In case you haven’t heard, Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf will formally debut to the public Friday, Nov. 30. CL explored the new Channel District destination for casual drinks and dishes earlier this week, and now it’s your turn. The anticipated gathering place’s mixed-use, park-like grounds, which are also open to pooches, offer everything from recreational activities to waterfront views. Oh, and before you go, here are the top five things you need to know.

Photos by Chris Fasick http://crave.digital/

Sparkman Wharf houses its street food stalls — including chef-restaurateur BT Nguyen’s BT in a Box and Gallito Taqueria from Rooster & the Till owners Ty Rodriguez and chef Ferrell Alvarez — in 10 recycled shipping containers. Credit: Chris Fasick
Gallito puts its own modern spin on Mexican street food. Credit: Chris Fasick
Craving Spanish wine and tapas? Head to Montados by Mise en Place. Credit: Chris Fasick
From restaurateur Dave Burton, Flock and Stock does American roadside grub like burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries. Credit: Chris Fasick
Foundation Coffee Co. owners Emily and Jason Smith provide the cups of specialty coffee. Credit: Chris Fasick
Many of the mural-adorned shipping containers — which embrace the area’s history as a working waterfront and were conceived in partnership with design shop Pep Rally — feature local references. This one is decorated with the latitude and longitude of Sparkman Wharf. Credit: Chris Fasick
The dining garden is an al fresco setting that overlooks the spacious event lawn and the shaded Fermented Reality biergarten. Credit: Chris Fasick
Go to the lawn for friendly competition (think shuffleboard, jumbo chess and cornhole), or enjoy the large LED screen slated to project Tampa Bay Lightning games. Credit: Chris Fasick
edison’s swigamajig is a dive bar and fish kitchen occupying two shipping containers. Credit: Chris Fasick
“I think you’re gonna see something very unique, although very familiar because it is a fish kitchen,” said chef-owner Jeannie Pierola, who’s also behind Edison: Food+Drink Lab. “I think we’ve all eaten fried fish or something like that. But we’re doing our own little spin, our own little ‘je ne sais quoi’ so to speak.” Credit: Chris Fasick
With 30 taps, the biergarten focuses on craft beer — specifically Florida craft beer. Credit: Chris Fasick
The recently updated bowling alley, Splitsville Southern + Social, is another tenant at Sparkman Wharf. Its doors reopened earlier this month. Credit: Chris Fasick
Whatever Pops & Bowls, which carries acai bowls, popsicles and house-made gelato, was one of the first stalls to be announced. Credit: Chris Fasick
“I mean, just look at the names around us,” said Whatever Pops owner Steve McGlocklin. “We’re very honored to be a part of it, and we’re very honored to be able to present our desserts and our acai bowls and the things we’ve been doing for seven years to, hopefully, a new crowd that comes to visit downtown. We really couldn’t ask for more.” Credit: Chris Fasick
SaltBlock Hospitality Group founders Ryan Conigliaro and Scott Roberts serve raw bivalves and chargrilled varieties at Boat Run Oyster Company, plus seasonal eats like Florida shrimp and stone crab. Credit: Chris Fasick
Expect a menu of craft cocktails and Florida seafood from swigamajig, billed as a “modern seafoodie dive.” Credit: Chris Fasick
Jumbo chess is one highlight of the lawn. Credit: Chris Fasick
There’s also shuffleboard. Credit: Chris Fasick
Strategic Property Partners manager Sam Stein (L) discusses Sparkman Wharf’s consistent music programming alongside David Cox, executive director for Gasparilla Music Foundation. Credit: Chris Fasick
The lawn’s stage, where a regular bill of local live tunes is planned on weekends. Credit: Chris Fasick
Fermented Reality makes it a point to curate a draft list that appeals to beer geeks as much as novices. Credit: Chris Fasick
Joel Bigham, co-founder of the biergarten. Credit: Chris Fasick
Sparkman Wharf’s ample seating ranges from bar stools to lounge chairs to, yes, swings (!). Credit: Chris Fasick