🐊 This Gator Didn’t Even Knock First

Buzzing with Joy: No Politics, Just Positivity!
A community-led initiative.

Good Morning From Lutz. The neighborhood pool is low, the county has water restrictions and fire bans, the grass has the crunch of a stale tortilla chip, and you’ve been praying for rain for weeks now. So, naturally, it came before, during, and after Mother’s Day. When it rains it pours…

On to the buzz.

This week’s Tuesday edition in North Tampa:

• Tallo lands in style this Thursday

• Girl Scouts, meet Gator Scouts

• Already time for AI schools

Let us know if we missed anything. Definitely let us know if we goofed. And be sure to follow us on Instagram, where we will keep you up to date on local happenings throughout the week.

Share this with someone who won’t eat crust but loves garlic knots.

Contact me if you’d like to see your logo here in front of a local audience.

The Digest

Tallo Restaurant & Bar - Grand Opening
We gave you a taste last week but, now it’s time for the full spread.

Tallo Restaurant & Bar is officially opening its doors this Thursday, May 15, bringing a bold fusion of American and Caribbean flavors to Wesley Chapel. It’s classy Caribbean spice with a full-service bar shaking up both tropical cocktails and American classics. They’ve been teasing us on Instagram for weeks.

This comes just as many other businesses are getting started in the area, with more set to open as well. Markets are also running on the regular (have been for a while), and if you truly are making it a date night, or you’re planning on being very thirsty and taking an Uber, they are having half-priced wine bottles from 6p-9 on opening day.

Location: 4424 Friendly Way, Suite 105, Wesley Chapel
Reservations: Call 813-355-3603 or book online through ToastTab

Behind the menu is Executive Chef José Soto, blending vibrant island flavors with modern American dishes. Expect flavor-packed entrees, creative apps, and that kind of ambiance where dinner becomes the whole evening.

This one’s got all the right ingredients: local energy, a seriously exciting menu, and a bar that’ll be hard to leave.

Wildcats Bound for State
Wesley Chapel High’s baseball team is heading to the FHSAA Class 5A state semifinals after a gutsy playoff run. They battled back in the regional semifinals to beat Winter Springs in a best-of-three, then took down River Ridge in a three-game series to punch their ticket to Fort Myers.

The Wildcats will play at the Lee Health Sports Complex between May 14–17, with the state championship set for May 19–21. Tickets and livestreams are available through FHSAA.

Food & Dining 🍔

Rudraksh Indian Cuisine Now Open in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
Here’s a Downtown Avalon Park restaurant that has already opened! Rudraksh Indian Cuisine is now open at 4424 Friendly Way, Suite 115, bringing bold Northern Indian flavors to Wesley Chapel with lunch, dinner, and soon, brunch.

Owned by Amit Ghorpade and Manashi Boruah (who also run Rasoi in Ybor), Rudraksh delivers high-quality, authentic dishes—from butter chicken and lamb rogan josh to paneer tikka masala and chana masala. You’ll also find classics like samosas, tandoori wings, and mango kulfi, plus vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

The sleek bar is a standout too, serving up unique cocktails like a chai tea martini and Indian Varchas bourbon-style whiskey.

Hours
Lunch: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM daily
Dinner: 5–10 PM weekdays, open till 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays
(Brunch coming soon!)

Don’t forget:

The Haven Café Grand Opening – May 17, San Antonio
Mark your calendar for The Haven Café's grand opening on May 17 from 2–5 PM at 11851 Curley Street, San Antonio, FL. Enjoy a flower bar, sweet treats, and giveaways.

Sprouts Farmers Market Grand Opening – May 16–18, Lutz
Don't forget to swing by Sprouts' grand opening at Cypress Creek Town Center this weekend for samples, giveaways, and a 20% discount with code LUTZGO20.

Community

Ding Dong… It’s a Gator
A potential late-night intruder was avoided last week in Wesley Chapel. Just your typical gator… scaling the front door. Courtney Beck thought someone was trying to break in. Nope. Just a massive reptile doing a very Florida-style pop-in.

Yes, they live near a pond, and yes, this is Florida, but nobody expects to catch that on their Ring camera. Courtney’s now on high alert every time she walks to her car: “Please don’t be a gator knocking.” The video has racked up over 2 million views on TikTok. It’s wild. It’s Florida. And you can watch it all here. It kind of looks like someone getting in a little late from the bar.

Carrollwood’s New AI-Driven School
How familiar are you with AI? I have two kids, and I’ve been thinking a lot about when they should start learning how to use it. At what point does waiting too long put them behind their peers? And when is it too early to introduce something this powerful? I don’t have the answers, and I know a lot of folks feel strongly one way or the other.

But this much is clear: the world isn’t waiting. Alpha School is opening a K–8 campus in Carrollwood this fall, right on N. Dale Mabry. It’s fully powered by adaptive AI that personalizes learning so kids can move at their own pace. No lectures. Just self-guided core subjects in the morning and real-world workshops in the afternoon. One of the projects? Managing a food truck.

Even Carrollwood Day School is starting to integrate AI into its learning model.

Moffitt Milestones: Big Science in Pasco
Two major moves just happened at the 775-acre Speros FL campus:
• The Discovery & Innovation Center hit its steel beam "topping out"
• A 55-ton cyclotron (shipped from Belgium!) was installed for proton cancer therapy.
Opening in 2026, the project will bring 11,000 jobs and cutting-edge cancer care to our backyard.

Civic News

Pasco’s Deputy Shortage Gets a Smart Upgrade
Pasco County is addressing its deputy shortage with a forward-thinking approach. Despite ranking 63rd out of 67 Florida counties in deputies per capita, the county is expanding community-based safety programs, certifying deputies in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and investing in advanced training through the F1RST institute.

Those Refund Checks Are Real
If you lived in Hillsborough between Jan 2019 and March 2021, you could have money coming from the overturned 1% transportation tax. Some folks are already getting checks in the mail from a Richmond, VA P.O. Box, no less, which has led to a lot of “Oops, I thought that was junk.” Don’t toss your refund. For questions: FLTaxRefund.com or call 1-888-715-9373.

Hillsborough Bite: Brandon Gets the Badge
The Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office is trading Ybor for Brandon in a $48M land swap. The new 24-acre HQ will be triple the size with upgraded tech, while Ybor’s site heads to developer Darryl Shaw for housing and retail.

Events and Live Music Presented Along With The Murg Team

Local Lending You Can Trust
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Meet Mike Murgatroy of The Murg Team at CrossCountry Mortgage, delivering 25+ years of integrity, education, and results. Whether you’re buying your first home or refinancing, Mike puts you first, not third parties. Ask about the Hero Program for doctors, teachers, veterans, and more offering up to $1,500 off lender fees. Learn More

Buzz-Worthy Events

This is the best part of the Friday newsletter, but not as rewarding when putting together Tuesday’s. Reminder that a few venues don’t have anything listed for Friday yet but they will later in the week.

Live Music

Tuesday, May 13

Ukulele Brand’s, Land O’ Lakes | Open Mic | 7p

Wednesday, May 14

SouthernEaze Bar & Grill, Lutz | Open Mic | 6p
The Orpheum, Lutz | He Is Legend | 6p | Tickets $31
Tom’s Tavern Forrest Hills | Open Mic & Fred Chandler | 7p

Thursday, May 15

Pincher’s, Wesley Chapel | Russ Bono (or TBD) | 5:30p
Stonewater Bar and Grill, Land O’ Lakes | Matt Capps | 6p-9
Thomas P’s Sports Bar, Citrus Park | JT Curtis | 4p
Tom’s Tavern Forrest Hills | Open Mic & Fred Chandler | 7p

Friday, May 16

Florida Avenue Brewing Co., Wesley Chapel | Dock Rock Tribute to Stone Temple Pilots | 7p
In the Loop Brewing, Land O’ Lakes | Fred Chandler | 6p-9
O'Brien's Irish Pub, Wesley Chapel | The Hookup | 8p-12
O'Brien's Irish Pub, Carrollwood | The Hitmen Band | 9p-1a
Pete’s Place North, Tampa | Bryan James Band | 7p
Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa | Dead Set Florida | 8p | Tickets $10 @ Door Only
SouthernEaze Bar & Grill, Lutz | Solito | 6:30p
Starkey Market, New Port Richey | TBD | 6p
Stonewater Bar and Grill, Land O’ Lakes | Buddy Fitz Duo | 7p
The Living Room at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel | Melissa Lee | 6p
The Orpheum, Lutz | Nails w/guests | 6p | Tickets $38
The Tiki Cove, Land O’ Lakes | Charles Goodwin | 7p
Thomas P’s Sports Bar, Citrus Park | Tyler Dusek | 4p
Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar, Wesley Chapel | Full Dueling Piano Show ($10 tickets, 21+) | 7p-1a
Ukulele Brand’s, Land O’ Lakes | Daniel Sprouse Band | 7:30p-10:30

Events & Markets

Tuesday, May 13

Harley Davidson, Wesley Chapel | Monthly Bike Night | 6p
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel | Cornhole Tournament | 7p
Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar, Wesley Chapel | Trivia Tuesdays | 7p-9

Thursday, May 15

AdventHealth Center Ice, Wesley Chapel | Sunshine State Challenge | 8a-5p
KRATE at the Grove, Wesley Chapel | Throwback Thursday: 70s, 80s, 90s Hits
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Fiona Cauley | 7:30 | Tickets $29

Friday, May 16

AdventHealth Center Ice, Wesley Chapel | Sunshine State Challenge | 8a-5p
KRATE at the Grove, Wesley Chapel | Keeping it Country | 7p-11
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Tom Dustin: Portrait of a Comedian | 7p | Tickets $24
The Hub at Bexley, Lutz | Friday Moonlight Market - Pet Friendly | 5p
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel | Karaoke Nights | 7p

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to DM us to let us know we’ve forgotten a venue. The live music schedule can only grow from here.

Thanks for reading the North Tampa Buzzletter! Let’s chat again on Friday or on IG!

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