12.05.2025

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82º | 10% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 7:06 a.m. | Sunset 5:33 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | Low: 9:30 a.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 1:04 p.m. | Low: 4:52 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Here’s what you wanted to read in 2025

2025 was a big year for Tampa Bay, to say the least. | Graphic via TBAYtoday

Your 2025 TBAYtoday Wrapped is here. For the past eleven months, you’ve received daily updates on restaurant openings, concerts, weekly events, and so much more. Now we’re taking a look back at the year’s biggest stories — starting with some fun stats.

TBAYtoday now has 50,111 subscribers — thank you for reading and supporting us. We appreciate every one of you.
If you’ve been subscribed all year, you’ve read 263 editions of our newsletter.
On average, it takes our readers about five minutes to go through the newsletter, which means you’ve spent 1,315 minutes (nearly 22 hours) with us in 2025.

So much has happened throughout the last year in TBAY. Let’s see what has all changed.

Tampa Bay residents and communities spent much of the year recovering from Helene and Milton’s destruction. And the rebuilding, cleanup, and recovery process isn’t over yet — so make sure you’re subscribed for updates.
The Rays sale saga finally ended this fall, when a Jacksonville developer-led investor group bought the team. We’ve kept a close watch on the Trop repairs and new stadium discussion too.
So, so much development transpired this year. Highlights include the new Howard Frankland Bridge opening + work starting on the West Riverwalk project.
Yes, a healthy amount of local restaurants closed, but a slew of new eateries opened too. We covered all the openings for you, like Cheeky’s, which has quickly become Editor Bailey’s fave spot for oysters and frozen espresso martinis.

See our top clicked stories and newsletters

Asked

What’s the name of the Jacksonville developer leading the new Rays’ ownership?

A. Ken Hagan
B. Ken Babby
C. Theo Epstein
D. Patrick Zalupski

Can we stump you?

Events

Friday, Dec. 5

Saturday, Dec. 6

Sunday, Dec. 7

Flamingo Festival | 12-4:30 p.m. | Sunken Gardens | Free

New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-4 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium | $65+

1,000+ more juicy ideas

Feature your event here, or make a bigger splash

News Notes

Sports

Speaking of the Rays, how’s the Trop lookin’ these days? The roof is finally back in place, but the field and facilities still need quite a bit of work before Opening Day 2026. Take a peek. (Tampa Bay Times)

Coming Soon

Papi’s — no relation to Mr. Ortiz — opens in Ybor City next year. The new restaurant/club takes over the White Lie space. What’s on the menu? Feast on smash burgers, plus Latin-inspired eats and drinks. And obviously, a full bar at night. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Development

Big changes could be on the way for a popular strip of the Edge District. Where at? Investment group 90Ten just bought the block starting with The Candle Pour running all the way to Enigma. We’ll keep you posted on changes. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Seasonal

Winter isn’t really complete without a twinkly-lit boat parade or two. Luckily, there’s seven — yes, seven — across TBAY to choose from. Spoiler: You might spot Editor Bailey sailing along in one.
Meet the latest holiday trend taking over the internet: “Tacky Christmas.” The look leans into nostalgic kitsch — think rainbow lights, sparkly tinsel, and mismatched ornaments. Want to join in? TBAY’s thrift shops are a great place to start. (House Beautiful)

Sports

The Rays are eying a blockbuster move for All-Star Ketel Marte, but will the steep pitching cost reshape their roster? Get more insights from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Pets

Cats are naturally mysterious — but their health doesn’t have to be. With Basepaws Cat DNA Test, you’ll uncover your cat’s breed mix, genetic traits, and potential health risks that other tests miss. Get 47% off for Cyber Week and gain science-backed insights into your feline’s health.*

Number

27,400+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in manufacturing, sales, marketing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.

The Buy

A foaming toilet cleaner that tackles stains, rings, and odors with zero scrubbing. Splash Foam Cleaner offers a hands-free way to achieve a sparkling clean toilet in three easy steps: pour, let it foam, and flush. It’s that easy.

Get Splash Foam Cleaner

The Wrap

I’m nearly done festooning for the holidays. Outdoor decor is up, indoors is still in progress. But I want to see — and share — your yard displays. Please send us your photos, and we’ll share them in newsletters throughout December.