King State Coffee
Brothers-in-law Tim McTague and Nate Young began roasting unique coffees (flavors found in their roasts include blueberry, lime, wet rose, grape and jasmine) together about five years
ago, after both of their bands broke up. In February, they’re launching their first brick-and-mortar shop in Tampa Heights, with coffee, beer and food all day. The cafe’s 16 taps will feature a mix of King State’s own coffee and other beverages, plus Southern-inspired menu items.
520 E. Floribraska Ave.
king-state.com
Dio Modern Mediterranean
After acquiring a space next door to their own, the owners of downtown’s Paninoteca have revamped their entire restaurant, including a new menu, new interiors and a new name. Owners Joe and Mary Khabbaz say a happy hour, dinner and brunch are all on their way, though a few old favorites (like the chicken pancetta panini and the hummus and pita) have made the cut alongside new items like kebabs, gyros and grilled sea bass. Dio Modern Mediterranean is expected to open in February.
519 N. Franklin St.
diotampa.com
Electric Scooters
As of the time TAMPA Downtown Magazine went to press, the city of Tampa was accepting operator bids for a dockless electric scooter pilot program. Similar to the current Coast Bike system, users can borrow the scooters and ride them within specific geographic limits. Plans call for a total of 600 scooters, with 100 in downtown proper and 100 each in areas just north, south, east and west of downtown, all with scoot-er corral areas. However, the city has stated that the scooters cannot be used on the Tampa Riverwalk, the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk and Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. The scooter pilot program is expected to begin in April and last a year.
Manor Riverwalk
A 400-unit luxury apartment tower with three wings and a river-facing infinity edge pool, Manor Riverwalk is on the former site of the Tampa Tribune, next to the Brorein Street bridge. Other amenities include the water-facing Riverfront Club Terrace, poolside cabanas, a meditation garden, and public art throughout and along the waterfront of the building. Pre-leasing is underway with move-ins expected to begin in the spring.
202 Parker St.
manorriverwalk.com
Garrison Tavern
As part of the Marriott Waterside’s hotel-wide renovations, the sports bar Champions closed to make way for Garrison Tavern. Restaurateur Richard Sandoval’s company RS Hospitality will operate both this new gastropub and an additional restaurant coming to the hotel. The Marriott says Garrison Tavern will focus on comfort foods and craft beer; the restaurant is expected to feature outdoor, street-level seating and will include indoor two Topgolf bays. Opening is slated for early this year.
Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
700 S. Florida Ave.
(813) 221-4900
marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpamc-tampa-marriott-waterside-hotel-and-marina/
TASTE
Replacing Trolleys Cafe at downtown’s Embassy Suites, TASTE is meant to literally offer a taste of Tampa. Each of the hotel chain’s TASTE restaurants across the country is approached uniquely to incorporate a local flair; here, that means rotating craft beer taps and the inclusion of ingredients from local vendors like Jamison B Breadhouse Bakes and Joe and Son’s Olive Oils in New American dishes. Chef Graham Zimmerman and the team at TASTE is targeting a March opening.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center
513 S. Florida Ave.
embassysuites3.hilton.com
Gen X Tavern
Delayed after owner Dave Burton got the chance to add on additional space, Gen X Tavern is finally slated
to open in February. The ‘80s- and ‘90s-themed bar and restaurant is meant to be a time warp, filled with fun features like floppy disk light fixtures and old TVs. Art by local studio Pep Rally Inc. that hearkens back to the days of Pac-Man on an arcade machine after school. Theming extends to the food and drinks, which will focus on menu items like burgers and tacos, plus adult Capri-Suns.
103 E. Jackson St.
facebook.com/genxtavern
SIP at the Straz Center
More alcohol on the River-walk!! In January, the Straz Center debuted SIP behind the patio of its Maestro’s Restaurant. The bar is a retro-fitted 1966 Airstream Safari Land Yacht, serving cocktails, craft beer on tap, smoothies, coffee, soda and water. Weather permitting, it opens to the public at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; it also carries the city’s special Riverwalk cups, so you can take your alcoholic beverage to go.
1010 N. MacInnes Place (along the Riverwalk)
strazcenter.org
Buddy Brew Coffee at Park Tower
As part of the larger renovation of Tampa’s original skyscraper, Buddy Brew Coffee has opened its first downtown location in a street-facing spot on Park Tower’s first floor. Founded out of the owners’ Hyde Park garage, Buddy Brew is one of Tampa’s biggest home-grown coffee brands. The downtown cafe joins their existing locations in SoHo, Hyde Park Village, Oxford Exchange and Sarasota.
400 N. Tampa St.
Suite 110
buddybrew.com
HITE
This 80-unit luxury rental building is the newest residential option in Seminole Heights. HITE — which resides just feet from The Front Porch, The C House, Mandarin Heights and Bodega — features a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, and yet-to-be-announced retail and restaurant tenants on the first floor. According to HITE’s developer, the spelling of the project’s name is a play on the “bite or smite” reportedly given by the two-headed alligator in the folktale that inspired Seminole Heights’ neighborhood seal.
6006 N. Florida Ave.
(813) 235-0237
hiteapts.com
XT Munchies
The “younger sister” to Xtreme Tacos, XT Munchies is serving up Mexican snacks and drinks in Seminole Heights. Its specialty is fruit cups, which come topped with chamoy (a sauce made from pickled fruit), chile powder, and fresh-squeezed lime juice. Go big with the Piñas Locas, a fruit cup served in a pineapple with a chile tamarind candy stick, sour gummy bears, a chile lollipop and spicy peanuts. Pair it with an agua fresca or horchata to drink, and sample a few of the other bites, including elote (Mexican street corn), tamales, mac ‘n queso and chicharrones.
5705 N. Nebraska Ave.
xtmunchies.com
Tampa Bay History Center
Now open, “On Track: A History of Florida Railroads” traces the impact of railroads on the state of Florida, from travelers’ comfort to increased profits for farmers. Parents looking for ways to keep little ones occupied during spring break may want to check out “Kid-tography,” included-with-admission activities that help kids sharpen their map skills inside the new Touchton Map Library. While the kids are engaged, walk through “History by the Pint,” a new exhibit that examines Tampa’s history as the state’s craft beer capital.
On Track: A History of Florida Railroads now through July 14
History by the Pint: Beer and Brewing in Tampa Bay March 2 through August 11
Florida Conversations: Winston Churchill in Cuba and Florida March 13
Tap Talks: Fort Brooke Blonde Ale March 14
Kid-tography March 18-22
Brewseum March 28
Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art turns 100 in 2020, and it’s kicking off the celebration with exhibits highlighting the treasures within its permanent collection. “Ancient and Modern Glass from the Collection” includes glass pieces from both the Greek and Roman eras, as well as contemporary works by American and European designers. “Abstract Expressionism” showcases pieces in the style from the permanent collection created with paint, paper and photography after World War II. That exhibition will work in concert with “Abstract Expressionism: A Social Revolution,” which features artists like Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, to explore the legacy of abstract expressionism.
Oswaldo Vigas: Transformations now through May 27
Ancient and Modern Glass: from the Collection March 23-August 18
Abstract Expressionism: A Social Revolution April 11-August 11
Echoing Forms: American Abstraction from the Permanent Collection April 13-August 18
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Besides photography galleries and exhibitions, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts also offers classes for photogs of all skill and experience levels. Learn how to take better photos on your iPhone, get a fuller understanding of how to compose the photo you want, or dive deeper into editing with Photoshop. Check fmopa.org/calendar for a full class schedule.
Modus Operandi: Contemporary Photography from the Collection of BNY Mellon now through April 15
Lost and Found in America now through April
Applying the Language of Photography to Bookmaking March 4
Digital Assets Management March 5
Journey Through Personal Creativity March 6
Composition and Aesthetics March 11
iPhoneography: Smart Phone 101 March 16
Landscapes March 19
Travel Photography March 21
Photoshop Advanced April 2
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
The Straz’s annual fundraiser, previously called the Best of Tampa Bay, is returning this year as TASTE @ The Straz; tickets include unlimited sampling from local restaurants and breweries, plus live entertainment. Elsewhere on the schedule, the long-run-ning comical play “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised]” returns for a three-week run, and the satire continues with “Spamilton: An American Parody” just a few days later. April also sees the highly anticipated tour of “Dear Evan Hansen,” winner of the 2017 Tony Award for best musical.
Hundred Days now through March 24
Trae Crowder Live March 1
The Gutfeld Monologues Live March 2
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] March 13-April 7
Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland March 24
Kyle Cease: Evolving Out Loud March 27
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus March 28-31
Tap Dogs March 29-31
The Florida Orchestra: Brahms’ Piano Concerto March 29
Wild Seas, Secret Shores with Thomas Peschak April 2
The Swingles April 3
Piff the Magic Dragon April 4
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo April 5
The Florida Orchestra: Ragtime, Blues and All That Jazz April 5
TASTE @ The Straz April 6
Dear Evan Hansen April 9-14
Spamilton: An American Parody April 9-May 12
The Florida Orchestra: Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 April 12
Chad Prather April 13
Dori Freeman April 22
La Boheme April 26-28
Amalie Arena
As we get closer to the warmer months, Amalie Arena is giving concertgoers a taste of the kinds of shows summer is known for. P!nk kicks things off in early March, followed quickly by Blake Shelton (accompanied by an all-star crew of the Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, Trace Adkins and Lauren Alaina) and Bob Seger, in a surprise addition to his farewell tour (KISS is also swinging by on its final trek). St. Patrick’s Day will get a little bit louder when Travis Scott plays his rescheduled “Astroworld” tour date, and 98Rockfest rounds out the month of April. Finally, the Lightning reach the home stretch of their quest for the playoffs, playing their final regular season home game against defending Stanley Cup champs the Washington Capitals.
Lightning v. Ottawa Senators March 2
P!nk March 3
Lightning v. Winnipeg Jets March 5
Lightning v. Minnesota Wild March 7
Blake Shelton March 8
Lightning v. Detroit Red Wings March 9
Bob Seger March 15
Lightning v. Washington Capitals March 16
Travis Scott March 17
Lightning v. Arizona Coyotes March 18
Disney on Ice March 21-24
Lightning v. Boston Bruins March 25
Lightning v. Washington Capitals March 30
NCAA Women’s Final Four April 5&7
KISS – April 11
2Cellos – April 13
98Rockfest 2019– April 14
