🏝️ We left for a week and came back to the Everglades

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Good morning, neighbors.

I have a confession.

Two weeks ago, we took a family trip to Michigan, and before leaving, I checked the pool, which looked fine. However, I overlooked a pair of the boys' swim shorts on the deck. The wind blew them into the pool, and the skimmer sucked them in, causing the pump to lose prime and quit.

For seven days, the pool sat in the 94-degree Florida sun without circulation, turning it into an emerald green swamp. My son jokingly suggested keeping it as a swamp exhibit, which I can laugh about now.

This time of year, everyone around here is just one small mishap away from their own swamp. So, this weekend, enjoy your summer but remember to check your pump before leaving.

Before you leave town, look at your dock.

Hurricane season's already open. Henry and the crew at Integrity Seawalls do docks, seawalls, boat lifts, and boardwalks, free estimates, pricing upfront, warranties included.

www.integrityseawalls.com

THIS WEEKEND

Friday, Saturday, Sunday — Rays vs. Seattle, Tropicana Field

Three home games against the Mariners, and it's a big one for longtime fans. Saturday is Evan Longoria's Hall of Fame induction weekend. First fans through the gate Saturday get a Longoria Snapback, and there's another Longoria giveaway Sunday. It's the cheapest full day of air conditioning and baseball you'll find, and if your kid has never seen a live game, make it this weekend. First pitch: Friday 7:10, Saturday 4:10, Sunday 1:40.

Tickets: https://www.mlb.com/rays/tickets/single-game-tickets

Stoner's Pizza Joint

Stoner's Pizza in Bloomingdale is the move. Thin crust is the play, buffalo chicken is my order every time, and if you've never had their half-baked cookies, fix that immediately. Warm, gooey, and I'm not responsible for what happens next. Allison and Kevin run a great shop.

Stoner's Pizza Joint

Friday night — Frozen Jr. at Riverview High School Theatre

The RVHS Theatre kids take on Elsa and Anna tonight at 7pm, 11311 Boyette Rd. If you've got little ones who have watched that movie 400 times, this is a cheap night out ten minutes from home, and the kids on that stage put in real work for it.

https://www.riverviewhstheatre.com

Kids melting? Send them bowling

Brandon Crossroads Bowl has kids bowl free all week this summer. 40 lanes, full pub for the adults, real food, actual air conditioning. Two hours of peace for the price of shoe rental. Make a reservation.

Brandon Crossroads Bowl

Friday night — David Olivarez, Grupo Costumbre & Inzenzible at Lola's, Riverview

If regional Mexican music is your thing, Lola's on 301 has a real concert tonight. Doors at 8pm, general admission from $60. Not a casual bar night, a ticketed show, so grab seats ahead if you're going.

https://eventmania.com/events/david-olivarez-costumbre-y-mas-riverview-fl/E1rx

Come home to a clean house instead of a disaster.

There is a special kind of dread in unlocking your front door after a week away. Dionne built Maid Pure Cleaning the right way, former teacher, serves FishHawk to Apollo Beach, eco-friendly, insured, bonded. Book it for the day you get back and walk into a house that smells like you did something right.

Saturday — Summer Splash on the Lake, Thonotosassa

A free all-day summer bash at The Osprey View out on Lake Thonotosassa, 11am to 5pm. Vendor market, food, live music, Keel & Curley wine tastings, and lakefront views to sit and melt in front of. Bring the whole family, it costs nothing to walk in. 11501 Thonotosassa Rd.

https://www.theospreyview.com

The Law Offices Of Steven J. Glaros & Associates | The Law Offices Of Steven J. Glaros & Associates

Steve Glaros is out shaking hands and actively campaigning to be Honorary Mayor of the Valrico FishHawk Chamber. Real title, real effort. He's also a real attorney who actually shows up, for clients and for the community.

Law Offices of Steven J. Glaros and Associates

Saturday and Sunday — SummerFest at Keel Farms, Plant City

Your kid-melting insurance policy. Every Saturday and Sunday all summer, Keel Farms runs free water slides and bounce houses from 11am to 5pm, with food trucks and cold drinks for the adults sitting in the shade. Bring swimsuits, sunscreen, and your own towels. Free entry. 5202 Thonotosassa Rd.

https://www.keelfarms.com/summerfest

Plumbing Services | Riverview, FL | Ivy Plumbing

Water heater, a leak under the sink, a line that picked the worst possible weekend to go, Faith and the Ivy Plumbing crew are licensed, local, and won't quote you one number and bill you another. Emergencies welcome, which in Florida in July is not a small thing.

www.ivyplumbingservices.com

Sunday — reset before Monday

If everyone's fried by Sunday, Keel Farms above runs both days, or catch the Rays finale at 1:40 for the Longoria giveaway. Low effort, air conditioned, done by dinner.

Got an event? Put it in front of 5,000+ inboxes, free. Submit it here!

YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR BUSINESSES.

Madison Patron

Thinking about a move after this summer? Madison knows every street East of Tampa. Former local teacher, knows the neighbors, knows the market, and answers her phone, which shouldn't be rare but is.

Hitched by Hendrix

Getting married this summer? Sharon Hendrix is a veteran and a fully mobile officiant, every ceremony built around the couple, not a script. If you've got a wedding on the calendar, she's your call.

Ice Machine Cleaning Services in Florida

If you run a restaurant or a bar and you can't remember the last time your commercial ice machine was serviced, it almost certainly has mold in it right now.

Clean Ice LLC

Thanks for reading. Check your pump. See you Tuesday.

-John

The East of Tampa Guy

P.S. These are the last couple weeks before the kids go back and you get your house, your car, and your sanity back. I know some of you are counting down. But mine are 13 and 15 now, and I've done the math on how many summers are actually left. Not as many as it feels like. Take them to a Rays game. Even the swamp version of this summer is one you'll want back eventually.

P.S.S. The pool is now fixed…

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