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🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 89 and a low of 75.

Sounds like: "Azuquita P'al Cafe," El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.

🕯️ To our readers observing Yom Kippur, we wish you a day of reflection and peace.

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👋 Yacob here. I drove 9 miles from Carrollwood into Waymo's service area to try the autonomous ride-hailing service.

• I parked at my old stomping ground, Hillsborough College, and hailed a robotaxi through the Waymo app for a ride to the historic Tampa Theatre.

Why it matters: Driverless cars are becoming a common sight in Tampa, and they're headed across the bay next.

Driving the news: Waymo's robotaxis serve about 50 square miles in Tampa, stretching from Hyde Park to Northwest Park and Temple Crest, and from the Westshore area to Highland Pines in East Tampa.

• The fleet consists of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles outfitted with rooftop sensors and cameras that make them hard to miss.

Vroom in: The ride cost $17, compared with $11 on Uber. But I'm hesitant to call Waymo more expensive since there's no driver to tip. And, well, part of the premium is not having to make conversation.

• When the car reached the parking lot, it drove right past me. It took me a minute to realize I had to unlock the door via the app.
• Once I climbed inside, the console greeted me with, "Good afternoon, Yacob." I felt a tinge of excitement and a modicum of fear as I tapped "Begin ride."

Between the lanes: I lowered the temperature to 58°F and moved the seat as far forward as possible, giving me the kind of legroom that, until now, only Uber Lux could reliably provide.

• Then I paired YouTube Music with the car and blasted Bruno Mars. But as comfortable as I tried to get, I couldn't relax.
• It wasn't so much that I doubted the robotaxi, though there's ample reason to. I didn't trust Tampa drivers, and I say that as one of them. I worried the cars couldn't navigate around us.

Yes, but: An independent study recently found that Waymo's robotaxis are involved in fewer crashes than human drivers.

• And, to its credit, the ride was smooth.
• The car changed lanes effortlessly and navigated Downtown Tampa's winding, congested roads with a deft (and invisible) hand.

The finish line: If I had one critique, it was the car's parking, which was lopsided and awkward.

• But in fairness, I couldn't have done any better.

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Hispanic Heritage Month is underway through Oct. 15, and there are tons of ways to celebrate in Tampa Bay.

📆 Go to an event: Here's some of the lineup from across the bay.

• Pura Vida Weekend, Sarasota: This two-day festival features a wellness walk and 5k, workshops, live music, dancing and more. Free, with online registration for some activities. Sept. 26-27, Bay Park.
• Latin Night, Clearwater: Music, dancing and aquarium offerings, including a dolphin demonstration, are part of this family-friendly event. Tickets are $50 for adults and $40 for kids. Sept. 26, Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
• MAXIMA Hispanic Heritage Concert, Clearwater: Organized by 92.5 MAXIMA FM, the lineup features Charlie Aponte, Jacob Forever, Ken-Y and more. Tickets start at $28.88 including fees. Sept. 27, Coachman Park.
• Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Tampa: This community event features remarks by the founder of Festival de Bomba y Plena en Tampa, plus live performances and Mr. Empanada. Sept. 29, Tampa Convention Center.
• Bienvenido at Bonnet Springs Park, Lakeland: Catch live music, food trucks and an arts market. Free and open to all ages. Oct. 10, Bonnet Springs Park.
• Taste of Latino Festival, Tampa: Along with a variety of Latin food, catch live music, dancing and an empanada smackdown. Free, with VIP tickets available. Oct. 11, Centennial Park.

💰 Support a Latin-owned business: The city of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Latin Chamber have directories.

• Our restaurant recs: Yacob loves Triana Caribbean Cuisine in Tampa and Blind Tiger. Kathryn's faves are 11 Chicks Yummy Creations in St. Pete and La Segunda.

🌎 Immerse in history: Visit Ybor City Museum State Park to learn about Ybor's Cuban and Spanish roots.

• Head to the Dalí Museum in St. Pete to learn about Salvador Dalí's Hispanic heritage, plus programming including a wine tasting (Sept. 24), poetry night (Oct. 8) and Latin jazz show (Oct. 15).

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📺 NBC's "The Traitors: New Blood" features a Wesley Chapel resident, Xavier Scruggs. The reality series challenges players to identify hidden "traitors," who eliminate contestants each week. (WFLA)

🗳️ Democratic nominee David Jolly refused yesterday to debate his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, making this the first Florida governor's race in over 50 years without a debate. (Tampa Bay Times)

🐘 Republicans in Florida are worried that President Trump's immigration enforcement could hurt the party in the midterm elections. (Axios)

Our newsroom helps you follow the people, decisions and stories shaping Tampa Bay — wherever they're happening.

Why it matters: Your membership supports the local reporting that keeps you informed, engaged and connected to the place you call home.

• 💪 Become an Axios Tampa Bay member today and help keep trusted local journalism strong.
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The last single-family home on St. Pete's Mirror Lake is for sale after an extensive renovation.

Why it matters: It's an example of preservation in a city that has experienced rapid new development, sometimes at the expense of historic buildings.

State of play: Real estate investment firm Backstreets Capital recently finished restoring the home built in 1937 by Cade Allen, an architect who helped build St. Pete's Allendale neighborhood.

• Behind the home, Backstreets is building a 15-unit condo building called The Cade.

Zoom in: The 4,000-square-foot home, on the market for $3.5 million, includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a pool, plus restored original windows and doors and improvements to the stone exterior.

One of the Rays' hottest giveaways this season (other than the miniature Tropicana Field replicas, of course) was a bobblehead version of the Flappy Boi stingray meme.

State of play: While the giveaway was held up by a shipping delay, fans got to pick up their bobbles last week.

• In the words of Axios Tampa Bay reader and Rays mega fan Brian Jacoby, "they are perfect."

And yes, like the Trop replicas, some enterprising fans are already selling them on eBay.

🅿️ Kathryn can confirm we'd be better off with a robot than Yacob's parking.

🤷🏽‍♂️ Yacob can confirm Kathryn will be walking next time.

This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.