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LOVE UNLEASHED 30 Days to Save More Lives This September, we’re coming together to raise critical funding to help more cats and dogs in need find safety, care, and a second chance – but we need your help! Thanks to generous donors, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your impact! Visit www.friendsofstrays.org/love-unleashed or scan the QR code to learn more and donate now.

LOVE SAVES LIVES. YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT WORK. cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 3

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Creative Loafing Tampa Bay accepts letters to the editors and op-ed pitches. Here’s one that hit the mailbag after the latest round of Tampa Bay Rays stadium news. We will not run your letter without permission. Email your submissions to rroa@cltampa.com for consideration.—Ray Roa Subject: Commissioner Hagan, Where Are Our Priorities? $796 Million for the Rays While Northwest Hillsborough Waits Commissioner Hagan and Members of the Hillsborough County Commission, I am going to start by saying something I probably should have said a long time ago. Three months ago, I contacted Commissioner Hagan about a dangerous curb here in Northwest Hillsborough County. Specifically at Gunn Hwy and Tarpon Springs Rd. I was concerned enough about it that I took the time to report it and ask for help. I got the usual response that he would forward the information to Public Works. They investigated and decided it was part of the agreement with the developer of a large estate built at the intersection. Even though its on a county road. This is a very dangerously placed piece of concrete protruding from the road in the wrong spot. Making entry onto Gunn Hwy even more dangerous than it already is. According to records, Commrs Hagan and Cepeda are aware of this danger. Yet it’s still there and no one can seem to take responsibility nor the initiative to correct it. So, Commissioner Hagan, I don’t expect much of a resolution this time either. I certainly don’t expect one of those nice little answers that sounds good but doesn’t actually fix anything. But I’m going to say what I have to say anyway. I am 85 years old. My family has lived on, farmed and worked the same piece of land in Northwest Hillsborough County for more than 100 years. I have watched this county change my whole life. I remember when there were groves, cow pastures, pine trees and open land where there are now houses, shopping centers and miles of concrete. And I have watched our roads get busier and more dangerous while we are continually told there isn’t enough money to fix the problems. Well, excuse me, but I have a hard time understanding that anymore. Because now this County Commission is preparing to commit $796 million plus interest in Hillsborough County money and resources toward a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. The final stadium agreement released August 21 puts the stadium project at approximately $2.361 billion. Hillsborough County’s share is $796 million plus interest and the City of Tampa’s share is $80 million, for a total local public contribution of $876 million plus interest. And before anybody starts telling us this is just “a tiny part” of a big private investment, let’s remember whose money and accrued interest it is. The County’s $796 million with interest includes: $360 million from the Community Investment Tax. $303 million from Tourist Development Tax revenues and reserves. $103 million in other county resources. $30 million in federal disaster-recovery money. That $360 million CIT money especially gets my attention. The County’s own records say the Community Investment Tax has helped pay for 115 road

6 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

projects, 70 intersection projects, 32 stormwater projects, 24 fire stations and 13 sidewalk projects, among other things. So please don’t tell the people of Odessa/ Keystone that there is no money…again. There obviously is money. There is $796 million for a baseball stadium. Apparently there just isn’t enough money for everything else. And that is where I have a real problem. For years, people in Northwest Hillsborough have been trying to get attention paid to the roads around here. Tarpon Springs Road and Patterson Road is one of those places. People out here have been asking about the safety of that intersection for years. According to public works, there has been an approved light for that intersection for decades. There have been wrecks and close calls, and people have been asking for basic safety improvements. Just last week, I was stuck in standstill traffic for over an hour less than a mile from my home. All from another wreck at Boyscout Rd and Tarpon Springs Rd. According to local deputies, it’s another “death trap”out here. There’s not even a shoulder to reroute traffic on. We keep hearing about money. We keep hearing about priorities. We keep hearing that these things have to wait. But now we have hundreds of millions of dollars being put on the table for a baseball stadium. You can understand why people are angry. And this isn’t just something I have read about in the newspaper. My own granddaughter was almost killed at Gunn Highway and Wayne Road about a year ago while she was leaving the library. 3 cars were totaled. Including her’s. Everyone survived, thank God. But that accident scared her so badly that she has told me she doesn’t want to drive anymore. My grandson was also involved in a crash on Gunn Hwy that could’ve been avoided with a safer road. He was injured in that crash. And then there is what happened to former Commissioner and current County Clerk of the Court Victor Crist on Gunn Highway. He was involved in a serious crash there and was in intensive care. He was so badly injured. Maybe some people can look at these things as just accidents. I can’t. When you have lived here as long as I have, you know that roads don’t stay safe just because somebody puts a speed limit sign up. Roads have to be planned for the amount of traffic they are carrying. Intersections have to be looked at. Lighting matters. Curbs matter. Drainage matters. Visibility matters. Then revisions need to be made in a timely manner.

And when people keep bringing these things to the County and keep being told there isn’t enough money, they have every right to ask why there suddenly seems to be plenty of money for a professional baseball stadium. Commissioner Hagan, you have been sitting on that Commission for a very long time. Since 2002, 24 years. In what is essentially a part time job. You have been around long enough to remember what happened with Jim Norman and the ethics problems surrounding him. You might even remember what happened to the other career commissioners from the 80’s who went to prison for their own pay to play records. You were also around for the history of this county’s deals with professional sports and publicly financed stadiums. You know better than most people that once the taxpayers get involved, these deals don’t just disappear after the ribbon cutting. And I haven’t forgotten your own ethics issues either. In 2014, you admitted that you failed to properly disclose financial assets on your required financial disclosure forms for over a decade and agreed to pay a paltry $2,000 fine. If I don’t report my income as required by a government entity, I’m certain I’d get treated far differently than that. I’m not bringing that up because I think it automatically means you should vote one way or another. I’m bringing it up because trust matters. When you’re asking taxpayers to trust you with $796 million plus interest, you don’t get to be offended when they ask questions. And I don’t appreciate being ignored and rerouted into oblivion when I raise a safety problem and then expected to sit quietly while the County finds hundreds of millions of dollars for a stadium. I’m sorry, but I’m too old for that. I’ve lived here too long. I’ve paid taxes here too long. I’ve watched too much change here to sit quietly now. I am not against baseball. I am not against the Rays. I am against the idea that a baseball team gets a check for hundreds of millions of dollars while ordinary people are told to wait for safe roads and basic infrastructure. If you want my support for this stadium deal, then answer some simple questions. Why is $796 million plus interest available for the stadium? Why is $360 million of the Community Investment Tax being committed to it when the County itself says that tax has to be used for roads and intersections? What happens to the road projects that were already waiting? What happens to the intersections and eroding roads that need immediate attention?

What happens to the people who live out here and have been told there isn’t enough money? And most importantly: Why does a professional sports franchise get this kind of urgency when the safety of the people who already live here apparently does not? I don’t want another speech about economic development. I don’t want another speech about how wonderful this project will be. I don’t want to hear that it is going to create jobs or bring visitors to Tampa. Tell that to the grandmother whose granddaughter’s car was totaled at an intersection that she already knew was dangerous. Tell that to the people who have been asking for improvements on Gunn Hwy, Tarpon Springs Road, Race Track Rd and Patterson Road and all of the roads in Odessa/Keystone proper. Tell that to the person who reported a dangerous curb three months ago and couldn’t even get a resolution from her commissioner of 24 years. That’s what this vote is really about. It’s about priorities. And on the day you vote, I hope every Commissioner remembers that $796 million plus interest is not Monopoly money. It belongs to the people of Hillsborough County. We don’t own the Rays. We don’t get their profits. We don’t get a piece of the team. But we are being asked to put up hundreds of millions of our public resources for their new home. I’ve lived out here longer than you’ve all been alive. I’ve watched this county grow from a place where everybody knew their neighbors into the enormous county it is today. I don’t expect things to stay the way they were when I was a girl. But I do expect the people running this county to remember who they work for. We are not asking for a baseball stadium. We are asking for safe roads. We are asking for safe intersections. We are asking for basic infrastructure. We are asking you to listen when your constituents call. And we are asking you to spend our money like it matters. Because it does. I am sending this to the local newspapers, television stations, reporters, investigative journalists and independent media around the state. People deserve to know what this Commission is doing with their money and how real, average everyday stakeholders feel. And when you vote, Commissioner Hagan, I hope you remember that some of us have been here a lot longer than the Rays have. We aren’t going anywhere. And neither are we going to stop asking questions. A lifelong Hillsborough County taxpayer, still residing on over 100yr old family land.—Linda Martin

LAST WEEKEND ON VIEW NOW THROUGH AUGUST 30

Babs Reingold, After Venus No. 7 (detail), 1991, Oil, collage, canvas, modeling paste, linen, encaustic on panel.

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 7

Everlasting love Photos by Yvonne Gougelet

nce again, a ticket to Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Wearable Art show was hard to find. For the last 20 years, the Pinellas institution has totally blurred the lines between fashion and art, leaning hard into the latter to push the boundaries of what the human body can achieve when it becomes a canvas. At year another sold-out installation last Saturday, DFAC welcomed lucky ticketholders as they marveled over looks from Wearable Art mainstays (like Olga Saretsky of Kikimora Studio) and newcomers like Tampa native Chase Parker, who five years ago gave up his 19-year career as a hairstylist to pursue his artwork full-time. Visit cltampa.com/arts to see every look from Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Wearable Art 20.—Ray Roa

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from Aug. 27 - Sept. 03. See more on pp. 37, 45, 48 & 57 Soak it in

Film is back so Coastal Film Lab of Tampa and Central Florida Photo Club have partnered up to bring fans of analog photography an excuse to blow through a roll of film in one day. The morning meetup starts at Craig Park on Spring Bayou, where the Greek Orthodox Church has staged a winter Epiphany cross dive for the last 120 years. The trek will then take shutterbugs one mile to the world-famous Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks on Anclote River, one of the most picturesque places on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Attendees can then break out on their own for lunch before the walk regroups and takes another mile-long walk to Replay Amusement Museum which is home to vintage arcade games and pinball machines. Coastal Film Lab owner Stephen Zane has staged photowalks before, but told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that this time his shop jumped onto an already-planned photowalk organized by Central Florida Photo Club founder James Huffstutler.

Tarpon Springs Photowalk Sunday, Aug. 30. 10 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Craig Park, 100 Library Ln., Tarpon Springs. coastalfilmlab.com

—Leif Helland MICHAEL NIELSEN/VISIT ST. PETE-CLEARWATER

Easy breezy

It’s true that forecasters agree Florida can now expect a “well below-normal” hurricane season (it lasts through Nov. 30). That shouldn’t keep you from being ready, especially since all it takes is one hurricane to upend your life (ask the New Yorkers who left after 2024, or the folks who stuck around and are still rebuilding, about that). The City of Tampa is doing its part to prep residents this weekend by bringing together emergency management pros, public safety officials and community organizers who’ll help locals prep for storms, protect life during one, then recover when the weather clears. The event will cover all that, plus evacuation routes, planning and more. 29. 10 a.m.-noon. No cover. Forest Hills Park Community Center, 724 W 109th Ave., Tampa. tampa.gov—Ray Roa

MOREANARTSCENTER/FACEBOOK

Get Ready Stay Ready—Hurricane Preparedness Event: Saturday, Aug.

Cake off

Sometimes, you need to spend a few hours pounding mini-cupcakes, for art’s sake of course. The Morean Center for Clay gives Tampa Bay a chance to do just that when it welcomes bakers—from youth, to newbies, pros and specialty cupcake makers—for a bake off that hopes to crown St. Petersburg’s most artistic cupcakes. It all starts when attendees reserve a 12-count box of cupcakes ($20-$25, and they pretty much sell out before doors even open), then head to the 22nd Street venue where boxes get filled. Awards are given out in multiple categories, and attendees vote for a people’s choice winner announced at 3 p.m.

15th Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest: Saturday, Aug. 29. Noon-3 p.m. $20 & up. Morean Center for Clay, 420 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org—Ray Roa DAVE DECKER

12 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

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Comedy is supposed to be the last bastion of free speech, but the culture of Austin, Texas’ Comedy Mothership has unfortunately passed the mic to mediocre comics who’d rather juice the algorithm than actually work on writing smart jokes. This show might be an antidote. Billed as a safe space to tell dark jokes, the comedy deviants coming to Ybor Heights promise to “stand up, raise hell, and never punch down.” Five comics, including Jerod Walker (co-host of the “Something Planet” podcast with John H. Murray), the charming Jeremy Lamont, Unholy Comedy co-founder Lauren Gray, journalist Virginia Pelley, and Michael Murillo, who’s been writing about comedy for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay since 2009.

Comedy Deviants—An Alt Stand Up Comedy Show: Saturday, Aug. 29. 8 p.m. $10-$15. Deviant Libation, 3800 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. deviantlibation.com

—Ray Roa

Bust a move

Elected officials in the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County can really boogie when it comes to finding ways to give taxpayer money to billionaire baseball team owners—but they seem to have trouble bringing that same energy to the Bay area’s transportation puzzle. Was it always this way? On his podcast, “Tampa Bay Developer,” Garrett Greco has discussed that very topic with a variety of local luminaries, from transportation activists, to highway planners and even historians. The 34-year-old, fifth-generation Tampeño (he uses Tampanian) will get to tell voters his take on transportation as he runs for city council, but this free chat is a chance to watch him moderate “a conversation about the ways people have traveled through Tampa, from streetcars and highways to buses, bikes, boats and beyond.” Pictured is a ferry moving through downtown Tampa c. 1922—we’ve evolved from these days, right?

Florida Conversations—How Tampa Moves Wednesday, Sept. 2. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org—Ray Roa All eyes on Z

Since its publication nearly 90 years ago, Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” has faced opposition. It’s still the ire of parents who’ve pushed for its ban in counties across the U.S. and Florida. More than a Black feminist classic, the 1937 work is simply human and tells the story of a voiceless girl trying to forge a path for herself—with a stop in the Everglades along the way. Book club members will discuss the book written in just seven weeks, and how “Hurston’s use of regional dialect, folklore and interior reflection helped reshape American literature…”

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Black History Book Club—’Their Eyes Were Watching God’: Monday, Aug. 31. 5 p.m. No cover. Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Avenue, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org—Ray Roa

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POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

School’s in

In runoff for Hillsborough school board, Daniela Simic will face Brittany Lyssy. By Ray Roa

DAVE DECKER

or now, Hillsborough County’s School Board State legislators, she said, are busy preemptraces are non-partisan. Party lines may play ing what local school boards can do. “That’s why into voters’ decision-making this fall when I decided to run for school board, to be that last it comes to the school board’s District 2 seat. line of defense before it hits our teachers in our Daniela Simic earned 39% of the vote in last district and our kids,” she added. Tuesday’s election while Brittany Lyssy got 37%. In March, Simic and other school board The showing was good enough to earn both a members were asked about a bill that would ask spot in the runoff which wraps on Election Day, voters if Hillsborough superintendent should be Tuesday, Nov. 3. an elected position rather than one appointed Simic is a registered Democrat while Lyssy by the school board. Simic disagreed with the idea. is the former president of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans. “You need someone who understands what Lyssy, a graduate of Stetson University it’s like to go through that, to be an educator, College of Law and member of the Florida Bar, to be a school leader, to be a district leader. And reported nearly $77,760 in contributions for having a politician – someone that may not her school board race. Simic had $47,748.47 have experienced that – would likely not be a while the third-place finisher in the race, Chris good decision for the school district,” Simic told Taylor, reported $62,230. Tampa Tiger Bay Club. Reached by phone last Wednesday afterThat sentiment was shared by every other noon, Simic—who’s been an educator for 25 candidate at the March forum, which Lyssy did years including time as not attend. Divya Kumar a county assistant superreports that Lyssy, who intendent—stayed on the has three young sons, sup2026 General Election message she’s shared ports the amendment that Voter registration deadline: Oct. 5 since filing in February. will ask voters to make Early voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 “I have spent my entire Hillsborough’s superintenvotehillsborough.gov life in the field of educadent an elected position. tion,” she told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Lyssy could not initially be reached for commentioning her work across the state from Miami ment on that issue and another one that plagued to Duval County where she’s navigated budgets her candidacy. for both government and for-profit entities. Election paperwork filed by Lyssy shows Heavily involved in the education of a her registered to vote at a 684-square-foot 10-year-old that attends Hillsborough public downtown Tampa apartment registered to her school, Simic said that her son has access to husband, Douglas Lyssy. He is registered to so many resources, which was not the case in vote as an NPA in Manatee County where one many of the schools she worked in. She is the vice of his Longboat Key properties is homesteaded, president of advocacy at her son’s PTA, teach- according to the tax collector’s office. ing parents to advocate for themselves, but told A 2022 wedding announcement said, “Doug CL that the concept of “parental choice” often and Brittany intend to remain full time residents leaves out an important population. of the island and look forward to many more cel“There are so many kids in our schools who ebrations with the Longboat Key community.” have no one advocating for them, who were The couple has its name on another Manatee not born into a life of privilege, who do not County property just two miles away. have support systems in place, and the only An unbylined July story in the Observer says place, the only hope for them, is their schools, Lyssy and Doug are raising their three sons in and that’s what public school is supposed to Hillsborough County. be about,” Simic added. “It’s supposed to be Simic didn’t directly address the subject of giving every child that chance at being suc- where Lyssy might live, instead going back to her cessful in life.” campaign stump speech about boosting public

ELECTIONS

D FOR DANIELA: Daniela Simic (L) is not looking at her race through a partisan lens. schools, increasing teacher retention and pay, dealing with enrollment issues and expanding children’s access to a great education. “I really don’t think the things that I say are on the right or on the left. I think that they are common sense. I think that anybody who cares about schools, anybody who cares about kids, just cares about kids in general, would agree with the things I’m saying,” Simic said. “I don’t think it’s a Republican thing. I don’t think it’s a Democrat thing. It’s just a human thing.” In an emailed response to CL, Lyssy said that she’s lived full-time in District 2 since September 2024. She added that her residency was verified before she started serving on the City of Tampa Citizens Advisory Budget and Finance Committee in early-2025. Her husband, Lyssy said, is registered to vote in Manatee County and owns the properties mentioned in the story. One, she added, was

rendered uninhabitable after Hurricane Helene and has been demolished. “Like many Florida families affected by the hurricanes, we have continued to deal with the legal and practical issues surrounding that property long after the storm,” Lyssy wrote. “His voter registration and ownership of that property, however, do not determine my residence.” The destruction and demolition of that home was part of her decision to live in Hillsborough County full time. “To be clear, any suggestion that I do not currently reside in Hillsborough County or School Board District 2 is patently false,” she added. In the race for Hillsborough school board’s District 6 seat, incumbent Karen Perez, who earned 48% of the vote and nearly avoided a runoff, will face Kenneth “Ken” Gay (27%) who worked in public education for 39 years before retiring in 2022.

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DAVE DECKER

BOARD MEETING: Gwen Myers (L) and Aileen Rodriguez (center) at C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library in Tampa, Florida on July 9, 2026.

Down ballot

More results from county commission and state house races. By Ray Roa

oters face a huge decision about Hillsborough County’s future this fall, and we now know the politicians that’ll be trying to get their point across. Aileen Rodriguez and incumbent Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers won their Democratic primaries last Tuesday night by earning 62% and 69% of the vote, respectively. Rodriguez, a Republican-turned-Democrat will face right-wing incumbent Commissioner Joshua Wostal in District 7; Myers, currently serving her second term on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), will face Republican Luiz Garcia in the general. In a statement, Rodriguez thanked voters for their trust and mentioned the “a sun up to sundown work ethic” she learned growing up on a farm. “I brought that same tireless energy to this primary campaign, and in November, I will bring it to the County Commission,” she added. “I will fight relentlessly to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth, our natural beauty is preserved, and our county services have the resources they need to keep every zip code safe and prosperous.”

In the BOCC’s District 5 race, Republican Stacy Hahn defeated incumbent Donna Cameron Cepeda, who once proposed eliminating Sunshine law for Hillsborough County commissioners. Hahn will face Dr. Neil Manimala in the general election, which wraps on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 3. In Pinellas, incumbent county commissioner Dave Eggers was re-elected to his District 4 seat by earning roughly 80% of the vote. La Gaceta: Luis Salazar upsets Mike Suarez in ‘good ole West Tampa brawl’ for state house nomination The local election was a rejection of candidates who were trying to restart their political careers. Cindy Stuart, Mike Suarez, Wengay Newton and Sally Harris Williamson were all trying to come back after previous election losses. All failed. Stuart, who lost the clerk of court race in 2024, lost to Aileen Rodriguez in a big way in the Democratic primary for County Commission District 7 — 62.35% to 37.65%. Rodriguez worked longer and harder than Stuart.

Former City Councilman Mike Suarez was term. She tried three times to win a second the favorite in the Democratic primary for State term and failed. House District 64. He had previously lost in a mayThis time, the race was between incumbent oral race in 2019 and a City Council race in 2023. Karen Perez with 48.27% of the vote, Kenneth This time, despite having more name rec- “Ken” Gay with 27.23% and Harris with ognition, more money than his opponents and 24.50%. Perez and Gay will go to a runoff. The support from the insurance industry, he lost race is nonpartisan, but Perez is a Democrat again. Luis Salazar was the upset winner. He and Harris and Gay are Republicans. Perez walked every neighborhood in the district and won West Hillsborough County, Tampa and got support from the Realtors, the Hillsborough the West half of east Hillsborough County. Society, La Gaceta and maybe even the trial Gay won the east edge of the county. lawyers. There was only one John Rodriguez candidate who broke the placed third. This race losing trend of people got nasty. It was a good trying to restart their 2026 General Election ole West Tampa brawl. political careers. Voter registration deadline: Oct. 5 Salazar — 44.75%, Suarez Kimberly Overman Early voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 votehillsborough.gov — 35.64%, Rodriguez won the Democratic — 19.60%. primary for Congress Dan Weldon won the Republican primary over District 12 with 52.65% of the vote compared Angel Ramos and will face Salazar in November. to 47.35% for Darren McAuley. In the universal primary for State McAuley had more money than Overman Representative District 62, it was Democrat and won the Pasco part of the district by a very Wengay “Newt” Newton against Democrat narrow margin, but Overman’s name recogKyandra Darling. Newton, who was a onetime nition gave her a larger margin of victory in state representative, had lost in four races before Hillsborough County. this one. It’s now five. Darling got to 65.3% and McAuley had a big payroll of consultants from Newt received 34.62%. Darling won Pinellas and out of town. They didn’t run a good race. Overman Hillsborough County, but she pulled 72.01% on will face incumbent Congressman Gus Bilirakis this side of the bay. in November.—Patrick Manteiga/La Gaceta Sally Harris Williamson was first elected This story first appeared in La Gaceta. Read to the School Board in 2014 and served one more when you buy a paper.

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Moving on

Democrats Overman, Kirschner and Gray win congressional primaries. By Leif Helland

lorida held its primary election yesterday, politicians are not listening. That Luna is not and here are the candidates from around focused on the people in this community.” Tampa Bay who will advance to the general Kathy Castor District 14 Incumbent Rep. election on Nov. 3. In District 12, Kimberly Castor, who has represented District 14 for 20 Overman won 52.7% of the vote, while her years, went uncontested. Mike Beltran won the opponent, Darren McAuley, trailed with 47.4%. Republican primary, earning 45.6% of the vote, Overman will run against Republican incum- which was good enough to beat Kevin M. Steele bent Gus Bilirakis, who ran uncontested for his (30.2%) who recently resigned from the state house primary. District 12 includes Pasco and a portion while facing scrutiny over his residency. Selfof Hillsborough County. described “MAGA Mike” In a victory speech last wants to unseat “career Tuesday, Overman said politician” Castor with his 2026 General Election Bilirakis represents the platform supporting 100%

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Washington status quo. of Trump’s policies. CD14 Voter registration deadline: Oct, 5 Early voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 “This race is about is a newly redrawn district votehillsborough.gov sending a leader to and presents Castor with Washington who will put Floridians first,” the biggest challenge of her career. said Overman while speaking to a crowd at Robert People District 15 People won New World Tampa. “It’s also about a big tent his primary with 53.7% of the vote against that welcomes Independents and unaffiliated Christopher Irizarry who earned 46.4% of the voters, and Republicans into our cause, and vote. District 15 covers a portion of Citrus, those who are sick and tired of politics as usual.” Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Here are the other People will face incumbent candidates from around Republican Laurel Lee. Tampa Bay who will Kelly Kirschner advance to the general District 16 Kirschner election on Nov. 3. won the primary seat Leela Gray District with a landslide of 43% 13 In CD 13, Gray earned of the vote. Kirschner 65% of the vote. Her oppofaced off against Tamika nents, teacher Brandt Robinson, received only Lyles 19.9%, Jan Schneider 15.4%, Jon Harris 26.4% while activist John Liccione got 8.6%. 12.5% and Glenn Pearson 9.2%. The incumbent Gray will face incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Republican Vern Buchanan is retiring after 20 Luna, who ran uncontested. District 13 covers years in his district. This opened the primary a majority of Pinellas County and partially cov- for Republicans with Sydney Gruters—wife of ers Pasco County. Trump-backed Florida state senator and RNC “These vibrant people that care about our chairman Joe Gruters—winning with 63.5% community, that care about their neighbors, that of the vote against Eddie Speir (21.3%) and Ed care deeply about America, but feel forgotten,” Pope (15.3%). District 16 covers portions of Polk, Gray previously told Creative Loafing Tampa Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota and a small Bay. “It really just tells me that Washington portion of Pinellas County.

“This race is about sending a leader to Washington who will put Floridians first.”

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DUDE-U-LAR: Mayor Ken Welch (L) and Charlie Crist

These guys

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch will defend his seat in runoff against Charlie Crist. By Ray Roa

espite being out fundraised four to one, Schorsch. “Peter Schorsch, the husband of incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch Charlie Crist’s campaign manager—the same is headed to a runoff against Former Florida guy who just last weekend introduced Charlie governor Charlie Crist. The runoff happens as Crist at his office opening—has crossed a dispart of this fall’s general election, which wraps graceful line,” Welch said in the video. on Election Day, Nov. 3. “Charlie, Peter is your guy,” Welch continCrist—his time spent in Minnesota in the ued. “Stop hiding. Condemn the lie publicly, wake of back-to-back hurricanes—earned 35% and unequivocally.” of the vote as the Florida primary wrapped last Schorsch is married to Crist campaign chair Tuesday night. Michelle Todd Schorsch, whose political consulting Welch, facing scrutiny over his own business is the second largest recipient of funds response to the 2024 storms, was elected as from Crist’s PAC. Extensive Enterprises Media, St. Petersburg’s first Black mayor in 2021 and the parent company of Florida Politics, has also earned 20.5% of the vote. received over $24,000 from Former St. Pete Fire Crist’s PAC, according to Chief Jim Large finished campaign finance records. third (18%) with City Florida Politics, which 2026 General Election Councilwoman Brandi has been criticized in the Voter registration deadline: Oct. 5 Gabbard (17%), former past for “pay-to-play” poliEarly voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 votehillsborough.gov St. Pete NAACP president cies, has not shied away from Maria Scruggs (5%) and constant attacks on Welch. former Shore Acres Civic Association president The next day, Crist dropped out of a Suncoast Kevin Batdorf (3%) rounding things out. Tiger Bay Club candidate forum known for hardData from the Pinellas County Supervisor of ball questions. Elections says 55,239 ballots were cast in the race. Crist cited affordability, saying the $35 In the race for St. Petersburg’s District 6 City non-member ticket price made the event inacCouncil seat, Linsey Grove has advanced to the cessible. “We believe staying informed and runoff where she’ll face Trevor Mallory—but all participating in our democracy shouldn’t come eyes will be on the mayoral contest. with a price tag,” Crist said in an announceCrist raised more than $2 million for the pri- ment posted to social media. mary while Welch raked in less than $500,000. At the time of his announcement, the “affordThe race got ugly late last month when Welch ability” section of Crist’s campaign website didn’t had to ask the former governor to condemn a post mention child care or propose ways to reduce from Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch, prices of goods or events in the city. It had just who spread rumors that Welch had an affair two proposals: cutting property taxes and fixwith a former staffer. ing water billing infrastructure. Mentions of Welch shared a video to social media deny- affordable housing construction were also absent ing the rumors and asking Crist to condemn from the page.

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Nix it up

Outfundraised 16-1, Rep Angie Nixon notches double-digit primary victory. By Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix

ngie Nixon will run against incumbent Republican Ashley Moody for the U.S. Senate, Florida Democrats decided last Tuesday by double-digit margin. Nixon’s victory concluded a primary that had some wondering whether progressive Democrats’ wins around the nation would carry into Florida. Nixon, carrying endorsements of several of Florida’s progressive Democratic legislators, enjoyed a significantly smaller campaign account compared to challenger Alex Vindman. With 88% of votes in, the Associated Press reported Nixon had captured 55.7% of votes to Vindman’s 44.3%. Nixon’s share of the votes equates to more than 660,000 while Vindman’s is about 530,000. According to FEC reports through July 29, Nixon had spent nearly $710,000 and received nearly $975,000, with ending cash on hand of $264,978. Vindman received $16.27 million and spent $9 million, leaving him with $7.26 million cash on hand as of July 29. In her victory speech, Nixon called for unity but also took aim at her new opponent. “We are strongest when we are united, and it’s going to take all of us to win in November,” Nixon said.

She turned her attention to Moody. “Ashley Moody can call me whatever she wants, she can call us whatever she wants, but in November she will call me senator,” Nixon said to applause. The race, considered a special election, was for the seat vacated by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was elected to a sixyear term in 2022 but, given the vacancy, the seat was up for grabs this cycle. Moody is in her position as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointee. This would be her first Senate election. She previously won two elections for Florida attorney general. Moody won the GOP primary Tuesday with nearly 80% of votes, as of the same time the AP posted the above Democratic results. Following the race, Moody posted to social media: “While I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, I am renewing that promise to you tonight. I am YOUR fighter. YOU are my bosses. And I will NOT let you down,” calling her appointment to the Senate “an honor of a lifetime.” In a social media post, Vindman committed to standing with Nixon for the General Election. Who is Angie Nixon? Nixon was born and raised in Jacksonville and bills herself as a union organizer and mother.

She’s been a member of the Florida House Nixon made headlines earlier this year after since 2020. During the most recent legisla- she staged a sit-in in the governor’s office. She tive session, she was Democratic ranking wanted him to reject the GOP-led congressional member on the Education Administration redistricting efforts. She’s become known for her Subcommittee and was a member of the State activism, sometimes on the House floor, includAffairs Committee, Information Technology ing protests against the Legislature’s approvals Budget & Policy Subcommittee, and Industries of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ congressional redistrict& Professional Activities Subcommittee. ing maps in 2022 and earlier this year. Her speeches at the Florida Capitol freVindman did not commit to debating Nixon quently referenced the middle class, with her in the primary. closing arguments on Election Day advocating Middle East politics One area the two differed Medicare for all and that the decision is “OURS” on was Israel and Palestine. Vindman is a stalwart not “billionaire donors or the establishment supporter of Israel, but critical of Prime Minister politics of DC.” Benjamin Netanyahu and Her margin of vicsupportive of a two-state tory seems to reflect that solution between Israelis 2026 General Election sentiment, beating a canand Palestinians.

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Voter registration deadline: Oct, 5 didate who out-raised her Nixon has been outspoEarly voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 by about $15 million by 12 ken in support Palestinian votehillsborough.gov percentage points. rights, sponsoring a Nixon was endorsed by Democratic U.S. Florida House resolution calling for a ceasefire Reps. Maxwell Frost, Ilhan Omar, Rashida just a month after the 2023 attack on Israel by Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. Hamas. Nixon was formally reprimanded by She has support from a bundle of legislative her colleagues after she blared a bullhorn on Democrats including Sens. Rosalind Osgood, the House floor during a contentious fight over Tracie Davis, Lavon Bracy Davis, Kristen congressional redistricting. Arrington, and Reps. Yvonne Hinson, RaShon “I don’t care if I get a reprimand. I don’t even Young, Michele Rayner, Dianne Hart, Felicia care if they expel me, because I’m standing up for Robinson, Ashley Gantt, and Anna Eskamani. my elders,” Nixon said. “Stop doing illegal things During her six years in Tallahassee, Nixon and I won’t call you out with a pink microphone.” After the races were decided last Tuesday hasn’t been able to get much passed in the GOPcontrolled House — although she’s not the only night, Moody posted to social media a video of one, given the GOP’s supermajorities in both Nixon’s bullhorn stunt on the House floor. legislative chambers. continued on page 24

“We are strongest when we are unite.”

CHOMPING AT THE BIT: Rep. Angie Nixon at Equality Park in Broward County, Florida on Aug. 14, 2026.

DAVE DECKER

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 23

“I believe that the party needs to accept that the voters’ will is different from what they want.”

GOD WILLING: Rep. Angie Nixon at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2026. continued from page 23 “Ashley Moody and the corporate politicians of Washington, they like to label us. It’s easier trying to make those afraid of me than to defend the choices they keep making to make our lives harder. They look at this movement and they call us extreme, they call us radical, but I think people see through that, I won’t let them define me and I know you will always know where I stand,” Nixon said. Vindman is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who was awarded a Purple Heart. He retired from the military in 2020, ending a 21-year career. Vindman moved to Florida in 2023. He announced his candidacy in January. His twin brother represents Virginia’s 7th congressional district, elected two years ago. Vindman was a witness in the 2019 impeachment of President Donald Trump. He had listened to a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden. 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.

‘They want a progressive top of the ticket’: What Florida Democrats could learn from Angie Nixon When Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, was arrested for trespassing at the Florida Capitol earlier this year while protesting the new congressional district maps passed by the Legislature, she wasn’t the only one. Matthew Grocholske, president of the Progressive Caucus of Florida, was there with her. Grocholske, who has been working to put progressive Democrats on the ballot in local races across the state, spoke to the News Service of Florida about Nixon’s primary win Tuesday in the U.S. Senate race and how he’s trying to convince Floridians they can vote for a progressive over a moderate candidate. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Q: What do you think Rep. Angie Nixon’s primary win says about Florida’s Democratic Party? Grocholske: I would say that it showcases that the institutions of the Florida Democratic Party are wrong about what the members of our party actually want. They do want a progressive message, they want a progressive top of the ticket. I believe that the party needs to accept that the voters’ will is different from what they want.

24 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

What do you think voters really care about that the mainstream Democratic Party is missing? A lot of more institutional Democrats talk about immigration enforcement reform with the idea of doing things like just unmasking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Progressives are looking at the overall problem, that we need to abolish ICE, which is younger than the average Floridian. The only thing ICE has really done is hurt our country and build an uncompassionate system that has not fixed the root of so many systemic problems. Progressives are for Medicare for all, for ending genocide abroad, for a variety of issues that take the next step that some institutional Democrats are afraid to take. What other races did progressives win in the Florida primary? I was super excited by Anthony Nieves and Kyandra Darling both winning Florida House of Representatives primaries. Anthony Nieves is actually going to be the next state representative for House District 47. I’m super excited to see that happen after Rep. Paula Starke was tossed off the ballot. Anthony’s a bold progressive, organizer and visionary. Same goes for Kyandra Darling (House District 62), who was actually U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ only endorsed candidate in the

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DAVE DECKER

entire state of Florida. This wasn’t just at the top of the ticket, but also in lower offices as well. When you speak to moderate voters across the state, what do you tell them about these progressive candidates? The progressive champions that we’re seeing now at the top of our ticket, they worked so hard to get to where they are through community support. Lots of these campaigns have run mutual aid-based campaigns, giving actual aid and guidance directly to the people and voters. If you disagree with them on 2 percent of issues or even 5 percent, that doesn’t mean that you should reject voting for them, ultimately, because they actually do serve people instead of corporations, like the Republican Party does. Centrist Democrats have a great option at the top of the ticket with David Jolly and Gwen Graham for governor and lieutenant governor. I hope that moderate voters see that realistically, this is a perfect representation of the melting pot of the Florida Democrat Party. What do you think is the biggest roadblock for progressives in Florida? We do not have the financial advantage that a lot of institutional Democrats have. We don’t have those big donor lists, we’re not going to Nantucket for a fundraiser. We’re raising money off the backs of everyday Floridians.—Ana Goñi-Lessan/News Service of Florida

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Jolly ol’ fellow

DAVE DECKER

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE: David Jolly at 1920 Ybor in Ybor City, Florida on Aug. 17, 2026.

lorida voters will pick either U.S. Byron Donalds later said Jolly represents “everything Donalds or former Rep. David Jolly as the that folks hate about Washington, D.C. Liberal state’s next governor after both men won David Jolly is the change that Florida cannot afford,” Donalds said. their primaries last Tuesday. Donalds took 48% of the vote in a crowded Some of the other Republicans included forprimary that included nine other Republicans. mer House Speaker Paul Renner, Lt. Gov. Jay Jolly easily defeated five opponents in the Collins, and investor James Fishback. None of Democratic primary, earning 61% of the vote. them could get enough traction to mount a seriThe result was someous challenge to Donalds, what predictable, but who won the president’s the primary ended the endorsement, but never 2026 General Election early part of a campaign Gov. Ron DeSantis’.

who would continue DeSantis’ legacy but the governor never endorsed his second-in-command. DeSantis also had a close working relationship Renner during his two years as House speaker but DeSantis initially called Renner’s run for governor “ill-advised.” DeSantis acknowledged earlier this month that Renner would make a “good” governor, but still there was no endorsement. Renner finished with 8.5% of the vote. Fishback, who won slightly more than 10% of the vote, repeatedly insulted Donalds and called him a “slave” to donors. Collins, meanwhile, filed suit seeking to get Fishback knocked off the ballot for not meeting eligibility requirements for governor. A state circuit judge tossed the lawsuit and let Fishback remain in the race.

Voter registration deadline: Oct, 5 season that has been DeSantis, who for a Early voting: Oct. 19-Nov. 1 punctuated by some while touted First Lady votehillsborough.gov unusual side stories. Casey DeSantis as a Both of the night’s primary winners jumped potential gubernatorial nominee before the Hope into the governor’s race last year but the con- Florida Foundation scandal, never endorsed any test took some unpredictable turns ahead of of the Republicans in the primary. Tuesday’s primary. Collins finished in second place with more Donalds posted about his victory on X shortly than 25% of the vote. DeSantis named him lieuafter 8 p.m. eastern time, after the polls closed tenant governor in August 2025 but he did not in the western panhandle. become a Republican gubernatorial hopeful until And in a victory speech from Orlando, earlier this year. Collins sold himself as someone

Alleged liberal There was less drama in the Democratic primary. Jolly is a former Republican member of Congress who left the GOP after Trump was elected. He switched to the Democratic Party last year and appeared on the path to his own competitive primary against Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

Alleged liberal will compete to be Florida’s next governor. By Christine Sexton & Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix

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But Demings dropped out of the race after being diagnosed with cancer. While Donalds has been attacking Jolly as a liberal, Jolly has had to defend some of his more conservative positions to Democrats. For instance, Jolly does not want to eliminate Florida’s universal school voucher program. “I’m a Democrat who’s not going to stand up and tell you we’re going to do away with choice,” Jolly told members of Capital Tiger Bay Club. “Choice is here. Choice is here to stay. However, Florida families are being left behind by the current choice program.” Jolly said last year that he uses the state vouchers to help offset costs for both of his children, who attend faith-based private school. Byron Donalds won, but he also lost 16 counties in North Florida to Jay Collins. Why? Byron Donalds enjoyed a relatively stressfree night last Tuesday in defeating 10 opponents to capture the Republican nomination for governor and goes into November’s general election as the favorite against Democrat David Jolly. Donalds defeated Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, 48%25%. Investment firm CEO James Fishback came in third place at 10% and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner was at 9%. continued on page 28

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 27

continued from page 27 Collins showed significant strength in the Panhandle. The decorated Army Special Forces combat veteran defeated Donalds in 14 counties in North Florida. He also took Hardee County in Central Florida. In Dixie and Liberty counties, Donalds finished in third place behind Collins and Bobby Williams, founder of a disaster relief and food distribution organization who finished in fifth place with 4% of the vote. What explains Collins’ strong support in North Florida? A spokesperson said last Wednesday that Collins understands the needs of the region. “He grew up on a farm, was raised to understand the value of hard work, and he defended our nation in battle,” said Meghan Van Joosten with the Collins campaign. “That matters to the people of Northern Florida when they’re choosing a leader. Winning 14 counties in that region wasn’t an accident, it reflects the time Jay spent on the ground there, the relationships built with local leaders, and a message that clearly resonated

with voters who care about conservative values.” Also, his military record put him in tune with a region home to six major military installations. The Florida Panhandle is considered one of the most military- and veteran-supportive regions in the state, if not the country. “As a veteran who was wounded, that might have been a strong attraction for an electorate that is pretty supportive of the military in the Panhandle,” said University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett. Collins served for 23 years in the U.S. Army, with deployments as a Special Forces medic to Afghanistan, Iraq, and twice to South America. During his 2007 Afghanistan deployment, he was shot in the arm and helped perform surgery on himself in the field. A few months later, he sustained additional injuries that would eventually lead to the amputation of his left leg in 2012. Following that amputation, Collins re-qualified as a fully deployable special forces operator, going on to serve for five more years on active duty. Those incidents were what led Ron DeSantis to label him “the Chuck Norris of Florida politics”

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when he appointed Collins to serve as lieutenant governor in August 2025. Although the governor never endorsed him (nor anyone else in the race to succeed him), Collins was telling reporters as recently as last week that his appointment was a clear indication DeSantis believed that he was “ready to lead the state of Florida.” Criminal record Tampa Bay-area political strategist Barry Edwards also believes some of Collins’ success over Donalds in North Florida was that he leaned hard on Donalds’ criminal arrest record. “That resonated with older, very conservative white people. They were exploiting that.” Collins released a 13-page report on Donalds’ alleged “liabilities” to reporters in April. That document included references to Donalds’ record and other previously reported issues regarding stock trades and his family’s involvement in charter schools. In an interview with CBS Miami in March, Donalds acknowledged he made “terrible decisions” during his youth regarding a marijuana charge and a charge of bribery.

SEEING CLEARLY: There are theories about why Donalds underperformed in North Florida.

28 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

“These issues get talked about now or they get talked about in October, where we cannot risk this state falling and having [David] Jolly as our next governor,” Collins said at the time. “This is not a risk that we can afford to take here in Florida.” Edwards said Jolly “needs to be very careful” if he intends to make that aspect of Donalds’ past part of his campaign. “That’s already been done.” Steve Vancore, a longtime Tallahassee consultant and pollster, wrote in Florida Politics that “Donalds’ performance in rural North Florida could be a problem down the stretch. We can’t know why he underperformed there. But if a lack of enthusiasm translates into voters staying home, whatever the reason, this thing could come down to the wire.” The Donalds campaigns did not respond to a request for comment. 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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Temple Terrace’s favorite grocery store is dunzo, and more local food news. By Colin Wolf

t’s a sad day in Temple Terrace. After months of rumors, a popular Temple Terrace WinnDixie location will officially close in September to eventually make way for an Aldi. Employees at the 8837 N 56th St. Winn-Dixie told Creative Loafing Tampa that the store will indeed close sometime in mid-September, depending on how quickly the current inventory sells out. Since items will no longer be restocked, the location will feature steep discounts in the weeks ahead, added the employees. As of now, it’s unknown exactly when the space will reopen as an Aldi. In 2024, Aldi purchased hundreds of Florida Winn-Dixie locations from Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers, and has since sold back nearly 200 locations to a new investor group called Winn-Dixie Co. However, over the last couple years, Aldi’s remaining 220 Winn-Dixie locations have slowly converted into the popular German discount grocer, with plans to transform all of them by 2027. The Temple Terrace Winn Dixie, which is less than a quarter mile from the area’s closest Publix on Busch Boulevard, has long been rumored for the switch. Last April, a listing on the commercial real estate website Loopnet showed an “ALDI Excess Space” available for lease where the current Winn-Dixie is located, along with an Aldi logo. The Temple Terrace Winn-Dixie has a 41,000 square-foot footprint, which is almost double the size of a typical Aldi, which may explain why the listing was offering up 18,958-square-feet of the space. Aldi has already completed a similar buildout at the Armenia Avenue location, where it only used half of the former Winn-Dixie retail space, and is currently in the process of doing the same thing with the location just down the road at 9535 E Fowler Ave., in Thonotosassa. The 56th Street Winn-Dixie first opened back in 2015 after its parent company acquired Sweetbay Supermarket, which rebranded in 2007 from Kash n’ Karry. In 2022, the space witnessed a major remodel, updating the liquor store and adding a Dollar Store inside.

Over the years, the Temple Terrace Winn-Dixie was a local favorite, known for competitive prices, an excellent layout, a solid seafood and deli counter, friendly service, and arguably better BOGOs than Publix. Its house-fried tortilla chips are some of the best in the Bay area. The store also served as the primary anchor for the local plaza, which currently is home to a Burger King, Jersey Mike’s, Crumbl Cookie, Zen Noodle Bar, a post office and more. Blind Tiger opens ninth location at downtown Tampa’s Rivergate Tower The beer can building now comes with a little bit of bite. On Aug. 11, homegrown coffee chain Blind Tiger cut the ribbon on its ninth location during a grand opening celebration inside the cube at the base of Rivergate Tower, located at 400 N Ashley Dr. The new 1,000 square-foot-location is just a six-minute walk from another Blind Tiger inside Tampa City Center. The new shop was staffed with four employees on opening morning, and Roberto Torres—who opened the first Blind Tiger 12 years ago on the corner of 19th Street and 7th Avenue in Ybor City—told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that he’s “bullish” on downtown. Blind Tiger’s Rivergate Tower location is open from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays and closed on the weekends. The menu features all of the chain’s signature drinks like the Dirty Thaiger and Bombon drinks along with pastries, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and lunch.—Ray Roa

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Buddy Brew opens first Pinellas County coffee shop Popular Tampa-based coffee chain Buddy Brew is headed over the bridge. Buddy Brew celebrated the grand-opening of its first Pinellas County outpost on Aug. 14. Unlike Buddy Brew’s more standard brick-and-mortar locations, this one’s inside the Sprouts Farmers Market at 7263 Seminole Blvd. The new Seminole spot, which is part of a new partnership between

ANOTHER ONE: This St. Pete Winn-Dixie closed late last year. Buddy Brew and Sprouts, will offer the full standard menu of espresso beverages, cold brews, matchas, smoothies, breakfast and lunch items and more. “Opening our first café in Pinellas County is an exciting milestone for Buddy Brew,” said Dave Ward, CEO of Buddy Brew Coffee in a statement. “Tampa Bay has been our home since the beginning, and we’ve wanted to bring Buddy Brew across the bay for a long time. We’re thrilled to become part of the Pinellas County community and look forward to serving our new neighbors in Seminole.” Buddy Brew already has Sprouts-related locations in Valrico, New Tampa and Westchase, with more in the works. Popular Japanese convenience store Ebisu opens world’s largest location in New Tampa Ebisu Life Store, a wildly popular Japanese lifestyle shop filled with snacks, blind boxes and obscure collectibles, debuted its largest ever location in Tampa Bay on Aug. 14 at 6234 Commerce Palms Dr., in Tampa Palms. Founded in Osaka, Japan in 2013, Ebisu specializes in aisles and aisles of imported Japanese snacks, cult-favorite candies and drinks, plushies, kawaii collectibles, arcade style claw machines, rows of Gashapon machines, and more. The new 21,597-squarefoot outpost is a former Joann Fabrics at the Market Square shopping center, and dwarfs the 14,756-square-foot Orlando store, which opened last February and at the time was the

company’s largest footprint to date. Ebisu Life Store is not affiliated with the popular Seminole Heights restaurant Ebisu Sushi Shack. Bites • The 1905 Family of Restaurants—including all seven Columbia Restaurant locations, Cha Cha Coconuts, Ulele and Casa Santo Stefano—runs its annual Community Harvest throughout September, donating 5% of every check to a nonprofit of the diner’s choosing at no additional cost to the guest. Now in its 29th year, the program has directed $4.8 million to Florida nonprofits. A press release says the concept is simple: “Eat Well And Do Good.” • Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach launched a “You Dine, We Donate” program at its signature restaurant Ocean Hai, located at 100 Coronado Dr. in Clearwater Beach. Proceeds from a designated four-top table are matched by the resort and donated to Give Kids The World, a Central Florida nonprofit that creates experiences for children with critical illnesses and their families. • Chef & The Baker in South Tampa launched “Caliente Meets Cariño” on Aug. 21, pairing Chef Rosana Rivera’s hand-folded beef empanada — made famous when she beat Bobby Flay on Food Network — with Señor Lechuga’s habanerobased .121 hot sauce, the one the Brooklyn brand created with Joe Rogan. The collab also marks Señor Lechuga’s first retail presence in Tampa, with its sauces now available for purchase at the restaurant located at 3413 S Manhattan Ave.

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 35

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Some of the best things about Tampa come together at one table this weekend in Ybor City—all for a good cause. That’s when the historic district’s beloved cave bar, Sky Puppy Brewing, hosts John LoScalzo’s Loko Cuisine (stylized “LOKO”), BeyLoved Pairings founder Joanne Mumbey, a certified cicerone (think beer sommelier), and Tampa tour guide Max Herman for “Flavors of Ybor.” Together, the collective has put together a four-course dinner with curated beer and wine pairings, woven together with storytelling. A portion of the proceeds benefit Ybor Misfits Micro Sanctuary which has basically been the guardian angel for neighborhood chickens since about 2016. The menu includes a welcome pour, plus mojo port pâté with grain mustard, cornichons on a La Segunda crostini, a ropa vieja, and dulce de leche flan with chocolate cookie crumb and espresso cigarillo. The star of the evening, however, could end up being the crispy deviled crab croquette, which LoScalzo will serve as a chilau-style sofrito along with his signature dry-hopped hot sauce. In a 2010 column for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, the late Tampa historian and author Andy Huse took readers back to the late1800s when the waters around here teemed with blue crab. While deviled crab was a signature, portable, meal for Tampeños, enchilado, or “chilau,” a simple dish of blue crab simmered in a slightly-spicy tomato sauce and served over pasta, was the plate that brought people back to the table.

sauce is light enough to let the crab play lead, substantial enough to cling to the pasta, and spicy enough to keep it all interesting.” Vegans and those with shellfish allergies, of course, can participate and will get dishes using mojo roasted jackfruit, hearts of palm, and shredded mushrooms as substitutes. The pairings for specific wines and beers from award-winning brewer Matthew McKinnon will be announced at the dinner.

“Every major ethnic group in Tampa ate it,” Huse, who died last year, wrote. “The tomato

Tickets for “Flavors of Ybor” with storytelling by Max Herman happening Sunday, Aug. 30 at Sky Puppy Brewing in Ybor City are sold-out, but a waitlist is available. Look below to see more of the best food & drink events coming to town this week. —Ray Roa

Buttercream & Piping Inspired by Yvette Mayorga Thursday, Aug. 27. 5 p.m. $80 & up. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org

Meet Me in Paris – Brunch with Kristin Harmel Saturday, Aug. 29. 11:30 a.m. $35 & up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com

Beyond the Teabag: Exploring Fine Chinese Teas Friday, Aug. 28. 10 a.m. $35. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com

Weekend Wake & Bake Saturday, Aug. 29. 11 a.m. No cover. Herban Flow, St. Petersburg. herbanflow.co

Night Out Cooking Class – Italiano Moderno: Italian Elegance Friday, Aug. 28. 6 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com

Chef Suz Pop-Up Dinner Sunday, Aug. 30. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. 86 Wine Bar, St. Petersburg. @86winebar on Instagram for more info

Suncity Sapphics Mixer Friday, Aug. 28. 7 p.m. No cover. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com

Baristas & Biomechanics: Ergonomics for Coffee Workers w/Dr. Joey Shamp Monday, Aug. 31. 6 p.m. Pay what you can ($5 suggested). Bandit Coffee Co., St. Petersburg. @banditstpete on Instagram

Wine, Cheese & More Pairing Experience Friday, Aug. 28. 7 p.m. $37.45 & up. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater. aspirationswinery.com

Beloved Community Recovery Café Grand Opening Monday, Aug. 31. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. 1940 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. recoveryepicenterfoundation.org

15th Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest Saturday, Aug. 29. 12 p.m. $20 & up. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org

Dr. Paul Bearer Unveils Embalmond Joy Ice-cream Thursday, Sept. 3. 6 p.m. No cover. Small Batch Creamery, St. Petersburg. smallbatchcreamery.com

Hearth & Harvest Craft Night Saturday, Aug. 29. 7 p.m. $25. Grindhaus Brew Lab, Clearwater. grindhausbrewlab.com

Night Out Cooking Class – Caribbean Paradise Thursday, Sept. 3. 6 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 37

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ACQUIRED PALETTE: There are different paths to art collecting DAVE DECKER

Paint by color

It’s not that complicated to become an art collector. By Ray Roa

all and spring arts previews, like the seasonal changes they accompany, arrive like clockwork. As the Bay area trades weeks of oppressive heat and humidity for 13 days of Uggs-worthy weather, natives and newbs alike look for ways to get out and experience their neighborhoods. For the most part, there are clear cut ways to support the venues, events and individuals in arts previews. Theatergoers, live music fans, and movie buffs buy tickets. Bookworms aren’t going to ask an author to sign a Kindle. Ironically, the picture’s not as clear when it comes to the visual arts. Yes, there are gallery openings, but for longer than there’ve been seasonal arts previews, visual artists have always needed people to, well, buy their art. Luckily, most supporters agree: someone doesn’t have to be wealthy to collect art. “You can’t always afford the art you want,” Tracy Midulla told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, “But you can purchase the art you can afford.” Midulla, a fourth-generation Tampeña who is founder and director of Tempus Projects, reiterated that some people tailor their collections around their budgets while others shape their collections by what they have to spend. “I know a lot of people that buy really small works of art from really big artists, and it’s expensive, but it’s not as expensive as buying

a large painting,” she added. “Then there are people that buy work from emerging artists, which is usually more affordable because they’re earlier in their career.” “Just imagine if you had bought a Basquiat when he was just drawing postcards on the street,” Effren Denson told CL. No stranger to purchasing prints, Denson, who runs Honey Gallery inside the same Kress Contemporary space where Tempus lives, didn’t buy his first piece of art until just before the pandemic. A second-generation Tampeño, he grew interested in Ryan Lagasse’s work after seeing a jack-in-the-box style clown during a Pabst Blue Ribbon show at The Bricks. He reached out, wondering if she still had it. “She said, ‘No, I don’t have that, but I have other things,’” he explained. “I remember I walked down to The Hub and met her. She showed me some things, and that was probably about five years ago.” Lagasse ended up showcasing her poppy, almost surrealist acrylic paintings on canvas and paper at Honey Gallery last spring. Last week, during another Third Thursday at Kress, Carlos Pons, a self-taught artist from Guatemala, opened his studio to visitors. One of his paintings is on the cover of this issue.

LOCAL ARTS

“It’s actually still a work in progress,” he told CL. “I think all my art is a work in progress.” Despite doing art full-time, Pons said his career is also still developing, with much of his time being spent on commercial and commission work. “I’m not always relying on the sales of original artwork for sustaining myself financially,” he added. “Doing my art sometimes—most times—falls on the back burner. So when I’ve sold original artwork, I find myself incredibly fortunate and lucky.” Midulla has theories on why Bay area artists might have a hard time moving work. For one, the collector scene here is thinner than it should be. There are people in Tampa who buy art, she said, but there’s a caveat. “I think the majority of the people that are spending a large amount of money on art, people that are investing or collecting in a serious manner, don’t buy art in Tampa,” Midulla said. “I think they buy it when they travel, or they buy it from art fairs like Miami Art Week, or they have galleries that they work closely with.” Tampa is still developing culturally, she added. Yes, there are certainly people out there doing good work, but for a long time, Tampa has been a city obsessed with sports, tourism and beaches. People love their paintings of football players and celebrities, or boring beach photos and sunsets. The fact that small theater companies, galleries and music venues struggle is a reflection of that reality. “We still suffer from that type of Florida cliche as far as where we put our value in culture,” Midulla said. “I don’t think that the visual arts are the only thing suffering from that.”

Denson says that while many of the people who buy art at his gallery aren’t buying $1,500 paintings, there are folks nearby who might. “We have to bring in other people,” he said, noting how it’s rare to see people from Westchase, Brandon or Riverview at art shows. “We’re trying to figure out a way. How do we incorporate more people into the Tampa Bay art scene, because it’s much needed.” Midulla is doing her part, preaching about the value of local galleries and nonprofits to anyone who’ll listen. In her role as an art consultant, she leans into people looking for art, to help them find pieces—local work that they wouldn’t otherwise buy—that fits their collection. Over the last six months, she and Tempus Exhibitions and Programs Manager Mitzi Jo Gordon, have held “Go Ahead, Buy Some Art” lectures where they invite local collectors and curators to talk about affordable art. “There are plenty of venues and artists that understand a spectrum in budget and sales and price point,” Midulla added. At the end of the day, Denson explained, buying art is about being surrounded by the shit you love. In your 20s, that might be posters from Ikea or Walmart, but at some point, people want to fine tune their lived environment. “It just feels good to be surrounded by your own cool, curated stuff that you went out in the world and kind of picked up for yourself over the years,” he said. “And by the time you get in your 50s, 60s, and 70s, you have this beautiful collection of things that you just kind of collected through life—and art’s one of those things.”

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Feral baby

A chat with 'Bottom Feeders' poet Arielle Hebert. By Arielle Stevenson

BOOKS

42 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

SCOTT KRIER

t’s the kind of poetry that reads like late night are these fleeting moments that mean the trips across the Skyway in a shitty car with an world but that you can’t really piece together empty gas tank, blasting the radio en route to the into something solid because where we lived next party somewhere too far away. Or like finishing wasn’t necessarily safe to be queer. a shift at the restaurant, walking to the bar down That’s a great way to put it...to keep the illuthe road and taking too many shots because the sion going. As a young person, before you’re old tourists are buying again. The poor decisions blur enough to be going into gay bars or adult queer into the mess. The good times are remembered. spaces, those third spaces were the beach or Arielle Hebert’s “Bottom Feeders,” published house parties or public areas where you could in June by Black Lawrence Press, summons a gather and be yourself. You could be the version kind of wild Florida girlhood poem by poem, each of yourself that you couldn’t be at home, or that one popping like the pills that flowed so freely you weren’t allowed to be at school yet. through the state in the late 2000s. The collection The era you’re writing about and the captures how invincible those days could feel, and “anything goes” nature of that time allows the distinctly Florida impulse to keep feeding the you to explore the language and shape of flame even when everything is already burning. the poems. The poems themselves almost Ahead of her Sept. 3 reading at Tombolo Books feel poppable. They’re compact. What your with fellow Florida poet Tyler Gillespie, Hebert work gets at, too, is how growing up here spoke with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about allowed us to be wild in this very particular the state that shaped both her and her poetry. way. It’s almost like “Where the Wild Things This collection feels like you’re writing Are” in real life. You could disappear to the about two distinct Floridas that keep brush- beach and it was almost like, whatever...we ing up against each other in all of these were all just fucked up. poems...the fantasy and the reality. There’s That’s interesting. I find it fascinating and this wildness at the edges, foaming and froth- terrifying that you just used pill language, ing over into everything. It’s like you’re on “poppable.” It immediately made me think, this glittering beach and ‘Oh my God, yeah, popping someone’s OD’ing. How these poems just like pills.’ were you thinking about You used the phrase that tension? An Evening with Arielle Hebert “anything goes,” and I I think there is that think that vibe was such Next Thursday, Sept. 3. 7 p.m. No cover with undeniable beauty and RSVP. Tombolo Books. 2153 1st Ave. S, St. an overarching rule...or Petersburg. ariellehebert.com paradise aspect to growing lack of a rule. We were all just trying to do our best. up in Florida, going to the beach and living in a place where other people There were definitely some regrettable choices, vacation. But...bad things can happen every- but I never felt like it was something happenwhere, even in beautiful places like Sarasota ing in isolation. and Florida. And I think that’s another interesting part of Especially growing up and coming of age scratching below that touristy illusion of the surwhen we did, there was this unprecedented face. It’s not only rich and beautiful and powerful third factor, which was the opioid epidemic, people who live here. There are also people worksomething that no one had dealt with in our ing in the service industry, working in fields and previous generations. It almost has this Vegas farms, doing jobs that aren’t shiny and glorious. aspect where what happens in Florida stays in And there’s a cost to those jobs for those Florida. Everyone goes there to misbehave and people, too. let loose and have a good time. Especially when pills and opioids started to That rings true and I kept thinking about flourish. And I think that’s what made it feel this culture of disaster. The Vegas compari- even more like this was normal and like this was son is so interesting. I never thought about how it was everywhere. It was at school. It was at Florida being similar to Vegas until I went your job. It was at the beach. It was inescapable. there for the first time last fall. You could Until I left Florida, I thought the whole countell it had once been a place with its own try was dealing with an opioid problem in the panache, its own uniquely American culture, same way...But Florida almost got out of that and what I saw was a ton of people working cultural narrative unscathed. to keep the illusion going. There’s the cost “Bottom Feeders” has this very speof maintaining that. I also noticed this rela- cific kind of Gothic feeling to it. It feels tionship in the book...where these queer safe very Ethel Cain-core to me. The wildness third spaces overlap with addiction. There of ourselves and the wildness of this place

NOT US: For ‘Bottom Feeders’ Arielle Hebert got to be a messy girl again. are always at odds with trying to appear tame...or trying to maintain the appearance of paradise. There’s also this cult of personality growing up here. You almost don’t want Florida to get a bad name. You want to show people a good time. People come there and vacation there to have a good time. So when you grow up there, you think that’s also what life is about. You just want to have a good time. And who doesn’t want to have a good time? The wildness is definitely part of that Venn diagram of the cult of personality. It’s a reputation that you want to uphold and deny at the same time, that you want to embrace but also challenge. You’re expected to be part of this wild, beautiful romp, but it’s not real. It’s a relationship we’ve romanticized past the point of reality. But when you live there, you think that is reality. And for you, it is. That’s something in the book I don’t think I did intentionally, but it was always on my mind: This was how it really was. It was this bad. And this beautiful. It was this bad...And this beautiful. And these things really did happen. Especially for young girls, there’s so much we’re fed about what messy girlhood can look like or should look like. Boys are allowed all these different mistakes.“Boys will be boys.” All these forgivable offenses for young guys... But not us. Not us. And I think part of the fun of writing the book was getting to be a messy girl again. You mentioned Ethel Cain, and I feel like there’s this blue-collar madness that I also embrace...

humble origins and finding our fun without being one of the rich kids. What was the process of putting together this collection like? It was a long, long labor of love. I started writing the poems a little over 10 years ago. I was writing all these Florida poems. I was writing all these messy-girlhood, feral-girl-gang poems. When I first started putting the collection together, it was really heavy. I got some great feedback basically saying, Yes, this is a love story, and you’re heartbroken, but we need to see the good days. I remember getting off one of those phone calls or meetings and writing myself a sticky note that said, “I promise not to leave the good days out.” That became the title of one of the poems. Was part of that making peace with moving into a different space in your life? Dealing with the guilt of leaving was such a big part of it. If things had been bad all the time... if they were all dark experiences, it would have been easy, or should have been easy, to escape or step away. But because there were all these good things, and all this beauty, it made it hard to leave. You have a 7-Eleven Easter egg in the book. I’m a big 7-Eleven person. What was your go-to 7-Eleven favorite? Definitely. The Slurpees. My husband loves Mountain Dew, so later in life I got into Mountain Dew Slurpees. A late-in-life Mountain Dewer. Previously, I was a Mountain Don’t-er. Snack-wise, they sell those giant pickles in a bag...the zesty garlic giant pickle is definitely my favorite.

The poem “Lightning Capital of the World” is one of the quintessentially Florida pieces in my poetry collection, “Bottom Feeders.” Lightning is such a part of the experience of living in Florida, especially near Tampa, which is nicknamed the lightning capital of the world. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, lightning storms were a wonder, a phenomenon that captivated me. Lightning is part of our culture; we even have sports teams named for it. It’s dangerous and deadly, but it’s also strikingly (forgive the pun!) beautiful and haunting. The poem is an ode to lightning, reverential in its depictions of lightning’s strength and beauty, of which I am in awe. The poem’s shape, with its jagged lines, mimics the form of lightning as well.—Arielle Hebert

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Showtime: Tampa Theatre’s reopening among fall A&E highlights

Jill Witecki, Vice President and Director of Marketing & Community Relations at Tampa Theatre, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the venue has many reasons to raise a glass, from the actual reopening, to the capital campaign that funded it, and the centennial itself. There’s even a book about the 100-year history, authored by the late and beloved Tampa historian Andy Huse. “We kind of realized that it was going to be a tall order for one party to do all of that,” she added. “So we decided to have more than one.” The big party happens on Thursday, Oct. 15 and includes a surprise silent film soundtracked by Tampa Theatre’s mighty Wurlitzer played by resident organist Steven Ball. Tickets for the reopening party will be just $26, Witecki said. “We didn’t want these to be gala-level tickets,” she added. “This is a party for Tampa because 50-years-ago Tampa rescued this building, and if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t all be here today.” The Oct. 15 party is actually the culmination of a week of programming, which kicks off on Oct. 9. That’s when the families of workers and contractors who’ve been working on the renovation since March will see a private movie screening. The theater slowly opens to the public on Saturday, Oct. 10 for an invite-only party for members who will pick the movie to be shown that night. Tampa Theatre will then offer a Sunday, Oct. 11, no-cover, afternoon open house where the public, regardless of membership, can see the renovation. Witecki said that since the theater didn’t get to run its summer classics series, the venue will try to bring classic films back for three nights, Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 12-14. Guest speakers and other surprises are planned, she added. Tampa Theatre’s $30 million dollar restoration started in the spring. Over the last few months, the venue has offered hard hat tours where members can see the progress on a restoration that has uncovered historical artifacts from the theater’s past. Many of those relics—including a burgundy tapestry from the 1926 opening—were also restored and put back in their original places.

“The building opened with a cloud machine 100 years ago that projected these little wispy clouds across the sky. That as you sat and watched a show, they would just kind of drift by as the show went on,” Witecki explained. But the 1926 cloud machine isn’t going to be on site. Instead the theater sampled a modern cloud machine—and then two modern cloud machines working in tandem—but Witecki said the effect wasn’t right.

COLIN WOLF

Tampa’s iconic movie palace turns 100 years old this fall and will mark the occasion with an ambitious week-long party. The celebrations happen in October, just eight months after Tampa Theatre’s Duncan Auditorium closed for a centennial renovation and restoration. The attached, recently-opened, Taylor Screening Room has been in operation throughout the facelift.

Stars in the theater’s signature night sky were also upgraded. The theater also discovered another piece of vintage hardware from the opening a century ago.

So Stage Manager & Technical Director Lloyd Pearson got the existing cloud machine (believed to be from the ‘50s or ‘60s) working again, and that is what guests will experience when Tampa Theatre reopens. The extra effort is not surprising coming from a Tampa Theatre team that was shooting for the stars on this renovation. “When folks come in on October 15, those little lazy clouds will be headed across the sky,” Witecki said. “They’re all these tiny subtle little things, but the overall effect of all of it is just completely overwhelming.” See more highlights from the fall A&E calendar below.—Leif Helland

FILM & TV

Be Kind, Rewind! An ‘80s Movie History Celebration with Hector Sotomayor Thursday, Sept. 3. 1 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org The Green Flash Anniversary Screening w/Filmmaker Q&A Sunday, Sept. 6. 7 p.m. (doors 5:30 p.m.; AV performance 6 p.m.). $20. The Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach Screaming Cinema Series: Beast Mode Saturday, Sept. 5. 4 p.m. No cover. Xzanthia’s Art Asylum Studio, Gulfport. tampabayscreams.com Second Quarterly Micro Film Festival Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. $12.51. Russian American Club, Gulfport The Rocky Horror Picture Show screening and Q&A with Patricia Quinn Thursday, Oct. 22. 7:30 p.m. $71.80 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Hell on Heels live shadow cast Friday, Oct. 30. 7 p.m. $15. Bilheimer Capitol Theater, Clearwater Say Anything screening and Q&A with John Cusack Saturday, Nov. 21. 8 p.m. $76.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Materiality Art Exhibition Through Sunday, Aug. 16. No cover. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org

Tampa Theatre Picture(Sque): Exhibition Reception Friday, Aug. 28. 7 p.m. No cover. USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa. ira.usf.edu LIV(IN)G Estuary: A Space Between (opening reception) w/Ashley Rivers Friday, Sept. 4. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Gallery, Gulfport. brendamcmahongallery.com Fall 2026 Exhibition Opening Reception Friday, Sept. 4. 6 p.m. No cover for members; $10 for everyone else. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org Guided Mural Tour w/Jenee Priebe Saturday, Sept. 12. 4 p.m. No cover. Wild Space Gallery at The Factory, St. Petersburg. floridawildlifecorridor.org Through the Years: GCAA 20th Anniversary (Opening reception) w/ Berkley Grimball Saturday, Sept. 12. 5-9 p.m. No cover. GCAA ArtWorks, St. Petersburg. gcaa-artworks.com 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 w/Jim Gilmour & Friends (5th anniversary exhibition opening) Friday, Oct. 2. 5:30 p.m. No cover. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com DRV Gallery: Five On view beginning Oct. 2. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com Jim Dine: Swaying in the Florida Night (Reception) Friday, Oct. 16. 5-8 p.m. No cover. USF Graphicstudio, Tampa Don and Cristina Williams: A Change of Seasons (Opening reception) Saturday, Oct. 17. 5 p.m. No cover. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org 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 Poetry At The Dalí Every second Thursday. 6 p.m. No cover. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg Zubrick Magic Fridays and weekends. 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $50 & up. Zubrick Magic Theatre, St. Petersburg

COMEDY

Chris Kattan Friday, Aug. 28. 7 p.m. $28 & up. Oscura, Bradenton Tommy Pope Saturday, Aug. 29. 10:30 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Chris Andrade Sunday, Aug. 30. 7 p.m. $39 & up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias Friday, Sept. 25. 8 p.m. $43 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa. fluffyguy.com Don Lemon and DL Hughley Saturday, Sept. 26. 7 p.m. $53.65 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Aziz Ansari Saturday, Oct. 10. 7 p.m. $126.70 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Chelsea Handler Friday, Dec. 18. 8 p.m. $99 & up. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp Friday, Dec. 18. 7 p.m. Sold out. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Jim Gaffigan Saturday, Dec. 26. 7 p.m. $55.60 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Eric D’Alessandro Saturday, Feb. 13. 7 p.m. $27 & up. Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

continued on page 48

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 45

NOVEMBER 7, 2026 — MARCH 21, 2027 Kay WalkingStick (b. 1935), Niagara, 2022, Oil on panel in two parts The New York Historical, Purchased through the generosity of Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang; Nancy Newcomb; Anonymous; Barry Barnett; Helen Appel; Belinda and Charles Bralver; Dorothy Tapper Goldman; Margi and Andrew Hofer; Louise Mirrer; Jennifer and John Monsky; Suzanne Peck and Brian Friedman; Pam and Scott Schaﬂer; Barbara and Elliott Wagner; and Linda Ferber, 2023.2ab. © Kay WalkingStick. Louisa Davis Minot (1788-1858), Niagara Falls, 1818, Oil on linen The New York Historical, Gift of Mrs. Waldron Phoenix Belknap Sr. to the Waldron Phoenix Belknap Jr. Collection, 1956.4 This exhibition has been organized by The New York Historical. Major support for Kay WalkingStick / Hudson River School is provided by the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

46 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

THE JAMES MUSEUM

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MATTHEW MURPHY

Buena Vista Social Club continued from page 45

PRIDE

DIY Movie Review Journal: TIGLFF Fundraiser Finale w/Jumpsuit Giant Saturday, Sept. 5. 6-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Check @tiglff on Instagram Lubor Day 2026: Queer Wrestling & Performances Monday, Sept. 7. 3-6 p.m. (wrestling 3:30 p.m.). $5-$15 suggested donation. 18+. Allendale United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg 37th Annual Queer Film Festival Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 10-13. Various times and prices. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg Sun City Sapphics: POC Sapphics Sunset Picnic Saturday, Sept. 12. 5:30-8 p.m. No cover. Picnic Island Park, Tampa Pride of Tampa: End of Summer Pool Party w/DJ Bill Kody Sunday, Sept. 13. Noon-4 p.m. $20 suggested donation. 18+. Casa del Merman, St. Petersburg Poly & Kink-Friendly Hangout Thursday, Sept. 17. 6 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa 37th Annual Queer Film Festival FridaySunday, Sept. 18-20. Various times and prices. Sun-Ray Cinema, Tampa Queerlastic Book Fair Saturday, Sept. 19. Noon-4 p.m. Pay what you can. Fabulous Arts Foundation, Sarasota Queer Show ‘N Tell Monday, Sept. 21. 6:30-8:30 p.m. No cover. Seminole Heights Branch Library, Tampa

THEATER

Arsenic and Old Lace Select performances Sept. 3-13. $32.50 & up. Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton The Marvelous Wonderettes Select performances Sept. 11-20. $22 & up. Francis Wilson Playhouse, Clearwater Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Select performances Sept. 11-20. $32 & up. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey A Night With Janis Joplin Select performances Sept. 16-Oct. 11. $28. American Stage, St. Petersburg As We Like It Select performances Sept. 17-Oct. 4. $28. LAB Theater Project, Tampa What a Glorious Feeling! Select performances Sept. 18-Oct. 4. $25 & up. freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg Voices of Women Studio Series: My Year of Saying No Friday-Sunday, Sept. 18-20. $20 &u p. Powerstories Theatre, Tampa The Suffragette’s Murder Select performances Sept. 18-27. $23 & up. St. Petersburg City Theatre, St. Petersburg Nocturne by Adam Rapp (Off-Central Players) Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 24-26. Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 5 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $20. The Off-Central Players, St. Petersburg Night of Poe Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 24-26. $55 & up. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey Jane Austen in 89 Minutes Select performances Sept. 25-Oct. 11. $30 & up. Stageworks Theatre, Tampa You Can’t Take It With You September. Select nights Sept. 25-Oct. 5. $19.36 & up Plant City Entertainment, Plant City

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The Wash Select performances Oct. 1-11. $25-$40. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg The Addams Family Musical Select performances Oct. 2-18. $20-$23. The Village Players, Valrico Buena Vista Social Club Select performances Oct. 6-11. $65.80. Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Select performances Oct. 9-18. $65.80 & up. Gem Theater, Mulberry Misery Select performances Oct. 14-Nov. 8. Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Sophisticated Ladies Select performances Oct. 14-Nov. 22. $21 & up. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota Carrie: The Musical Select performances Oct. 15-Nov. 1. $32.50. Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton The Rocky Horror Picture Show Select performances Oct. 16-25. $28.25 & up. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour w/Patricia Quinn Thursday, Oct. 22. 7:30 p.m. $59 & up. Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Dear Evan Hansen Select performances Oct. 22-Nov. 1. $35-$43. Stone Hall at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton Dracula Select performances Oct. 23-Nov. 1. $22. Francis Wilson Playhouse, Clearwater Hamilton Select performances Oct. 21-Nov. 8. $75. Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

The Rocky Horror Picture Show w/Hell on Heels Friday, Oct. 30. 8 p.m. $15 & up. Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Meteor Shower Select performances Nov. 4-22.Tickets on sale Sept. 25. American Stage, St. Petersburg Peter and the Starcatcher Select performances Nov. 6-22. Ticket price TBD. Shimberg Playhouse at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Noises Off Select performances Nov. 6-15. $31.75. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey The Da Vinci Code Select performances Nov. 6-Dec. 6. $25 & up. freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg ‘Twas the Night Before… (Cirque du Soleil) Select performances Nov. 18-29. $62.20. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa MIXed: Pulse of the City Friday-Saturday, Nov. 20-21. $15-$25. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg Penelope Select performances Aug. 19-Sept. 6. Thu-Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.; added Sat. matinees Aug. 29 & Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. $50 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Anastasia Select performances Dec. 3-13. $35 & up. Stone Hall at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton Pushing Daisies Select performances Dec. 3-20. Ticket price TBD. LAB Theater Project, Tampa Holiday Cabaret Select performances Dec. 4-13. Ticket price TBD. American Stage, St. Petersburg Fiddler on the Roof Select performances Dec. 4-20. $22 & up. Francis Wilson Playhouse, Clearwater Holiday Incorporated Select performances Dec. 4-20. $30 & up. Stageworks Theatre, Tampa Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play Select performances Dec. 4-23. Ticket price TBD. Shimberg Playhouse at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Death Becomes Her Select performances Dec. 8-13. $62.20 & up. Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Anastasia Select performances Dec. 11-20. [TIME — check spcitytheatre.org]. $28 & up. St. Petersburg City Theatre, St. Petersburg A Christmas Carol: In Concert Select performances Dec. 11-24. $25 & up. freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg Raising Twelve (Concert Version) Select performances Dec. 16-20. $32 & up. Powerstories Theatre, Tampa A Motown Christmas December Multiple times and dates between WednesdaySunday, Dec. 2-Jan. 3. $25 & up. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota. westcoastblacktheatre.org Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@cltampa.com for details.

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cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 49

REVIEWS

PROFILES

MUSIC WEEK

In the books

SITTING, WAITING, WISHING: Haslam’s Books in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 8, 2016.

A concert at Haslam’s, plus bigger shows coming to Tampa Bay. By J.C. Roddy/Cigar City Sounds

our months and more than a thousand T-shirts into his unlikely campaign to reopen Haslam’s Book Store, St. Petersburg artist Filipe Bergson still hasn’t heard from the family that owns it. So naturally, he’s throwing a concert in their parking lot. This weekend, Bergson will bring local musicians, costumes, and what he’s calling the “Library Olympics” to the long-shuttered bookstore on Central Avenue. The event is the latest escalation in a campaign that began with the admittedly absurd goal of selling 500,000 bootleg Haslam’s shirts, buying the property, and reopening the St. Pete institution. This time, however, the Haslam’s hopeful is less interested in raising money than in getting an answer. “This is more of just like another PR stunt to see if we can get the attention of the family and get them to talk to us,” Bergson told Cigar City Sounds. The show itself will be appropriately makeshift. There won’t be a traditional stage, but the

artists and filmmakers involved plan to bring a bare-bones PA system, props, and projectors to transform the parking lot. Delaney Staack opens, followed by St. Pete indie-folk band Little Giver and the newly assembled Haslam’s Family Band, a group of Bergson’s musician friends formed specifically for the event. Between performances, the man behind the shirts will host games and competitions, including a costume contest and book-sorting challenge. Contestants in the latter won’t receive instructions on how to organize their pile. “I’m just gonna be like, start sorting the books,” Bergson said. “And then I’m gonna ask them how they sorted them and why. And that’s gonna decide the winner.” There is, of course, one minor complication: Bergson doesn’t have permission to use the property. When asked if he’d looked into the legality of holding the event there, his answer was simple: “Uh, in the sense that it is illegal,” he said.

50 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

Bergson added that they will leave if asked why they don’t want to open up their business,” and relocate the show to a legitimate venue Bergson said. “Or whatever their plan is. I don’t at a later date. But the possibility of getting have to run this shit. Like, they can reopen it.” kicked out almost seems baked into the point. For now, the bookstore remains closed, the He describes the event as another “Hail Mary” family remains quiet, and Bergson has a band to draw the Haslam family into a conversation rehearsing for a show in a parking lot he fully about the future of the bookstore. acknowledges he isn’t supposed to use. At the Despite the tongue-in-cheek approach, the very least, it should be an interesting Saturday. organizer says there is This post first appeared legitimate interest behind at Cigar City Sounds, which the effort. He has resisted is part of the Tampa Bay crowdfunding because the Journalism Project (TBJP), building isn’t currently a nascent Creative Loafing Haslam’s parking lot show for sale and he doesn’t feel Tampa Bay effort supported comfortable taking dona- w/Haslam’s Family Band/Little Giver/Delaney by grants and a coalition tions without a clear path Staack. Saturday, Aug. 29. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No of donors who make specover. 2025 Central Ave., St. Petersburg forward. Meanwhile, he cific contributions via the @spnchspnch on Instagram says potential investors Alternative Newsweekly have approached him with interest in helping Foundation. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area finance the project if he can establish communi- publication interested in TBJP, please email cation with the family and get an asking price. rroa@cltampa.com. Support Cigar City Sounds Reopening Haslam’s remains the dream, by following @cigarcitysounds on Instagram. but at this point, he says simply hearing from the family and understanding their perspective More fall concerts coming to Tampa Bay would provide an answer to a question St. Pete The concert calendar, of course, also includes has been asking for years. big ass concerts that require their own parking “Even if we don’t get to do anything with lots. Here are some of the hardest-to-get tickets Haslam’s, we’d have a clear-cut story behind this fall. Come back next week for Josh Bradley’s

SHOW PREVIEW

Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train (and now Bleachers). Ruess and Means amicably went on hiatus in 2008 as Fun. took off but reunited last year for a short run of summer dates ahead of a new album, Boycott Heaven, released last January. This fall, The Format is back on the road “hitting some states we didn’t get to hit on the Spring leg of the Boycott Heaven tour (including Florida).” The Format played St. Petersburg’s long-shuttered State Theatre in July 2006 in support of Dog Problems and returns to the neighborhood this fall alongside The Get Up Kids. Tuesday, Sept. 29. 7:30 p.m. $54.44. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg The Beths w/Chelsea Jade The Beths are not from Australia. The New Zealand indierock band, however, is in America and headed for Florida. Touring behind last year’s Straight Line Was a Lie, The Beths have three Florida shows in October, including one in Tampa. 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. A social media post from @thebeths says the band will actually “play your favourite Beths songs by spontaneous request!” at the gig. Saturday, Oct. 3. 7 p.m. $36.05. The Ritz, Ybor City Ziggy Marley w/Gov’t Mule While the pairing may appear unexpected on paper, both artists have built careers by looking beyond

traditional boundaries. Since its formation as an Allman Brothers Band side project in 1994, Gov’t Mule has folded blues, soul, funk, jazz, and reggae influences into its Southern rock foundation, while Marley—the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley—has spent more than two decades expanding reggae’s reach far beyond its roots. The tour’s title also speaks to a relationship that stretches back much further than this year’s announcement. “Dreaming the Same Dream” takes its name from a song Haynes and Marley co-wrote, which was featured on the Warren Haynes Band’s 2012 album Live at the Moody Theater. Sunday, Oct. 4. 5 p.m. $32 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater— J.C. Roddy Thundercat w/Kitty Ca$h Hitting the road in support of Distracted, released last April, the Brainfeeder-founder born Stephen Lee Bruner kicks off a fall tour in Miami. It’s been five years since Thundercat’s last album, and just as many since he’s been in the Tampa Bay area. The 15-track outing was produced by nine-time Grammy-winner Greg Kurstin, who’s collaborated with a host of pop’s most-revered names from Adele to Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar. The album includes a slew of special guests from Tame Impala (which just made its Tampa debut last week), to A$sap Rocky, and The Lemon Twigs. Bruner, a twotime Grammy-winner himself, will be in good company for the St. Pete show thanks to a set from producer, DJ, and tastemaker Kitty Ca$h.

Wednesday, Oct. 7. 7 p.m. $58.06. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg The Jonas Brothers w/Magnus Ferrell/ Deleasa Prepare to feel old, Disney Channel Gen-Z’ers, because the Jonas Brothers have announced a 20th anniversary “Living The Dream” tour. While the Jonas Brothers played an intimate, greatest hits set at Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Event Center last summer, their last time on Channelside Drive was in October 2023, when they played at least a snippet of every song off of five of their albums. And there’s a dirty little secret, too: The All-American Rejects—following its own 25th anniversary last year—will open this blast to the past. Sunday, Oct. 11. 7 p.m. $64.55 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa— Josh Bradley Weezer w/The Shins/Silversun Pickups Say it ain’t so, but legendary 90s alternative outfit Weezer is back on tour. Known for hits like “Buddy Holly,” “Beverly Hills,” and “Island in the Sun,” the group has a new “Gold” album that’s garnered mixed reviews. Wednesday, Oct. 14. 7 p.m. $55 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Snail Mail & Soccer Mommy Etsy witches of Tampa Bay, your curses worked. Both bands last played in the Bay area on separate tours in 2022. Soccer Mommy has since released Evergreen in 2024 and a stripped version last year. Snail Mail dropped her third studio album, continued on page 53

SHOW PREVIEW

FABIAN BRENNECKE/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

weekly rundown of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay.—Ray Roa Bruno Mars w/Anderson .Paak/Raye One of Bruno Mars’ best performances was in a football stadium in 2014 for Super Bowl XLVIII, and he’s back on the field this year in support of a fourth solo LP, The Romantic. Joining all stops on the tour is Mars’ Silk Sonic bandmate Anderson .Paak, who will appear as his vinyl-toting alter ego DJ Pee .Wee. The Tampa show—one of two shows in Florida—will also feature U.K. singer and producer Rachel Agatha Keen, aka Raye (stylized all-caps). Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 12 & 13. 7 p.m. $158 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa The Strokes Julian Casablancas’ revered indie-rock band has not been in the Bay area since 2015 when the band headlined day two of the long-defunct Big Guava Music Festival. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s review of that set noted how Casablancas & co. “blazed through a career retrospective setlist that spanned almost two dozen songs and ignited a ticking time bomb of nostalgia…” Saturday, Sept. 12. 7 p.m. $64.35 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Turnstile w/Hatebreed/Cold World The band, which earned Grammys for Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance last February has plans to play England Brothers Bandshell in Pinellas Park, which the municipality says can host up to 5,000 attendees. Saturday, Sept. 19. 5 p.m. $85.53. England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park YSL Records & Young Thug Young Thug used to get shit for warbling his way through hiphop, but fingerprints of his signature delivery are now all over the genre. After taking a fiveyear break from the road, and an appearance at Coachella last April, the 35-year-old Atlanta ness,”rapper is back to show off his Young Stoner Life don’trecord label. Wednesday, Sept. 23. 8 p.m. $52.40. en it.”Yuengling Center, Tampa d, the Wu-Tang Clan w/Bone Thugs-N-Harmony bandLast year, legendary hip-hop crew Wu-Tang Clan fullyembarked on what they claimed would be its t thefinal farewell tour. But as they say “cash rules rday.everything around me,” so it appears Staten earedIsland’s finest will bring da’ ruckus one more whichtime. Wu-Tang was in Tampa last summer alonga Bayside Run The Jewels, and just like last time BJP),this year’s stop promises all surviving members afingincluding RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, ortedMethod Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta litionKilla, Cappadonna, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son Young spe-Dirty Bastard. The new tour could be viewed as a thea victory lap of sorts, after all the Wu-Tang Clan eeklywas nominated for induction into this year’s Rock y areaand Roll Hall of Fame class. Thursday, Sept. email24. 7:30 p.m. $42 & up. Midflorida Credit Union undsAmphitheatre, Tampa—Colin Wolf am. The Format w/The Get Up Kids Fun. had a quick two-album run that changed radio pop between 2009-2012, but that supergroup ludeswouldn’t have been possible without The Format. rkingThe “desert pop” band was made up of Nate cketsRuess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. dley’sRuess went on to form Fun. with Anathollo’s

THUNDERSTRUCK: Stephen Bruner’s jazz project returns to St. Petersburg in October.

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 51

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MICHAEL FRANTI TRIO PRISTINE: Snail Mail is coming back to Tampa this fall. continued from page 51 Ricochet, in March. Fellow sadgirl Scarlet Rae opens. Sunday, Oct. 18. 6 p.m. $47.48. Orpheum, Tampa—Selene San Felice Cash Money & No Limit Tour Get your money ready, woady. An entire generation of Americans had its genome reprogrammed in the late-’90s and early-2000s thanks to a bunch of rappers and entrepreneurs from New Orleans. The iconic rap labels, largely-recognized for bringing their distinct and unapologetically-Southern sound to the masses, have sold more than a billion records collectively and recently headlined the return of hip-hop’s ridiculously-fun “verzuz” series. As expected, they’ll both bring a stacked lineup of their heavy hitters to the run. According to a press release, artists scheduled to appear in Tampa include Birdman, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, B.G., Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mac, Mercedes, Fiend, Choppa Style, and Mr. Serv-On. Boosie plays opener. Saturday, Nov. 7. 8 p.m. $83.65. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa The Altons w/Archer Oh The average age for members of The Altons can’t be more than 32 years old, but the Los Angeles band’s sound is much older. The quartet, as vocalist and guitarist Bryan Ponce explained to the L.A. Times, is unmistakable product of East L.A. where weekends on the street are often soundtracked by parties blasting anything from cumbia, to punk rock or Art Laboe-approved oldies. Drawn in by the pull of frontwoman Adriana Flores along with the sometimes multi-lingual, always retro, sound of singles like “Love You Like That” (2025) or the band’s long-awaited Daptone Records debut fulllength Heartache in Room 14, fans of The Altons are just as diverse and often span three generations. After summer festival dates and one-offs on the west coast, The Altons will jump on a plane for a short tour of Florida that includes three stops ahead of the Sublime Reef Madness Cruise out of Miami. Wednesday, Nov. 11. 7 p.m. $29.67 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg

Deer Tick w/Dug Hailing from Rhode Island, Deer Tick is among the preeminent purveyors of real American rock and roll—but had not dropped music since 2023 and 2024 companion releases Emotional Contracts and Contractual Obligations. Coin-O-Matic—a narrative-driven ode to Providence—was released on June 5. It’s a record that’s been seven years in the making. The waiting paid off, McCauley added. “I’ve never heard a studio recording of our band operating with this level of confidence before. Not everything about getting older sucks,” he added. Friday, Nov. 13. 7 p.m. $35.27 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg Jimmy Eat World w/Hot Mulligan/Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers Released three months before 9/11, Jimmy Eat World was forced to rename its mainstream breakthrough Bleed American after the attack on the Twin Towers. But 25 years later, the album stands the test of time and serves as a watershed moment for the Arizona emo outfit. Recorded on the band’s own dime after Capitol headscratchingly dropped Jimmy Eat World following the release of genre staple Clarity, Bleed American (which was a self-titled LP before going back to its original name in 2008) went platinum thanks to the hit single “The Middle.” In 2024, the album joined Spotify’s billion-stream club. Without a dull moment in its 47-minute runtime, frontman Jim Adkins & co. will play the album in full. In a release, drummer Zach Lind said the tour is a second chase to love on fans who’ve allowed Jimmy Eat World to make a living over the last two-and-ahalf decades. “I feel like at this time in our lives, especially for me, it’s important to get back to a place that you can savor. This tour is designed to be an elevated version of our show, a heightened experience with production that reflects 25 years of learning how to stretch artistically in the live environment,” Adkins added. Saturday, Nov. 14. 7 p.m. $49 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

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56 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

By Ray Roa C CL Recommends

FRI 28

DJ Dfaz’s Rap House: Beanie w/Knux/ Asaru/Psych Montano There are a handful of folks in the Bay area fully committed to platforming hip-hop. Danny Fazioli is one of them. A staple from the since shuttered Shuffle Remix days, the DJ better known as Dfaz has moved his rap house to Ybor City, and this weekend he welcomes Caribbean singer songwriter Beanie to headline, fresh off the release of a new single, “Beanie Baby.” Producer Knux gets a set, and the night is rounded out by East Coast, Illsboro Records signee Asaru and Psych Montano. 8 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City C Fessi K. ‘Jock’ album release w/Pal/ Rocket 97 Jeff Buckley will fuck your life up. Just ask Zoe Robinson. Better known as Fessi K., the songwriter saw “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” in September 2025 and emerged from a writing slump to come up with most of what ended up on Jock. In the documentary, the late singer-songwriter blasts through 100 tunes in a month as he gets set to release his debut. Robinson—who started in the scene as a producer, but is now flanked

by drummer Micah Jno Baptiste, Noel Colon on lead guitar, and bassist Vonne Parks in the band—tried to write 10 songs a week for five weeks, and ended up with 30. A baker’s dozen made it onto a slacker-rock record that resists any urge resting on laurels. A student of Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, and Dipset, Robinson’s lyrics vividly capture her pain, inner thoughts, and life on earth while being unrelenting hell-bent on dictating the future of lo-fi indie-rock. Over Jock ’s 35 minutes, Robinson & co. tackle creeps (“Stargirl”), shitty podcast hosts (“Don’t Give A Bitch A Bone”), real love (“1000 Legger”), and even marry country-rock to the drum machine (“Sleep Better Knowing”). It’s easily one of the Bay area’s best rock records of 2026, and it’ll get a warm reception at this emergent DIY venue. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Learning, Clearwater On High Festival: Pepper w/The Movement/Surfer Girl/Brother Ali/The Grouch & Eligh That smell? We’re halfway to Reggae Rise Up, people. The On High party is just one day, but it brings staples of the reggae-rock genre back to the St. Petersburg waterfront, from Big Island-born trio Pepper to The Movement from South Carolina. Aer’s Carter Reeves brings his feelgood reggae-pop project Surfer Girl to the pier, too. 4 p.m. $40.66 & up. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg

SAT 29

THU AUGUST 27–THU SEPTEMBER 03

C Guitars Galore: Carl Amundson w/ Bart Hanchey/Charlie Robinson/Jose Velandia/Vincent Sims/Cracker Jack Rhythm Charlie Byrd would’ve turned 101 years old in September. Expect Carl Amundson to call a few tunes by the jazz icon at this guitar pull of sorts hosted by The Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. Five guitarists take the stage, backed by a three-piece rhythm section, for solo sets all before coming together at the end for the finale. 4 p.m. $25. Seven C Music, St. Petersburg

THU 03

C Rock the Park 16th anniversary: Saints of Saturn w/Sunde/Maryn Alyse First Thursdays in downtown Tampa have been a sweet treat for 16 years now, thanks to Rock the Park. The locally-grown concert series is a bonafide staple of life in the 813 (even if you have a 656 number), and this week it is locked on the future (new band Maryn Alyse), ready to rock (Saints of Saturn), and tapping in with one of the most soulful songwriters in the Bay area (Sunde). There’s no cover, so bring your kids, pets, and blankets. We’re sure there’ll be cake. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

C Mr. Floyd Larry w/Mossheads/bill. Miami is fertile ground for rock, and Mr. Floyd Larry is proof. Straddling the pine between shoegaze and post-punk, the quartet was just in town last year with Juno 60 and this week headlines a gig perfect FFO of Cocteau Twins, DIIV, and Inner Wave. Homegrown indie-pop favorite Mossheads supports alongside Tampa kings of TAGABOW-channeling art-rock, Bill. 8 p.m. $20 & up. New World Music Hall, Tampa

WED 02

ooze hand-in-hand with They Might Be Giants. Despite its nerd-pop sheen, a 2026 album, Podium, has the kind of nihilistic thoughts and existential dread reserved for sleepless nights watching Fox News. Officially viral, the Los Angeles trio is a musical mascot for furries and Gen-Z which has flocked to the band’s special brand of meme-rock. Patrick Stump and Laura Jane Grace-approved ska band Catbite opens. 7 p.m. $29.67 & up. New World Music Hall, Tampa

Cheekface w/Catbite Cheekface is what happens when Cake walks through primordial

See a listing of more concerts coming to Tampa Bay via cltampa.com/music.

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cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 57

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58 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

Wand-ering By Caroline DeBruhl

how “to fix” something is just to be prolific at it. You just gotta make a lot of shitty new stuff to see what fails first before you learn how to make it better. You just have to start. And the time to start is now. The Full Moon is a card of action, of putting plans into motion, so if there was ever a time to begin, it’s now. The Fool and The Emperor are opposites in a way. The Emperor is in control; he has the experiCards: Knight of Wands (reversed), The ence to back up his authority and knows his own Emperor, Full Moon, The Fool mind and what needs to be done. The Fool, on the Dear Sound, writer and Friend of the col- other hand, is the happy naïf taking his first steps umn, Harry Crews once remarked that he once into the unknown. He has what Zen Buddhists threw away half a novel. call a “beginner’s mind.” Just made a wrong turn and You became a musician tossed it. He said: “The amawith an established sound teur, or the coward, will try not only because you worked to keep it and make it work at it and had talent, but because he doesn’t want to do Send your questions to oracle@cltampa. because you mastered cerit all again another way. The com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram tain skills. Those skills are real artist—with no tear in probably transferable to your his eye or sadness in his heart—puts the pages new sound. Maybe not completely, but surely it’s in the fire, and does it again.” not entirely foreign. It might take a while, but As the Knight of Wands, I think you are a real you’ll pick it up quicker than you think. artist. I think you have the drive to create and Now, as The Fool, you get to start on a new the wisdom to know when something cannot be path. The downsides are that it might cause some saved. But perfectionism makes one into a coward. frustration, but the upside is that going into a Every artist worth their salt has worked new art blind is fun! It’s fun to fuck around hard, made something awful, chucked it, and with stuff, to see what you can do, what you can started again. I know it’s difficult to feel this build, how things work together. You are too new way as a perfectionist, but the best way to learn to have any real expectations from yourself, so ear Oracle, I’m a musician. I’ve been writing songs and recording on my own for years, and I definitely have a “sound.” But I’m thinking about branching out and experimenting. My problem is that I’m a perfectionist, so the idea of making something that’s bad and not knowing how to fix it seems daunting. Any advice?—Sound Advice

ORACLE OF YBOR

there are none. That’s freedom! It’s so rare to be surprised by something new in your art; I really hope you get to relish it. So go out, make bad art, have fun with it, and do it now. Best of luck, my dear. Dear Oracle, I had a “Before Sunrise” moment a few weeks ago in Paris. I met this girl, and we spent the entire evening/night/morning walking around the city and just talking. We met up the following few days, too, and had these incredible conversations and connection. We both said we had never felt this way before about another person. If I’m completely honest with myself, I’m in love. We parted ways but kept talking every day. But two days ago she just said that she “might have fallen in love in Amsterdam?” (WHAT THE FUCK???) What am I supposed to do with that?!—Sunset on love? Cards: The Hanged Man, Waxing Crescent, Nine of Swords reversed, King of Cups reversed Dear Sunset, you gotta fucking tell her how you feel, man. Everything about this situation is over-thetop romantic; you just gotta fall onto the sword of Love and hope the Gods take mercy on you. This is big Hanged Man energy: he’s a martyr with a bursting heart who’d rather go out hangin’ than deny his truth. But, you know, workshop your declaration of love first. The Waxing Crescent is about gathering what we need to manifest our desires, so while you know your own heart, there might be better phrases to express those desires. Maybe show a draft to a trusted friend.

Of course, the Nine of Swords and King of Cups show how incredibly anxiety-inducing this is, how if you really felt that connect and that spark of love, you don’t want to let it go. There is a cruelty in the first stages of love; it’s what causes that distinct pain of a heart softening. It’s precarious and painful but might lead to something brilliant. If you’ve been single for a while (especially if you’ve had your heart brutally broken before) and you truly feel like Fate delivered you this great love, put it just within your reach, but could yank it away if you make the wrong move, then that is a place of terror and hope. I do not underestimate that pain. But here’s the thing: if you don’t tell her, you still might never see or hear from her again. Your conversations might just fizzle out and since you informed me privately that y’all don’t even live in the same time zone, there’s little chance you’ll bump into her—unless Fate crosses your paths twice. This is not you trying to win back an ex or someone who clearly said they don’t want to be with you. She didn’t know you existed three weeks ago; she didn’t know this Amsterdammer existed last week. Nothing is an established relationship yet, dude. So, be brave and tell her. Write (and re-write until you’re satisfied or it’s been a week) your confession and send it off to her. Let her have all the facts so that she may act with a clear mind and heart. May the Fates be in your favor, my dear. See more of Caroline at carolinedebruhl.com.

SHUTTERSTOCK/ANASTASSKA

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 59

60 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

The bends By Dan Savage

’m going through a really difficult time, and I could really use some perspective. I’m a gay 47-year-old man with a husband of 25-plus years. We have two young children in the house. My husband and I are monogamish, and our relationship is OK. Not great, not terrible. Up until about three years ago, I was a big bearish/chub guy, and carried all the self-loathing and insecurities that can be associated with that. I had stomach surgery to lose weight, and I started to feel like maybe I was getting a handle on my body issues. Given the fact that I grew up in the ‘80s, I’ve never been big on casual sex. But after my surgery I started to feel like this was something I wanted to experience. At least to a minimal extent. That was until last year when I was diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. I’m sure you’re familiar with it, but it’s essentially an autoimmune disease where your body causes inflammation in your dick, and that inflammation causes scar tissue to develop. Aside from making your dick bend in strange ways, it can cause weird hour-glass deformations and erectile dysfunction, both of which I’ve developed. This situation has kind of destroyed me. I’ve done everything my doctors have told me—I did the painful daily stretches with a device which crushes your dick head and stretches you—and I did the excruciating Xiaflex injections to try and break up the scar tissue. Believe me when I tell you that you don’t know pain until you’ve experienced those shots. Nothing has helped. I’m absolutely crushed by this. I’m disgusted by my body, and I find my penis repugnant to the point that I don’t even want to touch it. I have no interest in sex with anyone, not even myself. I’m not jerking off. Fortunately, I live within travel distance of the ONLY Peyronie’s clinic in the United States, and have had appointments with probably the foremost expert in the subject on this continent. But even he has failed to give me any hope. There’s a chance that after a few years the scar tissue will break down and my penis will be more normal, but that’s not a guarantee. To be blunt, I’m suicidal. The knowledge that I’m never going to have a normal sex life again has ruined me. I’ve seen therapists, I’ve tried multiple anti-depressants, and I’ve even been doing daily ketamine therapy. Nothing has helped. I’m never going to get a chance to experience a fulfilling sex life. The only things keeping me from killing myself are my kids and the fact that I make substantially more money than my husband, and my family is dependent on me to be the main breadwinner. I’m out of ideas about how to navigate this situation. None of my doctors seem overly concerned about the severity of my depression. Or maybe they just realize there’s

nothing they can do for me, and have given up trying. I’ve tried to broach the subject with some friends, but none of them want to talk about it. I don’t know what to do. I need someone who can appreciate the severity of waking up one day to find out that your penis is now a malformed monstrosity, and it won’t ever work for you the same way again. I also understand if this is way too fucked up for you, and you don’t want to get involved.—A Broken Man “This is a really sad case,” said Dr. Joshua Gonzalez, a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist who specializes in treating sexual dysfunctions in men and women. “Without knowing the details of what potentially could’ve caused this and how severe his deformity is—whether or not he’s experiencing a curvature or just the hour-glass indentation he’s describing—it’s a little hard for me to provide specifics on treatments,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “But it sounds like this guy has really been suffering with what he’s been experiencing in relation to his Peyronie’s.” Dr. Gonzalez has been in private practice in Los Angeles for more than 10 years, ABM, and has treated hundreds of Peyronie’s patients. And some of the men he’s treated were just as distraught when they walked into his office as you are now. “It also sounds like ABM has already pursued a lot of the most common treatments, including injections with Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved drug for this condition,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “And it sounds like he’s going to a Peyronie’s specialty practice, so I’m assuming he’ll be seeing someone who knows what they’re doing and has experience treating these conditions.” But there is something that can be done for you—something you haven’t mentioned in your letter— that Dr. Gonzalez thinks you should explore with your doctor. “Penile implant surgery can often be a godsend for patients who suffer from Peyronie’s disease who do not seem to respond to Xiaflex or traction devices and who also have erectile dysfunction,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “A lot of guys don’t like the idea of a penile implant when they first hear about it, but for someone who’s really been suffering like this, both in terms of the deformity that he sees in his penis and his inability to get and maintain an erection, a penile implant can treat both of those conditions and provide the rigidity he would need to have sexual activity.”

SAVAGE LOVE

But first things first. “Given ABM’s overall mental state currently, with his admitting to having suicidal thoughts, he should definitely work with a mental health professional and try to get that under control before considering pursuing something like surgery,” said Dr. Gonzalez. “But I want him to know that for men who ultimately pursue penile implant surgery, the satisfaction rate with that surgery is over 90%, which is pretty unheard of in terms of medical interventions. Working with a mental health professional and a urologist—the physician who would perform this procedure—and talking to them about how pleasurable sex can be after this surgery, especially in the context of a monogamish relationship, could be really, really helpful for him and get him back to being functional and enjoying sex.” P.S. To say I’m familiar with Peyronie’s disease would be an understatement. I’ve gone back and forth about whether to include this postscript, ABM, because my readers—most of them—don’t wanna think about my dick. But nearly one in 10 men develop Peyronie’s disease at some point in their lives, ABM, and I’m among the one in ten. Like some men who suffer from

Pey r on ie ’s disease, it was an injury that led to the buildup of a fibrous plaque on one side of my dick, which caused it to bend at a weird angle. I wish I could say it was an interesting injury—getting kicked in the dick in a sex dungeon in Berlin or something—but it was an extremely painful fall on my bike, sadly, and not anything that happened to me in a sex dungeon in Berlin.

My case wasn’t disabling ABM, but it was extremely depressing, especially as it got worse over the course of the first year. While I never stopped having sex, I lived in constant fear that one wrong move—one misdirected thrust—could make things much worse. So, I got creative. With topping off the menu, ABM, I leaned into other things I enjoyed (oral, toys, mutual masturbation, my cherished collection of standard-issue-Catholic-schoolboy kinks) when I wanted to have sex. I recognize that my Peyronie’s disease wasn’t as bad as what many other sufferers have to endure—my erections were never painful—and I was extremely fortunate in the end. After two years, I experienced the kind of spontaneous resolution you describe: the plaque in my dick began to break down, the bend in my dick became noticeably less pronounced before disappearing altogether, and my dick returned to normal. If it could happen for me, ABM, it could happen for you, too, whether you’re lucky enough to see your Peyronie’s disease resolve spontaneously or you ultimately find an effective treatment. But it can’t happen for you— you’ll never get your dick back—if you kill yourself now. Please think about your husband, think about your kids, ABM, think about my dick, and don’t lose hope. P.P.S. And if your erections aren’t painful, ABM, you don’t have to wait until your Peyronie’s disease magically goes away to be sexually active—just like you didn’t have to wait until after weight-loss surgery to get out there and have some monogamish fun. Just as there were always men out there who were into bigger guys, there are men out there right now who don’t give a shit about your cock. There are guys standing at glory holes hoping to be sucked off, ABM, and there are tops waiting in front of empty slings who would be so down to fuck a hot middle-aged daddy. If you don’t want anyone to see your cock, wear a jock, don’t take it off, and if a guy reaches for your dick, just move his hand away and tell him you’re just a hole. You have options, ABM, even now. Live a little. 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 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 61

Employment Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www. storagetreasures.com. ending on September 11th, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at Compass Self Storage 1685 Hwy 17 N Eagle Lake Florida 33839. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at time of sale. All Goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 3116 Robert Browning Unit 3131 Juan Diaz Unit 1004 Tasha Mundy Unit 1036 Andrew McDonald Unit 1110-1081 Shakeema Merchant Unit 2070 Andrew McDonald Unit 2168 Shema Tucker. Run dates 8/27/2026 and 9/03/2026. Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on September 11th, 2026, at 10:00am for units located at: Compass Self

Storage 3000 Mulford Rd. Mulberry Fl, 33860 Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sales are subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. 2169- Saphyre Tinsley 2150- Sandra Stevenson 2005Christine Berg 3010- Danielle Pinson 1015- Victoria Yzquierdo 7038- Cachet Mclendon 1187- Meggan Price 1168Jonathan Moreno 4102- Michael John Torres Rodriguez Run dates 8/27/2026 and 9/03/2026. Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on September 11th, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 2291 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, Florida 33563 Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 2160 Michelle Granger Unit 2210 Sharon Goodman. Run dates 8/27/2026 and 9/03/2026.

62 | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | cltampabay.com

PSA Anencephaly is a tragic, 100% fatal birth defect that is largely avoidable. If women of child bearing age took an inexpensive, readily available daily supplement, 50%-70% of anencephaly and spina bifida birth defects could be eliminated. Folic Acid (vitamin B 9) is critical to normal fetal development in the earliest stages, often before a mother knows she’s pregnant. Ask the women in your life; remind the women you love. https://www.anencephaly.info/

cltampabay.com | AUG. 27-SEP. 02, 2026 | 63

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