And off they go, all fancied up, their bikes decorated with feathered boas and flowers. This global event has evolved into a big movement promoting women’s visibility and personality. Photos by Carole Devillers

Presented by TT Art Collective at Curtis Hixon Park for Fourth Friday, muralist artist and former NFL player Aaron Evans works on a painting representing his brand “King-Frog” to be on display in IKE Smart City kiosks in Tampa. Photos by Carole Devillers

Friends enjoy the casual and relaxed atmosphere of Sparkman Wharf on the Fourth Friday of August. Photos by Carole Devillers

A spiffy couple makes their way to one of the Fourth Friday cultural venues. Photos by Carole Devillers

Walking the Tampa Riverwalk is a great choice to connect to the participating venues while enjoying the colorful lighting display on the architecture. Photos by Carole Devillers

Fourth Friday, the monthly arts & culture crawl in Tampa’s downtown, resumed on Aug. 27th, attracting visitors with free live music and food and drink specials. Photos by Carole Devillers

Singer artist and emcee/producer Jinx, a Tampa native, performs with his wife Shelby Sol and their band, on the Straz Center’s Riverwalk stage during a free outdoor concert for Fourth Friday. Photos by Carole Devillers

Artist Crystaline Rojas of A Splash Of Passion Art contributes to the event at Curtis Hixon Park by creating a new artwork. Photos by Carole Devillers

As a "Sip & Stroll" Fourth Friday venue, Sparkman Wharf is a popular destination. Alcoholic consumption is allowed when purchased from participating vendors. Photos by Carole Devillers

A beautifully detailed mural depicting Tampa’s past and present maritime history adorns one side of Maven Designs building in the Channel District. Photos by Carole Devillers

Tampa

Tampa is on the verge of achieving many long-planned ambitions. Downtown and waterfront developments, the expansion of the city's port and airport, a planned and a substantial increase in research and academic activities at the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa and Hillsborough Community College fuel its progress.

For Good

Walk Bike Tampa's third annual World Car-Free Day celebration is Saturday, September 20th.

World Car-Free Day Tampa returns Saturday

Christopher CurryThursday, September 18, 2025

Feature Story

Masthead Gallery: New Tampa Performing Arts Center Annual Arts Festival

Carole DevillersThursday, September 18, 2025

Innovation News

USF College of Public Health associate professor Benjamin Jacob has developed a smartphone app that quickly locates and identifies mosquito breeding habitats so they can be targeted, treated, and destroyed.

USF prof's app targets mosquito habitat, fights tropical diseases

Philip MorganWednesday, September 10, 2025

Feature Story

The Museum of Motherhood in St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District expanded its health, wellness, and education initiative with support from a Community Foundation Tampa Bay competitive grant award

Community Foundation Tampa Bay competitive grants support nonprofits and their mission

Christopher CurryWednesday, September 10, 2025

For Good

The Redefining Refuge team, with founder and Executive Director Natasha Nascimento in the center, during Operation Dragon Eye, a two-week missing child operation across Tampa Bay considered the most successful child recovery operation is U.S. history

Redefining Refuge: Natasha Nascimento’s mission of hope for exploited children

Deborah Bostock-KelleyWednesday, September 3, 2025

For Good

Artist Anthony Freese's street mural in the Carver City/Lincoln Gardens neighborhood, shown here in 2020, was going to be refurbished by the Westshore Alliance. Instead, it's been removed by the state.

Masthead gallery: Tampa Bay street murals gone by state mandate

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Partner Content

With funding from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa's Wealth Builders program offers parents living in poverty training and guidance to get better-paying jobs.

Wealth Builders offers route from poverty to prosperity

Philip MorganWednesday, September 3, 2025

Feature Story

The Tampa City Ballet, shown here during a March 2025 performance of "Don Quixote" at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, is part of the center's annual arts festival

September arts: New Tampa Performing Arts Center Annual Arts Festival returns, much more

Christopher CurrySunday, August 31, 2025

For Good

New Tampa Bay History Center President and CEO Audrey Chapuis

Tampa Bay History Center names new President, CEO

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Source: Tampa Bay History Center

For Good

Heard 'Em Say's monthly open mic, the only youth open mic in Tampa, is a cornerstone program for the nonprofit.

Heard 'Em Say helps young people find their voice through poetry, performance

Kiran MalikWednesday, August 20, 2025

Feature Story

Masthead gallery: Countdown Improv Festival finale

Carole DevillersWednesday, August 20, 2025

For Good

USF's Pakistani Student Association performs during the Pakistani American Association of Tampa Bay's 2025 Independence Day celebration.

Pakistanis celebrate Independence Day with full house at The Regent

Kiran Malik-KhanTuesday, August 19, 2025

For Good

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts' weeklong World Photography Day celebration includes its photo club's inaugural happy hour meet-up

FMoPA World Photography Day special events

Monday, August 18, 2025

For Good

This Lamar Sparkman painting depicts tarpon fishing off Gasparilla Island with the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse in the background. Tampa Bay History Center Collection

Get hooked on Florida fishing history with new Tampa Bay History Center exhibit

Philip MorganFriday, August 15, 2025

For Good

New Community Foundation Tampa Bay Chair Linda O. Simmons brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience to the role.

Community Foundation Tampa Bay Chair Linda O. Simmons looks to grow nonprofit's impact, drive change

Christopher CurryWednesday, August 13, 2025

Innovation News

Ariana Walker and Luke Preston of The Studio

Creative sanctuary The Studio launching pop-up in heart of Ybor City

Kiran Malik-KhanWednesday, August 13, 2025

Feature Story

WUSF and WSMR "are examining every aspect of every project and ensuring that the things that we put the most effort into are the things that the most people are using,” General Manager JoAnn Urofsky says.

Before the signal fades: The unseen costs of defunding Florida’s public media

Deborah Bostock-KelleyWednesday, August 13, 2025

Feature Story

Healthcare professionals and dedicated volunteer advocates are working to promote screening for cervical and breast cancer among minority women.

Promoting cervical, breast cancer screening among minority women

Yvette C. HammettMonday, August 11, 2025

Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Gorkhali Kitchen brings Nepal’s bold flavors to Tampa Bay

Kiran Malik-KhanWednesday, August 6, 2025

Feature Story

Launched in 2023, Tampa Pickleball Crew is a hive of activiity. Who knew that whacking plastic balls back and forth across a net, under 40-foot ceilings with exposed, oxidized beams, would feel so cool and urban and of-the-moment?

Tampa Pickleball Crew takes the court for Ybor revival

Alex EnglishWednesday, August 6, 2025

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Tampa Highlights

Downtown Dwellers: Raising urban kids in Tampa Read Article

For Downtown Tampa families with young children, the neighborhood isn’t an urban jungle. It’s an urban jungle gym.

Photo: Lauren, Hudson, and Bryan Durkin pick up a popsicle at Duckweed Urban Market in downtown Tampa. by Amber Sigman

1 Million Cups: Meet local doers tackling opportunities in the global marketplace Read Article

Pitch your business concept and get constructive criticism among friends and neighbors at 1 Million Cups Tampa.

Photo: (L-R) Maria Gibbs, Scott Hutterman, Dr., Loren Murfield, and Jared Kohn at 1 Million Cups in Tampa. by Amber Sigman

Q&A: Ashly Anderson and Shaun Drinkard, Tampa Downtown Partnership Read Article

When President and CEO Christine Burdick retires from her post at the Tampa Downtown Partnership, she will leave behind a team of creative thought leaders working to enhance the city's urban scene. Meet two key team members.

Photo: Ashly Anderson, senior design manager for Downtown Tampa Partnership by Amber Sigman

Transformational change underway in North Hyde Park, West Tampa Read Article

The diversity of apartments, restaurants and shops in North Hyde Park is particularly attractive to young professionals and college students looking for an affordable neighborhood near downtown.

Photo: (L-R) James Rue and Gian Carlos Birriel co-own Raw Smoothie Co. Photo by Julie Branaman

Channel District grows along waterfront in Tampa Read Article

Looking across the horizon of downtown Tampa, what do you see? Construction cranes hovering over the Channel District as apartments, hotels and new shops emerge to create a walkable urban community.

Photo by Julie Branaman

Tampa Hackerspace provides a place to tinker Read Article

Tampa Hackerspace is helping to fuel Tampa Bay’s creative instincts, facilitating experimentation and collaboration with shared tools and space.

Photo: Mabel the T-Rex sculpted by J. Kent at Tampa Hackerspace. by Amber Sigman

Moving to downtown Tampa: Smart Lab brings innovative view Read Article

Suffolk’s Smart Lab featuring 3D virtual reality opens in the Channel District near Tampa Bay WaVE and Water Street Tampa, joining the Tampa Bay Area's growing innovation ecosystem.

Photo: USF’s new building rises a short distance from Channelside. Cheryl Rogers

Urban Stimuli: Meet CW a.k.a. Carolyn Wilson Read Article

Beyond her eponymous Gin Joint in downtown Tampa, Developer Carolyn Wilson is doing (and will continue to do) what she does best: Flex eternal good taste.

Photo: Carolyn Wilson or CW, owner and designer at CW's Gin Joint in downtown Tampa, wins the 2018 Private Sector Award. Amber Sigman

Commuter Challenge: Going carless in Tampa Read Article

Getting to work isn't easy for most of us using Tampa streets and Hillsborough County roads. So spend a week using alternative transportation and see what happens.

Photo: Tampa bicycle commuters Karen Kress, Alana Brasier, and Justin Willits. Photo provided by Karen Kress

Tampa Bay WaVE: Diversity highlights latest tech cohort Read Article

A diverse group of entrepreneurs completes its formal program with Demo Day at Tampa Bay WaVE, a nonprofit tech accelerator in downtown Tampa.

Photo: Jonathan Truong, co-founder of Verapy, a start-up at Tampa Bay Wave's Accelerator Build program. by Amber Sigman

Urban Stimuli: Armature Works, Tampa Heights Read Article

This is really Tampa: Armature Works will evolve how you think about Tampa Heights and the urban core.

Photo: A duo studies and reads at Union Coffee and Tea in Armature Works. Amber Sigman

What's next for Florida: Sam Gibbons, Tampa Read Article

When it comes to transportation, the goal must to be find equilibrium between what is socially, economically, and environmentally just for all people.

Photo: The Smart Mobility Division, created in early 2018, will oversee Tampa's $40 million transit system upgrade. Diane Egner

Tampa Bay Area thought leaders share what they anticipate most in 2018 Read Article

Find out what's on the minds of local thought leaders at the start of the new year, and what it could mean for you.

Photo: Tampa thought leaders

A typical day along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa. Diane Egner

The new smart car pilot program launched by Florida DOT, HART, and BEEP of Orlando gives driverless rides along the Tampa Riverwalk and in Tampa Heights. Courtesy of HART

The Tampa Museum of Art is celebrating its centennial year with special exhibits and events. Photos by Kimberly DeFalco

Alexsandra Wolfe runs Pure-Sipity, a company combatting date rape. Courtesy of Alexsandra Wolfe

Zarra Elias and her family enjoying The Tampa Riverwalk.

A still clip from the documentary Tampa Beer: Crafting the Bay. Courtesy of Tampa Theatre

Elementary school kids color during the after-school program. Amber Sigman

Approximately the size of a shipping container, WaterCube TM is portable and can provide up to 10 million gallons of water daily without access to any water supply. Courtesy of Genesis Systems, LLC