Join us for the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s quarterly Donuts & the Download on Downtown! This morning event will highlight what’s happening in Tampa’s Downtown and ways to engage with the Partnership’s programs and initiatives.
Get the download on the benefits of membership, networking opportunities, transportation initiatives, marketing efforts, new developments, public art, crime prevention, beautification efforts, and much more. Complimentary pastries and coffee will be served.
This event is held at the Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown at 400102 E. Cass Street Tampa FL 33602 Description on October 22nd from 8:30am – 9:30am. For more information and to register, click here.
A microcinema is a small theater — in this case, the space will be 1,100-square feet and fit 40 to 50 people.
“A lot of microcinemas have been developed, just like this one, which is in found spaces,” said John Bell, Tampa Theatre President and CEO. “You sort of find a space, drop a theater in and that’s sort of by definition, what a microcinema is.”
Bell’s team has been thinking about this idea for years, he said.
“Over the last 10 years, we’ve been focusing on higher priority items from a preservation standpoint,” Bell said. “Now that we’ve gotten the most urgent needs out of the way, we’re able to turn our attention to this project.”
In 2017, the not-for-profit foundation that manages the theater spent more than $6 million restoring the lobby and repairing water and electrical infrastructure. The original structure was built in 1926.
The new project is expected to cost about $1.3 million. It’s being funded through a matching grant from the Hillsborough County Capital Asset Preservation Program, Bell said.
“The county is providing $650,000 and we are matching it with private gifts and donations,” he said
Construction could begin by spring of next year and the theater could open in early 2021, Bell said.
“We are in the early layout stages with the architects and the design team,” he said.
Kreher/Barna, a local architectural firm, is designing the project. They are working with industry leaders to create a state-of-the-art audio and visual experience.
“Whether or not it meets a THX certification or specific Dolby certification is yet to be determined,” said Bell. “Our marching orders to the design team were ‘go forth and create a great cinema.’”
The theater, unofficially named T2 by Tampa Theatre staff, will bring increased benefits to Tampa’s downtown, Bell said.
“We’re looking forward to putting even more feet on the sidewalks of downtown Tampa and creating an even more vibrant city center,” Bell said.
“Tampa Theatre to build a $1.3 million microcinema” –WUSF
The Cross-Bay Ferry is returning. Starting next month you’ll have another option for getting between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa.
Tickets went on sale Thursday. Tampa leaders also announced a big partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The ferry will run from Wednesdays through Sundays starting November 1. It will mark the Cross-Bay Ferry’s third year.
Organizers expect to carry 60,000 passengers this year compared to the 38,000 in its opening year.
“The other new element of this year’s schedule is that if you are a Lightning fan and live in South Pinellas you’ll be able to take the ferry to every single lightning home game,” said Ed Turanchik is an attorney for HMS Ferries, which operates the ferry. “We found that was an incredibly popular service last year.”
The ferry will cover those home games even if they fall outside operating hours on Mondays or Tuesdays. A regular ticket will run you $8 and there are discounts for children, the elderly, students and military members.
The Cross-Bay Ferry will make its rounds until the end of April.
There are talks about making the ferry a permanent fixture but the earliest that could happen is by 2022.
Under the company’s ‘permanent passenger ferry service plan’ they would also need, “…one-time public investment of $35 million in vessels and ferry terminals to put this great ferry service in place.”
“The Cross-Bay Ferry linking downtown Tampa and St.Petersburg is making its return” – ABC Action News
You may refer to the entire 43-acre property as Armature Works, but there’s far more to The Heights District than the restored historic trolley barn.
Armature Works is an anchor of The Heights; it’s perhaps best known for its foodie options, from Heights Public Market to rooftop cocktail bar M. Bird to full-service restaurants Steelbach and Oak & Ola. It opened in early 2018, around the same time as The Pearl, a 314-unit apartment building within The Heights.
But the construction currently underway, coupled with what’s to come, show the true vision for The Heights: An urban mixed-use district on downtown Tampa waterfront.
Heights Union is under construction on the block south of West Palm Avenue, north of West Oak Avenue and between North Highland Avenue and North Tampa Street. It’s already won two of the city’s biggest office deals in recent years: A 50,000-square-foot lease with WeWork and a 75,000-square-foot lease with AxoGen Inc.
This week, developers of The Heights announced the next phase of the project: A 25-story mixed-use tower that includes 153 hotel rooms under Marriott International Inc.’s Moxy flag as well as apartments and 5,000 square feet of retail space. A 1,500-space parking garage, with 9,000 square feet of retail space, will be built next to the tower.
Construction is slated to begin in early 2020, with the hotel opening in 2022.
“Over the past few years, I’ve been watching the evolution of the up and coming Tampa Heights District as it becomes a trendy place to work, live and play,” Tim Sponsler, vice president of Marriott Lodging Development for Florida, said in a statement. “The development of Armature Works it a great example of the edgy vibe of the neighborhood and their development of the Moxy Hotel will have synergy with the overall vibrant lifestyle experience of The Heights District.”
“The Heights’ New Mixed-use Tower Will Join a Burgeoning Urban District in Downtown Tampa” – Tampa Bay Business Journal (subscription required)
Your Downtown Calendar
The following is just a sample of upcoming events in Downtown Tampa. Visit the Downtown Tampa Events Calendar for a more comprehensive list!
Fourth Friday
Friday, October 25, 4pm to 10pm
Downtown Tampa and Ybor City
When the sun goes down, the streets of Tampa and Ybor will light up with music, laughter, art, friends and FREE fun. This evening of special offerings and programs by cultural venues, restaurants, and more takes place on the fourth Friday of every month! For more information, go to Fourth Friday.
Haunted Wharf
Saturday, October 26, begins 7pm
Sparkman Wharf
Enjoy an evening of other-worldly spectacles at the first annual Haunted Wharf at Sparkman Wharf, presented by Water Street Tampa. Guests will be engulfed by dance performances, ghostly libations, and a spellbinding soundtrack all night from nationally-known DJ Valida. The Haunted Wharf promises an unparalleled Halloween experience. For more information, go to Haunted Wharf.
This Week at Amalie Arena
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Wednesday, October 23, begins 8pm
Post Malone – Thursday, October 24, begins 8pm
The Chainsmokers – Friday, October 25, begins 7pm
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators – Saturday, October 26, begins 7pm
Taking the Stage at the Straz Center
Spymonkey’s Hysteria – Through Sunday, November 3
Gretchen Peters – Monday, October 21, begins 7:30pm
Aaron Tippin – Tuesday, October 22, begins 7:30pm
The Thanksgiving Play – Wednesday, October 23 to Sunday, November 17
Opera Tampa Singers in The Witching Hour – Friday, October 25, 7pm and 8:15pm
Diavolo Dance Theatre: Architecture in Motion® – Friday, October 25, begins 7:30pm
The Florida Orchestra – Latin Pops – Friday, October 25, begins 8pm
Silly Sam The Music Man – Saturday, October 26, begins 11am
The United States Air Force Concert Band & Singing Sergeants – Saturday, October 26, begins 7pm
The Florida Orchestra – One Giant Leap – Sunday, October 27, begins 1pm
Telugu Association of Florida Tampa Bay presents Florida Cine Utsavalu – Sunday, October 27, begins 5:30pm
On the Marquee at Tampa Theatre
Ghosts of Tampa Theatre Tour – Through Thursday, October 31
Us (2019) – Monday, October 21, 6pm to 8pm The Dead Don’t Die (2019) – Monday, October 21, 9pm to 10:45pm SE7EN (1995) – Tuesday, October 22, 6pm to 8:15pm
Zodiac (2007) – Tuesday, October 22, 9:15pm to Midnight Troll 2 (1990) – Wednesday, October 23, 7:30pm to 9:15pm
Best Worst Movie (2009) – Wednesday, October 23, 9:30pm to 11pm
Psycho (1960) – Thursday, October 24, 7pm to 9pm The Brood (1979) – Thursday, October 24, 9:45pm to 11:15pm
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) – Friday, October 25, 7pm to 9:15pm
PHANTASMAGORIA X – “Reckoning” – Saturday, October 26, begins 7pm
Goosebumps (2015) – Sunday, October 27, 11:30am to 1:15pm
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) – Sunday, October 27, 3pm to 5pm
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) – Sunday, October 27, 6pm to 7:45pm
Monday Morning Memo –Monday Morning Memo is a weekly update of “insider downtown information” regarding developments, transportation, special opportunities and other useful information to help you make the most of downtown. Subscribe to receive this weekly newsletter.
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