Gabrielle Lazor

TAMPA — At first glance, Busch Gardens’ latest thrill ride Phoenix Rising appears daunting. With a 1,831-foot track that brings riders to the brink of flipping upside down on an over-banked curve, it reaches an 80-foot maximum height before launching into a series of twists and turns.The theme park’s 10th coaster, which opens to the public on July 21, mimics the sensation of the legendary phoenix taking flight, complete with echoing “caws” during the experience that lasts one minute and 26 secon…

The global internet outage Friday that originated from a faulty software update caused a slew of disruptions in the Tampa Bay area, including hundreds of canceled and delayed flights, restaurants having to accept only cash and information technology workers scrambling to get computer systems on track.Much of the region had recovered from service delays by the afternoon. The local airports were largely the most affected businesses in the area as thousands of passengers waited for flights they hop…

The beloved 13-year-old bat dog retrieved her final baseball bat at Friday’s game against the Fort Myers Mighty Muscles.

The Tampa Bay Times won 17 awards on Thursday from the Florida Society of News Editors, including one for the most distinguished journalist in the state.The Times won a coveted gold medal recognizing two separate efforts — the newsroom’s hurricane coverage and an investigative series on the dangers of kratom.Enterprise reporter Lauren Peace won the Paul Hansell Award for Distinguished Achievement in Florida Journalism for her work in 2023. The award comes with a $1,000 check.It was the most wins…

Thank goodness Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott took the stage on Wednesday at Amalie Arena — dripping in Swarovski crystals, looking supa dupa fly — because any local will tell you Tampa Bay isn’t built for someone who can’t stand the rain ’gainst her window.The rap icon’s Out of This World tour finally landed at Amalie Arena after she postponed the tour to care for her elderly dog. Elliott assembled a stellar opening lineup of collaborators, including Timbaland, Ciara and Busta Rhymes. After nearly…

A trio of artists and poets have taken to the south alley from 20th to 28th streets on Central Avenue with a staple gun, posting upwards of 60 posters on telephone poles.

Seafaring advertisers set out along the Gulf Coast for nine hours a day, rain or shine.

After a summer covering Tampa Bay’s life and culture, our Tampa Bay Times intern proposes new nicknames for the area inspired by her wild experiences.

The rising cost of goods and labor is driving Tampa Bay restaurants to implement mandatory fees on diners’ bills, and it’s not always clear where the money goes.

From wildlife and treats to essential places to visit, we’ve rounded up the things every Gulf Coast native needs to know.