Tampa Today News: Holiday Lighted Boat Parade + Deviant Libation Anniversary
Everything you need to know happening in Tampa.
Welcome back to Tampa Today News. I’m Carlos Hernandez, your host explaining all things about what’s happening in Tampa including local news, events, and more.
Today’s weather: High 76 and low 59.
A word from our sponsors:
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.
Chef & The Baker
Chef Rosana and Chef Ricardo have delivered premier catering and dining experiences in the Tampa Bay area for the past 17 years. This duo is the powerhouse behind Tampa’s most popular restaurants in the past 10 years, including Piquant, Xilo, Kofe and now Chef & the Baker.
Catch Chef & The Baker at their pop-up Pinellas Park bakery daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4521 107th Circle N Suite 4 Clearwater, FL 33762. If you’re looking for catering for your next gathering and want to support great local chefs or simply want delicious food made with love, look no further than Chef & The Baker.
Find more information at chefandthebaker.com.
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 Tampa today:
Catch the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade tonight in downtown Tampa: The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade is happening tonight on the Tampa Riverwalk. This is the 15th year for the celebration on the water. Visitors can watch nearly 300 boats with tons of lights travel down the Hillsborough River. The fun kicks off at 6 p.m. (wfla.com)
Homelessness rising in Tampa Bay with no solution in sight: Local leaders gathered to commemorate National Homeless Person's Remembrance Day as the affordable housing crisis in Tampa Bay continues to grow. 114 people died in Pinellas County in 2023 while experiencing homelessness in the area. Homelessness is surging nearly 12 percent across the nation as the cost of living soars. (abcactionnews.com)
Two Tampa restaurants make top list at OpenTable: OpenTable's Top 100 restaurants in the U.S. for 2023 includes Bern's Steak House and Lilac at EDITION Tampa. Criteria for the ranking included diner ratings, reservations made in advance as well as five-star reviews. (wtsp.com)
Retired first-response worker self-publishes books about Tampa: Retired Hillsborough County Fire Rescue member Thad Diaz has self-published three detective noir books in a "Cigar City Case Files" series. Diaz said the books are inspired by his career as well as Tampa landmarks and history. The first three books are "Tampa Heat," "The Gasparilla Job," and "The King of West Tampa." (baynews9.com)
Local bar celebrating one year anniversary on New Year’s Day: Deviant Libation in Ybor Heights is celebrating its anniversary party on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The party is free to attend. Deviant is located at 3800 N Nebraska Ave. This Little Pig food truck will be on-site. (cltampa.com)
Top events in Tampa today:
Saturday, Dec. 23
Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Amalie Arena. (2:30 p.m.)
Sing-Along White Christmas (1954) at Tampa Theatre. (3 p.m.)
Ugly Sweater Christmas Weekend at 7th + Grove. (5 p.m.)
Holiday Lighted Boat Parade at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. (6 p.m.)
Baby Rasta y Gringo at Mamajuan Cafe Tampa. (9 p.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 24
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm Sunday Market. (noon)
Visits with Santa at Hyde Park Village. (1 p.m.)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Jacksonville Jaguars at Raymond James Stadium. (4:05 p.m.)
Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet Cruise at Yacht StarShip. (5:30 p.m.)
Christmas at Mahaffey at Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater. Free concert. (6 p.m.)
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That’s all I have for today. See you tomorrow.
-Carlos Hernandez