World’s Best Places 2023: Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida, USA downtown city skyline over the Hillsborough River – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by ESB Professional While a cutting-edge, multi-billion dollar landmark development project redefines its downtown, Florida’s city of the moment is anxious to secure a permanent place on travelers’ lists of sunny, accessible getaways deserving of a weekend stay. Phase one

Tampa named ‘Best city to live in Florida’ by Forbes

Ybor Historic District in Tampa, Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: kanphiphat Tampa is ranked first in a new list by Forbes Advisor of the top locations to live in Florida. Tampa was named the best place to live in the Sunshine State, citing “pristine beaches,” positive attractions for families and young adults, and

Famous Florida Christmas tree farm closing after 38 wonderful years in business

Christmas Trees For Sale — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Checubus For over a generation, the Unicorn Hill Christmas Tree Farm has been the catalyst of countless holiday memories in Florida. From six different species of pine, families choose their tree, have it chopped down, and then have it affixed to the roof of their

Circle K gas stations to test out marijuana pop-up shops in Florida in 2023

Night photo of a Circle K gas station – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by: Trygve Finkelsen Beginning sometime in 2023, about 10 Circle K gas stations in Florida will partner with legal cannabis retailer, Green Thumb Industries, on in-store marijuana products. “The ‘RISE Express’ stores will offer patients a selection of branded cannabis products including

The University of South Florida College of Business receives the largest donation in school history

University of South Florida Campus – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Pat Tr BRP Group, Inc., a Tampa-based independent insurance distributor, and the Baldwin family, who founded the company, have donated $5.2 million to the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business School of Risk Management and Insurance. According to the college’s website, “The

Wawa offers free any size hot coffee and fountain drinks for teachers and administration every day in August as part of their “Cheers to Classrooms” campaign in Florida

View of a Wawa coffee – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by EQRoy The Sunshine State will once again host a month-long “Cheers to Classrooms” celebration from August 1 through August 31 thanks to Wawa, Inc. “Cheers to Classrooms” will honor the educators, mentors, and role models that comprise our community’s school staff and administration.  “As

Sun King Brewery arrives in Sarasota, Florida

Sun King Brewery opens in FL – Bartender pouring beer while standing at the bar counter – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Master1305 If you didn’t have any plans for the weekend, you do now! Sun King Brewery, a leading light in the independent craft beer movement, opened up a brand new location on July

Study says the Sunshine State’s $23 billion freelance economy is booming

Freelance Worker Working From Home – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by DimaBerlin A multitude of companies in Tampa Bay are still struggling to find workers. However, one group of Tampa Bay workers is doing just fine: Freelancers. According to a new study from digital freelance marketplace Fiverr, Tampa Bay’s independent freelance workers brought in an

How South Florida may be impacted by Russian sanctions

Vladimir Putin at Russian Conference — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Sasa Dzambic Photography After several weeks of growing tensions, nearly 200,000 Russian troops assembled at Ukraine’s border and began a broad military offensive, with world leaders warning that this series of attacks could lead to one of the biggest conflicts Europe has seen since World War

IKEA buys hurricane-damaged land in Florida to plant forests

IKEA Store — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Graeme Dawes Ingka Group, owner of IKEA furniture stores worldwide, has bought more land in the U.S. as part of a long-term goal and commitment to handle forest management responsibly. Ingka Group will plant seedlings of mainly longleaf pine on the 3,264 acres of land near Florida’s Apalachicola River