Tampa Bay Observer

04/23/2025

Barnes & Noble reopened in Carrollwood this morning after their previous location closed last year.

The long-awaited Barnes and Noble Carrollwood reopened Wednesday to enthusiastic crowds, marking the bookstore’s return to the north Tampa neighborhood after an eight-month absence. Hundreds of people lined up outside the new location in the Palms of Carrollwood Shopping Center before the 10 a.m. ...

04/13/2025

Your text can wait. 44 Tampa Bay lives couldn't. 📱🚗

April is Distracted Driving awareness month and dangerous and distracted driving continues to be an issue nationally, and in Tampa, in 2025.  There were an estimated 44,650 motor-vehicle deaths in the United States in 2024 with around 3,000 of these deaths occurring due to a distracted driver. Acco...

04/08/2025

Tampa native Brad Galinson's English soccer experiment enters a new chapter as fifth head coach Gareth Ainsworth aims to finally turn Gillingham's fortunes around

In December 2022, Tampa-area businessman Brad Galinson made a decision that many of his investment banking friends deemed questionable: purchasing a struggling English soccer team sitting at the bottom of League Two, the fourth tier of English football. “Investment banking friends of mine said the...

04/03/2025

We broke the temperature record yesterday! 🥵☀️

Tampa Bay residents experienced unprecedented heat yesterday as temperatures at Tampa International Airport climbed to a record-breaking 97 degrees Fahrenheit, shattering the previous April high mark. The National Weather Service in Ruskin confirmed the new record, which surpassed the former April h...

03/24/2025

You may soon need a second license plate... but will you have to pay for it?

Florida drivers may soon need to make room for a second license plate on their vehicles, as state lawmakers consider legislation that would require plates on both the front and back of cars. The bill, which has already passed through two committee votes unanimously, aims to help authorities better i...

03/23/2025

Tampa's last TGI Fridays location closed its doors this week. Do you have fond memories of eating there? What was your go-to order? ⬇️

The last remaining TGI Fridays in Tampa has permanently closed this week, marking the end of an era for the once-popular casual dining chain in our area. The location at 11705 W Hillsborough Ave shuttered without warning, leaving Tampa residents with no local access to the restaurant’s famous appe...

12/14/2024

Gross 🤮

Fast food fans in Tampa were left shocked after a Burger King on W Martin Luther King Boulevard was temporarily shut down following a state health inspection that uncovered serious violations, including rodent chew marks on a burger bun. The location at 2506 W Martin Luther King Boulevard has a mixe...

12/13/2024

The Barstool Sports founder visited Ybor City for a famous "one bite" pizza review...

Barstool Sports founder and self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur Dave Portnoy is back in Tampa Bay for another round of his popular 'One Bite Pizza Reviews.' After making the rounds last spring, Portnoy has returned, this time blending pizza tasting with a side mission involving former Bucs coach Jon G...

11/08/2024

Have you dined at Casa Cami?

If you're looking for stunning views and delicious food, Casa Cami might become your new favorite spot. Located on the 10th floor of The Current Hotel at Rocky Point, the restaurant boasts incredible views across the bay. The restaurant is the latest project from siblings Blake Casper and Allison Ca...

10/30/2024

Santa Fest and the tree lightning celebration will return to Downtown Tampa 🎅🎄

Tampa's favorite holiday tradition returns this winter as Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park transforms into a winter wonderland on December 7. The 2024 Santa Fest promises to fill downtown with seasonal cheer, culminating in the city's beloved annual tree lighting ceremony alongside the enchanting Winter...

10/25/2024

Enjoy the sunsets after 6pm because they're not going to last!

10/24/2024

A chance to help out and socialize!

A community cleanup along the Hillsborough River is set for Wednesday, November 13, combining trash collection with a social gathering at Coppertail Brewing Co. The event aims to bring local residents together to help clean one of Tampa's major waterways while offering a chance to socialize afterwar...