St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum sits on the city’s waterfront and holds Salvador Dalí’s melting clocks among other works in its collection. | Photo by @dalimuseum
For us? You shouldn’t have. We think living in the Tampa area is the greatest gift of all, but it’s actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. Check out these gifts given to the area.
The Dalí Museum| The more than 60,000-sqft museum houses 2,400+ pieces from the artist’s entire career, including paintings, photos, and documents. We have A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse to thank for that. The couple bought their first piece in 1943. A month later, they happened to meet the artist and his wife, sparking a lifelong friendship. In the mid-1970s, the Morses decided to donate their entire collection of Dalí’s work. The original museum opened in 1982, and an updated building arrived in 2011.
Friends of the Children | In 2022, MacKenzie Scott, formerly married to Jeff Bezos, gave Friends of the Children-Tampa Bay $1.1 million. It’s the largest single gift ever given to the TBAY chapter of the nonprofit. Overall, Scott gave more than $44 million to the parent organization. Earlier that year, Scott also donated more than $120 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is headquartered here in Tampa.
These extraordinary gifts not only add character and value to our city but also show how generosity can have a lasting impact.
Did we miss something from your holiday list? Drop us a line and let us know what TBAY gift you love the most.
Events
Events
It’s not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Tampa. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
The Chihuly Collection is a feast for the eyes. | Photo by TBAYtoday
It’s the holidays, the kids are out of school. Here are some ways to get them out of the house.
Tampa Museum of Art
Roam exhibits on ancient art + the Impressionism movement — or sign up kids for classes or summer art camps. Kids will remember the Vinik Family Education Center.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Bring the kids on a Saturday to roam the 63-acre zoo or to take in seasonal events like Christmas in the Wild + Creatures of the Night. Kids will remember the Macaw Flyover.
The Florida Aquarium
Visit with ring-tailed lemurs or stop by the stingray beach + new exhibits are in the works. Kids will remember the 4Ducks Theater and the splash pad.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
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