The best drivers in Florida

Where are the best drivers in the Sunshine State? You’ll have to head over to the other side of Florida. Port St. Lucie registered the score for the best drivers in Florida, coming in at #8 nationally. According to Allstate’s figures, the average number of years between collisions for Port St. Lucie drivers was 12.46. That’s 15% better the national average.

Cape Coral wasn’t too far behind. Their average was 11.63 years. Gainesville drivers come in next with 11.55 years between collisions. That ranks them at #14 and #16 respectively.

What about in the Tampa Bay area?

St. Petersburg drivers are apparently much better than the drivers in Tampa. St. Pete came in nationally at #25 on the list with drivers going on average 10.95 years between collisions. Tampa came in at #68 in the United States with 9.9 years between collisions on average. That’s 6% higher than the national average. But this next study find really has me perplexed… guess who has better drivers than Tampa?

The biggest surprise: Orlando

The mind-blowing result of this study for me was what Allstate said about Orlando. The overcrowded hotspot filled with tourists driving unfamiliar rental cars on unfamiliar roads means lots of traffic and accidents. Most of us dread driving anywhere near the theme parks. But they say Orlando ranks #27 in the nation for the best drivers in America, right behind Tampa!

Forbes has a different opinion. They say the Tampa has some of the worst drivers in the country.

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The City of Clearwater website says this year, the free park and ride to Clearwater Beach will run through Saturday, May 3 this year. On weekdays you can park at the City Hall lots at 112 South Osceola Avenue or at the lot at 200 South Osceola Avenue. On weekends, you also can use the County Garage parking lot at 310 Court Street.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) shuttles and Jolley Trolley run every 30 minutes Monday through Thursday starting at 10am and stopping at 10pm. On Fridays and Saturdays service begins at 10am but extends service until midnight with the shuttles running every 15 minutes.

Once you park, just follow the signs to the nearest shuttle boarding spot. No need to fumble for change. Just hop on and ride past all the traffic for free. There are about a dozen stops along Clearwater Beach. The first one is near the roundabout.

If you want to see how close the next bus is, you can download the PSTA’s app at psta.net/transitapp. Or you can track the Jolley Trolley buses at jolleytrolleytracker.com.

Right now you can check out the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival. This year, the sand sculptors’ creations can be seen until April 27th. Besides the sand castles, there are free sand sculpting classes. You can also enjoy live music, fireworks, artisans, and food vendors.

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Strawberry Cannoli Funnel Cake

I’m not a big strawberry guy. Sorry. I know that’s going to get me blacklisted in Plant City. I don’t have any hate for strawberries. It’s just not a food I generally seek out. Add to that, even with one of the most Italian names you can think of, I’m not a big cannoli guy. But “Mama” Jane Harris created another masterpiece with this one. She’s been on the cable TV show Carnival Eats dozens of times. I had her on my Geno Ate Tampa podcast last year when she revealed her newest funnel cake creation: the strawberry cannoli funnel cake. I suggested she reach out to Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Pete to see if they’d want to collaborate. The marriage worked. The scoop of chocolate chip cannoli filling has an awesome hint of cinnamon. Add the fresh extra sweet Plant City strawberries and powdered sugar. For the finishing touch, she tops it off with some cannoli shell chips and crumbles to give it a little extra crunch.

Smitty’s Corn Dogs

It was only 3 years ago I had my first corn dog. I don’t know why it took decades to have one. The mistake I made was having a Smitty’s corn dog as my first corn dog. No other will ever measure up now. The hand dipped buttermilk corn dog is a must. Add a little mustard and you get that sweet and tangy combination going. There’s always a line and for a good reason. People who go to the Florida Strawberry Festival tend to go every year. So when you see a long line, don’t let that discourage you. It should tell you the Strawberry Festival pros know it’s worth the wait.

Fiske Fries

I don’t know why they’re so good. They’re just french fries. But they are. I guess with 80 plus years of experience making them fresh, Fiske was perfected the french fry. Be sure to use some of that vinegar on them. I think it was a red wine vinegar. I like malt vinegar on my fries, but ketchup is for amateurs. French fry experts know it’s all about the vinegar.

Honorable Florida Strawberry Festival Food Mentions

I know I named this the top 3, but if you’ve got some room, you really should get some Island Noodles and Amish doughnuts too. I love the deep fried Wisconsin cheese curds. And grab a bag of those strawberry cookies to take home.

One thing you’ll probably notice I didn’t mention is strawberry shortcake. The reason I don’t include it is it’s something you can get year round in Plant City. The Florida Strawberry Festival is only around for a week or two. But if you must get your strawberry shortcake fix, I always like the make-your-own St. Clement stand. I definitely overdo it with the whipped cream. And it’s not cake or biscuit… it’s cake AND biscuit.

You’ve got until Sunday to check out this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival. The drive is a pain. I know. I live in Pinellas. But the food makes it all worth it. There are some great concerts this year too. I finally go to check Boys II Men off my concert bucket list. I rocked out to “Motownphilly” and then got back to eating.

The post 3 Gotta Try Florida Strawberry Festival Foods for 2025 appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Several shows were announced a few weeks ago, including Flo Rida, Luis Fonsi and Grand Funk Railroad. But the lineup is really filled in now. Some of the must-see Busch Gardens shows for me will be Sister Hazel (their 90s hits like “All For You” are great, but their Eagles covers are awesome), The Commodores (“Brick House”), and Third Eye Blind (“Semi Charmed Life,” “How’s It Gonna Be”).

Updated Busch Gardens concerts lineup

Friday, March 7, 2025 – Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery (Country)
Saturday, March 8, 2025 – Starship Ft. Mickey Thomas (Classic Rock)
Friday, March 14, 2025 – Sister Hazel (Rock)
Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Flo Rida (Rap)
Friday, March 21, 2025 – Joe Nichols (Country)
Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Luis Fonsi (Latin)
Sunday, March 23, 2025 – The Commodores (R&B)
Friday, March 28, 2025 – Easton Corbin & Matt Stell (Country)
Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Edwin McCain (Rock)
Friday, April 4, 2025 – Soulja Boy & Paul Wall (Rap)
Saturday, April 5, 2025 – Village People (R&B/Pop)
Saturday, April 12, 2025 – Michael Ray (Country)
Sunday, April 13, 2025 – Fuel & Lit (Rock)
Saturday, April 19, 2025 – Plain White T’s (Pop/Rock)
Saturday, April 26, 2025 – Blackberry Smoke (Rock)
Sunday, April 27, 2025 – Mitchell Tenpenny & Graham Barham (Country)
Saturday, May 3, 2025 – Third Eye Blind (Rock)
Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Robin Thicke (R&B/Pop)
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Grand Funk Railroad (Classic Rock)
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – To Be Announced
Friday, May 16, 2025 – Hoobastank (Rock)
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – Justin Moore (Country)

“We’ve invested in making this year’s Food & Wine Festival the best ever, including introducing Friday concerts to the mix, giving guests even more opportunities to enjoy an incredible variety of musical acts that cater to all tastes,” said Jeff Davis, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “Paired with our brand-new culinary cabins serving up fresh, innovative flavors, we’re inviting guests to come explore all that Busch Gardens has to offer.”

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Let’s take a look at some really good deals on roundtrip flights out of TPA that I found this morning (February 26, 2025). Keep in mind airfares fluctuate from day to day so by the time you click to purchase, the prices could go up or down.

Las Vegas for $122
Up for some big time all-you-can-eat buffet action or maybe you haven’t seen The Sphere in person yet? Las Vegas is calling. Even if you lose a few bucks, for an airfare of $122 roundtrip, you can’t go wrong. This deal is from Breeze Airways leaving Saturday, March 29 at 8AM. You’ll land in Vegas just before noon after a quick stop in Huntsville, Alabama. Your flight back to TPA leaves Friday at 12:19pm, getting you back to Tampa late because of the time change at 9pm.

Boston for $59
I’ve never seen a roundtrip flight to Boston this cheap. I fly up to New England often to see family and you’re super lucky to find an airfare in the $100s. But $59 is crazy cheap. For those who aren’t fans of Spirit Airlines, sorry, you’re gonna have to suffer a little. Sure the flights are no frills and they charge for every little thing like most discount airlines these days. But the best part of this deal is that the flight is nonstop. So for 3 hours, you can rough it. You’ll leave Thursday night March 20 at 7:20PM and land in Boston at 10:30pm. The good thing about flying in to Boston is you can jump on public transportation (it’s good) and get pretty much anywhere in the city via “The T” (the subway system) for free. No cab or Uber fees necessary.

Have a lobster roll, do a Red Sox game at Fenway Park or ascend to the top of the Prudential Center for a 360 degree view of the entire city. Hotels are super pricy in Boston, but hey you’re only paying $59 for your airfare. The flight back to Tampa leaves Boston at 9AM March 26 and gets you back to TPA just in time for lunch at 12:27pm. By the way, plan to spend a day or two in my hometown of Portland, Maine. It’s an easy and quick 2 hour bus or train ride away.

Los Angeles for $178
If you’ve never snapped a selfie with the Hollywood sign or with your favorite celebrity’s star on the Walk of Fame, here’s your chance. Maybe go to a taping of The Price Is Right. That’s what I always did when I lived in Cali and did the LA road trip. This is another Spirit flight so you’ll pay for the extras. Plus you’ve got to do connections both ways, including a long annoying layover on the flight back where you’ll spend 6 hours in Houston. But a cross country flight for under $200 is pretty rare. You leave Tampa on May 1 at 4:12pm and return on May 7 at 8:20am.

Montreal for $191
This is another airfare I’ve never seen so low. Tampa to Montreal flights usually run in the $400 range. WestJet is doing this deal. The best part about this one is you get to fly in June when the weather is ridiculously hot in Tampa. Escape to the cool air in Canada where you can dine on my two favorite junk food snacks…. ketchup chips and squeaky cheese. I don’t know why ketchup potato chips aren’t a thing in the U.S. but they should be. Look for the Old Dutch brand specifically. As for the cheese, it’s called squeaky cheese because that’s exactly what it does when you bite into it. It’s so fresh it’s unrefrigerated at grocery stores. Room temperature cheese weirded me out until I took that first bite. You’ll be hooked too. To get that $191 deal, book the 6:25pm flight on June 13 to YUL and fly back to Tampa on June 20 at 6:45AM. Yeah I know those flight times are inconvenient, but you’re getting this airfare for about half price. You’ll have a stop over in Toronto for an hour or two on both flights.

New York for $106
Because NYC has so many airports you can fly in and out of, deals to the Big Apple aren’t all that rare. But $106 is particularly low. Visit the Statue of Liberty or go see if that pizza Florida transplants rave about is really that good. Spoiler… it is. This deal I found is on American Airlines leaving Tampa March 20 at 7:49AM, getting you into LaGuardia at 10:30AM. You come back on March 26 at 6:30PM. Two great things about this deal… both are nonstop flights. Plus you get to bring a carry on bag, which for flights this cheap is very rare.

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The full price for admission for 2025 at the Florida Strawberry Festival is $15 for ages 13 and up, $5 for kids 6 to 12 and children 5 and under get in free with paid adult admission. Below you will find some pro tips we have for you that’ll save you a few bucks by scheduling your visit on special discount days.

If you’re not one to plan ahead, however, there’s one easy way to save on general admission. And chances are you’ll be dropping by before your Florida Strawberry Festival visit anyway. Here’s a hint… it’s where shopping is a pleasure.

Buy Florida Strawberry Festival Tickets At Publix

If you’re not a plan ahead type of person, this is the easiest way to save $5. Just to simply stop at Publix on the way to Plant City and grab a discounted ticket there. The bonus is that you won’t have to wait in line once you get to the festival. You’ll be able to walk right in.

Your Profession Can Get You in Free

Active, reserve, and retired military veterans, law enforcement, first responders and healthcare professionals are admitted free with valid ID on Wednesday, March 5. Farmworkers get free admission with a voucher at Astin Farms on Saturday, March 8.

Other Florida Strawberry Festival Discount Days

If you’re 60 or older, get in for $10 on opening day Thursday, February 27 and March 6.

Friday, February 28 is Special Smiles Day.  Those with special needs and their companion get in free at Gate 5. Kids Day is Saturday, March 1.  Kids all the way through high school age are admitted free.  Stop by the festival ticket booth to get the voucher you’ll need.  Kids 17 and under also get in free on Tuesday, March 4 with a paying adult.  Plus single rides are discounted to $2.

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Go During The Week

Weekday admission is a few dollars cheaper than weekends. The crowds are smaller too so you’ll have more room to move around and wait in shorter lines. Admission Friday through Sunday goes up $4. Presidents Day is also $4 more. Monday through Thursday, adult admission is $12. Ride armbands are also much cheaper Monday through Thursday… $35 instead of the $45 they charge Friday through Sunday and on President’s Day.

Buy Florida State Fair tickets in advance

Buying tickets online can save you some cash. Adult admission online is $11. Kids are $7. Seniors are $9 online at FloridaStateFair.com.

What do you do for work?

If you’re in law enforcement, a first responder, active or retired military, bring some kind of valid ID and you get in free on opening day (February 6, 2025). If you’re in the hospitality industry, get $5 off your admission on February 10 with your ID. There are food and drink specials planned for you too.

Seniors

If you’re 55 or older, get in for $11 on weekdays at the gate.

Visit the Florida State Fair on February 13

It’s the big 3 day. $3 admission, $3 select food items and games and rides cost just 3 credits. The catch? Another 3. You have to wait until 3pm.

Got any other good tips on how to save some money at the Florida State Fair? Email me (geno.knight@bbgi.com) and I’ll add your tips here.

UP NEXT: 5 Strange 2025 Florida State Fair Foods

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The first 4 Busch Gardens Free Concerts

Flo Rida will take the Busch Gardens stage Saturday, March 25. Flo Rida is best known for his hits “Low,” “Right Round,” “Whistle,” “Wild Ones,” and “Good Feeling.” Low was his first single and stayed at the #1 spot on the charts for 10 weeks back in 2007. Over the past few years, Flo Rida has dipped into the country music world collaborating with artists like Walker Hayes and Jimmie Allen.

On Saturday, March 22, Luis Fonsi plays Busch Gardens. Fonsi had a big night at the Grammy Awards this week. He’s best known for his hit 7 years ago with Justin Bieber “Despacito.”

Country star Mitchell Tenpenny plays Busch Gardens Sunday, April 27. He burst on to the music scene in 2018 with a huge hit “Drunk Me.” He won the ACM Award in 2019 for Best New Male Artist of the Year.

For classic rock fans, Grand Funk Railroad plays Busch Gardens Saturday, May 10. Formed back in 1969, Grand Funk Railroad is best known for their hits “American Band” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival takes place Fridays through Sundays. If you have annual pass, you can enjoy all the shows for free. If you don’t have one, Busch Gardens is running a deal right now for passes with payments starting at $15.75 per month with no down payment. Expect more concerts to be revealed in the coming weeks.

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While trying to decide what to get while I was standing in line a few weeks ago, I saw a sign that seduced my taste buds. I don’t know if it’s been around a while and I just never noticed it or if it is truly a “limited time only” offering as the sign said. But I was starving and a Boars Head French Onion London Broil sub sounded like a worthy challenger to dethrone the famous Publix chicken tenders sub.

The new Pub Sub Champion?

The sign described the masterpiece as London Broil Top Round Beef topped with Swiss Cheese, a special French Onion Mayonnaise and fried onion strips. After my first bite, I was in love. That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I’ve had the French Onion London Broil sub about 4 or 5 times since. And guess what? Just like the chicken tenders Pub Sub, it’s on sale this week too. For $10, this bad boy is a steal!

I’ve noticed that the crew preparing this sub really can make a difference. The first one I ordered was probably the best Publix sub I’ve ever had. The following ones were good. Then there was one I got in St. Pete that was just ok. My tip: preorder it online. I think that gives them more time to give it the attention it deserves. Plus it’ll be waiting for you in that heater which is vital. You want this sub toasted and hot.

My 3 Tips If You Try It

I have 3 other tips if you decide to give the London Broil French Onion Pub Sub a try. Add tomatoes to make it a little less dry. Also ask them to go light on the mayo. I liked the mayo, but too much mayo can take away from the taste. My last tip – go with the Italian bread. It’s got enough stability to handle all that London Broil meat. Plus it gives it that awesome crunch when you take that bite.

By the way, if you have your mind set on the chicken tenders Pub Sub, at least go with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sub this week. It’s also on sale and comes with bacon. It’s a nice sendoff to a dreary ending to the Bucs season.

Get more of my fat guy food picks in the Geno Ate Tampa section of this website and on the Geno Ate Tampa podcast.

NEXT: Mama Jane reveals her new funnel cake for the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival

The post Chicken Tender Pub Subs Are On Sale This Week, But Get This Instead appeared first on 995qyk.com.

A listener called in to the show yesterday and said she and her husband just like to go to the kids’ version of Gasparilla every year. And they don’t even have kids. They find the experience just as fun without the negatives. It was a tip I’d been given years ago when I first moved to Florida and I haven’t heard better Gasparilla advice since. Here are 3 good reasons you might consider doing the kids’ version of Gasprilla this year instead of going next week.

Crowd size

Finding parking is no easy task for Gasparilla. I always suggest taking an Uber to the event. Let someone else navigate around the pedestrians and drop you off right near all the action. But if you go during the kids version of Gasparilla this weekend, you’ll find much smaller crowds and more parking spaces. The Uber rides probably won’t be as expensive either as that surge pricing can really get you when everyone wants to leave Gasparilla at the same time.

Weather for Children’s Gasparilla Will Be Near Perfect

Next week temperatures are going to plummet in the Tampa area. Denis Phillips from ABC Action New says Tuesday and Wednesday morning is when we’ll really feel the deepest cold with morning temperatures just a few degrees above freezing. As for this weekend though, Saturday is expected to be in the low to mid 70s. There will be a few clouds and there is a slight chance of a shower, but as of now it only looks to be about a 25% chance of precipitation.

Your kids can join

Then there’s the obvious. This is the Gasparilla you can bring your little ones to. Dress them up like a pirate and let them join in the fun. There’s a bicycle rodeo where kids can get a free bike helmet, a stroll for preschoolers, and they’ll love the Gasparilla Air Invasion landing at DeSoto and Bayshore Boulevard a block north of Howard and Bayshore.

The kids’ Gasparilla parade is a 1.5 mile route starting and Bay to Bay and Bayshore. It runs from 4pm to about 6:15. It’ll be followed by the nighttime air invasion at 6:15 with the fireworks lighting up the skies around 7.

NEXT: Mama Jane reveals her 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival funnel cake

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But here’s the thing. Mama Jane creates something new every year for Plant City. So you missed out on funnel bacon on a stick. Sorry. You really did miss out. But what has Mama Jane dreamt up for the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival? If you’re heading to Plant City to get your strawberry cravings satisfied, you’re in luck. But there’s more.

Mama Jane’s New Florida Strawberry Festival Treat for 2025

Mama joined me for a live chat today to reveal her newest creation The Strawberry Cannoli Funnel Cake. It’s her classic funnel cake recipe topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate chip cannoli filling. Mama has been working on this concept of a fusion of a funnel cake and cannoli for a few years. She says it was tricky, but she finally got the cannoli filling to taste just right with the funnel cake.

Ready to try it? Not so fast.

Truth be told, she let me in on the secret last week and I made a suggestion I think she’s going to take. She’s going to add some crushed cannoli shell chips on top to give it a little more of that cannoli crunch. I’m not gonna lie. I’m pretty proud of myself. This is like Michael Jordan taking your tip on how to shoot a 3 pointer.

Mama Jane’s recipes have been featured on everything from the Today Show to CBS This Morning. She’s a regular on the cable TV show Carnival Eats. In fact, they’ve even filmed segments for the show on Mama Jane’s truck at the Florida Strawberry Festival. This year, her location will change so keep an eye on my social media. I’ll be sure to give you a detailed map with instructions to find her truck.

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Florida State Fair details

This year’s Florida State Fair opens on February 6 and runs through February 17, 2025. The Florida State Fairgrounds are near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Pop 4800 US Highway 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610 into your GPS.

Parking is free, but you do have to buy a ticket to get in. Adult tickets are $12 Monday through Thursday and $16 on weekends and President’s Day. Seniors can get a discounted tickets on weekdays for $11. Kids are $6 Monday through Thursday and $11 otherwise. Ride armbands go for $27 Monday through Thursday and $45 Friday though Sunday and President’s Day.

This year’s strange Florida State Fair foods

Alright let’s get to the wacky foods… that’s why we’re here right?

Baked Ziti On A Stick
Just when you thought you’d heard of every “on a stick” fair creation, All American Concessions is rolling out your favorite Italian dish… on a stick. Rigatoni noodles, a homemade marinara sauce combine with some mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. I’m not so sure about this one.

Strawberry Lemonade Donut
Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts came up with this one. It’s got a lemon buttercream and is rolled in a “strawberry lemonade crunch.” Add in some lemon gummy candy and a freeze-dried strawberry slice. I might be down to try this one.

The Southern Comfort Funnel Cake
No you won’t get drunk. Mama Jane, famous for her funnel cakes featured on The Today Show and Carnival Eats, created this new savory funnel cake topped with a creamy, house-made sausage gravy. If you have a sweet tooth like me, wait til you hear what she’s got planned for the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City this year. I’ll reveal that when we talk with her on Facebook Live Friday, January 10!

What The Dill-Io
Love pickles? This grilled cheese features a creamy ranch dressing with diced dill pickles. They add in some mozzarella, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses. Captain Max throws in some waffle fries and says you can customize it by making it Cajun style or adding bacon.

Campfire Burger
DeAnna’s Dount Buger came up with this odd one. Can’t decide if you want a burger or a hot dog? Don’t. Get both. This 1/3 pound Angus patty is topped with baked beans and a slice of gouda and a hot dog split in half.

Florida State Fair foods that aren’t so strange

Not so adventurous to try the weird strange fair foods this year? There are some safe bets I’ll be keeping an eye out for. Polar Bear Concessions has the strawberry shortcake crunch ice cream. It’s soft serve vanilla in a waffle cone rolled in a fruity strawberry shortcake crunch. Also for strawberry lovers, there’s Grandma Brown’s Strawberries and Cream cinnamon roll. The gotta have for me this year will be the salted caramel cinnamon bun from Cinnamon Saloon. See more choices here.

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I found “World Famous” on a Yelp search during a Fort Lauderdale visit years ago. The little to go restaurant isn’t even in Fort Lauderdale. It’s tucked way in a strip mall in Lauderdale Lakes. You’d never notice it from the street. Word of mouth has made the place, well, famous. These cheesesteak eggrolls are as good as they look and sound. I’ve had them a dozen or so times since that first visit and figured I’d offer up my advice since their food truck is coming to St. Pete today and tomorrow.

South Florida Junk Food at its finest: what to get, what to skip

Go with the Philly Cheese Steak Egg Rolls. You have many options. There’s a seafood, pulled prk, beef brisket and buffalo chicken egg rolls, wings, and lemon pepper fries. I’ve tried all of them… nothing compares to that cheesesteak eggroll. I don’t like the coating they put on their french fries. The wings were just ok to me. It’s really all about that cheesesteak eggroll.

The thing you’ve got to order with your cheesesteak eggroll

There’s an important component you can’t leave out when you get the cheesesteak eggrolls from World Famous. You can skip the fries. But don’t under any circumstances forget to ask for extra “Ying Yang” sauce. As if a fried cheesesteak eggroll wasn’t unhealthy enough, the real magic happens when you dip one into this creation called Ying Yang sauce. One side of the sauce cup is white. The other side is red. The white side is a ranch style sauce. The red is sweet. The combination of all those flavors is what keeps me going back every time I’m driving to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Where in St. Pete will they be?

The World Famous food truck will be set up at 150 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg today (December 17) and tomorrow (December 18). There will probably be a line. Even though they’re based in South Florida, the word has spread. I take partial credit, I’ve been raving about these things on my radio show and Geno Ate Tampa podcast for years. They’ll start serving at 10:30am and stop when everything sells out. They are not up here often, so skip breakfast this morning and don’t worry about supper tonight. You’ll still be full.

NEXT: I think I found my new favorite Chicken Parmesan spot in Florida

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White Christmas Travel Deals from Tampa from $174

Here are some good deals I found from Tampa International Airport for Christmas week. All of these flights are for a 7 day stay. Roundtrip airfare for all 3 are under $200, which is pretty remarkable as holiday travel can be super expensive. Definitely avoid travel those last few days before Christmas and the day after Christmas to save you some cash. I usually fly on Christmas day itself. You save a bundle and won’t have to deal with insane crowds. If you get an evening flight, you’ll still get to spend Christmas morning with friends and family.

Portland, Maine

OK, I’m a little biased. I grew up here. Portland has really become a tourist favorite. Growing up I didn’t really notice all the things that tourists do. I didn’t really like lobster until later in life. And the mountains, pine trees and ocean… it was just what I always saw so it wasn’t special like it is to me now when I go back and visit. Right now you can get a direct flight to Portland on Frontier Airlines for $174. That’s crazy low for non-stop service.

Here’s another thing that’s great about this flight deal. Portland is only 2 hours from Boston. It’s a cheap $30 bus ride so you can get 2 vacations in one. Go see a Bruins game or do some ice skating in the park. And whatever you do, don’t miss visiting the North End. It’s Boston’s Italian neighborhood. Get some chicken parmesan or lobster ravioli at Giacomo’s on Hanover Street. You won’t have room for dessert, but stop at Mike’s Pastry after anyway. Cannoli is the thing they’re famous for but I love their cupcakes.

While it’s not a sure thing you’ll see snow on the ground at Christmas in Maine, you can easily take a drive up to the mountains to do some skiing to see the white stuff. There’s also a nonstop bus that’ll take you to New York City if you’re so inclined. It’s a long 6 hour trip though.

Chicago

Just like any of these cities, there’s no snow guarantee, but with Chicago, you can best believe it’ll be cold enough for it. Found this super cheap roundtrip route for $185! Here’s the catch… the flight times are annoying. YOu leave the day before Christmas super early at 5:49AM out of Tampa International. But the flight is direct so you are in Chicago by 8AM. That gets you there just in time to have blueberry pancakes at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe right across the street from the famous bean. Later for lunch or dinner, grab some deep dish pizza to warm you up.

The flight back is a less than ideal time too. You leave Chicago on New Year’s Eve at 9:15pm so you get back to Tampa in 2025. So yeah you’ll be doing the countdown with other passengers on the plane. I guess that could be fun? Just make sure you catch the cart going by serving alcohol. This flight is with an airline most dread… Spirit. I’ve flown them often. While it’s not my favorite airline (that’s JetBlue), they’re not that bad.

Washington D.C.

While politicians don’t conjure up warm fuzzy feelings for the holidays, DC can get its fair share of the white stuff. A couple years ago they got more than any of the states in the northeast. Plus you’re a short train ride away from lots of other great spots to visit for Christmas like New York and Philadelphia. I found a $198 roundtrip non-stop airfare with Frontier. Spend Christmas morning with friends and family here in Florida and then take off after lunch at 1:30PM. You’d get to spend New Year’s Eve in DC too. The return flight to Tampa is at 5:53PM on January 1.

NEXT: Tampa concerts and events under $50

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Unscramblerer.com ran the numbers looking at Google Trends for 2024. The slang that more Floridians searched for than any other according to their research was “demure.” Most of us probably have always known that word to mean “reserved, modest or shy in manner or appearance.” But Tik Tok has apparently changed demure’s meaning a bit.

Turns out “Jools Lebron” has modified the connotation of the word demure in videos that have gone viral. Now demure in slang means “assessing appropriate makeup and fashion choices in various settings,” according to the report. Demure was also found by the study to be the most searched for slang in the United States.

Some other slangs in the top 10 include “sigma,” someone who’s independent and self reliant. And yes, even “Hawk Tuah” made the list. Let’s just leave that one alone. If you’re unaware of the phenomenon, Google can fill you in. Her 15 minutes of fame are up. My favorite on the list is #10: “Womp Womp.” It’s that comedic sound when someone fails.

Randoh Salihall with Unscramblerer says slang words are a “normal and fun evolution of language.” They suggest you try a few to impress your kids like “preen” (a child who tries to act like a teenager) or katz (something enjoyable or fun).

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Tropicana Field is out of commission. What will happen with it is still to be decided. Damage from Hurricane Milton can’t be repaired in time for the 2025 season so the Rays announced last month they’ll play home games in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field. That’s been the home of the Yankees here in Florida for almost 30 years. And it will continue to be the Yankees spring training home. But once spring training is over, the New York Times reports that the Yankees will be treated like any other visiting team once the season begins and they play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Steinbrenner Field – What Will Change

Rays staff will take care of tickets. Rays ushers and ticket takers will be mixed in with Steinbrenner Field crew members. The Rays will have to cover the expenses of “renting” the venue. That means paying for things like lightning changes that’ll need to be made, installing padding in the outfield and doing some improvements to the dugouts. All of these are requirements for Major League Baseball’s standards, according to the report.

According to Bay News 9, the Rays can put up their logos around the venue. Specifics on the Rays’ decor aren’t set in stone yet. But it’ll be interesting to see as the Yankees presence is felt all over Steinbrenner Field. One thing the Rays can’t touch… that George Steinbrenner statue out front. But the Rays will retain all of the revenue from ticket sales, merchandise and even parking.

Home Opener Change

To give crews more time to change the field over to become the Rays home ballpark for the regular season, a change has been made to the team’s schedule. The home opener against the Colorado Rockies will now be on Friday, March 28. First pitch is at 4:10pm.

On its official website, Steinbrenner Field posted: “We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a Major League-quality facility for them to utilize this season,’’ Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “Both the Yankees organization and my family have deep roots in the Tampa Bay region, and we understand how meaningful it is for Rays players, employees and fans to have their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field. In times like these, rivalry and competition take a back seat to doing what’s right for our community — which is continuing to help families and businesses rebound from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.” [Sources: Bay News 9, New York Times, Tampa Bay Times]

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This weekend’s boat parades

Tonight (Friday, December 6) head to Tarpon Springs for their Illuminated Boat Parade starting at 6:30. It’ll head down the Ancolote River to Spring Bayou where Santa will hand out treats. Tomorrow night, head to Riverview for the Alafia Lighted Boat Parade at Williams Park.

The rest of December

Clearwater always does it up big. Their boat parade is next Saturday night (December 14) at 6:30 winding down at the Clearwater Yacht Club after traveling along the inlets. Or head to Madeira Beach for their Festival of Lights Illuminated Boat Parade. ROC Park is a great spot to watch. If you’re on the other side of the Bay, head to Apollo Beach. Or the Homosassa Christmas Boat Parade is another good pick.

If you’re up for a road trip, the St. Augustine Regatta of Lights is pretty special. Watch from the bayfront seawall at the Bridge of Lions.

On Sunday, December 15, you can check out the Redington Beach and Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade at 6 south of the Park Boulevard Bridge.

On Saturday, December 21, Tampa’s Riverwalk Lighted Boat Parade begins just after 6pm. Lots of great places to watch like Armature Works, Curtis Hixon Park or Sparkman Wharf. That night Treasure Island’s parade is also happening.

The holiday boat parades are a great time, but if this is your first time, here’s the big tip – get there early. Parking spots vanish fast. Plus there’s usually plenty of music, food and fun to enjoy while you wait for the lit up boats to come by. Which one’s your favorite? Leave a tip on our Facebook page.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd will be back next year and Nelly will bust out his Q105 Saturday Night Dance Party favorites like “Hot In Herre” and “Ride Wit Me.”

The newest concerts added to the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival:

Reba on February 28 at 7:30
Boyz II Men on March 3 at 7:30
Chris Tomlin on March 4 at 7:30
Whiskey Myers on March 6 at 7:30
John Fogerty on March 9 at 7:30

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, December 12 at 8AM at FlorirdaStrawberryFestival.com and at the ticket office in Plant City at 2209 W. Oak Avenue. Here are some other big shows coming to the Tampa area this year…

December 12: Debbie Gibson
I guess she gave up on that whole “please call me Deborah” thing. Debbie plays the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. [Tickets]

December 14: Bret Michaels
Catch the Poison lead singer for a performance at The Sound at Coachman Park. It’s Bret’s Parti-Gras 2.0 Tour with Night Ranger and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister. [Tickets]

December 15: Trans Siberian Orchestra
It’s a holiday tradition! It’ll be one of the most amazing live performances you’ll ever see. The Lost Christmas Eve Tour will stop at Amalie Arena in Tampa. [Tickets]

December 17: Cheap Trick
Don’t be cruel. Just surrender because I Want You To Want Me. See the hometown favorites at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa. [Tickets]

January 11: Styx & Loverboy
Lots of big 80s hits at this one like Renegade, Lady, and Come Sail Away from Styx and Working For The Weekend and Turn Me Loose from Loverboy. The bands play The Sound at Coachman Park in Clearwater. [Tickets]

February 2: Kansas
Lots of classics like ‘Carry On Wayward Son’, ‘Dust in the Wind’ and more. See them at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. [Tickets]

February 8: Mary J. Blige
Lots of favorites like Family Affair and Real Love. She plays Amalie Arena in Tampa with Ne-Yo and Mario. [Tickets]

February 12: The Black Crowes
We were hoping to see them with Aerosmith at Amalie Arena on Valentines Day, but we know what happened there. Catch them on the other side of the Bay at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete. [Tickets]

February 26: Rod Stewart
Rod returns for another intimate performance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Event Center. Rod has played the venue a few times now. The first time when he walked on stage and saw the size of the crowd, he joked “I’m still getting my same fee aren’t I?” Apparently the Hard Rock ponied up the cash because he’s coming back again. [Tickets]

February 27: Richard Marx and Rick Springfield
This will be the first time the pair have performed together in Clearwater at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Richard Marx is known for so many favorites like “Right Hear Waiting,” “Don’t Mean Nothing,” and “Hold On To the Nights.” Rick Springfield will perform acoustic versions of his big hits like “Jessie’s Girl” and “Affair of the Heart.” [Tickets]

March 12: ZZ Top
“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century, delivering rock, blues and boogie on the road and in the studio to millions of devoted fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ TOP is virtually synonymous with beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain. See them at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa. [Tickets]

March 15: Foreigner
Yeah that farewell tour doesn’t seem to end, but who’s complaining? Joined by 38 Special, Foreigner is back again this time at Coachman Park in Clearwater. [Tickets]

June 6 & 8: Metallica
The 80s and 90s metal gods play Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. [Tickets]

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How cold will it get this week?

We probably won’t hit 70 degrees in the Tampa area again until we get closer to the weekend. Today and tomorrow (December 2), temperatures in most parts of Florida will top out in the mid 60s. Mornings will be extra chilly. In fact, we’ll be in the 40s again when you wake up tomorrow morning. Then on Wednesday, the really big chill moves in as some parts of Central Florida will dip into the 30s! It’s unlikely we’ll get below freezing, but still… that’s pretty close.

When does it warm back up?

Thursday is the day when you’ll see some big changes. Both Thursday and Friday we’ll rebound with temps in the low 70s. Then this weekend we’re back to more Florida like weather with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70s.

Official Snuggle Alert

During hurricane season, ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips talked tropical storm and hurricane categories with Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. For this week, on his official Facebook page today, Denis has issued an official “Snuggle Alert.” So plan accordingly. These cold spells don’t get assigned names like the tropical storms and hurricanes do. So let’s just go with Frosty. Yeah that works.

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Aerosmith To Walk This Way Out of Disney World

Aerosmith’s exit from Disney World has been rumored to happen for years. When Steven Tyler from Aerosmith was going through some legal issues, they flared up again but then died down. When a renovation closing the ride for months happened this past year, many Disney fans anticipated a change but were surprised when the ride reopened and Aerosmith was still in the ride’s recording studio at reopening. But this time it’s for real.

Aerosmith’s Rock’n Rollercoaster has been a favorite of mine since my first visit to Disney about 20 years ago. I can’t tell you how many times I waited in that excruciatingly long line. I know every line in the recording session studio scene word for word. Then there’s that rush once you finally are in your seat, you pull up to the starting point and that blast of speed whips you into the dark and as an Aerosmith song blares in your ears. Big changes are coming.

The Muppets on the Move

The real punch to the gut is it’s not just Rock’n Rollercoaster that’s getting overhauled. Disney World has announced that the Muppets will be taking over the coaster. That’s not all bad. I love the Muppets. Fozzy Bear is my spirit animal. I love Statler and Waldorf – I look for them every time I’m at a show at The Mahaffey Theater. But the Muppets 3D show is going away. It’ll be replaced by a Monsters Inc. attraction according to Entertainment Weekly. The Muppets will instead host the Rock’n Rollercoaster ride.

EW says that MuppetVision 3D show was one of Jim Henson’s final Muppets projects before he passed away. At least the Muppets aren’t going to disappear completely. According to Disney, the Muppets will be the featured attraction at a redone Rock’n Rollercoaster with “some of music’s biggest stars.” But as for Aerosmith, they’re going to Walk This Way to the exits at Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

According to wdwmagic.com, no dates have been given on the projects so if you’re an Aerosmith fan like me, you still have time to visit Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and the rest of the guys in the recording studio before you take one more stretch limo ride to the concert. It does make sense though. Aerosmith’s fan base (like me) is aging out of the Disney demographic.

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The update from yesterday: The models are starting to show some agreement as to where a Tropical Storm or even Hurricane Sara (the system isn’t officially named Sara yet) will go. The bad news for Florida is that it looks at this point like this one’s heading right toward us. The good news is that it looks like the storm will not be tropical storm or hurricane strength by the time it gets here.

The “future Sara,” as Denis Phillips from our weather partner ABC Action News calls it, has stayed over land for a while now. That weakens the storm. Denis says the longer it stays over land, the weaker it’ll be by the time it does arrive in Florida. Right now Denis thinks “AL19” will keep moving slowly over the weekend.

Sara’s Track

Right now most of the models show future Sara hitting the northern part of Florida right near Tallahassee. That doesn’t mean the Tampa area is completely in the clear. The storm hasn’t fully formed yet so models at this point are best guesses. But there is a lot of agreement in the models and they’ve been pretty accurate so far this season – even before storms have fully formed.

Sara’s Timing

Any impact from Sara for Florida would probably happen Wednesday, according to Denis. Again as to how strong the storm would be, that’s still up in the air. But it sounds like they’ll have a pretty good idea on that by the end of this weekend once the storm is done over land.

This Weekend in Florida

Before Sara does whatever she does, we’ll actually have some great weather this weekend in Florida. Temperatures will dip a little bit which will be welcome. When you wake up Saturday and Sunday morning, temps will be right around 60. Daytime highs should top out in the low 80s. But a much bigger cold front is on the way in about a week.

UPDATE: Denis has updated his forecast regarding Sara’s arrival in Florida. Here’s the Friday, November 15 update.

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The latest Sara update

Sara is moving west at 9MPH bringing heavy rains to Honduras this weekend. Right now winds are at 45 miles per hour. Denis says the models show Sara fizzling out over the Yucatan over the next couple of days. That’s great news for us in Florida… but we’re not completely out of the woods with this system. While any serious damaging winds and flooding seem out of the forecast, whatever is left of Sara will still head to Florida.

Florida Sara Impacts

Even though we probably won’t get even a tropical storm, Denis thinks we’ll still see some wet weather from the remnants of Sara around Wednesday in the Tampa area. The moisture from the storm will “merge with a strong cold front,” according to Denis. So we’ll still likely see some heavy rain at times midweek. Denis has even has seen a couple models where the storm redevelops but he doesn’t think that’ll happen.

Bonus: cooler weather is on the way after Sara

For those who’ve been waiting for a cool down, you’re in luck. Even this weekend, while Sara is still far to our south, we’ll see cooler temperatures this weekend. When you wake up Saturday and Sunday morning, temps will hover right around 60 and won’t get much higher than 80 in the Tampa area. The bigger cool down is coming after whatever Sara brings. Temperatures might not even reach 70 starting Thursday of next week.

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After dealing with two hurricanes, the last thing Floridians want to hear about is another storm. But there is another storm firing up in the Caribbean. As of this morning’s data, Denis says the chance of development has been increased to 80%. However, it’s still not known where this storm would go.

The next storm name on the list would be Sara.

Sara’s path is unknown

Denis says everyone along the Gulf coast needs to monitor this storm. While that doesn’t necessarily mean Sara would head toward Tampa, it could. Once the storm forms, they should have a good idea of the storm’s track and its potential intensity. But that won’t be for another few days. As for timing, it looks like midweek next week is when Florida could see any impacts. But again, it’s too early to tell right now.

Tampa area forecast for the next few days

It stays sunny and hot for the rest of this week with daily high temperatures in the mid 80s. Denis says temperatures will be 2 to 4 degrees warmer compared to yesterday. The good news is there will be a nice breeze to cool things down if you’re near the coast during the afternoon hours. But this weekend, we could see a bigger cool down. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see temps dip to the 70s during the daytime and this weekend, we’ll wake up to temperatures in the 50s in some spots in our listening area.

As for what happens after that, it’s another game of wait and see. We’re used to it as Floridians. We just hoped by November, all this stuff was in our rear view mirror. But remember that hurricane season in Florida doesn’t officially end until November 30th.

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Antico Fornaio is a new Italian restaurant in Feather Sound sat for months in dark silence this year. It replaced a Greek place called Taziki’s I was kind of bummed to see go. They had a Balsamic Chicken Pasta dish I loved. The plaza is chain central. Antico Fornaio’s neighbors are Starbucks, Dominoes, and until recently Teriyaki Madness. So my hopes weren’t all that high.

An unplanned first visit to Antico Fornaio

Last week I was in a hurry so I popped by Teriyaki Madness for a quick lunch. The redundant sign “permanently closed forever” gave me a chuckle. It didn’t surprise me. I like Teriyaki Madness but the staff was always terrible. Still, I was bummed they were gone… especially since I was starving. Then I noticed someone was walking out of the Italian restaurant that had been dark and dormant for months. As I walked in, the layout and look wasn’t all that different from Taziki’s (the Greek place they replaced). So I wondered why it took so long for them to open.

They offer take out and even though I was busy, I took a seat in a booth and put the world on hold for an hour. A quick scan of the menu showed the usual stuff you find at an Italian restaurant. For apps there’s bruschetta, fried calamari, garlic knots and a charcuterie. There are a half dozen salads, calzone, paninis, pizza and pasta dishes. The dessert menu includes the staples: cannoli, tiramisu, and limoncello. But the 2 interesting ones that stood out are a Nutella Pizza with strawberry and banana and a “Calzone Nutella.” (Sidenote: I’ve been to Antico Fornaio 3 times now but never have had enough room leftover for dessert. Don’t know if I ever will.)

First impressions were good when the waiter, an older guy who definitely had a cigarette recently, brought out fresh bread with a dish of oil and balsamic vinegar. I’m a balsamic vinegar addict and I loved that they didn’t just drop 2 or 3 drops of it in like most restaurants do. The oil to balsamic vinegar ratio was excellent. The bread was still warm. It was a great start to the lunch.

Chicken parmesan time…

The first order of business… let’s try that chicken parmesan. You can get it as a panini with fries for $12 or a main dish with pasta for $18. I’ve now had it both ways… go with the main dish. The texture of Antico Fornaio’s chicken parmesan is perfection. It’s got a crunch but not too much. The chicken is prepared just as I like it. The sauce is fantastic and plentiful (on the main dish, not so much on the panini). I went with the half rigatoni for pasta… no regrets there.

After the first couple bites, I grabbed my phone and many of you saw my post to social media. “I might have found my new favorite place for chicken parmesan in Florida.” I didn’t want to blurt the name of the place out quite yet. I was super hungry… maybe I was overreacting I thought. I resolved to have it a second time before I make a bold claim like that.

Visit #2: Trying the pizza at Antico Fornaio

The next day I went back to Antico Fornaio to try the pizza. I love chicken parmesan but 2 days in a row of it is a bit much even for me. I went with a basic cheese with extra sauce. It was good, but not quite as amazing as the chicken parmesan. The pizza flops. I like my crust a bit stiffer. The sauce was good. These cheese tasted great. Overall, a far better than average pizza.

Today was my third visit. It had been a few days so I was ready to dive into some more chicken parmesan. But this time I went with that panini version. It was good, but I far prefer the main dish version. The bread was fresh and the chicken parm was perfect. But there wasn’t enough sauce for me. And I know many like coated fries but these didn’t hit the spot for me. This time, I added a $4 “Mista” side salad. Definitely worth the measly $4… fresh, crunch cold lettuce and cherry tomatoes with carrots, cheese, and cucumbers.

As I was finishing up, an older guy came by to ask how the meal was. I gave my thumbs up in approval as I still had a mouthful of chicken parmesan. I asked if he was the owner. He said yes… I whipped out my phone and began to record for a new podcast of Geno Ate Tampa. Come to find out, even though this restaurant is new, the guy’s name will definitely be familiar to Italian food lovers in Tampa Bay.

A familiar name

Antico Fornaio is owned by Vinnie Fortunato… yes of Fortunato’s fame. Like me, after living near Feather Sound he noticed there weren’t really many great places to eat and kept an eye out for a place where he could open. When Taziki’s vacated that spot at 2467 Ulmerton Road, he jumped on it. As I mentioned earlier, he didn’t have to do much to the place… so why did it take so long to open?

Turns out that oven isn’t your typical oven. It’s from Italy and Vinny refused to open until it arrived. The magic of that sauce? The tomatoes are from Italy too. Vinny says it takes 3 hours to cook the sauce. The cheese is 100% mozzarella. No filler. Bread is made daily. It just takes 90 seconds to make in that magical oven they waited for for months.

Antico Fornaio Authentic Trattoria and Pizzeria is at 2467 Ulmerton Road in Clearwater. It’s about 3-4 minutes off 275 as you come off the Howard Frankland Bridge. Their phone number is 727-803-6003.

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There’s still debris along the side of the road in many Tampa Bay area neighborhoods. Just about everyone finally has their power back. Another tropical system is the last thing we want now. This is the time of year we want to hear about cold fronts and cooler days where we can open our windows.

Monday Tropical Update from Denis Phillips

Ever the realist, Denis Phillips says Florida is still “in the dartboard mode.” There is the potential for a storm to form and head our way. But right now it’s just too soon to tell. Denis says the National Hurricane Center has the likelihood of development at 40% right now. He thinks that development would happen sometime this weekend or early next week.

Right now, Denis says the GFS model has the storm moving east of Florida as a “stronger system.” The Euro thinks it’ll be weaker and will move into the Caribbean next week. Regardless, Denis says it’s just simply nothing for Floridians to worry about at this point.

The interesting “what if” is the timing of this potential storm is how it could impact voting. It’s nice we’re in the clear for Halloween, but if something forms and hits us Monday or Tuesday, what would that mean for Election Day on Tuesday, November 5?

Halloween Week Forecast

As for this week? We’re good. We’ll stay pretty dry with daytime temperatures in the low 80s and temps at night bottoming out around 68 degrees. Definitely some idea trick-or-treating conditions for the kids.

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Cheap airfare deals… but which airline?

If you’re not a fan of Frontier Airlines, some of these you’ll want to pass on. I get it. Frontier is a no frills airline that doesn’t win many customer service awards. You will pay for all the little things like baggage, snacks or choosing a particular seat. But they get me from point A to point B and that’s all that matters to me. I love a bargain. I found all these flight deals on October 24, 2024 at 10AM. Of course prices can fluctuate, so act fast as these cheap airfare deals can disappear quickly.

Chicago for $38
Listen, I think you’ve got to be some kind of crazy to visit Chicago in January. That said, for only $38, it might be worth braving that wind chill. Go get some deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s. I mean the flight will cost about the same as a large pizza. That’s crazy.

You should also try to snag tickets for a Chicago Blackhawks game if you are there during hockey season. I’m a 0% Hawks fan, but it’s probably my favorite NHL arena. The national anthem experience alone is worth the ticket price. I get goosebumps. The only better place to see a game is in Montreal. And I hate the Canadiens.

The flight I found leaves Tampa January 9 at 11:43AM. You’ll fly nonstop both ways. You return to Tampa January 13 leaving O’Hare at 3:16PM. As with many deals like this, the fare doesn’t include luggage. Frontier will even charge you for a carry on. But grab one of those $10 “personal item” size bags on Amazon. I love mine. For a short weekend visit like this, it might suffice.

San Francisco for $169
A cross country trip for under $200? That’s nuts! San Francisco is a great city to visit. I wouldn’t want to live there. (I did for a previous radio job.) But there’s a lot of fun stuff to do… visit Alcatraz, take a cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge or see the original Ghirardelli Chocolate Company location. Or if you want to spend a few more days, rent a car and head to wine country in Napa Valley, go down the coast to Monterey or up to the mountains in Lake Tahoe.

The weekend trip I found for this price leaves Tampa on November 14th at 11:46AM on Frontier and returns November 18 at 10:59AM. You’ll have a stop in Dallas on both flights.

New York City for $63
There’s nothing like New York City during the holidays. Everyone should see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person at least once. But honestly, it’ll probably be just once. Once you’ve done it, that’ll be enough. But it’s a rush the first time you see it in person. Unfortunately with the flight deal I found, you won’t be there for the parade, but you’ll still see Christmas decor around the city. This Frontier Airlines price is good for a 7:20AM flight on November 14 out of Tampa, returning Monday the 18th at 11AM.

Dallas for $58
I can’t really give you any tips for visting Dallas. I’ve yet to spend any time there myself. This is another Frontier Airlines deal leaving Tampa Thursday, December 5 at 11:07AM. You return Sunday the 8th at 6:30AM. That’s super early, but the good thing is both flights are nonstop. The Dallas Cowboys aren’t in town that weekend but there are some pretty cool concerts in Dallas while you’d be there. You can see Justin Timberlake or country legends Alabama.

Nashville for $156
This one I’m not too crazy about. The flight back will be a pain. But I did love visiting Nashville for the first time last year. If you love country music, it’s a no brainer. You’ve got to drop by the bars of all those singers you hear on the radio. But seek out some dive bars too. The Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar was my favorite. The pain about this deal is you have to book separate flights. Your first flight is on American Airlines leaving Tampa Friday night, December 13 at 8PM. The good thing is it’s a nonstop flight. The ugly part of this deal is the flight back on Frontier. You leave Nashville at 6:23PM but have to connect in DENVER! Yes, as in Colorado!? You’re stuck at that airport for 4 hours and finally get back to Tampa just before 6AM. As I said, I’m not too crazy about this deal but I love Nashville.

The post 5 Ridiculous Cheap Airfare Deals from Tampa appeared first on 995qyk.com.

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s home opener 4-1 win at Amalie Arena meant fans got a free double cheeseburger, half off a pizza, some wings, and cheese curds. But the freebie they were looking for never appeared in their Chick-fil-A app.

No more free Chick-fil-A?

I hate to say it, but it looks like the offer is gone. During the Lightning’s first home game, there was no mention of the free Chick-fil-A offer on the promotions page where you usually found it. I thought maybe whoever runs the Tampa Bay Lightning website was just asleep at the Zamboni wheel. But the offer never showed up after the game.

The way the deal usually worked went like this. If the Bolts won at home, you’d get a freebie at Chick-fil-A. It was never a full meal, but it was usually something tasty like a chicken sandwich or nuggets. I think I remember them getting a little stingy and offering only free waffle fries at one point.

The offer would pop up in your Chick-fil-A app usually around an hour after the home game ended. The catch was you had to claim the offer by midnight. If you forgot, you lost it. That meant you had to close and reopen your Chick-fil-A app a dozen times sometimes until they finally loaded the freebie into your account. You also had to make sure you gave the Chick-fil-A app the ability to see your location. It was only open to Tampa area fans.

The other free food deals are back for 2024

Even if the free Chick-fil-A offer is gone for good, there are some of the other regular freebies and discounts this season.

For Wendy’s lovers, you can grab a free Double Stack with any purchase if the Tampa Bay Lightning score 4 goals or get a shutout win. Papa Johns fans get half off their pizza with the code “BOLTSW” after a Lightning win. If the Bolts score in the 3rd period, that means free cheese curds from Culvers. For that one, redeem online with the code “CURDS4BOLTS.” Just like the Wendy’s offer, a purchase is required. Wings fan? If the Bolts score 3 or more goals, go to Kanes3Goals.com to claim 3 free wings from Beef O’Bradys.

Some Lightning fans did get a Chick-fil-A Freebie

A friend who’s at the game tonight says fans DID get a free chicken sandwich at the arena tonight. But it’s one of those “ya had to be there” things. During the “Spot the Cow” segment they do where a fan has to locate the Chick-fil-A cow with a camera, fans were given the freebie if the contestant found the cow.

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The recovery from Hurricane Milton was on everyone’s mind. The team donated tickets to first responders. A poignant moment in the night was when some linemen from Vancouver got a standing ovation from the sold out Amalie Arena crowd. The team has offered a steep discount to local Bolts fans for the first 3 home games this new Lightning season.

As amazing as Andrei Vasilevskiy was in net, one other thing seemed to be the topic of conversation after the Lightning win: Where’s my free chicken? The 4-1 Tampa Bay Lightning win meant a free double cheeseburger at Wendy’s, wings from Beef O’Brady’s and cheese curds from Culver’s. But what about that free fried chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A?

RELATED: Is the free Chick-fil-A offer gone for the 2024-2025 season?

Here are some pics from last night as another Lightning season began.

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Original story from 2023:

Even if you’re not a big hockey fan, there’s still a reason to cheer on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bolts wins this season mean free food again this season. Each offer has its own unique requirements to claim the deal, so let’s dive in.

Pizza

The first one isn’t a freebie, but half off a pizza isn’t so bad. The day after a Tampa Bay Lightning win you can get half off your Papa John’s pizza if you order online or via their app. Just like previous seasons, use that code BOLTSW to take advantage of the offer.

Burgers

Wendy’s fans can fill up on Double Stacks again this year. To get the free burger, the Lightning either need to shut the other team out (prevent them from scoring any goals) or you get the free burger if the Bolts score at least 4 goals. One thing about this freebie… you do need to buy something to get the free burger.

Wings

When the Bolts score 3 goals or more this season, you can get a coupon for free wings at Beef O’Bradys. According to the fine print, you have to claim your ticket online within 48 hours of the game. One voucher per person and it’s only for home games.

Chicken

The Chick-fil-A freebie has changed. Instead of a chicken sandwich, it looks like you’ll get free chicken nuggets (the 5 count size) after a Bolts home game win. Everything else stays the same. You open the Chick-fil-A app before midnight after a Lightning home game win to claim the offer. (Be patient, they’re not always fast… you might need to close and reopen the app a few times before you’ll see the free offer.) Then the next day you redeem the freebie with their app when you place your order.

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The forecast this week calls not only for sunny skies, but cooler temperatures. In fact, morning temps this week could dip in the 50s in the northern areas of Tampa Bay as a cold front dips down into Florida. After the past month we’ve had with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, we have earned it.

The Hurricane Milton Photos You’ll See Below

Below are some of the Hurricane Milton photos our talented photographers captured in Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater and other parts of Florida during Milton’s unwelcome visit.

We’ll never forget seeing the roof of Tropicana Field being torn off section by section in the middle of the night. Other incredible images you’ll see below in this “Goodbye Milton” photo gallery include overturned planes, cars buried in sand and a new local celebrity named “Lieutenant Dan.” He’s the newest “A Florida Man.”

As schools in our area begin to reopen, the lights come back on, the buzzing of air conditioners returns, and gas station lines become reasonable again, we hope it’s another 103 years before another hurricane like Milton comes by again. But for now the recovery begins. We made it through Hurricane Milton. And fortunately the next couple storms are staying far away from Florida.

After the storm

While some of these Hurricane Milton photos bring back terrible memories of Milton’s night of chaos, I definitely encourage you to hang in there until the end. Spencer Platt captured a great moment on Clearwater Beach that shows our Florida resiliency. Hurricane Milton did a number on us. But living in Florida, we know we’re rolling the dice to live in Paradise.

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Communities Recover After Hurricane Milton Barreled Into Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

President Biden Speaks On Hurricane Milton Recovery Efforts In St. Petersburg, Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Residents On Florida’s West Coast Prepare For Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida

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Greg Dee gave this update below this morning. Greg just got the power back this morning. He says when he flipped the switch and the light came on, he almost cried.

Where Denis thinks those 2 systems in the tropics will go

The ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist and our own station’s hurricane guru says that little blob in yellow will cross Central America. The bigger orange one will probably curve away from Florida. If it doesn’t Denis thinks that one will just go into the Caribbean and cross Central America. Denis says if anything changes he’ll let us know, but doubts it will.

It’s great news for Florida. Some are still without power and have been for almost a week. We’re all cleaning up and trying to get back to normal. Gas station lines are becoming reasonable. Slowly but surely the shelves and coolers at Publix are starting to fill back up. The last thing we needed was another named storm to retire.

Schools

Schools in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Polk counties are still closed. Classes resume for those counties tomorrow. Schools are open today in Citrus, Hardee, Desoto, Manatee, Hernando and Highlands County.

Fuel

For those still in need of gas, there are a bunch of fuel distribution sites set up around the area. You can get up to 10 gallons of gas at Tom Bennett Park in Bradenton, St. Pete College in Tarpon Springs, the East Bay Raceway in Tampa and at Plant City Stadium.

Our weather looks great

Not only are we hurricane-free this coming week, we can look forward to much cooler temperatures. A cold front arrives tomorrow and that’ll bring the temps down to the 50s and 60s Wednesday night into Thursday. Daytime high temperatures will be in the mid 70s. It’ll feel great, especially when you remember what we were going through one week ago.

Memories of Milton

The post 2 More Systems Firing Up in The Tropics, But Florida Is OK appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups took the top spot for Florida. No shock there right? The chocolate and peanut butter combo has been the winner since we were kids. I’d always remember which house had the Reese’s cups and head there first. There’s now Reese’s Cup cereal… even the peanut butter aisle at Publix often has Reese’s peanut butter. I’ve never brought myself to actually buy it though.

You would think given Florida’s heat and humidity that M&M’s would have cracked the top 3. The Halloween candy that melts in your mouth but not in your hand didn’t take the gold, silver or bronze surprisingly.

The runner up Halloween candy for Florida in 2024 is the one with that tangy sweet and sour combination: Skittles. Taste the rainbow. Love cinnamon? Hot Tamales rounds out the top 3 in Florida.

Nationally M&M’s took the top spot with Reese’s Cups at #2. Sour Patch Kids, Skittles and Starburst also placed in the top 5. Sour Patch Kids had the biggest jump year over year. The most surprising stat to me that they found was a resurgence in the popularity of candy corn. It landed at #7 nationally this year on the favorite Halloween candy in America list.

The new Halloween candy in the top 10 this year is an old favorite. Bart Simpson was a Butterfinger fan and so am I. Butterfinger ranked #1 in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

The biggest snub? That would be Snickers. Nowhere in the top 10! Snickers easily makes my top 5.

Halloween Candy Stats

Their other research found that households will spend about $31 on candy this year. Most Halloween shopping is done in the first 2 weeks of October. And over half of parents admit they stash some Halloween candy away to enjoy for themselves.

The numbers were compiled by candystore.com.

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The Good News About Hurricane Milton

Let’s start with the good news for most of our listeners who live in the Tampa Bay area. The storm’s track has nudged a bit south again. We can’t get overly excited about this because as we all know, the last few hours before landfall are when we can see those “wobbles.” Hurricane Milton’s track could certainly nudge north in the next update at 11PM tonight.

The Bad News

The bad news is that the storm has strengthened. Denis says Hurricane Milton is now a Cat 5 hurricane again with winds of 165 mph. Denis says this is an extremely dangerous hurricane that will bring catastrophic surge to the West coast of Florida. Even though it’s a Category 5 storm now, it’s still not expected to be that strong once it reaches Florida.

Timing

Denis told us this morning that he thinks the tropical storm force winds will arrive in the afternoon hours tomorrow. The worst of Hurricane Milton’s wrath will be felt late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. So do your best to get some good sleep tonight. It’s going to be a long night tomorrow.

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This morning, Denis noted that Milton continues to show fluctuations in intensity. Winds are at 145 mph with a pressure that’s up a bit since the last update. But he says there are no big changes to the track. Denis says the 5AM update showed a small “nudge” to the south but he says he doesn’t make much of it.

The biggest change is timing. The storm originally looked to arrive Wednesday night. It now looks like Milton’s landfall will happen early Thursday morning. Greg Dee noted in his update this morning that even tomorrow (Wednesday) during the day could be relatively calm.

Next Hurricane Milton Update

More data will come in at 11AM from the National Hurricane Center. Denis says the windspeed decreasing is due to a second eyewall forming. While that sounds like good news, he says that slowdown may be temporary.

Hurricane Milton arrives late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning with that small center of the storm delivering category 3 hurricane winds. Denis Phillips reminds us that “cone of uncertainty” is still located between Cedar Key and Ft Myers. The National Hurricane Center updates at 11AM, 5PM and 11PM Tuesday should be helpful in determining where Milton will make landfall.

Today

Conditions will not be so bad today. It’ll be a good chance to get last minute preparations done. Tampa International Airport will cease operations this morning at 9am. They will assess the conditions after the storm passes to determine when they’ll reopen.

Evacuation orders can be found here on the ABC Action News website. This storm will be deadly near the eyewall. For those living along the coast, today is your last chance to get away from the water.

Schools all over the area are closed. Stay tuned to this and all of the Beasley Media Group stations (99.5 QYK, Q105, WiLD 94.1, 92.5 MAXIMA and 98.7 The Shark) as we bring new Hurricane Milton information to you hourly on the air from Denis Phillips and the rest of the ABC Action News team.

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It’s the last thing we want to hear about right now. After Hurricane Helene’s destruction along our coastline in Tampa Bay, another strong storm is not what we want to talk about… but here we are. Hurricane Milton is on the way.

On Saturday morning, the tone of the updates from Tampa area meteorologists got a lot more serious. Attention is focused on that system that is firing up and looks to be heading to Florida midweek.

Where a Hurricane Milton Could Make Landfall in Florida

As of this morning, Denis thinks landfall would happen in Florida on Wednesday. But he says there is still not enough information out there yet to determine if this will be just a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane.

Hurricane Milton would be the worst case scenario. But there is some good news. Denis says this storm is going to be smaller than Helene. But the wind and rain could be more significant than what we saw with Helene since the direction would be different. Instead of traveling north 100 miles off our coast, this one looks to be heading straight toward Central Florida.

This Weekend

Denis says the GFS and Euro models say this will be a tropical storm or hurricane strength. But there is still that uncertainty as it’s early in the game. But Denis gives his usual advice here… we have good weather this weekend. That gives you plenty of time to get what you need and to make plans just in case this does become Tropical Storm or Hurricane Milton.

A possible track could come from the National Hurricane Center late tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday. Denis says all of the Florida west coast should stay updated over the next 24 to 48 hours as this system begins to reveal its plans.

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Hurricane watches this morning have been issued for the west coast of Florida. But Greg points out that hurricane force winds should only extend to about 25 miles from the eye. Everyone else will see tropical storm force winds and a lot of rain. Denis Phillips posted this morning that the worst of the wind will be between Tampa and Sarasota. He adds the chances for a significant change in track is dropping the closer we get to landfall.

Surge is a concern again

Where the storm makes landfall is key. For Tampa Bay, if the storm’s center passes north of the Bay in Pinellas or Pasco County, it’d be the worst case scenario for Tampa Bay area residents. Greg says if this happens, we could see surge levels 5 feet higher than they were for Helene. But if landfall is south of the Tampa area, it’d be a complete opposite result where we’d actually see a drop in water levels.

This is not Helene

Hurricane Milton will has a lot of characteristics that make it differ from Helene. This storm will go across the state of Florida instead of heading north 100 miles off our coastline. That means those who didn’t see much activity inland during Helene won’t have it as easy this time.

Also with Hurricane Helene, there was a high degree of certainty in terms of its path and strength. With Milton, the point of landfall and the strength of the storm is still uncertain. We know there will be heavy winds and rain. There will be power outages. But where Milton makes landfall will make a world of difference for your neighborhood.

Evacuations

Greg urgently insisted this morning that residents in the Tampa area pay close attention to evacuation orders. We have all day today and a good part of tomorrow to prepare and make plans. To see the latest list of evacuations, visit this page.

Updates on Air

Denis Phillips and his entire ABC Action News team of weather experts will be joining us on air and online throughout the week with the newest information. The next update from the National Hurricane Center on Hurricane Milton is coming at 11AM.

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Denis Phillips warns us though that we are not “out of the woods” yet. He says the GFS model still shows Hurricane Milton on a more northerly path. Denis also reminds us that hurricanes can change track 6 hours before landfall. Given that we’re still 3 days away from Milton’s visit, Denis says “That’s a long time out to try and pinpoint landfall within 20 or 30 miles.”

With the 5pm update from the National Hurricane Center, models still show disagreement. Some keep the storm south of Tampa Bay. But a few still have it north of us. Denis Phillips says Milton is now stronger with winds of 85 mph and will continue to get stronger tonight. It’ll approach the west coast of Florida Wednesday as a major hurricane.

As Floridians, we know how this story goes. There’s still plenty of time for Hurricane Milton to move north again too. But for now, if the track with landfall going south of Tampa Bay holds steady, our listening area in wouldn’t see the worst of the wind, rain and surge than if we were south of the hurricane’s landfall.

What moved the track south?

ABC Action News meteorologist Greg Dee says that hurricane hunter aircraft earlier today found that Milton’s center is south of where they originally thought. What they also noticed is that Milton seems to be heading east/southeast instead of just east. Since we’re still 3 days away from landfall, that moves Milton’s eventual track quite a bit. This track if it stays on this course would really spare Tampa Bay from the worst of Milton’s wrath.

Greg says spaghetti models have followed suit and are also adjusting to the south. While this is positive news for us in Tampa Bay, it’s now more reason for our friends in Naples and Fort Myers to prepare.

When will we know for sure where Hurricane Milton is going?

But as it was said already, these storm tracks are never set in stone this far out. Greg and Denis Phillips have both said they are looking to Tuesday as that point where we’ll really have a good idea of how strong Hurricane Milton will be… and where exactly it’s heading.

Cancellations

Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco County Schools will all be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Lightning even called off their last preseason game scheduled for tomorrow night. That game was a rescheduled game that was pushed back because of Hurricane Helene.

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Milton has now reached hurricane strength. By the time of its arrival Wednesday, models are predicting a Category 3 hurricane somewhere along Florida’s west coast with winds at about 120 miles per hour.

The last time a major hurricane hit Tampa was in October of 1921. Back then there were only 120,000 living in Hillsborough and Pinellas. Just like Milton, that October storm formed in the western Caribbean. It appears Tampa could see its first direct hit in a century. And just like the storm in 1921, right now a Category 3 hurricane is predicted to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s west coast.

The Tampa area is right in the middle of the “cone of uncertainty.” However today’s readings have pushed the center a little bit south.

Over the next few days, listen for regular, reliable updates from Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips and his ABC Action News team on all Beasley Media Group stations (Q105, 99.5 QYK, WiLD 94.1, 98.7 The Shark and 92.5 MAXIMA). Here are the biggest takeaways from Denis’ updates overnight on what will become Hurricane Milton.

No big changes

Denis says the track for Milton still shows a landfall on Wednesday. The Sunday 5AM update from the National Hurricane Center showed the storm slowly organizing. Denis emphasized overnight that the track may not have changed in the past 24 hours, but that doesn’t mean it can’t.

When Milton’s path should be “locked in”

Denis says Tuesday will probably be the day we should have a really good idea of how strong the storm will be. The track should be pretty clear by then too. The variable for this storm is that there’s some dry air and wind shear that could weaken what is now Tropical Storm Milton. Denis says some models show these two factors could “level off intensity.” But other models do not.

Denis Phillips is confident, however, that this will be Florida’s storm so we shouldn’t expect a wild swing north or south to dodge another bullet like we have for years.

What to expect Sunday

Today will be a great day to get preparations done. The wild weather is a couple days away. Tomorrow should be reasonably calm as well. The National Hurricane Center shows tropical storm force winds arriving late Tuesday. Gather your needs if you plan to ride the storm out. Denis said this morning that if you’re not impacted by surge, you probably will not need to evacuate.

Denis says he expects Storm Surge Watches and Hurricane Watches from the National Hurricane Center to be issues at some point today.

Power outages

Denis warned that power outages could easily last for “days if not weeks” where Milton’s landfall occurs. He says it’s something you need to keep in mind if you plan to stay in place.

How Milton is different from Helene

There are several key differences between Hurricane Helene and what will become Hurricane Milton. Milton is much smaller so where landfall happens is important when it comes to wind, rain and surge. With Helene, we saw surge all along our coast. Milton will come at us sideways so inland areas that didn’t see much damage from Helene will see a lot of wind and rain with this storm as it crosses the state. But on the positive side of things, surge should only be a big problem for those who live within about 10-15 miles south of landfall.

UPDATE: The Sunday afternoon readings show Milton moving a bit south of Tampa Bay.

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The exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia was founded in 2016. Their world tours sell out big stadiums so for those who usually buy tickets for games at The Trop last minute, you might want to rethink that strategy. The 2 games on the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour at Tropicana Field will surely sell out.

The team’s slogan: “Fans First. Entertain Always.” Last year the team played in front of one million fans in 29 cities. It was the first year they played Major League Baseball stadiums like The Trop.

Savannah Bananas St. Pete Tickets

Here’s how they explained how tickets will go on sale on the Savannah Bananas Facebook page: “The Ticket Lottery List will go live immediately after the draft concludes. Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on November 1, 2024. Joining the list doesn’t guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place about 2 months before the event for the chance to purchase available tickets. If you’re drawn, you’ll have an opportunity to purchase tickets.”

Here’s the link to the lottery: https://www.bbwt25ticketlotto.fansfirsttickets.com/

2 Other Banana Ball Florida Stops

Other Florida stops on the tour include a few nights in Fort Myers at JetBlue Park February 14 through the 16. The team will also visit Loan Depot Park in Miami March 1 and 2.

Other cities on the tour around the United States include Charlotte, Cincinnati, Savannah, Washington DC, Nashville, Atlanta, St. Louis, Kansas City and Anaheim, California. The Savannah Bananas are making their football stadium debut at Clemson University’s Memorial Stadium “with 81,500 of the biggest Banana Ball fans,” according to a post on the team’s official social media tonight.

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There are 7 issues that are getting me to dread having to fly out of Tampa lately. One, if not both, of the shuttles to your departure gate are taped up and unusable. There are too few food options, especially for morning passengers. The lack of a nice airport lounge bugs me too. But it’s parking at Tampa International Airport that has become my biggest frustration.

Economy parking is way too expensive

The economy airport parking shuttle is great. It was a nice addition a few years ago. The staff is nice. I even like that you can pay for your parking with SunPass. But if I’m parking in a lot labeled “Economy,” I shouldn’t be paying close to $20 a day ($18 at last check).

Sure you save a little (and I mean little) if you pay in advance using Tampa International’s online reservation system. But it’s worth seeking off-airport options now at the rates they’re charging.

A better, cheaper TPA parking option

The best cheap off-airport parking I’ve found is at Westshore Plaza. A company called Safeway Parking Enterprises charges a puny $4 a day to park while you travel. There are no gates, QR codes or lines. You simply pull into the mall and park in a designated area on the 2nd floor on the Gray Street side. You just leave your reservation code on your dashboard and walk away. That’s it.

The thing I love besides the cheaper price? They don’t charge you an extra day for a few extra hours like Tampa International does. If you park at 6am and the day you get back it’s 8AM, you aren’t charged extra like they do at Tampa International.

Customer service is also solid with Safeway. A couple times my travel plans changed last minute and I had no problem modifying or even canceling a reservation. I got a full refund both times I asked.

So what’s the catch with Safeway Parking?

There is one big catch. There’s no shuttle to the airport. Is that a deal breaker? Not really. There’s a $2 bus stop across the street that’ll take you to the rental car center where you can take the same shuttle to the terminal.

If taking the public bus isn’t your thing, just do a $7-8 Uber ride. That way you get dropped off right at the door at TPA. I’ve found if you take an Uber, the amount of time it takes to get to the terminal from your parking spot at Westshore pretty much evens out with economy parking shuttle at the airport.

One other “catch.” You will pay taxes and fees. But we’re so used to that these days. There’s an 8.5% airport tax, the 7.5% Florida sales tax and a processing fee that’s usually around $3. Still… it’s way less than what you’ll pay for airport parking at TPA.

My biggest gripe about parking at Tampa International Airport

My biggest complaint about TPA is one that’s going to make many of you groan. The EV parking situation at TPA is a big fat fail. Yes, yours truly made the leap and got a Tesla last year. Even if you DON’T drive an EV… even if you HATE electric cars, there’s a reason you should be frustrated with how Tampa International Airport has failed.

Why should I care if I drive a car that runs on gas?

With the thousands of parking spaces at the airport, there are a whopping 4 spots for electric vehicles in the economy lot. Yes… FOUR. And where do they put those 4 spots? Right on level 1 near the elevators… PRIME parking spots that everyone wants. This is terrible planning by Tampa International.

By putting those EV spots in such a prime location, it tempts those who drive a regular car to snatch up that great parking spot. Guess that happens if they do. They get towed. All of a sudden that overpriced parking just got way more overpriced.

You probably will never see any of those 4 parking spots available anyway. I’ve only seen one empty spot… once. But there’s a no-brainer EASY solution.

The easy fix

Instead of putting EV parking spots in the GOOD parking spots, move them to one of the upper levels that nobody wants. And forget about the expensive fast chargers. They’re unnecessary. If I’m traveling, chances are I’m going to be parked for at least 3 or 4 days. So there’s no need for the pricy high speed car chargers. Just a regular standard household electric plug will do just fine. They’re way less expensive.

This simple, cheap solution would get more EV drivers to use the overpriced parking at Tampa International Airport. Plus it’d make more prime spaces available to those who don’t drive an EV. A win for everybody. Get this done TPA!

The Uber “Got Ya, Sucker!”

Another way to avoid the overpriced parking at Tampa International Airport some have suggested is to take an Uber. This makes sense if you live a short distance from the airport.

The “got ya, sucker” moment happens when you return to Tampa. The surge rates when I’ve tried to take an Uber home from TPA have been 2 to 3 times as expensive as my ride to the airport. They know you don’t have options at that point. You’ve already committed to leaving your car behind. So they jack the rates up for your ride home. It’s not just Uber. I’ve found that Lyft does the same thing.

What are your Tampa Airport parking tips? Email me at geno.knight@bbgi.com or leave a message on my Facebook page and I’ll add them below.

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RELATED: A better cheaper option instead of parking at Tampa International

So how did it go?

I love flying in and out of Tampa International Airport so I knew that part would be great.  The Breeze Airways staff was friendly.  The planes were nice.  The flights were cheap and on time.  But there were two big negatives that will probably keep me from flying with Breeze again.  Let’s go over the positives and those 2 big strikes.  Only one of the two will probably be an issue for you.

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So the two big strikes against Breeze Airways?  No WiFi and the uncomfortable seats.  The seats having those annoying headrests digging into my shoulders probably won’t be an issue for you.  I’m crazy tall.  If you’re of normal height, I think the headrests being so big will probably be a positive.

Would I fly with Breeze Airways again?

Maybe. As for not having WiFi or any kind of entertainment on board, that’s kind of unforgiveable to me in 2024.  I know Breeze Airways is going for that no frill discount airline business model, but pick at least 1 – have a video monitor or give me some WiFi so I can entertain myself for those 3 hours.  Even if I have to pay a few bucks for the WiFi, it’d be a game changer and would make me consider flying with Breeze again.

UP NEXT: A better option than parking at Tampa International Airport

Next: 7 Things That Suck About Tampa International Airport

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In the summertime, it’s way to hot to tailgate before any concert. So we suggest pregaming at one of these restaurants instead. Most of them are about a 20 minute walk to Raymond James Stadium, if you wanted to save the Uber trip. For most concerts, doors open around 4 or 5, which means you might even be able to catch some happy hour specials if it falls on a weekday!

So where should you go to eat before the show? There’s plenty of great restaurants by Raymond James to choose from. Know that you may not be able to leave your car there, even if it’s walking distance. But it may make your Uber price cheaper to get picked up from these places instead or waiting at the drop off area at the stadium. We went to Yelp to see the highest rated places and added a few of our own favorites.

Here are 5 great restaurants near Raymond James Stadium

The Boozy Pig

Located at 3255 West Cypress Street, this place is described as half butchery and half cafe. The Boozy Burger gets high marks as does their version of the Cuban called the El Mixto with garlic dill pickle.

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Riveters

When I first moved to Tampa, I was pretty bummed out by the lack of great sports bars. But that’s changed in 10 years. A lot in Tampa sports has changed in these past 10 years. We’re Champa Bay now and the sports bars have stepped up their game too. Definitely try the chili or the burger served on a croissant with egg. Plenty of TVs everywhere so it’s a great place to watch a game. Riveters is at 2301 North Dale Mabry.

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La Teresita

Open til midnight at 3426 West Columbus Drive, this place gets busy for a reason. Well known for their Cuban sandwiches, the bread has that crisy crust and soft interior people love. If you love plantains, try the Plateano Relleno stuffed with beef.

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Brick House Tavern

Brick House Tavern & Tap is a great option on Dale Mabry. It’s about 1.7 miles away from Raymond James so it’s up to you if you can make the 30 minute walk or take a chance with Uber.

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BellaBrava

The Hot Honey Pizza is the star of the show at this Italian restaurant at 1015 Grammercy Lane. Save room for cannoli or tiramasu. The pasta tends to get mixed reviews. Stick with that pizza. It’s unique and spicy. Just like you.

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Denis says the National Hurricane Center still has the chances for development for this newest “orange blob” at 40%. But there’s better news. This doesn’t look like it’s going to turn into a hurricane. It might not even reach tropical storm status. Denis says he thinks it will head towards Florida… but it should be “mostly a rain event.” We’ve had enough water around here. But we know it could be much worse.

The Orange Blob… How Bad and When?

Some of the models do forecast this to become a tropical storm… but it’d probably be a pretty weak one, says Denis. As for the timing of when this would impact us in Florida? The wet weather from the orange blob (I love that, sounds much less problematic than tropical storm… or that dreaded H word) would probably arrive between Sunday and Tuesday.

Now that a few days have passed since Helene, Denis says he has more confidence in this track and forecast of this next system in the gulf. But stay tuned because this is Florida and these systems can change course and intensity. And yeah yeah, as Denis always says… remember Rule #7. Don’t freak out. Sounds like there’s little reason to do that this time anyway.

As for the rest of this week in the Tampa area, the weather remains muggy and we have those chances of a passing downpour. The good news is next week we might see a bit of a cool off. Temperatures starting Sunday shouldn’t go much higher than 80.

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Weather

Kind of a no-brainer right? Most transplants will tell you the obvious #1 reason they moved to Florida was because of the weather. But one thing Tom Brady said he didn’t think about when he made the decision was how playing in Florida would be the complete opposite of his years playing in New England.

Brady talked about how in New England when he played for the Patriots, the weather was great to start early in the season. As the year went on though, as temperatures dropped, it just got harder. But in Tampa, the most challenging weather to play in was at the start of the season. So you’d get those tough games in the extreme heat out of the way early. By the end of the season, conditions were great when the playoffs got closer.

The People

No, sorry, Tom wasn’t talking about A Florida Man. He gave many shout outs to former Coach Bruce Arians. He said the Bucs personnel was a key factor in why he chose Tampa Bay over Chicago. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both got their props from TB12.

Family

In the broadcast today, Tom Brady said moving to Tampa Bay was best so he could be close to his family. Tom remarked many times during his time here of how much more he enjoyed living in the Sunshine State. But after living in cold, dreary Boston, well, duh. I made the same decision 12 years ago and never looked back either.

With the dominant win over the Eagles today along with the Falcons win over the Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take sole possession of first place in the NFC South. They won’t have to wait long to see if they’ll hold on to that spot. The Bucs play the Falcons Thursday night.

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Denis Phillips from ABC Action News said this “could very well be Idalia Part 2.” By the time Hurricane Helene reaches the Panhandle or Big Bend, he expects Category 3 winds at about 120MPH.

How will Helene impact the Tampa area

Power outages here in our area are expected Thursday. But surge is Denis’ biggest concern. For those who live along our coastal areas, tomorrow will be the last big day to make a plan. As Denis always says, you hide from the wind, but run from the water. Storm surge estimates for the Florida coastline are scary for Helene – even though the center of the storm is expected right now to pass by 100 miles off our coast.

While the Tampa area is not in the “cone of uncertainty,” Denis Phillips reminded viewers last night that paths change. But he does note that the models have been consistent for a few days. For the last 3 days, the models have been “right on top of each other,” Denis said. He says he’s never seen anything like it in all his years of covering Florida hurricanes.

Helene’s Timing

Wednesday will be a good day to make final preparations for Helene. Winds will pick up Thursday morning but tropical storm winds are not expected until Thursday afternoon in the Tampa area. Denis expects landfall to happen around 8pm Thursday night in North Florida.

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Years ago, this genius had the solutions and we never listened. We have a navy. Why can’t we put those ships to good use and send them out to drop some ice cubes in the ocean? If the warm waters add fuel to the hurricanes, if we dropped those ice cubes in the water, that’s gotta fix that problem!

And we have an air force for crying out loud. If the winds are a problem, get those planes up in the air to turn ’em around! This phenomenal solutions guy was labeled “A Florida Man” when his interview aired on TV years ago. But I have a sneaking suspicion he’s from where I grew up with that accent.

As we prepare for some wild weather later this week, can we take a moment to pause and consider these innovative solutions so Hurricane Helene will be the last weather event we ever have to worry about? These Florida hurricanes are honestly a pain in the butt.

In all seriousness, even though the storm appears to be pushing further west according to Tuesday night’s 5pm update, we still anticipate surge issues and some strong winds and rain. Stay tuned in both on the air and online via our website as we partner with Denis Phillips and the rest of our friends at ABC Action News with Helene updates for the rest of the week. We promise they’ll have ideas and solutions that are just as good, if not better, that this guy’s advice.

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Preparation Time

Denis says the good thing is we still have two days in the Tampa area to prepare for Helene’s visit. He expects any tropical storm like conditions for us in Tampa Bay to arrive Thursday morning. That leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday to make any last minute preparations that, quite honestly, we should have made earlier in the hurricane season.

Helene’s Path

There still could be changes as the storm takes shape. Once the storm develops a center, forecasters say we’ll have more certainty on what impacts we’ll see in our area. A small shift to the east could really make a big difference for Tampa Bay. Even if the path Helene is predicted to take doesn’t change, we’ll still see some wild weather, especially along our coast.

Denis says his biggest concern is storm surge. He thinks coastal areas will likely get evacuation orders Tuesday with tropical storm or hurricane watches too. If there’s any good news about Helene, Denis says it’s that this will be a fast moving storm.

Denis Phillips’ Monday 11PM Observations

In his notes at 11pm Monday night, Denis reminded us that it’s still not officially a named storm: “Still not quite Helene. No changes to track or intensity. NHC still believes it will be Cat 3 before landfall. Again, the system is not organized yet. Once it does, there could still be a relocation of the center which could change the ultimate track.”

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For now, you can still visit during special new hours of 9AM to 6:30PM. Be aware though that the menu is “limited” according to their Facebook page. Goody Goody is located at 1601 W Swann Ave in Tampa.

Southern Living called Goody Goody “Florida’s best breakfast spot.” Besides breakfast, Goody Goody specialized in burgers and their legendary pies.

The restaurant will close its doors September 29, 2024. Gonzmart said in a statement: “Sometimes we must make business decisions with our head as well as with our heart.” He vows that his company will continue with their charity work with his other brands.

Gonzmart said the restaurant holds a special place in his heart. His mother held Women’s Club meetings at the original Goody Goody location in Tampa. He says he fondly recalls picking up a sack of P.O.X. burgers for the family.

A bit of good news for Goody Goody fans

The Goody Goody location at Tampa International Airport will remain open in Airside C. For fans of the butterscotch pie, you’ll be able to enjoy a slice at Colombia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk at the Tampa Bay History Center.

Fans of the restaurant shared their sorrow on Goody Goody’s Facebook page tonight. If you’re planning one last visit to get one of those slices of butterscotch pie, you can reach Goody Goody at (813) 308-1925 or their email address is info@goodygoodyburgers.com.

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Dennis Phillips on the Timing of the Storm

As for the timing of the storm, Denis feels like landfall could be late Thursday or Friday. As for the storm’s strength, Denis says it’s still too soon to tell. He has a son at Florida State University and told him to prepare to come back to Tampa midweek. Denis says if it’s a Category 1 hurricane, he’ll probably tell him to just stay in Tallahassee. Denis says some models are showing this could be a more powerful hurricane. So it’s going to be a wait and see situation for the next 48 hours.

According to a social media post earlier today, Denis Phillips says that odds of development are now at 80%. He added, “Impacts on Florida are highly likely later in the week.” We just don’t know which part of Florida quite yet. So even though Tampa doesn’t appear to be the bullseye right now, that could change over the next two days.

The National Weather Service tonight said development likelihood continues to increase, but ultimate impacts and location are still to be determined. They say at a minimum, moisture is expected to increase in Florida around midweek and that flooding is definitely a possibility.

The post Denis Phillips Thinks Helene Could Hit the Panhandle or Big Bend appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Well they have more haunted friends now. Have you met Carmela Creeper? I like anything with caramel and apple so this sounds like a winner. As a grown adult with no little ones in the house, I couldn’t bring myself to carry one of these to the register… but I thought about it.

The Halloween Cereals of 2024

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Bucs Season Opener Standouts

Baker Mayfield was cool, calm and collected. He had an impressive day with 289 yards. Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes and threw no interceptions. He ended the day with a passer rating of 146.4. Mike Evans was a beast scoring two touchdowns.

After the great start, now the Bucs head to Detroit to take on the Lions Sunday at 1pm. The Lions are coming off a win too. They beat the LA Rams 26-20 at Ford Field.

Injuries

The big downside of Sunday’s win for the Bucs… injuries. The defense was especially hit hard. The Bucs secondary was almost wiped out by the end of the game Sunday.

Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey were already out. There were early exits with cornerback Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall and Josh Hayes. Greg Auman tweeted that Hall dislocated his ankle and fractured his fibula. A rough debut for sure in the Bucs season opener. Another point of concern… Antoine Winfield Jr. was in a boot after the game, according to the Pewter Report.

Looking Ahead

After Sunday’s matchup with the Lions, the Bucs return to Raymond James Stadium September 22 to face the Denver Broncos. Then there’s one more home game against the Philadelphia Eagles September 29 before the team heads to Atlanta to take on the Falcons for a Thursday Night Football matchup. After that we take on the Saints, which was the only other team in the NFC South to get a win in Week 1 of the new NFL season.

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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How It Happened

8 News Now reports the incident happened Saturday morning just before 10AM. They say doors had just opened at “Everything Birds” in Oldsmar for some kind of event. In the video, you see the woman scoping out the birds in their holding pen. Then after looking around to see if any employees were watching, she reaches in, grabs the bird and makes her way to the exit.

How in 2024 do people still not realize there are video cameras that capture everything? Just because employees may be distracted, you’ve got to have a bird brain if you think there will be no repercussions if you shoplift. PS, I apologize to any birds I may have offended with that last sentence. You all have wonderful, capable brains.

But… It’s just a bird right?

Not so much. Apparently the Black Headed Caique is worth about $2,400! But it’s not just the financial loss the store was worried about. According to the Channel 10 report above, the bird’s safety was in jeopardy as it has to be hand fed and given a special formula. But there’s a happy ending to the story.

A Florida Woman… Identified and Arrested

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announced yesterday on social media they made an arrest in the case. After the story went viral on social media, someone must have spoken up. 54 year old Grissel Flores Nistal was taken into custody in Largo and brought to Pinellas County Jail.

Nistal has been charged with one count of felony grand theft. Nistal gave the bird back and fortunately the bird was still in good health, according to a press release by the PCSO.

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The new Howard Frankland Bridge plans

The new Howard Frankland Bridge won’t be done until the end of next year (“late 2025” is the official word from the Florida Department of Transportation). But we’re getting there. It’ll be 8 lanes wide. There are 4 general use lanes and four express lanes.

The biggest change from the old to the new Howard Frankland Bridge will be for those who want to get some exercise and a new view of Tampa Bay. There will also be a pathway for bicycles and pedestrians that’s separated from the roadway. Right now, you can do that walk or ride on the Courtney Campbell, but pedestrians and bicycles are forbidden on the current Howard Frankland Bridge.

What’s happening to the existing Howard Frankland Bridge?

Once the new bridge is built and all traffic is moved into final alignment, the existing northbound/eastbound (St. Petersburg to Tampa) bridge you’re driving on now will be removed.

Howard Frankland Bridge Construction by the numbers

According to FDOT, all of the pilings have been driven now. 99% of the bridge footings and 98% of the columns are done. 77% of the bridge superstructure beams are in place. These numbers are all as of June 2024. Take a look at these 2 Howard Frankland Bridge construction update videos. The first one is from last summer. The second is only about a month old.

Summer 2023:

Summer 2024:

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At 1pm tomorrow (August 19), the ice crew at Amalie Arena will begin their work laying down a base coat of water on the concrete floor. After that they will then paint the ice a base white color sometime Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the crew will wake up bright and early. At 7am, they will begin to paint the lines, markings and logos.

Wildest thing I learned at Ice Install Day at Amalie Arena

Did you know the ice the Tampa Bay Lightning play on is only an inch and a quarter deep!? That blew my mind. For some reason I always assumed it was at least 3 or 4 inches deep. Let’s head inside and show you how they do it at ice install day at Amalie Arena.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will play their first preseason game on this fresh coat of ice on September 24th when they face the Carolina Hurricanes. The two teams will meet again when the regular season begins October 11. The first Bolts regular season game at Amalie will be the next night on October 12 against the Hurricanes once again. Tickets for Lightning regular season games just went on sale Friday.

UP NEXT: I tried Tampa’s most expensive ice cream cone

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Million Dollar Homes in Florida: South Florida

This probably will not come as a big surprise. Miami is where you find those most expensive properties in Florida. In Miami, almost 15% of the homes (14.8% to be exact) were found to be valued at $1 million or more. That’s up 1.5% from just last year.

Not far behind Miami is West Palm Beach where 14.2% of homes are million dollar properties. Rounding out the top 3 (all in South Florida) is Fort Lauderdale where 7.7% of the real estate will set you back a million.

Closer to Home: The Tampa Number

Here in the Tampa area, we’re the priciest of the rest of the Florida big cities. Just over 5% of Tampa area homes are priced at $1 million and up. Jacksonville is right behind us at 4.6%. Looks like the cheapest big city is Orlando where only 3.6% of the homes are valued at $1 million.

Where do you find the cheap homes?

Willing to leave Florida? If you’re ok with ditching the beaches and palm trees, you’ll find it easier to find cheap real estate if you can deal with the snow life. Redfin says the percentage of million dollar homes is tiny in Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Kansas City. None of those cities had more than 1% of homes valued at that $1 million price point. [Source: Redfin]

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I’m a typical Pinellas guy – I hate crossing the bridges over to Tampa. But that’s where the best Chinese food is. There are 2 takeout spots that are on my Chinese Food Champions list. There’s China Wok at the corner of 301 and Adamo across from Brandon Ford. (Get the honey garlic chicken lunch special.) My other go to is Shanghai Restaurant on West Shore with their super cheap lunch specials. I usually go with the General Tso’s chicken lunch deal.

With sit down restaurants you expect to pay more. But at Yummy House is still my favorite Chinese spot in Florida. Sorry Zom Hee. I know I rave about you a lot on my socials. You’re the best in Pinellas. But Yummy House still reigns supreme. And their $10.99 lunch special is criminally cheap.

The Yummy House Lunch Special I Get

For $11, the portion sizes are kind of enormous. Then there are the 2 mounds of rice (although it’s not fried rice, but maybe they’re looking out for my health). Plus your drink is included. You’re not going to leave hungry.

That’s all well and good, but how does it taste? Just because it’s cheap, doesn’t mean it tastes cheap. I’ve only ordered the Sweet and Sour Chicken Yummy House lunch special – but I doubt you can go wrong with any of their others like Honey Walnut Chicken, Cashew Shrimp, or Broccoli Beef. They’re all $10.99. But that sweet and sour chicken just hits the spot. It’s not too sweet and there’s a great texture and flavor to the chicken.

For a couple bucks more, you can go with the Spicy Yummy Combo with beef, shrimp, chicken, mushroom and asparagus stir-fried in a sweet chili sauce for $12.99. Look at you big spender! Or there’s the Bistro Style Fried Rice. That’s the one I’ll probably try at some point. It’s shrimp, chicken, beef, BBQ, pork, cilantro, green onion, and egg mixed in with jasmine rice. That one’s $11.99.

There are a few Tampa area Chinese spots with a variation of the name Yummy House so it can get confusing. The one we’re talking about here is at 2620 E. Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. They’re open for lunch from 11 to 2:30. Then they close down for a bit before they reopen for dinner at 5pm.

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As I pulled up to the new location across from Target on 4th Street, I saw police detail. That’s pretty common when stuff opens around here. I remember they even did it when Wawa first opened in St. Pete years ago. Police detail… for a gas station! They did it again when we finally got Trader Joes. It’s necessary because opening day crowds require the police presence to keep things in order.

So how was Greenlane? They always say to avoid restaurants when they first open. The crew is just learning the basics. Some equipment failures can happen. And with the overwhelming number of customers, it can go horribly wrong. But today, it didn’t. I like to tell stories in pictures so let’s hit the drive thru and be (gulp) healthy. Yeah, that’s not a word I use often.

Is Drive Thru Salad for me?

I’m happy Greenlane is finally here on the Pinellas side. This location isn’t far from the radio station is a much better option for me than the usual drive thru spots I hit on the way home. Prices are not bad. The salads were all between $7 and $10. You can get them with steak for $2 more or salmon for an extra $2.50. Drinks were about $2 or less.

You don’t have to stay super healthy either. They have Miss Vickie’s potato chips. For dessert, there are S’mores and Lemon Blueberry cookies for $2.49.

So yeah I think there’s definitely room in my life for a drive thru salad spot. But don’t think for a second I’m giving up my Big Macs, Filet-o-Fish at McDonalds, butter burgers at Culvers or that $5 biggie bag at Wendy’s. But Greenlane will definitely be in that rotation on days when I want to be a little better to myself.

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Other Florida cities with at least one Whataburger include Callaway, Cantonment, Century, Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Destin, Gulf Breeze, Lynn Haven, Milton, Navarre, Neptune Beach, Niceville, Orange Park, Pace, Panama City Beach, St. Johns, St. Augustine, and Yulee. But all of those are a long drive from Tampa. But let’s talk about lunch today.

But what about this return for Whataburger in Tampa?

Well at least for today, there will be one location. We got the word this morning that a Whaburger Food Truck will be making a stop at southwest corner of Lykes Gaslight Square Park in downtown Tampa at 11am.

What about a permanent Whataburger in Tampa?

Speculation is they’re announcing a return to Tampa. How soon? The word is 2026. But where? That’s not known yet. But we expect to find out more at the food truck stop today. Lykes Gaslight Square Park is at North Franklin Street at the corner of Franklin and Kennedy. The first 150 hungry guests to show up will get free burgers and fries according to the press release.

RELATED: I went to Largo to try the burger named best fast food burger in America

Not familiar with Whataburger?

According to their notes to me, “Whataburger serves up Goodness 24/7. Our original recipes are made to order, just like you like it.” Their headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas. They’re in 16 states right now with over 1000 restaurants around the country.

UP NEXT: I found an incredible, enormous build-your-own-burger in Gulfport

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It’s where shopping is a pleasure… and so is winning. Publix sells so many winning Florida Lottery tickets that the retailer that comes in at #2 has sold about as many winning tickets in 2024 as Publix does in a typical month.

Who sells the second most winning Florida Lottery tickets?

Stumped? They say seven is a lucky number. And it apparently is for those who buy their winning Florida Lottery tickets at 7 Eleven. They’ve had about 30 big winners so far in 2024. That’s compared with over 150 big winning tickets sold at various Publix locations in Florida this year.

But it’s Publix that has run away with the number of big winning Florida Lottery tickets so far… by far. Publix had 37 big winners in February 2024 alone. That’s more than 7 Eleven has had all year… and they came in at #2.

Other retailers in the top 10 for selling winning Florida Lottery tickets include Circle K, Winn Dixie, Race Track and Walmart.

Florida’s biggest winning cities…

The data collected is of winners playing the big money games like Powerball, Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play, Cash4Life, and Fantasy 5. Florida Today also breaks down which Florida cities were where the winners bought their tickets. For example in July, Tampa had 3 big winners. But Miami had 8. Even Naples beat us in July. They had 4. Orlando, Panama City Beach, Port St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach had 2.

Have a lucky spot where you buy your Florida Lottery tickets? Let us know in the comments.

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I know I’m going to get a lot of flack for doing this article. Everyone loves TPA. But if you’re one of those people who only reads the headline, that’s on you. Not me. I love Tampa International Airport. During my radio career, I’ve lived everywhere from Boston to San Francisco. TPA is by far the best home base airport ever. I love to travel so living by a great airport is crucial for me. You truly don’t appreciate how good we have it in Tampa until you have to fly home from your trip. Most other airports are overcrowded, have terrible layouts that make you walk far too much, and lines at security are a nightmare.

RELATED: Another miserable flight on Breeze Airways

At Tampa International, as long as you check in online, it’s pretty common to get from the door to your gate in 10 minutes. There are some good dining options from local favorites like the Columbia Restaurant. Finding parking is a breeze and we have that new shuttle that zips you from the economy lot to the terminals in a couple minutes. New routes are getting added all the time. So what complaints could I possibly have about Tampa International Airport? After my trip to New Orleans this weekend, I noticed 7 things about the Tampa Airport experience that, quite frankly, suck.

Some of these issues can be easily fixed. Others might even be out of the airport’s control.

#7: Shuttles Down

I don’t know when this started. And I don’t know how long it’ll take to fix the problem or complete renovations. But I’m tired of only one of the two shuttles to the gates working. Seems like I always walk up just as the doors are closing. When you look to the other side, there’s that yellow tape indicating the other shuttle isn’t running.

Maybe it’s part of improvements they’re making. Maybe they’re cutting costs by only operating one shuttle. Either way, it sucks.

UPDATE: An airport employee emailed me regarding this: “At TPA, we believe long lines and congested airsides negatively affect the perception of TIA and only create frustration within our guests. It takes about 45 seconds for one shuttle to arrive at an airside from the main terminal. Depending on how busy we are, we will disable one of the two shuttles simply to manipulate passenger flow at the airside, which can get overwhelming during peak hours of the day.”

#6: Arriving Delay

Maybe it’s just me. But it seems like every time my flight arrives at Tampa International, the plane gets in early. That’s a good thing right? Not so much. Because of the early arrival, crews at the gate are not in place or there’s a wait for the previous plane using the gate to move out.

There’s nothing more frustrating after a long day of travel than having to wait on the runway after you land. You probably haven’t been up to stretch and walk around in an hour or so. Chances are you have to use the bathroom. You just want to get out of the airport and back home to unwind. But no, you’re stuck in that seat for what seems like an eternity while the plane just sits there.

#5: Food Choices

The food choices we DO have at Tampa International are good. Anytime I can get a 1905 Salad at The Columbia Restaurant, I’m a happy guy. But I just wish there were more choices – especially for fast food. It seems like other airports have far more quick service options than TPA does.

In the main terminal before you head to your gate, there’s a Wendy’s. That’s cool. But the one I’d love to see most? When I was flying back from New Orleans this weekend, I was stoked to see a Shake Shack. C’mon TPA, they are in downtown Tampa already – get one at the airport!

#4: Lack of Lounges

At most airports, once I get through security, I can look forward to relaxing in an airport lounge.  Because of the credit card I use, I get free TSA PreCheck to skip the lines at security AND membership to Priority Pass, a network of airport lounges that are not airline specific.  I’m not loyal to any airline. I pick the flight that is cheapest and will get me where I’m going fastest.  Airline-specific lounges are useless to me. Even tiny airports in South America I’ve been to have a Priority Pass lounge. But not Tampa International.

With Priority Pass, you can sip on an adult beverage, nibble on appetizers, and relax in comfortable seats. Some Priority Pass lounges even offer things like a massage and showers.  But Tampa International doesn’t have a single lounge for Priority Pass members. All of the airport lounges are tied to specific airlines. It’s unlikely that’ll change anytime soon since lounges are usually located in the terminal after you pass security.  And with TPA, there are several different security checkpoints for each terminal.

#3: EV Parking Spots

Look I get it. Most have not switched to electric cars yet. But look around – EVs are everywhere now in Tampa Bay. In the enormous economy garage, there are thousands of spaces. But there are only FOUR for electric vehicles. FOUR!

Those 4 EV parking spaces are ALWAYS taken when I pull in. I’d love to come home to a fully charged car. But here’s why you should care even if you drive a gas car.

Tampa International does NOT need to install the expensive level 2 chargers. Just put simple regular plain old electric outlets next to unpopular parking spaces on the upper level floors. You offer electric outlets for passengers to charge their cell phones in the terminal. Do the same in your garages in the less used, far away from the elevator parking spaces nobody else wants. That’ll leave more parking spaces for gas guzzling cars in prime spots and more EV owners will use your expensive parking garage.

#2: Breakfast

I like picking the early flights out of town so I can spend the day at my destination. While morning flights are usually on time and get your day off to a good start, the lack of breakfast options is frustrating at TPA. Chick-fil-A is one option, but if it’s Sunday … well you know. Most of the dining spots at the airport open for lunch. I’d like to see more options for those of us who fly out in the morning. I’m not much of a Starbucks guy. But I think Tampa has to be one of the only airports in the world without a Dunkin.

#1: Connecting Flights

There are direct flights to most major U.S. cities from Tampa International Airport. They even have service to small hometown airport in Portland, Maine. But about 2 years ago, I discovered Colombia. It’s become my new favorite place to visit. The color, the food, the music, the people – I am obsessed with it. Everything in Colombia costs about 1/4 of what you pay in the United States. For example, a 20 minute Uber ride will cost you about $3. A meal at a nice restaurant that would be about $50 a person here in Florida costs about $10-15 in Colombia. I’ve made some great friends there and HATE that I have to drive all the way to Orlando to get a quick direct flight.

Flying out of the country from Tampa often means a long annoying layover that cuts in to your vacation time. For one flight to Bogota last year, I had to connect in NEW YORK! YES! I had to fly 2 hours NORTH and then 5 hours SOUTH. Meanwhile, if I fly from Orlando, I can get to Bogota or Medellin in about 3 hours.

Public Transportation

#8 is a bonus gripe… because honestly it’s not really Tampa International Airport’s fault. But it sucks that there are no useful public transportation options to get to and from the airport. I live on the Pinellas side and it’s a pain to pay $12-$25 a day to park at the airport… or pay crazy Uber surge prices. Almost every major city in America has either a subway or bus system to get you to the airport cheap.

Here in the Tampa area, buses do go to TPA. But especially here on the Pinellas side, the buses are useless. Buses don’t run to the airport on weekends or at night. And that’s when I normally fly. Even during weekdays, there are large gaps in time when the buses don’t run at all.

Rob’s Gripe: CLEAR

Rob Damiani passed along something I completely missed.  Tampa International Airport doesn’t have CLEAR. CLEAR uses your biometric data to identify you. You skip the line at TSA and go to a pod where they scan your boarding pass and your eyes or your fingerprint “clear” you. You’re then escorted to the scanners. It costs $189. Only about 50-60 airports have it right now, according to The Points Guy. Unfortunately Tampa International isn’t one of them.  I don’t have CLEAR.  And PreCheck seems to get me through security at TPA quickly as it is… so this one isn’t high on the priority list for me personally.  But I agree with Rob. It would be nice to have.

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There are still some roads closed but the Howard Frankland Bridge and Sunshine Skyway Bridges are finally back open. The sun is back out this morning. Most have their power back. And then comes the news that there’s a new system weather watchers are monitoring that’s firing up in the tropics.

According to WeatherNation, the National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a tropical wave in the Atlantic Basin right now. It doesn’t have a name yet, but if it gets one, it’ll be Ernesto or Francine. The path of this one is yet to be determined but the initial graphs show it heading toward Puerto Rico and we know very well what’s in that direct line after Puerto Rico.

We were pretty fortunate with Debby. She was just a tropical storm when she passed by Tampa Bay. But that’s the thing. Debby was 75 miles off our coast. And it wasn’t even a hurricane. But look at the damage caused. That along with the reality that we are just now getting into the peak of hurricane season should be a warning to those who were unprepared for Debby.

RELATED: 7 brilliant pre-hurricane life hacks

WeatherNation charted tropical activity from 1944 to 2020 on their website today and there is definitely a skyrocketing rate of storms that begin in mid August. Things finally slow down in late October.

Florida Weather for this week

As for Tampa Bay this week, Debby has sucked a lot of the moisture out of our area so we’ll see a good amount of sun for the next couple days. But then by the weekend, we’re expected to be back in that typical Florida summer weather pattern with times of sun mixed with those pop up afternoon storms with thunder and lightning. Temps aren’t going to budge – we’ll be right around 90 for the next week or so.

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The famed restaurant with the flagship location in Ybor City was probably fielding calls from concerned customers after a video went viral today. It showed the Sarasota location with scary water levels that appear to be posing a big threat to the business. Going just on the video you might think that the Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota might be closed for months… if not for good.

Apparently not. The Columbia Restaurant just posted to social media that the video indeed IS legitimate. It’s just very outdated. The video was taken two months ago. And get this… they reopened the next day according to the tweet.

So yeah if you choose to get your updates from unofficial sources online about the weather… or anything else, make sure it’s a source you can trust.

We are in an election year and social media tends to show you what you want to see whether it’s accurate or not. Social media sites make their money with advertising. They care more about getting you to see those ads than anything else. If you see stuff that you don’t agree with, you’ll get frustrated and leave. That’s lost money for them.

Anyway, back to the Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota. It’s fine. Go enjoy a 1905 Salad or a Cuban sandwich. Or better yet go during the lunch hour and get the combo. That’s one of my favorite lunches in Florida.

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There was rain the Tampa area as I landed right before lunchtime at TPA. But it was nothing like the downpours we’d see in the afternoon and the bands that passed through overnight. So who got hit the hardest with the highest rainfall totals? Take a look. These numbers come to us from Bay News 9.

Across the area, it looks like Lakewood Ranch turned into a lake with over 16 INCHES of rainfall. Parrish got quite a soaking too with almost 14 inches of rain. I’m surprised St. Pete was closer to the bottom of this list. But it looks like it was Lakewood Ranch that had the most rain in the Tampa area thanks to Debby’s visit.

As for Hillsborough County, it appears Sun City Center… wasn’t so sunny. They were the ones that recorded over 11 inches of rain.

Not surprisingly Pinellas had some pretty high numbers too. I watched live video last night as roads were completely flooded near the Gulfport Casino. But they apparently only recorded about 8 inches of rain. Pinellas Park lead the way with over a foot of rain!

For the rest of the week, we’ll be back to the usual Florida weather with hot humid conditions. There’ll be some sun but the risk of those typical afternoon pop up thunder and lightning. Temperatures all week will hover right around 90. If it makes you feel any better, I spent some of the weekend up in Boston where I expected to catch a break from the heat. Not so much. It was hot and humid and around 90 there too.

How’d you do in your area? Share any photos or video you captured with me @GenoRadio.

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So far this hurricane season, we’ve been lucky in Florida. But with some wild weather in the forecast tomorrow, there are some things you might want to consider doing tonight should Tropical Storm (or maybe even Hurricane) Debby pay us a visit.

#1: Get the laundry done tonight!
Denis points out that without air conditioning, anything dirty will start to stink your place up. And when the AC goes out, you’ll want clean sheets because you’ll be sweating… a lot.

#2: Dig that old cell phone out.
Charge up old phones, not just the one you use now. Old phones can still call 911. Or they can keep you entertained so you don’t drain the battery on the phone you do need. Also charge up those portable chargers you bought for traveling.

#3: Cook meat and perishable foods.
No brainer right? Especially those expensive cuts of meat… they should be your dinner tonight. Freeze cooked food too. Denis says he loves a hardboiled egg as a shack on that first day without power.

#4: Dig out the backpacks.
Be ready to evacuate by having a few bags already packed in case things get wild.

#5: Hit the ATM.
During a prolonged power outage, cash can become king. Credit card machines might be down. And chances are you don’t carry a lot of cash on a daily basis. None of us do.

#6: Turn the AC down.
This is certainly one I wouldn’t have thought of doing… but it makes sense. Higher temps in the room will lower the temp in your fridge to preserve those foods longer.

#7: Why is there a quarter in my freezer?
What a brilliant idea. Freeze a cup of water and put a coin on top. If the coin stayed on top after the power went out, your food stayed frozen!

Have any pre-hurricane life hacks to share? Leave them on my Facebook and I’ll add them.

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The thing is about this storm is it still hasn’t organized itself completely so the track has been tough to pinpoint. But here’s the latest Tampa Bay storm update from the weather experts.

As of this morning (August 1), Denis Phillips from ABC Action News says we won’t see any impacts of this weather system until at least Sunday. And by Tuesday, it will be exiting our area. The National Hurricane Center says the storm has a 60% chance of development so this could become Tropical Storm Debby.

One thing working in our favor is there is a lot of dry air. And of course, Denis encourages you to remember Rule #7: don’t freak out. Stay updated and over the next few days check off the list of stuff in your hurricane supply kit because we’re just now getting to the busiest part of the hurricane season.

For today we can expect heavy thunderstorms at times with temperatures hovering around 90. The same for tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. It’s just more of that typical Florida August weather. But again as for impacts from this possible tropical storm, we won’t really see any noticeable changes in the Tampa area until Sunday or Monday. Until then, it’s just that typical Florida summer weather with pop up storms.

Our next Tampa Bay storm update

New information will become available at around 11 this morning when the next National Weather Service readings come in.

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Florida’s Back to School sales tax holiday began on July 29 and you have until Sunday, August 11, 2024 to take advantage of the discounts. In general, clothing and footwear priced $100 or less is tax-free. School supplies $50 and under are not taxed either. As for computers, the sales price needs to be $1,500 or less to qualify.

Surprising Items on the Florida Back to School Tax Holiday List

Diapers and baby clothing
Stock up on diapers. Especially if you find some that are on sale. Diapers, diaper inserts (for adults and babies) both cloth and disposable are tax exempt during the Florida back to school sales tax holiday. Certain baby and toddler products, such as baby and toddler clothing, apparel, and shoes that are primarily intended for and marketed for children ages 5 or younger, are always exempt from sales tax.

Purses
Don’t get too carried away. Remember those spending limits that were mentioned earlier if you want that purse to be tax free. That $2,000 Coach purse won’t qualify. Nice try.

Pajamas
Sleepwear like nightgowns and pajamas are tax-free during the holiday. Even robes and slippers qualify.

Bicycle Helmets
Hey lots of kids ride their bikes to school. Even if yours doesn’t, they should always have reliable protection for those rides.

Beach Stuff
Bathing suits, shorts, swimming trunks, caps… they’re all tax exempt right now. Even ponchos and umbrellas are tax-free since those beach days can often come to a quick end during those Florida afternoon downpours.

Still unsure about a particular thing on your shopping list? You can find the long list of items that are tax free during the 2024 Florida Back to School sales tax holiday here.

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McDonald’s, certainly the most consumed burgers in Florida, has NO picks on USA Today’s top 10. Not even the Big Mac. Also not on the list? Wendy’s! Of the fast food chains, those are probably the two most visited Florida burger joints, but neither made the list. I would argue that Shake Shack deserves to be on this list way more than USA Today’s #7 pick.

Florida’s Best Fast Food Burgers – The Top 7

#7: The 1921 Slider at White Castle
White Castle isn’t in the Tampa area yet, but if you’ve gotta do that awful drive to Orlando there is one right off I-4 near the Disney parks. The 1921 Slider has cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, tomato, lettuce and pickles. The patty is a bit thicker than their other sliders.

I’m not a big White Castle fan. I gave them a second chance when they opened in Orlando. I wrote a poem after my first visit years ago. “I once tried White Castle in New York City. Twenty minutes later, it wasn’t so pretty.” Thank you.

#6: The Whopper at Burger King
Burger King introduced a meatless version of The Whopper a few years back. But the original is the one that made USA Today’s list. I’ve always dug the whopper’s flame broiled off the grill taste. No other fast food burger really has it. It’s been around since 1957.

#5: The Double ButterBurger with Cheese at Culver’s
Culver’s has been a welcome addition to our fast food scene. Culver’s got its start in Wisconsin and debuted here in Florida about 10 years ago. The burgers are juicy, flavorful and good. But what makes Culver’s stand out are the unique items most fast food places don’t have like cheese curds and that awesome frozen custard. There’s nothing terribly different about their ButterBurger, but it’s good.

#4: The Double Meat Whataburger
We don’t have one of these in the Tampa area yet. Most of Florida’s Whataburger locations are in the northern part of the state near Jacksonville. They got their start in Texas. If you have a chance to visit this summer, they’ve introduced a variation – the Bacon Steakhouse Double with 2 slices of melted cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, fried onions, and a tangy steak sauce on a toasted bun.

#3: The Cheeseburger at Five Guys
When people complain that we don’t have In-N-Out in Florida, I always tell them Five Guys is just as good if not better. I lived in California for about 6 years and went to In-n-Out Burgers maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I think Floridans long for it and crave In-N-Out simply because you want what you can’t have.

If I’m in Vegas I’ll drop by and have a Double Double Animal Style. But to me Five Guys is worth paying a little more. Ok maybe more than a little more. The prices are quite a bit higher than In-N-Out. But I love all the toppings you can get a Five Guys. Plus the fries are fantastic… I just wish the smallest size wasn’t so enormous and expensive. It’s the biggest reason I don’t go to Five Guys often.

RELATED: The Best Burger in St. Pete You Haven’t Tried Yet

#2: The BBQ Rodeo Burger at BurgerFi
Coming in at #2 on the USA Today list of fast food burgers in Florida, this one has charred jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, crispy haystack onions and a sweet Memphis-style barbecue sauce. The BBQ Rodeo Burger uses two antibiotic-free Angus beef patties. The CEO sounds more like my kind of burger – it’s got candied bacon-tomato jam, truffle aioli, garlic aioli and Swiss cheese. BurgerFi is now open with three restaurants in Tampa, plus one in Odessa and Bradenton.

#1: The Double Char at The Habit Burger Grill
In their 2024 list of the best fast food burgers, In-N-Out’s famous double double has been eclipsed. The Habit Burger Grill took the top spot this year. The chain’s restaurants are mostly in California… not unlike In-N-Out. You may not even know there’s one of these in the Tampa area. (I didn’t!) But there is one now near the Largo and Clearwater line on East Bay Drive.

The burger that got The Habit Burger Grill to the top of the list is their Double Char. It’s 2 beef patties, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise on a toasted burger bun. The Double Char is available with or without cheese. It’s what I’m having for lunch today. I’ll report back. I’m a little skeptical of this place becoming part of my routine… burgers go for up to almost $20! That’s wild for fast food.

The In-N-Out Double Double came in at #2 this year. The big difference between the two top burgers is that the Double Double uses In-N-Out’s special sauce.

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In an update posted to his Facebook page today, Denis says it’ll probably be Tuesday when they have a really good idea if this could become Florida’s first named storm of the season. Denis says The Euro model has the system passing east of Florida, sparing us completely. Another (“the GFS”) says it doesn’t even develop at all. But we’re still in that early stage where things could change drastically over the next few days.

But should you cancel your plans for next weekend?

Denis says not yet. If you can wait a few days, that’s what he’d do. He went on to say we’ve got 3 more months of this. (Oh great.) So even if this storm doesn’t develop or have any big impact on the Tampa area, a weekend like this is a good one to prepare and make sure you have all that you need for when the next storm does hit Florida.

As of last night, the National Weather Service out of Tampa Bay said this “disturbed weather” has a 40% chance of development over the next 7 days. They think a tropical depression could form midweek.

As for the coming week, no surprises here. We’ve got a typical late July week of humidity and pop up thunderstorms in store with the temperatures right around 90.

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Yeah you read that right. This monstrous huge burger in Gulfport I tried was at The Drunken Taco on Beach Boulevard. By the name, they’re more known for their tequila, tacos, burritos and fajitas. But a burger just sounded good and I didn’t leave disappointed. Or remotely hungry.

I like finding great burgers at places that aren’t KNOWN for their burgers. And this burger in Gulfport can be added to that list. I’ll give their tacos a try next time. But let’s look at this burger.

The burger is juicy and ridiculously big… but manageable. The Swiss cheese had some good flavor too – they definitely don’t use the cheap stuff to save money at The Drunken Taco. And there was enough cheese… something that’s rare these days. The sauteed onions had a nice kick too. I even like that they give you bottles of ketchup that don’t have all the preservatives and words you can’t pronounce in the ingredients. It costs more. So it’s rare.

My only complaint if I had one was that I ordered mine medium and it was cooked well done. It wasn’t much of a problem though – the burger tasted great. Service was decent. The vibe of the place is laid back and beachy. I dug it.

What’s your go-to place in Gulfport? Let me know. I think Pia’s Trattoria will be my next spot to hit on my next visit. We don’t have enough top-level Italian restaurants in the Tampa Bay area, so seeing the reviews being so good for Pia’s definitely piqued my curiosity.

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When USA Today’s list came out and listed The Habit Burger Grill’s Double Char cheeseburger as the best of the best, I was bummed. I didn’t think I could try it.

RELATED: A Great, Juicy Enormous Build-Your-Own Burger in Gulfport

Final thoughts: Is this really the best fast food burger in America?

I liked the Double Char at The Habit. I would say it’s among the better fast food burgers. But honestly, if the right crew is working, I’d even opt for a Whopper over this burger. But with Burger King it’s really hit or miss. If the crew isn’t on their game that day, a Whopper can go from a B+ to a C- fast. I’d also take a Five Guys burger over this one. But I would say it’s worthy of trying once. USA Today says it’s the best fast food burger in America. Let me know what you think.

UP NEXT: I tried the most expensive ice cream cone in Tampa

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Avelo is a relatively new airline. They just launched 3 years ago back in April of 2021. They are a discount airline that flies in and out of smaller airports. Those smaller airports charge airlines less and they can be a lot less stressful than dealing with the mega airports like O’Hare or Newark.

Looking at the route map on their website, Avelo flies mostly to cities along the east and west coast. Here in Florida, they fly out of Daytona, Fort Walton Beach, Sarasota/Bradenton, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando and Lakeland.

The 7 New Flights out of Lakeland

Tickets are now being sold for flights out of Lakeland to Atlanta, Charlotte, Hartford, Manchester (New Hampshire), Wilmington (Delaware), Rochester and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Most of these new routes begin service in the fall either in October or November. But the price is right. Tickets for these one way flights out of Lakeland start under $100 for all 7 cities.

The cities on the list may not be of direct appeal. But keep in mind many are close to bigger cities. Hartford is an alternative to flying in to one of the enormous overcrowded New York City airports. Manchester isn’t very far from Boston. Wilmington is close enough to hop on a train and go get a legit Philly Cheesesteak in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia.

Tickets are on sale now for these 7 new flights out of Lakeland at Avelo Airlines’ official website aveloair.com.

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Big Lots stores sell everything from sports equipment to household essentials, grocery items, toys, beauty care, stuff for pets and your patio, and mattresses. But many have turned to buying things online. With websites like Amazon delivering items to shoppers’ doorstep, it’s been tough for brick and mortar stores to get people to come in.

Here’s the good news. None of the Florida Big Lots stores that are closing are in our area, according to the story. Tampa area Big Lots look like they’ll be spared from the closures. Currently there are 106 Big Lots locations in Florida, according to their website.

Here in our area there are Big Lots stores in Tampa (Tampa has 3 of them actually), Brandon, Brooksville, Clearwater, Lakeland, Largo, New Port Richey, Plant City, Port Richey, Spring Hill, Ruskin and Zephyrhills. So far those all seem to be safe from the closures. But the full list of stores that are officially confirmed to be closing hasn’t been released yet.

The Florida Big Lots stores that are closing

Channel 8 says Big Lots stores in Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Clewiston, Coconut Creek, Destin, Hallandale, Hollywood, Miami Lakes, Orange Park, Orlando (specifically, the Big Lots location at Waterbridge Downs), and Pompano Beach are the ones that’ll be shutting down. They say they primarily compiled that list from store Facebook pages that announced their location’s upcoming closure.

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So say you’re not down for a California flight, what are the best burgers at Florida’s fast food joints? I think the most surprising thing is who’s NOT on their list.

McDonald’s, certainly the most consumed burgers in Florida, has NO picks on USA Today’s top 10. Not even the Big Mac. Also not on the list? Wendy’s! Of the fast food chains, those are probably the two most visited Florida burger joints, but neither made the list. I would argue that Shake Shack deserves to be on this list way more than USA Today’s #6 pick.

Florida’s Best Fast Food Burgers – The Top 6

#7: The 1921 Slider at White Castle
White Castle isn’t in the Tampa area yet, but if you’ve gotta do that awful drive to Orlando there is one right off I-4 near the Disney parks. The 1921 Slider has cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, tomato, lettuce and pickles. The patty is a bit thicker than their other sliders.

#6: The Whopper at Burger King
They introduced a meatless version a few years back, but the original is the one that made USA Today’s list. I’ve always dug the whopper’s flame broiled off the grill taste. No other fast food burger really has it. USA Today says over 2 billion Whoppers a year are sold. It’s been around since 1957.

#5: The Double ButterBurger with Cheese at Culver’s
Culver’s has been a welcome addition to the Florida fast food scene. The chain got its start in Wisconsin and debuted here in the Sunshine State about 10 years ago. The burgers are good, but what makes Culver’s stand out are the unique items most fast food places don’t have like cheese curds and that awesome frozen custard. There’s nothing terribly different about their ButterBurger, but it’s good.

#4: The Double Meat Whataburger
We don’t have one of these in the Tampa area yet. Most of Florida’s Whataburger locations are in the northern part of the state near Jacksonville. They got their start in Texas. If you have a chance to visit this summer, they’ve introduced a variation – the Bacon Steakhouse Double with 2 slices of melted cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, fried onions, and a tangy steak sauce on a toasted bun.

#3: The Cheeseburger at Five Guys
When people complain that we don’t have In-N-Out in Florida, I always tell them Five Guys is just as good if not better. I lived in California for about 6 years and went to In-n-Out Burgers maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I think Floridans long for it and crave In-N-Out simply because you want what you can’t have. If I’m in Vegas I’ll drop by and have a Double Double Animal Style. But to me Five Guys is worth paying a little more. Ok maybe more than a little more. The prices are quite a bit higher than In-N-Out. But I love all the toppings you can get a Five Guys. Plus the fries are fantastic… I just wish the smallest size wasn’t so enormous and expensive. It’s the biggest reason I don’t go to Five Guys often.

RELATED: The Best Burger in St. Pete You Haven’t Tried Yet

#2: The BBQ Rodeo Burger at BurgerFi

Topping the USA Today list of fast food burgers in Florida, this one has charred jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, crispy haystack onions and a sweet Memphis-style barbecue sauce. The BBQ Rodeo Burger uses two antibiotic-free Angus beef patties. The CEO sounds more like my kind of burger – it’s got candied bacon-tomato jam, truffle aioli, garlic aioli and Swiss cheese. BurgerFi is now open with three restaurants in Tampa, plus one in Odessa and Bradenton.

#1: The Double Char at The Habit Burger Grill
In their 2024 list of the best fast food burgers, In-N-Out’s famous double double has been eclipsed. The Habit Burger Grill took the top spot this year. The chain’s restaurants are mostly in California… not unlike In-N-Out. You may not even know there’s one of these in the Tampa area. (I didn’t!) But there is one now near the Largo and Clearwater line on East Bay Drive.

The burger that got The Habit Burger Grill to the top of the list is their Double Char. It’s 2 beef patties, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise on a toasted burger bun. The Double Char is available with or without cheese. It’s what I’m having for lunch today. I’ll report back.

The In-N-Out Double Double came in at #2 this year. The big difference between the two top burgers is that the Double Double uses In-N-Out’s special sauce.

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The day started with my first meal at Goody Goody Burgers. Listeners have been bugging me to try it ever since it opened. It’s got that Tampa history dating back to the 1920s so it brings a sense of nostalgia for those who grew up here. I didn’t. Maybe that’s why it didn’t do much for me. Much like St. Pete’s nostalgic burger joint, El Cap, the burger at Goody Goody was forgettable. There wasn’t that off the grill taste I love. It wasn’t particularly juicy. The texture was just kind of gooey. The french fries were a little better than ok because I liked the seasoning.

Goody Goody is also well known for their pies. But I wasn’t in a pie mood. Ice cream sounded better.

I took a stroll around the neighborhood and watched the fabulous and beautiful chowing down at Meat Market. I chuckled at the prices on clothes in the windows in the boutique stores. But before departing South Tampa, I wanted to get that ice cream fix taken care of. That’s when I spotted OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

This “small-batch” ice cream company got its start in Brooklyn, according to their website. When I walked in, I saw they were active with human rights groups. Big plus. The place was brightly lit and clean. Another big plus. And the ice cream flavors were filled with unique names and quirky adjectives. I like weird, so I was thinking I’m gonna love the place. Until I saw those prices. I was about to consume the most expensive ice cream cone I’ve ever seen.

Now keep in mind I’m a Publix BOGO Ben & Jerry’s kind of guy. But it’s South Tampa. I’m not expecting to find any bargains. But $11.28?! This better be the most incredible ice cream experience of my LIFE. Spoiler. It wasn’t. It was as forgettable as that Goody Goody burger I had earlier.

I went with 2 scoops, in case I didn’t like the first one much. In my twisted logic, one scoop for about $8 or 2 scoops for $10… that second scoop somehow seemed like a fiscally smart decision at that moment when it was my turn to order. I went with one scoop of “Banoffee Pie” with banana ice cream, graham “soil” and dulce de leche. The other scoop was one of their new flavors “Fluffy peanut butter.” I’m a New England kid so Fluffernutters were my childhood. It’s marshmallow ice cream with peanut butter swirls.

Was the most expensive ice cream cone in Tampa worth it?

No. It wasn’t bad. It’s hard to find bad ice cream. Ice cream is inherently awesome. You have to work hard to mess ice cream up. And OddFellows didn’t. It was good. Was it $11.28 good? No. No ice cream is. Not even Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream is $11.28 per serving good.

By the way, I should mention that the $11.28 does include the taxes and the tip. Yes, they do that super annoying thing were they make you predict how good your service and ice cream will be by making you tip before you take that first lick. I hate pre-tipping. But by the time I got to the register, it was too late. The second scoop was getting plopped onto my cone and that annoying touch screen was in my face with 3 suggested tip amounts.

Needless to say that was my last OddFellows visit. The ice cream was great. I love that they support important causes. And the staff was friendly. The ice cream wasn’t bad. And honestly, I have no idea if it really is the most expensive ice cream cone in Tampa. Let me know if there’s one pricier. I’ll probably be dumb enough to try it. But $11.28 for an ice cream cone is absurd. That’s about what my burger and fries cost at Goody Goody. It was not a goody goody day for me. I just think I’m not a South Tampa material.

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The fireworks this year can be viewed from three different locations – Armature Works, Sparkman Wharf and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.

If you’d like to get text alerts in case there’s a weather event or celebration plans change for some reason, the City of Tampa suggests you text BOOM to 888-777. You’ll receive special notifications about Boom by the Bay instantly so you won’t have to scramble to find updates on social media.

What’s OK and NOT OK to Bring to Tampa’s 4th of July Celebrations

There will be plenty of vendors but if you’d like to save some money by bringing your own food and drinks, you are welcome to do that. However, you can’t bring any grilling or cooking stuff. And those drinks can’t be alcoholic drinks.

What about chairs and blankets? The City of Tampa says those are ok. But leave tents and large umbrellas at home.

When it comes to fireworks, the City of Tampa says leave it to the professionals. Fireworks are obviously strictly prohibited. But even sparklers are on the banned items list.

What about pets? “Well-behaved pets” that are kept on a leash are allowed on the Riverwalk and in public parks. Service animals are ok too. But do keep in mind those fireworks and celebrations can be loud. So it might be a better idea to leave pets at home.

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The Coca Cola Flavors Around The World fountains feature 8 different carbonated beverages from around the world. None taste like a typical American Coke. Some are radically different. One even tasted like buffalo sauce. I was a sport and tried all 8. Here they are in order from left to right.

Italy
This one’s called “Beverly.” It’s got a bitter flavor. I had high hopes. I love Italian food. I could eat Chicken Parmesan for every meal for the rest of my life and be happy. As for soft drinks, maybe I have to give Italy the boot. As you can probably guess from my facial expression, Beverly and I did not get along. One sip and the rest of the tiny sample cup was poured out. I couldn’t wait to try the next soda to get the taste out of my mouth.

Madagascar
The “Bon Bon Anglais” was sweet and a nice change of pace. It’s a mix of tropical fruit flavors. I gave it a B+. Of all the sodas from around the world at Epcot, this one turned out to be the best of the bunch for me.

Dominican Republic
The “Country Club Merengue” also has a sweet tropical fruity taste with a creamy twist. I dug it. Not as good as Bon Bon Anglais, but a close runner up. Another B+.

Korea
Minute Maid Joy Apple Lychee seemed like it’d be a good one for me. I love apple anything. They blend with a lychee a tropical fruit native to southern China. There was zero Joy for me on this one. Almost as bad as Italy. I gave it a D.

Philippines
The Royal Wattamelon didn’t look appealing to me from the get go because I’m not a watermelon guy. But it wasn’t so bad. The soft flavor made it ok… a C-.

China
The “Suan Mei Tang” is a sugar plum tea. It’s a traditional Chinese beverage that’s been around for over 1,000 years. The Smart Sour Plumb has a savory, sweet and tart flavor. To me, it tasted like barbecue sauce! But somehow it wasn’t bad. I had to refill a few times and see if I really liked as much as I thought I did at first. I did. As weird as it sounds, BBQ flavored soda kinda got me. I gave it a B.

Russia
Sprite… with Cucumber? Sounded weird to me. And it was. I’m more a fan of the U.S. lemon-lime flavor combination. Sorry Vladamir. C-.

Moldova
I’m not a big raspberry guy so “Viva Raspberry” didn’t seem too promising. This Eastern Europe soda has a slightly tart, but somehow sweet flavor. B-.

After traveling the world in a few minutes, I have to say I’m still partial to good old American Coca Cola. Even Coke Zero beats all of the sodas from around the world at Epcot.

The post Rating The Sodas From Around the World at Epcot appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Free fireworks displays can be seen all over Florida, but here are our favorite fireworks shows near us that are within an hour’s drive from the Tampa area.

Some like Tampa and Clearwater have giant crowds. Others like the ones in Largo and Safety Harbor have that more intimate small town feel, but still pack a punch.

Most naturally will happen on the 4th of July. But there are a few BEFORE July 4 if you’d like to get TWO nights of fireworks in this year.

CLEARWATER
July 4 at 9:30pm
Watch the show at the new renovated Coachman Park.

DOVER
July 4 at 9pm
At the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road. $10 per car to park.

DUNEDIN
July 4 at 9:15pm
Catch “Hometown USA” at the ballpark.

GULFPORT
July 4 at 9pm
Watch the fireworks along Shore Boulevard near the Williams Pier.

HOMOSASSA
June 22 at 9pm
Get an early start at the 26th Annual Homosassa Firework Festival.

LAKELAND
July 3 at 9pm
Get two nights of fireworks in by catching this show on July 3 at Lake Mirror on South Lake Avenue.

LARGO
July 4 at 9pm
Head to Central Park.

MADEIRA BEACH
July 3 at 9pm
Another chance to get in some 4th of July fun early at ROC Park.

PLANT CITY
July 4 at 9:15pm
Head to Plant City Stadium on East Park Road.

SAFETY HARBOR
July 4 at 9pm
Head to Waterfront Park. This is my favorite local smaller fireworks show. Lots of food vendors and music.

ST PETE
July 4 at 9pm
Watch the fireworks at St. Pete Pier.

TAMPA
July 4 at 9pm
Watch the Boom By The Bay fireworks at Sparkman Wharf, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park or Armature Works.

TAMPA
July 4 at 8:45pm
Watch the Summer Nights fireworks spectacular at Busch Gardens.

TREASURE ISLAND
July 4 beginning at 9 pm
Bring your own towel or chair to Gulf Front Park.

WESLEY CHAPEL
July 4 at 9pm
See the display at Avalon Park on Friendly Way.

ZEPHYRHILLS
Watch the fireworks over the Lake. Pop 38116 5th Avenue into your GPS.

Got a Tampa area 4th of July fireworks display we should add to this list? Drop me a line at geno.knight@bbgi.com. Include a few notes about why it deserves to be on the list. Or leave it on my Facebook page.

The post 2024 Tampa Area 4th of July Fireworks Displays from A-Z appeared first on 995qyk.com.

A bunch of local vendors will compete in the Apple Pie Throwdown to see who can whip up the best apple pie in Tampa for the 4th of July. It’s as American as, well, apple pie. You’ll need to get there early though. If you’re going just for the fireworks this year, you’ll miss the Apple Pie Throwdown. So get there between 4pm and 7pm. You can buy a pass to sample the apple pies entered into the contest.

Tampa 4th of July Fireworks Info

We all love apple pie. But you wanna know the deal on the fireworks. This year’s show will be able to be seen from 3 downtown Tampa spots. Julian B. Lane is the obvious one. But you can also see the fireworks from viewing areas at Sparkman Wharf and Armature Works.

One place you will NOT see fireworks this year? Official say fireworks will not be shot off for those on Bayshore Boulevard, according to Channel 8. So stick to one of those 3 spots I mentioned and you won’t miss a thing. All will be wrapped up by 10pm.

Parking

City of Tampa parking garages (including Fort Brooke garage) will cost $10 for the day. However, the City of Tampa is strongly encouraging everyone to use rideshare and public transit options like Uber or Lyft. If you insist on driving in, you do have a few good options like Poe Garage and Beulah Baptist Church. Or park in Ybor City and ride the streetcar downtown to the celebration. You have EV parking options too.

The post New Competition Added to Tampa 4th of July Celebration appeared first on 995qyk.com.

For years, In-N-Out has said they didn’t plan to expand to the east coast. They determine ideal spots to open their burger joints by how far away they are from the distribution centers. The family that owns the company has held firm on that. They want their food to be fresh. That’s why there are no In-N-Out Burger locations in Florida. But they’re about to get closer than ever.

CBS News reports that the chain will open soon in Tennessee. They’ll first open in Nashville and surrounding areas, according to the report. As of now, the only states with In-N-Out Burger locations are in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon and Colorado. [Source: CBS News]

The post In-N-Out Burger Has Picked Its Next State To Open Restaurants appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Some of the new laws protect you and your wallet. Some could make you have to reach into your wallet. New fines and penalties as well as some consumer protections were voted on by Florida lawmakers in this past legislative session.

In all, 160 new Florida laws that passed will go into effect next month. Some made the news like the issue of high school kids working hours and protections for Florida workers who have to be out in the heat.

Other new Florida laws passed didn’t make big headlines. Did you even know there has been a restriction on the size of that bottle of wine you buy at Publix? There is. But that’s about to be relaxed. That wine aisle could see some new offerings starting July 1 at liquor stores in Florida. So cheers. Drink up.

There are new Florida laws about taxes, parking, massages, insulin, skin cancer prevention, jury duty, towing, and even what your home owners association can and can’t do. Wanna grow vegetables but your HOA has always told you no? Well that could change with one new law we’ll dive into here in a moment.

Even a “hot topic” for Florida homeowners… your air conditioner’s warranty even is the subject of one of the new Florida laws going into effect in July. Yes that terrible pun was intended.

OK let’s get into it. Here’s a breakdown of the new Florida laws that could most likely impact you that passed this year and are going into effect July 1, 2024. [Source: Click Orlando]

Grow Those Veggies

A new law says that homeowners associations can’t stop you from growing your own fruits and vegetables… as long as they aren’t visible from the front of your property or from a neighbor or community golf course.

Jury Duty During Pregnancy

If you have given birth within six months before your reporting date for jury duty, you can ask to be excused. “Excusal from Jury Service; Requires that woman who has recently given birth be excused from certain jury service under specified conditions.”

“Gotcha” Parking

No surprises anymore. Parking areas must post their rates and rules near the entrance. Plus you’re given a 15 minute “grace period.” Parking area owners also can’t sell your personal info. “Motor Vehicle Parking on Private Property; Provides requirements for signage & invoices for parking facilities; authorizes entities to regulate such signage; prohibits late fees before certain period; requires such invoices to include dispute & appeal method; requires grace period before parking charges may be incurred; prohibits personal information from being sold, offered for sale, or transferred for sale by such owners or operators.”

Air Conditioning

A warranty will now begin on the date your A/C company installed your unit. “Building Construction Regulations and System Warranties; Provides specified effective date for provisions relating to HVAC manufacturer’s warranty transfers; prohibits HVAC manufacturer’s warranties from being conditioned upon product registration; provides effective date for certain HVAC systems & components warranties under specified circumstance; provides required information for warranty & product registration cards & forms; prohibits HVAC systems & components warranties from being conditioned upon product registration.”

Working in the heat

Lawmakers can not protect workers from heat exposure. Companies will be allowed to set their own policies. The state will only be allowed to regulate heat working conditions for its own employees. “Employment Regulations; Prohibiting political subdivisions from maintaining a minimum wage other than a state or federal minimum wage; prohibiting political subdivisions from controlling, affecting, or awarding preferences based on the wages or employment benefits of entities doing business with the political subdivision; revising and providing applicability; etc.”

Wine Bottles

Wine bottles can be bigger now. There will be exceptions now to the law that prohibits the sale of wine containers over 1 gallon. Wine can be sold up to 15 liters. “Individual Wine Containers; Revises exception to maximum allowable capacity for individual container of wine sold in this state.”

Driving Without a License

It’ll now be a second degree misdemeanor if you drive without a license in Florida. It’ll be a first degree misdemeanor the senc time. If you’re caught doing it a 3rd time, you get 10 days in jail.

“Driving Without a Valid Driver License; Revises penalties for offense of driving without valid driver license; requires specified minimum jail sentence for third or subsequent conviction of such offense.”

Dead Bodies

Well this is a strange one. If you see a dead body, you must report it. Otherwise you could face a first degree misdemeanor. But if they find you’re trying to hide the death, that could be a 3rd degree misdemeanor. From the state, “Duties and Prohibited Acts Associated with Death; Authorizes report regarding specified deaths & circumstances to be made to law enforcement agency in addition to medical examiner; increases criminal penalty for failing or refusing to report death or for refusing to make available certain information with intent to conceal death or alter evidence & circumstances surrounding death; increases criminal penalty for willfully touching, removing, or disturbing body without order from office of district medical examiner with intent to conceal death or alter evidence & circumstances surrounding death.”

Squatters

Law enforcment can be now called to remove squatters. The loophole will be for those who were a former renter with a legal dispute. “Property Rights; Authorizes property owners or authorized agents to request assistance from sheriff for immediately removing unauthorized occupants from residential dwelling under certain conditions; requires specified complaint; provides requirements for sheriff; authorizes arrest of unauthorized occupant; provides that sheriff is not liable to any party for loss, destruction, or damage; provides that property owner or agent is not liable to any party for loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal property unless it was wrongfully removed; prohibits unlawfully detaining, or occupying or trespassing upon, residential dwelling intentionally & causing at least specified amount of damage; provides criminal penalties for any person who knowingly & willfully presents false document purporting to be valid lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property rights; prohibits listing or advertising for sale, or renting or leasing, residential real property.”

Condo Owners

The “My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program” will help condo owners make necessary repairs to prepare for Florida’s wild storms. Associations can also apply for grants. “My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program; Establishes My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program within DFS; provides requirements for DFS, wind certification entities, hurricane mitigation inspectors & inspections, inspection & grant applications, mitigation grant eligibility, grant matching & maximum grant amounts, mitigation projects & use of grant funds, contracts, & annual report.”

Strippers

Adult entertainment venues must now post signs with a phone number to prevent human trafficking. Performers will need to be 21 or older to work in an “adult entertainment establishment.”

Alligators on Fire?

A new fire station will go up on Alligator Alley. But otherwise, the state has set limits on the amount of fuel tax revenues and other driving fees that can be spend on projects. “Transportation; limiting the amount of certain revenues in the State Transportation Trust Fund which the Department of Transportation may annually commit to public transit projects; revising provisions relating to a traffic and revenue study provided by a private entity; requiring the department to notify the Division of Bond Finance before entering into an interim or comprehensive agreement; etc.”

Skin Cancer

We love our sunshine in Florida. This new bill makes it law to require the state gropu health insurance plan to cover the costs of an annual check for skin cancer. “Coverage for Skin Cancer Screenings; Requires DMS to require contracted state group health insurance plans to provide coverage & payment for annual skin cancer screenings performed by specified persons without imposing any cost-sharing requirement; specifies requirement for & restriction on payments for such screenings.”

Massages

No sexual activity is to take place at a massage parlor. The Florida Department of Health will suspend a license if any worker is arrested for crimes like prostitution, human trafficking or kidnapping. “Health Care Practitioners and Massage Therapy; Requires DOH to report specified data; authorizes DOH to suspend license of certain health care practitioners & massage establishments in certain circumstances; revises advertising requirements for massage therapists & massage establishments; prohibits establishments from sheltering or harboring, or being used as sleeping quarters for any person; requires DOH investigators to request government identification from all employees while in massage establishment; specifies additional documents person operating massage establishment must present, upon request, to DOH investigators & law enforcement officers; requires DOH to notify federal immigration office if specified persons fail to provide government identification; revises definition of “unlicensed massage establishment”.

Teen Workers

Some of the restrictions that were placed on 16 and 17 year olds will be removed. They’ll be able to work more hours on a given day. But they can’t work more than 30 hours in a week when they have school unless they have their permission from their parents. According to the state, “Employment; Removing certain employment restrictions for minors 16 and 17 years of age; revising the age at which certain employment restrictions apply; providing for the waiver of a specified restriction by specified persons; restricting the amount of continuous hours certain minors may work without a break for a minimum specified time period; authorizing the department to grant a waiver of the restrictions imposed under the act; providing penalties, etc.”

Taxes

No more $10 processing fee to the tax collector if you make a partial payment of your current year taxes. “Tax Collections and Sales; Removes specified processing fee; revises information to be included in certain report; revises calculation of interest for canceled tax deed applications.”

Homeowners Associations

It’ll be required now for HOAs to make available to you a copy (either physical or digital) of their rules by October 1. They’ll have to give you an updated version when any updates are made. According to the state, “Provision Of Homeowners’ Association Rules and Covenants; Requires association to provide copies of association’s rules & covenants to every member before specified date, & every new member thereafter; requires association to provide members with copy of updated rules & covenants; authorizes association to adopt rules relating to standards & manner in which such copies are distributed; authorizes association to post complete copy of association’s rules & covenants, or direct link thereto, on homepage of association’s website; requires association to provide specified notice to its members.”

Insulin

A big one for those with diabetes. If at the pharmacy, the pharmacist can’t find your prescription for a refill, they can give you an emergency refill. But there’s a limit. They can only do this 3 times in a row in a given year. “Emergency Refills of Insulin and Insulin-related Supplies or Equipment; Authorizes emergency refill of insulin & insulin-related supplies or equipment a specified number of times per year.”

Towing

Florida counties must post their towing and storage maximum rates online. Tow companies have to wait 35 days to sell an older unclaimed vehicle, or 57 days for a newer one. They also must now give you an hour to inspect your vehicle after you give them the required documents. “Towing and Storage; Revises provisions relating to towing & storing of vehicles & vessels, including establishing maximum rates for certain cleanup & disposal; excluding or failing to designate certain wrecker operators; authorizing fees; revising requirements relating to removal of vehicles or vessels; revising requirements for liens, notices of lien, sale, notices of sale, & types of payment; requiring operator to accept & maintain certain documents, rate sheets, & invoices; revising criminal penalties.”

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Are fireworks legal in Florida?

Yes. Those fireworks you see at those roadside tents? Those are ok according to the state of Florida. But there are some catches. First, no kids should touch them. You must be of at least 18 years of age to use fireworks.

Also, you can’t just light fireworks up whenever you like. There are only three days when it’s ok to set off fireworks in Florida. Obviously the 4th of July is the big one. The other two? New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. If you have leftovers on July 5, you’re going to need to stash them away until December.

That said, there are things like sparklers and smoke bombs. Those you can use anytime because they’re not considered fireworks. According Fox 35, the state of Florida considers fireworks to be “combustible or explosive composition or substance or combination of substances prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect.”

That weird Florida fireworks loophole

Then there was always that crazy loophole. Floridians over the years have signed that silly waiver saying they’re purchasing fireworks for “agricultural use.” To get around the fireworks rules, you could utilize the loophole in Florida law and pretend you’re lighting up the sky to scare birds away or trying to protect your fish hatcheries.

It’s not just Florida Fireworks Laws you need to know

Although fireworks are legal in Florida, some cities have their own laws so it’s a good idea to call your local officials. For example, Belleair Beach and Clearwater have ordinances banning personal fireworks on the beach, according to Fox 13.

The post Florida Fireworks Laws You Should Know appeared first on 995qyk.com.

A 4th Florida Buc-ees is being built in North St. Lucie County.  It’ll be off I-95 on Indrio Road near Fort Pierce. That’s not much good to us. Just like the Daytona location, that’s still about a 2-1/2 hour drive away for most of us in the Tampa area. But that’s not the Buc-ees location that has me IRATE!

Now here comes the ultimate slap in the face if you’re one of the many fans of Buc-ees in Tampa. The mega gas station and purveyor of Beaver Nuggets is opening a store in a small town with 800 RESIDENTS! Channel 10 reports this location in Smiths Grove, Kentucky will have 120 fuel pumps. That’s one gas pump for every 7 residents! And Tampa can’t get a Buc-ees? WTH?

The Smiths Grove Buc-ees will be the smallest city in America to have its own Buc-ees. It’s located between Nashville and Louisville, so I guess that kind of makes sense. But we Tampa Beaver Nuggets cravers want our Buc-ees! There are about 50 now around the United States.

Will we ever get a Buc-ees in Tampa? Where would you put one? It’s been the topic of debate on our Facebook page. The no-brainer to me seems like a Buc-ees near all those RV dealerships in the Dover area, Plant City or I guess even Lakeland seem to make the most sense. I don’t know where there would be room for one in the immediate Tampa area.

The post There’s No Buc-ees in Tampa but THIS Town’s Getting One? appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Wawa has been in the online ordering via their app game for a while now. I like being able to customize my hoagie on my phone. The germaphobe in me doesn’t like using those touch screens that countless customers have used before me.  Now you’ll have a new way to avoid those touch screens.

Largo is going to be the first in Florida to get the next generation of Wawa stores… one with a real fast food style drive thru, according to I Love The Burg.  Florida’s first Wawa with a drive thru will be located at 2530 East Bay Drive in Largo, which is way out of the way for me. But hopefully this becomes popular and will be the first of many. The drive-thru is finally open as of TODAY (6/13).

Another big difference.

They say construction will begin soon. The big difference with this location? There will NOT be gas station.  That’ll seem odd to most Florida Wawa fans.  But they’ve tried this in other cities and it’s gone well.  They first started trying this concept in 2020 in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

What can you get at the drive thru?

Some of the stuff you’ll be able to order via the drive thru include their subs, soups, and salads. They say you’ll even be able to get the pre-packaged stuff. [Source: I Love The Burg]

Geno’s 10 Favorite Sandwiches in the Tampa Area

They’re so simple to make in a hurry, but these Tampa area spots take the sandwich to the next level, creating a masterpiece between those slices of bread.

The post Largo Opens Florida’s First Wawa with a DRIVE THRU appeared first on 995qyk.com.

In 2004, some guy at Harvard created a new website called Facebook in his dorm. President George Bush was reelected. Martha Stewart went to prison. Janet Jackson had the infamous “wardrobe malfunction.” The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. But the thing we’ll always remember about 2004: the Tampa Bay Lightning win their first Stanley Cup.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Win Their First Stanley Cup: Doubt

The Tampa Bay Lightning poured champagne in the locker room after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Back on June 7, 2004, it wasn’t Amalie Arena yet. It was the St. Pete Times Forum where the Lightning won the Stanley cup by defeating the Flames 2-1.

2004 was the first year the Bolts would even play in the playoffs. Dave Andreychuk told The Hockey News that he didn’t think his team was good enough to pull this off. But as the playoff wins started to pile up, he said the formula was simple: “We stick to the system and we can beat anybody.” They did.

We did some digging and found some great photos of even the Stanley Cup winning team. There were appearances by Elvis impersonators, Alexander Ovechkin and Hulk Hogan.

Lightning v Flames, Game 3

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Lightning v Flames, Game 7

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames

The post Photos: The Tampa Bay Lightning Win Their First Stanley Cup appeared first on 995qyk.com.

You may already have some of these in the freezers at your Publix now. But the limited-time summer flavors will disappear August 30, according to the Publix website.

You might see a Publix ice cream truck with the new flavors There are 3 Tampa are stops coming up. Look for them in Lakeland June 29 at Common Ground Park, in Tampa at Sparkman Wharf June 30, or at the St. Pete Pier July 4.

Related: 10 Tampa area ice cream spots to beat the Florida heat

The 3 Summer Publix ice cream flavors I’m going to pass on:

Before I get to the 5 summer Publix ice cream flavors I’ve gotta try, here are the 3 runner ups that aren’t so much for me… but you might like. I’m not an almonds fan so Coffee Almond Fudge will be a no for me. I’m not so much into pecans either so I’m going to pass on the Caramel Turtle Cheesecake. And my lack of love for nuts continues… I’m going to say “no thanks” to Hula Hula Macadamia.

Now, here are the 5 I’m going to be definitely looking for that BOGO on.

#5: Cold Brew Cookies and Crème

This one doesn’t take me back to my childhood so much like the others do.  I didn’t become a coffee drinker until way late in life.  It started when I was a morning guy on the radio in California.  That caffeine kick was a necessity when I had to be up every morning at 5.  A mashup with chocolate sounds good to me.  Publix describes this one as “cold brew coffee flavored ice cream with crème filled chocolate cookie pieces throughout.”  So is it ok to eat this one first thing in the morning?  Asking for a fri… me, asking for me.

#4: Marry Me Strawberry

I didn’t get a chance to get over to Plant City for the Florida Strawberry Festival this year.  So this will have to do.  Publix describes it as “strawberry flavored ice cream with ribbons of strawberry flavored sauce, studded with pieces of white chocolate flavored strawberry pecan bark.”  Now I mentioned I’m not a big pecans fan.  But I’ll still take this one for a spin for sure.  

#3: Buckeyes & Fudge

Any dessert with peanut butter and chocolate is an instant yes for me.  I’m Team Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups all the way.  This one isn’t affiliated with the candy, but it sounds like the ice cream equivalent to me.  Publix describes it as “peanut butter ice cream loaded with chocolatey covered peanut butter buckeye candies and swirls of thick fudge.”  I’m 100% in.

#2: Chocolate Cookie Quarry

The ice cream truck menu only needed one thing to make me happy as a kid.  Ice cream sandwiches.  As simple as they are, that’s what summer tastes like to me.  So I’m way into this one.  Publix describes it as “chocolate ice cream with decadent chocolate cookie crumb swirls and chunks of flavored chocolate sandwich cookies.”

#1: Lemon Berry Bliss

You probably heard me talk about this one on the show today. This one’s got my name all over it. I love lemon flavored desserts. And being a kid from Maine, blueberries have always been a part of my life. Blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes, I’ll even buy blueberry coffee when I see it. So to see these 2 flavors together? Psh. No brainer. I’m all in. Publix describes it as lemon crème flavored ice cream with lemonade flavored flakes and blueberry flavored swirls.

The post The 5 New Summer Publix Ice Cream Flavors I’ve Gotta Try appeared first on 995qyk.com.

These shops have shrunk the guilt with over the top flavors from your favorite childhood cereals… to even fair foods like cotton candy. Take a look at this list and decide which one you want to try first.

Simply Done Donuts in Tampa

(813) 253-3100
2109 S Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33629
http://simplydonedonuts.com

Bite size awesomeness. If they have them when you visit, be sure to seek out the strawberry cheesecake donut. The apple pie ones are good too.

Van Dough in Clearwater

(727) 470-9188
2519 McMullen Booth Rd Ste 207 Clearwater, FL 33761
http://www.vandoughnuts.com

Go with the Reese Cup ones… or the Sweet Piggy with maple icing and candied bacon hits the spot too.

Nicola’s Donuts in Tampa

(813) 932-1303
902 W Busch Blvd Tampa, FL 33612
http://www.nicolasdonuts.com

Try the Fruity Pebble donut. If you like a good basic simple flavor, go with their old fashioned blueberry.

Choco Mini Donuts in Tampa

8021 Citrus Park Town Tampa, FL 33625

Saw their food truck in New Port Richey at Chasco Fiesta. The red velvet mini was awesome. I’m told the cinnamon sugar is good too.

Local Mini Donut Co in Tampa

(813) 356-9661
411 N Florida Ave Tampa, FL 33602
http://localminidonutco.com

Go with the Cinnamon Toast Crunch or the Cotton Candy flavor!

The post 5 Best Spots for Mini Donuts in the Tampa Area appeared first on 995qyk.com.

Engine No 9 in St. Pete

I’ve raved about this place many times. The burgers at Engine No 9 in St. Pete are phenomenal. They’re a little overpriced in my opinion, but rent in downtown St. Pete isn’t cheap. And quality food costs a bit more. Plus Engine No 9 has tater tots, which is a huge plus for me. I love me some french fries, but tots are always a welcome substitute.

I have to be totally honest. I’ve never had Engine No 9’s wings. But reviews from those who have are solid. There are hot sriracha wings. There are duck wings with fried pickles. One reviewer described the texture as “Godly crispy.”

Engine No 9 is in St. Pete at 56 Dr Martin Luther King Drive. Find them online at no9burgers.com.

Chicago’s Best Burgers in Brandon

With 4-1/2 stars after over 400 reviews, the next place on my “gotta visit” list is this spot in Brandon. Again, another place known for its burgers where you should probably at least try the wings. The burgers do look good though. I saw they offer pretzel buns which is a personal favorite.

As for wings, they offer my favorite flavor – lemon pepper. I love basic hot buffalo sauce, but lemon pepper is sometimes hard to find. They have garlic parmesan if that’s your thing. The Asian Zing wings seem to be a favorite with reviewers. The wings at Chicago’s Best Burgers are described as fresh and giant.

Chicago’s Best Burgers … that has the best wings in Brandon is located at 1925 West Brandon Blvd. Find them online at chicagosbestburgers.com.

McArthur’s Irish Pub in St. Pete

I drove by this place for a couple years and had no idea. I went to McArthur’s Irish Pub when it first opened a few years back. It occupies the spot once known as Babalu on 4th Street.

Since it’s an Irish Pub, I figured the thing to get would be fish and chips. They were completely forgettable and I didn’t go back for a couple years until a friend told me the burgers were phenomenal. They are. I’ve been back a few times since. But now it looks like I have something else I need to try.

Their wings variety includes the “Burn Yer Arse” hot buffalo, Jameson Whiskey BBQ, and garic parmesan. Their sauces are made in house. 6 will cost you $9.99. Double it for $17.

McArthur’s is located at 9246 4th Street in St. Petersburg. Find them online at mcarthursirishpub.com.

Know of any other Tampa area restaurants with great wings that aren’t even that well-known as a wings spot? Drop me a line at @GenoAteTampa on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The post 3 Tampa Area Restaurants With Great Wings NOT Known For Their Wings appeared first on 995qyk.com.

According to the Associated Press, Bruhat rehearsed every day for 6 months. That practice clearly paid off. The 7th grader at Turner/Bartels K-8 School in Tampa was like a machine as he effortlessly plowed through a list of words that would stump most adults.

His spellingbee.com bio lists badminton and ping-pong as his hobbies. Bruhat plays the snare drum in the school band and is avid reader.

They say the 3rd time is a charm. Bruhat finished in 163rd place 2 years ago. Last year he paced 74th. But the third time was indeed the charm as he won the national title last night.

Those 30 Impossible Words Bruhat Spelled In 90 Seconds

Curious to see how you would have done? Keep in mind Bruhat spelled these 30 incredibly difficult words correctly in 90 seconds!

• Brouette
• Adelantado
• Hyporcheme
• Bisellium
• Mycteric
• Endecha
• Sericin
• Nyctalopia
• Ascham
• Wenzel
• Cebell
• Heautophany
• Kwazoku
• Panetiere
• Sagaie
• Nachschlage
• Exorhason
• Giclee
• Ashwagandha
• Puszta
• Sarotum
• Scintillante
• Myrabalanus
• Sciniph
• Voussoir
• Caizinha
• Ramoneur
• Aposiopesis
• Abseil

This wasn’t the first time a local genius won the big one!

The post The 30 Impossible Words a St. Pete 7th Grader Spelled To Win the National Spelling Bee appeared first on 995qyk.com.

That doesn’t necessarily mean these insurers have the best rates for you. Current customers can look forward to paying less. Maybe your Florida homeowners insurance provider is one of these. In that case, it’s definitely good news. But online reviews of these companies are mixed to say the least. Then again, do people really go online to praise an insurance company?

4 Florida Homeowners Insurance Companies Dropping Rates

Another that made the list is Florida Peninsula Insurance Company. They’re based in Boca Raton. They have over 200,000 policies in force according to their website. But unfortunately this is another one that seems to have some issues with keeping customers happy. Their Better Business Bureau customer review score is a 1 out of 5. Ouch. I’m not sure how the BBB comes up with their rating, but they do give Florida Peninsula Insurance an A+ score.

Southern Oak Insurance Company in Palm Valley, Florida seems to have a decent score at least on Google Reviews. Their 4.2 out of 5 stars is pretty impressive. But reading through the first 2 one-star reviews at the top when you sort by “most relevant” shows some issues. Reviewer Sarah said they make “everything impossible to accomplish.” Heath said he found Southern Oak’s rates 40% higher than everyone else.

I figured I’d try one more to see if there’s any hope! Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company is based right here in St. Pete. They offer home, condo and rental property insurance according to their website. Unfortunately, their Better Business Bureau customer reviews score is also rather scary, 1.56 stars out of 5. Their score from the BBB is a B+.

Have you had any luck finding a good insurer?

This is all pretty bleak. I’d love to share some GOOD news and help our listeners find reliable, honest Florida homeowners insurance companies. Drop me an email (geno.knight@bbgi.com) and let me know the company you like. What makes you a fan? Are their rates fair? Were they helpful when you had to file a claim?

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While El Cap has never really wow’d me, the burgers at Engine No. 9, while a little overpriced, are solid. But the burger I’m talking about has never been featured on one of those cable TV shows. It probably won’t even come up on Yelp or Google Reviews.

It used to be called Babalu. It was a staple on 4th Street for years. It was a dive, but locals seemed to love it. When Babalu closed up a few years ago, honestly, I didn’t shed a tear. The food was mediocre on a good day. It felt dirty. It was more of a dive bar than restaurant. An Irish Pub moved in.

The only reason I stumbled into McArthur’s Irish Pub in St. Petersburg is because it’s so close to the radio station. Given that it’s an old fashioned European pub, on my first visit, I went with the fish and chips. Honestly, the meal was completely forgettable. A year or so went by before I returned. I remember my buddy ordered the burger and it looked excellent. On my next visit, I skipped the fish and chips and went straight to the burger section of the menu.

Where to find the this undiscovered St. Pete Burger

I tried one last month. I’ve had 3 of their burgers since. The slabs of bacon were thick and cooked perfectly. The toppings were fresh. And the fact that McArthur’s gives you malt vinegar to put on your French Fries scores major points with me.

After one bite my eyes widened. While it might not be the best burger I’ve had in the Tampa area, this is the best St. Pete burger nobody knows about for sure. It’s not on anyone’s list. But it might be on yours if you try it. It’s juicy, but not greasy. The vibe of the place is chill and it’s pretty cheap by St. Pete standards.

Several different kinds of burgers

There’s the basic Classic Cheese Burger. I have them add the bacon to that and am good to go. I tried the Bacon Blue Burger and if you dig blue cheese, that might be a better bet. There’s the Jameson Whiskey BBQ Burger and a Mushroom Swiss too. The wings smelled good when they went by. One day I’ll try those too but usually once I find something I like, I stick with it. And for me it’s McArthur’s burgers.

Like any good burger spot, they’ll ask you how you want it cooked. No matter how I’ve ordered, it always comes out medium well to well. But I’m not annoyed. It’s always been good.

If you’re one of our neighbors, they are on Uber Eats. Otherwise, pop 9246 4th Street North in St. Petersburg into your GPS. They’re open 11-11 except for Friday & Saturday nights when the stay open until midnight. Beer prices are pretty reasonable. And they have live music most nights according to their website.

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Busch Gardens Ticket Deal Prices vs Normal Prices

Usually a single day ticket to visit Busch Gardens costs $139.99. With this deal, the price drops to $65. If you want to add all day dining to the ticket, that’s $100 even instead of the usual $199.99.

If you’d rather go with one of the passes to return to Busch Gardens throughout the year, the Fun Card price during the promotion drops to $84.99 instead of the usual $139.99. Add in Adventure Island for $15 more for a total cost of $99.99 (usually it’s $199.99). Keep in mind with the Fun Card, that doesn’t include parking. So it’s a good idea to get one regular annual pass and the rest of the family can use Fun Cards.

If you just want to visit for a couple days, there’s a 2 day 2 park ticket that’s on sale for $99.99. You can use the ticket for any 2 of their parks including SeaWorld and Aquatica in Orlando. There’s also 4 day 4 park version of the deal that’s half off… $199.99 instead of $400.

You can use this deal this weekend to go see Vanilla Ice as the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival wraps up.

The Deal Won’t Last Long

So what’s the catch? Timing. This isn’t one of those sales that’ll be available for weeks. In fact, it won’t even last a week. You only have until Monday, May 19 to get the deal on Busch Gardens’ website.

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The Bolts’ annual locker room sale will be on the Pepsi Porch at Amalie Arena Saturday. It’s your chance to buy game-used equipment and player-worn apparel. It starts bright and early at 10AM, but Stephen Buck with the team tells me you want to get there earlier than that to get the first pick of the best stuff.

What do they sell at a Tampa Bay Lightning yard sale?

Stephen says the most popular thing every year are the hockey sticks. The higher profile the player, the higher the price. So if you want a Stamkos stick, you might pay a bit more, but he estimates most hockey sticks will go for $100 to $250.

Other stuff you might find for sale include shin and elbow pads, helmets, and even skates. But it’s more than just equipment. Players are issued apparel for the locker room like hats, shorts, sweatshirts, and pull overs. So even if you don’t play hockey or want to buy equipment, there might be something for you. Stephen says he’s even seen team issued sneakers at the locker room sale.

What are the lines like?

Last year, the line extended all the way back to the parking garage so getting to Thunder Alley is highly suggested. They let in in about 25 to 50 Tampa Bay Lightning fans at a time. Last year the line remained long all the way through the event which wraps up at 2pm.

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Kayaking at Fort Desoto

I’ve only done this once myself. But Fort Desoto is always a good time. Even though that one time I did go kayaking at Fort Desoto resulted in me losing my iPhone. You don’t need to bring a kayak. Just rent one there. A double kayak rental at Top Water Kayak is $45 for 2 hours or $60 for 4 hours. They’ll give you all you need including safety tips and a life vest.

Go see the alligators at Sawgrass Lake

Low on dough? Free is always good. Explore 400 acres of wilderness right in the middle of Pinellas County. It’s open 7 days a week from 7am to sunset. Do keep in mind though that The Sawgrass Trail leading to the Observation Tower is closed right now for construction. it’s schedule to reopen in July. By the way, don’t get scared. Most of the alligators are small and you won’t come face to face to with one. They’ll be visible from the walkways though.

Record Shop and Get Cannolis

My favorite block in St. Pete is 22nd Ave North and 29th St North. On one side you have one of the biggest collections of vinyl in the world at Bananas. Besides vinyl, they still sell CDs (remember those?). They also have lots of nostalgic tech like old radios and movies too. After, head next door to wander around and smell the smells at Mazzaro’s Italian Market.

Bike the Pinellas Trail

Besides the beaches, my favorite part since moving over from Hillsborough County is being close to the Pinellas Trail. My favorite stretch is going from downtown Clearwater though Dunedin and up to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. But there’s a lot of terrain to cover in St. Pete too. Definitely a good double date spot in St. Pete.

Hit The Museums

Given that we live here, most of us don’t think to go to a museum. It’s something we do when we travel. I have to admit I’ve never been to The Dali Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts here. But I need to. Even though it’s not a true outdoor experience like the caller was looking for, a new exhibit of Dali’s best-loved botanical print suites will open next week.

Fire up a charcoal grill at Boca Ciega Millenium Park

Check out the mangrove swamp, salt marsh, or just enjoy the panoramic views of Boca Ciega Bay. They have 7 picnic shelters and a 35-foot observation tower to check out after you chow down. You can bring the dogs too.

Got other double date spots in St. Pete?

If you have any more, feel free to drop them on my Facebook page or tag me on my socials @genoradio.

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This list comes from the annual report from Forbes magazine. Forbes says there are more billionaires in 2024 than ever before. Around the world, you’ll find almost 2,800 with a billion in the bank. Most live in the United States. China is right behind us.

Who topped the list of the richest worldwide?

So who is the richest of the rich? They say Bernard Arnault tops this year’s list with a worth of about $230 BILLION! If his name doesn’t ring a bell, some of the brands he represents will. Louis Vuitton, Sephora and about 75 other fashion and cosmetic companies are under his watch. Ya know… basically all those places at International Plaza that try to take your paycheck. He’s officially a resident of France so who’s the richest one here in the United States? You probably have it narrowed down to 2.

Tesla owner Elon Musk and Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos are in a close battle for the runner up spot. Forbes says Elon is worth $195 billion and Bezos is $1 billion behind him. Facebook head Mark Zukerberg has a mere $177 billion so he’s in 4th place worldwide. Other familiar names that round out the top 10 here in the U.S. include Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

Who are Tampa’s 5 Richest Billionaires?

But what about the Bay area billionaires? Here are the 5 who can easily afford to dine at Bern’s every day of the week… twice. Actually let’s face it. They could all pretty much buy Bern’s if they wanted to.

#1: Ronald Waneck of St. Pete

His name probably isn’t familiar to you. But chances are you’ve driven by an Ashley Furniture store lately. St. Pete’s Ronald Waneck founded the company. Forbes says he’s worth a cool $5.3 billion! That’s a lotta ottomans. The Tampa Bay Times reported Wanek has a $3.7 million waterfront estate in Treasure Island with a 600 bottle wine room, home theater and an Italian pool with a swim up bar.

#2: Robert Duggan of Clearwater

Worth almost $4 billion, this businessman invested in a drug to fight cancer after his son died from brain cancer, according to Fox 13.  It was a smart investment as they say it made him a billionaire.

#3: Edward DeBartolo Jr. of Tampa

A real estate success story.  DeBartolo also owned the NFL’s San Francisco 49’ers for quite a long time. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2016 but after getting into some legal trouble on bribery charges, he was given a pardon by Donald Trump in 2020.

#4: Todd Christopher of Clearwater

One of the younger billionaires on the list, Todd is worth $3.2 billion, according to Forbes.  Not bad for a high school dropout huh?  He started a line of hair care products in 1987 and eventually sold it to Johnson & Johnson.

#5: Todd Waneck of St. Pete

Name sound familiar?  Yup.  Todd is the son of the one that came in at #1.  Todd is Ashley Furniture’s current CEO.  In 2006, according to Wikipedia, Todd received the Spirit of Life award for his fundraising for cancer research.

Todd just edges out Sarasota’s Kenneth Feld of Feld Entertainment (the ones behind Disney on Ice, Monster Jam and other live events) to take the last spot in the top 5.

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Peanuts and Cracker Jacks are for the old timers. We want the good stuff when we go to Tropicana Field. And a new national survey of Major League Baseball parks around the country asked which stadium has the best junk food? Of the top 10 favorite menu items, Tropicana Field was the only ballpark to have TWO unhealthy foods make the list compiled by Bet Maryland.

The 2 Tropicana Field Menu Items That Made The List

Coming in at #9 are those Sweet Pretzel Bites they serve in that plastic catching glove. You can find them at the Budweiser Porch being sold by Twisted.

But the junk food option that came just shy of winning the whole darn competition? The Pulled Pork BBQ Nachos can be found behind 3rd base at Budweiser Smoke & Pour. The Pulled Pork BBQ Nachos came in at #2 nationally right behind the Mumbo Fried Chicken Sandwich they serve at Washington Nationals games.

What’s your favorite junk food at The Trop? Drop me a line @GenoRadio and I’ll add your suggestions below. If you’ve listened to the show this week, you know what my favorite Trop food is. See below!

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Some of the acts that are a part of this deal that are coming to Tampa include Alanis Morisette, Chicago with Earth Wind & Fire, Barbie The Movie: In Concert, Dan + Shay, Doobie Brothers, The Marley Brothers, Hootie & The Blowfish, INCUBUS, Janet Jackson, Maren Morris, Korn, Stone Temple Pilots, Thirty Seconds To Mars, New Kids on the Block, Missy Elliott, Sammy Hagar, Santana & Counting Crows, Styx & Foreigner, Train & REO Speedwagon, Third Eye Blind and more.

$25 Concert Ticket Deal Stuff You Need To Know

You’ll have only a few days to get in on this deal. It starts one week from today on Wednesday, May 8th and expires on May 14th.

You probably won’t get the best seats in the house with this offer. But another thing to note is that this is a nationwide sale. So if you’re doing any traveling this summer, you might want to check out concerts at venues in those cities. Over 5,000 shows around the United States will be a part of this offer.

Taxes are added, but I’m not seeing anything about the fees we all hate. Usually when they do these deals, it’s an all in price. If I find out differently, I’ll update this.

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Why does Tampa water taste different right now?

The City of Tampa today posted to social media to let residents know that water might taste a little off or give off a little bit of a smell for the next few weeks. It’s all part of a routine maintenance they do to preserve water quality. They change the disinfection process and that’s why you’re noticing the difference in taste.

When will it go back to normal?

The change began today (May 6, 2024). They expect to finish the work on Monday, May 27, according to Tampa.gov. They assure you that the water may taste or smell different, but it IS safe to drink.

What can you do?

You may not even notice the change. If you do, they suggest you run your tap water for a few minutes before using it. Or you can fill a pitcher with water and let it sit for several hours. They say that’ll help the chlorine evaporate. You could also put in a carbon filter.

If you have any questions, you can call (813) 274-8811. Press option 4. That info line is staffed weekdays from 8am to 5pm.

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The Problem Flying to Europe from Tampa

The one thing I try to avoid when planning a trip is picking a flight with a bunch of connections. Unfortunately, when you visit many cities in Europe, it’s just something you have to do. TPA only flies to London, Frankfurt and Zurich. And of those London flights, many are to Gatwick, not Heathrow which is London’s giant airport.

So if you want to fly to a European city, more times than not, you’ll be forced to connect somewhere here in the U.S. like New York or Washington. Then there’s that long wait between flights. Once you finally get on board, now you have to force yourself to try to get some sleep because you’ll likely be arriving in Europe in the morning hours.

How Traveling from Tampa to Europe is Getting Easier

So what’s changing? Delta is bringing back direct flights to Amsterdam starting October 26, 2024. What’s so great about that? What if you want to go to Spain or Italy?

While that may not be your final destination, Amsterdam’s airport is ENORMOUS. So if you’re flying to a smaller European city, chances are there will be a cheap discount carrier like EasyJet or Ryanair with takeoffs every hour or so. That’s a game changer. Instead of doing a long flight to New York or Washington, land right away in Amsterdam and then fly to wherever you want.

I’d personally suggest just spending the day in Amsterdam and getting a cheap AirBnB to spend the night. Then fly to your final destination the next day. Amsterdam is beautiful. Take a river cruise, visit their museums or hit the “coffee shop.”

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The 2024 Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival concerts kick off March 9 with the Goo Goo Dolls and Starship on March 10 and wind down May 18 and May 19.  This year, they even have a couple QYK favorites like Michael Ray and Chris Lane. The closing weekend acts are among the gaps Busch Gardens will fill in later. Along with the concerts, The Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival features food and drinks from all regions of the world.

Are concerts still free?

The performances are free with your paid admission to Busch Gardens. If you want to upgrade to seats closer to the stage, you might want to look into getting an annual pass. Passholders can get a free upgrade. You can also get a VIP Seating Package that includes a beverage, private VIP bar, and a seat right by the stage.

The 2024 Concert Lineup

• Goo Goo Dolls – March 9

  (best known for their hits “Slide,” “Name” and “Iris”)

• Starship ft. Mickey Thomas – March 10

  (best known for their 80s hits “We Built This City” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”)

• Sister Hazel – March 17

  (best known for their 90s hits “All For You” and “Champagne High”)

• Taking Back Sunday – March 23

  (best known for their hits “Cute Without an ‘E'” and “You’re So Last Summer”)

• Owl City – April 6

  (best known for their 2009 hit “Fireflies”)

• Grupo Niche – April 7

  (a salsa act from Bogota Colombia)

• Better than Ezra & Vertical Horizon – April 13

  (90s rock bands with hits like “Everything You Want” and “Good”)

• Hoobastank – April 14

  (best known for their hits “The Reason” and “Crawling In the Dark”)

Michael Ray – April 20 (a QYK favorite best known for his hits “Whiskey and Rain” and “Kiss You In The Morning”)

• Gavin DeGraw – April 21

  (best known for his hits “Chariot” and “I Don’t Wanna Be”)

• Andy Grammer – April 27

  (best known for his hits “Fine By Me” and “Keep Your Head Up”)

Chris Lane – April 28 (best known for hits “Take Back Home Girl” and “I Don’t Know About You”)

• Boys Like Girls – May 4

  (best known for their 2006 hit “The Great Escape”)

• 38 Special – May 5

  (best known for their 80s hits “Hold On Loosely” and “Caught Up In You”)

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Then the pandemic hit. COVID 19 dealt a lethal blow to many restaurants. Some takeout places thrived. But unfortunately every time I went to Italia Mia, it was like a ghost town. And I couldn’t help but notice the taste of the food started to go downhill. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what was different, but something had definitely changed. Maybe the ingredients changed. Employers were having trouble hiring at the time so I blamed the pandemic.

When Italia Mia on 62nd closed, I was heartbroken. Even though the chicken parm hadn’t been as good, it was still better than almost anywhere else around Tampa Bay. We’re known for our Cuban sandwiches and grouper around here… not chicken parmesan.

I later found out those last few times I went to Italia Mia, they were under different management. The cook and that awesome short Italian woman “Mama Rosa” had left and moved to a new place called Italian Touch.

But the Italia Mia story isn’t over yet. Our traffic guru Kathy Davis let me know there was a new Italia Mia almost across the street from our studios that has just opened in the past year. To grab some attention from pizza lovers, the new version called Tony & Vinny’s Italia Mia is offering $10 large cheese pizzas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There’s also calzone, garlic knots, subs, and stromboli.

I don’t know if Tony and Vinny were the ones who took over Italia Mia near the end at the location on 62nd. But I had to give it a shot if just for the name alone. I dropped in last week to try that $10 cheese pizza special. I didn’t try the chicken parm… maybe next time. But let’s get into the review of this pizza.

Italia Mia Pizza Review

It’s good. And that’s all I can say. I can’t say it’s great. I definitely can’t put it in my top 10. Those honors belong to places like Cristino’s in Clearwater and Cappy’s in Riverview. But for $10, it’s a solid pie.

Tony & Vinny’s Italia Mia’s pizza is a little less sturdy than I’d like. It wasn’t that true New York fold and eat feeling crust. The sauce (the most important part of the pizza to me) was ok but not super impressive. The cheese was salty and had good texture. I feel like it was a bit undercooked. It felt floppy. I had about 4 slices and then just ended up pulling of the cheese and eating that on the rest. My grade: C+. Definitely better than the average Tampa area pizza. But not worth a drive across town.

If you want to give them a try, Tony & Vinny’s Italia Mia is located at 1156 94th Ave N in St. Petersburg, Florida. But don’t go for lunch like I did unless it’s Thursday or Friday. They’re closed. They’re open from 3:30 to 9pm Tuesday through Saturday. To call in an order, their phone number is 727-290-6093.

The pizza at Tony and Vinny’s Italia Mia wasn’t bad by any stretch. There’s a lot of bad pizza around Tampa Bay. But if you’re in that stretch of northern St. Pete, I’d head to Slice of the Burg next to Publix instead. But for that Italia Mia Chicken Parmesan experience I used to love, it’s Italian Touch for me.

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