The Joe Perry Project – Live in Tampa

📅 Wednesday | August 13, 2025 | 8:00 PM
📍Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610

🎤 Rock Legends, One Stage

This August, Tampa turns into a rock ‘n’ roll epicenter when The Joe Perry Project storms into the Seminole Hard Rock. You’re not just getting Joe Perry—you’re getting an all-star lineup featuring Brad Whitford and Buck Johnson of Aerosmith, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, plus Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots.

Imagine the riffs of “Walk This Way,” the grit of “She Talks to Angels,” and the punch of STP classics all rolled into one powerhouse setlist. The air will hum with nostalgia, but the energy will be pure, electric now.

With so many iconic voices and guitars in one room, this isn’t just a concert—it’s a hall-of-fame jam session you’ll tell stories about for years. The kind of night where you leave hoarse from singing and grinning from ear to ear.

Live Music Saturdays at Yuengling Draft Haus

📅 Saturday | August 16, 2025 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Location: Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen

11109 N. 30th St, Tampa, FL 33612

🍻 Where the Week Winds Down and the Music Turns Up

As Saturday evening rolls in, Yuengling Draft Haus transforms into a lively hub of great tunes, cold beer, and good company. The air will be filled with the sound of local musicians, setting the perfect tone for a night that’s equal parts laid-back and electric.

The stage isn’t the only place serving up flavor—crispy wings, juicy burgers, and Yuengling’s iconic brews will keep you fueled between songs. Each sip and bite pairs perfectly with the warm summer air and the pulse of live music.

Soul de Cuba Café: Tampa’s Secret Culinary Delight

📍 Location: 6428 N Florida Ave, Tampa

🎎 Where Michelin Precision Meets Underground Glamour

This summer, Soul de Cuba Café will invite you to step into a space where Tampa’s Latin soul is alive in every bite. Born from the vision of Jesus Puerto in the early 2000s, the café carries the heartbeat of Historic Ybor City straight into Seminole Heights, blending Afro-Cuban traditions with the warmth of a neighborhood favorite.

From the rich, spiced layers of their Devil Crab to the golden, pressed perfection of the Cuban sandwich, every dish tells a piece of Puerto’s heritage. Even the crab shalah—a nod to coastal comfort—is plated with pride, pairing old-world flavors with Tampa’s own culinary rhythm.

Inside, the décor whispers the story of Cuban history and artistry—framed photos, rustic textures, and cultural touches that make you feel like you’re part of a family gathering. Here, dining is as much about connection as it is about the food.

813 Day Bash – Celebrate Tampa Bay Pride

📅 Wednesday | August 13, 2025 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center, 201 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

🏙️ Tampa Bay’s Day to Shine

On 8/13, the city’s namesake area code transforms into a celebration of all things Tampa Bay. Downtown will buzz with community pride as locals, visitors, and businesses gather at the Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center for a midday party that’s equal parts fun and flavorful.

From the moment you step in, expect giveaways, ticket raffles, and samples from favorite local restaurants filling the air with irresistible aromas. Sports fans can snap photos with beloved mascots, and the first 20 guests at the Visit Tampa Bay table will score a FREE 813 T-shirt—perfect for showing off your hometown spirit.

Strike a pose at the 813 Day photo backdrop, cheer on surprise appearances, and mingle with fellow fans of the Bay. With so many treats, sights, and smiles in one place, this is the lunch break you’ll talk about all week.

Tampa Sip & Paint – Date Night Sunset

📅 Wednesday | August 13, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Flippers Pizzeria, 201 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33069

🌅 Paint, Sip & Share the Sunset

Under the warm glow of a Florida evening, you and your favorite person (or a new friend you meet there) will bring a romantic two-canvas sunset to life. No brushes collecting dust in your closet? No problem—everything’s provided, from the paints to the palette.

Flippers Pizzeria will be serving their famous pies and drinks to keep your creative energy fueled. Whether you come for the date night, the pizza, or the pure joy of painting, the evening promises plenty of laughter and a colorful keepsake to take home.

1. All skill levels welcome – step-by-step guidance from the artist.

2. Perfect for couples, friends, or solo creatives looking for a fun midweek escape.

3. Leave with a masterpiece (and maybe pizza leftovers).

🌊 Fresh Finds by the Bay: Water Street Sunday Market

📅 Sunday | August 17, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602

🎶 A Morning Where Tampa’s Waterfront Comes Alive

On the third Sunday of August, Water Street will transform into a vibrant open-air marketplace, brimming with energy, music, and the irresistible scent of fresh flavors in the air. Strolling along this bustling stretch, you’ll be surrounded by the city’s best makers and producers, each table a story of local pride—from artisan breads to hand-poured candles, fresh-cut flowers to creative home décor. The hum of conversation mingles with the melody of live music, making the market feel less like a shopping trip and more like a Sunday celebration of community.

Expect to be met with over 70 local producers and makers showcasing everything from seasonal produce to handmade jewelry. Food trucks will line the street offering ready-to-enjoy bites, making it easy to pause your browsing for a flavorful detour. Whether you arrive with a shopping list or just curiosity, every turn offers a surprise—perfect for sparking new recipes, refreshing your pantry, or finding that unexpected gift.

Stroll, Savor & Shop: Fresh Market at Wiregrass

📅 Saturday | August 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location:  28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

🌞 A Saturday Morning Made for Wandering

On this August morning, the heart of Wesley Chapel will come alive as Paseo Drive transforms into a colorful, bustling marketplace. The Fresh Market at Wiregrass is more than a shopping stop—it’s an experience that invites you to slow down, breathe in the scent of fresh herbs and baked bread, and enjoy the hum of community life under the summer sun. With music filling the air and friendly faces at every turn, it’s a reminder that the weekend is for savoring.

You’ll find an abundant mix of seasonal farmers with just-picked produce, blooming plants for your garden, hand-poured candles, artisan foods, and baked treats that are impossible to resist. Ready-to-eat lunch bites mean you can pause mid-stroll for a flavorful pick-me-up, while hand-crafted items and bath & body products offer perfect gifts or little luxuries to take home.

Port Tampa Bay: From Barren Edge To Waterfront Catalyst?

For years, the northeast edge of downtown—Port Tampa Bay (PTB) along Channelside Drive and the Ybor Channel—has felt like a gap in Tampa’s otherwise surging waterfront. Much of it remains closed off and visually inert—an underused stretch many locals describe as barren—despite sitting between Water Street, Sparkman Wharf, and Ybor’s next wave. That may be about to change.

What’s Happening: Meetings, Plans, and What’s Been Done (vs. Not Done)

• A decision point in ~2 weeks. PTB’s next public Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the Joseph Garcia International Center (1101 Channelside Dr.). Agendas post roughly six days prior via the BoardBook portal—worth watching for any waterfront-access or marina items.

• The earlier “decade plan” for Channelside (2015). Before Water Street took off, PTB unveiled a 45-acre Channel District vision calling for ~9M sq ft of mixed-use and ~$1.5B in private investment—including a marina and a larger cruise terminal—over the next 10 years or so. Some elements advanced citywide, but the port-owned parcels did not see the full mixed-use buildout envisioned. In 2023, coverage noted PTB veering away from the 2015 renderings (which even depicted super-tall towers), signaling a more cautious real estate approach on active port lands.

• Vision 2030 (released 2016) and the marine-first focus. This prioritized marine terminals, cargo capacity, and supporting infrastructure—a roadmap the port has largely followed since.

• • Big Bend Channel deepening/widening (completed 2019, a year early)—key to larger ships and industrial growth at Port Redwing.

  • Cruise terminal upgrades (Terminals 2/3/6 phasing and CBP areas), plus design kick-off for a 4th cruise terminal approved in June 2024 as cruise volumes tightened capacity.

  • Container footprint expansion—paved storage growing toward ~100 acres, additional deep-water berth and cranes. Port Tampa Baystories.opengov.com

    What’s been delivered since then (high level):

• What hasn’t materialized (public-facing waterfront):

  • No public marina or boat-up restaurant on the PTB stretch; the waterfront behind Cruise Terminal 2 remains closed to the public when not in cruise use. PTB and the USCG (U.S. Coast Guard) have repeatedly flagged security constraints; the city/port have studied extending the Riverwalk through this area, but access remains unresolved.

Market Implications: Why Waterfront Access (and a Marina) Would Be a Big Deal

• Filling the missing link. Today, the port-side waterfront between Sparkman Wharf and the Aquarium is largely inaccessible and inactive to everyday residents. A public marina (even limited, transient slips) would open boat access to a part of downtown that simply doesn’t have it—turning a fenced, eyesore stretch into a living edge that connects dining, entertainment, and Ybor-bound development. Prior official concepts did include a marina; getting it back on the table would be transformative.

• Boater-driven foot traffic = real estate tailwinds. Boat-up access and dockage typically extend dwell time and raise spend at adjacent retail and food concepts. This kind of activation can lift condo and apartment demand within a short walk of the slips (think: premium for balconies/views, short-term executive rentals, and mixed-use retail that thrives on weekend boaters). While PTB is cargo- and cruise-first, even a managed, security-compliant window of public dock use could change the vibe—and the comps—along Channelside.

• Waterfront dining—currently a gap right here. There is no true boat-up restaurant on this specific PTB frontage. Allowing controlled transient dockage would unlock restaurant viability and create an experience that currently requires going elsewhere along the bay or to the Convention Center marina zone. For buyers and sellers, that translates into amenity-driven price support; for investors/owners, a clearer path to retail lease-up and hospitality concepts that feed off boat traffic.

• Security is solvable—but it drives timeline risk. Any public access will need USCG-compatible security protocols (restricted times, screening during cruise ops, or removable barriers). That doesn’t kill the idea; it just means designing access around cruise schedules, which PTB and the city have been openly exploring. Expect phased pilots or limited hours to be the first step, not full-time access on day one.

• Signal value near-term: the meeting. With a Board meeting on Aug 19, 2025, this is a near-term catalyst to watch. Agenda postings about waterfront access, Riverwalk extension, or marina feasibility would immediately reframe expectations for the area—and could shift listing and offer strategies for properties within a few blocks.

• Context matters: adjacent megaprojects are converging. Ybor Harbor (private) is advancing a 33-acre waterfront district with residential, hotel, office, retail—and an explicit intent to attract recreational vessels and even super-yachts. If PTB also opens a sliver of boat access next door, the combined gravity could reshape the entire east-downtown shoreline.

How to Read This

• Baseline: The “June 2025” column provides a factual snapshot of current market conditions in the Channel District residential area.

• Projections: Based on U.S. studies of waterfront redevelopment value uplift (10–20%), the “Projected Post-Expansion” figures estimate how home values might react once the Port Tampa Bay revitalization—including marina, public access, and mixed-use activation—is complete.

My Take: Where the Smart Money Moves Next

For Buyers

• Short-Term Pricing Advantage:
  Current median sale prices in the Channel District sit at $527,500, which is down roughly 0.1% YoY. This is a modest dip, but it signals a rare pre-development lull in an otherwise high-demand submarket. Historically, prices in comparable urban waterfront projects (like Miami’s Miami River and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor) rose 15–25% within two years of similar marina and amenity buildouts. The window to secure waterfront property here before physical transformation begins is closing.

• Immediate Equity Potential:
  If projections hold, median sale prices could climb to $632,000 within 2–3 years post-expansion—a $104,500 gain at today’s prices. That’s before factoring in potential custom renovations or unit upgrades that could push values even higher in a post-marina market.

• Lifestyle ROI:
  Beyond the numbers, this expansion unlocks first-ever public boat access for this stretch of downtown. Imagine being able to dock a boat minutes from your front door, walk to a waterfront restaurant, or entertain guests with a sunset cruise—these lifestyle amenities drive emotional buying decisions, which historically boost resale premiums.

For Sellers

• Leverage the Vision in Your Marketing:
  Even without the marina complete, the story of what’s coming can be a major selling point. Buyers who are familiar with waterfront transformation projects elsewhere understand the appreciation potential and are often willing to pay early for future positioning.

• Hold vs. Sell Analysis:
  Selling now means capturing today’s market without the uncertainty of waiting, but holding until completion could align your listing with a surge in demand once amenities are open and operational. For a 1,200 sq. ft. condo, that PPSF growth from $437 to a projected $525 equates to a potential $105,600 price difference in just a few years.

• Comparative Advantage Messaging:
  Highlight that Harbour Island and other developed waterfront districts command significantly higher prices per square foot. The gap between the Channel District and those mature markets could narrow quickly post-expansion, providing built-in upside for the next owner.

For Investors

• Waterfront Redevelopment Proven Returns:
  U.S. urban waterfront redevelopments almost universally show sustained value growth. In Boston’s Seaport, PPSF rose 28% in the first 3 years after a marina and mixed-use buildout. In Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, it was 21% over 4 years. The Port Tampa Bay Expansion could create a similar trajectory, especially given Tampa’s existing population and tourism growth.

• Rental Yield Optimization:
  Once the marina and waterfront dining open, the Channel District could see a sharp rise in short-term rental rates. Properties with direct marina views and walkable access to new amenities could outperform standard market rents by 15–20% in peak season.

• Defensive Asset Class:
  Prime waterfront near high-traffic destinations tends to be less volatile during economic downturns. Even in slower markets, the scarcity factor (limited waterfront inventory) helps retain value and rental demand.

For All

• From Barren to Bustling:
  What’s now an underutilized, barren stretch of waterfront will soon transform into an active public space, redefining the Channel District’s identity. Such transformations have a compounding effect—drawing in new residents, visitors, and businesses, which in turn boosts real estate performance.

• Game-Changing Boat Access:
  This expansion eliminates a decades-old limitation: no public marina or boat access in this part of downtown. That change alone will permanently alter the buyer profile—attracting a mix of boaters, lifestyle buyers, and luxury-seeking professionals.

• Ripple Effect on Amenities:
  With a marina, the opportunity for waterfront dining, boutique retail, and event spaces increases dramatically. These are amenities that not only attract residents but also sustain higher property values over time because they create a “destination effect” for the neighborhood.

• Positioning Ahead of the Curve:
  Those who buy, hold, or invest before the first phase is completed will likely benefit from a dual wave of value appreciation: the anticipation phase (when construction begins and media coverage spikes) and the completion phase (when amenities officially open).

Final Thoughts: The Waterfront’s Next Big Bet

The Port of Tampa’s potential transformation from a barren industrial stretch into a vibrant waterfront district is more than just a facelift — it’s a once-in-a-generation market shift. If the upcoming development meeting delivers even part of what’s being discussed — a public marina, waterfront dining, and enhanced public access — this area could see a rapid rise in both desirability and value.

For Tampa Bay, it’s a chance to connect a missing piece of downtown’s puzzle, unlocking an entirely new layer of lifestyle appeal that attracts residents, visitors, and investors alike. For those already in the market — or thinking about entering — the message is clear: follow the approvals, watch the construction timelines, and position yourself before the first boat docks.

History in Tampa’s urban core has shown us that early movers reap the biggest rewards. With rental yields already outperforming the national average and a projected 10–20% value boost tied to waterfront access, the Port of Tampa could be the next headline success story in the region’s real estate growth.