Tampa Today News: Gasparilla 2024 Grand Marshal + John’s Pass Seafood Festival
Everything to know happening in town.
Welcome back to Tampa Today News. I’m Carlos Hernandez, your host explaining all things about what’s happening in the Tampa area including local news, events, and more.
Today’s Weather: High 59 and low 47. Scattered clouds.
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Top local news in town:
Bert Kreischer named 2024 Gasparilla Pirate Fest Grand Marshal: Tampa Bay native and comedian Bert Kreischer has been named the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest on Jan. 27, according to announcement from the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Kreischer started in The Machine (2023) and was been named the "number one partier in the Nation" by Rolling Stone in 1997. (wfla.com)
Tampa curfew for minors still pressing forward despite community concerns: Tampa is still planning to move forward with plans for a city-wide curfew for minors ages 16 and younger. Details of the curfew are still up in the air and are drawing concerns from the community and businesses. Enforcement would at begin at 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and midnight from Friday to Sunday. Minor curfew discussions picked up steam after the city failed to change nightlife hours in Ybor City after a Halloween weekend shooting in 2023. (baynews9.com)
Enjoy tons of seafood on Madeira Beach this weekend at The John’s Pass Seafood Festival: The John's Pass Seafood Festival is back this weekend from Friday, Jan. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 21 at 12902 Village Blvd. in Madeira Beach. It is the 42nd celebration of the festival. Guests can enjoy hundreds of local vendors offering a wide range of seafood, an art and crafts show, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. The event is free to attend. (cltampa.com, madeirabeachfl.gov)
Tampa celebrity Chef Vidal appears on “Chopped” cooking show: Tampa Chef Jada Vidal competed on Tuesday's episode of "Chopped" on the Food Network. The appearance was the third time on national television for Vidal. Vidal is a sous-chef at Noble Rice in Sparkman Wharf in Water Street Tampa. (wfla.com, tampamagazine.com)
Tampa’s Ingrid Shawn Rodriguez assumes role of USBG national president: The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) announced on Tuesday that Ingrid Shawn Rodriguez of the Tampa Bay chapter will assume the role of President of the Guild nationally. Ingrid is the U.S. Educator and Florida Area Manager for WhistlePig Whiskey. Ingrid has been actively involved in multiple larger organizations for over 20 years, serving in the local capacity as Director, Treasurer and President of NAWIC Tampa and ICRI FWC and serving nationally as the ICRI Region 1 Director, the Chair of the Conventions committee, voting member in the Chapters Committee & Women in ICRI. (usbg.org)
Top events in town:
Grilled Cheese Night at Six Ten Brewing. (3 p.m.)
STCOC Young Professionals Kickoff Happy Hour at Birdie Club Indoor Golf. (5:30 p.m.)
Hillsborough County Esports - Themed Night - Titanfall 2 at Northdale Park & Rec Center. (6:30 p.m.)
Yoga In The Commons at Midtown Tampa. (6:30 p.m.)
Flight Night Wine Tasting at Rose Bar Tampa. (7 p.m.)
Tesla The Band at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center. (8 p.m.)
Around town:
I attended the book signing event for Matt Dixon last night for his new book, Swamp Monsters: Trump vs. DeSantis―the Greatest Show on Earth (or at Least in Florida), at the Oxford Exchange. The event was a candid discussion about Dixon’s professional career covering the rise of DeSantis and Trump and their impact on the State of Florida and country. Dixon currently works for NBC News as their senior national politics reporter and previously worked for Politico in Florida. The book is available on Amazon (https://amzn.to/48TO9KM) and book stores near you. It includes insider information on how Trump and DeSantis became connected and their relationship. I am already about 40 pages in and enjoying it so far.
Oxford Exchange is a beautiful and intimate space for a book signing and book talk. It was my first time attending a book discussion there and I would do it again. The sandwiches they served were also delicious and, of course, the coffee was great. Have you been lately to OE?
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That’s all I have for today. See you tomorrow!
-Carlos Hernandez