NHL All Star Weekend in Tampa is almost here and if you aren’t planning on going to the game or perhaps aren’t all that big of a hockey fan, there are plenty of other events and festivities happening all around town that you’ll still want to check out.

The weekend will officially kick-off with the opening of the FREE 2018 NHL All-Star Pregame Fan Festival, which starts later today at 5 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. Happening over in the Amalie Arena Silver Parking Lot and nearby Cotanchobee Park, the festival will be great for kids and there will be lots of opportunities to meet all the NHL mascots, check out the NHL All Star Skills Zone, and also snap some photos with the famed Stanley Cup and various NHL Players from the past and present.

The pregame fest

As you probably already know, Tampa’s biggest part of the year is in just couple days, and this year is a little extra special because of the NHL all-star game also happening at Amalie Arena on Sunday. But before you throw on your hockey sweaters and gear up for Tampa’s first all-star weekend since 1999, let’s first take a look at the schedule of events for Gasparilla 2018: 

Gasparilla Invasion Brunch - 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Before you swing over to the bay front, stop over at the Tampa Convention Center for a quick brunch. Tickets are required but the brunch is a great way to kick-off the day and get fully into Gasparilla mood. The menu is about what you would expect from brunch menu, and let’s face it—you probably won’t feel like cooking on

Chances are if you’re a Tampa resident or existing home owner, the annual Gasparilla celebration is already prominently marked on your calendar. But if not, don’t forget that the Children’s Gasparilla Parade is scheduled for tomorrow, which is truly one of our favorite events during the entire festival.

As part of Tampa’s Gasparilla celebration since all the way back to 1947, the Children’s Parade runs along Tampa’s most famous stretch of road, Bayshore Boulevard, and actually uses part of the same route of the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates.
Over the years, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade has continued to grow into one of the more popular events and now features all sorts of participants that range from local marching bands and dance companies to

Davis Islands is one of the premier places to call home in all of Tampa, and Tampa Bay Lightning standout Ondrej Palat and his wife apparently agree. According to a recent report, the Palats paid $3.3 million for their new Davids Islands home, which officially closed back in early December. 

As mentioned by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the couple already owns another home in the neighborhood, which was originally purchased all the way back in 2014 for $1.275 million. 

After signing a contract extension last summer , Palat will likely be in Tampa for the next five seasons. 

Over the years, Davis Islands has been a popular place for Lightning players to call home. It’s close proximity to downtown Tampa, the wide-range of stunning homes for sale,

Surrounded by beautiful beaches, endless options in shopping, dining and entertainment, plus the luxury of stunning homes, the Tampa area is about to get another boost when it comes to upscale living. Several stylish new condo buildings have just hit the MLS, bringing a generous collection of new residences to the market.

ONE St. Pete

One of the most anticipated is the new ONE St. Petersburg, currently under construction in Downtown St. Pete. This lavish new high-rise takes up an entire city block, with plans to rise 41-stories, including more than 250 luxury condos plus hotel rooms.

The stylish private residences come complete with gourmet kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows and large private terraces, including glass rails. The

Set right alongside Hillsborough Bay, the Ballast Point neighborhood presents a rich collection of luxury homes with waterfront views. Mostly residential, the neighborhood is filled with towering trees and lush landscaping, with a variety of home designs to choose from.

Options include multi-million dollar luxury homes offering up bay and ocean views from nearly every angle. While some of these are custom builds, it’s common to find an array of opulent features, from generously sized outdoor swimming pools and patios to dual private boat docks.

You’ll also find some newer construction luxury homes in traditional brick, Georgian designs, with convenient access to the nearby Tampa Yacht and Country Club. As some of these homes top 12,000 square feet

South Tampa has a whole lot to offer home buyers, and it’s certainly a location that’s among the most highly sought-after by anyone looking for a new place to live. Offering a laid-back residential feel while also being close to downtown, South Tampa almost provides the best of both worlds, which is just one of many reasons why it remains so desirable.

Another element to the South Tampa real estate market that helps make it so appealing is all the different options prospective home buyers have to choose from, ultimately allowing anyone with nearly any budget an opportunity to call this wonderful neighborhood home.

If you happen to be in the market for a new luxury, condo, however, South Tampa is a great place to begin a search thanks to it also being home

Tampa is a thriving city when it comes to culture and the arts, and its residents certainly reflect this in so many different ways. As “artsy” people ourselves, we’re always keeping an eye out for ways to support local artisans, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs, especially around this time of the year when the holiday season is in full swing.

With the emergence of social media and terrific e-commerce websites like etsy.com, it’s become much, much easier for artists to showcase and sell their work, not to mention easier for people like us to buy it as well. And as Realtors, it’s also fun to imagine what might look good in certain homes or condos we preview, or keep up with all the latest in-home decor trends for our own home too.

So whether you’re thinking

There’s certainly been a lot of noise about Bitcoin recently—you know, the cryptocurrency and worldwide payment system that’s now famous for being the first decentralized digital currency in the world. In fact, Bitcoin is actually starting to become so mainstream that a number of U.S. states have already changed or adapted new laws that allow the digital technology to be used for buying and selling property.

But while we’re still years or maybe even decades away from seeing significant changes in how digital currency and the real estate industry coincide, select real estate companies have already begun experimenting with accepting cryptocurrencies for rental payment, or to buy properties outright.

As recently highlighted in The Wall Street Journal,

With a coveted location in South Tampa, the well-established, Virginia Park neighborhood is filled with historic homes and tree-lined streets. In fact, it’s quite common to find a number of restored homes and properties in this quaint community, where towering trees and plentiful green space only add to the allure for long-standing and prospective resident alike.

From picturesque single-family homes that have been carefully maintained and preserved, to more modern condos and townhomes, you’ll easily find a number of residential options to fit your needs within Virginia Park. Several mid-century ranch-style homes exist in the community, complete with large lots and plentiful upgrades. Meanwhile, you’ll also find cozy bungalows, ideal for those interested in