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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>

Premarital therapy on the rise in Florida

Couples therapy has gone from a marriage-saving Hail Mary, to a wedding prerequisite in Florida.

Culture

Couples are saying &quot;I do&quot; to premarital therapy.Why it matters: As the stigma of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="talk therapy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/15/therapy-mental-health-addiction-depression" data-vars-content-id="bef2d7c2-2c74-478d-b1a7-c7f278e1af2a" data-vars-headline="Premarital therapy on the rise in Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/15/therapy-mental-health-addiction-depression" target="_self">talk therapy</a> disappears, couples therapy has gone from a marriage-saving Hail Mary to a wedding prerequisite in Florida.

The it-wedding trends in Tampa Bay in 2025

Expect nostalgia to define weddings next year.

Expect nostalgia to define Tampa Bay weddings next year, says Anna Coats, founder and editor of<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Marry Me Tampa Bay" data-vars-click-url="https://marrymetampabay.com/meet-the-editor/" data-vars-content-id="5a797f97-90c9-4022-bdd7-4b9205dbc9c7" data-vars-headline="The it-wedding trends in Tampa Bay in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://marrymetampabay.com/meet-the-editor/" target="_blank"> Marry Me Tampa Bay</a>. Here&#x27;s what to watch for:

How to hurricane-proof your Tampa Bay wedding

Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered Tampa Bay right as 2024's peak wedding season began.

October and November in Florida are busy months for weddings — and hurricanes.<ul><li>That&#x27;s why local wedding experts tell Axios that an increasing number of Tampa Bay couples are investing in cancellation insurance, to make sure they can still say, &quot;I do,&quot; even when hurricanes say, &quot;I might.&quot;</li></ul>

How to land the perfect wedding venue in Tampa Bay

It's a race against time — and your competition.

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I proposed to my fiancée Maya" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/10/11/tampa-reporter-proposal-hurricane-milton" data-vars-content-id="8f275045-5835-4394-b51e-676d54a73acd" data-vars-headline="How to land the perfect wedding venue 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/2024/10/11/tampa-reporter-proposal-hurricane-milton" target="_self">I proposed to my fiancée Maya</a> in October, and once news of our engagement spread, congratulations came pouring in, along with one big question: When&#x27;s the wedding?<ul><li>Fair! But I couldn&#x27;t answer it until last week.</li></ul>Why it matters: Finding the perfect venue in Tampa Bay is a race against time — and your competition. As I learned, plan on booking 12 to 18 months in advance.

Weddings

Premarital therapy on the rise in Florida

The it-wedding trends in Tampa Bay in 2025

How to hurricane-proof your Tampa Bay wedding

How to land the perfect wedding venue in Tampa Bay