The Bay Blend

What a weekend it's about to be in the Tampa Bay area! We have the Strawberry Festival, a Sausage Festival, Monster Jam, and more. And Malaika Hollist and Sky are going to talk about it all. And before that – the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Fac...

This week on the local music roundup, we do a free-only edition, meaning places you don’t have to spend a penny to listen to some good music. Warren Buchholz and Sky will give you the lay of the land this weekend, plus we have some other events in the Tampa Bay area to check out today. Most of them are free, too. First up – the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www...

Grand Theft Auto 6 is probably, maybe coming out this year. And a local movie director made a short film about the things you do in the game, and violence that’s portrayed in it. It was entirely shot here in the Tampa area. We sat down to talk about his message in the film, and you’ll hear that, plus some events going on in the Tampa Bay area over the next couple days that should be a lot of fun,...

Sea turtles are pretty much born in a war zone. They hatch and immediately need to make it to the water. And because of this cold weather lately, some of them have actually been freezing in the water and floating back to shore. We’ll talk more about this issue for the baby turtles, plus some fun events to check out in the Tampa Bay area this week, including a watch party honoring an actress who ju...

If you want to know how the Tampa Bay region is doing economically, you’re in luck. Last week there was a State of the Region event with local leaders and business professionals talking about exactly that, and we’ll fill you in. Plus, I have some really quirky things to check out in the Tampa Bay area over the next couple days. Let’s get to the news first. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbache...

It’s event roundup time with Malaika Hollist! We’re talking seafood, strawberries, and an Ybor Fiesta. Before we get to that though, let's tell you the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.i...

We got some local concerts and shows you can head to this weekend on the cheap. Warren Buchholz and Sky got you covered with a solid range of sounds for your earholes. But first, the news - including some intense lobbying at the Florida Capitol by some penguins from the Florida Aquarium in Tampa.  The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsl...

A new USF sport officially starts this week, and I got to talk to the team before their first matches. We’ll check them out together, and then I’ll tell you about some events in the Tampa Bay area this week, including a pro wrestling smackdown in a brewery! But before we get to that – here’s the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily n...

The state legislature is still figuring out a way to cut property taxes for homeowners. You’re going to hear from an expert on what that could look like for local governments, and if it’ll actually help people save money. That, plus some events for Fat Tuesday tonight you can check out. But first – the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our...

The plan to build a new port next to the Sunshine Skyway to bring in bigger cruise ships has been a contentious idea at the very least. You’ll hear from a man who says it would have devastating impacts to his oyster business. Plus, we have some events for you to make the beginning of your week in the Tampa Bay area a fun time. But first, the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Websit...

Polk County officials pumped the brakes on a plan to put a truck refueling stop near a wildlife corridor that's underway. Plus, abortion rights activists rallied outside the state Capitol yesterday. You'll hear about that, plus some events putting love in the air this Valentine's weekend across the Tampa Bay region.  The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up...

This Saturday is Valentines Day, and we have some local shows that’ll help you feel the love, whether that’s Jazz, K-pop, or something in between. Warren Buchholz and I got ya covered. Plus, a Whataburger is now in the Tampa Bay area! We'll talk about that. But first, the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.w...

Environmentalists and immigration advocates have been speaking out against the immigration detention center in the Everglades dubbed Alligator Alcatraz since it was created last year. But did you know that same piece of the everglades has been in contention for decades? WUSF just produced a whole documentary about it, and you’ll hear about it, plus some events to check out in the Tampa Bay area to...

A new potential law in Florida would allow you to build a granny flat, kind of like a mother-in-law suite, on properties in the state with single-family homes. That's not how it works right now in the state.  We’ll talk about the chances of that becoming the official law of the land, plus some lovely events to check out in the Tampa Bay area, including cat acrobatics, right up my alley! But first...

There’s still a proposal to transfer USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida. But how does the money side of it work? Can New College survive taking on this much debt? We’ll hear from an expert, plus some events to check out this week in the Tampa Bay area. But let’s hit the news first. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily...

It’s finally the weekend, and there’s a ton to do in the Tampa Bay area if you’re looking for fun. Malaika Hollist and Sky will give you some options and share a bit of Black Tampa history with you. But first, let’s talk the day’s news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on...

We have some really, really solid sounding concerts you can check out this weekend that’ll amp it up. Warren Buchholz and Sky will break it down for you. But first up – the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Ins...

The Death Metal music scene started right here in the Tampa area, and there’s going to be a showcase of that history at Magnanimous Brewing this weekend. Sky sat down with two people running the event, who could be considered Death Metal historians. You’ll hear that, plus some other events to check out in the region this week. But first, the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Websit...

A new law proposal in Florida would make every public school required to have portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln hung up somewhere easy to find. We’re talking that, plus some events in the Tampa Bay area where you can spend some quality time over the next few days. But first – here’s the news.  The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for ou...

We’re already a month into 2026. Wild. Anyways, former phosphate mine land in Hillsborough County is the latest property that one developer wants to turn into more than 1,000 homes. But residents and environmentalists have concerns about what would happen if people lived on the former toxic site. We’ll talk that, plus some events to check out in the Tampa Bay area this week. Let’s hit the news hea...

Ahoy! On today’s local event roundup, we’re going over Gasparilla, yes, but we also have some events that you can check out this weekend if you’re not interested in pirate tomfoolery at all. You’ll get that, but first – the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social...

This weekend is Gasparilla of course, but that’s not the only thing going on. Warren Buchholz and Sky will talk about the local music you can check out this weekend, including a Spongebob Musical! Are you ready kids? First though, let’s hit the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newslette...

Gasparilla is the time to dress like a pirate, act a fool, and party with your friends. But how did it come to be what it is today? We’ll take a peek inside a new exhibit that looks at that history. Plus, some events going on tonight, including a Gasparilla themed happy hour and a Tom Petty Tribute concert. But first, the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf....

The Tampa Bay Lightning is playing its first ever outdoor home hockey game this weekend at Raymond James Stadium. But how do you keep that ice from melting in the Florida sun? We’ve got answers, plus some events to check out in the Tampa Area this week. But first, let’s hit the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https:/...

Did you know that landfills generate a bunch of bad gases for the atmosphere? Well, Hillsborough County is trying to turn that bad gas into helpful gas that makes them money. More on that, plus the events to check out this week in the Tampa Bay area. But first, of course, the news. The Bay Blend is sponsored by Seitenbacher. Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://w...