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A note from the Bingo Queen
Bailey and Max showing off their prizes after a round of Monday night bingo. | Photo via TBAYtoday
Some folks have a Pavlovian reaction to the end of the day clatter of the bar cart. I have that with the bingo machine.
The pop pop pop of ping-pong-esque balls around a hulking old school machine simultaneously lowers my blood pressure and awakens my somewhat hidden competitive side. And I don’t have enough of it in my life these days.
Earlier this year, I resolved to make some standing plans with friends. So I invited some dear pals — who all also happen to be working journalists (a true rarity these days) — to Monday night bingo at Stella’s in Gulfport.
Although I contend I’m pretty damn good (as one can be) at this luck-dictated game and our troupe’s won a few times, it’s more about doing something that isn’t just catching up.
We sip on $2 plastic cups of white wine, smear ink from neon daubers all over our sleeves, and sometimes don visors marked with the name of our bingo caller-in-chief.
Did you know you can apply for up to $10,000 from the state to upgrade your home’s windows and doors? The state’s My Safe Florida Home program still has $440 million to dole out to homeowners — though about $173 million is set asidefor future use. See who’s eligible now. (Tampa Bay Times)
Opening
The five-story food hall Central Park St. Pete finally debuted late last week. Now, it’s time for phase two. Strawberry Fields opens today, and Don Ricardo’s Taqueria and Kojo Wok are coming soon. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Pets
Pinellas County Animal Services recently started using an artificial intelligence software program to help residents find their missing pets. That makes Editor Bailey feel moderately better about living with Sage, a local escape artist.(St. Pete Catalyst)
Listen
Remember Tampa’s infamous gangster Charlie Wall? The City of Tampa just launched a podcast digging into Wall’s and our collective storied past. Listen in to the first episode of the Tampa Tea Podcast, featuring Historic Preservation Advocate Dennis Fernandez. They promise to “hold the sugar but spill the tea.”
Mansion Monday
A taste of “Wuthering Heights” awaits at a rain-swept private island for sale in the UK. Once owned by the royal family, Ynys Gifftan has no electricity. That won’t be a problem at this recently listed Old Seminole Heights bungalow, fit with 1927 charm and a decked out front porch. (The Times)
Plan Ahead
Bummer — the Winter Olympics are officially over. The good news? We can start looking ahead to the Games’ return to US soil at Los Angeles 2028. You’ve got until Wednesday, March 18 to register for tickets, and a little longer to brace yourself for the lines at Tampa International.
There are 13 days until the clocks go forward for daylight saving time. That means a few things: spring is on its way, the sun is setting later, and summer will be here before we know it. A picnic awaits — plan out which local park you’d like to frequent for the occasion.
Learn
Whether you want to learn a skill from scratch, build a creative habit, or level up in your career — Skillshare has something for everyone. The online learning platform offers classes taught by experts on topics ranging from podcasting, productivity, interior design, and calligraphy. Get started with a one month free trial.*
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Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000 active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
The Buy
Chef-curated tasting menus, skyline tours, spa days, and more thanks to unbeatable deals on Groupon. New deals drop daily, so there’s always something new to try. You can even stack deals: book date night now, schedule a deep tissue massage, and still have room in the budget for a weekend brewery tour.
Hello, it’s your live music scene correspondent back on the scene. I’m taking my dad to see Mo Lowda & the Humble at Crowbar this week, but there’s literally too many standout shows to count this week.
On another note to my friends and family — who I trust read this daily — I am always accepting Ticketmaster giftcards. Just a joke.
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