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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa
THEE PHOTO NINJA
Editorial DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker POLITICAL CARTOONIST Bob Whitmore SPRING INTERN Suz Townsend Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson Advertising SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda Events and Marketing MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Leigh Wilson MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER Corrie Miserendino
Is basic respect for others too much to ask?
Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta
chavagroup.com cltampabay.com cldeals.com EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Events & Media, LLC, 633 N Franklin St., Suite 735. Tampa, Florida, 33602. The physical edition is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampabay.com. Copyright 2023, Tampa Events and Media, LLC.
FreeFall’s Vonnegut play runs through March 10, p. 37.
JASON RYAN C/O GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Chava Communications Group FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Michael Wagner CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Cassandra Yardeni Wagner OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Hollie Mahadeo DIRECTOR OF AGENCY SERVICES Kelsey Molina SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Meradith Garcia DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY Colin Wolf ART DIRECTOR David Loyola DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Jaime Monzon
NEWS+VIEWS ����������������������� 17 FOOD+DRINK ������������������������ 23 A&E �������������������������������������� 37 MUSIC ���������������������������������� 41 MUSIC WEEK ������������������������ 45 ORACLE OF YBOR ����������������� 51 SAVAGE LOVE ����������������������� 53 CROSSWORD ������������������������ 54
Tampa Bay’s underground music scene is alive and well. Ortrotasce joins a Miami ripper in St. Pete this weekend, p. 46.
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YSANNE TAYLOR
Dancing in the rain All photos c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
G
DARYL BOWEN
NICOLAS DECASTRO
asparilla Music Festival opened the door to its new home at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park last weekend, and a rowdy crowd filed in on Friday night. The rain, however, decided to park on top of the festival grounds on Saturday and Sunday, but that didn’t stop lovers of live music and nonprofit’s mission to put instruments in the hands of Tampa schoolkids from dancing in the rain. See more photos via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa
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do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from February 22 - 29
Retail therapy
Ybor, the city
Billed as “St. Pete’s celebration of all things local,” this Best of the Bay-winning makers market returns for another year of showcasing small businesses in The ‘Burg. The 11th annual Localtopia brings over 300 local vendors, food trucks, kid-friendly activities, breweries, live performances and more to the heart of downtown. Just a handful of artists, vendors and community organizations that will be tabling include Mother Komucha, Shine Mural Festival, St. Pete Bike Co-op, Greens n’ Things Urban Farm, Lida’s Jungle and Nomad Art Bus, plus bites from Latin Lunchbox, Twisted Indian, Nah Dogs Vegan Hot Dog Cart, Lost Coast Oyster Company, Foodie Labs and much more. Localtopia is separated into multiple “villages” that focus on familyfriendly activities, plants, health and wellness, arts and food trucks and there’s tons of information about each category on its website. Event organizers Keep Saint Petersburg Local encourage attendees to consider alternative methods of transportation like the trolley, Sunrunner or bicycle (with free valet service) to get to Localtopia, since parking in downtown St. Pete will be sparse.
11th Annual Localtopia: Saturday, Feb. 24. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Localtopia.keepsaintpetersburglocal.org
—Kyla Fields
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
Fiesta Day returns to Ybor City on Saturday, but the structures that define the district’s nearly 150-year history come alive again as part of a long-running tour that returns this week. The district is imbued with a rich history beginning in 1880 as a small neighborhood of Cuban and Spanish immigrants which grew into a bustling ciEBYABE, CC BY-SA 3.0 gar industry. It’s gone through numerous changes, and is on the cusp of another, but its buildings tell a lot of the story. The Ybor City Architecture Hop begins with a send-off party at Cigar Worker’s Park, recently opened by the J.C. Newman Cigar Company which has been hand-rolling cigars in Ybor since 1910. The tour then transports participants back in time, offering guided tours of historic buildings and transportation between them via trolley. Stops include Centro Asturiano (pictured), Empad Architecture and Design, La Benefica Española building and several others. Light bites and refreshments will be offered at each stop.
Ybor City Museum Society: 12th annual ‘Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop,’ Thursday, Feb. 29. 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. $55. Cigar Workers Park. 1530 E Columbus Dr, Tampa. Ybormuseum.org —Suz Townsend
Berry excited
In 2023, more than 600,000 people filed in and out of the Florida Strawberry Festival, and the 2024 edition kicks off next Thursday. Livestock contests (lamb show, anyone?), a carnival midway, plus insane food events like the strawberry mashed potato eating contest, plus headlining entertainment (read more in Music Week) are all on deck as part of this 11-day, annual celebration of Plant City’s prized export. Publix has discount admission tickets if you want to skip the line at the gate. Kids under five get in free with paid adult admission.
Florida Strawberry Festival: Feb. 29-March 10. Daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (with ‘Midnight Magic’ hours until 2 a.m. on Friday March 8.) $5-$15. 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City. flstrawberryfestival.com
—Ray Roa
JARUNEEPC/ADOBE
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See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Bring me my Chapstick
Napoleon Dynamite is coming to town, and he’s bringing Uncle Rico and Pedro along for the ride for this very special two-night 20th anniversary celebration of the 2004 comedy cult classic. A press release promises a screening for the film, plus “a wild and hysterical blend of Q&A, comedy improv, game show, and party, with plenty of audience participation,” surrounding the uncomfortably-hilarious coming of age comedy full of quotes and quips that injected themselves into the daily lexicon long before meme culture ruined everything within one news cycle. Kip is not part of the show, because he’s probably staying home and eating all the freakin’ chips, or chatting with babes online.
‘Napoleon Dynamite Live!’: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 23-24. 7:30 p.m. $39 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre. 405 Cleveland Street, Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com
—Ray Roa
FOX SEARCHLIGHT
Different strokes
DAVE DECKER
The Green Book of Tampa Bay hosts its second annual art showcase and gala as 2024’s Black History Month comes to an end, and its attendees can enjoy hand-picked works from 30-plus African American painters, photographers, musicians and visual artists from every corner of the Bay area. Other local sponsors of this weekend’s Black Arts Gala include the Gobioff Foundation, Armature Works, Symphonic Distribution, Shuffle Tampa, and more. And when it’s not hosting fancy, waterfront galas, St. Pete nonprofit Green Book of Tampa Bay is adding onto its evergrowing directory of locally-owned Black businesses, from restaurants and auto repair companies to artists, hair salons and realtors. Its year-round mission is “to increase Black economic vitality in Tampa Bay by connecting Black businesses and the broader community through a digital business directory, business development resources, and cultural experiences.”
Northern Pride
Unity and acceptance are the central themes of Pasco’s Pride celebration, which in recent years has moved out of New Port Richey to Land O Lakes. Organizers in the northern Bay area have lined up mainstage performances including music, poetry, and drag, plus local vendors, LGBTQ+ community services, food trucks and more. “We have an amazing location, a strong team of volunteers, and a renewed sense of purpose following the brutal assaults on marginalized communities that ramped up this year. We know that Florida needs intentional spaces for queer folks to gather and organize, now more than ever.” Diana Shanks, Executive Director of Pasco Pride, wrote in a release. Admission is free, but the organization is collecting $20 donations to help with costs.
2nd Annual Black Arts Gala: Sunday, Feb. 25. 7 p.m. $29.75 & up. Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl, Tampa. greenbooktb.com —Kyla Fields
Pasco Pride Festival: Saturday, Feb. 24. Noon-6 p.m. No cover. Heritage Park, 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., Land O Lakes. pascopridefestival.com —Ray Roa ROB HARRIS C/O STRAZ CENTER
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“In Hillsborough, there are currently four other islands with residential zoning.” POLITICS
ISSUES
OPINION
Hold my Beer Can
Bay area party island is now on the market for $14.2 million, plus more local news. By Colin Wolf The island will remain closed to the public until a sale is complete, according to the press release. See photos of the island via cltampa. com/slideshows. Jared Smith's request to be shielded from testifying in case against Hillsborough County circuit judge denied An appeals-court judge last Tuesday withdrew a request for the Florida Supreme Court to shield him from testifying in a disciplinary case against a Hillsborough County circuit judge. Jared Smith, a judge on the 6th District Court of Appeal, filed a motion Friday asking the Supreme Court to block a deposition sought by attorneys for Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Nancy Jacobs. The state Judicial Qualifications Commission is pursuing a disciplinary case against Jacobs, who in a 2022 election defeated Smith, who was then a Hillsborough County circuit judge. Gov. Ron DeSantis subsequently appointed Smith to the appeals court. An investigative panel of the commission in September alleged that Jacobs made
LOCAL NEWS
“inappropriate and disparaging” remarks about Smith during the election and improperly injected partisan politics into the campaign. But Jacobs has also accused Smith of acting improperly during the campaign and subpoenaed the appeals-court judge for a deposition. In a notice filed Tuesday dropping the motion to block the deposition, lawyers for Smith cited a final hearing scheduled March 27 in Jacobs’ case at the Judicial Qualifications Commission. The notice said that because resolving the motion to prevent the deposition “risks interfering with the JQC (Judicial Qualifications Commission) proceedings … Judge Smith hereby withdraws the motion and will coordinate a time and place” for a deposition.—Jim Saunders/ News Service of Florida Authorities capture kangaroo running through Temple Terrace backyards A large kangaroo was popping up on doorbell cameras in Temple Terrace, and last Thursday local authorities were finally able to wrangle the loose marsupial. In a Feb. 8 video posted to social media, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to an
apartment complex near Fowler Avenue and 56th Street, after someone called stating that there’s a kangaroo in the pool area. “Fire or medical?” the dispatcher asked in the video. “I guess police. There’s, uh, a kangaroo in my apartment complex,” said the caller. HSCO says the kangaroo was reunited with its owner after they showed proper registrations for ownership of the animal. Over the last couple days, residents in the area shared images and doorbell camera footage of the lost kangaroo, with some claiming it roamed as far north as Fletcher Avenue. This actually isn’t the first time a loose kangaroo was spotted in this area of Hillsborough County. A few years ago, a pet kangaroo named “Jack” broke free and ran amuck in the same Temple Terrace neighborhood. It’s unclear if this is the same ‘roo. Surprisingly, owning a pet kangaroo is not exactly illegal in Florida, as long as their owners have the proper permits. In 2020, a Fort Lauderdale man faced two second-degree misdemeanor charges and a $500 fine after his pet kangaroo escaped and caused a police pursuit.
JUDGE PR
T
ampa Bay’s premier party island is now for sale. Beer Can Island, a small spit of sand in between Apollo Beach and MacDill Air Force Base, hit the market last week, with a $14. 2 million price tag. Technically called Pine Key, the listing includes the entire nine-acre island and the surrounding 60 acres of submerged land and all riparian rights. “This opportunity is exceedingly rare, as Pine Key is one of the only privately owned islands in Tampa Bay,” said Cole Weaver, majority owner of Pine Key in a statement. In 2017, Weaver, and three other friends—Johnny Gadd, Russell Loomis, and James West—purchased the island for $64,000, and over time added bathrooms, tiki bars, trash cans, security, water slides and even sold memberships to access the amenities. However, last year Hillsborough County argued that the island needed to address a number of code violations and safety concerns, and proposed that it become a nature preserve (a move that would shut down the tiki bar). The new owners will have to take this issue head on, as the island is currently unzoned. “In Hillsborough, there are currently four other islands with residential zoning,” said the press release. “Notably, one spans 2.58 acres with ‘residential 20’ zoning, emphasizing spacious residential possibilities, and another, 1.41 acres, is zoned ‘residential 4,’ showcasing potential for more concentrated yet appealing layouts. These instances provide valuable insights into the diverse residential zoning options already enjoyed within the county, offering precedents for the island’s prospective development pending proper zoning and regulatory considerations.” Besides the zoning mess, any potential buyer will also have to deal with the fact that the island is literally shrinking. As Paul Guzzo pointed out, Beer Can Island was roughly 23 acres before it was last purchased and most recently was five-feet underwater during Hurricane Idalia. “We’re grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the community and our members over the years, but all good things must come to an end at some point, and for us, that time is now,” continued Weaver.
SHRINKING OPPORTUNITY: Beer Can Island was roughly 23 acres before it was last purchased.
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FOOD & DRINK EVENTS Tampa Bay Beer Week March 1-10. Everywhere tampabaybeerweek.com
RESTAURANTS
RECIPES
DINING GUIDES
Beer necessities
Tampa Bay Beer Week release parties, festivals and more. By Kyla Fields
T
Florida Brewers Guild Beer Festival The guild hosts its annual festival in Tampa, which in 2024 brings over 100 breweries from every corner of the Sunshine State right to Sulphur Springs. Enjoy over 300 different beer samples, food trucks, bands and DJs. Saturday, March 2. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. $60. River Tower Park. 401 E Bird St., Tampa. Flbrewersguild.ticketleap.com Brewers Ball Pro and amateur brewers come together for the Best Florida Beer Championships’ “Best of Show” winners. Tickets include food, music, and samples. Sunday, March 3. Noon-5 p.m. $30-$60. River Tower Park, 401 E Bird St., Tampa. Eventbrite.com
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
ampa Bay Beer Week runs March 1-10 this year, and the cross-bay celebration is filled with festivals, unique beer releases, pop-ups from out-of-town breweries and tap takeovers for all palates—whether you’re into funky ferments and barrel-aged beers or crispy lagers and straightforward ales. Head to tampabaybeerweek.com for more information on its multitude of beer-centric events happening in March. See this listing for some of the events, and check out the full and updated slate of TBBW happenings via cltampa.com/food. Don’t see your event? Submit it yourself via cltampa.com then email rroa@cltampa.com and kyla@cltampa.com to let us know. StrawBEERy Fest weekend Rapp Brewing Co. celebrates the launch of TBBW and the beginning of Florida’s strawberry season with its fruity beer drop, which includes a chocolate strawberry stout and strawberry lemon gose. Friday-Sunday, March 1-3. No cover. Rapp Brewing Company, 10930 Endeavour Way, Seminole. rappbrewing.com The Other Side of the Pint Join Bastet Brewing for an exclusive screening of the “One Pint at a Time” documentary, film that explores the few Black-owned craft breweries across the country and how their owners are striving to be more than just 1% of the industry. Attendees can get the first taste of a collaborative beer brewed with Atlanta-based Draught Season and also purchase limited “Beer is Black History” merch. Friday, March 1. 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. $2550. Bastet Brewing 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. @bastetbrewing on Instagram Tap takeover at Clear Sky Trinity’s Escape Brewing Co. takes over the taps at Clearwater’s Clear Sky Draught House with 14 of its lagers, hazy IPAs, sours, wheat ales and pilsners. Friday, March 1. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. Clear Sky Draught House, 680 Main St., Dunedin. Escapebrewingcompany.com The Ultimate Brew The “official pre-party of TBBW,” features a massive, collaborative brew made of different types of hops from over 30 local breweries. Mingle with brewers and sip on a variety of local beers at this relaxed event that’s definitely, totally, and actually, “not a beer festival.” Friday, March 1. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $30. TBBC, 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa. Eventbrite.com
First Helping This limited-edition drop is for all of the sweet toothed beer-lovers. Corporate Ladder releases a variety of dessert-flavored brews on draft and in to-go packs—with flavors like strawberry jelly doughnut, banana pudding and barrel-aged sundae—which can also be enjoyed at its annual “Pi Day” party on Friday, March 8. Tuesday, March 5. Noon-10 p.m. No cover. Corporate Ladder Brewing Company, 4935 96th St E, Palmetto. corporateladderbrewing.com Cinco de Marzo Ology teams up with South Florida’s Tripping Animals for a night of Mexican lagers, margaritas and birria tacos. The Seminole Heights brewery hosts other food trucks throughout the week, with a lobster roll pop-up on March 7 and a collaborative “crawfishpalooza” with Louisiania’s Parish Brewing on March 10. Tuesday, March 5. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. Ology Brewing, 6401 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Ologybrewing.com
FUNKY FERMENTS: Green Bench Brewing Co. hosts its ‘Foeder for Thought’ party in conjunction with Webb City Cellar’s anniversary. Shakespeare on Tap! Local actors Giles Davies and William Glenn of Tampa’s Jobsite Theater “will give a tipsy one-night only production of Shakespeare skits” on The Independent’s patio at 7 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The event will also feature brews from Samuel Smith’s Brewery of Yorkshire England, plus more options from the Seminole Heights bar’s outstanding taplist. Monday, March 4. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover. Independent Bar and Cafe, 5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa. independentbartampa.com
Try This! This Seminole Heights beer and wine bar hosts a tasting event where guests can enjoy small bites alongside a selection of locally-crafted beers or homebrews. Tuesday, March 5. 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. $15. C.1949, 6905 N Orleans Ave., Tampa. C1949.com Homebrew Wednesday Special Hoperations, a Tampa-based homebrew club where enthusiasts compare their beer, mead, and wine—hosts a TBBW meet-up where attendees can sample a variety of homebrews and even vote for their favorite
beer as part of the event’s “People’s Choice” competition. Wednesday, March 6. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. BarrieHaus Beer Co.,1403 E 5th Ave.,Ybor City. specialhoperations.org Arkane in the Membrane This event’s $100 GA ticket comes with a bottle of Willett Family Estate Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout, three hours of unlimited sampling of Arkane Aleworks’ best brews and commemorative merch. Its VIP tickets have already sold out, so don’t sleep on purchasing GA entry. Wednesday, March 6. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $100. Arkane Aleworks, 2480 East Bay Dr. no. 23, Largo. Arkanebeer.com King State’s Lagerfest Since King State no longer has a beer headquarters with the recent closure of its Brutalist taproom in St. Pete, Magnanimous Brewing’s new Seminole Heights spot will host the 30-plus lager-forward brews at 2024’s Lagerfest. A general admission ticket comes with unlimited pours and a commemorative glass. There’s also a Lagerfest afterparty at Tampa’s Independent Bar and Cafe from 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7. 4 p.m.- 8p.m. $50-$80. Magnanimous Brewing, 6809 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. King-state.com Kaleidoscope Beer Fest Artsy beer festival with over 20 breweries slinging everything from light beers and IPAs to fruited sours, plus beer label artists creating live art throughout the outdoor event. And if you get too drunk, you may end up purchasing one of the art pieces for your living room or man cave. Friday, March 8. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. $45. Florida Avenue Brewing Company, 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel. floridaavebrewing.com 2nd Annual Lager Layover If barrel-aged and wild fermented brews aren’t your thing, then head to Grand Central Brewhouse for a night filled with crispy lagers and other palate cleansers. Enjoy live music and happy hour specials, too. Friday, March 8. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. No cover. Grand Central Brewhouse, 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Grandcentralbrew.com Foeder for Thought This TBBW party eems to grow larger each yearand once again brings “fermentation forward” beers to its patrons, plus panel discussions hosted by Michael Kiser of Good Beer Hunting, commemorative merch and entertainment. This year’s Foeder for Thought coincides with Webb City Cellar’s fifth anniversary, so expect a few funky meads on tap, too. And if you don’t want to shell out $100 for a ticket, you can always purchase featured beers by the glass. Friday, March 8. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. $115. Green Bench Brewing Co., 133 Baum Ave. N, St. Petersburg. greenbenchbrewing.com
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Tire’d and true
Six new Tampa restaurants added to Michelin Guide, plus more local food news.
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eloved downtown Tampa sandwich and wine shop Supernatural just celebrated Altons Brownshog Day in honor of the time the celebrity chef saved the shop, and last week, founder Wesley Roderick and his team added another plaque its wall of fame. While the Michelin Guide already awarded 2023 stars and bibs to a few Tampa restaurants last summer, it updated the guide with 19 more recommended restaurants— including Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, Streetlight Taco, The Pearl, Ebbe, and Kosen.A press release says the 2024 Michelin Guide Ceremony will be held April 18 in Tampa. Inspectors for the guide— which Visit Tampa Bay welcomed to Tampa in 2022—missed out on mentioning the spot’s famous bacon, egg, and cheese or sour doughnuts, but praised Supernatural for its greek feta & olive sandwich, adding that the casual lunch and breakfast staple is a “a bright, mood-elevating kind of place.” “We are proud to serve the Tampa community and will always strive to meet and exceed the expectations of our community,” Roderick told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the Michelin nod. “Fuck yeah, baby!” Michelin inspectors were also impressed by Predalina’s blistered cauliflower, Streetlight Taco’s Sunday snack tostada, the dessert at The Pearl, Ebbe’s hyper-focused tasting menu, and the sea bream wrapped around sprouts with shaved black truffle at Kosen. Three Tampa restaurants—Lilac at Tampa Edition, Koya omakase and Tampa Heights Italian spot Rocca—earned the city’s first Michelin stars last May, while Bib Gourmands previously went to New Tampa Nepali restaurant Gorkhali Kitchen, perennial Seminole Heights favorite Rooster & the Till (which is in the midst of its 10th anniversary year), and SoHo Greek restaurant Psomi.—Ray Roa
For one, the original Magnanimous location on Florida Avenue has a roof leak. Luckacina said the building’s landlords refuse to correct the issue, despite potential impending electrical damage. Magnanimous has four to five more years on its lease but won’t be able to renew it once it’s up. So for Magnanimous—which would have had to find a new place anyways—the old 7venth Sun building was the perfect fit because it already had the space the company needed to brew their beers. Instead of looking for a new facility that would be more expensive to convert, Luckacina’s team opted to start up the new location and spend way less than they would a total remodel. All Magnanimous did to the old 7venth Sun was throw up TVs and retile the bathrooms. The higher brewing capacity also allows Magnanimous—which has another location in Bradenton—to produce more beer, a much needed feature since they brew for other companies including King State and its recentlyshuttered taphouse The Brutalist. Luckacina explained that brewing today isn’t as profitable as it was years ago, so being able to pick up contracts from other breweries is lucrative. Despite the proximity of the two locations, the Florida Avenue spot—which opened out of an old church in 2020—hasn’t seen a significant dip in business over the two weeks that Magnanimous Seminole Heights has been open. “It’s a completely different crowd,” Luckacina said about the new regulars up the road. He added that Seminole Heights patrons are also happy to have a more community-focused business in that location rather than the building being converted to another storage facility or office space. To honor the new digs, Magnanimous brought back not one or two, but four Hazy IPAs to the tap list the week of the new location’s opening. The tasting room in Seminole Heights boasts 24 taps, 10 arcade units and TVs. Food trucks are announced and updated on the brewery’s social media pages.The new tasting room hours vary, with doors open from Wednesday through Sunday.—Suzanne Townsend
FOOD NEWS
Tampa Heights’ Magnanimous Brewing opens new location in Seminole Heights There’s no shortage of breweries in Seminole Heights, as evidenced by the neighborhood’s latest taproom opening. Magnanimous Brewing’s third tasting room opened Feb. 2, taking over 7venth Sun Brewing Company’s old Tampa brewery and taphouse at 6809 N Nebraska Ave. The award-winning brewery’s two Tampa locations are less than five miles apart, a seemingly odd choice for a business, but Magnanimous Brewing co-founder Mike Luckacina explained the decision in a short conversation with CL.
Dunedin Mix, a food hall with a rotating carousel bar, is now open in Pinellas County A multi-faceted business that bills itself as “a fresh take on the old food hall concept” quietly opened its doors this month. Mixed-use food hall and retail space Dunedin Mix at 990 Broadway recently celebrated its soft opening
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SUPERNATURALFOODANDWINE/FACEBOOK
By Kyla Fields
NOT-SO-HIDDEN GEM: Michelin added downtown Tampa’s go-to lunch spot, Supernatural, to its Florida guide. and welcomed a bustling, bead-wearing Mardi Gras crowd last Tuesday. Currently, there are three culinary concepts open at Dunedin Mix: Polynesian eatery Huli Bowl and Rotisserie, Italian spot Al Dente and a globally-inspired tapas restaurant called Spoons. According to social media, its fourth concept called The Green Table Smashbox—an extension of the popular Palm Harbor vegetarian restaurant—is expected to make its debut soon. The centerpiece of the food hall’s shared dining room is certainly its rotating bar called Circle 1852. The 360-degree circular bar is decorated like a traditional carousel and slowly rotates around while patrons sip on craft cocktails, beer and wine. First reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal last fall, the roughly 10,000 square-foot “French industrialist/mixologist” space was originally slated to open at the end of 2023.Owner of Paramount Construction Group Brandon Stanley—who operates Dunedin Mix alongside wife Ashley Stanley and mother Kristen Ernst— purchased the property for $680,000 back in 2018, according to TBBJ. They originally intended to construct residential real estate before pivoting to a mixed-used food hall project and have since invested more than $2.5 million into the project.
For the latest news on Dunedin’s new food hall, boutique and event space, head to its Facebook or Instagram, both at @DunedinMix. Dunedin Mix is now open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. TuesdayWednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday and is closed on Mondays. ICYMI • Good Food Creations, a Tampa-based catering company, recently purchased FLocale’s former Seminole Heights space for $2.745 million, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Previous to being a food hall, the 8,568 square-foot building at 5910 N Florida Ave. was also home to once-popular restaurants The Refinery and Fodder & Shine. • Indian Rocks Beach’s Original Crabby Bill’s recently announced the addition of a 10% service fee on all of its bills, WFLA reports. While some may regard the service fee as an additional headache, popular restaurants across Tampa Bay have started to implement the new labor model to “help pay for the workers’ hourly wages, insurance and benefits,” including The Feinstein Group’s The Living Room and The Black Pearl in Dunedin as well as The Birchwood, Teak and Canopy in St. Pete—which all require a 20% service fee.
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3 CAR GARAGE Small-batch craft beer and rotating food trucks plus live music and happy hour specials. 8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton. 941-741-8877, 3cargaragebrewing.com 3 DAUGHTERS BREWING One of downtown St. Pete’s most popular hangouts and a beautiful facility in which to drink some great brews. The brewery also has an outpost on Clearwater Beach. 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-495-6002, 3dbrewing.com 3 KEYS BREWING South-of-the-Skyway restaurant and brewery and gastrobrew specializing in small batches. 2505 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton. 951-2180396, 3keysbrewing.com 5 BRANCHES BREWING Soon-to-open veteranowned brewery, slinging small batches of IPAs, stouts and more. Serving brews and a clear view of the Tarpon Bayou. 131 Hibiscus St, Tarpon Springs. 727483-9122, fivebranchesbrewing.com 7VENTH SUN BREWING Some of the best sours, IPAs and collabs going at one of Tampa Bay’s OG breweries. 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013. 7venthsun.com 81BAY BREWING CO. South Tampa’s first craft brewery boasts a wide variety of styles. You can still drink it, but the taproom is closed for renovation. 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 813-837-BREW, 81baybrewco.com ANECDOTE BREWING CO. Sip inside or on the patio of Indian Rocks Beach’s first micro brewery. 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. anecdotebrewing.com ANGRY CHAIR BREWING Crazy-good Seminole Heights beer, open Tuesday-Sunday. The taproom has tons of parking and a food shanty that low-key slings some of the best chicken wings in Tampa Bay. 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com ARKANE ALEWORKS A wide variety of styles and flavors from the second brewery to open in Largo. 2480 E Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. Lager-specific brewery, carrying on a more than 150-year brewing legacy. With Zydeco gone from the historic district, it serves the cleanest beers in Ybor City. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. 813-242-2739 barriehaus.com BASTET BREWING Named after the Egyptian catgoddess, the brewery offers seasonal ales, ciders and even the occasional ginger beer. 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. 813-242-0064, bastetbrewing.com
BREW LIFE BREWING Ultra-small batches and a lot of ‘em at this unassuming plaza brewery. 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. Tarpon Springs spot specializing in music-inspired brews like the “So Fresh n’ So Clean sour” and “All the Single Belgians.” 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 7272-940-2350, @brighterdaysbrewco on Facebook BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. A multitude of styles from former garage brewers is on tap in Valrico. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com CAGE BREWING Custom brews in the Grand Central District from one of the ‘Burg’s best brewery-music venues. 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278. cagebrewing.com CALEDONIA BREWING Great in-house beers in the historic Dunedin Times building. 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com CALUSA BREWING Family-owned and operated; open Tuesday-Sunday. 5377 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, 941-552-8846, calusabrewing.com CIGAR CITY BREWING Tampa’s most famous craft brewery has its headquarters and mothership in Carver City. There’s also a taproom at Amalie Arena and inside Tampa International Airport. 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-348-6363, cigarcitybrewing.com CHANNELSIDE BREWING CO. This new addition to the bustling Channelside district is a contract brewing facility with a few neat pilsners and IPAs of its own. 802 N 12th St., Suite C, Tampa. 813-5925700, channelsidebrewing.com COMMERCE BREWING Live entertainment, events, and a wide variety of brews live at this newly-opened taproom. 521 Commerce Dr. S, Largo. 727-330-7011, commercebrewing@gmail.com COMMON DIALECT BEERWORKS Seminole Heights’ new family and dog friendly brewery—located right next to the Health Mutt pet store—has a familial and welcoming feel for all walks of life, plus beer from longtime brewer Mike Conze. 5023 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-443-6659. commondialectbeer.com COPP WINERY & BREWERY A one-stop shop for all wine, beer and brewery needs in Crystal River. 7855 W Gulf Lake Highway, Crystal River. 352-228-8103, coppbrewery.com COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. Some of Tampa’s best beer, in one of its best tasting rooms complete with killer kitchen. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com
BAYBORO BREWING CO. Veteran-owned kidfriendly brewery that has tons of events to go with its creative tap list and low-key music venue/listening room that tops most others in Pinellas. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-767-9666, bayborobrewing.com
CORPORATE LADDER BREWING COMPANY Brewery focused on customer experience and celebrating social gatherings. 4935 96th St. E, Palmetto. 941-479-4799, corporateladderbrewing.com
BIG STORM BREWING CO. Brewery with fun, signature brews (Bromosa, anyone?), and a gigantic footprint that includes a Pasco Storm Room, Clearwater outpost and new Ybor City spot overlooking 7th Avenue. bigstormbrewery.com
COTEE RIVER BREWING Craft beer in the heart of historic downtown New Port Richey. 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-8076806, coteeriverbrewing.com
BIG TOP BREWING Perhaps Sarasota’s premier purveyor of locally crafted beer, Big Top’s reputation has spread far beyond the region and gets served up at two locations just south of Tampa and St. Petersburg. bigtopbrewing.com BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. This Tampa taproom from Bootleggers Beer & Wine Home Brewing Supplies offers house-made suds and guest beers.10256 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com BREW HUB Some of the area’s best beers are produced here along with suds for their own label. 3900 Frontage Rd. S., Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com
COURTESY
Twice a year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay does a big update on this listing featuring Tampa Bay’s many breweries. Help CL with this ongoing project. Did we miss a brewery or leave out an important detail? Let’s get that in here. Email rroa@cltampa.com and kyla@cltampa.com. Include brewery name, address, phone number and website, plus a short description of the unique offerings. (Last updated Feb. 22, 2024)
CRAFT LIFE BREWING Originally based in Land O’ Lakes, this small-batch spot brewery now serves sips out of its larger location in Hudson. 46810 Tower Dr, Hudson. 727-378-4530, craftlifebrewingcompany.com CROOKED THUMB BREWERY Safety Harbor’s first brewery boasts homegrown flavor and local guest taps, plus local food trucks and a stacked live music calendar. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-7245953, crookedthumbbrew.com CUENI BREWING CO. Located off the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin and is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary there. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing.com
Common Dialect Beerworks CYCLE BREWING A true destination of The ‘Burg’s and one of the OG craft breweries in downtown St. Pete, quietly slinging one of St. Pete’s best beer menus to devoted regulars who watch the world go through Cycle’s garage doors. 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. cyclebrewing.com DADE CITY BREW HOUSE The heart of downtown Dade City’s destination for original beers, wines and ciders. 14323 7th St., Dade City. 352-218-3122, dadecitybrewhouse.com DE BINE BREWING CO. This addition bolsters the Northern Pinellas craft beer scene. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964, debinebrewingco.com DENTED KEG ALE WORKS Local brewery nestled in downtown New Port Richey. 5500 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-232-2582, dentedkegaleworks.com DEVIANT LIBATION Latest project from local beer god Tim Ogden now open in Ybor Heights. Food trucks are regularly on site, and you might catch a local hardcore show there, too. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727-379-4677, deviantlibation.com DISSENT CRAFT BREWING CO. Unique flavors and adventurous style outside downtown St. Pete. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-342-0255. @dissentcraftbrewing on Facebook DUNEDIN BREWERY Florida’s oldest microbrewery features beer, eats and live music in what’s now become an iconic setting. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER This beer stop brews its own, and also has 40 guest taps. 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 216-6318, dunedinhob.com ESCAPE BREWING CO. Another very worthy Odessa-Trinity destination that’s in the process of building out a new food hall. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany. com FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. Beer for the Sunshine State brewed in a family-friendly taproom. Its newly-opened location in Seminole Heights dishes out a full food and cocktail menu, while the Wesley Chapel hub gives the greater Bay area a chance to imbibe. floridaavebrewing.com
FLORIDA BREWERY Built in 1937, the second oldest brewery in Florida offers a Lager-focused brew menu that’s distributed to 15 countries around the globe. 202 Gandy Rd., Auburndale. 863-965-1825, floridabrewery.com FRONT PAGE BREWING CO. This Bartow brewery offers Wednesday trivia, Thursday bingo and live music on the weekends. 190 S Florida Ave., Bartow. 863-537-7249, frontpagebrewing.com GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE 10,270 square-foot brewery, taproom, beer garden, and event venue with a lager-focused tap list. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-202-6071, grandcentralbrew.com GREEN BENCH BREWING CO. A space worthy of the adventurous beers it produces, and you can always walk over to the James Beard-nominated Webb’s City Cellar for funky ferments. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com GOLDEN ISLES BREWING CO. This new, kid-friendly neighborhood brewery in St. Pete features its own ales, IPAs, porters and lagers on tap and also hosts a handful of different food trucks each week. 3000 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg. 727-502-9446, staygoldenstpete.com GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. Dozens of taps and beerfriendly fare from a husband-and-wife duo, who also operate a nearby distillery and cocktail lounge under the same company umbrella. 1570 Lakefront Dr, Sarasota, 941770-4282, thegoodliquidbrewing.com GRINDHAUS BREW LAB Small batches and no extracts from this Pinellas-based “boutique brewery.” 1650 N. Hercules Ave. #1, Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab.com GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY Small batches—like its Gulfport Golden Ale or Hippie Oasis hazy IPA—plus an artisanal food menu. 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. 727954-4109, gulfport-brewing.com HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS This Tampa Heights brewery features a rotating tap selection of unique craft beers. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks.com HOB BREWING CO. Rotating taps, with some brewed on-site and alongside a combination of local breweries, plus local and international craft beer makers. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-474-5584, hob.beer IF I BREWED THE WORLD A self-described “mixtape of breweries” with a bit of everything from the classic to the fun and outrageous. 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4484, ifibrewedtheworld.com
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continued from page 31 IN THE LOOP BREWING Family-friendly with a lot of community support and plenty of events. 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com INFUSION BREWING CO. Another great location in the good-beer-packed Trinity/New Port Richey area. 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. 7272-484-4757, infusionbrewingcompany.com KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER Tasty brews from the folks behind Keel & Curley winery. Perfect for anyone who likes farm vibes with their craft beer. 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-752-9100, keelandcurleywinery.com KING STATE This Tampa spot is a beer brewer, a coffee roaster and whatever else it wants to be. Beer is made offsite, but available on tap and in package at the Tampa Heights headquarter and St. Pete restaurent. 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813-221-2100, king-state.com LATE START BREWING Beloved Tampa label formerly doing its thing inside the Pour House, but is now building a new location in downtown Tampa. 1018 E Cass St., Tampa, latestartbrewing.com LEAVEN BREWING Riverview’s first brewery is run by folks who’ve got experience brewing big and small. 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com LIQUID GARAGE CO. Trendy one-offs and traditional styles all in Jeffery Ashline’s industrial and automotive-themed taproom. 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey. 727-645-5885. theliquidgarage.com MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING Brews, ciders and meads by the beach. 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com
PEE-PA’S GARAGE CRAFT BREWERY We think your dad will totally love this new brewery, which is known for its lighter ales, stouts and fruited goses. 6340 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. 727-526-2300, peepasgaragecraftbrewery.com PEPPER BREWING The Angry Pepper Taphouse’s in-house label, available “on a limited basis.” 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com PINELLAS ALE WORKS PAW offers a dog-friendly environment in addition to tasty brews, with a portion of proceeds regularly going to local animal-centric nonprofits. 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727235-0970, pawbeer.com
SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING More Dunedin goodness, including some truly original flavors and inventive brews. 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-6011698, soggybottombrewing.com SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING Multiple brews only available in its tasting room, which is also home to products and guidance for homebrewers. 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com SOUTHERN LIGHTS BREWING CO. Only the finest hops, grains and natural ingredients go into these handcrafted small-batch ales and lagers. 2075 Sunnydale Blvd., Clearwater. 727-648-4314, southernlightsbrewing.com
POUR HOUSE With new release events and special feature nights, Pour House celebrates all things beer. 1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com
SPONGE CITY BREWING A “fresh take on modern brew houses,” this newly-opened taproom dishes out IPAs, stouts and beer-friendly bites. 501 South Pinellas Ave.,Tarpon Springs. 727-937-8677, spongecitybrewing.com
PYE ROAD MEADWORKS Located in Odessa, Pye Road focuses on mead but also keeps beer and wine in house for naysayers of the fermented honey drink. 8533 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. 813-510-3500, pyeroad.com RAPP BREWING COMPANY The late Greg Rapp’s award-winning styles are carefully crafted at this “nano-sized” brewery. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com SEA DOG BREWING COMPANY This Treasure Island craft brewery also operates a handful of food trucks throughout Tampa Bay. 9610 Gulf Blvd.,Treasure Island. 727-954-7805, seadogbrewing.com
ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY Beers crafted specifically for the climate, plus a bumpin’ “Nest” event space next door. 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com STILT HOUSE BREWERY Friendly joint specializes in high-ABV ales and other styles you won’t find elsewhere. 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com
MAGNANIMOUS BREWING In a warehouse a halfblock north of I-75, this addition to Tampa’s beer scene provides a large variety to drink in or to go curbside pickup. In addition to its OG Tampa Heights headquarters, Magnanimous also operates taprooms in Seminole Heights and Bradenton. 1410 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com
TIDAL BREWING COMPANY Small batches in Spring Hill. 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-7011602, tidalbrewingfl.com TROUBLED WATERS BREWING An easygoing taproom featuring draft and bottled craft brews, billiards and live music. 670 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-2219973, troubledwatersbeer.com TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY Tarpon Springs’ latest brewery and taproom focuses on American ale styles. 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-9406077, @twofrogsbrewing on Facebook ULELE SPRING BREWERY Beer crafted in accordance with traditional Bavarian purity laws, inside a gorgeous municipal pump house turned awardwinning restaurant. 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com UNREFINED BREWING All-natural and only in-season ingredients go into these craft brews. 312 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-4822, unrefinedbrewing.com
FELD
WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. Tampa Heights brewery with a focused menu often using fresh fruit as part of its beers. 456 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. 813-4439463, wovenwaterbrew.com WULFAVEN BREWING CO. Carrollwood’s new brewery, making crisp and clean beers, but also some juicy and bitter IPAs and pale ales for the hop-chasers. 10828 Perez Dr., Tampa. 813-374-8226. wulfaven.com
OLDE FLORIDA BREWING Largo’s newest craft brewery is open Tuesday through Sunday and features a beachy outdoor space. 1158 7th St. NW, Largo. 727229-8010, @oldefloridabrew on Facebook
OZONA BREWING COMPANY Fresh, local craft beer made on site, wine, food and live entertainment in the heart of Ozona. 315 Orange St., Palm Harbor. 920-3929390, ozonabrewing.com
THREE BULLS TAVERN & BREWERY Smallbatch handcrafted beer and food made from scratch wrapped in a creative atmosphere. 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. 813-381-3853, threebullstavern.com
WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY Traditional German styles in downtown Dunedin. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-238-8717. woodwrightbrewing.com
MR. DUNDERBAK’S The longtime restaurant, biergarten and homebrewers’ hangout is serving up its own beers. 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813977-4104, dunderbaks.com
OVERFLOW BREWING CO. Laid-back spot courtesy of St. Pete native and head brewer Troy Bledsoe and company. 770 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-9140665, overflowbrewing.co/
THIRSTY BUFFALO BREWING COMPANY Located at The Hub, Land O’Lakes’ new brewery features ales, IPAs, the Midnight Bull vanilla milk stout and a coffee blonde made with beans from Bexley-based Yummee Coffee Roasters. 16794 Focus Loop, Land O’ Lakes. 813-475-5591. thirstybuffalobrew.com
THE WILD ROVER BREWERY What started as an English pub in Odessa is now a higher-production facility in Westchase. 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com
MOTORWORKS BREWING A taproom and beer garden featuring full liquor and wine as well as 30 taps. 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com
OLOGY BREWING CO. This Tallahassee-based company opened its first Tampa location in 2023 and now offers a variety of in-house brews, coffee and spirits. 6401 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 850-296-2809, ologybrewing.com
TBBC Formerly Tampa Bay Brewing Co., local favorite has served local craft beer lovers for nearly two decades with two locations including one in the heart of historic Ybor City and another in the Westchase ‘burbs. tbbc.beer
WELTON BREWING CO. Its Land O’ Lakes brewery closed at the end of 2022, but its upcoming Pinellas Park location—which seems to share its property with Pinellas’ German-American Society—has experienced serious construction delays. Its most recent update said a grand opening was slated for December 2023. 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. 813-820-0050, thebrewcraftery.com
MARKER 48 BREWING Hernando’s first production craft brewery with tasting room and beer garden 12147 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. 352-606-2509, marker48.com MASTRY’S BREWING CO. From CD Roma’s restaurant to sweet new digs on St. Pete Beach. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727-202-8045, mastrysbrewingco.com
TAP THIS! BAR AND BREWING CO. Neighborhood beer and wine sports bar. 10730 US-19, Port Richey. 727-378-4358, tapthisbar.com
YUENGLING BREWING CO. One of just two U.S. Yuengling destinations, and now home to recentlyopened Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen. 11111 N 30th St., Tampa. 813-972-8529, yuengling.com
TBBC SESH The newest concept from the owners of Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. is also a restaurant serving craft cocktails and house-brewed craft beers, seltzers and ciders in a supposedly-haunted historic building. 2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-933-0266. Seshstpete.com SIX TEN BREWING Wide variety and a real passion for the craft-brew community. 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-886-0610, sixtenbrewing.com
34 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
SUN KING BREWERY This Indiana-based brewery expanded its footprint to Florida in 2022 and now operates an airy taproom in North Sarasota. 1215 Mango Ave., Sarasota. 941-893-3940, sunkingbrewing.com SWAN BREWING Nearly four decades of combined brewing experience go into the offerings at this pet-friendly joint. 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. 863-7030472, swanbrewing.com
ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY East Paco’s first microbrewery. 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813715-2683, zbcbeer.com ZYDECO BREW WERKS This New Orleans-inspired brewery and restaurant closed its flagship location in Ybor City in eary 2024, but is still pouring reserved brews at its scaled-down operation at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry aka MOSI. 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-240-5213, zydecobeer.com Email rroa@cltampa.com and kyla@cltampa.com for any corrections and updates. Thanks!
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36 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
THEATER
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Through March 10. $25-$55 freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg 727-498-5205; freefalltheatre.com
MOVIES
THEATER
ART
CULTURE
God bless
FreeFall’s Vonnegut adaptation is ripe for the death of our democracy. By Jon Palmer Claridge
Y
to the simply superb and spot-on work of Tom Hansen (sets), Dalton Hamilton (lights), and David Covach (costumes). The action follows Eliot Rosewater (a goofily, naive Robert Teasdale) heir to a fortune amassed by his robber baron ancestors, Eliot’s PTSD reaction to a nightmarish WWII incident leads him to overindulge in alcohol and enter the “incurable insanity” of eliminating income inequality plus an obsessive worship of firefighting. His descent into “madness” causes him to channel Hamlet whose father “told him what to do; I have no instruction.”
FEELING KUBLY: Cameron Kubly as Norman Mushari in ‘God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.’ Eliot embraces the utopian premise that no one person is better than another. His unshakable belief in the “Golden Rule” (that, BTW, is central to all the world’s major religions) leads to untethered generosity interpreted as
and boisterous wit of the grass roots Americana score (with Sondheim-like social commentary) soar. The opening number features patter reminiscent of Gilbert and Sullivan, but it’s hard to follow. At least on opening night, the balance was an issue and many of the clever period references were lost. I was nervous, but didn’t have any trouble the rest of the evening. And the miraculous ensemble cast (Heather Baird, Sara DelBeato, Lulu Picart, James Martin Roberts) sings beautifully and proves to be remarkably versatile as actors with each delivering multiple, distinct characterizations and also coming together as a sycophantic army of MAGA zombies. Vonnegut’s 1965 novel preached social equality and decency in the midst of upheaval as our society lurched forward through Vietnam, civil rights and the birth of feminism. By the time Ashman adapted the book in 1979, huge changes were afoot. The war was over, LBJ’s sweeping civil rights legislation was in place, and Roe vs. Wade had been settled law for seven years. Income inequality was still the ongoing problem it remains. However, LBJ’s war on poverty sputtered, as did Jimmy Carter—the most empathic president of the century. Sadly, the ‘80s exacerbated the problem by decimating the burgeoning middle class under the delusion of “trickle down economics” and the scourge of AIDS swept thru the art’s community and prematurely ended Howard Ashman’s life at just 40 years old—but not before he produced the landmark Little Shop of Horrors and a was a driving force behind the Disney Renaissance with “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin.” Watching the show now even as we laugh in self-defense, one can’t help but despair as the satirical targets that both writers pillory, have spiraled down and our world is on the precipice of further chaos. Imagine what they’d do with our society seemingly deaf to the existential threats of climate change past the tipping point, gun violence where active shooter drills are the norm along with banned books. And the threat of authoritarianism and the death of our democracy are very real. Ashman was from blue collar Baltimore and simply wanted ordinary human needs to be heard in a world that all too often bows to money. Is basic respect for others too much to ask?
“As usual, the entire crackerjack design team produces a unified vision with keen attention to detail.”
THEE PHOTO NINJA C/O FREEFALL THEATRE
ou can always count on freeFall Theatre. Even though its post-pandemic branding urges audiences to “simply escape awhile,” Artistic Director Eric Davis always has something up his sleeve. And, inevitably, he marshals a team of talented performers and designers with singular vision. Such is his overwhelming success unearthing the seldom produced satirical musical from 1979, “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.” Not long after I finished drama school, my mentor who championed so many acting students, left the hallowed halls of academia for the rough and tumble world of New York theater. He landed on his feet in the new musical premiere of this very play based on the Kurt Vonnegut novel. It was the inaugural show for the later award-winning team of Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken. But it struggled then to find an audience and ran a mere 49 performances. As a lifetime practitioner and musical theater specialist, I’d often wondered about this lost jewel. We’re lucky that there is a splendid cast recording from 2017 of the brief City Center Encore’s production, but freeFall gives us a rare opportunity to experience this hidden gem fully produced on stage. When you enter freeFall Theatre’s intimate black box, your eyes are immediately drawn to a colorful map of these United States, which appears to be a large table (but actually can break into three benches). It dominates the center of the aisle stage flanked by the audience on each side. Both ends feature an entrance door adjacent to a pale square wooden shelf with 25 cubbyholes displaying colorful props, cleverly used in the show. The shelf duo is topped with freestanding letters which visually remind us on one side that we are perpetually in the Rosewater milieu and on the other that the play’s family fortune of $87,472,033.61 was a shitload of money in 1965. Davis also adds humor and context with a trio of video screens over each bank of audience members, from silent movie clips to midwestern local color travelogues to character commentary. As usual, the entire crackerjack design team produces a unified vision with keen attention to detail. Director Davis adds dazzling video, sound, and impressively meticulous architectural props
madness. His socialite wife, Sylvia (Hannah Laird) can’t handle his obsessions and succumbs to “Samaritrophia.” When Sylvia brings her New York society tastes to backwater Rosewater, Indiana, Ashman manages to skewer fine dining and rural Midwestern palates at the same time in the comic song, “Cheese Nips” where she decries the “beautiful bright yellow crumbs” ruining her carpet. One major antagonist is his father, the pompous Senator Rosewater (an ever-versatile Matthew McGee) who stands like a colossus as the stereotypical politician with one foot in hypocrisy and the second in greed. The other is an unscrupulous lawyer,
Norman Mushari (Cameron Kubly), looking for a loophole windfall. Musical director Michael Raabe commands his upright piano onstage with George Alexander on cello to make the giddy lunacy
cltampabay.com | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | 37
FREE EXHIBIT AT POYNTER PARK
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RESPECT & INCLUSION MARCH 2 - MARCH 31, 2024 Experience 50 billboard-sized works of art and thought-provoking quotations by artists and writers from around the world.
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38 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
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Visit mfastpete.org for tickets, RSVPs, event information, and additional programs. Events are subject to change.
cltampabay.com | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | 39
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40 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
REVIEWS
PROFILES
MUSIC WEEK
Wide open wonder
Hiss Golden Messenger brings the fullness of humanity to Ybor City. By Ray Roa
INTERVIEW
“I’m trying to find my way back to a feeling of mystery and magic.”
GRAHAM TOLBERT/ALL EYES MEDIA
T
he family Christmas tree, adorned partially Helping him find that pocket are musicians with felt ornaments handmade by his mom, that’ve been part of the Hiss equation for years: didn’t stay up more than a few days after Chris Boerner on guitar, Sam Fribush on organ Dec. 25 at Michael Taylor’s home in the eastern and piano, plus bassist Alex Bingham. Nick Piedmont of North Carolina. Falk, who is on Jump For Joy, plays drums. “There’s something very nostalgic and com- On the album, the ensemble also plays MPC, forting about things like Christmas lights for steel pan, woodwinds and array of synths me, but I also really appreciate the moving on while getting help on horns, fiddle, plus backup of January and the feeling of a fresh start if you vocals from indie-favorites like I’m With Her’s need it,” Taylor, 48, told Aoife O’Donovan and Eric Creative Loafing Tampa Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bay early this year. The Shins. Hiss Golden Messenger On Monday, that movThe band was already w/Color Green ing on brings Taylor’s playing a lot of the songs Monday, Feb. 26. $25-$30 band to the Bay area before recording them, Crowbar. 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City where it opened for and Taylor said it’s been crowbarybor.com Mumford & Sons in 2017, enlightening to perform and in 2015 played Gasparilla Music Festival the music in the sort of heightened or ampli(GMF). The show is one of a trio of Florida fied, transcendental and emotional state of a dates ahead of Hiss Golden Messenger’s stint live show. Some have even taken on a life of on the Cayamo Cruise. their own. “I’m fascinated with Florida,” he said, “Jesus Is Bored,” for instance, is kind of adding that he had “a fucking great time” like the thesis of the record, which Taylor has at GMF. “I thought, ‘Tampa seems cool. I’m previously described as a kind of hopeful, long into this place.’” postcard between him and a younger, maybe Hiss’ latest album, Jump For Joy, was teenage, version of himself. “Please give me released last summer as a follow up to 2021’s something to lift me up out of this darkness, Quietly Blowing It, which was preceded in 2019 something to light my way. I want to be good by Terms of Surrender, a nominee for Best enough,” he sings on the mid-tempo rocker. Americana Album at the 2021 Grammys. There’s “It’s not the loudest song, it’s not the fastest also a lot to be into when it comes to the sub- song,” Taylor said, but it unfolded beautifully stance and sound of Hiss’ into an extended highnew, 14-track outing. light of the set. “That’s The record’s been not something I was described as Taylor’s anticipating at all, but most boisterous or ebulit went there, and I was lient, but in many ways like, ‘This is how we play its 38-minutes are thematically consistent this song for people.’” with the music Hiss has recorded since its That sort of listening is a hallmark of self-released 2008 debut Country Hai East Taylor’s life right now. Cotton. The tunes are still bonafide gospel Musically, he’s working on projects that are music for non-believers, and they’re once only Hiss adjacent. He came up in San Francisco’s again marked by Taylor’s deep commitment punk scene, and being around different musicians to rhythm, tempo, and the things that both means his life has been kind of cacophonous in a a listener and musician can find in a groove. way. But at home Taylor works on getting small, “That’s always been almost the most impor- quiet, and surrounded by the poems and music tant musical quality of what I do as Hiss, I think. that inspires him. All of that is helping Taylor Everything has to feel like it’s in some kind of navigate back to not knowing. pocket,” Taylor—who has a master’s degree in “I’m trying to find my way back to a feeling folklore—explained. of mystery and magic,” he explained.
AS THE CROW FLIES: Hiss Golden Messenger stops in Tampa on the way to the Cayamo Cruise. Encountering fresh ideas and feelings, then experimenting with them, is part of that process. It’s safe to say, however, that whatever Taylor produces in that practice will still accomplish what’s felt like the mission of Hiss Golden Messenger from its inception—to convey the fullness of being a human in a song. That sentiment manifests itself all over Jump For Joy—which was produced with Scott Hirsch at Texas’ fabled Sonic Ranch studio, just steps from the Mexican border—especially on the title track. On it, Taylor goes face-to-face with an apocalypse, with just $20 in his pocket.
“The seas are rising. Still, I gotta make it right,” he sings. “Jump for joy. See where it gets you.” The feel of the song, like much of the album, is certainly jubilant, but the cut is neither happy nor sad. In Taylor’s experience, much of the world we walk through is like that. Chasing that ambiguity—and making it work in a song be it through tunings or undefined chords—is part of the Hiss songwriting process. “I really think my best songs are songs that feel happy and sad at the same time,” he explained. When it comes to trying to make sense of the world at large, that’s about as fresh of a start as you can get.
cltampabay.com | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | 41
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42 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Lucky man
p r es
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UPCOMING SHOWS
Carl Palmer talks about bringing bandmates back to life onstage. By Josh Bradley
T
he loss of both his bandmates within a absolutely no end. Oh, and there were five camyear of each other still stings some days, eras at work that night at Royal Albert Hall. but no one is more excited to bring Keith So Palmer got to work. Emerson and Greg Lake back to life digitally Mixing the audio was a piece of cake, but to than Carl Palmer. The 73-year-old sole survivor him, the hardest part of producing “The Return of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer has been plan- of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer”—which stops at ning a revival of some sort for a few years now, Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on Friday—was but finally found a way to execute it faithfully. editing himself out of the 32-year-old video foot“What you hear audio-wise out of the PA is age he’d be using on two screens on either side Keith and Greg playing, me live on stage play- of the stage, which will display Keith and Greg ing, being mixed into those audio tracks, and playing the exact audio being used. on the screen is them performing those particu“So there I am, 30 years later on the screen, lar pieces completely in sync,” he told Creative and on each side of me is Keith Emerson and Loafing Tampa during a Greg Lake from the Royal Albert Hall, singing and recent phone call. Palmer tried going playing perfectly in sync, the hologram route at and all of the audio being The Return of first, but quickly came to mixed that night, for that Emerson, Lake & Palmer discover how grossly exagtheater, for that room, for Friday, Feb. 23. 8 p.m. $35 & up gerated they are (read: that moment in time,” he Ruth Eckerd Hall. 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com Buddy Holly hologram). added. “It’s an impersonation, Some sources compare an actor dressing up in the clothes to get the this show’s technology to how Paul McCartney body, get the angles, get everything right,” he duetted with John Lennon’s isolated vocals— added. “And then, you basically superimpose and film footage to sync up to it—on “I’ve Got Keith’s face on that particular model, or Greg’s A Feeling,” during his “Got Back” tour two face on the next model, or whatever. That didn’t summers ago. And Palmer isn’t at all a stickseem like a very honest approach.” ler about adapting to technology, including Luckily for the drummer, he came across a AI. He’s open to expanding the show by toyvery low-selling DVD of when the prog super- ing around with more material (with approval trio was playing at its absolute best at London’s from his fallen brothers’ families), and is even Royal Albert Hall in 1992. The real kicker was fascinated with the idea of paying tribute to that every instrument—and Lake’s vocals—had Asia in a similar manner. its own audio track, meaning that with a little Read our full Q&A with Palmer at cltampa. cleaning up, one could remix the material to com.
INTERVIEW
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RAYMOND JAMES POPS
Twist & Shout The Music of
The Beatles She Loves You, Can’t Buy Me Love, Yesterday & more. Chelsea Gallo conducts.
Fri, Mar 1, 8 pm, Straz Center
Upcoming Concerts SPECIAL CONCERT
Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey Rick Steves narrates his travels live onstage, paired with selections by composers such as Beethoven, Elgar, Verdi and more. Michael Francis conducts.
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44 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Michael Francis, Music Director
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CARBON LEAF SHAUN HOOPER
JASON RYAN C/O GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Drake White w/Adam Hood Drake White has bounced back from a 2019 onstage stroke, and the 40-year-old country singersongwriter proves it on his latest EP The Bridge. This latest addition to White’s discography features a contribution from Colbie Caillat, and is described as a journey of “self rediscovery and purpose.” Singer-songwriter Adam Hood, whose previous credits include collaborating with Chris Stapleton and opening for Leon Russell, opens this St. Pete gig. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
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SUN FEB 25 • 11AM-12PM
SLOWDOWN SUNDAYS
FRI 23
C Band Of Heathens w/The Teague Brothers Band of Heathens has a new album out that could easily be a retrospective tribute to Tom Petty’s career, in terms of its instrumentation. On Simple Things (the Texas-based roots-rock outfit ’s first studio album since 2020), “I Got The Time” is loaded with Mike Campbell-style guitar tones and riffs, “Long Lost Son” sounds like a track from Petty’s first band Mudcrutch, and “Damaged Goods” could easily be a Traveling Wilburys track, if you close your eyes and imagine it’s the late heartland rocker singing. For all the Southern rockslash-Americana vibes the Heathens give off, there isn’t a better space to see it perform than the Skipperdome, especially with the veteran-fronted “Americana Folk Country Rock” outfit The Teague Brothers opening. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) C Contort Yourself: Donzii w/Ortrotasce/ Sneaker/Billy Nightmare/more Tampa Bay’s underground music scene is alive and well, and this gig imports Floridian purveyor of time-bending post-punk (Miami’s Donzii) and marries the band with St. Pete’s prince of analog synth and sequencers (Ortrotasce), plus German producer Sneaker, Dark Entries Records’ Billy Nightmare and others. (The Graffiti Gallery, St. Petersburg) JP Saxe During his Tampa concert, John Mayer heaped loads of praise on his opening act, JP Saxe, who he called one of the kindest people around. A lot of artists apparently feel the same way about the 30-year-old pop songwriter. The Grammy-nominee’s new album, A Grey Area, features new arrangements of fan favorites, recorded with the help of friends like Cory Henry and Tal Wilkenfeld. (Orpheum, Tampa) Próxima Parada w/Speak Easy Last year, Próxima Parada released the first two singles off of an upcoming studio album that currently has no solid release date, despite being promised at the end of 2023. But then again, the soul quartet’s moniker comes from hearing “next stop, próxima parada”
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on a bus every day while in school out west. “The name is an invitation to the present moment, a reminder to not be too focused on the destination and to appreciate every stop along the way,” the band made up of college students from San Luis Obispo, California, wrote. Hope fans get to hear some yet-to-bereleased tracks. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) C Shelby Sol EP release The neo-soul singer-songwriter has been hyping up her sophomore EP The Solar Return with six gigs across Tampa Bay, one being more immersive than the next. She started at Hotel Haya, and stopped at Sparkman Wharf, on Water Street, and even gave a rousing set at last weekend’s rainy Gasparilla Music Festival. She finally properly celebrates the EP’s release in Ybor City, which will hopefully see Sol perform the entire six-track outing, which should be listened to in full for the full appreciation experience, rather than separately or on shuffle. (Crowbar, Ybor City) C We Out Here: War On Women w/ Pohgoh/Kick Veronica/more Femme-centric music festival We Out Here brings in feminist punk band War On Women to headline Bayboro’s pitch-perfect performance space as part of a day-long get together featuring nearly two-dozen, multi-genre bands celebrating themes of empowerment, defiance and underground rock. “The festival is not just about music; it’s a statement of resistance and a celebration of marginalized voices,” organizers wrote. (Bayboro Brewing Co., St. Petersburg)
SAT 24
C Billy Joel w/Sting The Piano Man recently appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’’ to promote his latest
single “Turn The Lights Back On” (his first since 2007), and told a tale about when he and Sting were both invited to the Grammys a few years ago. The two decided to goof off—making pouty faces and flashing thumbs-downs—whenever an award was announced. Unfortunately, the cameras didn’t catch any of it, and Joel still thinks that his friendship with the Police frontman would have made the ratings that year. Instead, Sting (who Joel once wanted to recruit for a supergroup) co-headlines the first postCOVID Tampa gig from New York’s favorite son. (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa) Carbon Leaf w/Shaun Hopper The Virginia-based country-Celtic-folk outfit brings its bagpipes, mandolins, and beyond back to the Skipperdome for the first time in almost five years. Local fingerstyle guitarist Shaun Hopper opens. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) C Daddy’s Beemer w/Homemade Haircuts/Bedsite Kites Your pops might not have had a BMW you could steal on Friday nights, but you can at least take a spin with Daddy’s Beember, the band, which arrives supporting Tangles, a 2023 album of synth-y, anthemic, jangle-pop. Fellow Charlestonian band Homemade Haircuts (whose “Oslo” is a little more driving and loud than Tangles) opens the show alongside Bedside Kites, a lo-fi rock project from Sally and Mike of Charlie. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) Drew & Ellie Holcomb Lakeland is a mighty fine place to call home, so it makes sense that Drew & Ellie Holcomb’s new tour supporting the Americana duo’s Coming Home project would land at the municipality’s historic theater. (Polk Theater, Lakeland)
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Glenn Hughes w/Enuff Znuff/Bad Marriage Before spending bits and pieces of springtime performing on cruises, Hughes— the former lead singer of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath (who seemingly no longer performs with supergroup The Dead Daisies, made up primarily of pertinent classic rock backing band members)—celebrates 50 years of the Purp’s Burn, his first of three albums with the band. The whole album isn’t being performed, but considering how Deep Purple itself doesn’t play a good chunk of these tracks anymore, we’ll take what we can get. (OCC Road House and Museum, Clearwater) Isoxo w/Ninajirachi/Yojas/Taylorlace ISOxo is riding high off of his new album Kidsgonemad!, and a packed gig promoting it at The Shrine in L.A., where countless award ceremonies and movie premieres have been held (it’s also where Michael Jackson filmed the Pepsi commercial that caused his hair to set on fire). The EDM producer returns to Ybor City this weekend as part of The Ritz’s Sunset Saturday series. (The Ritz, Ybor City) C Lettuce While we’re confident that the guys in the Boston-based funk-jam band are pretty much paying rent at Jannus Live, they just announced that a trippy, two-LP picture disc set of “Vibe,” released online last year. The 47-minute improv jam will make the time you spend waiting for an edible to kick in go by much faster, and it’s part of the Record Store Day 2024 list. It’s anyone’s guess if we’ll get to hear it live in St. Pete, but considering that the band’s Orlando opener Cimafunk—the Afro-Cuban funk and soul superstar in the making that rocked our worlds at the 2022 Gasparilla Music Festival—is taking the night off, we can only hope. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) C Nickel Creek You don’t need much reason to celebrate when Sean Watkins, Chris Thile, and Sara Watkins are in your town, but this stop in support of Nickel Creek’s fifth studio album Celebrants should seal the deal. Separately, the members are powerhouses of Americana and bluegrass, but all of their energy, influences and collective learned experience comes together in haunting fashion when they hit the stage together. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) Niko The Kid Downtown Tampa cowork space Sorry, Not Public has been wading in the live event waters, and goes full house music party with Atlanta producer Niko the Kid, who’s worked on songs by Young Thug, Gucci Mane and more. (Sorry Not Public, Tampa) C They Hate Change w/Vern Sr./Sam E Hues/DJ Jayda Abello It’s been almost three years since Bay area rap duo They Hate Change signed to famed indie-imprint Jagjaguwar, and there haven’t been many chances to catch the group live at home in between tours across the U.S., Europe, and even Australia. In support of Change’s January EP Wish You Were Here..., Vonne
GRETSCHDRUMS/TWITTER
Gilt w/Blind Tiger/Hovercar/Bad, Bad Things Git’s brand of melodic hardcore can be therapeutic, and the Jacksonville band brings it to a Ybor Heights brewery alongside two heavyweights in Tampa’s rock scene, Hovercar and Bad, Bad Things. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)
Steve Ferrone and Dre—who spent a total of two months at home since the signing—stage a one-of-akind, free-with-RSVP, intimate performance at Ybor City’s fancy Hotel Haya (a far cry from the DIY garage venues where they cut their teeth just a few blocks away). Two of Tampa’s best emcees and live performers—Sam E. Hues and Vern Sr.—open the showcase of a Gulf Coast sound Change has brought to the global stage. (Hotel Haya, Ybor City)
SUN 25
C Codefendants w/Rutterkin/Dea & Saint/Flag Burner Codefendants is something of a supergroup consisting of Ceschi Ramos, Sam King from Get Dead, plus Fat Mike from NOFX, who only plays on the record and random shows. The Zeta is the live backing band, and heads are taking notice. Even rapper the D.O.C., who hasn’t made music in 19 years, contributed to Codefendants record. Best of the Baywinning cellist Melissa Grady will add live strings to the set supported by some of the Bay area’s wildest live acts including DEA & Saint. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) Garden Groove: Scotty Wright Quintet Jazz vocalist recently collaborated with St. Pete trio La Lucha for an Ybor City matinee concert, but he’s in The ‘Burg when the Al
46 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Downing Jazz Association stages its own matinee Black History Month garden party outside the Woodson. (Woodson African American Museum of Florida, St. Petersburg) Sunday Punk Day: The Bad Vibrations w/The Don’t Belongs/The Vindicators One of St. Pete’s finest, sometimes overlooked, vinyl spots is holding an oldfashioned parking lot punk gig the afternoon after an off-the-chain night in Tampa Bay live music. Drinks will flow by donation alongside local vendors, and some of the Bay area’s best in punk-rock. And, if you’ve seen the size of the shop’s parking lot, it goes without saying that you should probably get there early. (Planet Retro Records, St. Petersburg)
WED 28
Rodney Crowell w/Jedd Hughes The 73-year-old country singer-songwriter (once the son-in-law of Johnny Cash) recruited Jeff Tweedy of Wilco to produce his latest album The Chicago Sessions, featuring nine new originals (and one Townes Van Zandt cover) recorded in, you guessed it, Chitown. Jedd Hughes, a session musician who has worked with Little Big Town and Sarah Buxton, opens Crowell’s return to downtown Clearwater. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
THU 29
C A Tom Petty Tribute: Steve Ferrone w/Vota Ferrone may have drummed for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for the last 25-or-so years of the band’s existence, but the 73-year-old British-born drummer has endless stories to tell about working with John Mayer, Average White Band, and Eric Clapton, too. He’s been to Tampa Bay since Petty’s shocking death in 2017, but this tribute show—featuring Christian rock outfit Vota as the house band—will be the first time Ferrone performs Heartbreakers tracks in town since then. Expect some stories about his time with Gainesville’s favorite son, too. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg) Florida Strawberry Festival: Oliver Anthony After earning the love and adoration of right-wingers, Anthony is continuing his “out of the woods” era and bringing his single “Rich Men North of Richmond” to kickoff the Strawberry Festival’s 2024 concert series. The songwriter—whose hit single features lyrics that demean obese people on food stamps in its Rogan-esque attempt at social commentary—became an overnight sensation last summer and closes out night one. Other artists coming to Plant City next Thursday along with Anthony include Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra plus The Oak Ridge Boys (Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City)
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Jenny from the block is coming to Tampa, and her new album has a deep connection to our neck of the woods. Last week, the Grammy-nominated, iconic singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress announced a big ol’ tour behind a new album, This Is Me… Now, released last weekend in tandem with a new Amazon Original film. Tickets to see Jennifer Lopez play Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 27 go on sale Friday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. EST and start at $49.95. On “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Lopez, 54, said that the process to get to the album has taken two years. She called the record her most honest album to date, and something where she dug deep into every single detail. “It was draining,” she admitted in response to her past comments about it being her last album. And along for the ride was Tampa-based artist and designer Joel Cook, who was also part of the team that earned a 2022 Best Recording Package Grammy nomination for its work on Voyeurist by local heavy-metal band Underoath. The 43-year-old’s company, Obelus Era, worked on the visual identity for Lopez’s
48 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
This Is Me… Now era—including the six different album covers. “I worked with Jennifer and her management team in Beverly Hills last summer to create overall aesthetic, feel, and iconography,” Cook, creative director at Obelus Era, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay last week. “We worked with photographer Norman Jean Roy on photography. Nate Utesch from the Obelus team designed branding, typography, icons, color based on creative direction set by Jennifer and myself. All the branding was incorporated into the Prime movie premiering today and tour announce.” Last night at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theater, Lopez performed music from the album for the first time ever during an Apple Music Live Event that included an interview by Zane Lowe. “It’s not just personal, it’s my whole heart on the wax. It’s my whole heart in the air, and the ether now,” Lopez told Lowe. “And I really feel like, as I shared the music, I wasn’t just sharing music, I was sharing a feeling, a message, a bigger idea about, and that’s why it just didn’t end with the music for me.” Come back next week for Josh Bradley’s regular roundup of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay.—Ray Roa
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50 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Change of fortune By Caroline DeBruhl
Dear Oracle, I’m a freelance artist. While I’ve had some luck with clients, I also have been stiffed on the bill more than once. I like what I do and want to transition to it full-time, but I don’t want to spend all my time chasing down my paycheck. Any advice? —Prefer-not-to-starve artist Cards: Wheel of Fortune, The Star (reversed), Two of Pentacles, Knight of Cups Dear Artist, As someone who also lives that 1099 life, I feel you. Before I get into the cards, I have to talk about the sexiest part of being an artist: paperwork. You do need a contract with every client. You should have a boilerplate on what you can offer, and if you’re offered one, you need to read it before you sign. If applicable, you might consider a credit card authorization form, too— that way, you can charge them for the work done and don’t have to debate, “Is this $300 worth going to small claims court for?” Now, as prepared as you can be, The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind us that there is still a chance that some fucker will stiff you the bill. We can only be the architects of our own density to an extent. There are plenty of things out of control, and while we can have back plans waiting in the wings, things might
is a charmer, a visionary, someone who can chat anyone up and master the elevator pitch. It’s time to network. Yes, it might feel mercenary and unnatural, but it can help you, especially when you’re starting out. Best of luck, my dear. I hope you don’t have to serve anyone papers for a long time.
still go sideways. Humans are stuck between the spokes of “free will” and “destiny” on this spinning wheel. But just because you might be chasing down money doesn’t mean what you’re doing isn’t Dear Oracle, worth it. With the Star reversed, I think it’ll Recently, I met a woman at a party. We talked take some time to find a balance and harmony, for the entire party. We talked for the entire walk but I do think this is what you’re meant to do. to her place, and after hooking up, kept talking I’m a big believer that if you have the drive to til dawn, then at breakfast, and walking back to pick up our cars. It was the create, you must create, for first time in years I’d felt a the sake of your soul. I also connection like this, and she believe that if something is going to dominate your life, said she did, too. But…she you might as well try to make asked if I wanted kids and a little scratch off of it. Send your questions to oracle@cltampa. said I go back and forth. She Like The Wheel of com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram wants them and said it’s a Fortune, the Two of Pentacles deal breaker. I know it sounds is also about moving. You are balancing what is crazy, but I saw a future with her and feel heartmeaningful, what is productive, what is neces- broken. What should I do? —Emo on Main sary, and what is fun about your job. Unless you get a MacArthur grant, to be a working artist is Cards: Judgment, Five of Cups, Waxing to multitask and build a network. It’s an awful Crescent, The Emperor. truth, but the more well-known and well-liked you become in a small industry, the harder it is Dear Emo, for you to become exploited. If you have a robust It doesn’t sound crazy. It sounds like you fell and respected reputation, your small claims court in love at first conversation. Things like this hapfilings have more oomph, and having friends in pen. I’m sorry the joy of this love was ever brief. high places might help you from getting the runYou are heartbroken. The Five of Cups shows around from larger corporate clients. that. But the Five can be about concentrating So you’re going to have to win over clients on the loss and not seeing what is still there. and people in your industry. The Knight of Cups All of these cards speak about the potential of a
ORACLE OF YBOR
future and the intention you need to bring to it. Judgment acts like grief: you can either stay in your grave or you can be reborn. Love offers the same deal. In this heartsickness, you can mourn the fact that you lost this love. You can also acknowledge that love is possible and that moments like this can happen. With the waxing crescent, it is time for you to be intentional, to know what it is you want in the future. I would meditate on the question of if you want children. If you truly don’t want them, don’t talk yourself into having them because 1.) it’s incredibly hard work and 2.) kids know when they’re resented, and that’s a shitty burden to put on them. Likewise, if you discover you want to be a parent, you can be honest about that. The Emperor is confident in his choices. He has an eye toward the future, and it is determined. As you figure out who you want to be on the other side of this heartsickness, go confidently into that direction. You deserve to find a lasting love, to be with someone you can talk to for 12 hours straight, and to share a future that you both want. I know this moment is hard. I’ve often thought about a line from Carmen Firan’s poem, “Festina Lente,” that love gives you everything/ but time.” I hope that you survive this pain and that, in some alchemic way, it allows you to remerge as someone you want to be. Best of luck, my dear.
Find more of Caroline DeBruhl and book her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
TANYA/ADOBE
cltampabay.com | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | 51
52 | FEBRUARY 22-28, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Smash Button By Dan Savage
M
y heart is breaking and it’s my own fault. I started cheating on my husband of 29 years, casually at first—making out, getting groped, no penetrative sex—and then I met a man and we just clicked. I caught feelings and we started to have an intense, kinky, and very sexual and emotional relationship. I love my husband. We are extremely compatible in so many ways, except this one: I am kinky and poly whereas he is vanilla and monogamous. Even though I haven’t disclosed my cheating to him, we have been talking about my desire to be non-monogamous. He knows I’m kinkier than he is, although I can’t disclose how I came to know I need BDSM in my life. I have also discovered that I am bisexual, but not biromantic. Because of this, my husband has moved on monogamy and agreed to be a little monogamish: he consents to me exploring sexual encounters with women, primarily because he guiltily admits that he finds it a non-threatening turn-on since I am not romantically attracted to women. I have presented to my husband that I WANT to be non-monogamous and that I am capable of polyamory. He hasn’t consented. Even though he says he doesn’t want to say no or hold me back from exploring my sexuality, he says if I were to issue an ultimatum, we would get divorced. So, this is basically his ultimatum. Meanwhile, my lover and I have recognized that the struggles in our relationship stem from the fact that I am cheating on my husband. It raises doubts for my lover about whether I am deceiving him, since I am obviously capable of deceit. I hate this. When I ask him what he wants, my lover says he wants me not to hate myself so much. And so, we have decided to “pause” our affair until I can figure out how to get right with my husband and be able to be ethically non-monogamous. Adding to my heartbreak: I NEED both these relationships. My husband can only flex so far in the kink direction. He cannot be the dominant partner I need. I’ve told him this, more or less. And he takes it as saying that without that he is nothing, which is not true. He is almost everything, but he can’t stand being not “enough.” He is afraid that I will resent him if he doesn’t agree to non-monogamy. Which I don’t. But if we divorce so I can feel fulfilled, that will destroy him. I don’t think he believes I would choose non-monogamy or kink over him. And I really don’t want to leave him or lose my lover. I cannot choose between them. I need them both. My heart is BREAKING. Help. —Brokenhearted And Seeking Insightful Counsel
The mail this week—the mail for weeks has been nothing but letters from long-married straight people thinking about cheating or already cheating or desperately trying to renegotiate monogamous commitments they made decades ago or desperately pretending that’s what they’re doing, e.g., they’re going through the motions of discussing ethical non-monogamy in the hopes of legitimizing the non-ethical nonmonogamy they’re already practicing. I don’t mean to come across as unsympathetic, BASIC, but you’ve been smashing your pussy down on the self-destruct button for a while now. You didn’t get the answer you wanted from your husband—permission to fuck other men—and instead of countering his ultimatum (“No fucking around with other men or it’s over”) with an ultimatum of your own (“Permission to fuck around with other men or it’s over”), you went out and started fucking around with other men. You may not have been consciously aware that you were smashing your pussy down on the self-destruct button, but you either knew or should have known you were setting something in motion that would blow up your marriage. This is all going to come out. Your husband is going to find out about your lover and then you’re going to find out whether your husband’s threat to divorce was serious. Threatening to divorce someone you love is easy, actually divorcing someone you love is hard. And divorce is a long, drawnout process and your husband will have time to reconsider his decision before it’s final. But only the truth can free you from the miserable corner you’ve painted yourself into. And while it’s going to be unpleasant, telling the truth—the messy, painful truth—is the only way you out. Sometimes married people smash their hands/mouths/pussies/dicks down on the selfdestruct button and wind up destroying their marriages. Sometimes that’s what they want. But sometimes the marriage survives the explosion and something new and beautiful is built on the rubble. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones. But there’s only one way to find out. Alright, I dug through the mail and looked for questions that aren’t about cheating or negotiating non-monogamy or embracing tolyamory and managed to find a few…
I’m sorry about your heart but I can’t with your problem.
A host gift is a thoughtful idea, NASP, but slipping your host a little cash—paper towels
SAVAGE LOVE
I am invited to a (gay) sex party. When invited for dinner you bring a bottle of wine, but what is the proper etiquette for a sex party? Come showered and douched, I guess. What else? Do I bring something for the host? —Newby At Sex Party
are way more expensive than they used to be—may be a better idea. “I usually ask for a £5 tip to cover the costs of food, soft drinks, and hard drinks I provide at the parties I run,” said Ali Bushell, author of the “Sex Party Handbook.” “Even if the host of NASP’s first sex party doesn’t ask for money, being willing to tip the host $10 or so is always appreciated. It’s especially appreciated when the guest acknowledges the time and effort that went into making the event happen and mentions that they’re grateful.” While Bushell makes alcohol available at the parties he hosts at his home in London, not all sex party hosts serve booze. “Bringing alcohol isn’t a terrible idea,” said Bushell, “but NASP needs to bear in mind some people might prefer the party to be dry. So, if he’s thinking of bringing a six pack of beer or bottle of wine to share, best to check with the host about whether that would be welcome.” And big ups to arriving very recently douched and very freshly showered. Also: don’t wear cologne, put your phone away, be polite when you decline to play with someone, be just as polite to someone who declines to play with you, get on PrEP (prevents HIV infection), look into DoxyPEP (offers some protection against other sexually transmitted infections), and maybe consider using condoms (they offer excellent protection against HIV and other STIs). Ali Bushell’s “Sex Party Handbook” is available on Amazon. When he’s not hosting sex parties, Bushell hosts the “The Healers Guild,” a podcast for people seeking or offering healing. I have a lover and we are longdistance. I’d like to spend the limited time we have in person doing physical activities—getting intimate—but he takes a long time to warm up and needs to spend a lot of time talking first. If we had all the time in the world, that wouldn’t be a problem, but we usually only see each other on business trips that take us to each other’s cities. Can we cut to the chase without shortchanging his need to reconnect emotionally first? —Down To Business You can’t. I’m a 28-year-old woman in Australia. I am talking to a very hot dominant man in his forties that I met on Reddit who’s in my area. He gives me extremely explicit tasks that he wants photos of constantly including writing his initials on me
each day. I have verified his ID—I know his real name and he is who he says he is—but other than the fact that he’s married and very private about his life, I don’t know much about him. I’m enjoying having a regular (constant!) D/s dynamic in my life but I’m worried these photos would ruin me if they got out. But I’m enjoying our online play so much I’ve stopped talking to people on dating apps because his play is more fun for me. It’s hard to find hot kinky people that are normal/hot IRL in my area. Advice please? —Personal Images Complicate Situation The risk you’re running—losing control of your photos—is not some ancillary risk that you can mitigate or eliminate while still enjoying this connection. Your entire relationship with this man consists of taking the pictures he orders you to and then sending them to him. You want this sexy dominant man to have power over you—you’re turned on by the thought of him having power over you—and these photos are the power he has over you. You aren’t sending these photos to get the sex, PICS, the sending of the photos is the sex. Now, sex is never risk-free—there’s no such things as entirely safe sex—but sane people do what they can to mitigate risks. Gay men take PrEP so they can enjoy PIB without having to worry about the risk of contracting HIV; straight women use birth control so they can enjoy PIV without having to worry about the risk of contracting feti. But the only way to eliminate the risk here is for you to stop sending these photos—to abstain from sending more photos—but that also eliminates everything that’s pleasurable about this connection. That said, PICS, the fact that you know this man’s name— and that you know he’s married—does provide you with some protection. If this man were to post your photos online because you wanted to end the relationship, you have legal recourse—revenge porn is a crime in Australia—and so the risks here are shared and that will hopefully motivate him to keep your photos on a secure and un-hackable server and not to do anything stupid or vindictive when you move on to a hot Dom you can see IRL. Got problems? Everyone does! Send your question to mailbox@savage.love! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.
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SOFTWARE ENGINEER III (St. Petersburg, FL): will
analyze requirements / user stories to appropriately support design activities; perform all technical aspects of software development for our applications including, developing prototypes and writing new code / API’s; function as an active member of an agile team through consistent development practices (tools, common components, and Documentation). Mail resume to: Interactive Communications International, Inc., Attn: Jose Luis Cardona, 250 Williams Street NW, 5th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Reference job # SK203744.
114 Wading bird 128 Bus-rider Parks 52 Shelflike 56 Ram’s reply 115 A Carpenter projection 129 “Tinker to ___ to 57 Last words 116 Early What’s My 57 Menotti boy Chance” 59 Mono’s cousin by Merl Reagle Line? 61 Certain Japanese 130 Irons, for one 58 Celery unit panelist NOTE: Seven famous 63 Hole puncher 131 Thinker’s first 60 “___ the house” 117 Perfect place U.S. rivers are hidden 64 Central part name 62 Elegant birds 118 Plunged diagonally in this 132 Make bacon 65 It means “4” 66 Least known puzzle. However, 133 Homer‘s neighbor 67 Also, in Alsace 120 The two 68 Parenthood each river makes one co-star Dianne 134 Song man 70 Some jackets 124 Last letter, in Britain bend (that is, each is 69 ___ culpa Sammy 72 Gaucho’s rope roughly in the shape of 71 Machine part 135 “I’ve ___ had!” 75 Connery by birth 125 Lady in uniform, once a V). No river touches 73 Jacob’s twin 76 Role for Roz or crosses another DOWN 74 Banking time78 Wood particles 126 Sony rival and each is at least 1 Syrian president 80 Giant slugger 127 Planet, e.g. saver eight letters long.Can 75 Metalworker 2 Climb 82 Bird feature you find all seven? 3 Loose garment 77 New York island 83 Tiny parasite 4 Personals, e.g. 79 Harry in 85 Family member ACROSS 5 Country gent The Third Man 91 Acquire 1 Clue-sniffing 6 Campus area 81 Big tech stock 92 Curved molding pooch 7 Apple variety 84 Type of oil 94 Bullets 5 Area meas. 8 Type 86 Jungle Book 96 Lettuce type 9 A son of J.S. Bach 9 Dance start python 100 Mr. Fleming 12 “___ see it ...” 10 Asia explorer 87 Aeries 101 Totals: abbr. 15 Iraqi missile 11 Lampreys 88 Clock number 102 Hard wood 16 Peer 12 Humane org. 89 Sign 103 Girl, Interrupted 17 Western border 13 Wheat variety 90 Filmdom’s star lake 14 “Ah-ha ...” Tognazzi 105 Singer Michael 19 Some snakes 16 Shaffer play 93 Once-mighty 106 Exterior 20 Without 17 Bull prefix airline 107 Knightwear PUZZLE FANS ! 21 Phony doctor 18 Sailing 95 Take a chair 108 Cacophonous For info on Merl's 22 In the least 19 ___ were 96 Sash’s cousin 109 Nick’s wife Sunday crossword 23 The Graf ___ 25 Popular swab 97 Hardy heroine 111 Many centuries anthologies, visit 24 Boxing great 26 Beat barely 98 Photo orig. www.sunday 113 ___ Semple 25 Slangy pounds 28 Bygone jet 99 Confess crosswords.com. McPherson 26 Greek letters 30 Part of U.A.E. 101 “Cleanup 27 Small bone 31 Abbr. on motor oil on ___ 2” Solution to WWII Mess Hall Slang 29 Tripoli hero 32 At the head of the 102 Weasel kin AGO L A R E DO MA R P L O 31 Noisy napper line 104 She’s Beatrix in S A ND A NDD I R T OP E N A I R 34 RBI, e.g. 33 Can. force Kill Bill P T OMA I N E S T E A K S H I NG L E O I L E R L E T MA CH I N EO I L 35 Ascend 38 Televise 105 Big flop DR S E CO L OO H E E D S 36 DDE foe 39 Mediocre 107 Siam visitor E NO L A L E NO UR S A P A I N T R EMOV E R WA R F A R E 37 “___ of 40 Mr. Eban 110 Keep one’s ___ E DN A N I OB E A R MO R E D C OW thousands” 41 Deli side (watch) DOGB I S CU I T S A A R E R A E 40 Music pub. 42 West Virginia 112 Aussie area GE L S R E T I HO TWA T E R E L S E E DO H E RR 43 Ill-fated work sites 116 Duplicitous S HR A P N E L E V E S T E N T 45 “O Sole ___” 43 Grimm kid 119 com opener A A A A I ME B A T T E R Y A C I D G U N W A D D I N G L A R G O C A N E 46 Beat easily 44 Recipient 120 Deli orders A NGE L E S MY S T E R Y P L A T E 50 Gooey lump 46 Be in store for 121 A Gershwin A S T I M I C E P E L E E GROA T NUN T E T T A X 51 Carte start 122 Weighty Kuwaiti? 47 Bundt buys AMMU N I T I ON ROE I MAGE 53 “Me, ___!” 48 Peron et al. 123 Donut order SO L V E N T RU B B E R P A T CH E S A T L A RGE T R A N S F U S I ON 54 Phone trio 49 Mar a car 125 Penned POE S S R OND E C K V E T 51 “___ Blue?” 127 Gen. Bradley 55 Ocean feature
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Fostering is free: all supplies provided!
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WHAT MAKES WHAT LOCALMAKES CULTURE LOCAL CULTURE CREATIVE CREATIVE MARKETING MARKETING DIFFERENT? DIFFERENT? WE ARE NOT JUST MARKETERS;
WE ARCHITECTS. WE ARE ARE CULTURAL NOT JUST MARKETERS; We weave unique local flavor into every WE AREyour CULTURAL ARCHITECTS. social media campaign. We don’t just navigate We your unique local we flavor every the weave social media landscape; owninto it! Your social media We we don’t just navigate success is ourcampaign. success, and believe in the the social media landscape; we own it! power of community. Ready to embarkYour on a social successjourney is our success, and we your believe in culture the media that celebrates local power of community. Ready to embark on a social and propels your brand to the forefront? Let’s media your local culture create,journey connect,that andcelebrates conquer together. and propels your brand to the forefront? Let’s create, connect, and conquer together.
DM us @localculturecreative or visit localculture.org to chat.
DM us @localculturecreative or visit localculture.org to chat.
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