07.17.2025

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93º | 60% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 6:44 a.m. | Sunset 8:27 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 8:27 a.m. + 9:18 p.m. | Low: 3:12 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 5:30 p.m. | Low: 11:32 a.m. + 11:05 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Make the most of summer vacation

The rendering of the Busch Gardens' new realm: Wild Oasis, a leafy, jungle-inspired area with a drop tower, fake mountain, and mist.

We’re already dreaming of that drop. | Rendering via Busch Gardens

You don’t need to head to Costa Rica or the Amazon to take to the treetops in search of adventure. Busch Gardens just opened its newest realm, Wild Oasis.

Here’s what your little thrill seekers + animal-lovers can expect:

Treetop Drop, a 35-ft tower that features jungle scenes and a cenote-themed environment
Canopy Climb, a treetop course made up 200 ft of horizontal climbing trails + vertical climbs reaching up to 45 ft high
Enchanted Falls, a splash pad area
Habitat Hideaway, a habitat filled with capybaras, giant anteaters, quirrel monkeys, and tropical birds

If theme parks don’t strike your fancy, check out tons more kid-friendly ideas, from indoor trampoline parks to restaurants with menus approved by little ones.

City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.

Even more kid-friendly ideas

Asked

Have you heard of Unison?

A. Yes
B. No
C. Not sure

Answer here

Events

Thursday, July 17

Friday, July 18

Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam | Friday, July 18-Saturday, July 19 | 7 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall | $29 | Sit back in the air conditioning and jam out to jazzy tunes from Dave Koz, Brian McKnight, Peabo Bryson, Jonathan Butler, Peter White, Keiko Matsui, and more.

OE After Dark | 7-10 p.m. | Oxford Exchange | Free with reservation | It’s time for a good old summer game night at the Cigar City bookstore — pick from Mahjong, Catan, Ticket to Ride, Code Names, or bring your own favorite game + grab a coffee or tea.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles | 7:35 p.m. | George M. Steinbrenner Field | $40+ | Give the Rays a warm welcome back as they try to make a strong start after the All-Star break.

Saturday, July 19

Fit & Fun On the Pier: Celebrating 5 Years of ExPERience | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | St. Pete Pier | Free | Celebrate five years of the Sunshine City hot spot with some yoga, a fun run, Pilates, and salsa moves in the summer sun.

Hometown Hero Day | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Midtown Tampa | Free | Meet TBAY’s own first responders, step on board real fire trucks, and enjoy giveaways, music, and party with the Rays and Lightning Street Teams.

Sunday, July 20

The Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Water Street Tampa | Free entry | What’s better than a Sunday morning spent sifting through 60 booths offering everything from fresh local produce and eats to handcrafted goods?

There's so much more to do

Click here to have your event featured.

Tech

💻 Why cybersecurity insurance matters in the digital age

Presented by Higginbotham Insurance

Woman sits in front of laptop computer. — Stay protected with smart cybersecurity practices and personalized coverage from Higginbotham.

Did you know? Every 39 seconds, someone falls victim to a cyberattack — often through phishing, identity theft, or ransomware.

The risk is real. With so much of life happening online (think: banking, shopping, social media), it’s important to stay vigilant.

Keep these tips in mind:

Don’t let one breach turn your world upside down
Stay safe with innovative cybersecurity practices and the right insurance

Higginbotham can help protect you with personalized coverage and risk management solutions tailored to your digital life.

Find your insurance fit

News Notes

Weather

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a medium chance that a system moving over the state makes its way into the Gulf and becomes the season’s next tropical depression or storm. Forecasters say to expect heavy rain today, and 60% chance of rain tomorrow. (Tampa Bay Times)

Coming Soon

This one’s for the wine aficionados. Volta Wine + Market is opening on the ground floor of Residences at 400 Central, offering glasses of specialty vino and all the supplies you need to make your at-home happy hours special. The spot opens early next year. (Tampa Bay Times)

Announced

Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital employees can now ride from Beach to Burg for free. The healthcare system’s 2,000+ staffers can now ride city buses and trolleys (like the SunRunner) for free using PSTA’s UPASS program. (I Love the Burg)

Award

One of TBAY’s own is one of the Best New Bartenders in the country. Punch + Astral Tequila just named Daniel Bareswilt to its 2025 list. The Alter Ego bartender has also slung drinks at CW’s Gin Joint and Azure. Read more about his bar program that “punches above its weight.”

Drink

Margarita Wars? Count us in. Head to the James Museum tomorrow, July 18 to watch local bartenders + restaurants compete to make Tampa Bay’s best margarita. And, to sip on tequila-infused drinks from 24+ vendors — including last year’s champion, Jotoro. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Announced

Meet the Litter Skimmer’s little brother, the Little Skimmer. Tampa just unveiled a new smaller workboat that can access harder-to-reach areas like seawalls, mangroves, and shallow edges.

Real Estate

The Berkeley Beach Club’s got a new owner. Maryann Ferenc sold the Pass-a-Grille boutique hotel + its in-house restaurant, The Dewey, to Helen and Dave Feinberg. The hotel’s restaurant took on four feet of floodwater during Hurricane Helene, and has been closed since. (Tampa Bay Times)

Arts

Did you know that Florida Southern College was designed by America’s most celebrated architect? Check out the 20-year story behind the “campus of the future” at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art’s limited-time exhibit.*

Sports

Kevin Weiss and Ulises Sambrano break down the potential sale’s far-reaching implications, from a possible new stadium in Tampa to changes in team operations. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Home

Imagine stepping into a sleek, modern shower and not tripping over a peeling tub. HomeBuddy can match you with a local pro for a spa-worthy remodel — get a free estimate.*

Wellness

Shaped to arouse the whole you, this FDA-registered vibrating ring adjusts to your unique shape to support arousal, natural lubrication, and overall intimate wellness. (For the 77% of our readers who are women, consider this part of your self-care toolkit.) Bonus: Save 30%.*

Today Is

National Lottery Day. Feeling lucky? See what you could win with the Florida Lottery. Play responsibly.†^

Plan Ahead

📅 Make your event the talk of Tampa Bay

A summer event with a person playing a guitar and people watching.

Graphic by 6AM City

Don’t let your upcoming event get lost in oversaturated summer calendars. Amplify it to TBAYtoday’s 51,000+ engaged subscribers through our self-service ad portal.

Two eye-catching options include:

Newsletter promo: Up to 75 words, three links, and an image promoting your event — custom-crafted by our team.
Email header: A media rich, visual ad at the top of our newsletter. Your event will be the first thing readers see.

More ways to promote your event

Jobs of the Week

Provider Enrollment Advisor at Zelis
Payroll Specialist at Workwell Technologies
Hospital Medical Leader at Vetco Total Care

See more jobs

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The Buy

Save hundreds when you shop Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale for top deals on apparel, home, beauty, and more. We’re adding these five to our cart before they sell out:

👗 This Sam Edelman minidress is marked down to under $80.
🥘 Save over $120 on Le Creuset’s Traditional 4.5-Quart Enamel Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven.
👖 Get these high-rise wide-leg jeans for under $60.
🛏️ Score over 30% off this UGG throw blanket.
👞 These top-rated Cole Haan sneakers are $50 off.

More great deals this way

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

Yesterday, we asked “How often do you shop local?” And you made us proud, with 43% of people saying pretty frequently.

We love that. If you need suggestions for TBAY spots to work into your routine, check out the Shop Small Tampa Directory — or some of our readers’ favorite spots.

^This content was created by our Client Success Team. Let’s work together — explore affordable advertising options at advertise.6amcity.com.

Send us a scoop, question, or feedback

† Disclaimers and Legal | * Advertising Policy

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