On Monday, July 15, the City of Tampa throws a birthday party like no other—boozy, brainy, and brimming with bizarre tales from the past. This isn’t your typical candle-blowing ceremony. No, this is “Drunk (Tampa) History”, the crown jewel of the city’s 138th birthday bash held at Shuffle, Florida’s first indoor shuffleboard bar, located at 2612 N. Tampa St. And if the name doesn’t tip you off, prepare for a night of historical hijinks, local brews, and a whole lot of “wait, that actually happened here?!”
Raise a Glass to Tampa’s Twisted Past
Before we dive into the historical rabbit hole, let’s get one thing straight—the focus keyword here is “Drunk (Tampa) History”, and boy, does it earn its place. Imagine a TED Talk that’s been double-poured, filtered through craft beer, and then shaken with pirate hoaxes and mayoral kidnappings. Manny Leto, executive director of Preserve the ’Burg and Tampa’s favorite time-traveling raconteur, takes the mic at 7 p.m. to lead a storytelling session filled with the city’s strangest sagas.
From cigar-factory spy rings to false pirate alarms that once set the city on edge, Leto’s storytelling is as intoxicating as the local IPA you’ll be sipping. Don’t be surprised if you leave questioning whether history books are just the tip of Tampa’s very weird iceberg.
Get official event details and tickets here.
Follow on Instagram: @preservetheb
Shuffle Bar’s official site: shuffle.tampa.com
A Bar Built for Benders and Ballads
Shuffle opens its doors at 5 p.m., and the good times start the moment you walk in. This isn’t just some themed bar—it’s a quirky, locally loved shrine to shuffleboard, complete with four indoor courts (and two more outside for those craving the open air). Grab a paddle, test your skills, and don’t forget to eat like it’s a birthday party you’ll actually remember.
The menu slaps—the Spaghetti Sammie, Buffalo Chicken Thigh, and The Dog will soak up whatever Coppertail, Green Bench, or other Tampa Bay brews you’re downing. And if you’re new to shuffleboard, Leto’s pro tip is golden: “Arrive early. The courts fill up fast, and the beers go down faster.”
Tampa’s Official Archives Get a Rock-and-Rhyme Sendoff
Here’s where it gets wild—in the best way possible. After Leto drops knowledge bombs on the crowd, Shuffle doesn’t quit. At 8 p.m., they slice into a massive birthday cake while raffles explode with shuffleboard gear, Preserve the ’Burg memberships, and gift cards.
And if you think that’s the end—oh, friend—you clearly don’t know Tampa. Local rapper Perception takes the stage at 9 p.m., turning the shuffleboard bar into a lyrical playground. Known for his upbeat energy and underground following, he’s the voice of Tampa’s creative scene, bringing rhythm to history’s echo.
The evening crescendos with Remix open-mic night, where poets, comics, and musicians step into the spotlight until last call. It’s poetry slams with a side of pickleball—and it works.
Why This Birthday Bash Matters
This birthday bash isn’t just a rowdy night out—it’s the grand finale of Tampa’s Archives Awareness Week, a time when the city dives deep into its soul and drags out the dusty stories that define it. You’ll laugh. You’ll gasp. You’ll probably end up quoting something about a mayoral kidnapping to your Uber driver.
But more than anything, “Drunk (Tampa) History” is about the power of shared storytelling, about a city weird enough to celebrate its oddities rather than sweep them under a historical rug. And in a world growing ever more sanitized, that’s worth toasting.
For Locals, Newbies, and the In-Between
Whether you’ve lived in Tampa your whole life or still pronounce Ybor as “Why-bore,” this event is your golden ticket to connect with the city’s soul. And let’s be honest, after a few brews and a story involving a pirate hoax, we’re all locals here.
So show up. Raise a glass. Practice your shuffleboard finesse. Then get ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even leave a little tipsy with a new appreciation for the weird, wild beast that is Tampa.
One Last Toast…
To 138 years of beautiful weirdness, and to the nights where history feels alive, hilarious, and just drunk enough to remember.
Because in Tampa, the past doesn’t just live on—it parties.
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