For over 40 years, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has been quietly getting people where they need to go. PSTA buses have connected neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and recreation spots, serving as the backbone of public transportation in the county. But lately, PSTA has been doing something much bigger: completely rethinking how people move around Pinellas County, and how transit can improve quality of life for everyone. The goal: to make public transit not just an alternative, but a true first choice for getting around.

The new Connected Community Bus Network (CCBN) is PSTA’s solution to the changing needs of Pinellas County. This redesigned network responds to the needs of Pinellas County residents and visitors to streamline bus service and make transit more accessible, frequent, and reliable across the county.

Why It Matters

The CCBN isn’t just a few small tweaks. It’s a complete reimagining of how 200+ buses move people across the county. Now they’re faster, more reliable, and more frequent.

Whether you’re a student juggling classes and part-time work, a parent trying to shave $200 off your monthly gas budget, or someone who just doesn’t want to hunt for parking downtown anymore, PSTA’s improvements directly affect your wallet, your schedule, and your quality of life. Enhanced transit service means more independence for seniors, better access to education and jobs for students, and more affordable choices for families. Plus, visitors also benefit with easier access and connections across the county.

What the Changes Mean for You

More frequent service when you need it. Most routes now run seven days a week with consistent schedules, so you can plan your day with confidence. Riders will also benefit from expanded weekend service, so you can get to work, the farmer’s market, or the beach just as easily as during the week. Evening hours have also been extended on many routes, making social outings and late shifts easier to manage.

Timed transfers that actually work. Routes now sync up at select hub locations, so you’re not stuck waiting 45 minutes for a connection. With better-coordinated schedules, you can transfer between buses quickly and reliably. It sounds simple, but it’s the difference between a 90-minute commute and a 60-minute one.

Spark: High-speed connectivity for the growing south burg. This new high-frequency service runs along 34th Street South (US 19), one of the county’s busiest corridors, and is designed to cut travel times and open new opportunities for work, school, and play, especially in communities that previously had limited transit options. Students can now zip to Grand Central Station, where they can connect to other major routes or downtown destinations. Commuters can connect to northern Pinellas with ease. And if you’re heading to downtown St. Pete or the beach, you’ve got smooth transfers to the SunRunner.

On-demand flexibility where you need it. Our new Snapper On-Demand service provides transit for two specials zones in Clearwater and Safety Harbor when YOU need it. It’s like having rideshare service without the rideshare price tag.

Work & Play with PSTA

The CCBN is about giving you access to everything Pinellas has to offer. Whether it’s getting to work, school, the grocery store, community events, or exploring downtown, your transit service should make all of it easier, not harder. With more frequent and reliable buses, it’s now possible to plan last-minute trips. And local businesses benefit from increased foot traffic, and the community enjoys greater mobility and connection.

It’s not about the buses themselves; it’s about the life they unlock. More frequent service means you can make that 6 PM yoga class without leaving work early or take your kids to an after-school program without rushing. Better connectivity means your options multiply: more jobs are reachable, more restaurants are within reach, and more of the county is available for you to explore. For people with disabilities or limited mobility, the new network provides greater independence and confidence to travel the region safely and comfortably.

The Bottom Line

Transit works best when people actually use it. PSTA has clearly listened to what riders need—reliability, frequency, and real connectivity—and delivered. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a retiree seeking new adventures, a student, or someone who’s only ridden the bus once, CCBN makes PSTA worth another look. The new system is designed to grow with Pinellas County, adapting to changing needs and ensuring that public transit remains a resource for everyone in the community.

Check out the new routes and schedules at psta.net/how-to-ride/play. Your next commute (and your wallet) might thank you. 

The post Getting from work to play has never been easier in Pinellas County appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

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On the back of a folded letter fragment, Duncan Grant sketched his friend Vanessa Bell. The small pencil drawing is both intimate and radical: her mask-like features, low bun, and beaded necklace are strikingly modern.

To understand the impact of this portrait, we can begin with the letterhead address on its verso. After the death of their father in 1904, the Stephen sisters Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf moved to 46 Gordon Square, in London’s Bloomsbury district. This house would soon become a hub for the circle of artists, writers, and thinkers whose conversations would shape the course of twentieth-century art and literature.

Over a hundred years later, this drawing serves as a record of the bold experimentation that defined the Bloomsbury Group and highlights a creative dialogue that would shape the look and feel of modern British art. 

From her living room, Bell launched the Friday Club, an exhibiting society that brought young artists together for discussion and critique and played a crucial role in fostering the creative environment of the Bloomsbury Group. It was here, in 1905, that Bell met Duncan Grant, beginning a creative and intimate partnership that would last throughout their lives.

One of the earliest portraits of Bell by Grant, this drawing captures the start of that relationship, years before their romance began in 1913. Drawn directly on the back of one of her many letters from Gordon Square, it captures the energy of those formative years following Roger Fry’s 1910 and 1912 Post-Impressionist exhibitions in London that introduced the British public to French artists like Cézanne, Manet, and Matisse.

Grant’s simplified geometry and decorative linearity anticipate his later, celebrated paintings while the informality of the medium reminds us that modernism was a process of intimate, personal gestures. 

Portrait of a Movement: A New Approach to the Bloomsbury Group at the Rollins Museum of Art situates this drawing within a broader re-examination of the museum’s Bloomsbury collection. Debuting a significant painting by Roger Fry of Vanessa Bell, the exhibition introduces new scholarship by leading Bloomsbury expert Dr. Wendy Hitchmough, offering fresh insights into Bell, Grant, Fry, and their circle.

Newly acquired woodcuts by Roger Fry, hand-printed by Virginia and Leonard Woolf at Hogarth Press, broaden the scope of the collection and emphasize the multidisciplinary modernisms of the group. Visitors can delve deeper into the Bloomsbury Group with archival BBC recordings bringing the actual voices of Bell, Grant, and Leonard Woolf into the gallery. 

A true-to-scale reproduction of Bell and Grant’s Pamela furnishing fabric, collaboratively created for the artist-led design cooperative Omega Workshops, illustrates the visual impact of their modernist work. A bookshelf featuring Vanessa Bell’s published letters allows visitors to read about the Bloomsbury figures in their own words.

As a teaching museum, the Rollins Museum of Art aims not only to exhibit works but also to expand and reinterpret what we know about them. Portrait of a Movement embodies that mission by placing objects in dialogue with both their early twentieth-century contexts and contemporary perspectives. The exhibition underscores the enduring relevance of the Bloomsbury Group, whose challenge to conventions and new ideas about art, sexuality, pacifism, and feminism continues to inspire over a century later. 

Portrait of a Movement: A New Approach to the Bloomsbury Group is on view at the RMA through May 2026. The exhibition was co-curated by Moriah Russo, Curatorial Assistant, and Dr. Gisela Carbonell, Curator. 

As part of the programming for Portrait of a Movement, Dr. Wendy Hitchmough, author of Vanessa Bell: The Life and Art of a Bloomsbury Radical, will present a free, public lecture focused on centering Bell as a key figure in the development of modernism at RMA on Tuesday, November 18 at 6 p.m. Join Moriah Russo for an exhibition tour on November 14 at 11 a.m.

Visit Rollins Museum of Art Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is free.

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THIS FRIDAY – Margarita Wars boasts UNLIMITED margaritas, air-conditioning, and tacos!

If you’re looking for a fun, flavorful night out in Tampa Bay, Margarita Wars, presented by Compass Land & Title, is the event you can’t miss. Imagine unlimited margaritas from over 20 of the best bartenders in town, plus a variety of drinks beyond tequila, including brews from Channelside Brewing and non-alcoholic options. Whether you’re a margarita enthusiast or just love trying new drinks, there’s something for everyone.

But the margaritas aren’t the only draw—FOMO Chefs is serving up a taco spread that’ll blow you away. These aren’t your average tacos; think bold flavors and creative twists that will have you coming back for more.

The festivities don’t stop there. A live mariachi band will set the mood with high-energy, authentic tunes to get everyone in the party spirit, then dance the night away with DJ Tony Platinum. Plus, VIPs get exclusive, handcrafted gifts straight from Mexico—perfect for taking a piece of the event home with you.

Drink responsibly, and check out the Breathalyzer Station by Pearlman Trial Law.

Held at the gorgeous James Museum in downtown St. Pete, Margarita Wars combines delicious food, amazing drinks, and the opportunity to explore beautiful art galleries in a cool, air-conditioned setting. It’s the perfect mix of culture and fun. Rain, heat, humidity, or shine – this indoor fiesta is one you won’t want to miss!

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable night of margaritas, tacos, music, and more! Grab your tickets NOW – they’re going fast – and get ready for the ultimate battle.

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In the heart of West Tampa lies a local coffee shop with a penchant for wellness-driven drinks that “fuel your body and uplift your spirit.”

Astrobrew—located at 1001 N Mac Dill Ave., Suite D—is a functional beverage cafe and bottle shop that specializes in non-alcoholic alternatives like tea, kava, kratom, CBD and THC-infused drinks, mocktails and kombucha, in addition to caffeinated favorites like matcha, lattes and cold brew.

The locally-owned and operated cafe opened out of a former pharmacy a few years ago and has been steadily growing its customer base and beverage offerings since. Whether you’re a student studying for exams, someone looking to spend time with loved ones or a 9-5 worker stopping in for a quick drink, Astrobrew offers a versatile and customizable experience for its wide range of customers.

Astrobrew fills the gap between traditional, daytime cafes that focus on specialty coffee and kava or kratom bars that draw more of a late-night clientele. It fills an often-overlooked niche in the area, and is able to serve both the morning coffee crowd and the late-evening and afternoon patrons looking to wind down from their work day.

Owner Mike Pool alongside business partner Trixie Szilagyi launched the cafe and its accompanying wholesale company in 2022.

“We’re here to provide a space for people to feel comfortable to come and learn about alternative, non-alcoholic beverages. This is a place where you can bring your kids, your grandparents, anyone really,” Szilagyi says. “We’ve been told that we are a ‘third space’ for a lot of our customers—a place that’s not their home or job, but somewhere they can feel comfortable to just hang out and socialize.”

Astrobrew’s owners—who boast backgrounds in marketing and wholesale hemp distribution—also live in the neighborhood and enjoy being able to serve and connect with their community at large.

Astrobrew employees also put a large emphasis on education, since a lot of first-time customers may not have a working knowledge of THC vs. CBD (including the legality of it), functional mushrooms, kava or kratom. They always recommend the proper dosage to help Astrobrew’s clientele achieve the ideal level of relaxation, stimulation or stress relief.

“A lot of our customers are folks looking for alternatives to alcohol, but are still looking to feel sociable and serene. Non-alcoholic options are really taking off and becoming mainstream,” says co-owner Trixie.

Through the 2018 Farm Bill, the U.S. government essentially legalized hemp and the distribution of high-grade Delta-9 THC, as long as it’s less than 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. The infused drinks or gummies that Astrobrew sells are scientifically similar to products seen at medical dispensaries throughout Florida, although they are legally different.

Under Trixie and Mike’s parent company Astrobleme are two offshoots—their in-person cafe Astrobrew and the duo’s wholesale account called Astrobliss, which creates and distributes hemp-infused drinks, gummies and tinctures (which are also available for purchase at the brick and mortar location.)

“When we were originally looking for a name for the company, we asked Siri what her favorite word was, and she responded ‘Astrobleme,’ which is a large crater made by the impact of a meteorite,” Trixie explains. “We decided to run with that, because we’re all about creating products that make a true impact on people’s lives.”

“It’s a word with impact and that’s really what we’re trying to do with our customers, whether it’s a friendly interaction at the cafe or a drink they really like.”

Looking towards the future, the company projects the expansion of the packaged wholesale goods side of the business. One of the company’s most popular products are its AstroBliss THC-infused guava, mango, blueberry and passionfruit lemonades that can be found at retail outlets throughout the Sunshine State and beyond.

While Astrobleme’s products are distributed outside of Florida, West Tampa is home to the only Astrobrew storefront that creates a friendly and comfortable environment to enjoy its products in.

Near perfect customer reviews also praise the cafe and bottle shop’s helpful staff, reasonable prices and relaxed atmosphere.

West Tampa’s Astrobrew is open from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Follow the cafe at @astrobrewco on Instagram or head to its website at astrobrew.co for more information about its wide range of products.

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Get ready for Tampa Bay’s ultimate craft cocktail showdown on February 21, 2025, at FloridaRAMA in St. Pete! Sample unlimited highball cocktails from top mixologists, enjoy bites from celebrity chef Johnathan Rodriguez, groove to live blues, and explore an immersive art experience—all in one unforgettable night. Featuring premium spirits from Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye, Woodford Reserve, Tequila Herradura, Ford’s Gin, Diplomatico Rum, and Chambord Liqueur. VIP tickets include early entry, a VIP gift, and exclusive appetizers!

Tickets are selling fast—grab yours now at HighballTampaBay.com and use code ARTICLE for $5 off!

✨ Proceeds benefit Current Initiatives of Tampa Bay. Cheers! 

The post Who Makes the Best Highball in Tampa Bay? Find Out at Highball 2025! appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

In the heart of Florida, a fitness revolution is sweeping the nation, led by a dynamic duo, Stacey Marks and Kari Schroeter, the co-owners of Fly Dance Fitness. This high-energy dance fitness brand is not just a workout; it’s a lifestyle, a community, and a mental health sanctuary.

From Mom Life to Fitness Life

Like many moms, Stacey and Kari found themselves juggling the demands of motherhood with their own personal goals. “Becoming a mom was a life-changing experience,” Stacey shares. “It inspired me to prioritize my health and fitness. I realized that taking care of myself was essential to being the best mom I could be.”

Kari, ever the energetic COO, echoed her CEO’s sentiments. “I’ve always loved dancing, and I found it to be a great way to relieve stress and have fun. I wanted to share that joy with others and help them feel good about themselves.”

The Birth of Fly Dance Fitness

Inspired by their shared passion for dance and fitness, Stacey and Kari decided to turn their dream into reality. They started by teaching dance fitness classes at Fly Dance Fitness. When word of mouth spread quickly, their classes were quickly packed with women of all ages and fitness levels. The founder then approached Stacey and Kari with an enticing question: Would they be interested in buying the business?

“We were already so passionate about the brand, and we wanted to continue to create a space where women could come together, let loose, and have fun,” Kari explains. “Dance is a universal language, and it has the power to bring people together.”

More Than Just a Workout

Fly Dance Fitness is more than just a physical workout. It’s a mental health oasis. The high-energy music, the upbeat choreography, and the supportive community create a positive and empowering environment.

“Dance is a form of therapy for me,” Stacey says. “It helps me clear my mind, reduce stress, and boost my mood. I wanted to share that feeling with others.”

Kari agrees. “When you’re dancing, you’re not just moving your body; you’re also moving your soul. It’s a powerful experience that can transform your life.”

The Secret to Success

The secret to Fly Dance Fitness’s success lies in its unique approach to fitness. The classes are designed to be fun, challenging, and accessible to everyone. The instructors are passionate and motivating, and they create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable.

“We’re not just teaching dance moves; we’re building a community,” Stacey says. “We want our members to feel like they’re part of a family.”

Soaring to New Heights

As Fly Dance Fitness continues to grow, Stacey and Kari are excited about the future. They have big plans to expand their brand through franchising, offer new classes, and reach more people.

“Our goal is to inspire women to live their best lives,” Kari says. “We want to help them feel strong, confident, and happy.”

With their infectious energy, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to their members, Stacey and Kari are poised to take the fitness world by storm. Fly Dance Fitness is more than just a fitness brand; it’s a movement.

By focusing on fun, community, and mental health, Fly Dance Fitness has tapped into a powerful formula for success. As they continue to soar to new heights, one thing is certain: the future of fitness is female, and it’s dancing to the beat of Fly Dance Fitness.

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Tampa Bay Taco Week is here. For 10 delicious days—April 18-28—close to two dozen Bay area restaurants are offering exclusive specials. Have a look at some of the available deals below, then visit tampabaytacoweek.com for the entire list of participating restaurants!

Tampa Bay Taco Week 2024 is brought to you by Ghost Tequila, Tampa Jet Boat Adventures, and Local Culture Creative.

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