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Editorial DEPUTY EDITOR/DIGITAL DIRECTOR Colin Wolf FOOD & DRINK CRITIC Kyla Fields FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Gabe Echazabal, Michael Murillo, David Warner PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker SUMMER INTERNS Leif Helland, Liam Oliver (apply for fall and spring by emailing clips and a resumes to rroa@cltampa.com) Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Paul Pavlovich POLITICAL CARTOONIST Bob Whitmore ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson Advertising SALES DIRECTOR Anthony Carbone SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dan Winkler CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER Jerrica Schwartz
You got beat up if you were a Devo fan.
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EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a locally-and-employee-owned publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
CITY OF TAMPA
Circulation
Devo makes Clearwater debut, p. 37.
SAVAGE LOVE ����������������������������� 45 CROSSWORD ������������������������������ 46
Voters in the 2027 Tampa municipal election could see a very familiar face on the ballot next spring.
Creative Loafing Tampa is proudly published by Events & Media, LLC. The physical edition is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampabay.com. Copyright 2026, Events and Media, LLC.
TV newsman joins city council race, p. 17.
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RAY ROA
/food Food Fight returns /music Buddy Guy interview /arts Banksy review /news Primary results
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In a world where we have to parse the truth from AI search summaries, the comments section on Creative Loafing offers a weird reprieve. There, readers hash it out amongst themselves while bots shitpost about the Epstein files and Fishback supporters troll people from their parents’ houses. We go there because that’s where so many of you still are, checking out our headlines and clicking through to read the non-paywalled news brought to you by our staffers and the good people at outlets who’ve made their work available to share. Here’s the latest. Keep emailing, writing letters, and dropping into the comments. All feedback from Facebook unless noted.—Ray Roa
Brandt has served Tampa Bay for over 30 years as a public school teacher, a civil rights activist & a union organizer. Brandt stands firmly on abolishing ICE, and protecting our most marginalized citizens. This is why I’m voting for Brandt— Michelle Hollidge
I’m a progressive, I seek to elect someone who has the same values as myself. Someone who will focus on uplifting the working class & will tackle the affordability crisis (when adjusted against median income Tampa Bay has the worst affordability in the nation). Brandt Robinson for Congress has a plan that goes far beyond what is included in the article, as he also is pushing for a $20/hr federal minimum wage, that would make a world of difference for states like ours where Republican Governors slow walk amendments we voted for like increasing our state minimum wage to $15/hr.
I think the fact a guy that hates live nation has to work with them because they have a monopoly is a pretty great example of why monopolies are bad.—Brian McKay
Retired Tampa newscaster Jeff Patterson is running for city council
I believe we need to reinvest the tax dolllars in our community. I think it is disengenous to note that the amendment to raise the homestead exemption is going to cause a loss of revenue. No one is taking into account the new homes Democratic hopefuls for Tampa Bay’s townhomes and apartments being built District 13 congressional seat weigh in homestead exception or not these properties are bringing in more net tax dollars Brandt Robinson for Congress has my than if the growth in our city did not support. While other occur. A new home candidates for the built where a old one office are relying on was has to bring in the failed coronamuch more revetion plan of the DNC nue than a formerly that worked SO well homesteaded home. in 2024, Brandt was I don’t understand going door to door, how we have all this talking to his progrowth and can’t spective constituents afford to pave roads, - even the ones who install sidewalks and may disagree with help fund the rays. him.—Dylan Shaw We were not getting taxes from hCC propI’m in District 12 so I erty before. Someone can’t vote for Brandt is playing games Robinson. If I could with the budget. We vote for him, I would. should have a net He has come to town growth in budget hall meetings and after growth and paytalked to constituents. ing for rays and the He listens and answers homestead exemption. Scan this to QR code to mail us: the questions he was asked, I don’t believe we are in not respond with a canned the negative any number.— response that tells you nothEvelio Prieto ing.—Barbara Costa That would be a good tranI voted for Brandt because sition if he plays it right. He he is the only candidate that has the connections and the got enough petitions not to ability to expose things and have to buy his way onto get them accomplished.— the ballot and does not take Ed Mello Pac money. Education and Healthcare are his prioriLive Nation, which John ties and he shows up when Oliver once accused of promised and even rushes having a ‘chokehold’ on in at the last minute when another candilive entertainment, brings John Oliver date is a no show.—Linda Wodehouse to St. Pete
The whole point was that artists don’t have options to NOT use them if they want to tour or be a part of venues. It’s on the VENUES to not use the things. Sometimes you have to recognize you’re a part of the system while dismantling it. Like folks who hate AI but work in programming. Or any of us who hate capitalism but still have to function in this society—Kristie Grey
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 7
Gator aid
Photos by Dave Decker
L
ast Tuesday marked the end of Florida’s 2026 Primary Election, and last weekend DSA candidates were finally able to hold their “Chomp The Oligarchy” rally in South Florida despite being forced to change venues twice. The gathering was in support of three candidates: substitute teacher Elijah Manley, Florida Rep. Angie Nixon, and union organizer Oliver Larkin. Nixon and Larkin are members of the insurgent Democratic Socialists of America. They were all running against center-right Democrats in South Florida, where voters have been reluctant to embrace progressive candidates. Rep. Nixon and Larkin—both Democratic Socialists—and Manley were supported last Friday by St. Petersburg’s own DSA city councilman, Richie Floyd. The 34-year-old, who won re-election over the summer after no one stepped up to run against him, was met at the podium with “DSA” chants. Visit cltampa.com/news for updated election results and more photos from the rally.—Ray Roa
8 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
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do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from Aug. 20 - 27. See more on pp. 27, 32 & 35, and 38 Hart line
Mayoral candidate Bill Carlson is in the spotlight lately thanks to his taking the reins on the Rays stadium fiasco, but the Tampa City Councilman isn’t the only person running to lead the City of Tampa. Gary Hartfield, author and founder of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting (pictured), filed his paperwork last March, telling Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the decision is part of “a deliberate and intentional plan to find ways to give back to my community.” The 55-year-old officially kicks off his campaign this week, hoping to meet supporters old and new and tell them about his plans.
Gary Hartfield campaign kickoff: Thursday, Aug. 20. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. Venue address provided with RSVP. garyfortampamayor.com
—Ray Roa CAMPAIGN PHOTO
Can’t stop
By the time this issue hits stands, Byron Donalds and his wife Erika Donalds could be one step closer to the governor’s mansion. As the state of Florida continues to expand its pre-emption of local governments, leadership will be key at the local level. Will Hillsborough County elect commissioners ready to roll over for Tallahassee, or folks with spine ready to stand up? Some of the sharpest politicos in the Bay area will start to answer that question for a candidate forum where all candidates qualified for the fall’s Hillsborough County Commission election are invited to attend. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m., and non-member tickets are $35.
Tampa Tiger Bay Club—Hillsborough County Commission forum: Friday,
Na
Aug. 21. 11 a.m.. $35 for non-members. Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. tigerbayclub.com—Ray Roa DAVE DECKER
Loca O’ La crete love book swap come dar. fers
Seed
Rose
—Ra
Real magic
Unicorns live forever. A new theatrical production in Ybor City proves it. Closing this weekend, “The Last Unicorn” is a fantastical play that explores the loneliness of an immortal unicorn who tries to find the other unicorns herded away by the evil red bull to the ends of the earth. The unicorn is joined by her companions to find the rest of the onehorned mythical creatures. The play is adapted from Peter Beagle’s classic 1968 novel of the same name. A mother-daughter duo from Valrico, Arlene Jacobs and Jessica Jacobs, reserved the rights from Peter allowing them to adapt it into the production now showing inside the 40-60 seat venue. “This play is a love letter to nostalgia and the answer to the question: How do we grow older without losing our sense of wonder,” Arlene said in a press release. Read more and see more photos via cltampa.com/arts.
DAVE DECKER
12 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
The Last Unicorn—The World Premiere Play Adaptation: Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 20-23. $30. The Fringe Theatre at Kress Contemporary, 1624 E 7th Ave. No. 307, Ybor City. tampafringe.org—Leif Helland
See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Get bread
PHOTOCREDIT
To some, Tampa is the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich, which must have salami by the way. Sunday is National Cuban Sandwich Day, an occasion actually celebrated internationally. Pipo’s is the reigning Best of the Bay reader’s pick for Best Cuban Sandwich. There are staple Cuban sandwiches across the city, from the big ass offering at Brocato’s, to Columbia Restaurant’s, La Segunda’s, and the lunchmeat-stuffed special at Florida Bakery. There are also twists on the classic where restaurants swap out the Swiss cheese for smoked gouda (The Pearl), sub spicy German mustard (Independent Bar & Cafe), or brush honey on the crown (any self-respecting Tampeño has had West Tampa Sandwich Shop’s Obama Cuban, pictured). There’s even a book about it (“The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers”). The folks at one South Tampa French restaurant might break your brain. Bar Terroir’s Le Cubain ($28) is made with Comté cheese and a puff pastry, all plated with sauce charcutière. Don’t tell abuela, but the Duroc pork shoulder is salted and seared for color then braised overnight at 220°F in a deep hotel pan with a carrot, fennel, onion, and dried shiitake mushroom mirepoix. “Dry apricots and a sachet of white pepper, coriander, mustard seeds, juniper, parsley, bay leaves, and thyme go in with a full bottle of Riesling and enough chicken stock to cover,” a rep for the restaurant at 3636 Henderson Blvd. wrote. There aren’t a bunch of official celebrations, but regardless of your preference, wrap your lips around a Cuban sandwich this weekend.
Nature’s classroom
Located 22 miles north of downtown Tampa, Rosebud Continuum in Land O’ Lakes is a slice of natural Florida and a welcome break from the concrete that dominates city living. Sharing seeds is one of the nonprofit’s love languages, and it’ll be on display for this swap and market where books and plants will get passed around, too. “Don’t have anything to swap, no worries, we have plenty to share and you are welcome to just come and take!,” organizers wrote on Creative Loafing’s event calendar. For those who can’t make it out to the 14-acre property, Rosebud offers volunteer Saturdays through Oct. 17 (Sept. 26 is a non-volunteer day).
RAY ROA
Cuban Sandwich Day: Sunday, Aug. 23.—Ray Roa
Seed + Plant + Book Swap: Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover. Rosebud Continuum, 22843 Hale Rd., Land O’ Lakes. rosebudcontinuum.org
—Ray Roa
Play time
Put the tablet down for a few hours and watch your kid play (no, seriously, dad, look at this!). St. Petersburg’s kids museum waives admission for the morning and invites families to take part in STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) happening throughout the venue. Meant to raise funds and awareness for the museum’s Great Explorations’ educational programs, little ones can try their hands at robotics, art, demos and engineering challenges. Advance registration is required.
Ignite!: Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover with registration. Great Explorations Children’s Museum. 1925 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. greatex.org—Ray Roa VISIT TAMPA BAY
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 13
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14 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
POLITICS
ISSUES
OPINION
Street cred
Retired Tampa newscaster Jeff Patterson is running for city council. By Leif Helland
CAMPAIGN HANDOUT
V
oters in the 2027 Tampa municipal election Like anyone else running for office these could see a very familiar face on the ballot days, Patterson is also concerned about next spring. For 38 years at WFLA, Jeff affordability. Patterson asked questions on behalf of viewers. Patterson said he believes in incentivizing Now it’s his turn to go under the microscope as he developers towards areas that are generally makes a run for the District 4 City Council Seat. underdeveloped while honoring the preservaCurrently, two other candidates, real estate tion of historic neighborhoods in the Bay area. agent James Paul “Jaimie” Adair and Stetson ”So that’s why I say we need to incentivize College of Law grad John Grandoff, are running developers to go to other areas of the city, and to fill the seat being vacated by Councilman Bill you can do that in a way with more affordable Carlson, who is running for mayor. So far, only housing,” Patterson said. “Because not everyPatterson has reported any money raised in body can live on the waterfront in a $1.2 million the race ($300), according to the Hillsborough condo, and I think a lot of that is being overbuilt.” County Supervisor of Elections. And he has thoughts about the baseball Patterson retired from broadcast reporting team that wants to build a stadium with help last April after covering the Bay area for nearly from taxpayers. The Rays had hoped to have secured a $180 four decades. He filed paperwork to run for city council just a few months later. million commitment from Tampa City Council He told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that by now, but November’s looming property tax his top priority for Tampa is improving infra- amendment and pushback over sending tax dollars structure. He said that to billionaire sports team in conversations with owners has created a hurdle current city council memfor the team as it looks for bers, they always mention money to build a stadium in Tampa municipal election that constituents’ top comHillsborough County. Election Day: Tuesday, March 2, 2027; plaint is damaged roads At a July early voting days are still to be determined and sidewalks. Patterson Tampa Community Voter registration deadline: Feb. 1, 2027 votehillsborough.gov pointed to meager repavRedevelopment Agency ing budgets of the past in meeting, councilman and his argument, alluding to 2023 when council- CRA member Bill Carlson led a 5-2 vote to members were initially presented with just $4.4 remove discussions for the majority request million for repaving before adding $7 million item of $100 million from the CRA that would from parking revenue to the total. contribute to the building of Rays stadium on “And my street, anybody’s street in the city Hillsborough College’s campus. of Tampa, was on a schedule to be repaved once This month, Carlson and Rays CEO Ken every 75 years. 75 years,” he added. “The indus- Babby have started to trot out an alternative try standard is like 25, maybe 30 years that they funding plan. The new plan scraps the combined should be repaved.” $180 million from the CRA and CIT and proLast year, the City of Tampa proudly said it poses using a TIF mechanism (Tax Increment broke records by repaving 76 lane miles of road. Financing) connected to multiuse development Patterson felt differently. around the stadium. The new plan is not with“There’s 2,800 miles of lanes in the city of out its skeptics. Tampa, and so even at 76 miles, you’re talking Patterson couldn’t say how he would vote on about once every 37 years,” Patterson said. “The a Rays stadium deal, being not privy to all the longer you wait to repave streets, the more costly finances associated with the project. He said it becomes to repave them. So I think we need to the vote comes down to what is the best use of focus on the basics. Let’s get our streets paved.” the public’s money. This year, the city of Tampa increased the “You have to be a good steward of the public road repaving budget from $14 million to $41 tax dollars, and regardless of your feelings of million. baseball, if you love it or hate it, it comes down
ELECTIONS
OUT OF THE BOX: Patterson retired from the TV news last April. to what is the best use of the public’s money,” Patterson said. “It brings in hotels, restaurants, office space, even some housing over there in a very undeveloped area, Drew Park, and so this could be an exciting time for that area of the city.” Patterson thinks the city council’s vote to scrap the stadium agenda item pertains to Amendment 3 on the upcoming November’s ballot, which, if passed, would lead Hillsborough County to lose nearly $348 million in revenue by the 2027-2028 fiscal year. Amendment 3—currently undergoing a court-ordered rewrite—would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Experts estimate massive revenue losses of $12 billion by 2031 for Florida’s economy. Although spearheaded by Florida GOP legislators, Patterson says Florida conservatives should be greatly concerned if the initiative passes. “Jeff [Brandes, former Republican State Senator] wrote a very thoughtful piece on this, in that this isn’t about reducing your taxes,”
Patterson said. “This is about a power grab, and he said that conservative Republicans should be very afraid of this because this isn’t about reducing government and taxes. This is about consolidating power.” Tampa’s municipal elections are non-partisan, but voting records show Patterson is a registered Democrat. He said the amendment, if passed, would be devastating for local governments. “Are we just going to have to delay where we’re spending our money? You know we can’t,” Patterson said. “You know if you’re talking about laying off people, you might have to lay off police and firefighters, and then people are going to suffer, and people are going to die because of that. And, I mean, that sounds like hyperbole, but I’m serious. I’m very afraid of that, and I think that local government decisions should be made by local government officials.” Tampa’s upcoming municipal election ends on Tuesday, March 2, 2027; early voting days are still to be determined. The deadline to register to vote is Feb. 1, 2027.
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 15
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Work issue
“People should have basic dignity no matter what.”
St. Pete City Council rejects proposal to buy paper products made using prison labor. By S.G. de León y León/San Pedro Gazette
T
he St. Pete City Council meeting held on Aug. 6, 2026 was packed with items. It included updates on U.S. House of Urban Development funds, as well as a presentation previewing an increase in utility rates for next fiscal year that would impact water costs in the city. Additionally, the bulk of the meeting was dedicated to a debate on whether or not the city should pay a three-year-agreement for $420,000 to get paper products from a company that uses prison labor in Florida, which pays between $0.30 and $1.05 to inmate workers, a widely criticized practice deemed a remnant of a slavery economy in this country. It ultimately did not pass with a vote of 5-2. According to the City Council agenda, this item sought agreement to pay $420,000 to Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRI Enterprises). The three-year agreement was to supply office paper products for the Procurement and Supply Management Department. This item had been previously approved through a consent agenda on July 23. It was brought back before City Council for review and approval.
While public comment speakers were few, Alec S Wilcosky, a field representative for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), made a statement. “Agreeing to this contract would be agreeing to a status quo of second-class workers,” Wilkowski said. Another St. Pete public speaker, Alfredo Patiño, asked council to vote “no,” saying the company is not operating in a free market and is using incarcerated workers who make cents on the hour. “This is not a legitimate competitive advantage,” Patiño said. The issue for council members who voted against the item became clear after Randy Fisher of PRI Enterprises shared how much inmates working for them were being paid: 30 cents to $1.05 an hour. Fisher said the inmates were not forced to work. Council Member Brandi Gabbard (District 2) asked PRI Enterprises what its profit margin was. The executives said it depended on many variables but was around 20%. Fisher explained that PRI Enterprises pays inmates depending on the national average for incarcerated workers. Moreover, he noted that it served as a skill-development platform.
LOCAL NEWS
When Council Member Mike Harting (District 3) asked if they had any competition, Fisher said they can’t have competitors by law. Council Member Corey Givens (District 7) asked city officials what would happen if the item was not approved. Where would they source the office paper products from? City Administrator Rob Gerdes said they had other options and were ready to move on if the item didn’t pass. Givens said he has spoken to people impacted by the prison system who have gone through work programs. “For those who have nobody and they still have to live and maintain… there are still costs associated with prison,” Givens said. He added that it is important to understand people looking for second chances. He also asked for further conversations and asked PRI Enterprises if they could do better with wages. “I really want to give these inmates more of the pie,” Fisher said to Givens’ comment. Council Member Richie Floyd (District 8), who pulled the item for discussion from the consent agenda, said PRI was probably doing its best within a terrible situation, noting that the prison system is not good.
ROOM TO THINK: St. Petersburg City Council Chambers in November 2014.
Floyd said that using prison labor was a remnant of slavery. The councilmember also said employing prison labor also goes against the National Labor Relations Act. “People should have basic dignity no matter what,” Floyd said. “I just don’t think this is right for the City of St. Petersburg.” Gabbard said she did not support the city entering into an agreement directly related to the exemptions created by the 13th Amendment. “Here we are… kind of shrouding this and call it a benefit,” Gabbard said. City Council rejected the measure 5-2. Council Members Brandi Gabbard, Richie Floyd, Copley Gerdes, Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Gina Driscoll voted no. Councilmembers Mike Harting and Corey Givens voted yes. Council Member Lisset Hanewicz (District 4) was absent in the meeting. This story first appeared at San Pedro Gazette, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project, a CL effort supported by grants and donors who make contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation. Nonpaywalled Bay area publication interested should email rroa@ctampa.com. Support San Pedro Gazette by commenting, sharing this on social media, or donating via sanpedrogazette.com.
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 17
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The country’s first Buffalo Wild Wings-Jimmy John’s lands in Tampa Bay, plus more local food news & events. By Colin Wolf and Ray Roa
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Tampa’s Cake Girl bakes for Cardi B The Cake Girl has no time to chill. The Carrollwood bakery’s owner, Kristina Lavallee, just baked another cake for hip-hop megastar Cardi B who was celebrating the birthday of her firstborn Kulture, who turned eight last month. The four-tier Care Bares-inspired custom cake took the Cake Girl team 30 hours to create and included more than 700 individually-handcrafted sugar flowers, a rep for Lavallee told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “It was an honor to be trusted with such a special occasion again this year,” Lavallee added. “I always enjoy working with her to bring
the couple waited a year-and-a-half for for the right space to become available. “We’ve also spent that time learning what the community loves to eat,” the released added. • According to a press release, O’Keefe’s Tavern, one of Clearwater’s longest-running Irish pubs, is relocating to the former Capogna’s Dugout at 1653 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. after the sale of its current property to BayCare Health System, with current owners passing the reins to the next generation. The pub will close its current location this month, with a roughly sixweek renovation before reopening. “This isn’t about creating a new O’Keefe’s — it’s about
SHUTTERSTOCK
e all know the struggle. You pick up an order of bone-in Mango Habanero wings from Buffalo Wild Wings. You get back in your car. You haul ass to Jimmy John’s—shove the wings into a spread open, fully dressed Vito, and enjoy a “Bone’d MangoVito” within the sanctuary of your Jeep Gladiator. Luckily, the private equity overlords at Inspire Brands have decided Tampa Bay residents have suffered enough, which is why we will soon be home to the nation’s first combination Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John’s. Located at 5241 69th St. E in Palmetto, the new fast-food alliance opened last Monday. “We’re giving this community something no one else has: two crave-worthy menus, one location and no reason to ever choose between them,” said Kenther Ramos, franchisee with Quality Foods Restaurant Group, which will act as the local operator. It’s unclear if there will be any menu-mashups, like maybe some oil and vinegar wings, or a Blazin’ sauce smothered Turkey Tom. But this surely something that any adventurous kid working behind the counter would accommodate for the most fearless of patrons. Similar to Yum! Brands’ “Kentacohuts” (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC), the new corpo-mashup came together through a series of delicious acquisitions. In 2018, Inspire Brands purchased Buffalo Wild Wings for an estimated $2.9 billion. A year later, the company also absorbed Jimmy John’s after founder Jimmy John Liautaud sold the remainder of his shares so he could go shoot more endangered rhinos or whatever. If you’re not familiar with Inspire Brands, it also owns Arby’s, Dunkin Donuts, BaskinRobbins, Sonic, and a few others. It’s also essentially the fast-food arm of the private equity bros over at Roark Capital Group, which made a name for itself during the COVID pandemic for literally bragging about successfully lobbying to keep a federal $15 minimum wage increase out of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. It seems the only problem Inspire Brands has now is what to call the world’s first Buffalo Wild Wings Jimmy John’s hybrid. So, here are a few ideas: Buffimmy’s, JoBuffs, Juffalo’s, Jimmy Buff’s, Wild Jimmy, Bujayjay’s, JoBos, Buffalohns, Private Equity Wing and Sandwich Conglomerate.
BONEY VITO: What are you calling the new Buffalo Wild Wings x Jimmy John’s? her dreams to reality. I know how special her kids are to her, and that is something I take very seriously.”—Leif Helland Bites • Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom opened its second Florida location on Aug. 6 in Lithia (5607 Circa Fishhawk Blvd.), run by husband-and-wife co-owners Lauren and Korey Hoger, featuring wood-fired pizzas and a self-pour tap wall with 20 taps — many from local Tampa-area brewers. A press release says
continuing the O’Keefe’s that generations of families have known and loved,” the release added. • Cigar City Brewing’s Jai Alai IPA has partnered with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) for Raise the Stage, a documentary series pairing leaders of iconic independent music venues with artists whose careers were shaped by those rooms, culminating in a limitededition vinyl compilation and giveaway. There’s just one Florida venue, The Social in Orlando, on the list.
• P.F. Chang’s—which has locations at the Tampa airport, Westshore Plaza, Brandon, and Clearwater—is running Boats & Bottles through Sept. 15, pairing its limited-time Sushi Boat (starting at $49.99) — a shareable spread of California Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll and two chef-selected specialty rolls served with a cloud of smoke — with Wine Wednesday, which offers half-off all bottles of wine and champagne every Wednesday (airport location not included). Food & drink events 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 Saucy Fest Thursday, Aug. 20. 6 p.m. No cover. Saucy!, Tampa R&B Ink & Sip Night (Beginner tattoo experience and wine tasting) Friday, Aug. 21. 6:30 p.m. $104.07 & up. Vino Ghvino 21, Tampa. vinoghvino21.com Ice Cream Stroll Saturday, Aug. 22. 2 p.m. $10. Tarpon Springs Downtown District, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com The Art of Tea Tuesday, Aug. 25. 6 p.m. $35. Market at Tampa Edition, Tampa. editionhotels.com Omakase Dinner Tuesday, Aug. 25. 5:30 p.m. $150. RO, Hyde Park The Best of Both Worlds: Burgundy & Oregon Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6:30 p.m. $105 & up. Birch & Vine, St. Petersburg. thebirchwood.com Pickle Party (Learn to make your own pickles) Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6 p.m. $49 & up. Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg. tiptopcanning.co Thrill of the Grill: Turn Your Patio into a Gourmet Restaurant with Chef Warren Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6 p.m. Waitlist open. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin Buttercream & Piping Inspired by Yvette Mayorga Thursday, Aug. 27. 5 p.m. $80 & up. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
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Wild things
‘Wearable Art’ celebrates 20 years of transcending fashion in Dunedin. By David Warner
LOCAL ARTS
Saturday, Aug. 22. 6:30 p.m. $40 & up the Center’s curatorial direccame to the Art Center were, tor since February of 2025. Dunedin Fine Art Center. 1143 Michigan you know, older,” Jill says. Blvd., Dunedin The closest such extrava“I knew this could shake dfac.org ganza may be the World things up a bit.” A fundof WearableArt (WOW) competition in New raiser in the usually slow summer months Zealand, which in the past has awarded prizes had particular appeal to Bissett, who was then to Strunk and to two of this year’s Wearable just a few months into what would be her long Art designers: Dawnamatrix, who specialize in and successful tenure as CEO. latex, and Olga Saretsky of Kikimora Studio, “We were in a very bad financial situation,” who describes her other-worldly body of work as Bissett remembers. So, when Kaya came in with “High Fashion Circus.” her Wearable Art idea and sugOrganizing Wearable Art gested that the show could bring is part of Olda’s job, and it’s a in maybe a thousand bucks, lot. He looks at all the submisBissett was sold. sions—CVs, bios, images of past “Good,” she told Kaya. “We work, proposal sketches, artist can make payroll.” statements—with a view to how well the appliNeither of them knew whether the thing cants have thought out their themes and the would work. The Center was just 16,000 square feasibility of fully realizing them. This year feet (“That was before I got the building bug,” there were 20 applications for six places—down says Bissett). The “catwalk”—a bunch of sculpfrom 10 last year so that DFAC could offer each ture pedestals shoved together—had to be set artist a larger stipend ($2,500 to use as they up in the foyer, and was only about waist-high. see fit, including purchase of materials and “It was a risk,” says Jill. “We had all these hiring of models). designers involved, working for months [includDFAC doesn’t set a theme for the artists ing Strunk and Carly Champagne, who created to follow (though as this is the event’s 20th, a dress made of condom packages]. George Ann or Platinum, anniversary, there’s bound to really took a chance.” be some shine on the runway). But he does But for whatever reason—word of mouth? watch out for proposals that “slip out of art hunger for something different? a sexy ad in and into fashion, or out of the visual arts into Creative Loafing?—on the night of July 29, cosplay.” Because for him, the “Wearable” is 2005, the place was packed.
“There’s nothing like it anywhere.”
DAVE DECKER
M
onsters made of balloons. A dress made of less important than the “Art.” Fashion at least meat (long before Lady Gaga). Full metal aspires to be worn, he points out. Even the corsets, a headdress that shot glitter, a outlandish-seeming outfits coming out of Paris bra that shot Silly String, and a skirt made of and Milan trickle down to become fast-fash ping pong balls. trends at H&M. But wearable art, he says, is Those are just a few of the eye-popping cre- about “using the human body as a wonderful ations (by artists Mark Byrne, Rogerio Martins constraint to make artwork on.” and Frank Strunk III, respectively) that have That first Wearable Art show in 2005 was sashayed down the runway at Wearable Art, Kaya Jill’s idea. She was DFAC’s director of spethe fantastic annual spectacle produced by the cial events at the time and still in her 20s,“the Dunedin Fine Art Center. A showcase for the youngest person at the Art Center.” After seeing wild imaginations and sheer chutzpah of design- an “insane” fashion event at the Vitale Brothers ers, artists, and models, the show has delighted warehouse in St. Pete in which Frank Strunk’s audiences since 2005 (minus pieces stole the show, she the pandemic years), and on spoke to board members Saturday WA celebrates its and then-CEO George Ann 20th anniversary. Bissett about doing a similar “There’s nothing like it event at DFAC. wearable ART 20: Platinum anywhere,” says Danny Olda, “Most of the people who
IN BLOOM: Wearable Art designers like Talia Craig have always gone beyond fashion. “It was unbelievable,” says Bissett. “We couldn’t stop the people coming. Everyone from a well-known local attorney with an oxygen bottle to kids in mohawks. I had one board member tell me, ‘George Ann, you must do something about this crowd!’ And I said, ‘Are you kidding me? This is wonderful!’ I had never seen so many people in this art center.” So many, in fact, that the fire marshal told them they’d have to start turning people away. There were no seats (though one was found for the gentleman with the oxygen tank), and the catwalk was so low that “half the people probably couldn’t see the show,” says Kaya. “But it didn’t matter. Everybody was saying, ‘I couldn’t see anything but it was great.’”
“It was a joyous event,” sums up Bissett. “It was just sort of thrown together, but it was magical because of the whole ensemble of Kaya and [then-marketing director] Ken Hannon and [then-curator] Catherine Bergmann and the artists and the community…. It just makes my heart beat very fast thinking about it.” In the second year, a better runway was procured that stretched from the atrium into the galleries, with tickets going for more than the original $10. By the fourth year, the event had grown so popular that it was moved to the much larger Dunedin Community Center, walking distance from the DFAC campus, where it will be held again this year. continued on page 31
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TWISTED METAL: It was a trip to a Frank Strunk III warehouse show that inspired ‘Wearable Art.’ continued from page 29 The six artists in Wearable Art 20 include both mainstays of the show and newcomers. The Bay to Bay Wearable Art Collective (better known in past years as The Garden Fairies), can always be depended upon for a blast of color and good cheer. This year, says Danny Olda, the group is showing “mythological goddesses who rise again as a futuristic forces collective.” Saretsky’s Kikimora Studio has shown some truly mind-boggling designs—performances, really—on the Dunedin runway, always a highlight of the show. “Her artwork feels very light-hearted,” says Olda, “but she takes her work very seriously.” Two artists who showed together in 2025 are presenting individually this year: botanical artist Talia Craig, who will be using living plants in her wearables, and Charity Grace, founder of Whimsy Forge, a fitness-positive community of crafters and creatives. The collective is doing “something post-apocalyptic about women regaining power,” says Olda. Expect Mad Max-inspired body armor and perhaps some of Grace’s “artistic bikinis.” Dawnamatrix (Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould) are first-timers on the DFAC runway, but they’ve won international acclaim for their work with latex, including awards for wearable technology. “They’ll put on a good show,” says Olda. And one more artist is a newcomer: Tampa native Chase Parker, who five years ago gave up his 19-year career as a hairstylist to pursue his artwork full-time. In his regular practice, he uses molds of models’ bodies to create metal sculptures and 3-D paintings in which figures
seem to be bursting from their frames. Using these techniques to make “wearable” garments out of metal is no easy task, but he’s loving it. “I feel like I’ve had so much pressure from people telling me how to make my art—a lot of commissions and corporate work. This is the first time in a long time I’m able to express myself freely—it’s 100% me from concept to creation.” In addition to these six artists, the runway show may also include appearances by designers who have shaped the event over the years. For Andrea Nalls, who joined DFAC as President & CEO in 2023, this year’s Wearable Art promises to be “a great celebration of our history.” One of her favorite parts of any WA show, she says, is “the moment when they honor the stylists and the makeup artists. I always adore the very end when everybody does a final walkout. It feels like a tribute to teamwork.” Which, of course, has been the case since that first crazy night in 2005. Former Curatorial Director Bergmann sums it up. “As one who was witness and later curator for most of the 20 years of Wearable Art, I can say it was an annual high energy blowout of collaborative JOY, devotion, vision, sweat, generosity of spirit and creative genius from the designers, stylists and production team (Salon GW + Production Source, Inc. were there from the beginning) and for DFAC’s staff and volunteers, an absolute labor of love.” PS: I’m joining in the Joy myself this year, as the Wearable Art 20 emcee. Fashion tips welcome. (I will not be wearing a metal corset.)
LOCAL ARTS
“This is the first time in a long time I’m able to express myself freely.”
ON VIEW NOW 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.
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.
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The Mermaid Star Motel at St. Petersburg’s FloridaRama (stylized “FloridaRAMA”) would be a nice place to just sit and read for a few hours. Bookworms might get away with it this weekend. For one day only, the warehouse district’s immersive art museum hosts a literary festival with close to three dozen authors doing talks every half hour, signing books and conducting meet-and-greets.
Tickets to LitFest happening Saturday, Aug. 22 at FloridaRAMA in St. Petersburg are still available for the price of admission ($19 &up). See even more events—including recurring art exhibits, markets and more— via our user-submitted events calendar and expanded things to do rundown at cltampa. com.—Ray Roa
ARTS
Art Conversation Remixed: Florida Artists Look at Art History Friday, Aug. 21. 11 a.m. No cover. Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Tampa Mega Water Lantern Food & Music Festival Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23. 12 p.m.; 5 p.m. Friday. No cover. Coachman Park, Clearwater. meganightmarket.com Drawn to Art: Renaissance Friday, Aug. 21. 11 a.m. Waitlist open. Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, Tampa Threads of Vision Fashion Night Saturday, Aug. 22. 6 p.m. $60 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com Viridian, Nightclub of the Multiverse Saturday, Aug. 22. 8 p.m. $25 & up. German American Society, Pinellas Park. clubviridian.com Wearable Art 20: Platinum Saturday, Aug. 22. 8 p.m. $40 & up. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org 3rd Annual Tommy Awards Sunday, Aug. 23. 6 p.m. $11.75. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey Paint and Wine at Aspirations Winery Shining Sunflower Sunday, Aug. 23. 2 p.m. $45. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater. aspirationswinery.com The Tampa Classic: Xbox 360 4v4 Lan Tournament Sunday, Aug. 23. 12 p.m. $40 to register. New World Brewery, Tampa Diamond Painting Monday, Aug. 24. 6 p.m. No cover. Tarpon Springs Public Library, Tarpon Springs. tarponlibrary.org K-Pop Photo Card Holders Decorating and Photocard Swap Monday, Aug. 24. 6 p.m. No cover. Temple Terrace Public Library, Temple Terrace Picture(Sque): Ellen Harvey Works, 1999-2025 On view Aug. 24-March 6, 2027. Free. USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa
JESI CASON
A press release says guests at the air-conditioned extravaganza can also shop from local artists and creative vendors, including The BookMobile, The Book Lounge, Zenna Henna, Bomi Art Studio, Art by Pena and more. Some of the featured authors at the six-hour festival include photographer Jesi Cason (whose “Alt-Tampa” portrait book debuted this year, pictured), Bill DeYoung (“Vintage St. Pete”), mystery writer Tamara Lush, and Paul Wilborn.
Art Conversation: Slow Looking with Florida Artists Tuesday, Aug. 25. 11 a.m. No cover. Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library, Tampa The Friendly City Foundation Art Club Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6 p.m. No cover. Oscura, Bradenton Junk Journaling - Mixed Media Paper Crafts Wednesday, Aug. 26. 10:30 a.m. No cover. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations On view through Jan. 3. Museum admission $12$24. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org Surreal Summer Nights Thursday, Aug. 20. 5 p.m. No cover with admission. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.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 Dalí In America Through Sunday, Oct. 18. 10 a.m. $32 & up. Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
BOOKISH
Book Discussion: ‘Atmosphere’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid Thursday, Aug. 20. 4 p.m. No cover with registration. Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, Tampa Book Discussion: ‘The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau’ by Kristin Harmel Thursday, Aug. 20. 11 a.m. No cover. Seffner-Mango Branch Library, Seffner Conversation With Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Thursday, Aug. 20. 6 p.m. $15. Ersula’s History Shop, Tampa. ersulashistoryshop.com Madeline Martin and Sarah Penner (‘A Time of Witches’ book talk) Saturday, Aug. 22. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Oxford Exchange, Tampa Maria Fox (book signing) Saturday, Aug. 22. 12 p.m. No cover with RSVP. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com We Are Pan - An Evening with Andre Frattino Monday, Aug. 24. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com Beronda Montgomery (virtual author talk) Tuesday, Aug. 25. 2 p.m. No cover with registration. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin ‘Eddie Winston is Looking for Love’ by Marianne Cronin (book discussion) Tuesday, Aug. 25. 4 p.m. No cover. Charles J. Fendig Public Library, Tampa Mini Bookshelf Bar Night Tuesday, Aug. 25. 6:30 p.m. $25. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com ‘The Open Door’ by Matt Lettellier (book signing and launch) Tuesday, Aug. 25. 5 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com ‘When Trees Testify: Reclaiming America’s Black Botanical Legacy’ by Beronda Montgomery (virtual author talk) Tuesday, Aug. 25. 2 p.m. No cover with registration. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor
‘The Book of Murmurs’ by Candice Purwin (graphic novel book club) Wednesday, Aug. 26. 7 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview ‘Culpability’ by Bruce Holsinger (book discussion) Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6 p.m. Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Tampa ‘In Every Possible Way’ by Alicia Thompson (book club and discussion led by author) Wednesday, Aug. 26. 6 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com Lunchtime Book Club: Good People Wednesday, Aug. 26. 11:30 a.m. $12.28. The Library, St. Petersburg. thelibrarystpete.com ‘The Wedding People’ by Alison Espach (book discussion) Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 26-27. 6 p.m. Wednesday; 3 p.m. Thursday. No cover. Brandon Regional Library, Brandon Writer’s Happy Hour Tuesdays. 4 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
COMEDY
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 Fool’s Night with Robert Ebeid and Mandy Keen Friday, Aug. 21. 7:30 p.m. $20 & up. The Commodore, Ybor City Ian Bagg Multiple times Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Ron Taylor Multiple times FridaySaturday, Aug. 21-22. $27. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Solo Jones Saturday, Aug. 22. 10:30 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Caitlin Peluffo Sunday, Aug. 23. 6 p.m. $29 & up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Zach Mama Sunday, Aug. 23. 6 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Graeson McGaha Wednesday, Aug. 24. 7 p.m. $27 & up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa DJ Demers Wednesday, Aug. 26. 7:30 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Character Night Thursday, Aug. 27. 8:30 p.m. $10. The Commodore, Ybor City. crowdwork.com Nick Mullen Thursday, Aug. 27. 7 p.m. $35 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
FILM & TV
First Frames (documentary screening) Thursday, Aug. 20. 5:30 p.m. $12 suggested donation. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org The Nice Guys Thursday, Aug. 20. Multiple times. $5.35. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor Creed III Saturday, Aug. 22. 3 p.m. No cover. Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Tampa Labyrinth Saturday, Aug. 22. Multiple times. $5.35. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor Zootopia 2 Saturday, Aug. 22. 2 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview Dirty Dancing Sunday, Aug. 23. Multiple times. $5.35. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor Wicked (sing-along) Sunday, Aug. 23. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Sparkman Wharf, Tampa. tampatheatre.org The Mummy (Pizza and a movie) Monday, Aug. 24. 4:30 p.m. No cover with registration. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor The Big Year Tuesday, Aug. 25. 2 p.m. No cover with registration. Community Meeting Room at Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin
continued on page 33
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Out and about: Events happening in Tampa Bay (cont'd) continued from page 35 The Wedding Singer (cinema supper experience) Multiple times TuesdayWednesday, Aug. 25-26. Sold out. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor Accepted Wednesday, Aug. 26. 8 p.m. No cover. Lower Deck, Tampa Labyrinth Thursday, Aug. 27. 6:15 p.m. No cover. John F. Germany Public Library, Tampa The Super Mario Bros. Movie Thursday, Aug. 27. 3 p.m. No cover. Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, Valrico
LEARN
Medicare 101 Thursday, Aug. 20. 1 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org Craft an Oddish: Stained Glass Beginner Workshop Friday, Aug. 21. 12 p.m. $45. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com Ignite! (Kids science festival) Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 a.m. No cover. Great Explorations Children’s Museum, Tampa. greatex.org Woven Paper Baskets with Lisa Ramudo Saturday, Aug. 22. 1 p.m. $60. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanarts Beronda center.org Trauma-Informed Support for Holocaust Survivors Monday, Aug. 24. 12 p.m. $20. Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg. thefhm.org Leah’s Pantry: Food Smarts with Feeding Tampa Bay Tuesday, Aug. 25. 3:30 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview Global Summit on Space Sciences and Aerospace Engineering (watch party) Wednesday, Aug. 26. 9 a.m. No cover. John F. Germany Public Library, Tampa Hype Networking Event Wednesday, Aug. 26. 5:30 p.m. $12.51. Hotel Flor, Tampa. hypetampabay.com Florida Friendly Landscaping: Attract Wildlife Thursday, Aug. 27. 1 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview
NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Gary Hartfield for Mayor of Tampa: Campaign Kickoff Thursday, Aug. 20. 6-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP). Location provided upon RSVP at garyfortampamayor.com/ kickoff, Tampa 17th Annual Inspire Awards Thursday, Aug. 20. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $30 & up (under 16 free with registration). Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo Tampa Tiger Bay Club: Hillsborough County Commission Candidate Forum Friday, Aug. 21. 12 p.m. $35 & up. Cuban Club, Ybor City Smart Healthy Living Health Fair & Seminar Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover. Magnolia Auditorium at Five Towns, St. Petersburg Welcome to Brandon Mixer Friday, Aug. 21. 6-8 p.m. No cover. 1916 Irish Pub, Brandon
MARKETS & RETAIL
Indoor Sip & Shop: Local Artist & Craft Market Saturday, Aug. 22. 11 a.m. No cover. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater Seed + Plant + Book Swap Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 a.m. No cover. Rosebud Continuum, Land O’ Lakes. rosebudcontinuum.net
PRIDE
Drag Queen Bingo with Crystal Reigns Every final Wednesday. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Tampa
SPORTS
Tampa Bay Sun Foundation Free Youth Soccer Clinics Various dates Aug. 7-Spring 2027. Free. Multiple locations across Tampa Bay Tampa Tarpons vs. Daytona Tortugas Multiple times Tuesday-Sunday, Aug. 18-23. $2.25 & up. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa Fan Girl Football Championship Draft Weekend Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday. $87 & up. Aloft Midtown, Tampa. fangirlfootball.com PFL Women’s Featherweight World Champion Cris Cyborg Saturday, Aug. 22. 6 p.m. $40.65 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Springboks vs All Blacks (rugby watch party) Saturday, Aug. 22. 9 a.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs (preseason) Saturday, Aug. 22. 7:30 p.m. $30.50 & up. Raymond James Stadium, 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 R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 22 & 23. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $5; no cover for members. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Kasondra Rose’s ‘Not So Starving Artist’ Saturday-Monday, Aug. 22-24. 7 p.m.; 2 p.m. Saturday. $14.40. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
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Scan for Tickets
“That was at the height of our game…”
THAT’S GOOD: (L-R) Gerald Casale (far left) with Devo at Eventim Apollo in London, England on Aug. 19, 2023.
Beautiful world
Devo’s Gerald Casale talks Tampa fronton gig, more, before Clearwater debut. By Gabe Echazabal
I
f you would have asked me what my favorite The B-52s, Devo is hitting the road for a stretch band was when I was 13 years old, I would of headline shows that includes their debut at have unequivocally answered immediately by Clearwater’s comfy BayCare Sound outdoor music saying it was a tie between Blondie and Devo. venue. I had the chance to speak to Devo co-founder Several (and I mean several) decades later, that Gerald Casale prior to the band’s visit to our area, answer hasn’t changed a whole lot. On a per- and, although it was difficult to contain the gushsonal level, Devo was like nothing else I’d ever ing fanboy inside of me who has worshipped Devo heard or seen before. I had since the day I bought my the great fortune of seeing “Whip It” 45 after scraping them at Tampa’s old Jai up enough allowance money, Alai Fronton in November I think I was able to keep Devo 1981, and it’s safe to say it my composure and mainNext Thursday, Aug. 27. 7 p.m. $102 & up was a pivotal, life chang- The BayCare Sound. 255 Drew St., Clearwater tain myself long enough to rutheckerdhall.com ing experience for me. Not have an interesting chat that I had many other live with Casale. concert performances under my belt to compare This Q&A has been edited for length and it to, but, damn, did that experience scramble clarity. See the full chat via cltampa.com/music. my teenage brain and set me on the course of loving live music as much as I still do. The first time I saw Devo was in 1981 here in And, luckily, the Akron, Ohio-based ground- Tampa, at the old Jai Alai Fronton, and I was very breaking band which released its brilliant debut young. album Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo in 1978 is That was at the height of our game, so I’m still at it. Fresh off a terrifically-crafted and wildly glad you caught us there because I remember successful co-headling tour with new wave giants that venue, which was very strange. That stage
INTERVIEW
and the hall itself …just the space! But we were at the height of what we did because we had full production. We had those treadmills, we had rear projection slides, we had films. It was, it was incredible. I mean, I loved what we were doing. What do you think it is about the music, or what do you think the appeal is for people who were not even born when some of those records came out? Well, because of a certain kernel of validity to what we did withstands the test of time. And what’s interesting is what you just said, which is we go out and when we do our festivals or headline gigs, we look out in an audience and, OK, some of them are there because they were there in the beginning and they’re still alive and with their kids, and then their kids’ kids and we’re seeing three generations of people, getting off on Devo, and it’s very interesting because those kids discovered us via YouTube and Vimeo, and whatever, and they’re mouthing the words and they’re dancing because I think, in their time, they’ve never seen or, heard, anything like Devo so it’s almost like an exciting novelty. They can’t believe these old guys are doing this. Can we expect any new Devo music anytime soon? I’m recording a lot of stuff right now and I’m trying to finish an album’s worth of songs. I did
RAPH_PH, CC BY 2.0/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
release my protest against our fearless leader. It’s called “Just Do It,” and it’s out there. And there’s a video for it. And, you know, I’m just so appalled at what’s going on. Devo still has a very, very voracious, diehard following. Does that surprise you? No, not at all. I think, because Devo was about something that was new and polarizing and thought provoking, that you had to invest something to be a Devo fan, and you got beat up if you were a Devo fan. So, way before Lady Gaga had her Little Monsters or ICP had Juggalos, or their crowd, [we had] The Beautiful Mutants, The Spuds. It was a cult, and it still is. I’ve heard rumors that this is going to be it; that this is a farewell tour. Is that so? Well, yes and no. You know, to be fair and to be honest, a farewell tour takes two or three years to go to all the markets who are interested in you, around the world to complete it. And we haven’t done that. We will continue, probably in the next year. We haven’t gone to South America. We haven’t gone to Spain, we haven’t gone to France. We haven’t gone to Italy. We haven’t gone to Austria. We haven’t gone to New Zealand. We haven’t gone to Australia or Japan. You know, there’s a lot of places to go.
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 37
THU AUGUST 20–SUN AUGUST 23
C CL Recommends
THU 20
C Meatwound w/Face Dancer/Future Forms/Headless State The door might blow off The Potion Portal. The arcade show features a rare appearance from Tampa hardcore band Meatwound, which is joined by two neighbors from the north: Duval County agrogrunge-rock trio Face Dancer and Gainesville sex-Mex venue destroyer Future Forms. 7 p.m. $16. The Potion Portal, St. Petersburg
FRI 21
Small Talks Mag Issue 002 Release Party: Treis Alexander w/Delaney Staack It’s not hyperbolic to say that an entire generation of music fans were brought to adulthood inside Crowbar. Bay area live music lovers of all ages can see just how much the now-shuttered Ybor City venue meant to Gen Z by picking up the latest issue of Small Talks music magazine. Launched a year ago, the pub is back with a second outing which is a 70-page, deeply personal obituary for the space. Complete with mixtapes, essays, reviews, photos, and collage, Small Talks Editor-In-Chief Emma Hintz and team have put together one hell of a farewell. “Crowbar is everything to me, I have met so many friends here, shared so many memories with my best friends here, became a better photographer here, its closing is so heartbreaking to me, it was my second home for a large portion of my life,” Hintz wrote, “and I will never ever forget it.” Crowbar co-founder Tom DeGeorge will be part of a discussion, in between sets by music from Treis Alexander and selector Delaney Staack. Florida jewelry maker Bite of Florida will be on site along with Vic from Baby Tats who is also an illustrator for the Sapphic Sun. 8 p.m. No cover. La Sétima Club, Ybor City
SAT 22
C Roosevelt Collier Dunedin Brewery has long been a place to see big names of the jam scene up-close and personal. The latest chance comes courtesy of a bonafide sacred steel demigod Roosevelt Collier who’ll bring a power trio featuring bassist Matt Lapham and drummer/vocalist Anthony Cole to the ticketed venue next door. The longtime Lee Boy spends most of his days leading the band for Jelly Roll, but sits front-and-center for what’s bound to be a barn-burner. 8 p.m. $25. Moon Tower at Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin C Tampa Beat Weekend: D.I.O. w/ Lil’Fancy/Reily Ilo/Cory Preston/more There aren’t many more curators tuned into the local scene better than Hmtwn.
38 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
This weekend, his Tampa Beat Weekend returns for one-day-only where Jersey-born, Tampa-based emcee D.I.O. (“Cold Hearted”) is on the bill alongside homegrown rappers Lil’ Fancy and Reily Ilo. Because this is Beatsnchill, there’s a producer battle and after soundtracked by Say! from Orlando. 7 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City
Delaney Staack
SUN 23
C Buddy Guy Last summer, Guy secured a new generation of fans during his appearance as an older Sammie Moore at the tail-end of “Sinners,” in which said protagonist—in true Buddy Guy form—was owning and performing at his own Chicago blues club. Director Ryan Coogler even admitted that he pitched the role to him one night at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, partially because his often-hermit-like uncle, who died in 2015, always made an exception to go out for the night whenever Guy came to town. “Let me put it to you like this: I’ve been going to this grocery store for 35 years,” Guy told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I went to check out at the counter with a box of salt and a loaf of bread, and the lady who’s been waiting on me for 35 years just looked up, threw up both her hands and started screaming. I said ‘I didn’t steal nothing,’ and she said ‘no, but you’re in a movie!’” It gave him a scare, but even if it takes playing an older version of a Michael B. Jordan character, Guy is more than happy to celebrate his 90th birthday year by passing down his beloved genre down to younger fans. Read our full interview with him via cltampa.com/music. 7:30 p.m. $79.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater—Josh Bradley C Tampa Jazz Club: Miles-Trane Centennial w/James Suggs & Jeremy Carter If they were still alive, Miles Davis and John Coltrane would’ve both turned 100 years old this year (May, and September, respectively). The jazz icons actually only lived for a combined 105 years, but left behind a world-changing body of work. Drummer Jean Balduc, bassist Alejandro Arenas, and pianist John O’Leary will play alongside trumpeter James Suggs and saxophonist Jeremy Carter who told WMNF’s “Jazz In the Night” show that they’ve been working with about 50 tunes that’ll be whittled down into the setlist for this tribute. “There’s so many great tunes on the repertoire,” Suggs said, giving a nod to the Steamin’ and Relaxin’ albums from Davis’ quintet. “We’re still filing it down. But yeah, all the classic prestige recordings.” 3 p.m. $10 & up; free HCC students/staff. Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough College Ybor, Ybor City The S.E.T. w/Bang Out/Losing Vision/ Xerocide/The Pennant When it started making waves early this year, Baltimore hardcore band The S.E.T. was getting listens for having Brady Ebert in the lineup. But the former Turnstile guitarist made some
EMMA HINTZ
By Ray Roa
disparaging comments about his former band and found himself kicked out of The S.E.T., too (Ebert’s trial for attempted murder is set for October). Now the band is touring behind a debut, Self Evident Truth, that includes contributions from the disgraced guitarist replaced by guitarist Miguel Cruz (Dark Entity). Homegrown Bangsgiving curator Bang Out plays support alongside Bradenton thrasher Losing Vision. And for chrissake please don't underage drink in the parking lot. There aren't that many venues left in this town. 5 p.m. $15. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa
Welcome to KNXVLL R&B Day Party There was a moment in time whenthe WLCM2KNXVLL party was the place to be. A lot’s changed since the party’s founding a decade ago, and the revival finds DK Knox & co. heading to north Tampa for throwdown where a lineup of heavy hitters starts spinning well before the sun goes down. Kentucky-born R&B songwriter MaKenzie (who counts incumbent St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch among her followers) plays a special set. 5 p.m. $20.97. Orpheum, Tampa See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
UPCOMING SHOWS & EVENTS
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ARCH ENEMY & THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
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SEPTEMBER 27
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YOUR SPORTS AND MUSIC DESTINATION 8-21: CROSSFIRE CREEK BAND (PARTY DECK) COMEDY NIGHT - 7 PM (UPPER DECK) LATIN NIGHT - 10 PM (UPPER DECK) 8-22: DOKKEN & LYNCH MOB (FERG'S PAVILION) DISASTERPIECE (PARTY DECK) 8-23: SCHOOL OF ROCK CONCERT (FERG'S BACKYARD) RED SUNDAY (FERG'S PAVILION) TONITE SHOW WITH CARRIE - 4 PM (PARTY DECK) 8-24: JORDYN & AUSTIN MUSIC (PARTY DECK) tix&info: www
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CONCERTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS: FERGSEVENTS.COM MENU, FOOD ORDERS AND NIGHTY MUSIC: FERGSSPORTSBAR.COM cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 39
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Tampa’s Hondo Rodeo includes a no-cover street festival, the ticketed rodeo, and live entertainment. Each stop also includes a series of concerts by country and rock acts like Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton. The Tampa edition of the Hondo Rodeo includes headlining sets by the world’s foremost buttrock band Nickelback, country dude Jason Aldean, and songwriter Cody Johnson. Johnson, 39, is actually a former bull-rider, while Aldean has been riding a wave of anti-Black Lives Matter protest energy since releasing “Try That In A Small Town.” That 2023 single finds the 49-year-old big-upping “good ol’ boys raised up right” while threatening folks protesting against police. Wait until he hears about the Republican-led Florida ballot initiative that could defund the police.
with “western space grunge” band Dexter & the Moonrocks, and The Red Clay Strays.
Other acts appearing at Raymond James Stadium include songwriter Jon Pardi along
Hamilton (opening for Ryan Castro) Saturday, Sept. 19. 8:30 p.m. $72.15 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll (The 70s) Tuesday, Nov. 10. 7 p.m. $50 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
The Haunt Thursday, Sept. 24. 7 p.m. $33.53. New World Music Hall, Tampa
Here Come The Mummies Saturday, Nov. 14. 7 p.m. $58 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Sex Mex Tuesday, Oct. 6. 7 p.m. $20.22. New World Music Hall, Tampa Haunt Me (opening for PIG) Friday, Oct. 9. 7 p.m. $35.06. Orpheum, Tampa Nini w/Seven Kingdoms Sunday, Oct. 11. 7 p.m. $31.24. Orpheum, Tampa The Four Horsemen 'The Only Album Quality Metallica Experience’ Thursday, Oct. 15. 6:30 p.m. $22.24. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg EsDeeKid Thursday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. $58.55. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg PeelingFlesh w/Gridiron/Final Resting Place/Two-Piece/Grounds For Assault Wednesday, Oct. 28. 6 p.m. $29.96. Orpheum, Tampa
AMPHITHEATRE WORLDWIDE
2026 POLLSTAR
Ticket prices for the Hondo Rodeo coming to Raymond James Stadium Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28 were not yet been announced when this went to press. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Ray Roa
Loe Shimmy Sunday, Sept. 27. 7 p.m. $50.41 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
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Minka Saturday, Nov. 14. 8 p.m. $22.06. New World Music Hall, Tampa The Faint w/Liquid Jesus DJs Saturday, Nov. 14. 8 p.m. $39.55 & up. Zodiac Live, Ybor City
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Silverstein & Story Of The Year w/ Stand Atlantic/Footballhead Sunday, Nov. 29. 6 p.m. $52.85. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Tyla Saturday, Dec. 5. 8 p.m. $52.40 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa Dark Star Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 5. 7 p.m. $39.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater The 4411 (opening for Ax and the Hatchetmen) Saturday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. $35.43 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Dead Poet Society x Honey Revenge w/ Hunny/Broadside Saturday, Oct. 31. 6 p.m. $43.71 & up. Orpheum, Tampa
Jodeci: 35th Anniversary Tour of Forever My Lady Sunday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. $89.70 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
The Phil Collins Story Friday, Nov. 6. 7 p.m. $51.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Third Day w/Zach Williams/Scout and the Saints Friday, April 9. 7 p.m. $?. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
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HAPPY HOUR IN THE BAR AREA: MONDAY-FRIDAY 5-7PM
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42 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
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Fostering is free: all supplies provided! Help cats and dogs get a break from the shelter Raise kittens and puppies in a safe home environment Earn 4 volunteer hours per day
44 | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | cltampabay.com
Hang on Snoopy By Dan Savage
I
’m a 47-year-old divorced dad. Nine months ago, I met a 26-year-old woman. Things have been great except for one thing: My girlfriend won’t give me access to her phone. When we met, I explained that I have trust issues due to the actions of my ex-wife (multiple infidelities, lies, gaslighting), and that I couldn’t be in a relationship with someone who hid things from me. After three months, I shared my phone’s passcode with her because I have nothing to hide. I expected her to do the same, but she said she wasn’t ready. At this stage we had already said “I love you” to each other and we were discussing moving in together and her first meeting with my kid. I don’t understand how she could be ready for those steps but not for the very first step I discussed with her when we met. I finally checked her phone using the passcode I’d watched her enter many times. I didn’t find evidence of cheating, but I did find a group chat with her friends where they discussed my wish to have her passcode. Her friends described me as “controlling” and urged her to break up with me. (One said I wasn’t attractive enough to be this controlling.) Not once did my girlfriend tell her friends why I needed to have access to her phone: my hugely traumatic divorce. She also never said that I had disclosed this as a condition of getting serious when we first met. I confronted her, and now she’s furious with me for invading her privacy. For my own part, I’m furious that she didn’t make any effort to defend me to her friends. She has threatened to end our relationship. All I wanted from her was the same degree of transparency I had already given her myself.—Privacy And Sexual Security
phone. That’s going to leave a mark. Given your history, PASS, you can ask your (next) girlfriend to be a little more considerate and, when you’re feeling insecure, to offer reassurance. You can also apologize to your (next) girlfriend in advance for the price she’s paying on account of your ex. But you can’t ask your girlfriend to sacrifice her privacy on the altar of your lying ex and/or your acrimonious divorce. That isn’t fair. And you certainly don’t get to violate her privacy and then demand that she defend you to her friends. P.S. I’ve been with my husband for longer than your soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend has been alive, PASS, and I don’t have his passcode, and he doesn’t have mine. Because we’re both entitled to some privacy—even from each other, even after all these years. And while I haven’t checked with him about this, I assume he sometimes complains about me to his friends, PASS, just as I complain about him to mine. While I don’t like to think about what he may have said to his friends, I am, in a weird way, grateful that his friends are there for him. Because if he didn’t have that outlet—if he didn’t have someone to vent to—we might not still be together. P.P.S. From the 20-year age gap to the assumption that making an unreasonable demand at the outset makes you the victim when that unreasonable demand isn’t met… it’s entirely possible this is a fake-ass-rage-bait question.
SAVAGE LOVE
I don’t wanna pour poison in your ear—I don’t wanna make you any more paranoid than you already are—but you do realize people managed to hide things from their partners (debts, affairs, second families) before smartphones came along, right? So, while having access to your (next) girlfriend’s phone might make it harder for her to cheat on you, it’s not gonna infidelity-proof your (next) relationship. People can have affairs without creating digital trails (affairs can be analogue), PASS, and they can keep a burner phone at work. And while you’re free to ask your (next) girlfriend to surrender her privacy because your (last) wife cheated on you, most women will—quite rightly— regard that demand as a red flag, and very few will forgive you and take you back (much less see you as the victim) if you violate their privacy the way you violated your current girlfriend’s privacy. I get it: Your ex-wife cheated on you, she lied to you about it for years, and made you feel like the crazy one for suspecting her. All the while, the evidence that you weren’t crazy was sitting on her
I’ve been married to my husband for 10 years. We’re both gay men in our early-30s, good sex life, and happily monogamous. (Monogamous gay couples do exist, Dan!) About a year ago my husband met a guy who is gay and single and a furry, an interest of my husband’s that I do not share. I’ve always made room for his interest in the furry scene—he attends furry events and parties on his own—and I’ve never worried he might be cheating on me. But the way my husband lights up around his new “friend” has me concerned. They recently took a weekend trip with some of my husband’s long-term platonic furry friends that I couldn’t attend. This bothered me, since it felt like my husband was introducing his new boyfriend to his friends. And since they got back, it does feel like something is different. My husband insists nothing happened and says I’m inventing drama and I’m being irrational and insists he’s just mentoring this boy. Even if that’s the case, I feel like this connection has crossed the line between a close friendship and the kind of emotional affair where someone is getting all their needs met outside of their marriage. I don’t want to become the crazy and controlling spouse who demands that his husband stop seeing a friend. But I also don’t want to wake up one day and realize our marriage slowly died because I
kept telling myself I was being irrational.—Feeling Understandably Restless P.S. We’re not on PrEP because we are monogamous. When we do have sex, it’s usually just JO and oral, but I do bottom for my husband once or twice a month. There’s so much smoke here that I think you’re entitled to check whether there’s actually a fire— which, in your case, FUR, means maybe taking a look at your husband’s phone. Snooping is always wrong, of course… except in cases where the person doing the snooping discovered something they had a right to know. Call it the Snoopers Paradox: snooping is only OK when the snooper finds out about something they had a right to know… which they could only find out by snooping… which is not OK. You and your husband have agreed to be monogamous, you’re not on PrEP, and presumably you don’t use condoms. That raises the stakes. Your husband can have close friends, furry or otherwise, but when a new friendship starts looking like a romantic relationship—weekend trips, private jokes, a perceptible shift—and your husband responds to your concerns by calling you irrational, I think you’re entitled to some answers. In your shoes, I would snoop. P.S. I get it, I get it: monogamous gay couples exist. But are you really the best messenger at the moment? I mean, it sounds like your monogamous relationship—or at the least the monogamous part of your relationship—may have blipped out of existence. Is it OK for your boyfriend to lie to you about hooking up with his ex? I’m a 32-year-old woman, boyfriend is 29, we’ve been together two years. He’s into bondage (sub) and I try but it doesn’t arouse me, which lowkey ruins it for him. He expressed interest in getting tied up by a professional rope top at an “event.” I said that would be fine, and he made plans to go to this “rope thing.” I assumed it was some kind of public shibari demo but when I asked him for details and whether I could join him, he got evasive. I snooped through his messages. I know that was wrong, but I discovered the person he’s going to get tied up by isn’t a professional. It’s his equally kinky fucking ex. And it’s not a “rope thing” (a public event), it’s a private play date. They’d actually been communicating for months. He’s furious that I violated his privacy, and I’m furious he lied to me about planning to have a sexual experience with his ex. He says he wasn’t going to cum with her (which I saw in his text messages), as if that makes this somehow not sexual. But I’ve seen what being tied up does to
him and even if he doesn’t get off, he’s going to be hard the whole time. The play date is canceled, he’s contrite, and he has acknowledged that what I did (snoop) isn’t as bad as what he was planning to do (cheat). I don’t want to break up with him, but I don’t know where we go from here either.—Boyfriend Omitted Necessary Details It should go without saying—but you asked me to say it, BOND, so I’m saying it—that it’s not OK for your boyfriend to lie to you about hooking up with his ex. That said, I can almost understand why your boyfriend was tempted to lie to you about this. (Understand ≠ excuse.) It’s hard out there for a straight male bondage bottom, BOND, thanks to a pronounced supply-and-demand problem where male bondage subs and female bondage tops are concerned. Finding a woman who’s 1. willing to tie him up for free and 2. genuinely into bondage (and not just going through the motions to please him) is hard, BOND, so he reached out to a known quantity, i.e. an ex with the desired skill set, and then laid down a boundary (no getting off) that allowed him to rationalize away the betrayal. None of this is OK—of course and again—and if your boyfriend had written to me before you caught him, BOND, I would’ve urged him to propose that the two of you meet up with his ex for a bondage session, one that was designed around sharing skills, not getting off. But he didn’t write to me. So, where do you go from here? If you don’t wanna break up with him, BOND, you’re gonna have to find a way to accommodate his need to be tied up by someone who knows what they’re doing and gets off on tying him up. Vanilla partners who are GGG are great, but exploring your kinks with someone who doesn’t share them makes some kinksters self-conscious. Seeing as your boyfriend was prepared to cheat to get tied up by someone whose freak matched his—and again: Not OK—you might want to create a carve-out that allows your boyfriend to have the occasional bondage session with someone (maybe not his ex) who is as into bondage as he is. But if you take him back and forbid him from doing this, he’ll most likely cheat on you again. So, pick your poison: an accommodation or a breakup. 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.
cltampabay.com | AUGUST 20-26, 2026 | 45
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46 The Centennial St. 117 D.C. denizen 48 Poisonous snakes 118 PLAYWRIGHT 50 Elton’s partner 120 M*A*S*H-ER 124 Philippine INSTRUCTIONS: In this 51 Compass pt. tribesman 52 Dog’s cousin puzzle, all 8-letter 125 L.A. judge in the 53 Latin deeds answers are noted news, 1995 54 Thatch dwelling personalities with 126 Gullible dog in 55 Computer 4-letter first and last Garfield keyboard key names (like MORT 127 MOVIE 56 Outfits SAHL). Clues to their PRODUCER 58 “Runaround” girl of identities are listed in 128 Quarterback song caps but in random Marino order. For example, the 59 Confines to a 129 “Boy!” sickbed answer to 1 Across may 130 Some poems 62 Women’s wear appear in any 8-letter 131 ACTOR daily? location in the puzzle 63 ISRAELI EXCEPT at 1 Across. DOWN SCHOLAR Use the crossing words 1 Impact sound 65 Hefty chunks of to get you started and 2 Nigerian native rock cross off the capitalized 3 Wt. units 69 Totaling job: abbr. clues as you discover 4 Scottish girls 70 Alfalfa’s amour where names go. 5 Make (a bull) safer 72 Seeped 6 Rhyme scheme 74 Concerning ACROSS 7 Nostrils 75 Fibber McGee’s 1 MADONNA 8 Picnic pest medium MARRIER 9 “The deal’s off” 9 First animal-rescue 77 ACTRESS IN 10 Butter substitute HAVANA guy 11 GENTLEMAN JIM 79 Bout settings 13 States, in the STAR 81 Film’s blueprint comics 12 Skater Sonja 83 Golfers’ org. 16 TV alien 13 Breastbones 19 MONTY PYTHON 84 “... that married 14 Millennium dear ___” MEMBER 15 Element in metal 20 Outdated, spelled in 85 E. Murphy’s old plating show an outdated way 16 NIXON LAWYER 88 Coop denizen 21 You, in France 17 “PUPPY LOVE” 89 Singer Pinza 22 Maude star SINGER 91 Buddies 23 VAMPIRE 18 Business card 92 Health haven CHRONICLER number 94 German songs 24 RUSSIAN-BORN 25 Takes a forbidden 96 Horse’s gait ACTRESS look 97 Aloe ___ 26 It holds your hat 28 Bank confiscation, 98 Singer Redding 27 “___ the first on briefly 99 JOSE JIMENEZ your block” 30 1970 film, The COMIC 28 Having more space Mind ___ Soames 29 Fargo director Joel 101 Like 130 Across 31 OLYMPIC 103 “He ___ the poor 31 Muslim noble, RUNNER from the sword” variantly 32 EX-TV COP (Job 5:15) 33 Home of the Mets 34 ___-truth 35 Eloi girl in The Time 105 Complain 36 Photographer 106 ___ bite Machine Diane (eat on the run) 37 Smoke passage 38 Business VIP 39 1986 sci-fi sequel 108 Lodge members 39 Seagoing 41 Jobs and Wozniak’s 110 Car damage affirmative 111 An ex-Supreme baby 113 Dry ___ (parched) 40 Crossed home 43 SINGER plate 45 Talks incessantly 115 Peter I was one
GANG OF FOURS By Merl Reagle
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Solution to Nut at the Opera I WO I R A N S E T A OB E S E P AGA N I N I COV I N A F A Z E D S T R I P P E R E L E K T R A F Y I NG O T E L L OYOUR F R I E ND S OD E A P E N I A OD E R P E A C E T HU A D A S T OWE D C A RME NCR I M I N A L S WH E Y A T NO OU T T EMP E S T OR A V I A P A N E OS S I A CH E SON A NN EGGS F A C E A U T O A I D A L O T O F C A NN E L L ON I N A P A C L I P O L D S FMS L EONOR A T Y N E ROS A A R E URN D E L T A I C B I P QU I T I MNO T A NNH A U S E R B U S CH S A Y Y E S B EG I N K E L A T H L E N A E NC RD A J E T R I G O L E T T OWA Y B Y M E N I NWH I T E CO A T S A S A B R I D E MO I R E S T E R EO S T R E S S E R A S N E R OW L S H A ND E ND
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42 Tied, as shoes 91 Atticus Finch portrayer 44 “___ pray ...” 93 Mt. St. Helens 47 Bullfight sound spew 49 Inexperienced 95 Cozy, book-lined boxer rooms 52 Madison’s st. 96 Back-comb 53 Of hearing 97 Despicable 54 FDR’s Park 57 Northern African 98 Went too far with 100 Wax colorer capital 102 Zellweger and 58 Gesturing G.I. Fleming 60 Reputed founder of San Francisco 104 “Ten Cents ___” 107 The Jungle Book 61 Worked at, as bear one’s trade 109 Tale 62 Tavern 112 Milk choice 63 Stole, for one 114 Dust Bowl fleer 64 Little drum 116 Knee neighbor 66 TV BATMAN 117 Fill with verbiage 67 GODFATHER 119 Greek letter COMPOSER 120 Ebony’s sister 68 French pronoun magazine 71 Hear ___ drop 121 Writer LeShan 73 Home of the 122 Entirely Ewings 123 Napoleon’s field 76 Earth hue marshal 78 “Isn’t It ___” 80 Some rtes. 82 Run new lines on a ship 84 Rowboat need PUZZLE FANS ! 85 Bridge coup For info on Merl's 86 EXODUS Sunday crossword AUTHOR anthologies, visit 87 CHINESE-BORN www.sunday ACTOR crosswords.com. 90 MR. SOCIALISM
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