🌱 Howard Frankland Bridge Closure Tonight + Tom Brady Sand Nets $99K

Hi all. Happy Monday! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Tampa Patch newsletter — here to explain everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days. Including news about:

• Several Tampa restaurant made the list on OpenTable's most romantic restaurants in the U.S.A.
• Howard Frankland Bridge's southbound lanes on I-275 will close tonight through Tuesday at 5 a.m.
• Sand collected from where NFL Superstar Tom Brady announced his retirement has reached over $99,000 at auction on eBay.

But first, today's weather:

Pleasant with plenty of sun. High: 78 Low: 55.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. OpenTable has released a list of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants In America for 2023. Several restaurants in Tampa made the list including Ocean Prime, Sacred Pepper, Charley's Steak House, and Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. OpenTable recommends making Valentine's Day reservations as soon as possible. (Florida Patch)
2. All southbound lanes of I-275 on Howard Frankland Bridge will close tonight starting at 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Drivers should plan for extra travel time due to work on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Drivers will need to use the Courtney Campbell Causeway and Gandy Bridge instead. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: Bay News 9)
3. Online bids for bottled sand allegedly from where former Super Bowl champion and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL has drawn over $99,000 from bidders on eBay. Fake accounts claiming they were selling the same sand flooded the website after the initial page gained online buzz and made national headlines. (The Daily Mail)
4. One person was shot and killed Saturday night at DeSoto County Fair, according to a Facebook post from officials. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact authorities at 863-494-2222. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim's family and all others involved from the incident last night at the DeSoto County Fair," the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook. (WTSP)
5. An investigation is underway after a shooter killed one person and injured one person in Tampa before carjacking their vehicle on Saturday, according to authorities. The incident happened at the Shell gas station located on 6605 East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. The shooter and victim are recent acquaintances, according to Sheriff Chad Chronister. (WFLA)

Today in Tampa:

• Figure Drawing at Tampa Museum Of Art. (10 a.m.)
• Maker Mondays at Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. (2 p.m.)
• All You Can Eat Pizza Skate at Skate World Tampa. (5:30 p.m.)
• Mayweather Boxing HIIT Class at Armature Works. (6 p.m.)
• Lotus Lounge Feat. Jamison Ross at 7th + Grove. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Midtown Tampa shared: "Join us on Feb. 16 for Breathe, Meditate & Journal with Nora Virginia. A live mindfulness class designed to help you unplug from the outside world to reconnect back to your highest self." (Midtown Tampa via Facebook)
• Tampa's Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival will return on Feb. 18 at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. The event will over 100 types of drinks as well as barbeque to enjoy for guests. Tickets are now available, although VIP is already sold out. (That's So Tampa)
• Ruby's Elixir is launching its Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Feb. 7 and will feature Tampa Bay Jazz & Blues icon Shawn Brown. A schedule of opening acts has been released by the venue. (Tampa Bay Newswire)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at John F. Germany Library on February 7th & 8th (February 7)
• Hope Spot Festival (February 11)
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For sale:

• Tarot Card Read Readings & Home or Office Energy Cleansings! (Details)
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Gigs & services:

• Intercoastal Consulting & Life Care Planning offers LifeCare Plans in United States. (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new 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