Let’s discuss Florida’s wild weather on the big stage Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Hi , There’s no better place to call home than Tampa Bay, especially for a guy like me who has spent the past three decades covering big weather events for a living.  As a local meteorologist dedicated to tracking all kinds of storms and hurricanes while wearing suspenders and dad shoes, I was stoked when Poynter asked me to lead a conversation about the weather I’ve covered and its effect on Tampa Bay residents.  You’re invited to join us at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 12, at the Straz Center.  That’s right. They’re putting me on a stage in the same venue that presents my favorite Broadway classic, “Wicked.” I can’t believe it either.  GET TICKETS While I may or may not belt out “Defying Gravity” on stage (hey, that sounds weather-related to me!), I’m looking forward to engaging with you about a topic that is so important to our daily lives, too.  The program will include stunning visuals from Florida's most historic storms and a chat with a journalist, a climate expert and a surprise guest — all of whom have dedicated their careers to helping keep you and your family safe. I’ll also share my predictions for the upcoming hurricane season and answer your questions about Florida weather in a town hall Q&A. And we’ll have plenty of fun along the way. GET TICKETS Plus, VIP guests will be invited to join me at Maestro’s at The Straz before the show for a 6:30 p.m. meet-and-greet. Let’s take selfies, eat hor d’oeuvres and enjoy an open bar, including Rule #7 Hurricane Pale Ale that Crooked Thumb is awesome enough to brew in my honor. See you at The Straz! Denis Phillips Chief Meteorologist ABC Action News P.S. Stay after the show and pick up your free Rule #7 t-shirt which my colleagues at ABC Action News designed just for this event. I’ll stick around, too! The Poynter Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to improve journalism in service to democracy. Proceeds from “Poynter at The Straz” will support Poynter’s efforts to stoke civil connection and thoughtful expression between journalists and the communities they serve.   Interested in sponsoring “Poynter at The Straz?” Contact Chief Development Officer Deborah Read at [email protected] or 805-400-8543 for more information.  ADVERTISE // DONATE // LEARN // JOBS Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here. © All rights reserved Poynter Institute 2023 801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 If you don't want to receive email updates from Poynter, we understand. You can change your subscription preferences or unsubscribe from all Poynter emails.