08.22.2025

From our friends at

89º | 50% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 7:03 a.m. | Sunset 8:01 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 2:53 p.m. | Low: 8:15 a.m. + 10:17 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 10:44 p.m. | Low: 5:58 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Welcome to the Pharm

Skincare products sit on shelves on a green wall.

You’ll check out the product spread after your appointment. | Photo via Skin Pharm.

I need to work on my skin after dousing it in sun this summer, from long pre-work dog walks to attempting to keep my yard clear of wilted palm fronds.

So I was amped to check out Tampa Bay’s newest medspa, Skin Pharm, which opened this week. It’s the ultra-bougie aesthetics brand’s first location in Florida — just a brisk walk away from Bayshore Boulevard.

They offer all the popular stuff: Botox, Dysport, filler, microneedling, Moxi + BBL Photofacials (laser treatments), and Gold Infusions. I checked out one of the treatments.

A treatment chair sits in the center in front of massive windows looking out at the Tampa skies. — The view from the Skin Pharm office don’t hurt.

The decision-making process

When I arrived, I was between microneedling, which helps reduce fine lines and pores, and the BBL Photofacial, which tones down sun spots + other pigmentation issues.

Luckily, all of the treatments start with a consult so you can talk everything out with an expert.

My provider, Natalie, said the BBL laser might reduce the pesky sun spot I have near one eye. But you need to stay out of the sun (which I have not been) for two weeks prior, so we opted for microneedling instead.

How it went ...and a deal

Asked

What’s the buzziest beauty treatment right now?

A. Botox
B. RFP
C. Microneedling
D. PRF

You tell us

Events

Friday, Aug. 22

The Study Wine and Bourbon Tasting Lounge Ribbon Cutting Celebration | 2-3 p.m. | The Study Wine & Bourbon Tasting Lounge, St. Petersburg | Free | Sample plates from the Burg’s newest eatery, jam out to live music, pour your own bourbon and wine samples, and make connections.

Mayor’s Neighborhood University | Friday, Aug. 22-Sunday, Aug. 24 | Times vary | City Center at Hanna Avenue | Free | When disaster strikes you’ll be ready, after this Community Emergency Response Team training where you’ll learn how to put out small fires, assist search and rescue, and provide basic medical aid.

Live Music Night | 6-9 p.m. | Top Shelf Sports Lounge, Tampa | Free entry | It’s been a long week. Celebrate a fresh weekend with some live local tunes and a meal you didn’t have to cook.

Saturday, Aug. 23

Accessibility & the Arts: Sensory-Friendly Morning | 9-10 a.m. | The James Museum | Free with admission | Head to the Western art wonderland before it opens for art making + activities, plus meet, take pictures, and sketch Lil’ Sebastian err a mini horse.

Take a Professional Headshot | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Florida Museum of Photographic Arts | $50 | Whiten those teeth, iron those threads, and prep that pose to take a fresh new headshot. We will not be your work reference.

The Lure of Florida Fishing | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tampa Bay History Center | $19 | Cast a line into more than a century of Florida’s fishing history from early tarpon expeditions to celebrity anglers like Ernest Hemingway and Ted Williams in the new special traveling exhibit.

The Black Honkeys Band | 6-10:30 p.m. | Floridian Social Club | $14 | Yep, your favorite Tampa Bay band is “Pumpin’” up the downtown Sunshine City venue.

Zachariah Porter: “The Florida Shows Tour - LIVE!” | 7 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $36+ | Bring “the woman you met in line at the post office two weeks who you think could really be your friend” for stand-up, personal stories, and characters aplenty.

Sunday, Aug. 24

Native Plant Walk: Upper Tampa Bay Park | 8-10 a.m. | Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park | Free | Set out with the crew on a photography walk across the 596-acre peninsular park, snapping pics of red-shouldered hawks and bald eagles — make sure to register.

Pawty in the Plaza | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Water Street Tampa | Free entry | Adopt a new family member from the Mercy Full Project, pose in the doggie kissing booth, get a caricature of your dog, fetch a pup poem from a typewriter poet, and pick up a pup cup from Chill Bros.

“The Grateful Dead Movie” 2025 Meetup | Sunday, Aug. 24-Tuesday, Aug. 26 | Times vary | Tampa Theatre | $15 | Calling all Dead Heads — plop down in a cushy red chair for the film featuring live performances from a five-night stand in San Francisco in 1974 and interviews with band members and crew.

Really, you need more?

Click here to have your event featured.

Real Estate

Presented by Unison

House on street with sunset in background

With each mortgage payment, your equity grows — here’s what that can mean for homeowners. | Photo via Pexels

The Word: Equity. It’s the difference between your home’s current market value and what you still owe on your mortgage. Want to make it grow? From making home improvements to simply paying your mortgage each month, you’re building value over time.

You likely already know that you can tap into this equity to help cover expenses, like debt consolidation, education costs, medical bills, or even retirement. Here are a few options:

HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit): Borrow against equity as needed, with flexible access over time and a variable interest rate.
Home Equity Loans: Receive a one-time sum with a fixed interest rate, usually repaid over five to 30 years.
Equity Sharing Home Loans: Offers borrowers a fixed-rate, interest-only loan, with lower monthly payments than a traditional loan. In exchange, you agree to share a portion of your home’s future value appreciation.

More details this way

News Notes

Development

The redevelopment of Tangerine Plaza is officially a go. Sugar Hill Group just filed plans with city to build 186 affordable apartments + 10,000 sqft of commercial space at the South St. Pete location. The project includes a grocery store as the anchor. No, we don’t know which store yet. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Announced

Now’s your chance to enjoy our frosty cold local museums for free. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is hosting the Free Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 20. Make reservations to visit spots like The Museum of Fine Arts, The Dalí Museum, The Florida Holocaust Museum, and The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. (I Love the Burg)

Real Estate

What’s’ brewing in strawberry country? Plant City leaders are prepping for massive growth over the next several years. The population is expected to swell to 76,000 by 2050. The city is in the “visioning stage of updating its comprehensive plan.” Check in on the plans thus far. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Sports

Our very own USL Super League champs, the Tampa Bay Sun, kick off their second season this weekend. Tomorrow’s game against Brooklyn FC is away, but you can catch the second game of the season against Sporting JAX at Riverfront Park on Saturday, Aug. 23. Get tickets.

Biz

Nexstar Media Group — owner and operator of WFLA News Channel 8 and Tampa Bay’s local CW affiliate — has entered into an agreement to acquire TEGNA, WTSP 10 Tampa Bay, in a $6.2 billion merger. If finalized, the three TBAY-area news outlets will operate under one company. Get the scoop. (WTSP)

Eat

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Love. I didn’t mess up the lyrics to “Great Balls of Fire,” it’s the name of TBAY’s new school bus turned ice cream truck. The owners serve orbs of ice cream crusted with treats, and they plan to offer job training for people with disabilities. (Tampa Bay Times)

Plan Ahead

The Monster Energy St. Petersburg Powerboat P1 Grand Prix is quickly approaching. Head down to the Sunshine City waterfront to watch the fastest powerboat and personal watercrafts speed past the Pier in pursuit of the crown. Snag those tickets now.

Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays comeback falls short, losing to the New York Yankees 6-4.Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Seasonal

Christmas in ... August? If you’re a local business with a product or service you’d like to share with our readers this holiday season, consider securing your promo now before we sellout. Our Holiday Shopping Spotlight Bundle includes three newsletter inclusions discounted by 20%.

Announced

Congrats to Vikki L. on winning our ultimate wellness giveaway in partnership with Hack Your Health.*

The Buy

Psst. Is it too soon to say…boo? Look away, summer fans. If you’re ready for fall, read on for our top decor picks:

🍁 This true-to-life fall foliage garland is perfect for staircases, mantles, door frames, and more.
🎃 Add these pumpkin-shaped “Hello Fall” coasters to your dinner table or coffee bar.
🐶 Pet + autumn lovers, this embroidered ”Happy Pawtumn” hand towel may be your favorite find of the season.
👻 Sprinkle these cute ceramic ghosts around the house for an understated nod to Halloween.
🍂 Create a beautiful autumnal tablescape with this burlap runner + best-selling set of assorted mini pumpkins, leaves, and acorns.

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

Yesterday, I grilled you all, asking, “Which company employs the most people in Tampa Bay?” Turns out, you know your stuff: 42% of you correctly said HCA West Florida Division.

The network employs some 21,000 nurses, doctors, receptionists, and all kinds of staffers. They still aren’t the top local employer, though. So who is?