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.

Innovation News

Tampa's World Car-Free Day returns on Sunday, September 22nd.

Bike, walk, scoot or skate to Tampa's World Car-Free Day

Christopher CurryWednesday, September 18, 2024

Feature Story

Retired General Frank McKenzie, the former head of Central Command and current executive director of USF's Global and National Security Institute, talks life, leadership and his new memoir

Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie talks life, leadership and his new book

Pamela VarkonyWednesday, September 18, 2024

Feature Story

Masthead gallery: Tampa's Westshore district

Carole DevillersWednesday, September 18, 2024

For Good

Nonprofit Wheels of Success celebrates 20 years of helping people down the road to success by providing the vehicles that get them to work.

Wheels of Success: Making a difference, one car at a time

Tashie TierneyWednesday, September 11, 2024

For Good

Revisit "Tony Pizzo's Tampa" with an upcoming event in Ybor City and a digitized collection of the late Tampa historian's television show available online.

Step back in time with "Tony Pizzo's Tampa"

Philip MorganWednesday, September 11, 2024

Development News

The Tampa City Council may fund a pilot program offering a year of free-fare service on HART's Route 1, which connects downtown to the USF area and is one of the bus system's busiest routes.

Tampa may fund fare-free year on busy HART route connecting downtown, USF

Christopher CurryWednesday, September 11, 2024

For Good

Ashley Smith and the Random Occurrence perform during a past Streetcar Live concert series, which features monthly live performances by some of the area's best musicians on a TECO Line Streetcar traveling between Ybor City and downtown Tampa

Streetcar Live concert series returns to Tampa

Joshua McMorrow-HernandezMonday, September 9, 2024

For Good

Jayen Patel at the 2023 Hillsborough County YEA! Award ceremony

Hillsborough County Commission accepting YEA! Award nominations

Philip MorganWednesday, September 4, 2024

Development News

As Plan Hillsborough works on Live Grow Thrive 2045, the update to Tampa's Comprehensive Plan, sea level rise, climate change and resiliency are among the policy priorities.

Live Grow Thrive 2045: Tampa Comp Plan update focuses on resiliency, climate change

Christopher CurryWednesday, September 4, 2024

Feature Story

Guitarist Dominic Walker's musical journey has taken him from Utah to the Tampa Bay jazz scene.

Musicians on the Tampa Bay jazz scene: Dominic Walker

Naomi SullinsWednesday, September 4, 2024

Feature Story

The expanded, four-day New Tampa Performing Arts Center Fall Festival is September 12th through 15th.

September arts: New Tampa Performing Arts Center Fall Festival, Free Museum Day in St. Pete, more

Christopher CurrySunday, September 1, 2024

For Good

In September, Powerstories Theatre marks Suicide Prevention Month with a staged reading of playwright Stan Zimmerman’s “Right Before I Go.”

Powerstories Theatre spotlights suicide prevention with "Right Before I Go"

Bob SimonWednesday, August 28, 2024

For Good

Padres de Crianza Program Manager Tamara Alvarado

Padres de Crianza supports Latino kinship caregivers in Hillsborough County

Philip MorganWednesday, August 28, 2024

Feature Story

WakeSurf Tampa co-owners Spence Trick and Frank Mast are part of AMPLIFY Clearwater's latest tourism incubator cohort, winning first prize at the program's pitch night event.

AMPLIFY Clearwater ready to IGNITE opportunities for entrepreneurs

Christopher CurryTuesday, August 27, 2024

For Good

A bug zoo is the latest environmental advocacy and community education endeavor from Tampa butterfly expert and native plant nursery owner Anita Camacho.

Tampa's butterfly whisperer's bug zoo shows some love for nature's unsung heroes

Tashie TierneyWednesday, August 21, 2024

Development News

Approximately 80,000 bricks were used during the Ybor City Seventh Avenue rebricking project's first phase, which covered the two blocks from 15th to 17th streets.

Transportation tidbits: New SunRunner station, Tampa e-bike vouchers, Ybor brick project

Christopher CurryWednesday, August 21, 2024

Development News

Bern's Steak House's classic steak sandwich is part of the all-local "Taste of Tampa" food selection at Tampa Bay Sun FC home matches.

Tampa Bay Sun unveils “Taste of Tampa” food concessions for home matches

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Source: Catalyst Communications Group

Feature Story

Masthead gallery: Tampa Bay Sun FC first match

Carole DevillersWednesday, August 21, 2024

Innovation News

New ownership for 83 Degrees Media parent company Issue Media Group

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Source: Issue Media Group

For Good

Clearwater's public art grant program and city-commissioned murals like this Carlos Pons artwork in Coachman Park are part of an effort to beautify Clearwater through public art.

Creative Pinellas, Gobioff Foundation, City of Clearwater artist grant opportunities

Christopher CurryWednesday, August 14, 2024

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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