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Hello Tampa Bay! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: New eye hub for kids, EPCOT flower and garden festival, and Harry Potter in concert + excuses to get the fam out and about this 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.

📰 In the news

Expanded care under one roof: Ybor City’s new Eye Hub has broken ground, backed by Glazer Vision Foundation and Lions World Vision Institute, expanding free eye exams and glasses for Tampa kids in 30,000-square-foot center — learn what the center offers.

Financial momentum drives next chapter: Limbach, Pittsburgh-born building systems firm, is moving its corporate base to Tampa, where 40 percent of its corporate employees already work, with a ribbon cutting and Feeding Tampa Bay donation planned — see what’s planned and why.

Gourmet bites and live tunes: Spring blooms are back at EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival, underway through June 1, featuring topiary Mike and Sulley plus a Monsters University display Tampa Bay families will enjoy — 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.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate St. Patrick’s with the Beards
• Let imaginations soar at LEGO workshop
• Create bonsai, sip Yuengling at Draft Haus
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Pie cravings, solved: Mike’s Pies, Inc.rescues rough weeks with deep-dish Key lime, Southern pecan, and truly gluten-free pies from a Tampa legend. Perfect in the fridge or in the freezer, they’re ready when surprise guests appear, delivering instant hero status.

Brighten your week: Jennie’s Flowers turns a meh Monday into a mini celebration with cheerful hand-tied bouquets, lush plants, and artful arrangements made for your space. When a room or mood needs a lift, this Tampa staple delivers pure happy, thoughtfully arranged and always fresh.

Chalk up your week: Central Rock Gym – Tampa serves up brainy boulders, auto-belays for fast laps, and yoga plus fitness to balance it all. It’s an easy midweek reset for first-timers or climbers chasing that next problem, ideal for meetups and a vertical change of scenery.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

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. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🍓 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.

⚡ 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.

🏆 Pelicon 2026 Model Show & Contest @ Higgins Hall on the Grounds of Sir Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa, Fl | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Early spring in Tampa calls for geeking out over tiny tanks and perfect panel lines at Pelicon 2026 Model Show and Contest. Gold, Silver, Bronze judging, vendors, a model raffle, display tables, and the Bacon Boss truck. Low stress, high craftsmanship, zero yardwork.

🏴 River O’ Green @ Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park | Saturday (3/14) at 10:45 AM – Downtown turns shamrock as the Lost Pearl sails the green Hillsborough, giving you views of the River O’ Green mayhem. Hop on at Curtis Hixon Park for a 30-minute loop with water cannons, a T-shirt blast, a cash bar, and a tiny hit of altruism.

🥧 Pie Day Skate @ United Skates of America – Tampa | Saturday (3/14) at 4:00 PM – Celebrate Pi Day like adults who still remember how to turn left on wheels, with laps, laughs, and a hot slice. $15 covers admission, skates, and cheese pizza, or grab the $22 large cheese pizza and a pitcher to share. Irrational number, sensible plan.

🐰 Darci Lynne & Friends @ Straz Center for the Performing Arts | Saturday (3/14) at 7:30 PM – Yes, ventriloquism. AGT winner Darci Lynne turns it into a full-on variety show, blending sharp comedy, a wild cast of characters, and real-deal vocals that make you forget who is supposed to be doing the talking. Bring the kids, or borrow a neighbor’s.

🍀 Leprechaun Gold Hunt + Coloring Contest @ Once Upon A Child – Brandon, FL | Tuesday (3/17) at 9:00 AM – Whether your crew still believes in magic or just likes prizes, Once Upon A Child in Brandon is hosting a gold hunt and St. Patrick’s Day coloring contest, with goodies for the finders. Let them chase treasure, you browse for bargains, everyone wins. Wear green.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Tampa Bay report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 87°F – Low: 69°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind 2 to 7 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 83°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 53%

A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 3 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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