About Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes is a columnist with the Tampa Bay Times. She has been at the Times since 2003, when she became an editorial assistant and just kind of hung around until her bosses gave her more jobs. Before taking on her current role writing humor, she was an editor, leading arts and lifestyle coverage. In that capacity, she oversaw a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and James Beard Award, as well as winners of the National Headliner Awards, Society for Features Journalism and more. Prior to editing, she was a reporter covering local governments, higher education, nightlife, feature obituaries, fashion and performing arts. She won first place for criticism in the Green Eyeshade Awards and a first place National Headliner Award for lifestyle blogging. She’s the author of the novel "Obitchuary," inspired by her time on the death beat. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and lives in Dunedin, Florida, with her husband, stepdaughter, giant cat and tiny dog. Read her column here.

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Unboxing America's Depressing Time Capsule Jun 27, 2026

Date: July 4, 2276 Location: Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Event: Opening of the America 250 time capsule Thank you for coming to the 500th birthday celebration for the Territory of Bezos Sponsored by Diet Coke, fo... Read More

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The Persistence of Rainbows Jun 20, 2026

Do you know how rainbows are made? Sure, most of us remember third-grade science, prisms dancing from a backyard hose. Light plus water equals color. But let's go deeper on the mysterious rainbow, a phenomenon that has long dazzled the world's greate... Read More

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More Florida Show Ideas for John Oliver Jun 13, 2026

Comedian John Oliver blessed the airwaves with a meaty Florida takedown, spending nearly half an hour Sunday dragging the state's hostile takeover of New College of Florida. On HBO's "Last Week Tonight," Oliver touched on college President Richard Co... Read More

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Scenes From a Cash Register in 2026 Jun 06, 2026

Hi. Hi! Did you find everything you were looking for in STORE? Yep, thanks. Just this shirt for you, then? Mmhmm. Soooo cute, girl. What's your email address? Why? Are you on file with us here at STORE? Oh, no thanks... Read More