So we’re here again, on the cusp of summer. Which means it’s time for CL’s annual Summer Guide.
We’ve done the themes. We’ve done the photo essays. We’ve done the ways to waste the season inside, the ways to get out of town, the ways to keep cool, to binge-watch, to have a cold drink and watch a hot band.
This year, we’re flying in the face of one of our most popular topics — namely, staying out of the heat, as if such a thing is possible in Tampa Bay during the summer months — and just inviting everyone to get out there, brave the blaze, and enjoy what the community has to offer in terms of seasonal fun.
Consider yourself a diehard local? We’ve got a list of the spots in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties (and slightly beyond) you really should experience in order to claim your card. Been a while since you braved the crowds at some of the Bay area’s more well-known, and often unjustly passed-over, tourist destinations? Here are a few of the ones that are definitely worth the effort. Just looking for a place you can grab a beverage in your swimsuit? We’ve got you covered there, too.
And, of course, our eminently knowledgeable critics are here to tell you what’s coming down the pike as far as live music and new food and drink spots, too.
There’s so much here in Tampa Bay. Get out in it and see some of the things you may have taken for granted, or just may not have known about. Maybe you’ll find something new to love in your community, or fall in love again with an old favorite. That’s gotta be worth a little sweat and sun, right?
—Scott Harrell
