An interior view of Nomibar, a Japanese izakaya in Downtown Tampa, featuring a sleek blue-tiled bar, warm ambient red lighting, and guests enjoying craft cocktails and late-night vibes.

New Japanese izakaya Nomi Bar officially opens in downtown Tampa this week

Nomi Bar is owned by Tampa Bay restaurateur and investor Joe Khouri.

by Colin Wolf November 4, 2026November 5, 2026

Downtown Tampa now has a new spot for late night sushi and sake. Nomi Bar, located at 777 N Ashley Dr. Unit A, in the former Taps Tavern space, soft-opened last week but will mark its official grand opening this Saturday, Nov. 7 from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. The new izakaya (which is essentially a Japanese […]

The exterior of "Lara Apothecary Bar & Bazaar," a two-story tan brick building with a black awning and green double doors. The storefront features large windows reflecting the street, a vintage-style black lamppost with five white globe lights in the foreground, and a geometric tiled sidewalk out front.

Food & Drink

Ybor City restaurant Lara will permanently close

Chef Suz did not give an exact closing date or reason for the closure, but did point to a lack of a regular dinner crowd as a factor.

by Colin Wolf November 4, 2026November 4, 2026

An aerial top-down photo shows a suburban residential neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, featuring single-family homes with private swimming pools, landscaped backyards, green lawns, and clean paved streets lined with palm trees.

News & Views

Florida voters approve property tax-cutting Amendment 3

With 96% of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard shows the controversial amendment with nearly 62% of the vote, well above the 60% threshold needed to pass.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

News & Views

Daniela Simic wins race for Hillsborough County School Board District 2

In the race for District 2 school board, Hillsborough County chose the candidate with an immense educational background.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 4, 2026

A news photograph by Dave Decker showing Byron Donalds at Veterans Metal in Largo, Florida on Oct. 8, 2026. Captured in a medium shot inside an industrial venue, U.S. Representative and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds speaks into a handheld microphone during a campaign event. He has a short dark beard and wears a dark navy suit blazer over a white dress shirt with a light blue patterned necktie. He gestures outward with his left hand while speaking into the mic held in his right, set against a grey painted indoor wall with overhead industrial ductwork and audience members seated in the background.

News & Views

Florida elects Byron Donalds, the state’s first Black governor

With 95% of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard shows Donalds with over 50% of the vote

by Colin Wolf and Valerie Smith November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

Ashley Moody speaking at a podium with a sign reading "Ashley Moody U.S. Senator for Florida" in front of a seated audience and veterans.

News & Views

Ashley Moody defeats Angie Nixon, winning Florida’s U.S. Senate seat

Despite being dogged by a $10 million Hope Florida scandal, Republican incumbent Ashley Moody has defeated her Democratic opponent Angie Nixon.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

News & Views

Republican Gus Bilikrakis wins race for Tampa Bay’s U.S. House District 12

Overman conceded to Bilikrakis at 8:28 p.m.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

News & Views

Democrat Kathy Castor wins Tampa Bay’s U.S. House, District 14

Though she served for the last 20 years, Castor’s biggest challenge in this race was her newly redrawn district.

by Colin Wolf and Valerie Smith November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

The Bucs played their ugliest game in years, and now they’re back in the division race

Baker Mayfield did not complete a single pass the entire game. Yes, you read that right.

by Colin Wolf and Carter Brantley November 2, 2026November 2, 2026

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor speaking at the The Hillsborough County Democratic Party annual Kennedy-King Gala on August 8, 2026.

News & Views

Tampa’s Kathy Castor among Democrats who did not sign letter condemning Ilhan Omar investigation

It’s unclear exactly why Castor did not sign the letter, but she wasn’t the only Florida representative whose signature was absent.

by Colin Wolf October 29, 2026October 29, 2026

A news photograph showing Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. Captured in a centered medium shot outdoors, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stands speaking at a podium microphone. He wears a white long-sleeved polo shirt embroidered with the gold Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office star badge emblem on the left chest and his name on the right, paired with dark gray trousers. A white Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office SUV vehicle and an apartment building are visible softly blurred in the background under bright daylight.

News & Views

Chad Chronister has been noticeably silent about Amendment 3—he also received more financial support from Florida Realtors than any other Tampa Bay sheriff

Chronister has yet to make a single public statement, press appearance or social media post regarding the statewide referendum.

by Colin Wolf October 28, 2026October 28, 2026

News & Views

Over a year after his death, Hulk Hogan’s Tampa Bay mansion sells for $6 million

The home had an initial price tag of nearly $11 million.

by Colin Wolf October 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Exterior view of the historic Coney Island Grill restaurant and adjacent barbershop storefronts on a sunny street, featuring vintage signage and stone facade detail.

Food & Drink

St. Pete’s iconic Coney Island Sandwich Shop has been closed for years, now it’s available for lease

‘We’d love to see another locally owned restaurant that brings that same energy to the neighborhood…’

by Colin Wolf October 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Food & Drink

Seminole Heights BBQ spot Wicked Oak will be on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diner, Drive-ins and Dives’ next week

There’s been a lot of Guy Fieri sightings around Tampa Bay recently.

by Colin Wolf October 27, 2026October 27, 2026

An emergency news photograph by Tiffany Haas showing the Tampa Fire Department works on a fire at Rene's Mexican Kitchen in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 30, 2026. Captured in a daylight shot from street level, smoke rises above the pink-and-teal wooden exterior of Rene's Mexican Kitchen as a high-pressure water stream sprays onto the roof. A red fire truck rescue vehicle, a ladder truck with a firefighter positioned high on the aerial platform, and prominent street signage including a red octagon "STOP" sign and a black "ONE WAY" arrow sign stand in the foreground.

Food & Drink

Fundraiser for Rene’s will include free food and beer from Tampa favorites like Mise en Place, Streetlight Tacos and more

Donations to the tip jar are encouraged, of course.

by Colin Wolf October 26, 2026October 26, 2026

Survivors unveil the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile before heading to congress with the evidence to confront members of Congress, July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photos by Eric Elofson)

News & Views

The Trump-Epstein bookmobile is coming to Tampa Bay next week

“All the files. The timeline of Trump and Epstein’s relationship. A tribute to survivors. And ways you can take action to demand justice and accountability.”

by Colin Wolf October 23, 2026October 23, 2026