Tampa, Florida

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Tbpac.JPG|thumb|right|[[Straz Center for the Performing Arts]]]]

===Arts and entertainment===

Tampa is home to a variety of stage and performing arts venues and theaters, including the [[Straz Center for the Performing Arts|David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts]], [[Tampa Theatre]], [[Gorilla Theatre (venue)|Gorilla Theatre]], and the [[MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre]] next to the [[Florida State Fairgrounds]].
[[File:Channelside Bay Plaza in Tampa, FL.jpg|thumb|Tampa's [[Channel District]]]]

Performing arts companies and organizations which call Tampa home include [[the Florida Orchestra]], [[Opera Tampa]], [[Jobsite Theater]], the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the [[Heralds of Harmony]], [[Stageworks Theatre]], Spanish Lyric Theater, Tampa Bay Opera, and the Tampa Bay Symphony.

Current popular nightlife districts include [[Channel District|Channelside]], [[Ybor City]], [[Soho (Tampa)|SoHo]], [[International Plaza and Bay Street]], and [[Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa|Seminole Hard Rock]]. [[Downtown Tampa]] also contains some nightlife, and there are more clubs/bars to be found in other areas of the city. Tampa is rated sixth on [[Maxim (magazine)|''Maxim'' magazine]]'s list of top party cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maximonline.com/AmericasTop10PartyCities/articles/8046.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003113808/http://www.maximonline.com/AmericasTop10PartyCities/articles/8046.aspx|url-status=dead|title=America's Top 10 Party Cities|archivedate=October 3, 2008}}</ref>

The area has become a "de facto" headquarters of [[professional wrestling]], with many pros living and training in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/famed-tampa-wrestler-jack-brisco-dies-at-68/1069959 |title=Famed Tampa wrestler Jack Brisco dies at 68&nbsp;– St. Petersburg Times |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=April 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824163815/http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/famed-tampa-wrestler-jack-brisco-dies-at-68/1069959 |archive-date=August 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/14/141147/former-wrestling-champ-found-dead-tampa/ |title=Former Wrestling Champ Found Dead in Tampa |publisher=.tbo.com |date=March 14, 2009 |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515150123/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/14/141147/former-wrestling-champ-found-dead-tampa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/21/TampaBay/Now_that_s_rasslin_.shtml |title=Tampabay: Now that's rasslin' |work=St Petersburg Times |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224122303/http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/21/TampaBay/Now_that_s_rasslin_.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/18/181723/hulk-hogan-bubba-love-sponge-help-raise-70000-plan/ |title=Hulk Hogan, Bubba the Love Sponge, help raise $70,000 for Plant City charity |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=April 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331125923/http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/18/181723/hulk-hogan-bubba-love-sponge-help-raise-70000-plan/ |archive-date=March 31, 2010}}</ref> [[WWE]]'s former developmental territory, [[Florida Championship Wrestling]], was also based in Tampa.

Tampa is home to several [[death metal]] bands, an extreme form of [[heavy metal music]] that evolved from [[thrash metal]] in the mid-late 1980s. Many of the genre's pioneers and foremost figures are based in and around the city. Chief among these are [[Deicide (band)|Deicide]], [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]], [[Obituary (band)|Obituary]], [[Death (metal band)|Death]] and [[Morbid Angel]]. The Tampa scene grew with the birth of [[Morrisound Recording]], which established itself as an international recording destination for metal bands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088 |title=The Way the Music Died: The Earliest Days of Tampa Death Metal |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=April 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154639/http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088 |archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>

The rock band [[Underoath]] is based in Tampa.

In 2009, the new [[Frank Wildhorn]] musical ''[[Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure]]'' hosted its world premiere at the Straz Center.

===Museums===
[[File:Tampa Museum of Art.jpg|thumb|Tampa Museum of Art]]
[[File:IMAX Exterior.jpg|thumb|right|Museum of Science and Industry]]
The Tampa area is home to a number of museums that cover a wide array of subjects and studies. These include the [[Museum of Science & Industry (Tampa)|Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)]], which has several floors of science-related exhibits plus the only [[IMAX|domed IMAX theater]] in Florida and a [[planetarium]]; the [[Tampa Museum of Art]]; the [[University of South Florida#Marshall Student Center|USF Contemporary Art Museum]]; the [[Tampa Bay History Center]]; the Tampa Firefighters Museum; the [[Henry B. Plant Museum]]; and [[Ybor City Museum State Park]]. Permanently docked in downtown's [[Channel District]] is the [[SS American Victory|SS ''American Victory'']], a former [[World War II]] [[Victory ship]] which is now used as a [[museum ship]]. [[Florida Museum of Photographic Arts]] Features local and international photography exhibitions.

====Children's Museum====
The Children's Museum of Tampa opened in 1986. It was created in response to the need for informal cultural and learning environment for the need of young children. It has since grown into a Larger location in Downtown Tampa next to the Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Park. This location opened in September 2010 and was renamed Glazer Children's Museum in honor of the Glazer Family Foundation that donated $5 million to the construction of the new building.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://glazermuseum.org/history |title=History |work=Glazer Children's Museum |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402035610/https://glazermuseum.org/history |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
Tampa has a diverse culinary scene from small cafes and bakeries to bistros and [[farm-to-table]] restaurants. The food of Tampa has a history of Cuban, Spanish, [[Floribbean]] and [[Italian cuisine]]s. There are also many [[Colombian cuisine|Colombian]], [[Puerto Rican cuisine|Puerto Rican]], [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnamese]] and [[barbecue]] restaurants. Seafood is very popular in Tampa, and Greek cuisine is prominent in the area, including around [[Tarpon Springs, Florida|Tarpon Springs]]. Food trucks are popular, and the area holds the record for the world's largest food truck rally. In addition to Ybor, the areas of [[Seminole Heights]] and [[South Tampa]] are known for their restaurants.

Tampa is the birthplace of the Florida version of the [[deviled crab]] and the [[Cuban sandwich]], which has been officially designated as the "signature sandwich of the city of Tampa" by the city council.<ref>Richard Danielson, [https://archive.today/20120914032009/http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1225854.ece "Tampa names Ybor City-style Cuban as the city's signature sandwich"], ''Tampa Bay Times'' (April 19, 2012).</ref> A Tampa Cuban sandwich is distinct from other regional versions, as [[Genoa salami]] is layered in with the other ingredients, likely due to the influence of Italian immigrants living next to Cubans and Spaniards in Ybor City.<ref name="TobinEachOwn">{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/18/TampaBay/To_each__his_own_sand.shtml |title=To each, his own sandwich |author=Thomas C. Tobin |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=January 18, 2003 |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-date=April 25, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030425011415/http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/18/TampaBay/To_each__his_own_sand.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HouckPerfect">{{cite news |last=Houck |first=Jeff |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/06/tr-rebuilding-the-perfect-cuban |title=Rebuilding the perfect Cuban |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=September 6, 2009 |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-date=April 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426030151/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/06/tr-rebuilding-the-perfect-cuban/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several restaurant chains were founded or headquartered in Tampa, including [[Outback Steakhouse]], [[The Melting Pot (restaurant)|The Melting Pot]], [[Front Burner Brands]], [[Carrabba's Italian Grill|Carrabba's]], [[Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar]], [[Bonefish Grill]], [[Columbia Restaurant]], [[Checkers and Rally's]], [[Taco Bus]], and PDQ.

===Tourism and recreation===
[[File:YborCityTampaFL02.jpg|left|thumb|A street festival on [[Ybor City]]'s famous 7th Avenue in front of the historic [[El Centro Español de Tampa]]]]
[[File:SkyrideWithTrainCarsInForeground.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Visitors riding the [[Serengeti Express]] and [[Skyride (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)|Skyride]] at [[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]]]]

The city of Tampa operates over 165 parks and beaches covering {{cvt|2286|acre|km2}} within city limits; 42 more in surrounding suburbs covering {{cvt|70000|acre|km2}} are maintained by Hillsborough County. These areas include [[Hillsborough River State Park]], just northeast of the city. Tampa is home to a number of attractions and theme parks, including [[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]], [[Adventure Island (water park)|Adventure Island]], [[ZooTampa at Lowry Park]], and the [[Florida Aquarium]].

[[ZooTampa at Lowry Park]] features over 2,000 animals, interactive exhibits, rides, educational shows and more. The zoo serves as an economic, cultural, environmental and educational anchor in Tampa.

[[Big Cat Rescue]] is one of the largest accredited sanctuaries in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned [[big cat]]s.<ref name=Rescue>{{cite web |title=Credentials |url=http://bigcatrescue.org/visit-the-big-cats/ |publisher=[[Big Cat Rescue]] |access-date=September 19, 2015 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910014908/http://bigcatrescue.org/visit-the-big-cats/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is home to about 80 lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars and other species, most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts.<ref name=Rescue/> They have a variety of different tours available.<ref>{{cite web |title=All Big Cat Tours |url=http://bigcatrescue.org/visit-the-big-cats/ |publisher=[[Big Cat Rescue]] |date=August 15, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910014908/http://bigcatrescue.org/visit-the-big-cats/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]] is a {{cvt|335|acre|km2|adj=on}} Africa-themed [[amusement park]] near the [[University of South Florida]]. It features many thrilling roller coasters, for which it is known, including Sheikra, Montu, Cheetah Hunt and Kumba. Visitors can also view and interact with a number of African wildlife. [[Adventure Island (water park)|Adventure Island]] is a {{cvt|30|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[water park]] adjacent to Busch Gardens.

The [[Florida Aquarium]] is a {{cvt|250000|sqft|m2}} aquarium in the [[Channel District]]. It hosts over 20,000 species of aquatic plants and animals. It is known for its unique glass architecture. Adjacent to the aquarium is the SS ''American Victory'', a [[World War II]] [[Victory ship]] preserved as a [[museum ship]].

The [[Tampa Bay History Center]] is a museum in the [[Channel District]]. It boasts over {{cvt|60000|sqft|m2}} of exhibits through 12,000 years. There are theaters, a map gallery, a research center and a museum store.

Well-known shopping areas include [[International Plaza and Bay Street]], [[WestShore Plaza]], the [[Soho (Tampa)|SoHo district]], and [[Hyde Park Village]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/travel/02vintage.html |work=The New York Times |first=Jen A. |last=Miller |title=Vintage Clothing Shops Thriving in Tampa |date=March 31, 2010 |access-date=February 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215113105/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/travel/02vintage.html}}</ref> [[Palma Ceia]] is home to the Palma Ceia Design District.<ref>{{cite web |author=Joshua Neiderer |date=December 5, 2008 |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article925102.ece |title=Neighborhood notes: Group helps promote Palma Ceia merchants |work=St. Petersburg Times |via=tampabay.com |access-date=February 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205052307/http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article925102.ece |archive-date=February 5, 2010}}</ref> Previously, Tampa had been home to the Floriland Mall (now an office park), Tampa Bay Center (demolished and replaced with the new [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] training facility, known as "One Buc Place"), and East Lake Square Mall (now an office park).

The Tampa Port Authority operates three [[cruise ship]] terminals in Tampa's [[Channel District, Tampa|Channel District]]. The Port of Tampa is the year-round home port for [[Carnival Cruise Lines]]' [[Carnival Paradise|MS C''arnival Paradise'']] and seasonally, the [[Carnival Pride|MS ''Carnival Pride'']]. Tampa is also a seasonal port for [[Holland America Line]], [[Norwegian Cruise Line]], [[Celebrity Cruises]], as well as [[Royal Caribbean International]]'s [[Rhapsody of the Seas|MS ''Rhapsody of the Seas'']] and [[MS Radiance of the Seas|MS ''Radiance of the Seas'']].<ref>[http://www.tampaport.com/content/download/7557/32556/file/Cruise_Sailing_Schedule_FY10.pdf "Cruise Sailing Schedule 2009/2010".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419090907/http://www.tampaport.com/content/download/7557/32556/file/Cruise_Sailing_Schedule_FY10.pdf |date=April 19, 2012}} [http://www.tampaport.com/ ''Tampa Port Authority''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907173050/http://www.tampaport.com/ |date=September 7, 2007}}. Retrieved January 28, 2010.</ref> Cruise itineraries from Tampa include stops in the Western [[Caribbean]] islands, [[Honduras]], [[Belize]], and [[Mexico]].<ref>Sloan, Gene. February 23, 2010, [https://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=80174.blog "Norwegian Cruise Line to base ship in Tampa for first time"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228014919/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=80174.blog |date=February 28, 2010}}, ''USA Today''. Retrieved February 23, 2010.</ref> Longer sailings include the [[Panama Canal]], the [[ABC islands (Leeward Antilles)|ABC Islands]] and the Eastern Caribbean.

===Events===
[[File:Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2003 - Pirate Flagship Invading Tampa.jpg|thumb|left|Gasparilla and pirate ship]]
Perhaps the most well known and anticipated events are those from Tampa's annual celebration of "Gasparilla", particularly the [[Gasparilla Pirate Festival]], a mock pirate invasion held since 1904 in late January or early February. Often referred to as Tampa's "[[Mardi Gras]]", the invasion flotilla led by the pirate ship, ''Jose Gasparilla'', and subsequent parade draw over 400,000 attendees, contributing tens of millions of dollars to the city's economy. Beyond the initial invasion, numerous Gasparilla festivities take place each year between January and March, including the Gasparilla Children's Parade, the more adult-oriented [[Sant'Yago Knight Parade]], the [[Gasparilla Distance Classic]], Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, and the [[Gasparilla Film Festival|Gasparilla International Film Festival]], among other pirate themed events.<ref>[http://www.tboextra.com/gasparilla/ "TBO EXTRA Gasparilla".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403211150/http://tboextra.com/gasparilla/ |date=April 3, 2010 }} [http://www.tboextra.com/ ''TBOEXTRA.com''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120184353/http://www.tboextra.com/ |date=November 20, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 29, 2010.</ref> The Gasparilla parade is the third largest parade in the United States.<ref name="hundredth">{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/gasparilla-parades-100th-edition-marked-by-mostly-behaved-revelry/2215951 |title=Gasparilla parade's 100th edition marked by mostly behaved revelry |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=January 31, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105133/http://www.tampabay.com/news/gasparilla-parades-100th-edition-marked-by-mostly-behaved-revelry/2215951 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Tampa Convention Center from Bayshore.JPG|right|thumb|[[Tampa Convention Center]], built at the site of [[Fort Brooke]]]]
Other notable events include the [[Outback Bowl]], which is held New Year's Day at [[Raymond James Stadium]]. Each February, The [[Florida State Fair]] brings crowds from across the state, while "Fiesta Day" celebrates Tampa's Cuban, Spanish, German, Italian, English, Irish, Jewish, and African-Cuban immigrant heritage. The [[India International Film Festival (IIFF) of Tampa Bay]] also takes place in February. In April the MacDill Air Fest entertains as one of the largest military air shows in the U.S. [[Guavaween]], a nighttime street celebration infuses [[Halloween]] with the Latin flavor of [[Ybor City]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070606223101/http://www.tampagov.net/news_and_events/feature_events/ "Feature Events".] [http://www.tampagov.net/ ''TampaGov''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828145343/http://www.tampagov.net/ |date=August 28, 2015 }}. Retrieved March 29, 2010.</ref> Downtown Tampa hosts the largest anime convention in Florida, [[Metrocon]], a three-day event held in either June or July at the [[Tampa Convention Center]].<ref>[http://www.metroconventions.com/control.cfm?ID=602 "Metrocon About Metrocon".] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827170717/http://www.metroconventions.com/control.cfm?ID=602 |date=August 27, 2012 }} Retrieved August 13, 2012.</ref> Ybor also hosts "GaYbor Days", an annual street party in the [[LGBT]]-friendly [[GaYbor]] district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/article657346.ece?comments=legacy |title=GaYbor Days will make your Fourth fabulous&nbsp;– St. Petersburg Times |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=February 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607045702/http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/article657346.ece?comments=legacy |archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> The [[Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival]], held annually since 1989, is the city's largest film festival event,<ref>[https://www.tiglff.com/pressRls/Clip%20Ranks%20in%20top%2025%20Events%20release.doc "Clip ranks in top 25 events"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717055938/https://www.tiglff.com/pressRls/Clip%20Ranks%20in%20top%2025%20Events%20release.doc |date=July 17, 2011 }}, August 1, 2008. [https://www.tiglff.com/ ''Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129131013/http://www.tiglff.com/ |date=January 29, 2011 }}. Retrieved March 29, 2010.</ref> and one of the largest independent gay film festivals in the country.<ref>Feist, Brian. November 2007 [http://past.tiglff.com/documents/gaz-Nov07-web.pdf "The Last Word"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717054825/http://past.tiglff.com/documents/gaz-Nov07-web.pdf |date=July 17, 2011 }}, page 46. ''The Gazette''. Retrieved March 29, 2010.</ref>

Tampa hosted the [[2012 Republican National Convention]] and the [[15th IIFA Awards|15th International Indian Film Academy Awards]] in April 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2014/04/26/travolta-spacey-in-tampa-for-bollywood-oscars |title='Bollywood Oscars' sail into Tampa with pirate-themed opening number and lots of star power |work=U.S. News & World Report |last=Lush |first=Tamara |agency=Associated Press |date=April 27, 2014 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509103939/https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2014/04/26/travolta-spacey-in-tampa-for-bollywood-oscars }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa, Florida to Host 2012 Republican National Convention |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004827-503544.html |author=Brian Montopoli |date=May 12, 2010 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=October 23, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118192111/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004827-503544.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since 2015, Tampa has hosted the annual Tampa Riverfest, typically held during the first weekend of May. Held at the [[Tampa Riverwalk]], the festival welcomes many musical artists and local restaurants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/florida/articles/the-best-festivals-in-tampa-fl/ |title=The Best Festivals in Tampa, FL |last=Johnson |first=Diann |website=theculturetrip.com |date=April 7, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509181921/https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/florida/articles/the-best-festivals-in-tampa-fl/ }}</ref>