Christopher Spata
@SpataTimes
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Enterprise culture reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. What should I write about today? [email protected]
Joined January 2011
After almost a year of work with @TimesDan, we've published the story of a Tampa man, locked away at 18 for murder. Freed at age 56 by DNA that matched someone else.
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One of the longest lines at the @foxnews Patriot Awards was to have former Secret Service agent .@DBongino sign copies of his book “Exonerated: The Failed Takedown of .@realDonaldTrump by the Swamp.”
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Spent time with Tampa resident @DaveBautista recently. Story includes:.-Dogs.-Tattoos he got for @Brittanysnow and Mister Rogers.-Why he couldn't care less about being a "movie star".-What's inside the vault/arsenal off his kitchen.-Why he left WWE.
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I called her to ask why she was there. For once, she's being quiet.
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My 85-year old grandma has been a @MiamiDolphins fan, and possibly even more a @DanMarino fan, since the ‘80s. Today she randomly saw him walking by outside the stadium and wouldn’t let go. Finally met her “Danny boy.” #finsup 😭
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@DaveBautista Although I didn’t have room to include this particular quote from @kumailn talking about Dave, who he “fell in love with” on Stuber, I feel obligated to release it to the world. 🐕.
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Holy cow David Letterman is on Stern, and it's not "evil Dave".
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As someone who frequently googles 'how to write a good lede' to get my broken brain jump-started, I will accept praise for this one that for once came easily.
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Tampa people, please name as many TV episodes, movies, comedy specials, etc. that mention Tampa in *any* way. In fact, bonus points if Tampa has zero to do with the plot, and a character just offhandedly mentions "Tampa" for some reason.
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Eerie sign of the approaching Hurricane Ian: the storm appears to be pulling water away from Tampa Bay shores. Charter captain Jordan Hallsted spotted this scene at 830 am near North Shore Park / Coffeepot Bayou in St. Pete
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I thought I was smart by going by the sex store to look for D batteries. Even they are cleaned out.
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@ninaturner Cheeky headline, but it’s actually just a straight news story about rising prices of breakfast staples, not an opinion piece suggesting not eating (I’m kinda disappointed tbh)
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.@chrisdelia's podcast talking about being in town during Gasparilla, and his ride with Tampa's top Uber driver is hilarious
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Lady, you think 'nice articles' grow on nice article trees?.
nice article. would be a shame if i couldn’t read it because it’s behind a wall i’m never gonna pay for.
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@LeeOSanderlin You’ll know it’s going well when you start ordering other shit just because you want it.
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Political street art spotted in Old Northeast St Pete, and they're everywhere
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Social distancing is *not* making plans w/ friends to meet and stay 6 feet apart. The 6 feet is for when you must go out. It is not meeting friends in the park, or going to mom's house for Sunday dinner. It is not a driveway concert. We are all learning.
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Redditors, please start an ironic campaign to disrupt journalism by mass subscribing to local newspapers.
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I asked Indian yogi, guru and author @SadhguruJV, how can people start feeling happier right now? His answer:
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I'm not mad. They linked. I love and read the Washington Post. Mostly I'm just happy to see Al's story out there. But why couldn't you just say, "became something of a local celebrity *after the Tampa Bay Times wrote about him*"??
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Something interesting happened when he started watching the sunrise from the same bench every single day for years.
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.@NiemanLab headline: 'Americans are more willing to pay for local news when they know local newspapers are in trouble, a new study says.'. Me: HELLO PEOPLE.
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Wow. It took ONE DAY to raise the $140,000 needed to move Tampa's confederate monument.
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We all know Tampa International Airport is the best airport in the country but they're just showing off now.
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@FreeJeremyBrown If you want to publicize that brown is still being held and has been transferred, I am writing about this for the Tampa Bay Times. He is mentioned in this story, but I would like to confirm the details. Contact me at cspata@tampabay.com asap. On deadline.
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Spent a week w @TB_Times colleagues documenting the night of Hurricane Helene. 12 locals died, but SO MANY more who didn’t evac had close calls. I tried, but could not capture all the terror and loss. If told to leave for Milton, I beg you, please try.
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Not trying to brag during this tough time but we installed a pool.
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So I thought I was ordering two four-packs of pudding for our hurricane supplies. The package arrived with significantly more than that.
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.@NiemanLab headline: 'Americans are more willing to pay for local news when they know local newspapers are in trouble, a new study says.'.Me: Hello people.
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Approved meals for Thursday, Aug. 23:.Breakfast: Cuban Sandwich .Lunch: Cuban Sandwich.Snack: A handful of roasted almonds.Dinner: Cuban Sandwich.#NationalCubanSandwichDay
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Has anyone checked .
A source says that Trump is indeed planning a July 3 event in Tampa. But where?. Tampa Convention Center is booked. Tampa Airport and Fairgrounds haven't heard anything. Spox for Vinik says they don't discuss whether anyone has asked about Amalie Arena and Yeungling Center.
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Took a page from @RaysBaseball and left this at the office. Wondering if it will work after WFH ends.
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You 👏 should 👏 not 👏 be 👏 meeting 👏 up 👏 with 👏 people 👏 you 👏 don't 👏 live 👏 with 👏 for 👏 fun 👏 or 👏 exercise 👏.
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Went to the movies on assignment for work. I’m sure a guy with this hat, mustache and glasses, watching Space Jam at the $1 family matinee did not creep anyone out.
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Today a story I wrote earned me hate mail from people on both sides of a bitter debate. Glad I could unite them in being angry at me.
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@frisky9 UPDATE on the Cole and Marmalade court cases. Cat Man Chris has now filed his own lawsuit to fight back! And the Gofundme campaign blew past its goal.
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THREAD. Many have already tweeted today about @tb_times absolutely vital investigative and govt. accountability journalism, so I'll ride for the features dept. Here's what you'll get, and support, with a new digital subscription . .
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Everyone, try to use legible handwriting in your personal journals. Some idiot journalist with bad eyesight might be trying to read them 170 years later trying to figure out who is buried in a pirate grave.
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@theneedledrop Flippy Gumsticks is a bad rapper name, but it might be a tie with Boneless Biff Beefcake. Some might think Bust-a-mimes is a bad rapper name, but I kind of like it, though it's a bit on the nose for a rapper that dresses like a mime.
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It's a #Festivus miracle! As far as I know, the @TB_Times is the only newspaper in the world to publish readers' grievances for #Festivus. 💪 (feats of strength emoji). Shout out to @festivusweb for keeping this Seinfeldian tradition alive 😂
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Flash bangs and smoke at St Pete Police headquarters and on Central, protesters firing off fireworks
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.@BobBuckhorn already grew a Letterman /Jon Stewart-esque beard. How long before he's living in St. Pete drinking IPAs and bicycling in cut-off jean shorts ?
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Sir, I'll have you know that the joke's on you, because I constantly rethink every decision I've ever made.
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Here at the Super Bowl. Can’t believe I already found The Weeknd’s port-a-potty.
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Update: they put grandma on the jumbo screen. She is very happy.
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Also, here is a bonus quote from @kumailn that couldn't fit in the profile, but is an image that I really need to put out into the world.
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When did everyone -- myself included -- start saying "I mean" before every sentence? It's the new "I feel like." I can't stop.
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.@kenjeong, who's coming to Clearwater this week, told me what he remembers from his first-ever standup open mic, and lots more. Also, someone in the office said @DaveBautista is like the new @KevinBacon in the six degrees game 😂.
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How did I not know that there was a Festivus pole in the Tampa Bay Times newsroom? Also, please air your grievance via this form so we can publish it in the newspaper.
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I have never clicked out of a story harder than I did after reading this line about the Rays potentially moving to Orlando.
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When you get an eye exam, and the dr goes, “Which is better, one or two?” , etc. they always go way too fast? And they sound just annoyed enough that you blurt something out. And then for the next year you wonder if your prescription is even right? This is the past 34 yrs for me.
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These Reddit commenters just summed up my whole story about bars being open in far fewer words.
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#NationalCubanSandwichDay's a thing if the people say its a thing. Whats the difference between founded and made up?
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A quick thread, but if you live in the Tampa Bay area I think it's an important one. Go here for just a second. Just take a peek, and then come back.
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@kitten_academy News update on the Cole and Marmalade court cases. Cat Man Chris has now filed his own lawsuit. And the Gofundme campaign blew past its goal.
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I love this new comedy 'Florida Girls' premiering on @PopTV and creator Laura Chinn's story of coming up from Clearwater. Yes, it's a silly, half-hour comedy, but as a Florida Man who obsesses over Florida jokes on TV, this one feels special.
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Update: You can buy a framed and matted poster of the @TB_Times Lightning championship front page. Or an unframed, glossy poster version. Details in link:
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There’s a place in Tampa where the video store never died. (I walked in and the guy was ordering more videos on a landline phone!) Not only that, but business is thriving and Grindhouse Video is becoming a tourist destination (for hardcore horror fans).
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Happy Festivus! I got a lot of problems with you people, etc.
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Also, @nillythesquid with possibly my favorite quote ever. "I learned . if you know your debit card off the top of your head, you can bail *yourself* out of jail.".
What's it like when the MTV @FloribamaShore moves in across the street? I talked to a St. Pete Beach woman who enjoyed peeking from her window at 3:30am. PS, I saw the premiere. If you like sloppy reality drama/seeing St. Pete on TV, you'll want to watch.
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Florida people, you should really follow @langstonitaylor. Data presented without context is fueling blowhards who say it’s simple as more testing = more cases. Langston, neck deep in Fla.’s data for weeks, often breaks down what we actually know, and more importantly, don’t know.
Cases are going up, and the question everyone asks is, does that mean more people are sick in real life, or are we just seeing more of them because of more testing? I don't know, but there's some things we should look at.
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I looked at every reference to Tampa on TV, to see what it all says about the city. Then I asked TV writers like @gilozeri WHY??. My theory is that Tina Fey started it.
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The cranes being used to construct the new Howard Frankland Bridge across Tampa Bay have all been tied together, and it looks like their lift cables are dropped in the water (maybe for stability?) ahead of Hurricane Ian.
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Thread: Do you also feel there is a rise in sensible people getting reeled in by wacky conspiracy theories, like "Plandemic"? People who'd never posted that kind of stuff before?. 1/11.
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Journalists, please post screenshots of times you've been told to "go back to journalism school."
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Just saw the 'Anything Goes in Florida' episode of Big Mouth which contains the line, "Welcome to Lakeland, Florida, the upper Bronx of the Tampa Bay area.".
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We took a breathalyzer to Gasparilla. It was a hit. Also, while a lot of the people who tested over the .08 limit said they felt 'okay' to drive, almost all of them were not planning to drive. Glad to hear that. 👏🏼
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What's it like to quit your job to start a true crime podcast? @obscuracrimepod did it from a Tampa Bay garage, and he's far from the only one.
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Have you felt annoyed about anything in 2021? Perhaps, aggrieved? It’s time for the Airing of Grievances. Submit yours via this form and the @TB_Times will publish it for all to reckon with on Festivus. #FestivusSavesTrees @SeinfeldTV.
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Many people are moving to Florida, but many are also getting out of here. Did you leave the state recently after living in the Tampa area? Do you plan to leave soon? I'd like to ask you about why for the @tb_times.
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They chopped up the ice at Amalie Arena and threw it in the dumpster
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Just once I want a Jeopardy host to say “cool story, bro” during the contestant intros.
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Pics: 25,000 strands of Gasparilla beads picked up by @CityofTampa for recycling, and given to MacDonald Training Center for reuse. You can still drop off your used beads at these locations so they don't go in the trash:
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I got on nextdoor thinking I was above it but that it might help with story ideas and now I'm on there complaining to my neighbors that the local movie theater keeps the AC turned up too high, so I guess the lesson is that life comes at you fast.
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Spent the day on a farm. Got headbutted in the crotch by a freakishly strong calf. Farmers laughed at me. Story to come.
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Hey, look at that, I was recognized for a thing. Happy because I love this story.
General Feature, Division 3, Second: Christopher Spata, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, “Want to be Santa? Be Ready for Tough Questions and Heartbreaking Requests” #sfj18.
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Sad to report that the last five functioning outdoor payphones in downtown St. Petersburg, including these three in Williams Park (seen in 2020) have been removed. RIP. Fun fact, I'm told the last place they're profitable/necessary is in prisons, jails and rehab facilities.
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Long story but I went to work today dressed as my departing co-worker Alexa's cat, which is named Santa, our boss dressed as Alexa and then everyone ate cake with a Barbie embedded in it. Where do you work?
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@OkayishAF LOL yes! 30 Rock is the GOAT when it comes to Florida / Tampa Bay sitcom jokes. Jenna Maroney attended the Royal Tampa Academy of Dramatic Tricks and owns a condo in Clearwater, Florida.
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Beekeeper gives wayward bees that attacked a lady in St. Pete a chance to turn their lives around and join the workforce.
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A summary of my latest story: 🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭 🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭.
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