Tampa Today News: Happy 2024 Gasparilla! Ye Pirates
Listen well to the tale of the town's happenin's!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! Happy Gasparilla ye scallywags! Today is the big day. Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2024 is upon us and I’m Carlos Hernandez, here with Tampa Today News. 'Tis where ye'll find the latest news from across the seven seas. Pay heed, lest ye find yerself in the brig!
Today’s weather: High 80 and low 65. Isolated t-storms.
Featured Business: JEM Commercial Glass Glazing
Introducing JEM Glass Commercial Glazing, the top choice for Tampa’s elite General Contractors. The owner of JEM, Jordan Maniscalco, prides himself on providing his clients with honesty, reliability and second-to-none work from his family-run company that’s committed to exceeding expectations.
Learn more at www.jemglassglazing.com.
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.
Chef Jermaine's Dessert special this week! Poached Pear, Raspberry Sorbet, Amaretto Oat Milk Anglaise & Toasted Almonds - pure delight in every bite!
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 stories in town today:
Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2024 guide - parking, parade route, road closures, etc.: If you need a Gasparilla guide for the day, there are plenty of guides out there but Bay News 9 has a quality one. The guide includes a parade route guide, list of $20 parking spots, road closures and safety tips. Remember alcohol must be consumed inside designated wet zones. baynews9.com, gasparillapiratefest.com)
Where to catch a Uber or Lyft ride at Gasparilla Pirate Fest: City of Tampa is blocking rideshare access to Bayshore Boulevard for most of the day. Those seeking rides will need to walk or travel out of the exclusion zone along Bayshore in order to hail a ride. Expect long waits so plan accordingly and get comfortable. The TECO streetcar will be running connecting Ybor City and downtown Tampa for free all day. (wfla.com, tampa.gov)
Grand Cathedral Cigars liquor license suspended for 7 days: Tampa City Council voted Thursday to temporarily suspend the liquor license of Grand Cathedral Cigars for 7 days starting on Feb. 12, less days than community members wanted after numerous noise complaints. The later date for a suspension means the lounge will not be impacted during the busy Gasparilla weekend. The owner of the establishment said she has never received any warnings or citation from City of Tampa prior to this suspension. (abcactionnews.com)
Gasparilla crowds mixed with WWE and Lightning fans create surging hotel costs: Hotel rates are soaring as a busy Gasparilla weekend and other city events are expected to bring over 500,000 people to downtown Tampa, with several sold out. Nightly rates were going for as high as $749 at EDITION Tampa as of Friday evening, double the average. Businesses in the area are expecting a jam packed weekend. (fox13news.com)
Tampa prepared for massive Gasparilla clean-up effort after festivities: City of Tampa is preparing to collect 21 tons of trash from Gasparilla Pirate Fest. There are over 3,200 trash boxes around the event and assigned tree clean up and bead pick up. Remember to recycle your beads! The city hopes to have streets cleaned by 1 a.m. Sunday morning. (wfla.com)
Top events today in town:
Gasparilla Invasion: Pre-Game at revIVe Hydration Therapy & Wellness. (8 a.m.)
2024 Annual Kumquat Festival at Downtown Dade City. (9 a.m.)
MacDinton's SoHo 2024 Pirate Invasion at MacDinton's Irish Pub. (9 a.m.)
Grove SoHo's Pirate Invasion 2024 at Grove Soho. (9 a.m.)
2024 Bar HWRD Gasparilla Block Party at Bar HWRD. (11 a.m.)
Sunshine Market at Midtown Tampa. (11 a.m.)
Gasparilla Houseparilla feat. DJ Three, Brian Busto, DJ Santana at The Hyde Park Cafe. (2 p.m.)
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New Jersey Devils at Amalie Arena. (7 p.m.)
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.
Fair winds! See ye all tomorrow.
-Carlos
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