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6 pickleball social clubs opening across Florida
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
If you thought pickleball was a flash-in-the-pan fad, a bunch of investors are lining up to bet against you.
Driving the news: Matt Gordon, an attorney and investment banker who co-founded The Pickleball Club with Sarasota residents Brian and Valerie McCarthy, tells Axios that the company is on track to open six indoor 34,000-square-foot pickleball facilities in Florida.
New champagne and cocktail bar Bouzy opens in Hyde Park Village
Bouzy's sleek seating area. Photo: Ben Montgomery/Axios
Bouzy, the latest concept from Tampa-based Cru Hospitality Group, opened to much anticipation Monday in Hyde Park Village.
- The champagne and cocktail bar with 200 wine selections is the creation of executive chef Eric Bach, a 2012 Tampa Prep grad who has worked as executive sous chef at Bern's Steak House and more recently, a sous chef at Cru Cellars.
Florida Supreme Court to consider recreational marijuana amendment
A voter-backed amendment to allow recreational marijuana use in Florida is a step closer to being on our 2024 ballot.
Driving the news: Late last week, Smart and Safe Florida, the political committee behind the amendment, submitted 294,046 valid petition signatures to the state's Division of Elections.
Investors take the bait at Tampa Tank pitch competition
Tamar Sapir (right) pitches Tappt Health to the Tampa Tank investors on stage at Disrupt the Bay. Photo: Selene San Felice/Axios
Florida startups dipped their toes into the "Shark Tank" waters over the weekend.
Driving the news: Five businesses from across the state competed in a Tampa Tank pitch competition, vying to wow investors at the Disrupt the Bay conference and potentially raise money.
Remembering Tampa's long lost lesbian bar Jimmie White's Tavern
"Four lesbians at Jimmie White's Tavern," circa 1950. Photo: Courtesy of Digital Commons at University of South Florida
I was so excited to see Queer Love in History recently feature Jimmie White's Tavern, a Tampa lesbian bar that operated in the 1950s and '60s.
The story: Photographer and LGBTQ activist Bobby Smith captured scenes of queer joy, including an unofficial wedding, at Jimmy White's, sometimes referred to as La Concha or Cucujo's — a reference to the owner, Jo.
Tampa Bay food prices still steep but below national average
Food prices across the Tampa Bay area were up 9.6% in November, the most recent data available, compared to the year prior, per a new analysis from Axios' Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick.
- The cost of food eaten at home was up 10.4% here, while the price of food eaten away from home was up 8.4%, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
University of South Florida tennis teams to train with VR technology
USF assistant coach Vanja Klaric tries Sense Arena's new technology. Photo: Courtesy USF Athletics
How about a tennis match in the metaverse?
What's happening: The University of South Florida men's and women's tennis teams have partnered with sports virtual reality company Sense Arena to use VR tools to supplement IRL training.
Tom Brady's retirement means the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can move on
Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
It's that time of year again: Tom Brady retirement season.
Yes, but: In his Wednesday announcement, Brady swore it's for real this time.