Stories

Partner Content Children's Board of Hillsborough County CEO Rebecca Bacon

New Children's Board CEO Rebecca Bacon talks priority community issues, vision for future

New Children's Board of Hillsborough County CEO Rebecca Bacon, a longtime employee and manager with the agency, discusses priority community issues and her vision for the future. 

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Masthead gallery: Florida Botanical Gardens Holiday Lights in the Gardens

A photo gallery from the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation's annual Holiday Lights in the Gardens.

For Good The co-founders of the Tampa International Fringe Festival have launched the Whinge! Festival to let performers experiment with new ideas.

Freewheeling Whinge! Festival ready to launch in Ybor

The co-founders of the Tampa International Fringe Festival launch the Whinge! Festival to let performers experiment with new ideas.

Development News Beer and wine bar Trellis at Buchman opened in 2023  in The Buchman, a circa 1908 former department store building Casa Ybor has renovated.

Trellis at Buchman joins Ybor City's thriving beer scene

Trellis at Buchman, the new beer and wine bar from former Fermented Reality Biergarten co-owner Joel Bigham, joins the thriving Ybor City beer scene.   

Feature Story A rendering of the planned expansion of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

Elaborate expansions for riverfront jewels Tampa Museum of Art, the Straz, Tampa Convention Center

Along Tampa's downtown riverfront, the Tampa Convention Center completed an ambitious expansion this year. The Tampa Museum of Art and Straz Center for the Performing Arts are next. 

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Masthead gallery: Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park

A holiday season photo galllery from the Tampa Downtown Partnership's annual Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park.

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Masthead gallery: Season Spectacular at Water Street Tampa

A photo gallery from the Season Spectacular at Water Street Tampa and Winter Wonder Wharf.

Feature Story Crowds stream up and down the sidewalk along East Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.

Indie Flea, Blind Tiger, FMoPA are "bullish on Ybor"

Indie Flea, Blind Tiger Cafe and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts are part of an eclectic mix of businesses and art groups setting down roots or expanding their presence in Ybor City.

Feature Story Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw and department leaders during a community town hall meeting to discuss the response to the Ybor City shooting over Halloween weekend.

In Hillsborough, community groups work for solutions to youth gun violence

The Halloween weekend shooting in Ybor City is another jarring reminder of the troubling trend of youth gun violence. Community groups in Hillsborough County are working on solutions to curb the crisis by addressing the root cause.  

Feature Story Paint the Town Citrus' annual Florida Highwaymen art show includes work such as this untitled painting by Mary Ann Carroll.

December arts in Tampa Bay: Broadway shows, holiday art markets, live orchestras, new exhibits

The December arts scene in Tampa Bay includes events at Creative Clay and the Tampa Museum of Art, new exhibitions at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, an annual Florida Highwaymen show, a Broadway Christmas at the Mahaffey and holiday art markets.

Innovation News Shopapalooza returns to St. Pete's Vinoy Park November 25th and 26th with a record 365 vendors.

Shopapalooza returns to St. Pete's Vinoy Park bigger than ever

Shopapalooza, the annual festival over Small Business Saturday weekend, returns to St. Pete's Vinoy Park on November 25th and 26th with an all-time-high of 365 vendors.

Feature Story Mike Lally and Tricia Manning, co-chairs of Social Venture Partners, at SVP's 2022 Fast Pitch competition, a Shark Tank-style event for local nonprofits.

Sharing their expertise: Tampa Bay executives give back to the community

Tampa Bay's 50-and-over executives and business leaders give back to the community by volunteering their expertise and experience with local nonprofits.

Partner Content A photo illustration of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority's Lee Roy Selmon Expressway through downtown Tampa.

THEA 60 for 60: Expressway Authority celebrates anniversary, plans for Tampa's future

As the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) celebrates its 60th anniversary, the agency is focused on Tampa's future with expansion and improvements to the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and a vision to transform the land under the expressway into community and park space that connects neighborhoods.    

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Masthead gallery: Sanding Ovations

A photo gallery from the 2023 Sanding Ovations sand sculpting exhibition and competition, held at Treasure Island from November 16th through 19th.

For Good The Florida Botanical Gardens' new Majeed Discovery Garden is a place where children can get outside and play and get hands-on education on plants, horticulture and sustainability.

Florida Botanical Gardens' Majeed Discovery Garden connects children with nature

The Florida Botanical Gardens fulfills its longtime vision to open a children's garden with the new Majeed Discovery Garden.

For Good Holiday Lights in the Gardens returns to the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo from November  24th through December 31st.

Guide to holiday lights around Tampa Bay

A look at some of the holiday light displays and festive events around the Tampa Bay region this year.

Feature Story Afghan women share stories of strength and perseverance in "Arrows of Light: The Journeys of Afghan Women," a book edited by Tampa resident Pamela Varkony, tells

Afghan women share stories of strength in “Arrows of Light”

Afghan women share their stories of strength in "Arrows of Light: The Journeys of Afghan Women," a book edited by Tampa resident, motivational speaker and award-winning writer Pamela Varkony.

Feature Story The murals along Yellow Brick Row add to the unique character of Tampa Heights.

Neighborhood transformation and historic preservation in Tampa Heights

Over the last decade, the renovated Rialto Theatre, Ulele restaurant, Water Works Park, Armature Works and an in-demand residential market transformed Tampa Heights. As the neighborhood changes and grows, the Tampa Downtown Partnership wants to see the historic North Franklin Street corridor dubbed Yellow Brick Row protected and preserved.

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Masthead gallery: Wonders of Wildlife Festival

A photo gallery from the fifth annual Wonders of Wildlife Festival, held November 11th at Edward Medard Conservation Park in Plant City.  

For Good The River Tower Festival returns November 11th as the City of Tampa is funding the first refurbishment of the Sulphur Springs Water Tower since 1989.

River Tower Festival returns to raise money, awareness for iconic Sulphur Springs Water Tower

The River Tower Festival returns on November 11th. The all-day concert event raises money and awareness for the repair and restoration of the iconic Sulphur Springs Water Tower.