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Hi Tampa Bay, hope you’re having a great weekend!
In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: A $2B museum overhaul, Bellies Kitchen’s debut, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in concert + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Tampa Bay protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
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📰 Most-clicked stories this week
First-time restaurateur’s debut: Bellies Kitchen, a new Southern comfort spot in Seffner, opened last week with a soft opening from owner Shelby Lovely, serving chicken and waffles, burgers, and breakfast skillets — get all the details.
Major overhaul for science museum: Hillsborough County commissioners approved plans for a $2 billion MOSI redevelopment with apartments, hotels, shops, and entertainment. Construction awaits environmental studies, with Coulter and Alliant leading after Patel Group withdrew — see what’s planned and who’s leading.
Rethinking architecture and place: Local architects will lead a floating design lesson aboard Tampa’s Pirate Water Taxi on March 13, exploring the skyline and city history. Hosted by the Tampa Bay Community Design Center — get all the details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
All the crowd favorites:
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🏆 Gold and silver are heating up
Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold
Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.
While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.
If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.
It’s free and worth reading before the next move.
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🫶 This week’s top finds
Treasure hunt, upgraded: When you crave a quick hit of serendipity, Bay Area Antique Marketplace fills 11,000+ square feet with 80+ dealers, from mid-century gems to quirky primitives. Wander, haggle a little, and leave with the thing your past self forgot to adore.
Weeknight pasta upgrade: Need a midweek lift? Rocca in Tampa Heights serves handmade pastas and tableside-pulled mozzarella, simple and joyful, just what Tuesday wants. Bring a friend, share a few plates, sip something bright, then wander out already scheming the next visit.
Flip through the decades: The Far Forest is a cozy trove of vintage clothing and eclectic finds, a friendly time warp stocked with personality. When your closet needs a spark that feels more you than algorithm, expect thoughtfully picked pieces, zero copy‑paste style, and conversation starters that wear as well as they wow.
Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.
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📆 Sneak peek at next week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🏛 2026 Buildings Alive @ J.C. Newman Cigar Company | Thursday (3/12) at 5:00 PM – Buildings Alive lets you legally snoop through six of Ybor’s historic gems, with light bites at each stop. Hop the rubber-wheel Jolley Trolley, wave at chickens, feel virtuous, since tickets support the Historical Society, the mobile museum, and the Tampa Baseball Museum. Tickets go fast.
🍓 Strawberry U-Pick Experience @ DGPS Farming (Thonotosassa) | Friday (3/13) at 9:00 AM – Strawberry season alert, local edition: DGPS Farming on Rockhill Rd in Thonotosassa has u-pick berries for $4 a pound, plus farm animals, shortcake, and those beloved shakes. Show up early, claim a shady table, and pretend this totally counts as cardio and produce shopping.
🏠 Parade of Homes @ Tampa Florida | Friday (3/13) at 10:00 AM – Last chance to play HGTV star without blowing the budget. This free, self-guided Parade of Homes lets you snoop, snag paint-color inspo, and plan your route with the digital map, no tickets, no pressure. Final weekend, so get your fix.
✈ Girls Achieving Leadership in Aviation Fundraiser 2026 @ Peter O. Knight Airport | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Swap the hotel ballroom for Peter O. Knight, where the runway is your red carpet and the skyline does the mood lighting. Outdoor seating, aircraft displays, and impact, since tickets and sponsorships fund GALA scholarships for women in aviation, snag a seat while you can.
⚡ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert @ Straz Center for the Performing Arts | Friday (3/13) at 7:30 PM – Think you remember every wand flick? Relive the final Hogwarts battle as Deathly Hallows Part 2 plays on a giant screen with a live symphony conjuring Desplat’s score. It’s high drama, real musicians, and zero Quidditch small talk, so treat yourself, and bring tissues.
🎂 Spring Flowers Cake Decorating Class @ Brandon Junior Woman’s Club | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Trade weekend chores for buttercream therapy at Brandon Junior Women’s Club, where Sweet Bites teaches you to fill, stack, and frost. Nail smooth finishes, pipe daisies and cabbage roses, then leave with a cake you actually want to show off. Tools, equipment, and ingredients provided.
🥫 Bingo Fundraiser for Food Bank @ Congregation Beth Shalom (Brandon) | Sunday (3/15) at 12:30 PM – Nothing beats bingo when it feeds the Food Bank, your competitive streak, and your snack quota. Bring your lucky charm for prizes like a wireless speaker, earbuds, a foot spa, and bragging rights, then linger for the tasty bites, neighbors, and gloriously corny number calls.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Tampa Bay report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 86°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 17%
A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 86. South southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Patchy fog after 2am. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind 2 to 6 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 87°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 7%
Patchy fog before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. North wind 2 to 6 mph.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
Most popular house this week
This 5-bed, 5.5-bath Davis Islands waterfront estate delivers 145 feet of saltwater canal on a 15,875 sq ft lot. Under construction by Crescent Homes, the 5,215 sq ft design showcases a Sub-Zero and Wolf chef’s kitchen, media and game room, elevator, smart-home readiness, and resort-worthy outdoor living with infinity pool, spa, and a composite dock to Tampa Bay.
Take a peek inside →
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