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When to watch NASA's Artemis II launch from Tampa Bay

It's set to launch no sooner than 6:24pm today.

News

It&#x27;s almost time for NASA&#x27;s moonshot to lift off — and here in Tampa Bay, you may be able to see it from your backyard.Why it matters: Artemis II, set to carry four astronauts around the moon on a 10-day mission, is the first crewed mission of its kind since Apollo.

St. Pete council, residents don't want new high-rise. It's coming anyway

Even with majority opposition, City Council lacked the votes to block the high-rise.

Another <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="luxury high-rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/22/waldorf-astoria-st-petersburg-penthouse-sale-record-27-million" data-vars-content-id="cd9b3fdb-0c54-40a0-ba8f-113dc5683300" data-vars-headline="St. Pete council, residents don&#x27;t want new high-rise. It&#x27;s coming anyway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/22/waldorf-astoria-st-petersburg-penthouse-sale-record-27-million" target="_self">luxury high-rise</a> is coming to downtown St. Petersburg.Why it matters: Thursday&#x27;s hours-long City Council debate over the project laid bare angst over the city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shifting identity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" data-vars-content-id="cd9b3fdb-0c54-40a0-ba8f-113dc5683300" data-vars-headline="St. Pete council, residents don&#x27;t want new high-rise. It&#x27;s coming anyway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/09/st-petersburg-luxury-roche-bobois-private-clubs-art" target="_self">shifting identity</a> — and raised questions about how much influence residents and policymakers have in shaping it.<ul><li>&quot;You have a problem when everybody is acknowledging this is not what we want to build, and yet we&#x27;re somehow powerless to stop it,&quot; Preserve the &#x27;Burg executive director Manny Leto told Axios.</li></ul>

What a Democrat's Tampa win means for November

Brian Nathan's win has raised questions and, for Florida Democrats, hope about the general election in November.

Politics

The state Division of Elections has certified Democrat <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brian Nathan" data-vars-click-url="https://flsenate.gov/Senators/S14" data-vars-content-id="5ce4ea02-e1e4-4463-b6b7-1e538a67d59f" data-vars-headline="What a Democrat&#x27;s Tampa win means for November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://flsenate.gov/Senators/S14" target="_blank">Brian Nathan</a>&#x27;s narrow victory in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="special election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/25/democrat-leads-in-tampas-state-senate-election" data-vars-content-id="5ce4ea02-e1e4-4463-b6b7-1e538a67d59f" data-vars-headline="What a Democrat&#x27;s Tampa win means for November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/25/democrat-leads-in-tampas-state-senate-election" target="_self">special election</a> for Tampa&#x27;s Senate District 14.Why it matters: His win has raised questions and, for Florida Democrats, hope about the general election in November.

Rays return to Tropicana Field: Where to eat

There are tons of food and drink options within walking distance of the ballpark.

Food and Drink

Air-conditioning has to be the biggest perk of returning to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tropicana Field" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/01/st-petersburg-historic-gas-plant-whats-next-ken-welch" data-vars-content-id="e40fadb6-bc9c-4154-8f04-b00c331f99ca" data-vars-headline="Rays return to Tropicana Field: Where to eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/01/st-petersburg-historic-gas-plant-whats-next-ken-welch" target="_self">Tropicana Field</a>.<ul><li>But a close second is all of the food and drink options within walking distance of the ballpark.</li></ul>

My visit to Sebring, Florida after HGTV's "Home Town Takeover"

What's it like after HGTV unleashes its feel-good renovation machine on an entire town?

I arrived in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sebring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/03/04/hgtv-home-town-takeover-sebring-florida" data-vars-content-id="fc239b15-e25d-4bec-b1c4-e968a3ae1195" data-vars-headline="My visit to Sebring, Florida after HGTV&#x27;s &quot;Home Town Takeover&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/03/04/hgtv-home-town-takeover-sebring-florida" target="_self">Sebring</a> on a Tuesday afternoon, on a pilgrimage I didn&#x27;t realize I was part of until I started chatting with the other folks wandering around the muraled walls and historic buildings of the city&#x27;s downtown.Why it matters: We were here for the same reason: to experience what it&#x27;s like after HGTV unleashes its feel-good renovation machine on an entire town.

Your guide to Tampa Pride 2025

A street festival, parade and performances round out this year's Pride celebration.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tampa Pride" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/03/22/tampa-pride-parade-10th-anniversary-controversy" data-vars-content-id="aa9e4643-bbaa-4989-a1c8-1a53f3cc4115" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Tampa Pride 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/03/22/tampa-pride-parade-10th-anniversary-controversy" target="_self">Tampa Pride</a> is this Saturday, and we&#x27;ve got you covered on the events lineup.🥁 A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="street festival" data-vars-click-url="https://tampapride.org/festival/" data-vars-content-id="aa9e4643-bbaa-4989-a1c8-1a53f3cc4115" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Tampa Pride 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tampapride.org/festival/" target="_blank">street festival</a> kicks off at 10:45am in Ybor City with an arts and crafts show, community health fair, a performance by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tampa Bay Pride Band" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabayprideband.com/" data-vars-content-id="aa9e4643-bbaa-4989-a1c8-1a53f3cc4115" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Tampa Pride 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabayprideband.com/" target="_blank">Tampa Bay Pride Band</a>, and more.

Florida springs road trip: 5 stops, a dozen springs

Check Merritt's Mill Pond, Cypress Springs, Econfina Creek and more off your springs bucket list.

One of the best vacations I&#x27;ve ever had began on Facebook.<ul><li>Its mind-reading algorithm kept showing me photos from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida springs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/06/07/florida-summer-extreme-heat-weather-temperature" data-vars-content-id="fc3c8658-7728-475c-b2e2-c08abd3e20a7" data-vars-headline="Florida springs road trip: 5 stops, a dozen springs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/06/07/florida-summer-extreme-heat-weather-temperature" target="_self">Florida springs</a> appreciation groups that looked like paradise, with lagoons of cerulean blue water and limestone walls covered in ferns.</li></ul>

A guide to air-conditioned adventures in Tampa Bay

We've tested out many of the activities in this guide, and we'll keep adding more.

It&#x27;s the most disgusting time of the year.State of sizzle: Temperatures are in the 90s but it&#x27;s humid enough to feel like 200. The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mosquitos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/07/11/mosquito-season-sucks-dengue-tampa-bay-hillsborough" data-vars-content-id="21b8b47c-bd7f-4d9f-95ff-2d49b9c85033" data-vars-headline="A guide to air-conditioned adventures in Tampa Bay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/07/11/mosquito-season-sucks-dengue-tampa-bay-hillsborough" target="_self">mosquitos</a> are jacked up on all the rain. Even the water at the beach is hot.

How to not question all your life decisions this summer in Florida

Anti-chafing sticks, pool friends and doomscrolling mountain houses on Zillow, to name a few ideas.

It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="so hot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/23/summer-2024-heat-weather" data-vars-content-id="c97d82c8-aaa4-476a-93da-f2a82f44bd7c" data-vars-headline="How to not question all your life decisions this summer in Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/23/summer-2024-heat-weather" target="_self">so hot</a>.It&#x27;s so hot the Gulf of Mexico already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="feels like a bathtub" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-beach-water-temperature-90-degrees-hurricane-season/67-fe8e3562-bce8-4324-9d17-f55c6f59d6e7" data-vars-content-id="c97d82c8-aaa4-476a-93da-f2a82f44bd7c" data-vars-headline="How to not question all your life decisions this summer in Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-beach-water-temperature-90-degrees-hurricane-season/67-fe8e3562-bce8-4324-9d17-f55c6f59d6e7" target="_blank">feels like a bathtub</a>.

A guide to whimsical, tasty Safety Harbor

Ellie the pink elephant is just one of countless quirky characters in a little town that's well worth the trip

Newcomers Guide

Many of you recognized the pink elephant in yesterday&#x27;s newsletter as Ellie, a beloved icon in downtown Safety Harbor.Why it matters: She&#x27;s one of countless quirky characters in a little town well worth the half-hour-or-more drive from areas such as St. Pete and Tampa.

Lakeland is America's fastest-growing metro. (And it's cool now.)

The city's touting itself as a "little mecca of cool." Axios' Kathryn Varn agrees.

I recently spent the day in downtown Lakeland and was delighted to find the &quot;little mecca of cool&quot; advertised by the city&#x27;s Downtown Development Authority.Why it matters: Lakeland is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing metro area" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/14/census-florida-cities-population-new-york" data-vars-content-id="aad4585a-a826-4c90-b653-be30f0586ba7" data-vars-headline="Lakeland is America&#x27;s fastest-growing metro. (And it&#x27;s cool now.)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/14/census-florida-cities-population-new-york" target="_self">fastest-growing metro area</a> in the country, and its location along the ever-developing I-4 corridor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="between Tampa and Orlando" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2021/10/13/how-tampa-and-orlando-could-become-the-next-megaregion/" data-vars-content-id="aad4585a-a826-4c90-b653-be30f0586ba7" data-vars-headline="Lakeland is America&#x27;s fastest-growing metro. (And it&#x27;s cool now.)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2021/10/13/how-tampa-and-orlando-could-become-the-next-megaregion/" target="_blank">between Tampa and Orlando</a> makes it uniquely situated for continued growth.

Solar eclipse guide: How and when to watch in Tampa Bay, weather info and more

North America won't see another total eclipse for two decades.

Guides

There&#x27;s no way around it. Tampa Bay is an ideal spot to watch a suite of events, from sports to concerts — but the eclipse isn&#x27;t one of them.Why it matters: North America <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="won&#x27;t see" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nasa.gov/history/eclipses-near-and-far/#:~:text=The%20next%20total%20solar%20eclipse,cameras%20aboard%20the%20space%20station." data-vars-content-id="a36263bd-3770-4853-9d58-de2cc715f205" data-vars-headline="Solar eclipse guide: How and when to watch in Tampa Bay, weather info and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/history/eclipses-near-and-far/#:~:text=The%20next%20total%20solar%20eclipse,cameras%20aboard%20the%20space%20station." target="_blank">won&#x27;t see</a> another total eclipse for two decades. Even though Tampa Bay will only catch a partial one, it&#x27;s still worth a glance — behind solar glasses, of course.

What to do in Brandon

You can find local gems — or, at the very least, a chain store you can't find elsewhere in the region.

I drove from my home in Carrollwood one recent afternoon to visit Brandon as part of our occasional series on Tampa Bay&#x27;s lesser-known communities.The big picture: Like much of unincorporated Hillsborough County, the enclave of 114,000 residents is a hub of suburban sprawl teeming with chain stores and franchised eateries.

What to do in Plant City, Florida

Shop for antiques in a part of Hillsborough County that feels untouched by time.

Things to Do

I sat at Fred&#x27;s Market on a recent afternoon, poring through the lopsided scrawls in my notebook and making sense of an enclave in Hillsborough County that seemed foreign to me. <ul><li>I had spent most of my time in Plant City visiting antique store after antique store, sifting through Coca-Cola bottles and Beanie Babies and University of Florida memorabilia older than me. </li></ul>