The Salty Donut opens its first Tampa location next weekend. Credit: C/o The Salty

Openings

The Salty Donut A new spot to satisfy your sweet tooth will soon open its doors in South Tampa. After many months of anticipation, dessert and coffee shop The Salty Donut celebrates a grand opening on Friday, Sept. 15 at 1519 W Swann Ave., adjacent to other popular Hyde Park Village concepts like On Swann, Goody Goody and Bartaco. The first 50 customers on Friday and Saturday will receive a tote bag filled with Salty swag. The Salty Donut will also host a pre-opening lottery for customers that would like to skip the grand opening day crowds. The Miami-based doughnut shop will give 50 lucky people a box of free treats alongside their pre-opening tour. While Tampa’s upcoming location has a menu similar to other shops throughout Florida and Georgia, The Salty Donut will specifically cater to Tampeños by offering unique flavors like guava and cheese and strawberry tres leche. Seasonal bakes currently on The Salty Donut’s menu include a mango and passion fruit brioche topped with fruity buttercream and white chocolate crumble, gluten-free chocolate chip and sea salt doughnuts and a dinosaur-themed “dirt pie” dessert for the kiddos. 1519 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Saltydonut.com

Union New American’s ‘Up’ Westshore concept Union New American opened the doors to its massive restaurant a few months ago, and its late-night counterpart is finally ready to do the same. The new rooftop concept and lounge deemed “Up” celebrates a grand opening Friday, Sept. 8, but has been accepting reservations since last week. An extension of the massive, New American restaurant by Next Level Brands, Up offers “dining and entertainment that promises to redefine the region’s nightlife experience,” according to a press release. Starting at $200 a person, folks can indulge in packages that include drinks, entertainment, dancing and an “immersive dining experience.” Described as specializing in “classic American fare With A global edge,” Union New American opened in April after many months of anticipation. 1111 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa. uniontampa.com

Coming soon

Stoner’s Pizza Joint A pizza chain that asks customers to “Get Baked” and to “Legalize Marinara” is coming to Tampa. This morning, Fort Lauderdale-based pizza company Stoner’s Pizza Joint announced plans to open three new locations in the Tampa area over the next two years. According to a press release, the first location will debut on North Dale Mabry Highway this October, and is owned by the company’s COO Scott Mobley. “We’ve had our eye on the booming Tampa market for several years and are thrilled to have found our first location,” said Mobley in a statement. “We are aggressively looking to open additional locations throughout the Tampa metro market over the next 2 years, we want to make sure ALL of Tampa Gets Baked!” The company, which claims to target college towns for new locations, currently operates 34 stores across the Southeast and Colorado. Besides it’s herb-themed branding, the delivery/takeout-focused concept features specialty baked pizzas, calzones, strombolis, smoked wings, boneless “Nugz,” sandwiches, baked desserts, and “Quality Greens” (aka salads). Stoner’s Pizza Joint says it hopes to open 100 new units by the end of 2025 throughout the United States. Stonerspizzajoint.com—Colin Wolf

Events

I Like It Hot! Fest Each year, spice lovers and daredevils across Tampa Bay head to Largo Event Center for I Like it Hot! Fest, a celebration of all things spicy and eye-watering. Over the course of two days, attendees enjoy a variety of local vendors slinging their best wares, in addition to a range of entertainment on the big stage, like live music and homemade hot sauce, salsa and barbecue sauce competitions. While some of the more entertaining aspects of the festival—like its spicy lollipop challenge and jalapeño eating contest— are for adults only, both kids and pets are welcome to attend (but make sure they don’t eat anything off the ground.) Like always, attendance and parking for this year’s rendition of the I Like it Hot! Fest is free. And if you don’t have the palette to stomach anything spicier than a Hot Cheeto, don’t worry, because there will be tons of food trucks and other vendors to browse, too. 6340 126th Ave N, Largo. @ILikeItHotFestival on Facebook Science of the Cuban Sandwich Whether you’re a sandwich lover, history buff or science nerd, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Art hosts an event that aims to please folks in all three categories. Mosi, stylized “MOSI”, celebrates Tampa’s signature dish at its “Science of the Cuban Sandwich” foodie event next weekend. This nighttime party at the museum features live entertainment, a culinary competition to find out which participating restaurant dishes out the best sammy, raffles, beverage pairings, and a science demonstration that aims to “uncover the secrets behind the perfect Cuban sandwich.” Different scientific principles up for discussion include: the physics of baking bread, the chemistry of sandwich fillings and the biology of taste and flavor. Tickets cost $20 for MOSI members and $25 for non-members; all attendees must be ages 18 & up. While participants for the Cuban sandwich competition have yet to be released, Mosi announced the judges who will determine its winner. The lineup includes Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross, Tampa Bay Times writer Maggie Duffy and radio host Pat Donovan, among others. 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. mosi.org ICYMI

Greenlane The drive-thru salad shop that dishes out “not your average rabbit food”—recently announced that its newest location is headed the corner of 4th St. N and 80th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. The flagship Greenlane opened in South Tampa earlier this year, and according to TBBJ, the health-focused concept has plans for many more shops throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Bar Crawl Nation, one of the county’s largest boozy event planners, hosts its annual “Tacos & Margs” crawl on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. This bar crawl features food and drink specials from a variety of bars and restaurants in downtown St. Pete, alongside live music and raffles. While stiff drinks and casual sombrero-wearing might not be your thing, this bar crawl is attended by thousands of Tampa Bay’s margarita-lovers each year. Tickets range from $24.99-$59.99.

Downtown St. Pete’s Oyster Bar recently closed the doors at its flagship location to make way for a seasonal pop-up bar, but recently announced that it’s moving into Zoie’s former space at 2245 Central Ave., according to ILovetheBurg. While there’s no re-opening date set in stone, Oyster Bar 2.0 is slated to debut sometime this fall.

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