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Creative Loafing Tampa Bay keeps reaching into the mailbag, and treading carefully into the comments section. The exercise leaves us increasingly grateful for readers who come to us in print—and especially online—to read the news and thoughtfully respond. Keep it coming, folks (scan the QR code if you’re the emailing type), and we’ll keep posting it.—Ray Roa
Facing reelection, Mayor Ken Welch believes his administration did well to help St. Pete recover after hurricanes (via Facebook)
Many industries have resilience built in where they share resources with those impacted. There was no excuse for what occurred with all of the building departments across this area. The electrical supply industry is a great example of what is possible knowing that sharing resources is how they help each other recover. It’s truly poor planning for the worst case scenarios.—Tom
McDaniel
We all love living in St. Pete because of the sense of community. I remember during Irma it was everyday people stepping up to help our neighbors no matter the neighborhood. Now, people are turning it into a negative (politically charged issue) for the worst natural disaster, in St. Pete, in our lifetime. It will always take a combination of people and local government to recover.—Carla Bristol
peaceful. Almost like looking at Jesus Christ and the saints that day.—@sisterwanda_opi on Instagram
Trump fires Pam Bondi as Attorney General (read more on p. 19)
Love this for her!—Rebecca Gast
The dow jones is at 46,504. I’ll fill in for her today.—Tomazzo Moore
He’s actually trying to save her. Most of the time when a cabinet member is let go they move on and you never hear of them again - sparing them of criminal charges. It’s safer for her under the bus.—Sarasota Slim
Florida AG says state can now fund religious charter schools, and ‘encourage’ Christianity
He needs to be removed, if he doesn’t have the balls to uphold the laws of this state! Thomas Wyant
Andrew Warren was suspended for less than this.—Tom Scherberger
So Uthmeier gets to decide which laws he’ll enforce but DeSantis removed Andrew Warren for “not enforcing laws” that he thought was unconstitutional. Such blatant hypocrisy.—Jessica Vaughn
How about waiving permit fees and fast tracking approvals. There’s plenty of actions he could have taken to get things unclogged—JP Fegan
He was rizzin’: Photos from the ‘Hunky Jesus & Foxy Mary’ contest at St. Pete’s Wet Spot pool bar (reactions from Facebook)
Y’all are so hateful in the comments section. Momma said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. I love these photos.—Brandon Steele
Well i guess the new owners of cl are same as the old owners. No hope for it being a decent rag anymore.—Ray Berry
Tampa Jan. 6 rioter files $18 million lawsuit, alleging police assaulted members of ‘peaceful’ crowd
Yes the noose and the zip ties and the shields and the armor. That was so
Which brand of Christianity? The Jesus kind or the American kind … because they’re WILDLY different—Kristopher James
I have never seen a more horrible representation for the republican party in my life then the current ones. Hobbling along on their biblical crutches… obliviously… not knowing actually what the historical bible writes…—Jerry Span
Fox Fam Jam debuts April 10–12, 2026 at Florida Sand Music Ranch in Brooksville, FL–three days and nights of music, art, and community under the shady oak trees. Enjoy two shaded stages with extended sets spanning Jam, Bluegrass, Reggae, Electro-Funk, and Psychedelic Rock, plus immersive production with lasers and video screens. Live mural artists, art installations, and activities bring the grounds to life day and night, while late-night campfire jams keep the music going until sunrise. With on-site camping included, food and craft vendors, and private bathhouses with hot showers and flushing facilities, this inaugural event is not to be missed. Tickets and reserved RV sites available now at: www.FoxFamJam.com
Art by Lauren Tirro-Brass
Just look at it
Photos by Dave Decker
Things got awkward at Tempus Projects last Thursday thanks to Wallace Wilson and Lisa McCarthy. The photographer and painter, respectively, opened a new collaborative exhibition “Awkward Transactions” in Ybor City, showcasing a process where Wilson’s large-scale photos are joined by McCarthy’s brush for singular pieces of work. Also opening last week at the Kress Contemporary building was “Nothing to See Here,” a group show featuring sculpture, video, paint, mixed media and drawings all reflecting on what happens when we’re all alone doing everyday things. The exhibition includes work from artists including Anna Hemmerich, Jenn Ryann Miller, Kaylin Price, Jessi Sherbet, Erin Titus, and more. Both shows are on display inside Tempus Projects until May 28. See all the photos via cltampa.com/arts.—Ray Roa
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from April 09 - 16. See more on pp. 27, 34, 37 & 39
Hey, bud
Those looking to stop and smell the roses at Bonnet Springs Park this weekend can do a lot more than that. In fact, centuries-old grandfather oaks have watched green thumbs and vacationing families enjoy the city park—which is the largest in Polk County—since it opened in October 2022. Last year, it was named Best City Park by USA Today. The industrial railyard-turned-park is loved for its climbable trees and winding trails, and it is also home to the Florida Children’s Museum, which includes an immersive wildlife exhibit. Bonnet Springs’ staff and volunteers will offer free guided tours, as well as interactive and educational workshops on horticulture, pollinators and native plants, during the festival. The weekend also includes local food, drink and craft vendors, along with Jazz and DJ performaces.
Bloom flower festival: Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12. 8 p.m. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Spgs Blvd., Lakeland. bonnetspringspark.com—Jasmin Parrado
Everything old is new again
Vintage Market Days of Greater Tampa is back at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds for a three-day run of vintage finds and handmade goods. More than 100 vendors will spread out across the Grimes Building and Astin Pavilion, with a mix that is now leaning heavier into vintage clothing, along with its usual home decor and furniture. There’s also original art, repurposed pieces and handcrafted jewelry. Food trucks, live music and specialty tastings round things out. The event also supports the Plant City First United Methodist Youth Ministry.
Vintage Market Day: Friday-Sunday, April 10-12. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. $5 & up (free for kids 12 and under). Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds-Grimes Building and Astin Pavilion, 2508 W Oak Ave., Plant City. vintagemarketdays.com—Laura Troyer
Shelf control
This book festival takes readers to the swamps, space, prison and more through the pages of its authors. The Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg hosts its annual book festival this weekend, led by program director Chris Mindl. The lineup of a dozen writers includes Hilary Fowler, who recently published “The Kite and the Snail,” and “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” author Dalia Colón. Former U.S Sen. Bill Nelson, who was also a NASA astronaut, joins Gary Mormino in a lunchtime discussion. The Miami-native and former astronaut wrote about his outof-world experience in his 1988 book “Mission: An American Congressman’s Voyage to Space.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King will discuss his 2025 book, “Bone Valley,” a true-crime podcast turned nonfiction pageturner about a man wrongfully convicted for his wife’s 1987 murder.
Florida Studies Book Festival: Saturday, April 11. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Lynn Pippenger Hall Atrium and Auditorium at University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. usf.edu—Jasmin Parrado
APRIL 09-15, 2026 | cltampabay.com
Two of last year’s biggest newsmakers in the Bay food scene—Lucky Tigre chef and founder Chef Julie Sainte Michelle Feliciano and chef Philip Cleary from St. Pete fish shack Cheeky’s—come together this week when a Filipino-flavored seafood boil lands in St. Pete’s Grand Central district. A Kamayan dinner, for folks whose Filipino friends don’t like them enough to invite them to one, is when a family comes together around the table to eat without utensils. Rice, meats, seafood, fruits, and, yes, lumpia, are all spread tastefully across banana leaves. A press release says the dinner will feature sharable options served on bilao platters. Tickets to seatings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. include a coconut garlic shrimp boil with longanisa sausage, fried jasmine rice, pickled papaya & red potatoes, plus roasted oysters with Filipino adobo and Cheeky’s famous cornbread hush puppies with guava jelly. See the menu and learn more at cltampa. com/food-drink.
Cheeky’s x Lucky Tigre kamayan dinner: Monday, April 13. 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. $45. Cheeky’s, 2823 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. cheekys.net—Ray Roa
So juicy
The Morean Arts Center has been juicing fresh Florida talent for a whole decade through its “Fresh Squeezed” emerging artists series. Sixty-four artists from 27 Florida cities have been featured over the past 10 years. This year, eight artists and two additional artists in the Chihuly Collection special exhibition space were selected from nearly 150 applicants to bring a mix of painting, sculpture, glass and immersive installations to Tampa Bay. Winter Haven artist Alberto Alonso explores estrangement and connection through work shaped by his separation from Puerto Rico, reflecting the complex feelings of homesickness. Fleming Island painter Gwen Mehler’s highlights the beauty of threatened and endangered birds while raising awarenes through vibrant, large-scale portraits. The series runs April 11-June 25 at the Morean Arts Center, where there is no cover, and through July 19 at the Chihuly Collection, where tickets start at $16. Read about the rest of the cohort at cltampa.com/arts.
Fresh Squeezed 10: Emerging Artists in Florida— Morean Arts Center & The Chihuly Collection, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org—Laura Troyer
Cheeky charot
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New Port Richey mayoral candidate wants to lead the city that arrested him.
By Arielle Stevenson
It’s a Friday night at the Hacienda Hotel in downtown New Port Richey, the historic hot pink stucco resort that once helped sell the city as “Hollywood East.” Nearby, families play and stroll through Sims Park, as the Pithlachascotee River glows in the setting sun. Community activist and New Port Richey native Marlowe Jones walks among them, pointing to the hotel.
“My great-grandfather helped build this,” the 36-year-old says.
For Jones, the Hacienda is more than just a local landmark. It’s part of a city his family helped build while living under segregation. More than a century ago, relatives on his mother’s side, the Arline family, came from Georgia by train and settled near Pine Hill Cemetery on Pine Hill Road. On his grandfather’s side, the Jones family came from the Tallahassee area to the segregated “Pine Hill Colored Quarters.”
“It was in this community, this home, that my family could own their own land and not be treated like slaves anymore,” he tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Now, he’s running for mayor in the city his family helped build, the same city that, during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, tried
and failed to brand him a felon. If Jones wins, he would be the first Black mayor in New Port Richey’s history.
Before filing to run, Jones had already spent years fighting New Port Richey in the streets, in court, and at city hall. A week after a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest, police arrested him and charged him with felony obstruction and battery on a law enforcement officer. Jones has previously described the arrest (which has been posted to YouTube) as being “surrounded by about 30 stormtroopers in tactical gear.”
“My life was tested,” he says. “I had nightmares of being shot and killed by police officers.”
The case relied on a now-former officer’s allegation that later failed to hold up in court, and a jury acquitted Jones on May 5, 2022. Jones later sued the city, which ultimately settled out of court.
“I was falsely arrested, falsely accused,” he says. “It took me two years to fight and clear my name.”
What Jones survived in court now sits beside a newer grief, closer to home.
The campaign is unfolding in the shadow of a more recent tragedy. On New Year’s Day,
Jones’s brother, Izeal Peterson, age 30, was killed in a Pasco County shooting at Gulf View Square Mall.
“I haven’t even had time to properly mourn my brother’s death,” Jones says. “What hurts the most is it happened in my own backyard.”
The conflict at city hall, however, continued after the acquittal.
Reporting by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay was cited as part of the case that ended in Jones’s acquittal. Following the jury trial, CL obtained text messages via public records requests that show now-former NPR City Councilman Jeff Starkey telling current City Manager Debbie Manns of Jones, “He’ll never let the city live this down.”
Jones says the city’s push to take over residential trash service and move residents into a single-hauler system showed him the same habits he had been fighting for years: big decisions made from the dais down, presented to the public after the fact.
“I watched firsthand decisions be made behind closed doors and then only presented to the public,” he says.
ELECTIONS
New Port Richey Municipal Elections Tuesday, April 14. pascovotes.gov
Manns replied: “Not happy.”
Manns remains city manager of New Port Richey. In April 2024, she was granted a fiveyear contract extended through 2029 and 9% raise. And in New Port Richey, the city has a council-manager form of government. That means the city manager—not the mayor—is in charge of all city departments, along with all hiring and firing of city personnel.
But his conflict with city hall didn’t end at Jones’ acquittal. He points instead to New Port Richey’s fight over the single-hauler trash ordinance as the moment he decided to run for mayor.
The trash hauler debate unfolded under current Mayor Alfred “Chopper” Davis, Jones’s chief opponent in this year’s race. In 2023, Davis won the Mayor’s office by just 13 votes after serving nine years on City Council, where he first won his seat by nine votes in 2013.
During a 2023 special workshop tied to the city’s single-hauler trash fight, Davis had Jones escorted out by police for “interrupting.” Jones later told CL that one of the officers escorting him out of that workshop was also there the night he was arrested in 2020.
“I felt like, why am I going to keep complaining about what they’re doing?” he says. “I need to mobilize, organize, and run.”
For Jones, the single-hauler issue was another example of the city centralizing control, narrowing residents choices, and asking working people to absorb consequences later. continued on page 17
VERY FINE HOUSE: Marlowe Jones’ family literally helped build New Port Richey’s Hacienda Hotel.
Vintage Market Days
16 | APRIL 09-15, 2026 | cltampabay.com
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OUTBOARD REPOWER
The ordinance gave J.D. Parker (who was then bought out by Waste Pro) exclusive control over most solid waste collection beginning March 2, 2024. It also required all property owners to pay for service, whether or not they used it, allowed overdue bills to trigger liens after 30 days of nonpayment, and gave the city manager broad authority to administer the system.
Speaking with CL, Mayor Alfred Chopper Davis defended the single-hauler system, saying the city held public forums, was trying to address gaps in service, and believed moving to one hauler would help control costs and reduce wear on city streets.
“We had open forums where people could come and put their input in,” Davis said. “We wanted to address it in the best way.”
Davis also said making property owners responsible for payment was meant to deal with chronic nonpayment in a city with so many renters.
But Jones says the trash issue highlights an ongoing pattern of city power reaching into residents’ daily lives in different ways.
In 2023, a second federal civil rights lawsuit against the city alleged that police and code enforcement broke into resident Michelle Wojciechowski’s home over suspected code violations, rifled through her belongings, and helped create a campaign of harassment that ultimately drove her out of the city. In one video obtained by CL, officers made a joke about Anne Frank while searching the home of a Jewish resident. Public records cited in that case also said former code enforcement manager Charles Morgan monitored Wojciechowski’s water use and ran her license plate through a police scanner 22 times.
housing concepts than about the straightforward repairs they were asking for.
“We kept hearing, we could have a riverwalk, we could have housing over here,” Jones says.
“People want the boat ramp to stay where it is.”
Jones also says the city should move on with long-discussed community projects nearby, including turning the 1922 Gulf High/ Schwettman Education Center building into a cultural and civic center, and restoring the space for public use including reopening the ball field.
“We want to see the Schwettman building move forward,” he says. “Give it back to the community.
Davis says the city bought two nearby properties by the ramp, because the existing boat ramp only has space for about seven vehicles with trailers, and because overflow parking had become a problem. He says the boat ramp hasn’t moved and remains open, and that city officials are still discussing what to do with the site.
“When you have a river that goes through the town, you have an anchor in the town,” Davis told CL. “That anchor is our boat ramp.”
ELECTIONS
Davis sees his next term as a chance to push forward on both infrastructure and community projects, including the cultural center at Schwettman and renovating the athletic use of the adjacent field. His focus since joining the Council in 2013, he said, has been economic development, and after that the hurricanes, infrastructure and drainage became an equally urgent priority.
He also pushed back on criticism that city hall is inaccessible, saying residents can reach him directly and he remains more visible than any of his mayoral opponents.
Jones, who works as a community organizer, filed to run for mayor on Feb. 2, 2026. By then, he says, the issue was no longer one ordinance or one case, but the direction of the city itself.
“Right now I see the current government and the current city manager prioritizing development, development, development,” he says.
By development, Jones means condos, high rises, places most working people in New Port Richey can’t afford. He argues city leaders are chasing an upscale downtown while neglecting flooding, infrastructure, affordable housing, and the needs of renters and working families.
“Where’s the affordable housing? Where’s the workforce housing?” he says.
Jones points to the city’s handling of the public boat ramp as another example of what he says is wrong with New Port Richey’s priorities. He says residents want the ramp to remain where it is and for the city to finally repair it, not treat the site as an opening for broader redevelopment.What upset residents most, he says, was hearing more about a riverwalk and
“I have 12 years experience,” Davis said. “I know what direction I want to take myself, and I’m doing my homework.”
Jones is one of four candidates running for mayor in New Port Richey’s April 14 municipal election. According to Pasco County election records, the field for mayor includes Davis, Jones, former councilmember Kelly Mothershead Timmons, and Daisy Thomas.
Campaign finance records show Jones is the financial underdog in the four-way mayoral race. Davis has raised $9,730; Jones $3,421; Thomas $5,965, plus $1,125 in-kind; Timmons $6,075 raised, plus $2,344 in-kind.
Despite running with the smallest campaign war chest in the field, Jones sees his campaign as people-powered rather than money-driven.
For the New Port Richey native, it’s about how residents keep hearing about plans and possibilities, while basic needs like drainage and affordability remain unmet. In a city where renters make up 45% of the population, including Jones himself, he argues too many decisions are being made with wealthier
KEEPING UP: Housing, development, and municipal services are among Jones’ priorities.
newcomers in mind, not the people already here.
“I don’t see them wanting to keep this a community,” he says. “I see them really wanting to turn it into like Ybor City or Dunedin.”
Walking around downtown, Jones points out bar after bar. He doesn’t object to nightlife, he says, but does question the kind of place his hometown is becoming.
“I think people would like to go out and have a good drink somewhere, but I think
they’re over-inundating it. Can we have more family things, maybe?”
Walking by the waterfront, a young man calls to Jones from across the park.
“There’s New Port Richey’s next mayor!” the young man calls.
Jones is also running, he says, to build a better community for the kids he’s raising here.
“I don’t want my daughters and my son to grow up and people are still doing the things they did to me,” he said.
Help keep local
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“It will be great to have her back home…”
WHAT IF YOU COULD HAVE IT ALL? Bondi defended the
You’re fired Tampa woman loses White House job.
By Selene San Felice
After defending President Donald Trump from accusations of pedophilia and sexual misconduct, and trying to save him from impeachment in his first term, Tampa native Pam Bondi is out as U.S. Attorney General.
Trump announced her firing on social media last Thursday. His former personal defense lawyer, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, will assume the position.
“Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” Trump posted. “Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country.”
The 60-year-old faced scrutiny for her handling of the case surrounding the Epstein files and Trump’s appearance in them. And she’ll still have to appear for a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee, for which she was subpoenaed last month.
It’s unclear if the Florida Bar will now investigate Bondi for alleged state ethics violations. In a five-sentence rejection last October, the Florida Supreme Court sided with the Florida
Bar which said that the 70-odd legal experts lacked standing to ask a state-level organization to investigate federal officials.
Panel member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said in a statement that she has been “leading a White House cover-up of the Epstein files.”
“She has weaponized the Department of Justice to protect Donald Trump and put survivors in harm’s way by exposing their identities,” he wrote. “She will not escape accountability.”
Less than a month ago, Trump ousted Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security.
Bondi was brought on as U.S. attorney general at the start of Trump’s second term. She was Trump’s second choice after former Congress member Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who resigned from office in late 2024, hoping to take the job, but later withdrew due to a series of sexual misconduct allegations.
Before she was part of Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial, Bondi was elected Florida Attorney General in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 after 18 years as an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County. She built
a reputation for prosecuting high-profile cases and as a legal expert for Fox News.
Clifton C. Curry, Jr., a Tampa attorney and Bondi supporter, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Bondi was a great attorney general. “It will be great to have her back home in Tampa,” he added.
In the wake of the news Florida Republicans lined up to praise her, too, according to more reporting from the Florida Phoenix.
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Scott praised Bondi. He served as governor and she as Florida attorney general together from 2011 to 2019.
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Fort Walton Beach, shared kind words of Bondi.
“Attorney General @PamBondi has been a tireless public servant who delivered real results and justice for the American people. I wish her continued success in her next chapter and look forward to working closely with @DAGToddBlanche and @POTUS to Make America Great Again,” Patronis posted to social media minutes after the news broke.
“Pam Bondi will be known as one of the great crime fighters of our time. She is a patriot who has all of our appreciation,” Gaetz posted to social media.
Democrats were less complimentary.
“I have been calling for Pam Bondi to be impeached or fired, and I’m glad that has now happened. Her blatant disregard for the Constitution and her role in the continued coverup of the Epstein files was and is despicable,” U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Orlando, said Thursday.
LOCAL NEWS
“For months, my office has been working to uncover this administration’s handling of the Epstein files, reviewing how records were managed, what was withheld, and how information was presented to the public. That work has raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability, and it is ongoing,” Frost continued.
Patronis, former chief financial officer of Florida, and Bondi overlapped for about a year and a half while serving on the Florida Cabinet.
Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican, was Trump’s first nominee for attorney general but he resigned before being confirmed.
“Pam Bondi has not testified under oath about her role in these decisions. That testimony is scheduled for April 14, and it needs to happen. Her removal from office does not change her legal obligations. The subpoena remains valid, and the American people deserve answers.”
Reporting from The Florida Phoenix was used in this story.
president from accusations of pedophilia and sexual misconduct.
DANIEL TOROK
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Do better
‘Shit happens’ is an unacceptable response to concerns about soldiers.
By Mike Trentalange
Once again, the United States is at war, this time in Iran. Whether the actions of our nation are warranted is currently being debated. That debate will probably never be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone.
One thing that is not debatable, however, is who bears the cost of this war. It is undeniably and disproportionately America’s youth: those who serve in our armed forces, their families, and their friends. Soldiers and Airmen have already made the ultimate sacrifice in this military action, and more will likely die as Operation Epic Fury continues.
The burden of leading troops in battle is enormous, and commanders who have lost men and women in combat carry those losses with them for the remainder of their lives.
Bill Keyes is one of those commanders.
On April 6, 2006, then Lieutenant Colonel Bill Keyes was on patrol in Iraq with the soldiers of his Stryker Support Battalion. One of those soldiers was a 21 year- old Specialist from a tight-knit northeastern community. Twenty years later, Keyes remembers his soldier. The oldest son from a family that cherished him, his smile was infectious, and the way he looked after his fellow Soldiers revealed a maturity beyond his years. Most of all, Keyes remembers how his selfless commitment to duty made him the pillar of his squad. When going out on patrol, he always volunteered to be the gunner in the lead vehicle, facing the dangers that came with that position instead of leaving it to his fellow squad members.
That day, his truck was struck by an improvised explosive device. In the chaos that followed, Keyes knelt beside his soldier while medics worked to save his life, holding his hand as hope faded away. In those final moments, Keyes whispered reassurances, promising his soldier that he would not be forgotten.
Colonel Keyes has kept that promise.
For 19 years, Keyes has made an annual pilgrimage to his soldier’s grave site, staying in frequent contact with his family. These visits have become more than just a ritual. Keyes has joined his soldier’s parents and siblings at numerous memorial events and community tributes. In quiet moments, they sit together— sometimes in silence, sometimes in tears—and take whatever comfort they can in their shared grief. Col. Keyes has shed countless tears with this family and other Gold Star families, forging bonds that transcend rank and uniform. Through these gatherings, Keyes has come to see the true cost of war, not just in lives lost, but in hearts broken and lives forever changed.
To hear the current occupant of the White House callously say that lost lives and casualties “often happen in war” is an insult to Col. Keyes and thousands of other military leaders who have been or are entrusted with the lives and safety of American service members.
“Some missions are never attempted because the human cost outweighs the
Military commanders work tirelessly to prevent casualties. In the planning stage of any military operation, the human cost of obtaining an objective is balanced against the importance of the mission. Some missions are never attempted because the human cost outweighs the potential benefit. At the execution stage, all reasonable efforts are taken to protect the physical safety of troops. And in the aftermath of operations, careful review and assessment is undertaken to determine how casualties might be reduced or avoided in the future.
“Shit happens” is an unacceptable response to concerns about the safety of our fighting men and women. They deserve better.
Mike Trentalange is co-owner and chairman at Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, and a trial lawyer who served 10 years as an officer in the Army and Army Reserve. OP-ED
cocina y tequileria
The
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
Crème de la crème
Tampa chef is a James Beard finalist, and more Tampa Bay food news.
By Ray Roa
Michelin stars are all the rage, but Tampa’s culinary scene has something new to celebrate this week.
Bryce Bonsack, chef at Michelin-starred Tampa Heights Italian restaurant Rocca, is among the nominees in the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards—with winners to be announced on June 15 during a ceremony in Chicago.
Bonsack, who is also involved at South Tampa’s Bar Terroir, is one of six finalists in the running for “Best Chef: South.”
The only other Florida finalists on the 2026 James Beard list are Maria La Mota and Chason Spencer from Jacksonville Ecuadorian restaurant Chancho King.
While Green Bench Brewing’s Webb’s City Cellar broke the curse last year. The local food and drink scene had been in something of a James Beard drought over the last few years.
Not since 2019 was a Bay area chef even mentioned in the Beard award conversation. That was when St. Petersburg chef Rachel Bennett of The Library was named a Rising Star Chef of the Year while Jeannie Pierola, chef-owner behind Tampa’s Edison: Food+Drink Lab, nabbed a Best Chef: South semifinalist spot.
Michelin-star team plans Japanese-Nordic concept in St. Pete
Orlando-based Michelin-starred restaurateurs
Johnny and Jimmy Tung recently announced plans to open a new rooftop experience in Tampa, and they apparently have even more plans for Tampa Bay.
Yesterday, reps for the Tung brothers told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about Mei, a concept debuting in the former Bento space at 320 3rd St. S this spring, and helmed by Executive Chef Alex Chamberlain, who will be moving from his current position as Chef de Cuisine at the Michelin-starred Kosen in Tampa. Michelinawarded Sommelier of the Year, Benjamin Coutts, will run the beverage program.
Named after Chamberlain’s sister, Mei “brings together French technique, Nordic ethos, and Japanese ingredients,” says the press release, which added:
OPENINGS
In 2017, Columbia Restaurant Group President Richard Gonzmart was a semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Rooster & the Till’s Ferrell Alvarez and Clearwater chef Chris Ponte were also semifinalists for Best Chef: South that year.
That’s the same year Greg Baker of The Refinery and Fodder & Shine was named semifinalist for Best Chef: South in 2015.
Baker, who can be seen publicly these days in the punk-rock band Unruly Industry, is the Bay area’s most Bearded chef, with recognition going back to the early 2010s.
The Tampa Bay area has not had a finalist in the running for a James Beard since 2015 when Tampa’s Bern’s Steak House was a finalist for Outstanding Wine Program. A16 in San Francisco won that year, but Bern’s took the award a year later, adding to the Outstanding Wine Service Beard award it earned in 1992.
“At Mei, that approach is reflected through in-house fermentation, koji aging, dry aging, and firebased cooking, blending Nordic open-hearth techniques with Japanese binchotan grilling. The restaurant will operate with a commitment to sustainability, including whole ingredient utilization, preservation to reduce waste, partnerships with local farms and fishermen, composting, and biodegradable packaging— grounded in the belief that thoughtful cooking begins with responsible sourcing and mindful use.”
The new 2,700 square-foot space will feature two distinct concepts: a 50-seat dining area with both an à la carte and pre-fixed menu options called The Living Room, as well as the Kitchen Counter, which only seats 8 and centers around a chef-guided tasting menu.
No exact opening date has been announced, but a waitlist is currently live at mei-restaurant.com. As of now, Mei plans to serve guests Wednesday-Sunday, with the Kitchen Counter experience available on select evenings.
Last week, the Tungs released plans to open a new rooftop lounge in Ybor City called Tokyo Swim Club above the Mise en Place location. Tokyo Swim Club is currently aiming for a fall 2026 debut.
This is not St. Pete’s first fling with a NordicAsian inspired concept. “Top Chef” celebrity chef Jeffry Jew operated the upscale Lingr at 400 6th St. S from 2021 to 2024.—Colin Wolf
Gigglewaters acquired by Tampa franchiser Gigglewaters, the Safety Harbor-based restaurant and micro-theater that’s been racking up Best of the Bay wins since its 2018 debut, could soon open more locations.
Tampa tire and custom wheels giant RNR Tire Express, which reorganized as multi-brand holding company DX3 Brands, has acquired the franchise rights to the 1920s-inspired eatertainment spot, signaling plans for Florida-wide expansion.
RNR CEO Adam Sutton told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he’s been a Gigglewaters regular for years, buying into the big cheesys, old fashioneds and cinema supper clubs before considering franchising.
“They’re not too far from our office [in Clearwater],” Sutton told CL. “We found this hidden gem. The staff was amazing, and the food was amazing…it’s a unique experience.”
“Eventually, we looked at each other and said, ‘This is a really good partnership,’” said Gigglewaters owner Rachel Fine Wilson. She and Sutton phoned CL from a multi-unit franchising
conference in Las Vegas.
Fine Wilson and her husband and co-owner, Richie Wilson, brought their Brooklyn sensibilities to Florida in 2015, eventually opening Gigglewaters at 737 Main Street in downtown Safety Harbor. The flagship combines comfort food, craft cocktails and a 32-seat movie theater that screens classic films, tucked behind the dining room.
Since opening, Gigglewaters has built a loyal following, capturing multiple Best of the Bay awards. The restaurant has also made a mark on the community. During the 2025 SNAP benefits disruption, Gigglewaters headed the project responsible for offering free meals to children affected by the lapse.
Sutton told CL he was also drawn to Gigglewaters because “They make more money than average for your typical restaurant.”
He and Fine Wilson are seeking franchise partners to expand throughout Florida and eventually the Southeast.
The expansion strategy includes both traditional brick-and-mortar locations and the GiggleTruck, a mobile unit that debuted in Pinellas in 2024. The GiggleTruck brings a selection of the restaurant’s most popular dishes to local events, weddings and office gatherings.
“We’ve got big plans,” Fine Wilson said. Selene San Felice
BEARD LOVE: Bryce Bonsack at Rocca in Tampa.
HUEVOS RANCHEROS | $11
black beans, tomatillo, tortilla tostada, guajillo salsa, egg
SOPE | $18
pork belly, mole verde, goat cheese, pickled carrot, on a masa sope
MASA BENEDICT | $12
soft masa biscuit, hollandaise, poached egg
CON AMOR BREAKFAST | $16
eggs, bacon, hash, side salsa, pickle mix, guajillo marmalade, side tortillas
HASH BOWL | $20 (ADD EGG $2)
deshebrada, hash, poblano & bell pepper, onion, pickled jalapeno, pickled fresno, guajillo salsa and avocado crema
BREAKFAST BURRITO | $18
pancake, sausage, egg, maple syrup, on a flour tortilla, side hash brown
There are a ton of food and drink experiences happening around Tampa Bay this week. All events are at community.cltampa.com unless noted otherwise. Head there for more and list your own.
Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival
Tuesday-Saturday, April 7-11. Multiple times and locations
Polska Pilsner Beer Dinner & Brewery Tour Experience Thursday, April 9. 6:15 p.m.-9 p.m. $84.95. Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen, Tampa
A Night at the Brewseum Friday, April 10. 6 p.m. $55. Great Explorations Children’s Museum, St. Petersburg
Science After Dark Friday, April 10. 6 p.m. $40. Mosi, Tampa
Pretty Good Bread Pop-Up Saturdays, April 11 & 18. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. No cover. Greens N Things Urban Farm, St. Petersburg
Temple Terrace Craft Brewfest
Saturday, April 11. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. $25-$60. Woodmont Park, Temple Terrace
4th Annual Arthritis Foundation Soiree by the Bay Saturday, April 11. 6 p.m. $125. NOVA Southeastern University, Clearwater
8th Annual Havana Nights Saturday, April 11. 6 p.m. $60 & up. Friendship Park, Redington Beach
EuroFest 2026: A Celebration of Beer Flavored Beer Saturday, April 11. 7 p.m. No cover. Woodwright Brewing Co., Dunedin
Florida Foodies Festival Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 11 a.m. No cover. Derby Lane, St. Petersburg
Temple Terrace Craft Brewfest Saturday, April 11. 3 p.m. $25 & up. Woodmont Park, Temple Terrace. templeterracebrewfest.com
Italian Heritage Celebration Sunday, April 12. 1 p.m. $40. Sons of Italy Lodge, Tampa
MITA Dinner with Chef John Fraser Tuesday, April 14. 5 p.m. $205. Lilac at Tampa Edition, Tampa. editionhotels.com
Steelbach Mediterranean Wine Dinner Wednesday, April 15. 6:30 p.m. $150. Steelbach at Armature Works, Tampa
Experience Thursday, April 16. 6 p.m. $45. Webb’s City Cellar at Green Bench Brewing, St. Petersburg.
Taste of Water Street Thursday, April 16. 5:30 p.m. $107.34. Water Street, Tampa
THEATER
‘And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank’ Select nights April 10-May 17. $25-$55. freeFall Theatre Company. 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. freefalltheatre.com
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
The fabulous Friedmans
Siblings
from a Tampa acting family share an important story at freeFall.
By David Warner
Broadway had the Barrymores. Britain the Redgraves. Hollywood the Fondas. And Tampa has… The Friedmans!
Chances are that if you’ve been to the theater in the last several years, you’ve caught a performance by a member of the Friedman family—Noa, 25, who’s worked for just about every local professional company in the area (most recently “The Scarlet Letter” at American Stage); her twin sister, Emma (“Indecent” at American Stage in 2023); or older brother David, 29, who made his debut at American Stage 12 years ago in “The Chosen” and appeared with Emma in the company’s 2024 Park production of “Beauty in the Beast.”
Now David and Noa are making their debuts together at freeFall. They’re playing brother and sister in “And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank,” a multimedia play by James Still. The playwright integrates interviews he taped with Holocaust survivors Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg (Anne Frank’s first boyfriend) with scenes from their lives in WWII recreated by live actors. Though first produced more than 25 years ago, the play remains achingly relevant.
Noa plays the young Eva, who lived in the same Amsterdam apartment building as Anne Frank and whose family went into hiding the same day as the Franks. David plays Eva’s brother, Heinz, who died with his father in a Nazi death march.
Both actors feel honored to take part in this project.
wasn’t final. This is my f.u. to that— I’m still here and I’m the one telling these stories.”
The Friedmans spoke to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay via Zoom from their parents’ home in Tampa, their comments frequently overlapping.
David is based in New York now, as is Emma, but he’s staying in town for the show. Their oldest sister Abigail, 31, lives in San Francisco, but both she and Emma will be coming to see their siblings on stage.
up, their parents took them to shows at venues like the Straz and American Stage in the Park. “And now,” says Noa, “they get to come watch us on those same stages.”
“They’ve always been supportive,” says David. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our parents.”
All four siblings attended K-8 grades at Corbett Prep, which places a strong emphasis on the arts. Emma, Noa and David went on to Blake, Tampa’s arts magnet high school, and Abigail studied in King High School’s highly competitive I.B. program, where she was president of Thespians and “basically ran the entire theater program,” according to her brother. “One
staged their first shows at home. “We put on little skits, costumes, the whole thing, and we’d basically force our parents to sit and watch us perform.”
Abigail later went on to work for the Broadway League, which produces the Tony Awards, but ironically enough she’s the only one of the four siblings who’s not involved in theater at the moment. (She’s working for a shoe company in San Fran, but David and Noa expect she’ll get back into theater eventually.) Both Noa and Emma double-majored in acting and business administration at the University of Florida. David got his degree in musical theater from Penn State, where he minored in history, and went on to get an MA in communications and web design at UF.
“We’re getting close to the point where there will be no more living Holocaust survivors,” says Noa. “So it’s a privilege to be part of how these stories continue to be told.”
“And when you have Jewish actors telling these stories,” says David, “it’s a kind of a triumph, because it shows that ‘The Final Solution’
SEEING DOUBLE: Noa (L) and David Friedman make their co-acting debut this month.
So how did the Friedmans come to be such a theater-centric bunch? Their parents aren’t theater people per se—mom Billie Valloreo is a VP at The Bank of Tampa and dad Stewart Friedman is an efficiency expert—but they are theater fans. When the children were growing
day she will be the producer of the family, no doubt about it.”
Their oldest sister inspired the younger Friedmans. “She was doing theater in the community and at school, so naturally we wanted to do it too, to be on stage just like her,” says David. They
Neither of them regard their other studies as alien to their acting careers. On the contrary, they’ve used that background to make deeper connections with the theater world. Noa, who works days at the Glazer Family Jewish Community Center in Tampa, has developed a notable side hustle.
“Honestly, Noa is the best headshot photographer in the Tampa Bay area,” brags her brother, who says that the shots she took of him are better than those of any actors he’s met in New York.
His own non-acting job—freelance web designer—also taps into his theater connections: His clients include fellow actors, for whom he makes websites. It’s a small bone of contention: “You still haven’t made me one,” Noa grumbles. Being well-versed in other fields also improves their stagecraft.
“I minored in history,” says David, “so I could learn about the world—in order to influence the way I approach acting.”
And now, those interests— and the siblings’ own family ties—have converged in “And Then They Came For Me.”
As David observes, the story of families destroyed by anti-Semitism is not relevant only to one population, or to just one horrific chapter in world history. It’s a cautionary tale for all of us right now.
“‘Never Again’ means ‘Never Again’ for everybody,” he says. “Not just for the Jews.”
The jump off
Red Bull cliff diving’s only U.S. stop is in St. Pete.
By Ray Roa
The water’s not that deep around the St. Pete Pier, but some of the world’s most extreme athletes will dive into it anyway this summer, because Red Bull. Last week, the energy drink company announced that its “Cliff Diving World Series” has plans to come to St. Petersburg in June for two days of buttcheek-clenching leaps into Tampa Bay.
The event is the only U.S. stop in Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series’ six-date 2026 season. This marks the series first foray into the Gulf Coast of the U.S.—and from where divers will jump remains to be seen.
The United States Geological Survey says the average depth in most of Tampa Bay is only about 11 feet deep, noting the dredging for shipping channels has created spots as deep as 43 feet.
cliff divers execute complex multi-axis twists and somersaults before hitting the warm waters of the Gulf Coast below at close to 85 kph (53 mph),” the company added.
SPORTS
Red Bulls’s Cliff Diving Series is no stranger to seeing athletes plunge into shallow water, however, and has constructed platforms attached to piers and connected to rocky ledges. Social media posts from Red Bull Cliff Diving say that athletes typically dive into water that is 3-5 meters in depth (about 10-16 feet). The spectacle also involves safety divers, inspections, a controlled environment and meticulous construction of platforms.
St. Petersburg-based charter captain Tyler de Jong told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the water around the base of the pier can be extremely shallow, especially given the about 2.5-foot change in depth that comes with the tide. It gets a bit deeper as you head out to the bay.
Based on the company’s language about the basin, it’s safe to assume that Red Bull will build a platform somewhere north of the pier and east of nearby Spa Beach. Aerials of the location show that the space creates something of a natural amphitheater.
“The water around the pier is between 12-14 feet.”
“The water around the pier is between 12-14 feet,” Capt. de Jong told CL, noting that depths reach about 20 feet about a half-mile from the pier, with other spots in a channel that runs from Vinoy basin into the Bay reaching 15 feet in depths at certain spots.
Red Bull says that in St. Pete, women athletes will jump from 69 feet while the guys go from 89 feet. “In the two to three seconds of freefall between take-off and entry, the world’s best
Athletes confirmed for Red Bull Cliff Diving’s St. Petersburg stop this June include Dutch diver Ginni van Katwijk, American Kaylea Arnett, Canada’s Molly Carlson, plus dudes like Spanish Diver Carlos Gimeno, Frenchman Gary Hunt, American James Lichtenstein. Without wild card entries, 15 divers are on the bill.
The event is obviously not Red Bull’s only foray into water-based activities, with Tampa hosting the infamous Red Bull Flugtag flying machine competition in 2008, 2011 and 2024. Should the cliff diving go well, don’t be surprised to see St. Pete claim the event next time it’s in town.
the code to regsiter or go to www.dfac.org/summer
‘Statement’ piece
Locals, Don Cesar, star in new Hollywood film.
By Selene San Felice
Nearly 200 Tampa Bay residents got their shot at seeing stars like Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti this week. But first, they had to see the inside of a former Dollar Tree. The Dolphin Shopping Center space was production HQ over the last couple weeks for “The Statement,” starring Giamatti, Rudd and John Turturro. Also in the film are Evan Peters, Jason Clarke and Amy Ryan.
The dark comedy directed by Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) centers on a real conference that happened at the Don Cesar in 1980, where experts fumbled the chance to to stop climate change through a Congressional directive.
It’s been a decade since Tampa Bay was the set of a major Hollywood film. “The Infiltrator” (2016), starring Bryan Cranston, featured local extras in Pinellas spots including Derby Lane, the Dolphin Motel and the Don. Movies like “Zola” (2020) and “Magic Mike” and “Spring Breakers” (both 2012) made waves after being set and filmed at our beaches.
The same year Cranston came to town, Florida stopped statewide production incentives. But after Pinellas County introduced its own local incentives last fall, the star power is streaming in.
“Chicken Head,” horror-comedy mockumentary starring Tara Rein, filmed in and around Largo last month. Shows, like “Love on the Spectrum,” have also utilized Pinellas County over the last year.
Dave Caputo, head of Visit St. PeteClearwater’s film commission, told reporters that a big production like “The Statement” can put Tampa Bay on the map for future big projects. “I think it does show that we can support this type of production here in Pinellas County, that we do have the infrastructure and crews and talent,” he added.
This week, Giamatti, Rudd and Ryan shot scenes for the film in and around The Don. No Toturro, though. Sorry, refiners.
BOTTOM DOLLAR: A former Dollar Tree in St. Pete Beach hosted the Hollywood production.
Local extras were cast for scenes at the Don’s pool, the beach and around the hotel, producer Jonathan Schwartz told reporters at the production center. There, extras trickled in to get fitted for costumes meticulously chosen by designer Melissa Toth.
For Toth, acquiring the racks of terricloth coverups, wool suits and skirt sets, and colorful clothes of the ‘70s and early-‘80s has become an increasing challenge over the years. “It’s gotten really bleak,” Toth told CL.
FILM & TV
The movie is based on “Losing Earth: A Recent History,” Nathaniel Rich’s 2019 nonfiction book centered around the conference and America’s failure to use climate change information it’s had for decades.
Climate change is partly to blame for why more scenes couldn’t be filmed at the Don. The ground floor had to be completely redone after flooding and storm damage from the 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton. Most of the movie was shot in New Orleans, including all of the interior Don Cesar scenes.
Trucks of costumes and production materials were shipped into St. Pete Beach last week.
A table of seamstresses in the back corner of the space worked to replace elastic and dry-rotted rubber in some pieces while making alterations for the stars.
“The bra cups of ladies’ bathing suits…put it on and it just turns into like a pile of dust,” she said. “So we’ve had to do some fakes. You know, there’s still string bikinis out there that can work.”
One of the extras waiting to be fitted was Visit St. Pete-Clearwater intern Adrianna Vargas. The 22-year-old didn’t tell her bosses she applied for the casting call that went out last month, but they were both pleasantly surprised when she walked into the former Dollar Tree last week.
She was on set Wednesday to be a “friend of the bride.”
“I have no idea who’s getting married. I’ve got no clue,” she told reporters. “But I’m doing it for the plot.”.
Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist
APRIL 11, 2026 THROUGH JULY 12, 2026
Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist is organized by the Katonah Museum of Art
This exhibition is curated by Michelle Yun Mapplethorpe, Director and Chief Curator, Katonah Museum of Art
Floral interpretations on view in the Museum of Fine Arts galleries
For tickets and complete event information, visit stuartsociety.org or scan the QR code.
Cracked up: Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs
Don’t call him “Gabriel Iglesias” to his fans. He’s forever known as “Fluffy,” his alternate term for fat prevalent in his specials like “Aloha Fluffy,” “Stadium Fluffy,” and last year’s “The Legend of Fluffy.” Iglesias was on “Last Comic Standing” 20 years ago and had his own Netflix sitcom for a couple seasons. But he’s known for constant touring and specials, with animated, self-deprecating sets that combine storytelling with various observations and characters woven in. And he’s done all of it with a clean, accessible style that appeals to many generations of fans. Clearly, his strategy is working: Benchmark International Arena is reserved for only the biggest touring comedians, and he’ll be there April 10. He has a little less “fluff” these days since focusing on weight loss, but his comedy hasn’t changed so his long-term fans know exactly what they’re getting.
Get info on his gig and more of the best comedy coming to Tampa Bay April 9-22. See more at cltampa.com/arts.—Michael Murillo
Austin Nasso Thursday, April 9. 8 p.m. $28 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa
Scuffed Realtor: Live with Nick Rochefort and Alex Schultz Thursday, April 9. 7:30 p.m. $33 and up. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel
Chris Gorges Thursday, April 9. 8 p.m. $15 and up. Twisted Oak, Dade City
Jay Hewlett Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor
Jamie Lissow Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11.
7 p.m. Thursday; 6:30 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $42.45. McCurdy’s, Sarasota
Gabriel Iglesias Friday, April 10. 8 P.M. $43 and up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Jay Legend Friday, April 10. 7:30 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel
Natasha Samreny Friday, April 10. 8 p.m. $15 and up. The Garage on Central, St. Petersburg
Funny Marco Friday-Saturday, April 10-11. 7 p.m. And 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. And 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $37 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City
Mike Cannon Friday-Saturday, April 10-11.
7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Tampa
GR Goodwin Friday-Saturday, April 10-11. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach
Wes Johnson Friday-Saturday, April 10-11. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater
Stephen Henry Saturday, April 11. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel
Vien Phommachanh Saturday, April 11. 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $20. Coconuts, St. Pete Beach
Tim Boyd Saturday, April 11. 6:30 p.m. $20. Beef O’ Brady’s, Parrish
Tommy D Saturday, April 11. 8 p.m. $24.80. The Bearded Turtle, Tarpon Springs
J.J. Alexander Sunday, April 12. 6 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Tampa
Mark Paul Sunday, April 12. 6 p.m. $32 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City
Cindy Kaza Wednesday, April 15. 7 p.m. $48. Funny Bone, Ybor City
Jeff Klein Wednesday, April 15 and Saturday, April 18. 8 p.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts, St. Pete Beach
Jack Shaw Thursday, April 16. 8 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Tampa
Clay Miles Thursday, April 16. 8 p.m. Free. Cigars on the Boulevard, Apollo Beach
History as a Joke: Johnny B w/Matt Fernandez/John J. Murray Thursday, April 16. 7 p.m. $10. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa
James Yon Thursday-Saturday, April 16-18. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel
Mike Loftus Thursday-Saturday April 16-18. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. And 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $32.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor
Darren Fleet Friday, April 17. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $32 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City
Adam Friedland Friday-Saturday, April 17-18. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. $30 & up. Side Splitters, Tampa
EJ Masicampo Friday-Saturday, April 17-18. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach
Stephen Henry Friday-Saturday, April 17-18. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club
D.C. Benny Saturday, April 18. 6 p.m. $20. Side Splitters, Tampa
Ginger Billy Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19. 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday; 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. $42 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City
Dr. Abby Hamilton Sunday, April 19. 4 p.m. $28.80. Side Splitters, Tampa
420 Show with Dick Ruse Sunday, April 19. 4:20 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach
Tarus Sunday, April 19. 8 p.m. $15 and up. Motorworks Brewing, Bradenton
Josh Pray Sunday, April 19. 6:30 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel
Baking Bad: Stoner Rob Monday, April 20. 7:10 p.m. $25. Side Splitters, Tampa
Sammy Obeid Tuesday-Wednesday, April 21-22. 7 p.m. $33 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City
The events listed in our Do This section on pp. 12-13, our Food section on pp. 27, and the comedy lineup on pp. 34 aren’t the only things to do in town this weekend. Have a look at what’s going down the week of April 9-16 and beyond. All events are at community.cltampa.com unless noted otherwise. Head there for more and list your own.
ARTS
52nd Annual HC Student Juried Art Exhibition (Opening reception) Thursday, April 9. 6 p.m. No cover. Gallery114 @ HC Ybor, Ybor City Art in Conversation (Poetry & prose reading) Thursday, April 9. 6:30 p.m. No cover. USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa
MAACM Cicada in Flight Glass Class Friday, April 10. 10 a.m. $110 & up. Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg
Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance (Film & African drumming and dance experience) Friday, April 10. 2:30 p.m. No cover. Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, Clearwater African Arts in the Park Cultural Festival Saturday, April 11. 11:30 a.m. No cover. Perry Harvey Sr. Park, Tampa Alexia Benavent: De aquí, De allá - Connecting with Home (Opening reception) Saturday, April 11. 5 p.m. No cover with admission. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Art Heals Saturday, April 11. 5 p.m. No cover. ArtsXchange, St. Petersburg ERA: Choreographic Visionaries, One Stage Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. Multiple times. $45. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa. tampacityballet.org
Gulf Coast Ballet Theater: Cinderella Saturday, April 11. 11 a.m., 2 p.m., & 7 p.m. $15 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Jenny Day: Happy Birthday Stinky! (Opening reception) Saturday, April 11. 5 p.m. No cover with admission. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Muzicianist: Vernal Equinox 2026 Saturday, April 11. 5 p.m. No cover. GCAA ArtWorks, St. Petersburg Spring Gallery Weekend Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 10 a.m. No cover. Cass Studio, St. Petersburg. instagram. com/cassartgallery
Tampa City Ballet: Emerging & Resident Artists Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 7 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m Sunday. $45 & up. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa
Text in Paint with Izzy Stark Saturday, April 11. 12 p.m. $60. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg
Caterwalls: Cat-themed Art Exhibition & Dance Party Benefitting Friends of Strays Sunday, April 12. 4 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Jewelry Making Workshop Sunday, April 12. 1:30 p.m. $32. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater
Art Raffle Monday, April 13. 6 p.m. $10. Crowbar, Ybor City
Encaustics: Wondrous Waxy Textures
Monday, April 13. 10 a.m. $250. Tampa
Museum of Art, Tampa
Art In Bloom: Curated Beauty ThursdaySunday, April 16-19. 10 a.m. $175 & up.
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
June Bunch: State Flower Ladies Exhibition Select times and dates through Saturday, May 2. No cover. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg
Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound Through Aug. 23. $5 & up. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa
FILM
Young Directors’ Film Festival Saturday, April 11. 5 p.m. No cover. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. tampamuseum.org
Jekyll Film Society: A Bug’s Life
Sunday, April 12. 2 p.m. No cover. Jekyll Hyde Park, Tampa
Jekyll Film Society: Forrest Gump
Sunday, April 12. 8 p.m. No cover. Jekyll Hyde Park, Tampa
Movie On The Deck: Iron Man and The Avengers Wednesday, April 15. 7 p.m. No cover. Lower Deck Harbour Island, Tampa
Kids Movie On The Deck: Toy Story 3 Wednesday, April 15. 5 p.m. No cover. Lower Deck Harbour Island, Tampa
LEARN
Cafe con Tampa Fridays. 8 a.m. $12. The Portico, 1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa Florida Birding & Nature Festival Thursday-Sunday, April 9-12. Various times and prices. Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, Apollo Beach
10x10 Celebration (District 10th Anniversary) Friday, April 10. 12 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Education and Research Building, St. Petersburg
Ctrl+Create Friday, April 10. 9:30 a.m. $49 & up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg
On The Edge Of A Broken Sky Friday, April 10. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa
iPhone Photo Editing Workshop with Michelle Cornejo Saturday, April 11. 2 p.m.
$80. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg
Explorations in Creative Writing Saturday, April 11. 10 a.m. $75. The Paper Seahorse, Tampa
Florida Explorers: Sharks Saturday, April 11. 11 a.m. No cover with RSVP. IRB Civic Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach
Next Level Workshop: Discovering the Unexpected Saturday, April 11. 10 a.m. $290. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Faces of Power: Stories Behind Portraits on Greek and Roman Coins
Sunday, April 12. 2 p.m. $25 for non-members; no cover for members and college students. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Six Million Steps Sunday, April 12. 9:15 a.m. No cover. North Straub Park, St. Petersburg
Photography 101 Sunday, April 12. 10 a.m.
$75. Janan, Ybor City
The Founding of Heritage Village Museum & Park: A Legacy of Preservation Wednesday, April 15. 6 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor
Growing Mushrooms 101 Thursday, April 16. 7 p.m. $50. Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary, St. Petersburg
MARKETS
Dunedin Friday Market Fridays. 9 a.m. No cover. Pioneer Park, Dunedin Vintage Market Days of Greater Tampa Friday-Sunday, April 10-12. 10 a.m. Friday & Saturday; 11 a.m. Sunday. $5 & up; no cover
continued on page 39
Out and about: Events happening in Tampa Bay (cont'd)
for under 12. Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City. vintagemarketdays.com
PlayCon: Gaming & Comic Convention
Saturday, April 11. 10 a.m. $10. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo Dunedin Saturday Market Saturdays. 9
a.m. No cover. Pioneer Park, Dunedin Carrollwood Market Every second Saturday. No cover. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Waypoint Artisan Market Every second Saturday through May 9. 11 a.m. No cover. Waypoint Bar & Grill, Palmetto Quarter Auction for Beacon Square Civic Association Sunday, April 12. 1 p.m. No cover. Beacon Square Civic Association, Holiday St. Pete Indie Flea Sunday, April 12. 12 p.m. No cover. St. Petersburg City Hall, St. Petersburg
SPORTS
32nd Annual Tampa Pro ThursdaySunday, April 9-12. Doors open at 9 a.m.
Saturday, April 11. 7:30 p.m. $23 & up. Suncoast Credit Union Field, Tampa
USF Softball vs FAU Saturday, April 11. 4:30 p.m. $8 & up. USF Baseball and Softball Complex, Tampa. gousfbulls.com
USF Women’s Lacrosse Vs. Charlotte Saturday, April 11. 1 p.m. $11 & up. Corbett Soccer Stadium, Tampa. gousfbulls.com
USF Softball vs FAU Sunday, April 12. 1 p.m. $8 & up. USF Baseball and Softball Complex, Tampa. gousfbulls.com
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings Monday, April 13. 7 p.m. $64.45 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers Wednesday, April 15. 7 p.m. $91.55 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
THEATER
My Big Gay Italian Wedding Select times and dates through Sunday, April 12. $20 & up. Carrollwood Players Theatre, Tampa
The Apiary Select times and dates through Sunday, April 19. $5 & up. Urbanite Theatre, Sarasota
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 12 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $5 requested donation; no cover for members. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Deal Maker Saturday, April 11. 2 p.m. No cover. The Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach. sagestheater.org
Creative Arts Theatre: The Feisty Flamingos Wednesday, April 15. 10:30 a.m. No cover, but registration required. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa Open Rehearsal: Macbeth Wednesday, April 15. 7 p.m. $24. Rehearsal Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Tampa Bay Rodeo & Family Festival
Friday & Saturday, April 10 & 11. 4:30 p.m.
$25 & up. Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, Dover
Gigi’s Playhouse Blue and Gold Gala
Saturday, April 11. 6 p.m. $100. George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa. gigisplayhouse. org
Bloom (Flower festival) Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 10 a.m. No cover.
Bonnet Springs Park, Lakeland
USF Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12. 9 a.m. $10. USF Botanical Gardens, Tampa Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@cltampa.com for details.
REVIEWS PROFILES MUSIC WEEK
So back
A quick guide to Gasparilla Music Festival.
By Ray Roa
After being forced to take a break in 2025, Tampa’s long-running Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) is back. In a world stacked against independent music festivals, Tampa’s homegrown party is in its 14th year, and ready to welcome fans to its new downtown venue.
Founded in 2012, the nonprofit music festival serves the Gasparilla Music Foundation, which utilizes its Recycled Tunes program to refurbish musical instruments and places them in schools across Hillsborough County.
Powered by a board of locals, the festival didn’t even miss a year during the pandemic, opting instead to give fans two festivals in one calendar year to make up for lost time. GMF started to run into bad luck in 2023 when rain forced the cancellation of a headlining set by Run The Jewels, and bumped into more wet weather when it staged a solid, albeit soggy, debut at Tampa’s Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
GMF’s resurgence, Executive Director David Cox told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, speaks to the will of the people involved, who have always seen the festival as a long-range project.
“Sometimes that forces you to make some tough decisions,” Cox noted, adding that GMF has not been immune to rising and volatile prices, along with venue challenges. “It’s a lot for us to just keep kind of pushing down the same path. We needed to pause, regroup, and look at what the next 10 years could look like.”
Ultimately, Cox said, they reminded themselves that the foundation serves the community year-round and stages a festival to showcase Tampa’s local music and arts scene.
“Even when we said we were going to take [last] year off, longtime supporters understood. They said, “we’ll be there for you when you’re coming back.,” he added. “So it’s really a good feeling to see how much not just our attendees, but just other other groups and companies and people that have supported the festival for years, want to continue to support it forever.”
Read more below and at cltampa.com/music.
The venue
Cox knew that GMF’s comeback was not going to be at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, and as he thought about the next decade of the festival, he needed to find a new home for the
interim. After suggestions from colleagues, he ended up on the top floor of the Cumberland Garage in Water Street looking down at Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA)owned land that was home to old silos left standing after the demolition of Tampa’s Ardent flour mills. “I just saw this big, beautiful field in the middle of downtown Tampa, and was like, ‘I got to figure out what’s going on here.’”
“We go overboard on that stuff because we want to make it a great experience,” Cox added. He isn’t sure if Meridian Fields will be available next year, but Cox's team has plans to regroup, especially with bands already asking to play the festival in 2027. THEA, Cox added, owns the land and ultimately makes that decision. “We’ll have that meeting,” Cox said. “Hopefully there’s a little bit of a longer window there. It’s a great piece of property.”
The
music
In January, GMF unveiled its soundtrack by announcing headliners including indie-rock band Mt. Joy, college party guys Two Friends,
WE HAVE RE-IGNITION: Gasparilla Music Festival is ready to fire it up again.
He did, and this weekend, the vision gets a test run. There are three stages on the green: The Meridian Stage to the north, the Greenway Stage to the south, and the Silo Stage to the west. There’s an additional free stage at Sparkman Wharf, with planned activations on the walking path through Water Street. Every contingency has been made to ensure minimal wait times for restrooms, food and beverage on festival grounds.
and jam-rock icon Gov’t Mule. A month later, organizers announced the addition of other national acts like rowdy Americana songwriter Shakey Graves, EDM crossover star Jai Wolf, and alt-country royalty Drive-By Truckers.
The cherry on top was the last-minute welcome back for Afro-Cuban funk wunderkind Cimafunk—who made his Tampa Bay debut at the same festival four years ago. He is James Brown reincarnate.
SHOW PREVIEW
East Nash Grass, a Tennessee quintet that won the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year, brings its joyful, style-jumping album All God’s Children to the show, too.
“Glee Project” alum-turned pop-rapper Bryce Vine is on the bill along with a hip-hop heavyweight—Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA—who brings his Phunky Nomads band to Gasparilla Music Festival, too. The Nomads are led by drummer Ramsey Jones, who is the eldest brother of the late Wu-Tang icon Ol’ Dirty Bastards.
Kaitlin Butts (“You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)”), a rising country songwriter and vocalist, is also among the touring acts.
As it’s been since the beginning, GMF is anchored by a lineup of the best, and often emergent, homegrown artists. MiniM—perhaps the most popular Bay area band in the jam scene— is on the bill, along with local indie-rock stars Rohna. Little Giver, an exciting new emo-folk band out of St. Petersburg, makes its GMF debut, too.
Other Bay area highlights include the GMF debut of Tampa’s most-respected emcee Tom G (who’ll presumably link up at some point with his “Cuban Links” collaborator Sam E Hues, who is also on the bill), Daptone-and-Linear Labsflavored instrumental outfit Soft Cuff, punk quartet Pet Lizard, and elder statesmen of the Americana scene Urbane Cowboys.
Artists from across the Sunshine State are well-represented, too, thanks to young bluesman Josh Gluck, Gainesville art-pop favorite Prizilla, and South Florida indie-pop band Cannibal Kids.
Where to park
Don’t. We kid, we kid. GMF’s new venue is a test of the idea that city slickers, even in Tampa, shouldn’t have to rely on cars. While the city runs nearby parking garages (Pam Iorio, Fort Brooke) and surface lots, there’s a giant rideshare and dropoff near the GMF gate on Nebraska Avenue (tell the app to take you to 902 E Whiting St.). The TECO streetcar trolley— which runs between Ybor City and downtown Tampa—is also free to ride and has four stops near the festival. Tampa’s Pirate Water Taxi will also run specials and drop folks off near the free Sparkman Wharf stage. As usual, GMF includes a bicycle valet. “We’re really trying to get that neighborhood energized around there. We’ve got like 35,000 people that are in like short walking distance to this,” Cox told CL.
So down
St. Pete city attorney is in a punk band that kicks off GMF.
By Valerie Smith
It’s Wednesday afternoon. Joseph Patner slogs through pages of dry legalese as the lead litigation attorney for the City of St. Petersburg. Inscrutable financial spreadsheets reflect off Scott Robinson’s glasses while he advises clients on bankruptcy law. Eli Goodman sits in a video call, drawing on his software engineer experience to lead production of software… for software engineers.
Patner subtly bobs his head. Robinson taps out a rhythm on his desk. Goodman absentmindedly hums a melody. The anticipation the three have for the evening’s band practice makes stages out of their day jobs. In a few hours, Down From Jersey’s pop-punk sound will soak a local studio’s sounddampening walls in creative catharsis.
The St. Pete-based trio represents a demographic that keeps the local band scene alive: adults with careers and roots who care about the art of performing but don’t want to abandon their current lives for it.
Music isn’t a career for the group, but they’re not a half-hearted hobby band either. They’re working on their second album now (their first is available on streaming and vinyl), and they’re scheduled to open the upcoming Gasparilla Music Festival. Patner believes Down From Jersey landed the gig because they have a good product and all conduct themselves professionally.
Mainstream musicians often talk about their careers as an escape from the monotony of hometowns and desk jobs. Down From Jersey instead grounds itself in the local scene. “I feel like our sound is quintessentially St. Pete,” Robinson told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay during a rehearsal at St. Pete’s Loud Studios.
Robinson, the band’s drummer, has the most extensive musical background of the group. He majored in jazz performance before touring for six years with a steel drum band across the U.S. and in Trinidad and Tobago. Robinson then joined an indie-rock band in Boston called Gatsby, with whom he toured the East Coast. The difficult reality of being a touring musician exhausted Robinson.
“I just kind of burned out,” Robinson said. “I didn’t think I wanted to be in a band again until Joe and I started hanging out.”
Robinson and Patner met several years ago at St. Pete dive bar The Bends, where they bonded over a mutual taste for music. Patner, a bass player who has graced small stages across Tampa Bay since the late-‘90s, toyed with the idea of performing with Robinson. Over the next few years, Patner and Robinson would bump into each other at bars and shows where they would conspire to expand their rhythm section into a full-grown band.
At a 2023 Thanksgiving dinner with “extended-ish family,” Patner sat across from his wife’s-niece’s-husband: Eli Goodman. The two talked music and discovered they had the same favorite bands and genres.
Goodman said his early days were a litany of “embarrassment,” from a high school ska band to a college acapella group. In his early-20s, Goodman put together an album where he played everything except drums. “I put a lot of energy into it, and I finished it, and it was kind of bad. I had this similar burnout moment where I was like, ‘I’m not doing this anymore.’”
For the next 15 years. He didn’t pick up an instrument. He didn’t think he would play again until Patner suggested they get together.
start out as a cover band. The three of them reworked songs from Goodman’s “kind of bad” album and collaborated on new compositions.
The gritty, rebellious culture of the punk genre isn’t typically associated with married, salaried professionals. To get to the angsty drama that defines the sound, Goodman often writes from the perspective of a fictional caricature of his past self.
“I’m a pretty happy person in a very loving relationship. I don’t have a lot of drama,” Goodman added. “I have a persona that I like to write from now that’s a little bit more angsty, a little bit like my younger self. … I feel like it’s a chance to explore that thing that’s not really present in my day to day life at all.”
“My job [with the city] is not to have opinions, but to help further my client’s goals,” Patner told CL. “I can express myself here in ways that, obviously, in my day job, I cannot.”
INTERVIEW
Gasparilla Music Festival
“It’s really become a safe space, too, because we can expose our vulnerabilities and write lyrics that are heartfelt,” Robinson added. “It’s very therapeutic for us to come in here once a week and work together, work through our emotions, and hopefully make good music.”
Friday-Sunday, April 10-12. $65 & up Meridian Fields, 101 S Meridian Ave., Tampa gasparillamusic.com
The three prioritize their happy home lives above everything else. Down From Jersey isn’t using music as an escape. Performing is an enhancement and a diversification of the joy the band members already have in their lives.
Patner told CL that each song centers around a relationship, whether to a person, place, time or person. One track, “Linger,” is about how much
Patner has been integrated in Tampa Bay’s music scene for decades. He “survived” Ybor City’s cover band days as a performer, eventually graduat-
“I grew up,” Robinson said of his reason for going back to performing. “I wasn’t so angry about the music scene anymore.” He realized that taking things less seriously—and “not spending 10 hours in a van every day”—could make music fun again.
“After sort of breaking the seal, … I really have reconnected with [songwriting] as a deep, calming thing that I’ve always been so passionate about,” Goodman said. “I like to sing, I like to play the guitar, but I love to write songs.”
Robinson called Goodman’s songs a “lifeline” for the band. Since he had already written a few originals, Down From Jersey wouldn’t have to
St. Pete has changed, mourning the loss of dozens of small music venues on Central Avenue. The band’s next song will focus on the recent loss of Patner’s dog.
In the band’s first days, Goodman was coping with his father’s death. The band’s first practice happened the day before Goodman flew to California to say goodbye. By coincidence, songwriting found Goodman just before he would need a cathartic outlet for his grief.
Music gives Down From Jersey’s members a safe environment to explore the full range of their emotions and creativity.
ing to originals with his former band, Broken Tail Light. He frequented plenty of now-defunct venues, picking up the Weekly Planet from newsstands every Thursday to plan out his weekend. Patner has seen the region grow from a charming kid to a gangly teenager who hasn’t quite gotten used to their new proportions. As Tampa Bay’s cities experiment and try to find their new identities, Down From Jersey remains the kind of band that keeps the scene local. Members aren’t passing through, or trying to make it big and get out of town. They’re sharing the stage with the other artists who give Tampa Bay its unique sound.
NAME OF THE GAME: (L-R) Joseph Patner, Eli Goodman and Scott Robinson at Loud Studios in St. Petersburg.
Lucky us
Tampa Bay’s annual John Prine weekend is here.
By Ray Roa
John Prine was a sundae kind of guy, and his ice cream order was shameless.
“He liked scoops of strawberry and the chocolate sauce, and then the whipped cream, and the cherry on top,” Fiona Prine told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “He was like a little kid.” Fiona, for her part, loves caramel, and the “99,” a European soft serve cone speciality topped with a chocolate Cadbury Flake. Her husband, who died six years ago after contracting COVID-19, was also partial to 99s. “It’s a very special treat,” she said.
Let It Be, she added, was the shop they would visit while staying at their Gulfport home, which they bought in 2005. This weekend, Fiona brings her own special treat to a community that’s embraced the Prines.
“How Lucky Can One Man Get,” is a concert documentary that captures a 2010 benefit show inside the auditorium of John’s Maywood, Illinois high school. It showcases the singing mailman’s signature charm and storytelling, but has only screened a handful of times. His songs, which lovingly embrace every side of humanity in a way no other American songwriter ever could, are on full display during the 90-minute special.
Three local screenings, happening FridaySunday at the Beach Theatre just four miles
from Gulfport, are all sold-out. But Prine fans have more chances to connect with each other thanks to tribute concerts happening across Pinellas.
Gulfport’s North End Taphouse & Kitchen—a four-minute walk from the Prine home—hosts a no-cover show and fundraiser on Saturday starting at noon. On Sunday from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at Safety Harbor’s Crooked Thumb Brewery, more of the greatest songwriters in the Bay area will play songs from the Prine catalog.
observations about the headlines and life in general. She was also forced to move Prine’s famous yellow legal pads, with Black sharpies and lyrics, out of the Gulfport home after Hurricane Helene ravaged the neighborhood in 2024.
“I haven’t counted the individual notebooks, legal pads, but I probably have at least three boxes full to the top,” she said. “Office boxes that are full, and not every page is filled, but there’s lines written.”
community as just a beautiful haven of love in the midst of things that go on in that state that scare the hell out of me. I just think Gulfport is a very unique community, and I think that’s no surprise that John and I would have been drawn to it.”
INTERVIEW
Six years after her husband’s death, Fiona acknowledged that as time moves on, people do, too. For better and worse, she’s thrown herself into the distraction of work. But her family— including three sons, Jody, Jack and Tommy, plus others—is well. They’ve even welcomed a fourth and fifth grandchild over the last four months.
John Prine tribute concerts
The events are driven by Gail Gilchrist, a longtime Prine family friend, and Celine Thackston, Executive Director of the Prine family’s nonprofit Hello In There Foundation.
Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12
North End Taphouse & Kitchen (Gulfport) & Crooked Thumb Brewery (Safety Harbor) community.cltampa.com
“It’s one of the very few times that I actually get to just show up, where I don’t have to do any work ahead of time,” Fiona added. “Gail and the community down there are just amazing. I love them all so dearly.”
Fiona told CL that she absolutely remembers John writing songs at the Gulfport house after spending time driving and processing his
“There’s nothing else happening in the world when you look into the eyes of a little child,” she said, noting how important it is to protect them as the country becomes a version of itself that is not necessarily reflected in John’s deeply empathetic catalog.
Gulfport, she added, has always been a refuge for the Prine family. But despite all the time they spent in the state, Fiona said that she and her husband didn’t consider themselves Floridian.
“I think we would have considered ourselves Gulfportian,” she said. “I still do regard that
So it’s no surprise that proceeds from the screenings and concerts will benefit Hello In There. The Prine family’s nonprofit has helped countless locals and organizations with both public and private donations. It’s currently in the due diligence phase of figuring out where it’ll direct funds for 2026.
And Fiona still hasn’t sold the home either. Her whole Irish family has even visited and made memories there. It’s a connection that will be there forever, whether she moves back in or not.
I joked that she should open a shop that serves those 99 ice creams from back home.
“Now that you said that out loud, you know the voice I’m going to hear telling me that for the rest of my life,” she laughed.
Her husband, she explained, would’ve said, “Geez, he was right. Fi, that’s not a bad idea. You’d be really good at that.”
John, Fiona noted, always reminded her to take care of herself. He also thought she was good at everything. And she bought into that. “I believe him deep down, I do, because he saw me,” she said.
John saw all of us. This weekend, a town that embraced him gets to sing his songs and see each other, too. How lucky, indeed.
TURN TO ME: Fiona Prine (center) at the 2022 You Got Gold concert.
MADISON THORN/HELLO IN THERE FOUNDATION
By Ray Roa
Editor’s note: Gasparilla Music Festival (pp. 41-22) and John Prine weekend (p. 45) aren’t the only festivals happening in the Bay area this weekend. Tampa Bay Blues Festival, the Skatepark Of Tampa’s Tampa Pro, and Bullstock are all on the calendar as well. Please enjoy an abridged, festival-centric, version of Music Week below, and see more of the best live music coming to Tampa Bay by visiting this listing at cltampa.com/music.
THU 09
Donavon Frankenreiter w/Iris and the Shade Live music has a rich history at 1507 E 7th Ave. (read: The Rubb, Twilight), and Zodiac has an opportunity to write its own chapter in that story. The nightclub (last known as PTL) has been hosting wellreceived DJ nights and this week welcomes Jack Johnson pal Donavon Frankenreiter. The 53-year-old surfer-songwriter arrives riding the wave of a 2024 album, Get Outta Your Mind , his first studio outing in a decade and one that will sound familiar to longtime fans of Frankenreiter’s beachy retro-rock. 7 p.m. $46.66. Zodiac, Ybor City
C Jer w/Pilot Jonezz/Just Courtesy/ Misadventure Tolerance levels to oi vary. Jeremy Hunter invites ska expats to come back home. The Gainesville songwriter created YouTube’s popular Ska Tune Network and has hundreds of thousands of subscribers while their 2025 album Death of the Heart is a dramaticallyfresh take on the genre that doesn’t abandon any of ska’s energy or roots. Tampa punk favorite Pilot Jonezz supports alongside Clearwater rock outfit Just Courtesy (“Secondary”) and Central Florida ska band Misadventure. 7 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
C The Surfrajettes w/Bethlehem Shalom The Surfrajettes mark a decade of bandom this spring with a “Road Dogs 2” tour alongside Alaska-raised, Los Angeleslivin’ songwriter Bethlehem Shalom. The ‘jettes are popular for the Britney Spears cover on the B-side of a 2019 single, but the rest of the Canadian instrumental quartet’s catalog is just as spin-worthy, especially for fans of surfy, vintage doo-wop and rock. 8 p.m. $17.67 Crowbar, Ybor City
C Tampa Bay Blues Festival Kickoff: GA-20 w/Jackie Venson Tampa Bay Blues Festival celebrates 30 years in the game with a stacked lineup that includes Taj Mahal with The Phantom Blues Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jimmie Vaughan, Tab Benoit, Los Lobos, Samantha Fish, and more. The festival throws a kickoff with Boston power blues trio GA-20 and Austin-based Jackie Venson playing the intimate Hough Hall. 7:30 p.m. $48.95. Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
FRI 10
C Bullstock: The Driver Era w/Maris/ Sydney Ross Mitchell/Indigo Lane/My Dead Roommate Next year marks 30 years since the University of South Florida first put together Bullstock, a day-long music festival that brings together a handful of national acts and local names for a free show to help forget about upcoming exams for a night. With past lineups including the likes of Grouplove and the recently-broken up Coin, this year’s edition includes headliner Ross and Rocky Lynch’s The Driver Era, and up-and-coming theatrical-pop girlie Maris (stylized in all-caps) will stick to her word during an opening set part of her “Maris Goes To College” tour. Last week, the 26-year-old Angeleno-turned-Montana girl released “Missing Me,” a new single that asks whether one looks back and smiles at an old photo, or jumps straight to missing the old days. It hasn’t been performed too many times, but we can’t help but wonder if its sentimentality is a reflection of what her next era holds thematically. Ahead of this set, Maris (who was most recently in town for a co-headlining Ybor City gig with Caroline Kingsbury last fall) told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay via email about the album that changed everything for her. Read her full quote at cltampa. com/music. 6 p.m. No cover for students; $30 for guests Lot 35 at University of South Florida, Tampa—Josh Bradley
C Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country On last summer’s Horizons , the 30-year-old “cosmic country” pioneer (both the name of his backing band, and a subgenre that’s ever-evolving and picking up inspiration from all corners of country music) didn’t take the helm on songwriting, and made it a team effort with his band. Some tunes were even tried out in front of crowds on previous tours before anything was solidified, and what resulted was a 15-tracker that leans more into Americana and honky-tonk territory, kicked up a notch with Donato’s frenetic-asever guitar work. The Nashville axeman’s trip to the line-dancing capital of Largo comes almost exactly five years to the date after his Tampa debut at the now-shuttered Ybor City location of Orpheum, which turned out to be one of the very first shows back from COVID19 restrictions. And Donato has been playing some pretty long shows this year (and we’re talking Springsteen long), so maybe give the babysitter an advance before heading out. Ahead of the show, Donato told CL about the album that changed everything for him. Read his full quote at cltampa.com/music. 7 p.m. $38.18. Cowboys Dance Hall, Largo—JB
Fox Fam Jam: Cope w/Tire Fire/Sauce Pocket/The Applebutter Express/more Some festivals don’t have last call. Count Fox Fam Jam among them. Situated on Brooksville’s magical Florida Sand Music Ranch, the lineup is a mix of the state’s most revered jam, bluegrass, funk, electro and psych-rock bands. There’s live art, and organizers have encouraged campers to stay up all night to take advantage of the burn ban
THU APRIL 09–SUN APRIL 12
being lifted and ability to do acoustic sets until the sun comes up. And for the dainty music fan, hot showers are available. FridaySunday, April 10-12. $68 & up. Florida Sand Music Ranch, Brooksville
SAT 11
C Tampa Pro: BLP Kosher The Skatepark of Tampa’s 32nd annual Tampa Pro kicked off this week—but athletes like Felipe Gustavo, Jamie Foy, and Zion Wright aren’t the only draws. There’s a comedy show at the park on Thursday, with a book launch and afterparties scheduled for The Bricks on Saturday and Sunday, and this concert from BLP Kosher will punctuate the weekend’s entertainment. The Florida-reared Jewish rapper and skateboarder born Benjamin Landy Pavlon is not shy about mentioning his faith in lyrics (his 2022 album is titled BLP Kosher and the Magic Dreidel for chrissake). And if a 2025 video with fellow Floridian Soundcloud rapper 1900Rugrat is any indication, this show could be pure chaos. Early arrival is suggested since most every element of Tampa Pro is very well-attended. 6 p.m. $50. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa
Also playing
FO4R Fest: DJ Dilman w/Kay The Angel/ Mxta4 The Taino/Mac Deezy/Psych Montano/Seckond Chaynce Friday, April 10. 7 p.m. $10. Crowbar, Ybor City
Gasparilla Music Festival: Gov’t Mule w/ Two Friends/Mt. Joy/Drive-By Truckers/ Jai Wolf/Shakey Graves/Cimafunk/Bryce Vine/GZA & The Phunky Nomads/more Friday-Sunday, April 10-12. Times & ticket prices TBA. Meridan Fields, Tampa
Gasparilla Music Festival afterparty feat. Sam E Hues Friday, April 10. 10 p.m. $59.34. Arts Club at Tampa Edition, Tampa
Movement Pre-Party: Recloose w/ Austen van der Bleek/Greg G Friday, April 10. 7 p.m. $13.39 & up. Suite E Studios, St. Petersburg
Gulfport remembers John Prine Saturday, April 11. 12 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport
Crooked Piece of Time: The Songs of John Prine Sunday, April 12. 2 p.m. $15. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor
C CL Recommends
Jackie Venson
Willie Nelson turns 93 this year, and he’s still on the road with plans to visit the Bay area this summer. The Highwayman recently hit the stage for his own Luck Reunion festival, his first public show since Farm Aid in Minneapolis last September.
The “Roll Me Up” songwriter has talked openly about believing in reincarnation, recently telling CBS’s Anthony Mason that people probably come back as themselves. “I don’t believe life ends,” Nelson added. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Not a good enough reason to miss this visit. And good news for fans who like to party (and break the venue's no vaping of smoking rule): Nelson’s May stop in Clearwater happens outdoors. Tickets to see Willie Nelson play BayCare Sound in Clearwater on Sunday, May 17 go on sale to the public Friday, April 10 at start at $44.50.
See Josh Bradleys weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Ray Roa
American Aquarium Saturday, April 18. 8 p.m. $30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Boogarins w/Timothy Eerie/Domino Pink Friday, April 24. 7 p.m. $24.06. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Nonpoint w/Soil/Sumo Cyco Saturday, April 25. 6:30 p.m. $38 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
The Kid Laroi w/Tommy Richman Friday, May 1. 7:30 p.m. $52.40 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Tobehonest w/Pushman/Alex Antle Saturday, May 2. 10:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP; $15.57 for guaranteed entry. The Ritz, Ybor City
Aaron Hibell Thursday, May 7. 8 p.m. $32. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Chuwi Wednesday, May 13. 7 p.m. $36.99. Crowbar, Ybor City
Juice Sunday, May 24. 6 p.m. $26.99. Crowbar, Ybor City
Teen Suicide w/Cloud Nothings/ Fanclub Wallet Wednesday, May 27. 7 p.m. $29.71. Crowbar, Ybor City
SG Wood Friday, May 29. 5 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa
Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam: David Benoit w/Norman Brown/Boney James/ Mindi Abair/RnR featuring Rick Braun & Richard Elliot/Brian Culbertson
Shinedown w/Coheed and Cambria/ Black Stone Cherry Saturday, May 30. 7 p.m. $65.45 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
It’s Murph w/Arlo Saturday, May 30. 6:30 pm. Prices TBA. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Kid Rock w/Big & Rich/Them Dirty Roses Saturday, May 30. 6:30 p.m. Prices TBA. Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Dance Gavin Dance w/The Fall of Troy/ Wolf & Bear/Novelists Tuesday, June 2. 5:30 p.m. $63.69 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Hank Williams Jr. w/Joe Nichols Friday, June 5. 6:30 p.m. $54.75 & up. Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Maddix Friday, June 5. 10 p.m. $26.48 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Stewart Copeland Friday, June 5. 8 p.m. $33 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Steve Earle Thursday, June 11. 7 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Landon McNamara Friday, June 12. 8 p.m.
$33.97. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Fortunate Youth w/Joe Samba/ Seranation Saturday, June 13. 7 p.m.
$42.31. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Old Mervs Sunday, June 14. 6:30 p.m.
$31.99. Crowbar, Ybor City
Billy Currington w/Kelsey Hart/Kenny Whitmire Saturday, June 20. 8 p.m. $49 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Travis Tritt Friday, June 26. 7:30 p.m.
$77.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
The Princess Concert Wednesday, July 1. 3:30 p.m. $49 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Toxic
By Caroline DeBruhl
Dear Oracle, My health has not been great. After years of looking for answers, it seems I’ve finally gotten a lot of possibilities and information from a doctor but it requires more testing before we can come up with a plan forward. But I’m freaking out! It’s a lot to take on and impossible not to spiral out. How can I deal with all of this medical anxiety?—Worried
Cards: The Moon (reversed), Knight of Swords, Three of Cups (reversed), King of Wands
Dear Worried, I personally don’t know anyone able to take on a lot of mysterious medical “possibilities” and not freak out. Having questions without answers is the stuff that anxiety spirals are made of, my dear, and health issues are so much more acute.
Because, as The Moon shows, issues with our health are connected to far deeper fears in our subconscious. When we worry about our health, we’re worrying about our death. Will this illness kill me? What would it rob me of that a healthy life could provide? How long would I have left? These are huge questions that you don’t know the answer to—and may not know because medicine is a field of odds and complexities. Every patient is unique.
So what do you do?
First off, you’re going to find out everything you can.
medicine’s side effects. Track your symptoms, and if anything seems wrong, flag it and reach out immediately. Again, every human body is unique and reacts to things differently.
You also have to be compassionate with yourself. The King of Wands is a papa bear of a card, but it’s also one that can nurture. Give yourself time to heal, rest, feel what you need to. Protect yourself, my love.
Dear Oracle, I work for a bunch of idiots at a tech company. It is so, so, so toxic and mishandled. I’m trying to find another job, but I’m worried it’s going to be the same bullshit everywhere. What should I do?—Too Smart for This Dumb Shit
Cards: Six of Pentacles (reversed), Queen of Cups, Full Moon, Eight of Swords, Five of Wands (reversed), Seven of Cups (reversed)
Dear Smart, I’m sorry that your job is shitty.
As the Queen of Cups, I think you’re someone who can feel things deeply and perhaps even take things personally that are meant to be more general. With the Sic of Pentacles, I do wonder if you feel like you’ve given everything you can to this company and feel unrewarded for those efforts.
ORACLE OF YBOR
Send your questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram
As the Knight of Swords, you’re going to be diligent about listening and asking questions to your doctor. You’re going to be proactive about research regarding treatment plans and what fits for you and your life, and if need be, getting a second opinion. Knowledge is coming. It might take a while, but it’s coming. The next thing you’re going to do is lean on your support system. The Three of Cups is a card of friendship, but also one of emotional harmony. Your friends are going to help you through this, but it does require you to be vulnerable and upfront about your fears. For some people, that’s easy; for others, it’s hard. You’re not a burden for telling people you love that you’re scared, and talking to people is a way to bring emotions into balance. (This support system should also include a therapist. Best case scenario, they’ll talk to you about your anxiety. Worst case, they walk you through your medical journey.)
Lastly, you’re going to be your own fiercest advocate. As the King of Wands, you’re going to be protective of yourself. Don’t let anyone give you the brush off. Ask all the questions you want to know. Again, if you need a second opinion, seek one out. Talk to your pharmacist about a
It makes sense that you want to break out now. With the Full Moon, there is urgency around you, and with the Eight of Swords, you might feel like you’re trapped on a sinking ship. While there are abrupt closures in all lines of work, tech companies do have a reputation for sinking fast, so if you feel like the writing is on the wall, you should get out now.
But, as always, the Eight of Swords is feeling trapped when you are, in fact, not. I urge you to take an honest examination of things before jumping ship.
Because out there, it’s not all calm seas and smooth sailing. The Five of Wands is the card of war and conflict, and in the business world, this could easily be another boss you butt heads with or don’t see eye to eye with, or view as an idiot (perhaps justly, perhaps unjustly).
With the Seven of Cups, I’ve often cautioned people against hasty choices or taking an offer that seems too good to be true. That still stands here. But it’s also about choosing a path that you think is in your best interest, but isn’t.
With the Seven of Cups ending the spread, I have to go back to the other cards and see them in this new context. With the Six of Pentacles, are you someone who gives 100% at your job, or do you withhold your efforts if you feel slighted? Do you fear you’ll be trapped elsewhere because
others won’t appreciate you? Is the conflict you feel coming from outside aggressors, or are you more than happy to spar? I don’t know.
But if the path you’re on isn’t working, if you’re worried it’s going to be the same story everywhere, then I think your two choices are to find out if that’s true or pivot to something else.
Either way, if you’re in a toxic work environment, you do need to make an escape plan. But
really examine what you want and what you’re willing to work for. You might find that it’s in a different industry, or you might find that you only want to work for yourself. You’re the only one who can answer this.
I do genuinely hope you find a better job soon. Best of luck, my dear.
See more of Caroline and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
Quickies
By Dan Savage
Which brand makes the best glass dildos? Asking for a friend!
“Glass toys are not only gorgeous but also provide an amazing experience thanks to their weight, smooth surface, temperatureplay options, and compatibility with any kind of lubricant,” said Jeneen Doumitt, the owner of SheBop, a Portland-based sex toy shop. “One of our favorite brands is Crystal Delights, a small glass toy maker based in Washington that offers a wide array of products at various price points. Best known for their butt plugs, they also have dildo options such as the Galaxy Curve. For more options and reasons why glass is a fantastic choice, check out our blog post here: She Bop’s Guide to Glass Toys!”
You can follow @SheBopTheShop on Instagram and shop for toys on sheboptheshop. com or at one of their two silicone-dick-andmortar locations in Portland.
My on again/off again ex of many years was recently widowed. We had our difficulties, but we also had some great sex. I was thinking of making one more run at her. What would be a considerate time to wait before approaching her?
Judging from a recent question from a recently widowed caller and some helpful feedback from two women who’d recently lost their husbands, widows’ fire—“a disorienting, intense, and unwelcome surge of sexual desire occurring after partner loss,” according to the Association for Death Education and Counseling—kicks in at about six months. I would suggest sending your condolences at least two months before sending a “Hey, you up?” text. (And, yes, there’s a dating app for widows and widowers it’s at widowsfire.dating.)
My wife of 16 years has begun to lose interest in sex in a BIG way. We are on completely different wavelengths regarding the frequency of sex and the variety of sex. (Particularly pegging.) How do I remain in this marriage when I feel that a HUGE part of me is being neglected?
Before the commenters jump in: Are you doing something wrong? Are you doing everything wrong? Are you neglecting your personal hygiene? Are you doing your fair share of the household labor? And when you do have sex— which isn’t as often or as varied as you would like—is your wife getting off? (You only mention one sex act—pegging—and while many women enjoy pegging their male partners, none of your wife’s nerve endings are located in a dildo.) If you’re doing everything right and the sex is infrequent and unfulfilling, you have four options: ask for permission to get it elsewhere, cheat and get it elsewhere, leave in the hopes of getting it elsewhere, or stay and suck it up.
Forty-year age gaps?
I will not tolerate any hate being directed at Dick Van Dyke—that man is a national treasure—because he’s married to a woman who is 46 years younger than he is. Leave Dick alone.
Is there an evolutionary reason for prostate pleasure/orgasms?
“Great question,” said Dr. Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Oxford. “I wish there was more research into this—just as I wish there was more research into the female orgasm. (People just throw their hands up and look the other way because, hey, if it’s not a penis, who gives a shit!?!) I’m no expert in this, but my answer would probably be that the prostate is densely packed with nerves because it’s crucial for ejaculation, which requires surprisingly precise motor control. For obvious reasons, ejaculating is pretty important for reproduction! So, given that the prostate is a control center for ejaculation, prostate pleasure is probably closely linked to the same neural circuitry that makes penile orgasms feel good. It’s possible that prostate-only orgasms could be a way of reinforcing prostate massage, which might help relieve conditions like prostatitis, but there’s no solid evidence for this—scientists need to get researching!”
Follow @matildabrindle on BlueSky and @ DrMatildaBrindle on Instagram.
My metamour is a shitty person. Should I break up with my partner if I can’t stand her?
I have to assume you’re not the primary partner… because playing the “Her Or Me” card would be a primary partner’s first move in the case of a shitty metamour. And if you’re willing to dump your partner to get away from their other partner without playing the HOM card, that means you could take or leave your partner—whether you’re the primary or not— which is a good sign you should leave.
How old is too old for a sex club?
It depends on the club, it depends on the night (some sex clubs have nights for under 30s or under 40s), and it depends on your tolerance for shitty techno music and rejection—but the latter is true for everybody, regardless of age.
What do you think about the A-Ball from Polari Labs, which is being billed as the first alternative to douching?
So, the A-Ball—a product that does not exist but which is nevertheless being hailed as alternative to douching—is a gelatin egg up you’re supposed to shove up ass right before you want to have anal sex. (Think a menstrual cup designed to hold back shit instead of blood.) Some people seem to think it will work—their Kickstarter has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars—but the professionals are
dubious. “I don’t see how someone can shove a ball up their ass far enough to block poop from coming down,” said Dr. Carlton Thomas, a gastroenterologist, award-winning queer health advocate, and the co-host of Butt Honestly, a podcast that covers backdoor play and health. “I’m concerned about causing obstructions—I’m also concerned about the potential for ‘the dam to burst’ in the middle of sex and there being a giant mess. But I will reserve final judgement until I get a sample.”
P.S. Shoving a gelatin egg up your ass—eggs that melt as the gelatin comes to body temp (hence Dr. Carlton’s fear of the dam bursting)—is not new. People who fantasize about aliens laying eggs in them have been using “ovipositor dildos” dildos for years… and making their own gelatin eggs for laying purposes. So, anyone who wants to shove a gelatin ball up their ass to see if it can replace douching (and pray that egg doesn’t melt too soon) don’t have to wait for Polari Labs to release their gelatin eggs. There’s already a recipe at bad-dragon.com.
not—but there could be something annoying about the way you’re doing it.
Is it a red flag if someone describes all their exes as ‘crazy’?
Definitely a red flag. And while people have had the misfortune of dating three or four crazy motherfuckers in a row—stranger things have happened—someone who doesn’t realize that describing all their exes as crazy even if all their exes were crazy is waving three different other red flags: no common sense, no judgment, no filters.
I’m into a very specific kink that I’ve never told anyone about. How late into ‘dating’ is too late to bring it up?
SAVAGE LOVE
Everyone on Feeld seems to be shaved or waxed. I rock a trimmed bush. Do I need to put a disclaimer on my profile?
You do not.
I went through my partner’s phone and found nothing. I feel guilty about it and don’t know if I should confess.
You should not.
Is it normal for a man’s orgasms to be stronger in his 50s than they were in his 20s?
It is not.
How does one find a bodybuilder to worship in Minneapolis?
TheBestFlex.com comes highly recommended by a few of my muscle-worshipping friends.
I’m nonbinary AFAB and I overheard my newish and very binary AMAB mascpresenting cis male partner tell a cis friend of theirs that they were into me despite—and I quote—“the annoying nonbinary stuff.” They had been drinking when they said this. Is it over?
If you can’t respect your partner’s gender identity by using his preferred pronouns— surely someone who was assigned male at birth, presents as masc, and is “very binary” uses he/ him pronouns—then I don’t think you have a future together.
P.S. You opted for 14 syllables and a redundancy (your new male partner was assigned male at birth?) when “boyfriend” (two syllables) was sitting right there. Using a lot of unnecessary jargon is actually kind of annoying—which means your boyfriend might have a point. I’m not suggesting that “nonbinary stuff” is annoying in any objective sense—it most certainly is
In general, kink cards should be faceup on the table no later than three months in— assuming the person you’re “dating” is someone you met on a vanilla dating app or in a vanilla setting, e.g. at work, at school, through friends. But it would help to know what very specific kink we’re talking about. If you’re into feet or fuzzy handcuffs—if you’re into a kink that a GGG vanilla person might be willing and able to explore—you should lay those kink cards down without hesitation. But if you’re into something more extreme… if you’re into shit or puke or aliens laying eggs in your ass… you probably shouldn’t be dating vanilla people (or presumed-to-bevanilla people) at all. Instead, you should find people who share your very specific kink online and date them instead.
I’m straight and monogamously married. I only just came to the realization—at age 28, five years into my marriage—that I am asexual and sex averse. I enjoy being wanted, and my husband definitely wants me, but I can’t go through the motions of having sex anymore now that I know who I truly am. Is my marriage over?
You wanna be wanted but you don’t wanna be had… I wouldn’t say your marriage is definitely over, but I would say you’re obligated to release your husband from the monogamous commitment he made to you back when he thought—and you thought—you weren’t revolted by the thought of having sex with him. If you don’t wanna fuck him but can’t stand the thought of him fucking anyone else, have the decency to leave him—don’t draw it out. What are the sleeping arrangements in your house? How can three people sleep in one bed?!? I must know!
The sleeping arrangements in my house are… none of your business. But if you must know: me and my boyfriend and my husband and his boyfriend share a tiny bed in our living room just like Charlie’s grandparents in “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!
Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on April 17th, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 2291 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, Florida 33563 . Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 2177 Helen Lewis Unit 2210 Sharon Goodman Unit 2212 Lisa Allen Unit 3175 Zhane Harris. Run dates 4/2/2026 and 4/9/2026.
Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com. ending on April 17th, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at Compass Self Storage 1685 Hwy 17 N Eagle Lake Florida 33839 . Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at time of sale. All Goods are sold as is and must
be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 1141 Darrell Starling Unit 2175 Joseph Allgood Unit 3012 Giannina Andino Unit 3055 Matthew Bell Unit 3080 Gerard Lespinasse Unit 3124 Lonnie Grant. Run dates 4/2/2026 and 4/9/2026.
