Tampa Bay Blog

Since 1905, Florida's oldest restaurant, the Columbia, has been a pillar of historic Ybor City, Tampa Bay's Latin Quarter. Now in its fifth-generation under the Gonzmart family, the Columbia embodies Tampa Bay's Cuban and Spanish heritage from the menu to the decor. Six nights a weeks, visitors experience an authentic piece of Spain when the restaurant's Flamenco dancers take the stage to perform. Maria Esparza, whose mother was born in Seville, Spain, has led the troupe for...

With weather that's far from frightful, the holidays in Tampa Bay are always delightful. And we still manage to go ice skating outdoors! So grab your friends and family and make new memories when you unlock Tampa Bay between now and New Year's Day. Christmas Town November 16 - January 6, 2020 What Christmas without an express to the Pole? Hop on the holiday train during Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town and be whisked along as you sing your favorite Christmas tunes,...

If you've sipped a hand-crafted cocktail at Tampa Bay's hippest watering holes, chances are good that Ro Patel developed the drink you enjoyed. The master mixologist has made a name for himself as a king of local bar culture as the founding drink

Alex Fernandez started Affari Transportation as a true mom-and-pop shop, with him and his wife taking reservations and sitting behind the wheel of their vehicles. "When we first started I had to do everything, from washing the buses, to driving

International Talk Like a Pirate Day officially arrives on September 19. But by Jose Gaspar's mustache, every day is Talk Like A Pirate Day in Tampa Bay! Nowhere knows pirates like the home of legendary buccaneer José Gaspar and Gasparilla, the annual festival held in his honor. If you’re having trouble telling your “avast” from a whole round of other scurvy words, there’s no risk of walking the plank. The Tampa Bay History Centers’ “Treasure...

Lace up and loosen up: running season is afoot in Tampa Bay. From here until next spring runners of all abilities will find plenty of ways to challenge themselves while helping a variety of good causes, including charities sponsored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning. One 5K at a time, build your way to the big daddy of Tampa Bay races -- the immensely popular Gasparilla Distance Classic -- and strut your stuff between the bay and the mansions along Bayshore Boulevard. Allstate

Among the last of its kind, the American Victory spent most of its life as a merchant ship ferrying goods and personnel to far-flung war zones across the globe. It was christened near the end of World War II and served honorably during military

The kids are back in school, the summer crowds are gone: Now’s the perfect time to treat yourself to a grown-up's get-away in Tampa Bay. Whether you're in the mood for a romantic weekend with your significant other, a girls' getaway or a guys' trip, the hip, urban heart of Florida’s west coast is here for you with just the right combination of fantastic food, exciting experiences, and grown-up fun for Fall. Couple's Weekend Sleep In a Little No one needs...

The kids are heading back to school and summer is winding down – what better time to make a quick couple’s escape to Tampa Bay? Decompress with a stroll through exciting new exhibits at our art museums, let yourself be transported by the experience of live theater and orchestra, or enjoy the ornate environs of Tampa Bay’s oldest movie palace. Indulge in an autumn of amazing art in Tampa Bay! Tampa Museum of Art Robert Rauschenberg: America Mix-16 August 9 through January 5,...

We see you, walking around Tampa, waving around your phone all over the place – you’re playing Pokemon Go. Yes, you, we know you are, you can’t help yourself. It’s fun, addicting and a great excuse to get out of the house and explore your surroundings. We’ve put together a handy list of some of our favorite spots that now double as Pokemon Go gyms. Datz Undo your time at the real gym and chow down on a Cheesy Todd while your Pokemon battle it out at this South...