Southshore is For Lovers

In partnership with

Want to get your business in The Southshore Circle? Let’s talk!

Get Your Team Booked on 3.8 Million Podcasts Automatically

It's 2025. Want to finally be a regular podcast guest in your industry? PodPitch will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!

The best way to advertise isn't Meta or Google – it's appearing on podcasts your customers love.

PodPitch.com automates thousands of weekly emails for you, pitching your team as ideal guests.

Big brands like Feastables use PodPitch.com instead of expensive PR agencies.

Get your FREE personalized demo!

SOUTHSHORE IS FOR LOVERS

If you're feeling lonely, don’t worry—The Southshore Circle will be your Valentine! ❤️

In Today’s Edition:

• Where to Take Your Sweetheart This Valentines Day

• The Rise of Unfriendly Fast Food

• There’s a Fair Coming to Town

It’s That Time Again

Sure, Eddie V’s and Ocean Prime are ready to swoop in and claim your Valentine’s dollars, but you don’t have to venture beyond the shore to find the perfect romantic spot. Why drive to another area code when Southshore has plenty of intimate dining options that won’t drain your wallet or require a cross-country trek?

Here are a few local gems that keep you close to home while leaving enough in your budget to pony up for that grand rose bouquet.

Apollo’s Bistro - Modern comfort food now taking reservations for the perfect romantic evening.

The Vineyards Trattoria & Pizzeria - Intimate Italian dining with generous portions and a variety of flavors.

Donovan’s Meatery - A top-tier steakhouse in the heart of Riverview, featuring an exceptional wine and bourbon selection.

Circle’s - Fine seafood, steaks, and pasta served in the picturesque backyard of Apollo Beach.

Sunset Grill - A private beach in Ruskin with breathtaking sunsets. Currently undergoing renovations, so seating is limited, and outdoor dining is temporarily closed.

Acropolis - Greek food, Greek wine, Greek fun—no passport required!

It’s Not My Pleasure

It might be a Florida thing, but we’ve all heard those iconic words uttered by a teenager at your neighborhood Chick-fil-A: “My pleasure.” That final stamp of service excellence, delivered with a smile—almost like a warm hug, but with waffle fries.

Okay, maybe it’s not that serious, but it matters. And it’s no coincidence that when service is on point, your order actually shows up the way you ordered it. Lately, though, we’ve noticed a shift. Some places still take pride in customer service, while others seem to be operating on pure chaos and vibes.

Maybe it’s a sign of the times. Maybe it’s the remnants of the pandemic, with companies refusing to hire actual managers. Whatever the cause, the result is the same—a careless attitude and a complete disregard for common courtesy. From perpetually broken ice cream machines to fries that arrive colder than your ex’s heart, your local drive-thru has become a gamble. Will you get your full order? Will you get any order? Who knows!

And let’s be real—fast food is already bad enough without bad service and an attitude to match. And it’s not just a Southshore thing; it’s everywhere. Honestly, I don’t even blame the workers—most of these places are running on skeleton crews with zero oversight. And with rising prices, lower quality, and a steady flow of customers, owners have little reason to care.

So, food for thought: How do we fix this? A coordinated complaint day? A fast-food boycott? A city-wide effort to learn the names of every ice cream machine repair tech in America? The Southshore Circle can’t change the world just yet, but maybe we can at least save you from another drive-thru disaster. What do you think?

Fair Season in Full Effect

Did someone say funnel cake and candy apples? You heard that right—it’s that time of year again when dunk tanks and shady spinning contraptions like the Gravitron or UpsideDownSidewaysSpinningMonkeyToss) take center stage.

It’s the season when fried Oreos, dinosaur-sized turkey legs, and beef sundaes become a perfectly acceptable breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Schools shut down, traffic gets rerouted, and wallets mysteriously empty themselves while you try—again—to land a single ring on a bottle.

Now, let’s be honest—not all fairs are created equal. My appetite for dodging unruly kids and sidestepping spontaneous brawls isn’t quite what it used to be. So, we’ve done the hard work for you and ranked the fairs in order of the ones actually worth your time. If having fun without sacrificing your sanity (or your safety) is high on your list, check out our rankings below.

Florida Strawberry Festival: February 27th - March 9th 

At the top of our list: the fair that understands the magic of strawberry shortcake. A milder crowd, fewer ankle-destroying strollers, and if you time it right, shorter lines—meaning more room to enjoy your deep-fried delights in peace.

The Back Porch Jam @ Hillsborough County Fairgrounds March 14th and 15th 

While this is not an actual fair, it is at the fairgrounds. A low-key event with great food and fun, just off the beaten path—meaning (hopefully) a smaller crowd and a better chance to enjoy it without the chaos.

Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 1st and 2nd 

Not exactly the “fair” you had in mind, but no surprise—the bulk of us at The Circle are writers first. Held in downtown St. Pete, it’s got warm weather, waterfront views, and just the right touch of nostalgia—like stepping back into your elementary school book fair with a crispy ten-dollar bill burning a hole in your pocket.

2025 Florida State Fair February 6th -17th 

Likely the biggest fair around, and we’re torn. As Florida natives, it feels like home, but rising prices, declining quality, and constant safety concerns have pushed it to the bottom of our list. Daytime is your best bet, though there’s no escaping the outrageous prices. And whatever you do, avoid student day—unless you enjoy chaos, long lines, and questioning your life choices.

What’s washing up on the shore this week:

• Networking Open House
  Southshore Leads Club open house. Date & Time: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 11:00 AM Location: 7130 Big Bend Rd. Ste 112, Gibsonton

• Kings Point Monthly Market
  2 Food trucks, 13 local vendors, and live music. Date & Time: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 10:00 AM Location: 1900 Clubhouse Dr, Sun City Center

• Winthrop Pop Up Market
  With over 140 vendors, your valentine will be able to find the perfect something. Date & Time: Saturday, February 15, 2025, 9:00 AM Location: 6116 Winthrop Town Centre Ave, Riverview

• THE Apollo Beach Market
  50 vendors! Located in the Waterside Shops Plaza parking lot in front of Armetta's Cafe, Date & Time: Sunday, February 16, 2025, 10:00 AM Location: 6190 N US HWY 41, Apollo Beach

• Dueling Pianos
  Perfect way to spend a Sunday at Salty Shamrock. Date & Time: Sunday, February 16, 2025, 6:00 PM Location: 6186 N US HWY 41, Apollo Beach

The Rumor Mill:

• It’s getting dicey. Another Chipotle, a Wendy’s, and a Panda Express in Apollo Beach on 41 across from the upcoming Walmart. Not sure where there’s space, but that’s the word on the street.

Meet your neighbor:

• Don’t be a stranger, we’re looking for our next friend.

Foodies Only:

• We’re busy gearing up for our next food challenge.

Local Sports:

Soccer

Tonight, the Riverview Sharks boys' team faces off against Palm Harbor University at Palm Harbor University for the Regional title! The winner advances to the State semi-final on February 17th. Let’s show our support, and if you can make it, they’ll definitely appreciate it. Let’s go, Sharks! 🦈⚽

• Wednesday 2/12 Riverview @ Palm Harbor University

Basketball

Boys’ basketball in Southshore has unfortunately come to an end, but the girls are still going strong! The East Bay girls’ team will face Gulf Coast at Gulf Coast on Tuesday, February 13th, for the regional quarterfinal. Sumner girls will take on Haines City at the same time. Let’s rally behind them and show that the whole Southshore is supporting their journey!

• Thursday 2/13 East By @ Gulf Coast

• Thursday 2/13 Sumner @ Haines City

The Neighborhood Post:

• Coming Soon