🌱 Asian Street Food Friday Night Market + Seaweed Bloom Impacts Gulf

Morning, neighbors! I'm back with your new copy of the Tampa Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in the community today. In today's issue of the newsletter, we have these stories and more...

• The Gasparilla International Film Festival is returning to Tampa later this month.
• Tampa Family Health Centers is launching free safe sleep classes for parents.
• A new Asian street food night market is happening weekly in St. Petersburg across the bridge.

But first, today's weather: Sun through high clouds. High: 74 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. The Gasparilla International Film Festival is returning to Tampa from March 23 to March 26. Celebrities attending include "Fast & Furious" actor Sung Kang, supporting his own film called "Shaky Shivers" as well as Tampa natives Patrick and Paul Wilson. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Tampa Bay Date Guide)
2. Tampa Family Health Centers is launching free safe sleep classes to help educate parents on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Those who complete the class will receive free pack ’n play and educational materials. The CDC says there are about 3,500 sleep-related infant deaths every year and doctors say the number is rising. (ABC Action News)
3. Robin Lockett and Sonja P. Brookins have made history as two Black women advancing in Tampa City Council runoffs coming April 25. Black candidates have historically struggled to win citywide elections in Tampa despite the city being 22 percent Black, according to census data. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Florida Politics)
4. St. Petersburg's Lao community has started a new weekly Friday night street food market. Guests can enjoy a variety of food from Southeast Asia including Filipino and Thai eats every Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the headquarters of Lao Arts & Cultural Foundation. Local favorites from other markets are participating. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
5. A 5,000-mile-wide seaweed bloom called the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt" is heading to Florida's Gulf Coast and could impact the beaches in the area by late spring, according to multiple news reports. It is twice the size of the mainland United States and visible from space. (Miami Patch, WFLA)

Today in Tampa:

• Taco Tuesday at Mastry's Brewing Co. (all day)
• 13th Annual Tampa Baseball Clinic at Police Athletic League. (9 a.m.)
• Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Atlanta Braves at Clearwater Threshers. (1:05 p.m.)
• Pi Day at Glazer Children's Museum. (3:14 p.m.)
• New York Yankees Vs. Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. (6:35 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Theatre shared: "A big congratulations to Ke Huy Quan for winning Actor in a Supporting Role and Jamie Lee Curtis for winning Actress in a Supporting Role! We’re honored to have shown this film at the Tampa Theatre! 🏆🍿" (Tampa Theatre via Facebook)
• I-275 near Ashley Drive in Tampa was shut down early Monday morning due to a crash at 2:40 a.m. Drivers suffered minor injuries from the crash. A Freightliner tractor-trailer hit the median on the highway. (Tampa Patch)
• Choral Artists of Sarasota has been invited by Historic Programs to be the principal choral ensemble for the 80th D-Day anniversary commemorations in France in June 2024. The military ceremony honors the heroes of World War II. The group will also perform at Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy and at L’église de la Madeleine in Paris. (Tampa Bay Newswire)
• GTwo Pizzeria in Palmetto will host its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 4. Guests can meet the owners and enjoy samples of pizza as well as a giveaway. (Tampa Bay Newswire)
• The "Mean Girls" musical is coming to Sarasota next month at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall from April 11 to April 16. Tickets are available now online, over the phone, and in-person and start at $47. (WFLA)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Patch newsletter? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com