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Popular Japanese convenience store Ebisu will open world’s largest location in Tampa Bay this Friday
Social media is truly an awful place, but believe it or not, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers—the real ones, not the bots—make it bearable. Day in and day out, the CL faithful, as addicted to the dopamine of a phone screen as we are, chime in, letting our nonpaywalled articles seep into their very beings before wading into the comment sections. There, they thoughtfully react, shitpost, and wage war, all to wake up and do it again anytime they need a distraction (and even thoughtful discourse!). We love the action, and the letters, so please keep posting and sending them our way. Our world is better with you in it, and we thank you! Here’s some of the latest from the internet, Facebook specifically.—Ray Roa
This being walking distance from my apartment is going to be dangerous.—Joanna Paley
A 77-year-old Republican man is staging a solo protest against St. Pete’s Flock cameras
For the first time in over a century, Central Florida’s historic Bannon Island is for sale
They have these little tiramisu and coconut mochi treat things that are freaking delicious. The toys and stuffed animals are ridiculously expensive and not worth it unless you’re a super collector. But the snacks and the drinks are pretty well priced and it’s kind of fun getting stuff you normally wouldn’t be able to get here.— Krystle Crossman
I’m curious why the caption thought his political affiliation was pertinent to the issue of privacy and license plate readers. I’m sure there are people on all sides of the political spectrum that may find that intrusive.—Stephanie Barnes Marshall
I was invited out on that island before and I’ll tell you.It’s absolutely amazing in the house that is built on it.It was built by hand and it is absolutely amazing as well.I have pictures and videos of the inside insane craftsmanship.— Mikey Lee
because in this current climate republicans are loving to be tread on which is what they are normally against.—Trey Capak in response to Stephanie Barnes Marshall
I wish it still had the old house. I used to sneak on the island as a kid and go up the spiral staircase. Great view of the lake.— Dustin Weise
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Good point, it shouldn’t matter. But personally as a Democrat, I’m happy to see anything from a Republican that I can agree on especially when I’ve been to meetings about these cameras and it was mostly Democrats there. But as soon as I started sharing the information about it with republican family, they agreed with me. And my bet is there are plenty of things we all agree on. Usually our only differences are HOW we solve issues. But I can tell you if you stop talking to others who disagree with you just because politicians and partisan media tells you the other side is bad, then you may not be getting the best information with the purpose of dividing people. “Divide and conquer “—Tracy Masters in response to Stephanie Barnes Marshall Flock cameras will be the uniting issue for both political parties—Lucas Flores If I catch anyone doing this, I’m going to stop and ask them what they want to drink, then bring them a cooler full!—Michael Hersey
Seminole Tribe should have 1st priority, otherwise state should buy to protect it.— Michael Janssen Does that designation prevent the island from being developed for other uses? Like a rich person coming in and razing the island?— Leslie Edwards
That’s enough room for at least 4 Dollar General stores 3 coffee shops and yes a Data center.—Erg Guy Measles cases have reached a 35-year high, with Florida among the worst states Is this a case of FAFO?—Stan Wood Not for the infants too young to be vaccinated.—Eric Odagard in response to Stan Wood Who would have thought, 20 to 30 years ago, that the USA would have to re-learn why our children need to be vaccinated for measles?—Andy Balogh
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 7
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Bash, brother Photos by Dave Decker
T
haddeus Bullard is an omnipresent figure in the Bay area, and much of his work centers around children. And as Florida public schools stare down a potentially dark future under potential first lady Erika Donalds, Bullard, aka WWE superstar Titus O’Neil, is celebrating the wins. Last month, the middle magnet school that bears his name was upgraded to a “B” rating for the first time in two-and-a-half-decades. Last Saturday, the 49-year-old returned to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium for the ninth edition of his back-to-school bash where 30,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to children ahead of the first day of school. Medical and dental services were also available to families. See all the photos via cltampa.com/news.—Ray Roa
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do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from Aug. 13 - 20. See more on pp. 29, 33 & 39
YES I SHOOT MODELS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Jam on it
SESTHASAK BOONCHAI/NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
The tour doesn’t crush cars anymore, but attendees will be crushing $18 beers. The motorsports rite of passage returns from Friday-Friday-Friday to Sunday-SundaySunday, promising racing, stunts, and motocross riders who’ll team up with drivers for a joint competition. “Monster Jam Freestyle Mania” dates back to 2009. The format—where the monster truck drivers and motocross riders work together to score points—includes racing, skills and freestyle. Points go towards the overall event championship as well as the Arena Championship Series Central title. A press release says this is Tampa’s first look at the “Freestyle Mania” format. As usual, there are meet-and-greet opportunities during the pit party. Organizers say Monster Jam trackside starts one hour before the event time, featuring driver interviews, behind the scenes with the pit crew, opening ceremonies, giveaways and more.
Monster Jam Freestyle Mania: Friday-Sunday, Aug. 14-16. $31.50 & up. Benchmark International Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa. monsterjam.com— Leif Helland
ORLANDO SENTINEL APRIL 21, 1955/NEWSPAPERS.COM
We all wear masks, metaphorically speaking
St. Petersburg’s art museum goes global this summer and welcomes the world of four artists from central and west Africa to Beach Drive. “New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations” opens this weekend, and is on view just past New Years Day, featuring the work of Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa (Nigeria), Sheku “Goldenfinger” Fofanah (Sierra Leone), David Sanou (Burkina Faso), and Hervé Youmbi (Cameroon) who’re all showcasing the depth of the masquerade by going well beyond face coverings into full-body works of art. Far more than some staid reflection on costume, the exhibit offers close encounters with the embellishment, craft and sculpting that goes into ensembles that deconstruct any preconceptions about African traditions—and then supplements the look with photography, recorded interviews and immersive video (pictured is detail on the Jollay Society “Fairy” Masquerade Ensemble by Fofanah). DJ Nilla Green plays a members-only preview on Thursday before MFA St. Pete welcomes curators from the New Orleans Museum of Art (which organized the show) for early morning talks on Saturday.
‘New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations’: On view Aug. 15Jan. 3. Included with museum admission, starting at $12 (children six and under get in free). MFA St. Pete, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org—Ray Roa
14 | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | cltampabay.com
Winner, winner
In his new book, “The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall,” author Paul Wilborn lets his imagination run wild as he builds a world where one of Tampa’s most famous gangsters wasn’t killed in 1955, instead falling into depression before being built back up by an underling. The truth is that Wall was actually murdered in brutal fashion (think baseball bats, jugulation); that side is pretty well-covered in Scott Deitche’s 2025 “Cigar City Mafia,” which is a must-have on the bookshelf for any self-respecting Tampeño. Both authors will be onstage for this after-dinner discussion of Wall, featuring Cuban pot roast (boliche!) and baked ziti from Tony’s Ybor. The district’s new bookseller, Bookends, will be there with inventory so you can get an autograph. Tickets for folks who would rather cook at home are also available.
Charlie Wall’s Tampa—An Evening with Paul Wilborn & Scott Deitche: Friday, Aug. 14. 6 p.m. $12.51 & up. Centro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 N Nebraska Ave., Ybor City. community.cltampa.com—Ray Roa
See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Heart health
A church’s highest function is often reflected in how much help it can offer the most vulnerable in its community. Downtown Tampa’s 121-year-old Sacred Heart Catholic Church has long understood that, and its “Bikes from the Heart” ministry is a good example of that ideal. Led by lay volunteers (as in non-ordained people), and in partnership with WellBuilt Bikes, the program refurbishes donated used bicycles and parts into working machines that are given to community members struggling with access to reliable transportation. The operation has redistributed at least 1,000 bikes per year since its inception in 2023 and commemorates its 3,000th donated bicycle this weekend with a blessing of the bikes followed by a three-mile ride from the downtown sanctuary to Sacred Heart’s campus in Tampa Heights. Chill Bros. ice cream will be distributed on campus where volunteers will also give tours of the “Bikes from the Heart” workshop, which used to be the convent for Sacred Heart’s since-shuttered school. A press release says, select refurbished bikes will also be on sale at the north campus, with all proceeds benefiting future Bikes from the Heart refurbishments and donations.
‘Bikes from the Heart’ blessing of the bikes and group ride: SatSACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
urday, Aug. 15. 9 a.m. Donations accepted. Starts at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 509 N Florida Ave., Tampa. sacredheartfla.org—Ray Roa
B mode
‘Beast Mode’: Wednesday, Aug. 19. 7:15 p.m. $6-$10. Sun-Ray Cinema, 12332 University Mall Ct., Tampa. @joel.d.wynkoop on Facebook—Ray Roa
JAMES ZAMBON PRODUCTIONS/JOBSITE THEATER
Joel D. Wynkoop (below) is widely known as Tampa’s “King of the B Movies,” and at 65 years old producer, writer, actor and host of public television’s “No Budget Cinema” can claim credits in nearly 300 of them. “I like to say that I’ve done everything but porn,” Wynkoop told Paul Guzzo in 2023. His latest is not X-rated, but it is excellent if you ask fans of low budget horror flicks with cult followings. “Beast Mode”—which debuted at Clearwater’s Tampa Bay Screams convention last May—follows Mark Butters, a regular dude who wants to be a superhero. Werewolves and charismatic newsmen are part of the hilarious chaos that ensues. The flick is only available on DVD, but it’s on the big screen this week inside Tampa’s most-affordable movie theater.
Yes, queen
Guys everywhere are getting hard for Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” but this is a chance to grab a drink and get a woman’s perspective on Homer’s epic in the flesh. To close its 27th season, Jobsite Theater has tapped Colleen Cherry for a folk-pop, one-woman musical, where Penelope—wife of Odysseus, mom to Telemachus, and queen of Ithica—is backed by strings, piano and drum as she tells the audience about loneliness and self-reliance. Interest in this southern U.S. premiere of the work by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean, and Eva Steinmetz has already forced Jobsite to add Saturday matinees, with a special preview set for Wednesday night. And unlike Nolan, who takes 172 minutes away from your life, Cherry & co. (including director Katherine Yacko and choreographer Alexander Jones) need just 90 minutes to say their piece.
Jobsite Theater—‘Penelope: An Epic New Musical’: Select days and nights Aug. 21-Sept. 6. $50 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa. jobsitetheater.org—Ray Roa JOEL D WYNKOOP
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 15
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“People are tired of Democrats that are just the same.” POLITICS
ISSUES
OPINION
Power struggle
Fentrice Driskell and Michele Rayner’s SD16 race might be the election’s most competitive. By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix
O
ne of the most interesting state legislative Department after the shooter invoked Florida’s About those endorsements Driskell insists that as leader of the caucus, primaries taking place on Aug. 18 is the “stand your ground” law. He ultimately was conBoth candidates have received plenty of top- she “chose to put the work of our team first, and race for the state Senate District 16 seat in victed of manslaughter and received a 20-year name endorsements, but Rayner released a press did not pressure people into choosing a side the Tampa Bay area between Democratic state prison sentence. release last month attesting that 22 Democratic when I knew we had to spend months working Reps. Fentrice Driskell and Michele Rayner. “I’ve stood up for our community,” she said House members had endorsed her, about two- together for the good of Floridians.” The district encompasses the downtowns of Friday during her own interview on WMNF. thirds of the caucus. That’s despite the fact that She continued: “While my opponent is free to two of Florida’ biggest cities—Tampa and St. “One of the very few lawyers along with Benjamin Driskell has been the caucus’ leader for four years. express her concerns about my leadership style, Petersburg—with the majority of the seat located Crump who took on the stand your ground law Driskell attributes some of that lopsided which I wholeheartedly dispute, she voted for on the Hillsborough and won, and so the body support for her opponent to the fact that Rayner me to lead twice. And only one of us has spent County side of Tampa Bay. of work has been very, very entered the race seven months before she did, the last four years working non-stop for the good Driskell is term-limclear from day one. So, I “so a lot of those endorsements are very old.” of the caucus as a whole.” ited after eight years in don’t shy away from hard “Once I filed, some of those members coThe Phoenix reached out to some of the 2026 Florida Primary Election the Florida House, the fights.” endorsed me and I happened to know that some House Democrats listed by Rayner as havEarly voting now through Aug. 16 last four as Democratic She added: “People of those members actually maybe did not endorse ing endorsed her. One of them, Rep. Jervonte Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18 leader. Rayner was eligible are tired of Democrats my opponent,” Driskell said. “Maybe she might Edmonds from West Palm Beach, said he was to run for one more term after being elected in that are just the same. People are tired of folks be overstating some of those.” backing Driskell, not Rayner. 2020 but seized the opportunity to serve in the who don’t represent their values. For the last Rayner fired back, saying, “There’s a reason “I have respect for Rayner, but I wholeLegislature’s upper chamber with Sen. Darryl six years, I’ve worked incredibly hard to make that there’s not one Black woman in the House heartedly endorse my leader,” Edmonds told sure that I’ve represented the values of people or in the Senate Caucus” backs Driskell. “It’s the Phoenix in a text message. Rouson being term-limited out of office. The district leans strongly Democratic, and not just in the district, but also the people of the the lack of being able to work with folks. It’s the continued on page 17 because no Republican has entered the race it state of Florida as well.” lack of being able to be principled.” is an open primary, meaning that Democrats, Republicans, and independents are all eligible to vote. The primary will determine the winner. For many Democratic voters, it’s not an easy call. “I would ask voters to vote for me over my opponent because I believe that this district deserves a fighter who will show up and get the job done,” Driskell said in an interview on WMNF-88.5 FM radio in Tampa. “You know, former state Sen. Janet Cruz used to say she’s a workhorse, not a show horse, and I feel a bit similar.” “Between our records, I feel like there’s no comparison in terms of the impact and the amount of bills that I’ve gotten passed, the appropriations that I’ve brought home to the district,” Driskell added. “The leadership experience that I have leading this caucus and being someone who has led the fight against the extremism wrought by Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration. I’m ready to serve Day One.” A civil rights attorney, Rayner makes her case by noting her work representing the family of Markeis McGlockton, an unarmed 28-year-old Black man shot and killed in a Clearwater parking lot after a physical dispute over parking in a handicapped space in 2018. The man who killed McGlockton initially went un-arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s FIRST IN: Rep. Michele Rayner (center) at Allendale United Methodist in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2026. DAVE DECKER
ELECTIONS
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 17
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SPEAKER BOX: Rep. Fentrice Driskell at WMNF in Tampa, Florida on July 24, 2026. continued from page 17 Broward County Rep. Mike Gottlieb said he has co-endorsed both candidates. “I have respect and admiration for both,” said Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. “Michele Rayner filed first and had my early support in hopes of preventing a primary so the focus would stay on the general.” The campaign had mostly run civilly until a political committee called People for Honor Project sent out mailers to voters in the district accusing Rayner of having a “real Republican record.” That’s despite the fact that the left-leaning Rayner has been labeled Ron DeSantis’ “worst nightmare” and has touted being the first “openly Queer Black woman” to serve in the Florida Legislature. Rayner suspects the motivation for the mailer is that she voted to oppose a bill last session to regulate data centers (SB 484). The measure would require the Florida Public Service Commission to develop tariffs and service requirements for electric utilities “to reasonably ensure that each large load customer bears its own full cost of service and that such cost is not shifted to the general body of ratepayers.” Critics (including DeSantis) contended the measure had been watered down, however, because the House ultimately removed a provision restricting local governments from entering nondisclosure agreements involved in potential development of data centers. The People for Honor Project PAC received a $31,500 contribution from Fort Meade LLC, the company seeking to develop a data center in Lake Meade in Polk County. That’s three times the amount ($10,000) Fort Meade LLC contributed to Byron Donalds PAC for governor. “It’s interesting that this particular data center gave more to this PAC than they gave to Byron Donalds,” Rayner said. “So, you’re more afraid of me coming into the Legislature than you love Byron Donalds.”
Legislative records When it comes to legislation passed, Driskell is particularly proud of her work on lost, unrecorded, and abandoned Black cemeteries, improving treatment for people with sickle cell disease, and a bill passed a year after the George Floyd uprisings that created minimum standards training for law enforcement. Perhaps Rayner’s signature piece of legislation was the 2024 measure prohibiting children under 14 from becoming social media account holders and allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to become account holders only with parental consent. Rayner said she “took some heat” from some Republicans and fellow Democrats for her cosponsorship of the bill, but believes the fact that other states and now other countries have followed suit showed she was on the right track. Going into the last week of the campaign, Driskell maintained a fundraising lead. In terms of cash on hand, Driskell had around $118,000 combined left in her main campaign account and her two political committees. Rayner had less than $7,000 in cash on hand in her main campaign account and political committee. Associated Industries of Florida, which labels itself the “The Voice of Florida Business,” has contributed a total of $40,000 to one of Driskell’s PACs. She recently received $2,500 from Meta Platforms Inc., a California tech company that operates Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Among some of Rayner’s most notable contributions to her PAC are $5,000 from Equality Florida Action PAC and $10,000 from Coalition for Better Care PC, chaired by Tallahassee lobbyist David Ramba. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
ELECTIONS
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Elephants in the room
Eight Republicans hope to end U.S. Rep Kathy Castor’s 20-years of work in Congress. By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix That was a dig at Steele, who has represented Pasco County for the past four years in the Florida House. While Beltran has received several big endorsements, Steele is the preferred choice of the Republican Party of Florida establishment, including all three Cabinet members—Wilton Simpson, Blaise Ingoglia, and James Uthmeier. He’s also one of the wealthiest members of the Florida Legislature. A former health care tech executive, he founded the software company DataLink in 2021 and retired after selling it to a private equity firm in 2022. He listed his net worth at more than $156 million at the end of 2025. Speaking in Plant City last Tuesday, he said he was motivated to run for public office because he saw Gov. DeSantis “get beat up” during the COVID-19 crisis as “nobody stood by his side.” He added that during the pandemic, when the COVID vaccine was made available, “the feds” were going to provide it to his employees, with a mandate that they must be at his company’s office to receive it. And that day, every Conservative true single one of my employbeliever ees worked from home. 2026 Florida primary elections Beltran is a hardline Because I was not going to Early voting now through Aug. 16 conservative who would mandate that my employElection Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18 prefer Florida banned all ees take the COVID shot,” abortions, instead of the existing six-week ban. he said to scattered applause. ”You can either He says that if elected to Congress he’d push for stand for something or stand for nothing at all.” a constitutional amendment “to end birth tourism and anchor babies.” Emphasizing Hillsborough roots An attorney originally from New York Among the legislation Steele passed while in City, Beltran was never afraid to challenge the House was a property rights bill creating a Gov. DeSantis or GOP leadership during his process for removal of squatters on real property. six years in Tallahassee. In 2023, he filed an Steele has emphasized that he grew up as amendment to push for the open carrying of a Hillsborough County resident and attended firearms, but withdrew it after the House Hillsborough Community College and the speaker and Senate president opposed it (that University of South Florida. But he has lived ban on open carry was found unconstitutional in Dade City and represented that portion of by a state appeals court in 2025). Pasco County in the Florida House since he was He’s also emphasizing his bona fides as a elected in 2022, prompting some of his opponents true representative of the district, which has to emphasize their more direct connection to been torn up to remove all parts of Pinellas the community. County and significant areas of Tampa, as well. Steele told the Phoenix this week that he It now encompasses parts of South Tampa, does own a residence in Hillsborough County and extends east to the Polk County line and south voter registration records show he is registered to the Manatee County line. “We deserve to vote there. Yet he continued to represent a part somebody from East Hillsborough who’s rep- of Pasco in House District 56, before resigning resented East Hillsborough. Won elections in from his seat last Wednesday. East Hillsborough. And with a track record of representing this community so that we can Another try win in November,” Beltran told an audience The only candidate in the race who’s run at an event hosted by the Plant City Chamber against Castor is Rocky Rochford, a retired U.S. of Commerce. Navy captain who served for more than 33 years.
ELECTIONS
MEREDITH GEDDINGS/STATE OF FLORIDA
A
mong the congressional districts Florida Republicans most ardently hope to flip this year after they approved a highly partisan redistricting map is the 14th District, which Democrat Kathy Castor has held for two decades. Eight Republicans filed to run for the dramatically reconfigured seat in the Aug. 18 primary, including Mike Beltran, who represented parts of the district in the Florida House from 20182024, and Kevin Steele, who has represented a state House district in Pasco County since 2022. Castor won the seat by 15 points in 2024. As redrawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis this spring, its population voted by more than 10 points for Donald Trump that same year. While Florida Republicans believe redrawing the district to make it much more GOP-leaning should guarantee them the seat, not everyone looks at it that way. One of the nation’s most respected political analysis websites, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, last week moved the CD 14 race from leaning Republican to a “toss-up.”
HOME RULE: Kevin Steele resigned from state house last week, following residency concerns. “I’ve been there, done that,” he says of his 2024 race against the Tampa Democrat, which he lost by double digits. He jokes that Ron DeSantis is now on his Christmas Card list “forever” after the governor’s office drew up the district to make it a Trump +11 seat. He says he’s totally prepared to take office and has drafted more than 40 bills he is prepared to file if elected. Those include separate “bill of rights” proposals for children and seniors. And, he promises, “I came up with the solution to fix Social Security.” Navy reservist The only female in the race is Bea Valenti, a Navy reservist proud of her work as an intern and later staffer in the first Trump White House. She also has worked as a legislative assistant for Mississippi U.S. Rep Mike Ezell and North Florida U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn before becoming a senior domestic policy adviser for U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody. She, too, referenced the COVID pandemic in her comments in Plant City. “I refused the vaccine as an active-duty person, because of what they were doing to our troops,” she said. “That was the beginning of my career, and I had a lot to lose, but not like our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.”
She worked with Dunn on The TROOP Act, which would have required military departments to reinstate individuals removed from their ranks because they refused the COVID vaccine (the measure did not pass). She referred to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on the origins and handling of the pandemic. Fauci led the country’s COVID response and headed President Trump’s White House Coronavirus Task Force. “Y’all see [Anthony] Fauci this week?” she asked the crowd. “’I plead the Fifth. I plead the Fifth. I plead the Fifth.’ It’s treason what that man has done.” Valenti referenced several policy items she worked on while serving on Capitol Hill, and said she was the only candidate who already has the “on-the-job training” to serve immediately if elected. The other Republicans in the race include Michael Marcel, John Peters, Gavriel E. Soriano, and Ergin “Batman” Tek. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
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PRESEN TS
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2038 N Dale Mabry • Tampa • 813-348-0005 bodatampa.com Sun 11am-11pm / Mon-Wed 11am-12am Thu 11am-1:30am / Fri-Sat 11am-3am 26 | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | cltampabay.com
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RESTAURANTS
RECIPES
DINING GUIDES
Light me up
Tampa’s Streetlight Tacos eyes Clearwater expansion, and more local food news. By Colin Wolf and Ray Roa
S
treetlight Taco, the award-winning Mexican restaurant from the folks at Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, will open a new location in Clearwater. The Michelin Bib Gourmandrecognized concept announced move into the ground floor of downtown’s newly restored Peoples Bank Building, located at 432 Cleveland St. The new location is planning to debut by the end of the year. “Streetlight Taco brings a vibrant Mexican bodega,” said Nick Reader, CEO of Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality in a statement. “At night, there’s a party atmosphere. That energy is what we hope to bring to Cleveland Street—something that complements everything else that’s happening downtown.” Streetlight’s original location, at 4004 Henderson Blvd., opened in 2024 and Executive Chef and partner Michael Brannock quickly earned a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand award. Obviously tacos are front and center at Streetlight, but the concept is also known for chips and dips, tostadas, burritos, mercado sides, tres leches and more. Other restaurants under the Tastes Pretty Good umbrella include the Michelin-starred Rocca, Bar Terroir, and the new Spanish concept Lumbre in Tampa’s North Hyde Park area. Streetlight is now the second concept from Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality to head to downtown Clearwater. Two weeks ago, the
MELISSA SANTELL
GRAB A BIB: Clearwater is getting a Michelin-recognized taco spot.
company announced the coming of the hotdog-centric Rippers in the restored historic Telephone Building. This particular section of downtown Clearwater has witnessed a slew of recent revitalization efforts, mostly due to the Cleveland Street Alliance, which is a real estate and redevelopment group partnered with the Church of Scientology. Tampa Bay’s first Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks will open next month near USF A popular West Philadelphia-style cheese steak chain is coming to Tampa this summer. Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks plans to open a new location in late August in the former Little Greek space at 2548 E Fowler Ave., which is the same plaza as Dave’s Hot Chicken, Chipotle and Mojo Books & Records. So yes, the plaza will now have two Dave’s. This will be the first Tampa Bay outpost for the fast casual chain, which is actually not based in Philly. Big Dave’s currently has a total of seven locations across Georgia and the Carolinas, as well two Florida locations in Oviedo and Orlando. For the unfamiliar, the chain serves up a variety of Halal-certified cheesesteaks served on Amoroso’s rolls. Guests can choose between beef, chicken, salmon or veggie cheesesteaks. There’s also “Cheesesteak Egg Rolls,” “Philly Fries” and banana pudding up for grabs.
This is now the second popular chain to debut near the USF Tampa campus this summer. A couple weeks ago, North Carolina-based fast food chain Cookout opened its first Tampa Bay outpost down the street at 5501 E Fowler Ave. Pinellas County’s first Shake Shack location will open in Seminole Despite having locations in Hillsborough and Pasco, Shake Shack has not yet expanded to Pinellas County. That’s set to change soon. The New York City-born chain has plans to add a fourth Bay area location at the Seminole City Center strip mall, according to St. Pete Rising. The Seminole location, at 1165 Park Blvd., joins Tampa’s Shake Shack locations at International Mall, Midtown Tampa, and a drive-thru in Wesley Chapel. No opening date has been announced. Shake Shack operates nearly 500 locations across the U.S., including nearly three dozen in Florida. The chain—which is rapidly expanding to 1,500 stores, according to Fortune—is basically like every other fucking burger joint, but does have crinkle-cut fries (get them with cheese) and hand-spun, made-to-order milkshakes featuring creamy frozen custard. There are also hot dogs, which is a plus.
announced last Wednesday that Mercado West, its Cali-Mex restaurant at 6001 Central Ave., will permanently close later this month, after less than a year in business. “After much thought—and ultimately a very sudden and difficult decision—we have made the decision to permanently close Mercado West,” the company wrote in a statement posted to social media. “We worked hard to adapt the concept, but after months of trying, it was no longer sustainable,” the statement reads. “While economic challenges certainly played a role, we recognize that those challenges and our own economic risks are part of being business owners. We gave it everything we had, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.” Mercado West, which opened last fall two years after it was announced, will remain open through Aug. 16 while the company gives employees notice and works to place staff members at its remaining restaurants. Red Mesa started the year with four St. Pete locations; just two remain as the summer comes to a close. Despite Mercado West’s closure, Red Mesa Group said its remaining restaurants, Mercado in the Edge District and the original Red Mesa Restaurant on 4th Street N, will continue operating. “We hope you’ll continue supporting them and the many locally owned businesses that make our community special,” the company wrote. To mark its final days, Mercado West announced a farewell “liquid-ation sale” featuring discounted drinks through its final day of service.—Liam Oliver
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS
Red Mesa’s ‘Mercado West’ closes this month in St. Pete, after less than a year in business Less than two months after Red Mesa Cantina abruptly and dramatically closed in downtown St. Petersburg, another Red Mesa concept is closing its doors. Red Mesa Group
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Celebrating 30 years in Downtown Dunedin. ~ Asi es la Vida! ~
Expanded bar, additional seating and small gift shop. 365 Main St • Dunedin • 727-734-9226 • www.CasaTinas.com
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wednesday 1/2 price bottles of LARA APOTHECARY BAR & BAZAAR/FACEBOOK
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661 CENTRAL AVENUE . ST. PETERSBURG . THELURERESTAURANT.COM Skip a meal on Sunday, and bring that appetite to Ybor City. This weekend, Chef Suzanne Lara welcomes Chef Yariel Berrios to the historic district. Berrios, a chef at Tim Lovero’s MichelinBib earning Coro, recently went on TV and admitted that he loves talking story with guests. “Sometimes I spend more time talking to the guests than I do making the food,” he told WOFL. “I get lost in conversation.” Expect the Puerto Rican culinarian—a graduate of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts who spent time at the Four
Appy Hour Cooking Class - Chinese Dumplings Friday, Aug. 14. 4 p.m. Sold out. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com
Seasons and the Lake Nona Wave Hotel’s Bacán—to yap it up and cook up a storm for the collaborative six-course dinner that starts off easy enough (halo-halo oyster) before quickly pushing diners into new territory (chicken heart yakitori) and Caribbean comfort food (oxtail agnolotti). Wines and cocktails are paired with nearly every course. Tickets for Chef Yariel Berrios’ guest appearance at Lara in Ybor City on Sunday, Aug. 16, are still available for $150, including beverages and gratuity. See more food and drink events happening across Tampa Bay from Aug. 14-25 below.—Ray Roa
Saucy Fest Thursday, Aug. 20. 6 p.m. No cover. Saucy!, Tampa
Tea at the Manor Saturday, Aug. 15. 10 a.m. $70. Jekyll, Hyde Park. jekyllhydepark.com
Thirsty Thursdays at the Polish American Society Thursdays. 5:30-9 p.m. No cover. Polish American Society of St. Petersburg
Nonna Summer Suppers Sunday, Aug. 16. 12:30 p.m. $80 & up. Bernini of Ybor, Ybor City. berniniofybor.com
Drink and Draw Every second Thursday. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa
Don Julio Spirit Dinner Tuesday, Aug. 18. 7 p.m. $150. Jekyll, Hyde Park
Prohibition Nights (Historic happy hour) Fridays through August. 5 p.m. The Dan at Hotel Flor, Tampa. dineatthedan.com
Beat the Heat: Fresh & Flavorful Summer Menu with Chef Debbie Thursday, Aug. 20. 3:30 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org Night Out Cooking Class - Soulful Cooking: Korean Classics Thursday, Aug. 20. 6 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com
Gulfport Fresh Market Tuesdays. 9 a.m. No cover. Beach Blvd., Gulfport. visitstpeteclearwater.com Off The Avenue (Pop-up Italian dining experience) Tuesdays through Aug. 25. No cover to attend. Madison Avenue Pizza, Dunedin. madisonavepizza.com
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ARTISTIC INNOVATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS Featuring stunning full-body ensembles and immersive multimedia installations from four acclaimed artists across Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone
OPENS AUGUST 15 CURATOR TOUR
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 9AM Explore the exhibition alongside Director of the New African Masquerades project, Dr. Amanda M. Maples.
IN CONVERSATION | DR. STANTON THOMAS & DR. AMANDA M. MAPLES SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 11AM
Discover the ideas, collaborations and cultural traditions that shaped this special exhibition.
Hervé Youmbi, Cameroonian (active in Douala), Tso Scream Mask, Visages de masques (IX) series, 2015–2023. Wood, pigment, fiber, beads, textile, glue, velvet and cotton fabric, silk embroidery, horse-hair. Collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art, museum purchase, Robert P. Gordy Fund, 2023.38.1-.7.
ART AFTER DARK: PREVIEW PARTY THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 5PM-8PM Be the first to experience the MFA’s captivating new exhibition, New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations, before it officially opens to the public on August 15. This exclusive preview includes an elevated evening of vibrant African beats from DJ Nilla Green during Café Clementine’s L’Apéro hours. Kimi masquerade ensemble in honor of André Sanou’s Qui Dit Mieux?, 2022 (headpiece by David Sanou in the studio of André Sanou; the maker of the body requests anonymity). Collection of the Fitchburg Art Museum. Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Museum of Art.
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New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations is organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art, in partnership with Musée des Civilisations noires in Dakar, Senegal, and received generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
INTERVIEW Joke Wrld Comedy Festival
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15, $90-$112 Various venues, downtown St. Petersburg jokewrldfest.com
MOVIES
THEATER
ART
CULTURE
Funny business
Joke Wrld Comedy Festival rolls the dice in St. Pete. By Ray Roa The planning timeline has been kind of nuts. Frombach told CL that his team, which includes “business guy” Trent Tully who does a lot of off camera work, made the decision to do this last February, and called the months since a crash course in festival execution. “I talked to a few people I trust in the industry, and the advice I kept getting was that most people would already be booked for August,” he said. That’s true. Side Splitters in Tampa has Sam Tallent this weekend, and giants like Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura are actually in town to sign bottles of vodka at liquor stores. He didn’t know if Joke Wrld’s online presence would be enough to convince comedians to take part in such a large-scale event. But he sent the DMs to comics the website had covered—talent, Frombach explained, that he had to have at the first festival. “A lot of people said yes. Too many people said yes, honestly,” he admitted. Joke Wrld Fest is now way bigger than the small, two-day, two-to-three venue affair organizers first envisioned. Now there are more than 70 comedians on the lineup, with many based in Los Angeles, New York City and in Frombach’s
who’ve lived in the Bay area at some point (Cam Bertrand, Jay Legend) and a few more Florida adjacent acts (Jolly, Ike Rafferty, Ryan Joseph, Luke Touma, Christophe Jean). Tampa-founded Cigar City Brewing is the biggest local sponsor (the company now has out-of-state ownership, but still employs beloved members of the local beer scene). At inception, Frombach thought fans may fly in for a festival like his. But he quickly realized that would entail at least $1,000 after flights and hotels. “That was a real lesson—this isn’t a national festival, it’s more of a local thing,” he said, adding that he’s grown distant from the local scene two years after leaving the Bay area for Texas. Instead, he explained, locals will volunteer at the festival, with some Bay area comics filling last-minute slots. All told, Frombach is excited for festival weekend and embracing all the good things, and lessons, too. His enthusiasm for the experiment, and willingness to talk about missteps feels earnest. Friends and followers at other festivals are excited for the outing. Frombach even thinks that the festival will do well enough to return for another go, with a longer planning timeline. And of course, he’s keeping a sense of humor about it all. “Even if this goes terrible, so many more people will watch the YouTube video saying we threw comedy’s Fyre Fest,” he said.
“Comedy’s always better with friends.”
C/O JOKE WRLD
I
n 2024, Tampa Bay hosted the Sunshine Comedy Festival, where more than a hundred comics took part in nearly 80 events, from stand-up, to podcast tapings, workshops and more. Organizers said roughly 1,500 people attended each day. Jake Frombach—who founded the comedy brand and website Joke Wrld (stylized “Joke WRLD”) three years earlier—was one of them and remembers Sunshine being pretty cool and all the comedians having a good time, with just one caveat. “The venues were 40, 50 minutes apart,” he told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the crossbay drive many festival goers were forced to take. “It just wasn’t the best layout for the fan experience, even though the comedians had a great time and always talked about how fun this area was.” Frombach—who’s grown Joke Wrld’s following to more than 763,000 on YouTube, with close to 225,000 on other platforms—relocated to Austin, Texas soon after and always missed the Bay area. When Joke Wrld decided to do its own festival, St. Petersburg was the obvious place. “I know the comedians liked it, and it was almost like reviving a festival they’d only tried once,” he said about his pitch to owners at Coastal Creative. Frombach’s team would run the festival, put their name on it and lean on Coastal for help finding stages. “A lot of the biggest comedians, on podcasts and in interviews, always talk about what a good comedy town Tampa Bay is,” Frombach said. “[Crowds] support live comedy, they laugh at the right stuff, they’re not too easily offended or cagey. It just seemed like a good spot.” This weekend, Frombach, a small Joke Wrld team, and volunteers, push the car out of the garage. Five venues are on the schedule; three of them are within a six-minute walk from Coastal, and one (Campbell Park, which will host a literal home run derby to open day two) is 20 minutes away. “Comedy’s always better with friends, always better in person. I’ve watched specials I was there for live, then watched the recording, and it didn’t feel nearly as good as the room did,” Frombach added about his motivation to take a swing at another large festival. “A lot of people say they’re fans of comedy and comedians but still haven’t been to a real good live show. I’m trying to give people that chance—and the chance to experience a festival.”
current hometown of Austin which is home to the Joe Rogan-owned Comedy Mothership. Maddy Smith, Tommy Pope, Lemaire Lee, Shawn Gardini, Josh Adam Meyers, and Jamar Neighbors are just a few of the bigger names, and there is a “Kill Tony” showcase hosted by David Jolly (not the guy running for governor). Surprise guests are peppered into at least six sets on the Joke Wrld Fest schedule, which includes podcasts (“Fart Carnival,” “Fitzdog Radio,” “Dad Meat”), comedy jams with live bands, a ladies showcase, crowd work shows, and more. Frombach said the festival is being funded by Joke Wrld, not Rogan, Tony Hinchcliffe or some other entity (although he’d be glad to get money from anyone). “My ass is in the jackpot in terms of the five years of YouTube revenue. Everything has been saved, and this is reinvesting everything we have back into Joke Wrld,” he added. He also admitted to making bonehead mistakes like pasting the wrong contract to a few people. “So some are getting overpaid and some underpaid because of it. Nobody’s said anything, so we’re rolling with it. We’re too close to it to worry at this point,” he said. “I think we’re just not smart enough to know how insane this is, so the only way forward is through.” Another oversight is local talent. Sunshine Comedy Festival more or less nailed it when tapping homegrown comics to be a part of the show, but Joke Wrld only features a handful of comics
TICKLED PINK: Despite sometimes chaotic planning, Joke Wrld founder Jake Frombach is ready for his close up.
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Tickets to Sunshine City Scare happening Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 15-16 at the St. Petersburg Bayfront Hilton are still available and start at $24.40; kids nine and under get in free. See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/arts—Ray Roa
ARTS
Poetry At The Dalí Every second Thursday. 6 p.m. No cover. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg Materiality Art Exhibition Through Sunday, Aug. 16. No cover. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org Oh, Cuore Mia Through Thursday, Sept. 17. No cover. Tempus Projects, Ybor City Through Their Lens: A Journey of Self Exploration On view through Sept. 20. Free with admission ($12 general). Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org DRV Gallery: Five On view beginning Oct. 2. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com Dalí In America Through Sunday, Oct. 18. 10 a.m. $32 & up. Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org Dance Social with Pankaj Gupta Tuesday, Aug. 18. 5:30 p.m. $15 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com Surreal Summer Nights Thursday, Aug. 20. 5 p.m. No cover with admission. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org Zubrick Magic Fridays and weekends. 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $50 & up. Zubrick Magic Theatre, St. Petersburg
BOOKISH
Ales & Tales Book Club Thursday, Aug. 13. 6 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org Portkey Books Romantasy Book Club: 'The Knight And The Moth' Thursday, Aug. 13. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Portkey Books, Safety Harbor. portkeybooks. com James Q. Leach (‘Tales From Country Acres: Heirs of the Dirt’ book signing) Friday, Aug. 14. 6 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Ersula’s History Shop, Tampa. ersulashistoryshop.com Book Discussion: ‘The Wildes’ by Louis Bayard Saturday, Aug. 15. 3 p.m. No cover with registration. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa. hcplc.org
Bookstore Romance Day (Book signings, tote bag painting, blind date with a book) Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover with RSVP. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com Bookstore Romance Day Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore. com Toddler Takeover w/children’s author Davon Miller Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover with admission. Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa. glazermuseum.org Reading Rainbros Book Club: ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor E. Frankl Sunday, Aug. 16. 10 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com Book Discussion: ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt Monday, Aug. 17. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, Tampa Dungeon Crawler Carl Book Club: ‘The Gate of the Feral Gods’ Monday, Aug. 17. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor. portkeybooks.com Book Club: Isola Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $39.23. The Library, St. Petersburg. thelibrarystpete.com A Dead Thing Like Me with E. G. Young Tuesday, Aug. 18. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com Book Club: Mystery Thriller Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com Book foiling Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $28. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn: I Have This Thing For Flowers Wednesday, Aug. 19. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com Storytelling Amateur Hour in collaboration with Purpose-Driven Professionals Wednesday, Aug. 19. 6 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com Banned Books Club Wednesday, Aug. 19. 4:30 p.m. No cover. Barbara S. Ponce Public Library, Pinellas Park Writer’s Happy Hour Tuesdays. 4 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
COMEDY
Majah Hype Thursday, Aug. 13. 7 p.m. $32. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Sam Tallent Thursday, Aug. 13. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Michael Yo Multiple times Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. $25 & up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Robby Slowik Saturday, Aug. 15. 6 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Stand-Up Style Comedy Showcase feat. Kortney Shane Williams w/Quinton Greene/Jared Thomas Saturday, Aug. 15. 8 p.m. $18.12. The Commodore, Ybor City 404blac Sunday, Aug. 16. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
AS PROJECT/SHUTTERSTOCK
There are only 82 days left until Halloween, and anyone freaking out over that timeline will want to be in St. Petersburg this weekend for Sunshine City Scare. Billed as “a new breed of horror convention,” the two-day get together includes about 50 confirmed vendors, plus guests like Garrett Sander, the creator of Monster High. Sander’s dolls have paved the way for TV shows and “Monster High: The Movie.” Organizers told CL that Sander, 45, will sign dolls for free as they stage panel discussions and photo shoots related to Monster High. Cosplay contests, lip sync competitions, and a “Halloween Hub” are all part of the festivities.
Steve Simeone Thursday, Aug. 20. 7:30 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa The Strut Thursday, Aug. 20. 6:30 p.m. $58. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
LEARN
Gopher Tortoise Education Program Saturday, Aug. 15. 3:30 p.m. No cover. Seminole Heights Branch Library, Seminole Heights. hcplc.org Meet the Bird Rescue Crew Saturday, Aug. 15. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Gallery, Gulfport. brendamcmahongallery. com Short and Sweet Poetry Forms Workshop Saturday, Aug. 15. 1 p.m. $33.85. Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse.com CrafterSpace Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. No cover. Tarpon Springs Public Library, Tarpon Springs. tarponlibrary.org Workshop: Surreal Pet Portrait Painting Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $50 & up. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org Medicare 101 Thursday, Aug. 20. 1 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org Writing For The Screen: The Short Screenplay Mondays between Aug. 3-Aug. 31. 7 p.m. $250. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa Thursdays through Dec. 31. 2 p.m. $18.95. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org Cafe con Tampa Fridays, 8 a.m. No cover. The Portico, Tampa Every Map Tells a Story Fridays through Sept. 25. 2 p.m. No cover. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org Dino Quest Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 9. 10 a.m. $11. DK Farms & Gardens, Largo. dkfarmsandgardens.com
MARKETS & RETAIL
813 Day Market Thursday, Aug. 13. 6 p.m. No cover. M. Bird, Tampa. mbirdtampa.com Card Syndicate Trade Show SaturdaySunday, Aug. 15-16. 10 a.m. $10 & up. Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, Tampa. syndicatetradeshow.com Cyber Goth Night Market Saturday, Aug. 15. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Deviant Libation, Tampa Dunedin Friday & Saturday Markets Fridays & Saturdays. 9 a.m. No cover. Pioneer Park, Dunedin The Market at Water Street Every third Sunday. 10 a.m. No cover. Water Street, Tampa St. Pete Sunday Market Every third Sunday. 11 a.m. No cover. University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
PRIDE
Drag Bingo Every first and third Wednesday. 9 p.m. No cover. American Legion Seminole Post 111, Tampa
THEATER
The Last Unicorn (World premiere play adaptation) Multiple times and dates Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 13-23. $30. The Fringe Theatre, Ybor City. tampafringe.org The Gods of Comedy Fridays and weekends from Aug. 14-30. 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sundays. $23 & up. Carrollwood Players Theatre, Tampa. carrollwoodplayers.org Jobsite Theater: Penelope Select times and dates from Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 6. $71.40 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@cltampa.com for details.
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REVIEWS
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MUSIC WEEK
Strange magic
Glenn Tilbrook discusses Squeeze’s lost 1974 project, finally released this year.
W
ay back in 1974, a couple of wannabe Squeeze’s recording career got off to an songwriters named Chris Difford unspectacular start. The band’s first album and Glenn Tilbrook wrote an album’s (called Squeeze everywhere but America, where worth of songs about the goings-on at a fic- it was titled UK Squeeze) was a promising but tional London club called Trixies. They were frustrating record produced by John Cale of immediately proud of the songs, but various Velvet Underground. circumstances—including the fact that Difford You’d be hard-pressed to find two bands more and Tilbrook were too young to get real gigs in different than Velvet Underground and Squeeze, clubs—led them to shelve the Trixies project. and Cale wasn’t a natural fit for Squeeze’s And on that shelf the songs remained after nascent new wave compositions. Difford and Tilbrook formed and fronted a “He’s a genius, really, and I don’t use that band called Squeeze. word lightly,” Tilbrook said. “He has such great Squeeze, as anyone who’s read this far musical knowledge. And the best parts of the knows, has served up record, he really inspired a half-century’s worth us. There’s a song called of Tilbrook’s insanely ‘The Call,’ that sequence catchy melodies and at the end there, it’s quite Squeeze Difford’s clever lyrics dark but really effective.” w/Haircut 100/Adam Ant full of sly wordplay and Most bands, at least Wednesday, Aug. 19. 6 p.m. $46.50-$116.50 tales of heartbreak. in that era, formed their The BayCare Sound. 255 Drew St., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com Earlier this year, Squeeze debut albums from the finally released Trixies. songs that worked best It stands up admirably against the rest of for them when they played live. Cale didn’t let Squeeze’s catalog—one critic called it Squeeze’s Squeeze do that. masterpiece—and its songs will form the cen“I don’t mean this in a mean way, but I terpiece of the concert when the band returns don’t think he liked a lot of the songs Chris to Clearwater this month. and I were writing at the British popsters Haircut time,” Tilbrook said. “So 100, best known for 1982’s he threw them all out, and “Love Plus One,” and new wave we wrote songs to please showman Adam Ant open. him. So it feels like sort of “It’s been a strange kind of nobody’s child to me, that magic going back to the songs first album.” we wrote in 1974,” Tilbrook The second Squeeze told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay in a Zoom album, Cool for Cats, is an undisputed clasinterview from London. “We’ve always known sic of the era. Tilbrook said that one, which that they were good songs. But it’s an idea whose is packed with such infectious Squeeze songs time never came when we were first together.” as “Goodbye Girl,” “Up the Junction” and “It’s When they finally got their chance to make Not Cricket,” is closer to what the band would records, Trixies didn’t feel like a natural feature have offered for its debut album if they hadn’t on the musical landscape. worked with Cale. “By the time we got a record deal in Just coincidentally, Cale isn’t the only con1977, you wouldn’t want to go anywhere near nection between Squeeze and the VU. Difford something like Trixies,” Tilbrook said. “It’s so and Tilbrook chose the name of the band as against-the-grain and weird compared to punk sort of a mocking tribute to the album Squeeze, and new wave, which we felt energized by, and the final Velvet Underground studio record, part of. So it got, not forgotten about, but bur- which is generally considered awful. All the ied. And there’s never been a good time to do original members had left VU, so Squeeze is it. Until now.” essentially a solo album by Doug Yule, who
DEAN CHALKLEY
By Martin Clear
INTERVIEW
“ ...there’s never been a good time to do it. Until now.”
TRIXIES, FROM KIDS: Chris Difford (L) and Glenn Tilbrook wrote songs for their newly-released work back in 1974. had replaced Cale in the band. Yule himself has expressed dissatisfaction with the record. Not long ago, Tilbrook happened to hear the album, for the first time in decades. “I heard it, about six, seven years ago, for the first time since I was a teenager,” he said. “I actually asked the person what it was, and then said, ‘Oh my god, I love this. This is great.’ It’s not the same as Velvet Underground, but it is. It’s poppier, and that appeals to me.” Anyway, fans probably won’t hear much from that first Squeeze album at the Clearwater concert. “Take Me I’m Yours” is probably the only song from the album that will be familiar to anyone other than very hardcore Squeeze followers. (It was used in a commercial for Dockers pants in the 1990s.) But the show’s not going to
be 100 percent Trixie’s either. Just as they did a couple of years ago at the same venue, in a long and invigorating show with Boy George opening, Squeeze will showcase a lot of its classics. The set list wasn’t determined at the time of CL’s interview with Tilbrook, but it will likely include such fan favorites as “Cool for Cats,” the MTV hit “Hourglass,” and “Tempted,” which is probably the band’s most widely known song. Still, it’s likely to be a Trixies-heavy set. “I think we’re really going to have to calibrate that,” Tilbrook said. “We’ve got to judge how much people are going to be interested in that. We did some dates in Europe, in mainland Europe, and we did the whole record and it went down really well. So I’m tempted to start doing that and see how well it goes.”
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 37
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By Ray Roa C CL Recommends
FRI 14
C David Dondero On the title track from his 2005 album South of the South, songwriter David Dondero laments the changes happening in Ybor City, which at the time was welcoming big box stores like Urban Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret along with a movie theater. The 57-year-old is skipping that part of town altogether for his latest local gig, this time opting for a house show in Seminole Heights just a stone’s throw from the Hillsborough River and a few blocks from Bo’s Ice Cream. The venue choice is no surprise—he recently played St. Pete’s Kerouac House—and the setlist should be packed with plenty of familiar material for fans who’ve followed the former punk drummer (read: This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb) since his 1999 solo debut, The Pity Party, all the way to his 11th studio LP in 2023, Immersion Therapy. Look up @ devon.brady.58 on Facebook to figure out the exact address. 8:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. House show, Tampa ICE Out: The Tilt/Palova/Shy Blossom/ Pet Lizard There might not be a better artrock band working in the Bay area right now. On its latest single, “Standing in the Street, Staring at the Stars,” Sarasota quartet The Tilt Orchestra channels the energy of a David Byrne show into two chaotically-joyful minutes that harkens back to the golden age of pre-algorithmic indie-pop that actually pushed boundaries and made people chaotically-joyful minutes go to the dance floor. A May offering, “13,000 Crows, Iridescent,” leans heavier on synth and Zaeta’s ghostly vocal, leaving listeners waiting for a new album due July 7. In the meantime, The Tilt (apparently the “Orchestra” is silent), plays this gig where proceeds “will be donated directly to Amnesty International, with additional presentations from the Tampa Immigrants' Rights Committee affiliates on 287g’s effects on anti-ICE action.” 7 p.m. $12.23. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa C ¡Samba! four-year anniversary: Mila Killa B2B T. Couture w/Supernova/ Oojordie/Ace/Babyvaye Few people throw a party like Mila Killa. For the fourth anniversary of her “¡Samba!” party, the Tampa DJ brings breakers from Red Bull Dance Your Style into the event space at Hotel Haya where she’ll go back-to-back with another local favorite (T. Couture) in between sets from Toronto DJ Babyvaye and Gainesville scene staple Jordie Ortiz (aka Oojordie), all playing an open-ish format rooted in sounds from Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, and “everywhere in between.” 9 p.m. $20. Hotel Haya, Ybor City
FRI AUGUST 14–THU AUGUST 20
SAT 15
C Clearwater Jazz Ultimate Summer Jazz Jam: Belinda Womack w/Carl Fischer/Jeremy Carter/James Suggs/ Ronnie Dee/Scotty Wright/Allison Nash/ Judi Glover/Trace Zacur/Fernando Cruz/ more There are just 63 days until Clearwater Jazz Holiday returns to Coachman Park, and organizers are keeping themselves extremely busy with shows around the calendar including this summer jam with heavy hitters of the scene from Kool Reflections vocalist Belinda Womack, brass men Carl Fischer and James Suggs, saxophone wielding bandleader Jeremy Carter, and many more. There’s no cover for these shows, and the RSVP list can get packed, but becoming a supporter of the nonprofit Clearwater Jazz Foundation is a good way to all-but-guarantee entry while supporting music education across the Bay area. 5:45 p.m. No cover with RSVP; waitlist open. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo C Quivver w/Brian Busto/Saik b2b Livi Baby John Graham has many monikers (Skanna, Stoneproof and Space Manoeuvres) and has even worked with progressive house favorites like Mick Park and Nic Britton (Tilt) and Mike and Charlotte Truman of Hybrid. This weekend he’s in town under the Quivver banner. The occasion, naturally, is a set with the Serious Soul crew, which has carved out a nice residency for itself at this brewery venue. Graham is fresh of a string of notable releases including EPs on the Anjunadeep (Love You Better) and Bedrock (Running) imprints. Tampa scene lord Brian Busto supports on the bill which includes a B2B set with St. Petersburg’s Livi Baby and Sonic Vision’s Saik. 9 p.m. $24.80 & up. The Nest at St. Pete Brewing Co., St. Petersburg C Tunnel Vision Vol. 2: Verndelarosa w/Newagetension/Chemical Lex b2b Ron Mercy Last May, the Tunnel Vision crew paid homage to the house that Peter Gatien built. For its next installation the series exploring the culture at some of dance music’s most iconic addresses turns its gaze to The Motor Lounge, a Detroit hotspot that brought techno into its adolescence after the city birthed it in the ‘80s. Expect to hear a lot of ghettotech at this tribute to a club that lasted six years (an eternity in the rave scene!) and was once named the best club in America by Urb magazine. 10 p.m. No cover. The Bends, St. Petersburg
SUN 16
Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo For nearly 50 years, international musical stalwarts Gipsy Kings have been taking their sonically adventurous show on the road — introducing audiences to the intersectional joys of rumba, flamenco, folk, rock and sundry hip-centric sounds. The success of the mission speaks for itself in the
Jack Johnson KIM JOHNSON
form of Grammys, millions of records sold, spots on soundtracks like The Big Lebowski and now even a recent eponymous documentary about the band‘s musical journey. And in another way of looking back to look forward, the band are touring behind new album Historia, an autobiographical portrait of the band’s life as musical nomads. 7 p.m. $50 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg— Matthew Moyer
WED 19
C Jack Johnson w/Lake Street Dive Fans get a concert colored with hints of Jack Johnson’s new movie, “Surfilmusic,” released this year. “The new film celebrates the lifelong friendships and ocean-driven community that shaped Johnson’s path, and features many of the surfers who appeared in the original films, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and the Malloy Brothers,” a press release says. “It also captures the shared spirit of exploration and creativity that continues to inspire his music and environmentalism today.” 7:30 p.m. $67.20 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
C Squeeze w/Adam Ant/Haircut 100 Squeeze has served up a half-century’s worth of Glenn Tilbrook’s insanely catchy melodies and Chris Difford’s clever lyrics full of sly wordplay and tales of heartbreak. Earlier this year, Squeeze finally released an album’s worth of songs about the goings-on at a fictional London club called Trixies. The material dates back to 1974 and stands up admirably against the rest of the U.K. pop acts catalog. One critic called it Squeeze’s masterpiece, and its songs will form the centerpiece of this gig. Read our interview with Tilbrook on p. 37. 6 p.m. $46.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater—Martin Clear
THU 20
C Meatwound w/Face Dancer/Future Forms/Headless State The door might blow off The Potion Portal next Thursday. The arcade show features a rare appearance from Tampa hardcore band Meatwound, which is joined by two neighbors from the north: Duval County agro-grunge-rock trio Face Dancer and Gainesville sex-Mex venue destroyer Future Forms. 7 p.m. $16. The Potion Portal, St. Petersburg See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 39
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FRANCES CARTER/PITCH PERFECT PR
The Beths are not from Australia. The New Zealand indie-rock band, however, is in America and headed for Florida this fall. The Kiwi quartet is a bonafide band of sweethearts famous for a bouncy, joyous, album-accurate live show that touches every part of its now four-LP discography going back to 2018.
Tickets to see The Beths Saturday play The Ritz in Ybor City on Saturday, Oct. 3 are still available for $36.05. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Ray Roa
Chenayder (opening for The Two Lips) Wednesday, Sept. 16. 7 p.m. $25.98. New World Music Hall, Tampa
Paul Oakenfold + The Crystal Method Saturday, Nov. 14. 7 p.m. $34.89 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Liquid Pennies w/Deaf Company/DJ J Dog Saturday, Aug. 22. 9:30 p.m. $FREE. The Bends, St. Petersburg
Spafford Saturday, Nov. 21. 7 p.m. $38.18. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
200 Stab Wounds Sunday, Sept. 27. 7 p.m. $31.88. Orpheum, Tampa
For King + Country Sunday, Nov. 29. 7 p.m. $46.90 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Trisha Paytas: Trishmas Friday, Dec. 4. 7:30 p.m. $48.50 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Rebecca Black Saturday, Oct. 10. 7:30 p.m. $40.76 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Hayden Coffman Saturday, Dec. 5. 7 p.m. $28.55. Cowboys Dance Hall, Largo
Cherokee Social + foxlair (opening for Ian McConell) Friday, Oct. 23. 8 p.m. $20.77. New World Music Hall, Tampa
Secondhand Serenade Thursday, Dec. 10. 7 p.m. $35.06 & up. Orpheum, Tampa
Trivium w/In Flames/Fit For An Autopsy/Frozen Soul Thursday, Nov. 5. 5:30 p.m. $63.15 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Archer Oh (opening for The Altons) Wednesday, Nov. 11. 7 p.m. $29.67 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
© AES Presents, LLC
Sidepiece Saturday, Nov. 21. 10 p.m. $31.67 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Said The Sky w/Nurko Saturday, Oct. 3. 10 p.m. $31.15 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Clownvis Presley Thursday, Oct. 29. 8 p.m. $15. Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa
"Keeping Tampa Bay's ear to the (under)ground since 1997"
The band’s last appearance in the Bay area—a June 2023 show at the show-shuttered Crowbar—found bassist Benjamin Sinclair applauding the city’s infrastructure, specifically, the rail. “Light rail, heavy rail, the infrastructure, it’s all very nice,” he said. Sadly, Tampa has not added any notable public transport options since then.
Touring behind last year’s Straight Line Was a Lie, The Beths have three Florida shows in October, including one in Tampa. A social media post from @thebeths says the band will actually “play your favourite Beths songs by spontaneous request!” at the gig.
Michael Franti Trio w/Wheeland Brothers Wednesday, Sept. 23. 7 p.m. $52.85 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
tix&info: www dot aestheticized dot com
Shaun Cassidy Unwrapped Friday, Dec. 11. 7 p.m. $58 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Flying High Forever: A Celebration of Ozzy Osbourne Saturday, Jan. 9. 6 p.m. $33.76. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Nervosa w/Embryonic Autopsy Thursday, Feb. 11. 6 p.m. $35.06. Orpheum, Tampa
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 13-19, 2026 | 41
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Dry season By Caroline DeBruhl
D
ear Oracle, I have this feeling from the uni- throes of Devil energy, we may not see a way out, verse telling me to stop binge drinking. It felt but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. like dread. Something telling me to knock it Across from The Devil is the Ten of Wands off. Am I hallucinating, or is the universe really reversed, the great burden carried. With both of these cards reversed, I think you know that trying to get me to stop?—Signing Off? Cards: King of Cups, Ten of Wands the effects of your drinking are a burden to you (reversed), Last Quarter, The Devil and you’ve known that for a long time. But the (reversed) Ten of Wands can work both as past and future Dear Sign, I’m sure I won’t surprise any- in this placement. While the Ten of Wands is one when I say that I believe in signs from the a burden, it is one that you will survive. While universe. In my experience, you’ve been managing to hanthe most effective ones, the dle the burden of your binge loudest ones, come when the drinking, you can also handle universe tells us something the burden of stopping. we don’t want to hear but we While some people can know to be true: this rela- Send your questions to oracle@cltampa. quit drinking by themselves tionship is terrible for you, com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram (“white-knuckling it”), others you need to stop this selffind group support such as AA destructive behavior, etc. It’s in these moments to be helpful. The Last Quarter card in my deck where we can see things clearly and know, deep (Uusi’s “Pagan Otherworlds”) is a card of connectdown, we must act. ing to others and to forces greater than yourself However, a sign to do something difficult and allowing those forces to move through you. can be easy to dismiss. I don’t think whatever Which sounds very similar to both the second signs you are seeing are hallucinations. I think and third step of AA. If you’re open to it, I think the universe wants you to stop binge drinking. checking out a meeting might be helpful. Finally, we get to the first card, The King of I’m going to go out of order and start with The Devil reversed. The Devil, as I’ve said Cups with his big heart and deep feelings. I do before, can be all-consuming, and if it’s appear- wonder if the drinking is a way to cope with proing where substances are concerned, it usually found emotional distress, or longing, or feelings means we don’t have control over them; rather, of loneliness. This king needs to have connection; they have control over us. The Devil, it should without it, he feels lost. I would recommend both be known, can be a deceiver. When we’re in the searching for a therapist if you don’t already have
ORACLE OF YBOR
one and getting involved in some communitybased activities. Maybe this is volunteering, or joining a writing circle, or going to a special-interest meet-up—anything that involves connecting with people and isn’t located in a bar. I hope with a support system, you can shake that devil off. Best of luck, my dear
Dear Oracle, as an empty-nester, I’m planning on some big changes in my life. While nothing is set in stone yet, my partner and I are looking for a fresh start for the next chapter of our lives. The unknown is exciting and terrifying. Do the cards have any insight on what we should consider as we make our plans?—Ready to Leap Cards: Ten of Wands, Full Moon, Judgment, Seven of Cups Dear Ready, congratulations on your decision to strike out on an adventure. With the Ten of Wands, I think this has been a long time coming, and you and your partner have carried the joyful/rewarding/tiring “burden” of raising a baby bird who has finally flown the nest. Congratulations on that as well. It absolutely makes sense that you are looking to the next chapter of your lives and might feel a bit of trepidation. Parenthood (if you’re doing it right) is not really a selfish man’s game. You have to balance your wants and actions with what’s best for the family. But, now under the Full Moon, you get to take real stock of what you exactly want and then have the energy to go out there and get it. However, transitions—even ones you initiate—can be uncomfortable. The Judgment
card is a card of rebirth and starting that new chapter, but it does come with the decision to leave behind parts of your old life. Even though you’re excited for this change, that excitement might be mixed with a sense of mourning. This is absolutely normal in the process of a great life change. But that mourning can cause some internal whirlwind, which might put us off balance. And you need to be balanced because with the Seven of Cups, you are going to need all your wits about you. The Seven of Cups is all about options, including ones that are deceitful and too-good-to-be-true. In the uncomfortable world of big transitions, you might find yourself drawn to a path that offers a lot of personal comfort but isn’t actually what you want. You might talk yourself out of what that Full Moon showed you, which benefits no one. If you and your partner are serious about a fresh start, I encourage you both to talk to each other about what you really, really want in this new start and what you want to leave behind. (I should note that many couples also have difficulty patches when kids leave home, so if couples’ therapy seems like it might benefit, why not go?) I think if you are both conscious and have clear goals of what you want (and a game plan of how to support each other during the transition), then you and your partner can move on to this new chapter with great success. I hope this new adventure will be everything you both want. See more of Caroline at carolinedebruhl.com.
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Quickies By Dan Savage
H
ow do you tell the difference between a slowburn connection and settling for something that’s just OK? There’s no settling down without settling for. No one gets everything they want where partners are concerned, I’m sorry to say, and if you’ve chosen someone you aren’t entirely sure about… welcome to the world’s most crowded club. Only time will tell whether you settled for something “just OK” (or worse) or if there was a slow-burn connection smoldering under the ambiguity and doubt. I’m a trans woman. A few weeks ago, I was hanging out with friends and one of them, a gay man who is also a furry, told me that he thinks his furry identity should be granted the same level of legal and societal validation as my trans identity. My first thought was, I wasn’t aware we were getting any validation! But my second thought was to be offended at the comparison between my identity, in which I exist every second of every day, and his furry identity, which seems more like a kink. Was I right to be offended? “The statement this furry made is absurd and none of my friends would ever say something like that,” said a furry gay friend who agreed—somewhat reluctantly—to take a look at your letter so long as I kept his name out of my column. “My immediate thought is what is the furry guy actually asking for? Legal recognition? Does he want his fursona name on his government ID? If he wants to make his fursona his real name, there’s nothing stopping him from doing that; he just needs to get a legal name change. That said, while it’s certainly far harder to exist day-to-day as a trans person than it is as a furry, I don’t think boiling down being a furry to a kink is right. For some it might be ‘just a kink,’ but for others it is very deeply felt.” P.S. While things have definitely gotten worse for trans Americans under the Trump administration, majorities of Americans still support the rights of trans people, which should feel somewhat validating. Trans Americans have even gotten some legal validation—from the fucking Supreme Court, no less, in a decision written by Neil Fucking Gorsuch himself. Just as trans people shouldn’t be erased (and can’t be erased), trans wins and the progress we’ve seen over the last two decades (current backslash notwithstanding) shouldn’t be erased either. P.P.S. My gay furry friend was too polite to say it, so I’ll say it myself: your gay furry friend is an idiot. I want to love myself more and have the confidence to not care about other people’s opinion of me. Any tips for an anxious weirdo to stop caring about how the world sees me?
You can take other people’s opinions into consideration—you can show a decent respect for the opinions of mankind, as someone or other once put it—without being paralyzed by them. But if you find yourself obsessing to the point of emotional paralysis (that “anxious weirdo” place), a good therapist could help you strike a better balance between consideration (of others) and confidence (in your own self/choices). I was fascinated to hear the story of the woman who traveled to Peru for an erotic massage. She expressed frustration at not finding local providers. I have been giving these massages like the one the caller described on your show for five years but just to friends and those I meet on the apps. Is there a way to monetize this service? Where to start? I’ve heard good things about Tryst—I am not endorsing the platform, which bills itself as the home of the independent escort, but every time sex work comes up, someone jumps into the comment thread to talk up Tryst. So, just passing that along. (You also might want to listen to my conversation with podcaster and “love coach” Shaun Gelanos on the Savage Lovecast. Gelanos successfully monetized the erotic massages he enjoyed providing to women when he lived and worked in the SF Bay area, which we talked about on the show.)
I’m active in water sports during the summer—no, not that type of watersports, but the kind with surfboards and paddle boards and sand and things like that. After a few weeks, I noticed that the tip of my cock will get little red marks, small abrasion raspberries, from rubbing up against the board, and sometimes, I think because I stay in a wet bathing suit for a while. This is suboptimal because it makes it look like I’ve got an infection of some sort. Any advice on what to do here? A foreskin might help—if you don’t have one of those, you could look into getting one. In the interim, my triathlete pal recommended you slather your cock and balls with Trislide, an anti-chafing lubricant, before pulling on your wetsuit. I’m a young 65-year-old straight woman and my 10-year relationship with my (narcissistic) guy ended abruptly without a reason. Prior to the end of this relationship, this guy successfully isolated me from all of my old friends. Now I am on my own. Dating apps are a wasteland and my day job has me in bed by 11 p.m., even on weekends, and night life doesn’t get started where I live until after midnight. What can I do? You can reach out to one or two of your old friends and throw yourself on their mercy: “I’m so sorry for disappearing on account of my shitty ex and I would love to apologize in person and reconnect—if you have the time—and I promise I won’t spend the whole time complaining to you about my shitty ex.”
SAVAGE LOVE
I’m a 30-year-old cis woman who has only really ever been intimate with cis men. Lately I’ve been chatting a lot with a trans man who has had bottom surgery. I’m really looking forward to getting intimate with him, but since this is new territory for me, I want to do a little research beforehand. I plan to ask him about what he likes and what feels good for him when the time comes, but I’m wondering if you have any advice or know of any good resources out there (i.e. written by a trans masc person) so that I can better understand his anatomy because most of what I’m finding is written by doctors or people that aren’t trans masc. “Whether you’re a trans person exploring T4T sex for the first time, a cis woman who has historically dated cis guys, or maybe a cis gay man who’s never hooked up with a transmasc person, having a new sexual experience can feel daunting without guidance,” Jo Valdes wrote in an essay for Them, in which Valdes, a writer and intimacy coordinator, solicited advice from trans masc people on best practices where having sex with them is concerned. Go read the whole thing.
Have you read “The Great Believers”? It made me think of you. I have not—but it sounds amazing. Thanks for the recommendation, and I will add it to the pile on my nightstand. Does having a threesome with two people who are siblings constitute incest? Hm… that’s an interesting question. I’ve always said there’s nothing necessarily gay about two straight guys having a threesome with a woman… so long as neither is quietly hoping something gay happens. So, by the same logic, one could argue there isn’t anything necessarily incest-y about two siblings having a threesome with a non-sibling… so long as neither sibling is quietly hoping that scene from season three of “White Lotus” happens. But just as MMF threesomes will always be haunted by the specter of homosexual desire, SSN (sibling-sibling-nonsibling) threesomes will always be haunted by the specter of incest. P.S. There was definitely something gay about the threesome I had with another man and a woman when I was a closeted teenager—it was me, I was the gay thing about it.
If you could fuck any guy in history—they’re all gay in this scenario—who’s catching a facial? My top three: Bagoas (as brought to life by Mary Renault in “The Persian Boy”), “Antinous (prior to his deification by Emperor Hadrian), and Leopold II (at the time he was painted by Pietro Leopoldo). I’m a gay man. My boyfriend says all gay guys watch porn and I’m lying when I say I don’t. But I honestly don’t. I curate and host the HUMP! Film Festival— tickets for the fall season are on sale now!—so I watch a ton of porn (mostly straight porn) when the HUMP! Jury meets in December to select the films that make it into the festival. But I’m an erotica and imagination guy otherwise, perhaps because I came of age before online porn became a thing. That said, men like us—gay or otherwise—who don’t watch porn are rare, and shame does lead some people to lie about their porn consumption, and the lie is always “I don’t” and never “I do.” So, your boyfriend’s skepticism is understandable. My wife wants to go to a sex club “just to watch.” Is that a thing? Lots of people go to sex clubs just to watch. And while watchers sometimes frustrate doers, smart sex clubbers goers—goers and doers— know that most couples come “just to watch” the first few times. So, making a couple that’s just there to watch feel welcome on their first visit (being friendly and respectful, not pressuring them to do anything they’re not ready for) could pay dividends on that couple’s third or fourth visit. My (straight) husband and I have been monogamous for 10 years. His go-to fantasy when we’re fucking is always—always, always, always—me sleeping with other men. Do I keep treating this like dirty talk or does listening to this over and over again (and helping him spin out the fantasy) mean I have a hall pass at this point? You should keep treating it like dirty talk if you’re not interested in actually sleeping with other men. If you are interested in sleeping with other men, you should initiate a conversation with your husband about this fantasy when you aren’t having sex. (“Is me sleeping with another man something you want to keep a fantasy or is it something you actually want to happen? Because I am down.”) If he gets mad because you’re actually thinking about doing the thing he’s encouraged you to fantasize about doing for a decade… then he never gets to bring it up during sex ever again Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love
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