Northbound Lanes Of Howard Frankland Closing For Two Nights

Heads up travelers! The Florida Department of Transportation is planning two nights of road closures on the northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland next week. This may affect those travelling from Southern Pinellas County. 

If Florida weather allows, the FDOT will close northbound lanes overnight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the nights of Monday, Dec. 12 and Tuesday, Dec. 13. The lanes will be closed to install overhead sign structures along northbound I-275. Work is scheduled to be completed by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

If you're coming from Pinellas and need to head to Hillsborough, you can take either the Courtney Campbell Causeway from Clearwater or the Gandy Bridge from St. Petersburg. Also note that Northbound on-ramps from Pinellas County will be closed from Gandy Boulevard to West Kennedy Boulevard during the work. Drivers using the Gandy Bridge will be detoured to continue along U.S. Highway 92/Gandy Blvd., then turn north onto Dale Mabry Highway before heading west on Kennedy Blvd.

Whether you're going to work or catching a flight at Tampa International Airport, make sure you allow extra time to navigate these detours. For more information on the Howard Frankland Bridge project, click here. 

[Source: Tampa International Airport]

Here are 13 Tampa Bay restaurants that are open on Christmas Day. Looking to start some new Christmas day traditions? Instead of laying in your pj's all day watching A Christmas Story on loop, head over to one of these spots for brunch or dinner.

We tried to stay away from big chains like Waffle House and just focus on local Tampa Bay restaurants. These places will be open, but they may have abbreviated hours so check before making your plan. Don't wait until the last minute to google search "Restaurants open near me." These places may also be packed for the holiday, so we recommend making a reservation in advance. Also, many of these Tampa Bay restaurants will offer a prefixed Holiday menu as well as their full menu! Be sure to check all your options before booking your reservation.

Check out this list of 13 restaurants open on Christmas Day in Tampa Bay!

Oystercatchers is hosting a fancy Christmas Day dinner created by Chef Alessandro Silvestro. The 4 course meal starts at $120 a person. Some selections on the menu include: Estuary Oysters (of course), Lobster and Crab Bisque, and Duck a' l'orange. Click here to make a reservation. 

What's a better Christmas Day tradition than visiting Florida's oldest restaurant? You can also order a whole premade meal to go! The Curbside Noche Buena/Christmas family-style takeout meal at five Columbia locations feeds 8-10 people for $195 (plus tax) and includes:

▪️Roasted Lechon Asado
▪️”1905” Salad®
▪️Yuca con mojo
▪️Moros y Cristianos
▪️Platanos
▪️La Segunda Central Bakery Cuban bread and butter
▪️Key lime pie

Click here for more info

Don't feel like dressing up for a fancy dinner? Head over to Datz where you can be comfy and cozy. Brunch can get pretty crazy packed at Datz, so we recommend making a reservation. 

Tis the season at Kona Grill! They'll be open Christmas Eve & Day Dinner. The menu features Prime Rib, Ham & Turkey Specials (A La Carte Menu also available).

Holiday hours are 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. They'll have a special holiday menu and full menu available as well. Click here to make a reservation. 

Nestled in the heart of historic Hyde Park, Timpano embodies the warmth of an Italian kitchen during the day and the energy of a neighborhood cocktail bar at night. Click here to make a reservation. 

See what they hype is all about at Meat Market in Hyde Park. Click here to make your reservations. 

Whether you're creating a new family tradition or joining again, gather your loved ones and celebrate at Ruth’s this holiday season. They're open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to serve you. Or you can order a meal to take home! Click here for reservations. 

Celebrate Christmas at Rusty Pelican Tampa! Enjoy a Four-Course Brunch or A la Carte Dinner with panoramic views. Christmas Day brunch is from 9a-3:30p. Dinner is served from 4:30p-9p. Adults $82 | Children $35 | Bottle of Champagne $46 

Click here to make reservations and see the prefixed menu! 

Treat yourself and your family to a dining experience you won't forget.

Élevage at Epicurean Hotel is a great spot to try a elevated Christmas Day dinner. Click here to make reservations. 

Enjoy a waterfront brunch or dinner at Jackson's in Tampa. They'll be open from 12p -7:30p on Christmas Day. Click here for reservations. 

With it most likely being a warm Christmas, what's a better way to spend it than on the water at Ricks?