Tampa Today News: Visit Tampa Bay Launches Cold Weather Car Ads + Whole Foods St. Pete
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 67 and low 46. Windy.
Correction: The Dave’s Hot Chicken location opening this week is in Westshore not Carrollwood. My apologies for the mistake in yesterday’s newsletter.
Featured business: The Left Bank Bistro
The Left Bank Bistro is wonderful French restaurant and gathering place for friends and meeting new ones, for sipping coffee and cocktails on the patio while enjoying great conversations; or dining in the house on one of their chef's delicious creations. The restaurant is located at 1225 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Call to make reservations at (727) 256-1691.
Visit them online at theleftbankbistro.com.
Featured business: Due Amici & Geo’s Fine Wine & Champagne
Due Amici is a family-run pizza and pasta bar restaurant located in Ybor City at 1724 E 7th Ave. The restaurant takes pride in their gourmet food, handcrafting sauces to compliment the flavors in each dish. Pizza dough is made in-house, hand-spun, topped with the freshest ingredients, and carried to the oven with love.
Geo’s Fine Wine & Champagne Bar is the latest hotspot in Ybor City right next door to Due Amici. The bar has a selection of fine wines and champagnes to choose from as well as charcuterie boards and live music and events regularly.
Are you interested in sponsoring Tampa Today News and promoting your business, events, or products? Reach out at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com and I will be happy to discuss rates.
Top local news today:
Visit Tampa Bay deploys car advertisements to chilly cities to draw awareness to Tampa: Visit Tampa Bay is utilizing Carvertiser to deploy ads into chilly cities about warmer skies in Tampa. Cities being targeted include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, and Washington, D.C. with the goal of boosting tourism. Visit Tampa Bay has worked with the company since 2018 on digital and in-car campaigns. (carloseats.com)
Whiskey Riot celebration comes to Tampa Bay this weekend: Whiskey Riot, an annual whiskey celebration, is this weekend at the St. Pete Coliseum located at 535 4th Ave. N. on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets start are $90 and will include samples over 200 varieties of whiskey as well and official tasting glass and whiskey cocktails. No designated driver tickets are available and ridesharing is encouraged. (thatssotampa.com)
State investigation finds HCC overcharged students taking online classes for years according: The Florida Auditor General's Office has found that Hillsborough Community College (HCC) overcharged students taking online classes from 2020 until 2023. Florida law does not allow colleges to charge students fees that exceed the additional costs of developing and delivering online courses. HCC was charging students from 2x to 3x the rate. HCC admits the error, but has not committed to refunds for students who were overcharged millions over the years. (wtsp.com)
Polk County doctor accused of recording teenager changing: A Polk County doctor, Dr. Pola Gayed of Ava Rehab Clinic, has been arrested by police and charged with video voyeurism. Gayed is accused of recording a 16-year-old patient changing using a hidden Ring camera and then deleting the footage, according to officials. The doctor is facing felony charges of video voyeurism and tampering with evidence. (wfla.com)
Whole Foods Market opening new St. Pete location: Whole Foods is opening a new 40,100 square-foot grocery store in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m., according to Creative Loafing Tampa. The new location, the 4th in the area, will be at Sunshine Plaza at 201 38th Ave. N. Whole Foods said they will make a donation to St. Pete Free Clinic to help support the nonprofit’s programs that increase food access in Pinellas County as well. (cltampa.com, wholefoodsmarket.com)
Top local events today:
Candle Making with Moon & Mantras at Armature Works. (6 p.m.)
Stags' Leap Winery Tasting at The Cork Room. (6:30 p.m.)
Riverview Paint n Sip – January Birch at Datz - Riverview. (7 p.m.)
Afrobeats Speakeasy Lounge at Sorry Not Public. (8 p.m.)
Candlelight: A Tribute to Ed Sheeran at Centro Asturiano de Tampa. (9 p.m.)
Notes:
Two manatees were released back into the ocean at TECO Manatee Center after spending nearly a year in rehab at Florida Aquarium and Georgia Aquarium. (wfla.com)
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Send news tips: carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.
That’s all I have for today. See you tomorrow!
-Carlos Hernandez