Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekend is Aug. 2-4

Get Ready for Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekend

From Friday, Aug. 2 at midnight through Sunday, Aug. 4 at midnight, Florida residents will be able to stock up on pens, paper, crayons, glue, backpacks, clothes, shoes and certain electronics without paying the usual sales tax. Tax-exempt items include:

• School supplies that are $15 or less
• Clothing and shoes up to $75
• Personal computers, e-readers, tablets and select accessories that cost $750 or less, as long as they’re not used for commercial purposes

Here’s to (New) Tampa!

Toast of Tampa, an a cappella show chorus made up of singers from all over the Tampa area, practices on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Tonight (July 30), vocal coach Betty Clipman will help the group prepare for a show at USF Oct. 5 and an international competition in Hawaii Nov. 7. You’re invited to check out Toast of Tampa at any Tuesday practice. Click the video above for a special quartet performance that includes New Tampa’s Julie Kelly.

“Sharknado” is Coming to the Big Screen

Heard the buzz about “Sharknado” but haven’t experienced it in all its ridiculous glory yet? If you just can’t wait for “Sharknado 2” to hit the SyFy channel next year, you’re in luck: The made-for-TV, so-bad-it’s-good, sci-fi extravaganza is coming to theaters for a one-night-only screening at midnight Friday, Aug. 2. Catch a nearby screening at Citrus Park Stadium 20 (7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa), Park Place Stadium 16 (7200 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park) and Hollywood Stadium 20 (1993 Main St., Sarasota).

National Cheesecake Day

Yep, probably one of the best days ever invented is finally here. To celebrate, the Cheesecake Factory—with area locations at International Plaza in Tampa and the Westfield Brandon mall—is offering any cheesecake slice for half price today. Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, here I come!

Bring the Umbrella

Hear that sad trombone playing in the background? The National Weather Service forecast is calling for a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms during the day throughout much of the Tampa Bay area and a 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Highs are, of course, in the low 90s.