holiday is complete without a fun backyard game like Spikeball or lifesize Jenga.
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.
Last week, we asked you how many named storms you’re predicting for the 2025 hurricane season
And most of you agree with the experts, with 53% of votes coinciding with the forecasted 13-19 storms.
Next, 26% believe we’ll go through all 21 names set aside for 2025. That would still be nine short of the record-high 30 that occurred during the 2020 season.
The final 21% are optimistic that there will be fewer than the prediction.
Have you got any friends or family in Orlando? I’ve got some good news for them.
We launched ORLtoday last week, featuring all the same pro tips, events, insights, and local expertise for O-Town that you get with us in TBAY. Once you factor in the longstanding LALtoday newsletter in Lakeland, we’ve basically conquered I-4 at this point.
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