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DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 (VOL.38, NO.51) • $FREE CREATIVE LOAFING - CLTAMPABAY.COM

25FOR$25 L.P.C.X CAFÉ AMONG TAMPA BAY'S BEST RESTAURANTS ON A BUDGET

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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DAVE DECKER

Editorial MANAGING EDITOR Selene San Felice FOOD & DRINK CRITIC Kyla Fields FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Kyla Fields, McKenna Schueler PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker FALL INTERNS Alisha Duroiser, Sophia Lowrie, Emily McLaughlin (apply for summer by emailing clips and a resume to rroa@cltampa.com) Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Paul Pavlovich POLITICAL CARTOONIST Bob Whitmore ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson Advertising SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Anthony Carbone, Dan Winkler CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER Jerrica Schwartz Events and Marketing MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Leigh Wilson SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Lauren Caplinger MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman

We know what the risks are by doing this.

Clearwater Starbucks workers join nationwide strike, p. 13.

Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta

chavagroup.com cltampabay.com cldeals.com EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

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KYLA FIELDS

Chava Communications Group FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Michael Wagner CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Cassandra Yardeni Wagner CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Graham Jarrett VP OF OPERATIONS Hollie Mahadeo DIRECTOR OF AGENCY SERVICES Kelsey Molina ART DIRECTOR David Loyola DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Jaime Monzon

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Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Events & Media, LLC, 633 N Franklin St., Suite 735. Tampa, Florida, 33602.

Every square inch of this meal is packed with flavor.

El Huarache Veloz punches well above its price point, p.25.

The newspaper is produced and printed on Indigenous land belonging to Tampa Bay’s Tocobaga and Seminole tribes.

ON THE COVER: Photo by Dave Decker. Design by David Loyola & Jack Spatafora.

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/food Auld Lang Syne /music Shakes it out /arts More things to do /news Year in review

S U M U E M E S ! M A J E HOL IDAYS AT TH HOLIDAY BREAK DROP-IN FAMILY ART STUDIO

DEC. 26 - JAN. 3

421b18 f5e7c4

AND MORE! CHECK OUR CALENDAR FOR ALL EVENTS

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THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY

DEC 19

TH &

20 | ST PETE PIER TH

FREE ENTRY! ATASTEOF THENORTH.COM 39 VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE $

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from December 18 - 24 Yee haw-liday

Holiday RiverFest: Saturday, Dec. 20. 1 p.m.-11 p.m. $37.50 & up. Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park,1001 N Blvd., Tampa. holidayriverfront.com—Sophia Lowrie

Tees the season

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration’s holiday tradition of targeting Christmas drag shows flopped hard this year. Pensacola City Council dismissed Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s letter demanding the city stop its local performance of “A Drag Queen Christmas” the touring show of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars. This year, Uthmeier attacked specific queens for being “demonic” and “satanic.” And since Uthmeier opened the library, he got read back. In a video addressing “James Urethra,” Trinity the Tuck clarified that the show is not anti-Christian. Trinity encouraged Floridians to sell out every “A Drag Queen Christmas” show in the state as an act of resistance. “Show them the support so we can show this administration…drag is fun, drag is art, and it’s not hurting anybody,” Trinity said. “If you’re worried about children, worry about gun control and feeding them instead of worrying about drag queens.” A Drag Queen Christmas comes to St. Petersburg the day before it’s slated for Pensacola. Tickets start at $49.

A Drag Queen Christmas: Monday, Dec. 22. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. $49 & up. Duke Energy Center for the Arts at Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S, St. Petersburg. dragfans.com—Selene San Felice

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CITYOFDUNEDINFL/FLICKR

Dragged

Dunedin Goes Carting, the community organization that first made the city synonymous with golf carts in 2011, hosts its annual holiday golf cart parade this weekend. For those looking to participate, make sure you’ve registered online and follow the guidelines. Staging begins at 5 p.m. at VFW Post 2550, a holiday fundraiser to support veterans that includes holiday music, food, drinks and time to admire the decorated carts before lining up at the parade route. The parade rolls out at 7:30 p.m. through downtown Dunedin and the Mease loop. Cart registration is $20. The event is free to spectate.

Christmas Cart Parade & VFW Fundraiser: Saturday, Dec. 20. VFW Post 2550, 360 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. @dunedingoescarting on Facebook

—Selene San Felice

ERNESTOFFICIAL/FACEBOOK

SUPERDRAGQUEEN1/FACEBOOK

Another new holiday celebration brings country music, weiner dogs, ugly sweaters and more to Tampa this weekend. The inaugural Holiday RiverFest will transform Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park into a holiday hub, complete with live performances, seasonal activities, and a finale of lights and fireworks. Performances from Nashville singersongwriter Ernest (stylized in all caps) and country star Uncle Kracker follow the Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. Alongside the music, guests can enjoy a full day of activities, from the Kids Zone and splash pad to quirky fun like the wiener dog races. For adults, Holiday RiverFest features designated 21-and-up areas, including an Ugly Sweater Party Zone with a private bar and Insta-worthy décor. The Lane of Giving at the heart of the festival will spotlight ForHearts Worldwide, a local nonprofit delivering life-saving cardiovascular devices to underserved communities. At the close of the night, the downtown Tampa skyline will glow with a holiday-themed drone show followed by a grand fireworks display. Festival founder John Santoro, who owns The Ritz Ybor and Sunset Music Festival, said in a release that he wants Holiday RiverFest to become a longtime local tradition. “Tampa is my home, and it’s given me so much over the years,” Santoro said. “This festival is my way of giving back—bringing all walks of life together to celebrate the season, support great causes, and make holiday memories that will last a lifetime.”

See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Kind of a bug deal

If searching for the perfect gift has been bugging you, look no further. Deviant Libation hosts a freaky, queer bug market this weekend for your insect hyperfixation. Whether your fantasy is “Animal Crossing” or “A Bug’s Life,” dress up to shop from 10 bug vendors, trade trinkets and do some bug and zine crafts. Local bands Gebawaap, Bello, Pigeon Chess and The Tilt will perform. This Little Pig food truck will be there with veggie options for hungry bug bois. Best of the Bay-winning harm reduction program Kaon City Medics and Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee will also be onsite, too.

Bug market: Saturday, Dec. 20. 6 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, 3800 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. deviantlibation. com—Selene San Felice

INSECTS UNLOCKED/FLICKR

Tastes like Christmas

A new food festival is here for the holidays. Brewed Life Festivals brings “A Taste of the North” to the St. Pete Pier this weekend. The two-day festival includes more than 15 local vendors serving northern comfort foods, a Christmas-themed amateur sand sculpture contest, beachy photos with Santa and an inflatable kids zone. Brewed Life also produces the St. Pete Tacos & Tequila, Tampa Bay Empanada and Tampa Bay Barbecue festivals. “We wanted to create an event that captures the warmth and comfort of a northern Christmas but celebrates it in true Florida style,” Brewed Life founder Patrick Green said in a press release. Attendees can expect lobster rolls, northeastern style clam chowder, loaded mac and cheese, Maryland crab cakes, cheese curds, smash burgers, Philly cheese steaks, chicken parm and Buffalo wings among the stick-toyour-ribs selections. There is no cover for general admission. Tickets for the North Pole VIP experience, including a holiday cocktail competition, are $39 presale and $45 day-of.

A Taste of the North: Friday, Dec. 19. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. 12 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover. Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier, 615 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. atasteofthenorth.com—Selene San Felice CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

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SPEND THE HOLIDAYS AT CENTRO YBOR! Celebrate the season at Centro Ybor in the heart of historic Ybor City. 12 | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | cltampabay.com

Enjoy twinkling lights, holiday shopping, delicious dining, and entertainment for the whole family. @centro_ybor

POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Like it strong

Clearwater baristas join nearly 4,000 Starbucks workers on strike.

aristas at one of Tampa Bay’s only unionized Starbucks locations in Clearwater joined a national strike last week to secure a fair union contract. Workers at dozens of other locations across the country, unionized with Starbucks Workers United, have gradually joined the strike that began Nov. 13, leveraging an escalation strategy used by the United Auto Workers union during their “Stand Up” strike against automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis in 2023. Starbucks workers at the 433 Cleveland St. location joined the strike last Thursday, which has now spread across 180 locations in 34 cities, including two unionized Starbucks locations in West Palm Beach—the first in Florida to join the strike last week—and Oviedo, near Orlando. Ethan Best, a 28-year-old barista of 2.5 years at the unionized Starbucks in Clearwater, said he and about a dozen coworkers were primarily motivated to join the strike over the union’s fight for higher wages and a guaranteed number of hours on the job. Workers at his store first voted nearly unanimously to unionize last summer. “Starbucks likes to tell people they offer the best benefits in the industry, but you actually need to work 20 hours a week to be eligible for those benefits,” Best explained to CL. Yet, Best estimated thatthe average barista these days gets just 19 hours a week scheduled— a shortfall he believes is very telling. “I think when people hear that, they can recognize that’s not acceptable,” he said. According to Starbucks Workers United, nearly 4,000 unionized Starbucks workers are now on strike, as part of the union’s latest expansion of the work stoppage. Workers are asking customers and their communities to boycott Starbucks for as long as they’re on strike—meaning no gift cards, no coffee and no holiday merch. Best and his coworkers were joined on the picket line Thursday by allies with the Pinellas Democratic Socialists of America, who rallied

members to join them in solidarity. They also received honks of support from drivers passing by. Unlike one-day strikes organized by Starbucks baristas in the past—a rarity in an industry where so few workers are actually unionized—this national strike by union members is open-ended, meaning the end date for their work stoppage is yet to be determined. Best said that although an open-ended strike is a “bigger sacrifice” for him and his coworkers, especially going into holiday season, he said he’s confident that this is the right move. “I feel like the community does support us,” he said. “And, you know, all my coworkers, all of us have accurate information. We know what the risks are by doing this.” An organizer with the West Central Florida Labor Council set up a GoFundMe to cover lost income for the striking Clearwater workers. Proceeds from official Starbucks Workers United merch, including shirts with messages like “Be Gay and Organize” and “Trans Rights Are Labor Rights,” are also currently benefiting workers’ strike funds.

LABOR

‘No Contract, No Coffee’ More than 650 Starbucks locations across the U.S.—still just a fraction of the coffee giant’s total number of U.S. stores—have voted to unionize since 2021. For baristas across the nation, many of whom were drawn to Starbucks because of its progressive branding, this fight for a first union contract has been years in the making. Despite its branding as a top employer in retail and service jobs, Starbucks has been accused of hundreds of labor law violations since 2021, when baristas in Buffalo, New York, unionized the first corporate-owned location in the United States. Allegations against Starbucks—some of which have been substantiated by federal labor prosecutors—range from Starbucks illegally firing workers for their union activity to cutting the hours of and otherwise retaliating against baristas who are organizing at their store.

“They call us ‘partners,’ but I’d like to see them put their money where their mouth is when it comes to that”

C/O ETHAN BEST

By McKenna Schueler

SPILLING THE BEANS: Starbucks workers on strike in Clearwater. “We’re trying to get, what we call, ‘guaranteed hours,’ which would essentially mean, if we want to work 20 hours a week, Starbucks gives us those 20 hours a week. If we want to work 30 hours a week, Starbucks gives us those hours,” Best explained. “That’s one of the most important issues to us.” Earlier this month, Starbucks also reached a $38 million settlement with New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, according to The City NYC, over Starbucks “arbitrarily” cutting workers’ hours, in violation of the city’s “fair workweek” law. Fair workweek laws, which guarantee predictability in workers’ schedules, were banned by Florida lawmakers through legislation approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. Clay Blastic, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks near Orlando who also joined the national strike, said that meeting baristas’ economic demands in a union contract—the primary sticking point in ongoing negotiations—would cost Starbucks less than just one average day of sales. Other union leaders have argued the same. “It’s just a question of priorities,” Blastic said. Starbucks, for instance, found the money to gift its new CEO Brian Niccol, the former head of Chipotle, a nearly $100 million compensation package last year. According to an annual report from the AFL-CIO, Niccol made 6,666 times the pay of the average Starbucks barista in 2024.

“They call us ‘partners,’ but I’d like to see them put their money where their mouth is when it comes to that,” Blastic said. The union last year sought a $20 minimum wage in its contract with Starbucks, plus annual 5% raises and cost-of-living adjustments. Starbucks, instead, offered a contract delivering no immediate pay raises—a deal soundly rejected by union baristas earlier this year. Best said he currently makes $15.80 an hour in Clearwater, just a little above the coffee giant’s minimum wage. According to MIT’s living wage calculator, a living wage in the Tampa Bay metro—capable of covering basic living expenses, such as housing and transportation—is $23.81 an hour if you’re a single, childless adult. You’ll need to make more to make ends meet if you have kids or are the only working adult in a household of two or more. Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson, in response to the strike, told our sibling publication Orlando Weekly that 99%of its 17,000 U.S. locations are still open and welcoming customers, “including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened.” Anderson added that, accounting for both pay and benefits, Starbucks jobs average $30 per hour for hourly positions.

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 13

CELEBRATING

50 YEARSion

of Love & Fash in Ybor City!

New and Vintage Clothing & Accessories Hats, Shoes, Jewelry, and More! OPEN EVERYDAY 12-6:45PM

@lafranceybor on Instagram & Facebook

COME TEE OFF AT

FERG’S GOLF SIMULATORS Come practice your swing at Ferg's Clubhouse! Now taking reservations for Full Swing sports simulators, great for groups, parties, and team building. Book online or email events@fergssportsbar.com

LIVE COMEDY SHOWS

THIS WEEK THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18

7:00 PM: WEEKLY IMPROV DROP-IN CLASS

Looking to give improv a try in a fun, supportive environment and pay just $15 for it? This class is for you! No prior experience required!

8:30 PM: LONGFORM IMPROV SHOWCASE

Two of The Commodore's best improv teams split the bill in this weekly show! Come for the Drop-In at 7:00, and stay for this show for free.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

Closed for a private party. (Interested in renting our space for your own event? We do that here! Email us at rentals@commodorecomedy.com.)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

7:00 PM: DOTTIE'S BURLYQ REVUE PRESENTS: A VERY MERRY NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS BURLESQUE SHOWCASE

Come join Miss Naughty Dottie and her charming cast in a delightfully naughty filled evening and burlesque showcase!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

6:00 PM: IMPROV STUDENT SHOWCASE

Graduates of our improv classes show off their skills in their class showcase performance.

8:00 PM: KELLY AND JUSTIN'S 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW SHOW

This much-beloved annual tradition returns for its tenth year! Comedy duo and Commodore co-founders Kelly Buttermore and Justin Peters recap the year that was, and name their much-anticipated 2025 Person of the Year! Will it be you? There's only one way to find out.

811 E 7TH AVE. • TAMPA • AHOY@ COMMODORECOMEDY.COM

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Lunch specials starting at $6.99 Monday - Friday 11 AM - 3 PM! Monday - 25% off for hospitality industry workers Tuesday - Neighborhood Appreciation Night, 25% discount if you live in these zip codes 33603, 33604, 33605, 33602, 33610 Wednesday - Lunch Specials available all day, Ladies Lounge Night - Happy Hour All night upstairs lounge for ladies

Happy Hour M-F 4-6 $4 Coors Banquet

$6 Call Single Pours - Absolute, Bacardi, Teremana, Jim Beam Black, Sipsmith Gin $8 House Pours of Wine $7 Sangria $8 Happy Hour Plates of Food - Fried Pickles, Hummus Platter, Chips & Queso, Chips & Guac, Pretzel Sticks

5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33603 (813) 284-0543 • duffswings.com

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THURSDAYS 5PM-CLOSE DAILY HAPPY HOUR! PRIME RIB NIGHT 11am-6PM

$3.50 YUENGLING & BUD LIGHT DRAFTS $25 PRIME RIB $5 WELL DRINKS & HOUSE WINE / $6 CALL DRINKS

FRIDAY 12/19

SATURDAY 12/20

JERIKO TURNPIKE

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LIVE MUSIC • 7-10PM

SUNDAYS SUNDAYS

WITH MASH & CARROTS

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FOOTBALL FOOD SPECIALS + $5 NUTRLS + BURNT ENDS

TUESDAYS / 5PM-CLOSE

WEDNESDAYS WEDNESDAYS

+ $5 CRAFT DRAFTS

FROM 5PM TO CLOSE 11/19 McLEAN MANNIX 6-9PM

BURGERS AND BEERS BUY ONE BURGER, GET ONE 1/2 OFF

99 CENT CHICKEN WINGS 99 CHICKEN WINGS FROMCENT 5PM TO CLOSE + LIVE MUSIC:

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Buon Natale! Buy a $100 Gift Card. Get a $20 Grazie Card.

Available online or in store through Christmas Eve. 1413 S. Howard Ave, Ste 100, Tampa, Florida 33606 813-254-3355 • bellasitaliancafe.com cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 17

Taste the difference. Classic French cooking with a southern twist, served in an intimate setting, along with cocktails and wine. 3405 34TH STREET NORTH, ST. PETERSBURG (727)-346-5242 • ROAMSTEAKHOUSE.COM

Voted Best Safety Harbor restaurant

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WINNER Best Soup

FINALIST Best Chef Best Brunch for Boozing

New American Cuisine Daily Happy Hour • 3-6pm

$5 Craft Drafts, $5 Premium Well Drinks, $5 Seasonal Sangria, $5 Appetizers

Trivia Tuesdays • 7-9pm ays $25 • 6pm-Close Prime Rib Wednesd 1/2 Off Bottles Of Wine plus

Wing Night Thursdays • 5pm-Close 99 Cent Wings and $5 Craft Drafts

Sundays• All Day Brunch w/ bottomless mimosas Chef -Inspired Scratch Kitchen / Artisan Sandwiches / Craft Beer Brined Meats / Full Liquor Bar 100 Main Street, Suite 104 Safety Harbor, FL 34695 thebrinehouse.com @brinehousesh

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 19

Help keep local journalism alive this giving season.

or 36 years, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has amplified the voices others overlook. Now we’re launching the Tampa Bay Journalism Project to strengthen independent, local reporting on issues that matter—housing, transportation, arts, food, and accountability. Your tax-deductible support helps fund non-paywalled journalism for our community. Help support Creative Loafing Tampa during this giving season. Donating is easy, visit bit.ly/anfCLTampa

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HAPPY HOUR IN THE BAR AREA: MONDAY-FRIDAY 5-7PM

HAPPY HOUR AT AMSO Monday - Friday, 4pm-7pm Saturday 3pm-6pm

$4, $5 & $6 Liquor, Beer & Wine $8 Hand-Crafted Cocktails cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 21

Neurodivergent Support for All Ages

POWER OF PEPTIDES / IV THERAPIES VITAMIN INJECTIONS / PSYCHEDELICS

11206 Sullivan St • Riverview, FL • 33578 donovansmeatery.com

From innovative microdosing education to our vibrant art gallery, we’re proud to be your community hub for wellness and creativity. Angela Fisher, PhD BBs Micros 22 | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | cltampabay.com

@bbsmicros

put a woof over their head Live Irish Music

because pets are family too

Thursday & Friday Nights

PRIVATE EVENT SPACE Book your Holiday Parties

• WHISKEY TASTINGS BY APPOINTMENT • FREE PARKING • TROLLEY TO THE LIGHTNING GAMES

(OR HANG AROUND FOR OUR WATCH PARTIES)

Gas Worx • 802 North 12th Street • Tampa, FL

This holiday season, keep domestic violence survivors and their pets safe. Help CASA renovate its kennel & care for survivors’ pets.

scan to donate

TACO TU EsDAY 200 E MADISON ST • DOWNTOWN TAMPA • 813-221-TACO

24-hr domestic violence hotline: 727-895-4912 | casapinellas.org | @casapinellas

CASA’S Shelter housed 87 pets in the past year: cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and fish. cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 23

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XTRA XTRA: L.P.C.X Café dishes out a hearty menu of breakfast classics with a South American twist.

RESTAURANTS

RECIPES

DINING GUIDES

DAVE DECKER

Rich life

25 Tampa Bay restaurants to enjoy for $25 or less. By Kyla Fields

s 2026 approaches, and the Tampa Bay food scene goes through its ups and downs, one thing remains clear for so many of us: money’s tight But who really wants to say “no” when the need to get out of the house and enjoy a good meal comes calling? Especially when so many of our local spots need all the help they can get. With that in mind, we grabbed some scratch, tried to leave any preconceived notions at the door, and looked for the best meals under $25. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s senior food contributor Kyla Fields accomplished the goal (I went just a bit over the limit), and what we landed on was a wide-reaching list of quality spots throughout the greater Bay area that won’t break the bank.

Leaning heavily on a mix of counter and casual table service, this list—the 25 best things you can eat in Tampa Bay when you have $25—is a cross-cultural collection of restaurants, bodegas, markets cafes, and kitchens from Temple Terrace to Pinellas Park and so many great neighborhoods in between. One highlight was L.P.C.X Café on a storied stretch of Tampa’s N Armenia Avenue. As Fields points out, the daytime counter is an offshoot of La Pequena Colombia half a block away. The restaurant is packed on weekends, with diners drawn to an oasis of an outdoor dining area and the famous arepa especial. Look below to see our orders, the ticket’s total, plus notes about why we went for the

DINING GUIDE

plates we did. By no means is this a comprehensive list (and we can’t wait to do it again soon), but it does very much illustrate how diverse the Tampa Bay food scene really is. We hope you enjoy whatever ends up on your plate, and get to know the neighborhoods around these spots. Tell us what we missed (kyla@cltampa. com, rroa@cltampa.com, and let’s get some food together soon.—Ray Roa 1948 Cafe—Grilled, Mediterraneanstyle half-chicken with fries, baba ganoush, fries and hummus, Turkish coffee—$21.98 This Temple Terrace cafe with a sprawling outdoor patio serves up hookah, fresh juice, smoothies, coffee, tea, desserts and a friendly place for families and friends to gather. But its small menu of halal barbecue is not to be underestimated either. A half-chicken is charred to perfection on a charcoal grill and is served with a side of fries, baba ganoush, hummus and an extra pita (if you ask nicely.) The creamy sides help balance the ultra-smoky flavor of the smoky chicken—which can also be swapped out for grilled lamb chops or kabobs. 1948 Cafe is not a

full-service restaurant that’s turning and burning tables, but a communal gathering place filled with laughter and banter—that just happens to offer a wonderful menu of straightforward Middle Eastern fare. 12232 N 56th St., Temple Terrace. 1948cafe.com The Brisket Shoppe—pork ribs, jalapeno cheddar sausage, collard greens and mac and cheese, “charitea”—$25 This popular West Tampa gem combines Texasstyle barbecue traditions with owner Danny Hernandez’ Tampa-raised, Cuban heritage. A platter with two meats and two sides is also served with pickled red onions, a brisketstuffed bun and housemade pickles. Barbecued pork ribs receive a healthy slater of tangy guava glaze, while The Brisket Shoppe’s jalapeno cheddar sausage packs a slight punch of spice and plenty of snap. Collard greens with smoked ham and its Best of the Bay-winning mac and cheese are our sides of choice, but you can’t go wrong with Cuban classics like rice and beans or classic BBQ accompaniments like continued on page 27

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 25

COME TRY OUR

CUISINE HOURS LUNCH from 11am to 2pm DINNER from 5pm to 10pm

Enjoy our great selection of Wine & Beer!

New

St. Pete location

coming soon! 1 6 0 4 N 1 7 t h S t , Ta m p a | (8 1 3 ) 2 4 2- 0 2 4 2 26 | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | cltampabay.com

BEST OF THE BAY WINNERS

2019, 2021, 2022

INDIAN CUISINE

2601 S MacDill Ave • Tampa (813) 252-8069 • flamestampa.com

KYLA FIELDS

DUN DEAL: Head to Dunedin for the best Philly cheesesteak in Tampa Bay. continued from page 25 baked beans. But if you’re only interested in trying the restaurant’s namesake dish—its unbelievably-tender Akaushi wagyu beef brisket—you can order a plate with two sides for $22 and still leave the West Tampa restaurant feeling plenty full. A plastic cup of sweet “chari-tea” only costs a dollar, and is donated to The Brisket Shoppe’s nonprofit. 3501 N Armenia Ave, Tampa. thebrisketshoppe.com Curry Leaves—aloo gobi, side basmati rice, mulligatawny soup—$24 Curry Leaves may have upgraded from a gas station spot to a sit-down restaurant with a massive dining room and beverage program, but the quality of its food has never wavered throughout the years. An all-vegetarian meal of aloo gobi (sauteed potatoes and cauliflower), a side of basmati rice and creamy lentil soup may be enough food for two meals, since the popular Indian restaurant is known for its hefty portions. The aloo gobi is seasoned with chili powder, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric and tomatoes, offering a mild, warm flavor that compliments the richness

and slight sweetness of the mulligatawny soup. Spice lovers can opt for Curry Leaves’ fiery lamb vindaloo, kerala fish curry or stir-fried dragon prawns, if the budget allows, of course. Curry Leaves also offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet on the weekend that’s worth every cent of its $25 price tag. 204 Westshore Plaza, Tampa. curryleavesindiancuisine.com DeCosmo Italian Market—½ #5 Vincenzo sandwich, penne pasta with vodka sauce, chicken cutlet—$22.27 This family-owned Italian deli, cafe and market has only been around since 2022, but venturing into the sprawling store almost feels like a step back in time. On one end of DeCosmo Italian Market is its cafe and bar that doles out traditional espresso and wine, and on the opposite side lies its deli that dishes out over a dozen sandwiches, freshly-made pasta, chicken cutlets, meatballs and more. While it’s hard to resist filling one’s cart with fresh pasta, housemade cheeses, antipasti offerings, decadent

desserts and imported goods, the real bangfor-your-buck can be found at DeCosmo’s deli. A half-size of the Vincenzo sandwich—loaded with a variety of meats (ham, salami, capicola, pepperoni), provolone, tomato, onions, house dressing and spicy giardineria—is definitely a hearty portion, but there’s still enough room in the budget to add a sizeable plate of penne pasta covered in vodka sauce, plus a crispy chicken cutlet. 6832 49th Street N, Pinellas Park. decosmoitalianmarket.com Delco’s Original Steaks— Philly cheesesteak, Old Bay french fries—$12.75 On the walls of Delco’s Original Steaks, guests will find handwritten notes from regular customers, Philadelphia sports memorabilia and several displays of Tastykakes. This Dunedin gem dishes out of the best—if not thee best—cheesesteak in the Tampa Bay area. Delco’s also sells hoagies, cheeseburgers and hot dogs, but the humble cheesesteak is arguably the most popular item on its casual menu. On any given day, its small

DINING GUIDE

dining room is filled with an array of customers chowing down on the massive sandwiches. It’s a no-nonsense spread of seasoned beef, grilled onions, provolone cheese and sweet peppers piled high and tightly packed onto an Amoroso roll, brought in straight from Philly. It’s a flavor-packed sandwich that remains structurally sound due to its sturdy Amoroso roll, which remains soft on the inside, yet firm on the outside. A side of fries dusted in Old Bay brings this meal to a whopping $13.25—and there still may be enough leftovers for a second helping. Delco’s is chock full of character and remains a local favorite for a reason—but don’t forget to bring cash since the old-school joint doesn’t accept cards just yet. 1701 Main St., Dunedin. delcosdunedin.co Dooriban—bibim neng myun, three sides of banchan, potato corn dog—$21.48 Most Korean restaurants in the Tampa Bay area serve favorites like beef bulgogi, crispy chicken wings and japchae, but few feature bibim neng myun—a cold noodle dish often continued on page 31

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 27

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in both salsa verde and salsa roja, crema, queso fresco, a hefty portion of tender steak, grilled green onions and cilantro. Every square inch of this meal is packed with flavor—from the smoky grilled beef to the fiery salsas it’s doused in. 7100 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. elhuarachevelozfl.com Hookin’ Ain’t Easy—blackened grouper sandwich, fried okra—$23.99 While it may not be the cheapest grouper sandwich one can find in The ‘Burg, Hookin’ Ain’t Easy’s access to the freshest catches makes its price tag absolutely worth it. This seafood market-adjacent spot is not a full-service restaurant, but its spread of Gulf Coast favorites tastes even better when sitting outside on its laid-back, beachy patio (preferably with a cold beer in hand.) The grouper sandwich can be ordered blackened or fried and comes with a side of choice. It’s simple, straightforward and incredibly fresh. Slightly cheaper options on the Hookin Ain’t Easy menu include fried catfish or mullet platters, smoked fish dip or its blackened shrimp basket. But if the budget allows, indulge in its pricy surf and turf platters, blue crab trays and raw oysters by the dozen. 3660 22nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg. @HAESeafood on Facebook K-Deli—spicy pork bento box (includes rice, banchan, japchae and two slices of kimbap), side of kimmari—$21.94 It’s hard not to walk out of this Korean-style convenience store without a basket full of snacks, soda and candy, but the real value of K-Deli is its made-to-order food. Its bento boxes are filled with a hefty portion of protein (beef bulgogi, spicy pork, chicken or pork katsu), purple rice, two pieces of kimbap, japchae, seasoned fishcakes, spicy cucumber banchan and pickled radishes—a ton of food, and a great variety of it on one plate. A side of kimmari— tempura-fried seaweed rolls stuffed with glass noodles—adds a nice crunch to the entire meal. K-Deli offers Korean fare in a more casual atmosphere compared to its full-service counterparts, but its menu of expected favorites and street food-inspired dishes still satisfies at an affordable price point. 11840 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa. @kdeli_0822 on Instagram Ladies of the Sea & Soul—oxtail dinner with rice, cornbread, collard greens and yams—$23.99 Whether you’re craving trays of “dirty” blue crabs, fried catfish, hearty meatloaf or Cajun-style shrimp over pasta, this Tampa staple has been serving its Southern-Caribbean fusion fare for almost 30 years. This small, family-owned restaurant in East Tampa is known for its homestyle cooking and reasonable prices. Large pieces of tender, fall-of-the-bone oxtails covered in brown gravy sit on a bed of yellow rice, accompanied by a piece of cornbread and a sizable serving of smokey collard greens and sweet yams. The singular meal fills a to-go styrofoam continued on page 33

DAVE DECKER

continued from page 27 eaten in the summertime. This Pinellas Park gem operates out of a former fast food restaurant complete with vintage brown floor tiles, but the fare that it specializes in couldn’t be farther from fast food. Florida’s warmer weather makes Dooriban’s bibim neng myun a year-round delicacy—thin, bouncy buckwheat noodles are mixed with a spicy gochujang sauce and garnished with cucumber, boiled eggs, sliced beef and pickled radish. Scissors are often provided for cutting the noodles to a preferred length so they’re easier to eat. The dish, which is already a sizable portion, also comes with three sides of banchan like kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts and crispy radishes. Opt for a similar dish called mul neng myun if you want to avoid the spice, since its buckwheat noodles sit in an icy beef broth instead. While the viral potato corn dog—dusted in sugar and filled with hot mozzarella cheese—is often enjoyed as an appetizer, it also serves as a nice dessert. The sweet, creamy cheese helps cool the mouth from the fiery, yet chilling bibim neng myun. 5600 66th St. N, St. Petersburg. @dooribanfl on Instagram Eat Art Love—poached egg dip, side feta grits—$20 Chef Mario Brugnoli—who you’ll often see greeting customers and visiting tables at his St. Petersburg restaurant—specializes in fine dining techniques presented in a casual, daytime setting. While Eat Art Love’s menu changes seasonally, there’s a few signature dishes that remain on its menu year-round. Poached eggs rest on top of perfectly-seasoned creamed potatoes, garnished with chives and served alongside slices of rustic sourdough toast brushed in garlic butter—a refined take on a common breakfast combination. Whipped feta grits are usually served with Brugnoli’s confit duck dish, which is definitely a recommended indulgence, but a side of the cheesy grits is a more budgetfriendly accompaniment to the poached egg dip. It’s simple, filling, and damn near perfectly-executed. 589 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. eatartlovestpete.com El Huarache Veloz—huarache de carne asada, spicy guacamole and chips—$24.04 Some would consider this Pinellas Park restaurant a “hole-in-the-wall” which is quite accurate considering its large to-go window, but this family-owned Mexican spot certainly packs a punch out of its small space. While the restaurant dishes out everything from tacos and sopes to breakfast platters, tortas and entrees— the namesake of the restaurant is a Mexican speciality called hurache, an oblong piece of griddled masa topped with meat, cheese, salsa and garnishes. El Huarache Veloz’ carne asada huarache is served on a large, rectangular plate—an almost daunting portion that seems large enough for two people. Armed with a fork and knife, the massive huarache is smothered

DINING GUIDE

OH, BABY: Roman (L) and Eat, Art, Love's Chef Mario Brugnoli.

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PINAY POWER: West Tampa is home to a gem of a Filipino restaurant. continued from page 31 container to its brim, and there’s usually enough food for a second helping. When entering Ladies of the Sea, it feels like you’re stepping into a family member’s kitchen, and its friendly service and comforting plates just reinforces that sentiment. 2705 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tampa. @ladiesofthesea2705 on Instagram L.P.C.X Café—arepa especial, pan de bono waffle—$23 The daytime counterpart of sister restaurant La Pequena Colombia, L.P.C.X Café dishes out a hearty menu of breakfast classics with a South American twist, creative brunch dishes and specialty coffee courtesy of Wuz Here Coffee. Its arepa especial is a perfect breakfast plate—a sweet corn cake topped with shredded beef, cheese, avocado, aji verde sauce, salsa rosada and a fried egg. A corn and yucca-based cheese bread known as pan de bono becomes incredibly soft and gooey on the inside with a crisp exterior after being smushed in a waffle iron, providing a semi-sweet addition to the loaded arepa. An iced Spanish latte flavored with cinnamon and fresh orange zest is also pivotal to the L.P.C.X Café experience—if the budget allows—since the Colombian restaurant boasts one of the best specialty coffee programs in Tampa. Head outside to L.P.C.X.’s gorgeous outdoor patio to enjoy

this meal. It’s filled with shade, natural sunlight, free-roaming chickens and the comforting sounds of the restaurant’s many birds. 6204 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. lpcxcafe.com Lucky Tigre—Five spice BBQ liempo rice plate, pancit molo dumpling soup—$27.95 Parking is still free on the stretch of Howard Avenue just north of Interstate-275, which bodes well for anyone going to visit Lucky Tigre’s West Tampa dining room plastered in vintage ads for pinoy pantry staples like Silver Swan soy sauce and Darigold or treats like Magnolia choco-lait. Single items on the menu at Julie Sainte Michelle’s Filipino restaurant are affordable—but it’s hard to resist ordering multiple dishes. I went a bit over the budget with the five space BBQ liempo and an order of the piping hot pancit molo dumpling soup. The Bay area is home to a handful of great Filipino spots ready to serve comforting, familiar flavors to expats and their kids, but Sainte Michelle & co. one-up lola. Five beef dumplings swim in a deep brown, vegan, garlicky, slightly sweet mushroom broth. On its plate dish, the kitchen is not shy about including generous morsels of perfectly-rendered fat, brushed with caramelized five-spice BBQ sauce—the perfect

companion for a big mound of rice with fried garlic. A meal big enough to share, for sure. 1901 N Howard Ave., Tampa. theluckytigre.com—RR Olive Tree—sampler platter with kibbeh, hummus, baba ganoush, falafel and labneh, lentil soup—$24 Chef Yousef Samara offers a wide variety of Middle Eastern dishes with Jordanian and Palestinian roots at his Temple Terrace restaurant, and its $18 sampler is a great place to start, especially for a first-time customer. This massive platter comes with two pieces of kibbeh—football-shaped bulgur patties stuffed with beef, pine nuts, wheat crumbs and herbs—healthy schmears of hummus, baba ganoush, labneh and piping hot pita bread dusted with za’tar. The creamy, refreshing labneh also compliments its creamy red lentil soup, loaded with sauteed onions, cumin and other herbs. This meal is incredibly filling since most dishes on Olive Tree’s expansive menu are served familystyle, but it all somehow feels refreshing and light on the stomach. Entrees and chef specials like slow-cooked lamb stew, filet mignon kabobs and fried red snapper have a higher price point, but still offer great value and the opportunity to break bread with others (or pack a doggy bag

DINING GUIDE

for later). 11508 N 56th St., Tampa. olivetreebychefyousef.com Pho Kien Giang—spicy stir fry with lemongrass, onion and tofu, #12 pho ‘baby’—$23.45 No matter what time of day, this no-frills Vietnamese restaurant will be brimming with families, local residents, and solo diners alike—all huddling over large bowls of its beloved pho. Pho Kien Giang faces tough competition in Pinellas Park, yet its local reputation as a go-to spot for pho has never faltered. Its small-but-mighty “baby” pho is loaded with eye-round steak, marbled brisket, soft tendon and meatballs. Its aromatic and lightly-fragrant broth will hit the spot even on the hottest Florida day, but we’re still hungry and there’s still cash left in the budget. Add an order of homemade tofu—which is noticeably better than all storebought counterparts—swimming in a spicy and savory sauce of onions, chilies, lemongrass and cilantro, plus a side of white rice. It’s probably more food than an average person can eat in a single sitting (not me though, I can definitely eat this entire serving), but a hefty portion of leftovers helps stretch the value of Pho Kien Giang’s tasty offerings even more. 8150 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. pho-kien-giang.res-menu.com continued on page 35

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continued from page 33 PL Market, European Grocery & Deli—Polish sausage with fried onions, six perogies, stewed cabbage and fried beets—$22.85 This Polish grocery store only offers lunch to-go, but its spread of kielbasa topped with fried onions and tangy mustard, cheese and potato pierogies, stewed cabbage and shredded beets makes for a perfect car lunch (but you may want to crack the windows a bit). It’s a well-balanced spread of Polish favorites that never feels too dense or heavy. The deli’s menu may feel intimidating to a first-time visitor, but the ladies behind the counter are helpful and will guide you in the right direction. The Pinellas Park specialty grocer also offers freshly-baked breads, a variety of Polish deli meats and sausages, shelfstable goods and several Eastern European imports. PL Market only offers counter service for lunch and dinner, but take-out orders can also be placed via DoorDash. 6945 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. plmarketflorida.com Pupuseria Centroamericana— yuca con chicarron, queso con loroco pupusa, baleada de frijol, queso, crema, tamarindo—$23.99

El Salvadorian breakfast, lunch and dinner classics are on full display at Pupuseria Centroamericana, but its variety of pupusas are the true star of its menu. Cheese and loroco— an earthy-tasting flower popular in Central American cuisine—are stuffed in a crispy, fresh pupusa served with a side of zingy curtido (a lightly fermented cabbage slaw). Make it a complete meal with an order of the restaurant’s stewed yucca with large chunks of fried pork and a bean, crema and cheese baleada—a traditional Honduran dish consisting of a large flour tortilla typically stuffed with beans, cheese and a protein. Wash it all down with a fresh tamarindo juice, tart enough to cut through the richness of this satisfying meal. 2504 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tampa. pupuseria-centroamericana.foodjoyy.com Queen of Sheba—The Queen’s 6 platter with one beef, one chicken, four vegetarian dishes and injera—$25 There’s no better way to sample the menu of Ethiopian restaurant Queen of Sheba than its popular “Queen’s 6” platter. This generous spread of eats comes with six

different dishes to try—one beef, one chicken, four vegetarian selections and a side of injera (a spongy, fermented flatbread made of teff flour). The menu states that these dishes are “selected by the chef,” but one can usually choose which items are included in this omnivorous sample platter. We recommend Queen of Sheba’s cabbage stew, yellow split peas, red lentils and atkilt alicha (stewed carrots, potatoes and string beans) for the four vegetarian dishes and tibs wot—a heavily-spiced beef and red pepper stew—and pulled chicken cooked in clarified butter and mitmita spices for the two meat options. Customers always leave the popular Temple Terrace restaurant feeling full, but never overly-stuffed or weighed down. 11001 N 56th St., Temple Terrace. ethiopianrestauranttampa.com Rancheros Tacos—two al pastor tacos, chips, guacamole, steak sope, Mexican coke—$22.08 After placing an order at this unassuming taco truck in Seminole Heights, the young man at the counter frankly asks, “How fast do you want your food?” And in 15 minutes or less, a bag filled with steaming hot

DINING GUIDE

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tacos, tamales, and sopes is swiftly delivered by chef-owners Elsa Romero and Elvia Garcia. Rancheros Tacos offers quick Mexican eats at affordable prices and still manages to never skimp out on quality or portion sizes. The sisterowned food truck dishes out some of the most flavorful, pineapple-packed al pastor tacos in the Tampa Bay area—although no order is complete without a freshly-made sope topped with carne asada, a side of perfectly-seasoned chips and guac and a Mexican coke. And be sure to grab chicken or pork tamales, only offered Fridays and Saturdays. 4901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. rancherotacos.com Retro House—lemongrass chicken dumplings, ‘shroomami’ udon bowl—$25 This new Ybor City spot may come off as a cafe with a rolodex of specialty drinks and pastries, but chefs and co-owners Meishan Lu and Joseph Hixon also make a culinary statement with their variety of bao buns, rice bowls, dumplings, noodles dishes and more. Retro House’s “shroomami” udon bowl is one of its many vegan and vegetarian options, offering a sizable portion of sauteed mushrooms, scallions, bell peppers and slippery udon noodles continued on page 37

DAVE DECKER

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PRESIDENTIAL: The Obama Cuban. continued from page 35 all smothered in a soy-based, Japanese-style sauce. Tempura-fried enoki mushrooms sit on top of the noodle bowl, offering a crunchy element to the dish. Pair it with an order of steamed lemongrass dumplings to make it a complete meal. The citrusy, vinegary flavors of the dumplings pair perfectly with the umami notes of the udon bowl. And if the budget allows, spring for a refreshing calamansi oolong iced tea to help wash down the large portion of udon noodles. 934 E Henderson Ave., Ybor City. retrohousetampa.com Sap Sap Street Eats—Nam Khao, sai gok—$21.98 While most Lao dishes are served with a side of steamed sticky rice, deep-fried Jasmine rice balls are the star of the popular dish nam khao. One of the standout dishes on Sap Sap Street Eats’ menu is this beloved crispy rice salad piled high with herbs, green onions, fermented pork sausage also known as “som moo” and garnished with dried peppers and lettuce leaves. The crispy rice balls not only offer a wonderful texture, but a deep, fragrant flavor of curry, lime leaves and fish sauce. It’s crunchy, salty, and a little sour from the fermented pork and lime juice. Add a side of Sap Sap’s housemade Lao sausage seasoned with lemongrass, shallots and lime leaves for some porky, fatty goodness—or indulge in fried favorites like crab rangoons, egg rolls or chicken wings. 6975 66th St., Pinellas Park. @sapsapstreeteats on Instagram

Slicedelic Wizard at Magnanimous Brewing Seminole Heights—Margheroni and 10 oz. Just A Name DIPA—$29.09 You can’t miss Kevin Knott’s food truck parked outside of Magananimous Brewing’s Seminole Heights taproom. A psychedelic wizard is painted on the side, and what happens inside is a slice of sorcery, too. An alum of Safety Harbor’s Nona Slice House, Knott can do any style of pizza, but sticks to a “neo-Neopolitan” offering that eschews the double-zero approach, resulting in a snappy crust that’s a cross between Neopolitan, New York and sourdough. Known for boundary-pushing specials (one in early December was basically a gentrified Banh-mi on pizza) and a “honey cup” with pepperoni, ricotta, fresh basil and hot honey, Sliceadelic also has one hell of an $18 “margheroni” with perfectly-burned Cup-N-Char pepperoni. Beer and pizza are best friends, and it’s totally possible to get out for under $30 here after grabbing a draft inside. 6809 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. @sliceadelicwizard on Instagram—RR Ten Star Deli—large chopped cheese toasted with honey butter, small boiled peanuts, can of soda—$16 There’s probably not too many spots in Tampa where someone could order a great chopped cheese while getting their cell phone fixed, but Tampa’s Ten Star Deli combines comforting eats with all of the amenities of a local bodega. Place an order

at the kiosks next to the deli, browse for your soda and chips of choice, then head over to the boiled peanut station by the register. If pickled eggs and pig’s feet aren’t your scene, opt for Ten Star’s boiled peanuts which can be loaded up with corn, red and green peppers, onions and smoked neck bones. Expect to hear a mix of English, Arabic and Spanish spoken while you’re waiting for your chopped cheese, chicken wings, deviled crab or Cuban sandwich to be made by the friendly ladies behind the deli. 1202 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tampa. @ tenstar_deli on Instagram Thuy Cafe—beef lemongrass banh mi, Vietnamese iced coffee, Da Nang-style noodles—$17.65 This longtime Pinellas Park cafe was one of the first businesses to popularize boba and milk tea in the area, but 24 years after its debut, it’s still dishing out comforting Vietnamese favorites. Its beef lemongrass banh mi is an exemplary bite—with slices of tender, aromatic beef, pickled daikon and carrots, fresh jalapenos and cilantro all packed onto a crunchy, yet airy Vietnamese baguette. A jolt of caffeine is also delivered from Thuy Cafe’s prized iced coffee, which is sweet and creamy enough to cut the bitterness of the stronglybrewed grounds. End the meal with a bowl of the cafe’s Da Nang-style Mi Quang noodles, complete with flat rice noodles, shrimp, sliced pork and hardboiled eggs. Its warmly-spiced broth is

DINING GUIDE

a slightly orange hue from the use of turmeric. Dole out an extra few bucks for a freshly-made steamed bun filled with pork, eggs and Chinese sausage for an easy snack for later, too. 5944 34th St. N, St. Petersburg. thuycafe.com West Tampa Sandwich Shop—small honey Cuban (aka “The Obama Sandwich”), crab meat empanada, small cafe con leche— $16.80 If there was ever an official neighborhood cantina, it’s this institution on a tricky fivestreet intersection that’s a gateway to some of Tampa’s must experience local plates. West Tampa Sandwich shop’s inside walls are covered in faded photographs of the celebrities and politicians who can count themselves as patrons, and the most famous of them is President Obama, who visited in 2012. He ordered a tripleta, coffee, and the restaurant’s Cuban sandwich with a kiss of honey brushed onto the very-lightly toasted loaf; the shop responded by naming the offering after him. Obama’s name is still draws regulars and visitors in, and his Cuban still slaps, with the savory lunchmeat ham, fresh roast pork, and fixings (I get it all the way, with lettuce , tomato, mayo and mustard) complemented by the hint of sweetness, making for one of the most unique bites in Tampa Bay. Round out your order with some kick from the crab empanada (no hot sauce needed), then wash the shareable meal down with a small, sugary cafe con leche. 3904 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. westtampasandwichshoprestaurant.com—RR

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 37

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Tampa Bay Arts Passport is rolling out its Orange Blossom Awards. By Avery Anderson/Tampa Bay Arts Passport

And that’s the quiet superpower of Chaz Dykes. While most of us are sprinting to loadins, fretting over marketing copy, or praying the fog machine behaves, Chaz is working a full-time job—yes, a full full-time job—as a videographer for HGTV’s “100 Day Dream Home,” all while juggling freelance gigs for Music News Tampa Bay, shooting for mad Theatre of Tampa, Carrollwood Cultural Center, American Stage, The Studio@620, and somehow still appearing—cheerfully!— whenever the community calls. And I mean literally calls. If you’ve worked in Tampa Bay theatre long enough, chances are you have Chaz’s number saved under “Oh thank God.” He has been supporting The Arts Passport since day one, often showing up at events simply

Orange Blossom Award: The Man Behind Tampa Bay’s Most-Seen Moments In nearly every corner of Tampa Bay theatre, from splashy musicals to the smallest black box, there’s one person quietly shaping how audiences see the work—long after the curtain falls. He’s not onstage. He’s not giving notes. He’s usually somewhere in the dark, kneeling in an aisle, dodging a lighting cue, or hanging off the edge of the stage like a friendly gargoyle with a camera. Today’s Orange Blossom Award goes to Chaz Dykes, the production photographer whose images have become so synonymous with our region’s theatre scene that you’ve probably admired his work without ever realizing it. And that’s exactly the point. Chaz doesn’t chase the spotlight. He chases the moment—the real one, the unrepeatable one—the moment a show becomes memory. Eight O’Clock Theatre’s marketing director Nathan Daugherty puts it this way: “Chaz is fabulous at what he does, and puts our productions in such a fantastic light. His photographic artistry has helped us sell tickets, raise awareness of our theater, and give the actors something worth cherishing after their final performance.”

Tampa Bay Arts Passport Orange Blossom Awards (Dec. 1-9) Dec. 1: Cheryl Davis and the Art of Showing Up Dec. 2: The Quiet Coalition Behind a Theater Dream

Dec. 3: The Architect of Reading Circles (Serena Utz) Dec. 4: The Keeper of Women’s Stories (Fran Powers) Dec. 5: The Leader Who Let Herself Feel— and Then Got to Work (Margaret Murray) Dec. 6: The Man Behind Tampa Bay’s MostSeen Moments (Chaz Dykes) Dec. 7: The Educator Who Rebuilt the Room While Standing In It (Jose Avilés) Dec. 8: The Year Julia Rifino Climbed a Musical Mountain Dec. 9: The First Phone Call Everyone Makes (Terri Lipsey Scott) This post first appeared at TB Arts Passport, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project (TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication interested in TBJP, please email rroa@ctampa. com. Support TB Arts Passport by subscribing to its free newsletter or becoming a paying Arts Passport Member.

CHAZ DYKES C/O AMERICANSTAGE/FLICKR

ditor’s note: On their website, Tampa Bay Arts Passport, Avery Anderson wrote that the Orange Blossom Awards are, “A monthlong series from The Arts Passport celebrating the people and organizations whose quiet, steady work strengthens Tampa Bay’s arts ecosystem. No applications. No campaigning. Just communitydriven recognition, released daily in December.” On Dec. 6, the Passport honored photographer Chaz Dykes, and called him “The Man Behind Tampa Bay’s Most-Seen Moments.” Dykes’s photography for local companies has been a godsend for CL, which operates on a slim budget that simply won’t allow for theater photography. CL loves a great critic’s pick, and it’s wonderful that Anderson is spending the season of giving doling these out. We’re sharing Anderson’s piece on Dykes below, and listing the winners through Dec. 9 below. Check back next week for more—and visit tbartspassport.com to see them all.

because he cares about the arts ecosystem being stronger, kinder, and better documented. But this year brought one especially fullcircle moment: Chaz photographed the promotional and production images for Amityville ’74, the show in which his son, Donovan Dykes, made his stage debut. The proud-dad energy was off the charts. The photos? Even better. In a field that can feel thankless, frantic, and a little bit like herding cats through a light plot, Chaz has become one of the region’s most consistent, generous, community-rooted forces—not because he has to, but because he chooses to. And that’s why today, we honor him. Photography shapes the history of our stages. Chaz Dykes has made sure that history looks damn good.

THIS OLD RAG: Dykes’ hi-res photos, like this one from ‘Ragtime’ from American Stage, are lifesavers for print publications.

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 41

Deck the alls & alls! 39th Annual Holiday Invitational November 1, 2025 - December 24, 2025

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42 | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | cltampabay.com

December 31, 2025 9:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. | 21+ Only Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg Open Bar Chef-Curated Station & Desserts by Constellation Culinary Group Champagne Toast at 11:45 p.m. Guest Access to Hough Wing from 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Live DJ by Tampa Bay DJ Company 360° Video Booth & Photo Booth Terrace View of the Fireworks VIP Area for Members

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Thursday, December 18, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Elevated Effervescence: A Billecart-Salmon Champagne Dinner @ Chateau Cellars Ybor

Sunday, December 21, 2025 • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony @ Ybor Hive

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Saturday, December 20, 2025 • 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM Baddies Stealing XMAS… holiday PAJAMA JAM @ Centro Lounge & Kitchen

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Saturday, December 20, 2025 • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Stories in your Stockings @ Ybor City Coffee and Tea Co

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 • 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM Midnight Tropicana: NYE Party at Hotel Haya @ Hotel Haya

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Saturday, December 20, 2025 • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Tampa Poured Paint Ornaments @ Ybor City Society Wine Bar

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 • 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM New Year, New Her - All Girl NYE Party @ 1920 Ybor

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Sunday, December 21, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Chicken Yoga with Yoga Loft Tampa and Ybor Misfits @ Hotel Haya

Saturday, January 3, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM THE ORIGINAL WAILERS FEAT. AL ANDERSON w/ PART ONE TRIBE & ICHRONIQ @ Zodiac Live

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cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 45

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THU DECEMBER 18–THU DECEMBER 25 By Ray Roa C CL Recommends

C Method Man and Redman Raekwon’s not the only Wu-Tang Clan member who can’t quit the road. The iconic rap group staged its last tour ever this year, but Method Man—who spends a lot more time on the silver screen than he does on the mic lately—quickly made plans to rock the casino alongside longtime collaborator Redman. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

PRESS PHOTO

THU 18

Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele “One Tree Hill” guided an entire generation through puberty, and two of its stars are on tour celebrating tunes from the WB teen drama. Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele played Chris Keller and Mia Catalano respectively on the music-centric show, and will play cuts from its nine-season run. Expect originals from both, plus covers of Ryan Adams and John Waite. Expect to get home at a decent time, too. (Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg) C Whores w/Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol/Meatwound Fourteen years after announcing itself with the Ruiner EP, Atlanta noise-rock favorite Whores (stylized in allcaps) still leaves fans with ears ringing. The live shows are just as cathartic, and Christian Lembach continues to bring it to fans even after a gnarly ACL injury in 2017. Lembach & co. are on the road supporting War.. The outing was recorded right here in Tampa at Ryan Boesch’s Candor Recording and landed at No. 15 on Rolling Stone’s list of 2024’s best metal albums, with critic David Fear calling the record the band’s “tightest, toughest, most satisfying album to date.” Meatwound, one of Tampa's own metal bands to gain a national following, opens. (Orpheum, Tampa)

FRI 19

MGK w/Julia Wolf Roll up the windows, because Machine Gun Kelly has announced a massive new tour, which starts this winter and makes a stop at the former Amalie Arena. Thirty-five-year-old Colson Baker—the raprock icon whose pseudonym was recently shortened to just its initials—recently dropped his seventh album Lost Americana, which steps away from his standard, sadboi emo-rap sound while taking on more of a contemporary, pop-rock vibe. And the promotional campaign was one of the strongest in music history, because Bob Dylan narrated the record’s official trailer. So basically, if the guy who won’t even show up to his own Nobel Prize ceremony is pushing your album (and sharing it to Instagram during what we imagine is his iPad time), it might be best to believe in second chances on this one. (Benchmark International Arena, Tampa)—Josh Bradley

The Heavy Pets

C Sermons Fest: Marco Plus w/Sunset Tim/Monae Marleau/Jay Browne/Hellz Own/ItsJustMikey/Perception/Jotta/ JC Tha God/more The Beatsnchill crew has always been a tastmaking one, and the trend continues with this booking that pairs some of Tampa’s finest emcees with rising talent from across the U.S. Marco Plus leads the charge this time around. After a short stint in Pensacola, the now-Atlanta-based rapper arrives supporting a new LP, Marco Plus Vs. Tha Underworld, where the kingmaking hip-hop blog Passion of the Weiss says he’s making the best music of his decade-long career. “His flow helixes from the same DNA as Andre 3000, sticky and staccato, and occasionally revving up into double and triple time rhyme schemes,” critic Will Schube adds. Lo-fi-leaning Missouri rapper Sunset Tim is also on the bill. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

SAT 20

C Adam Randall w/Liam Bauman/Emilio Gonzalez/Graham Bhuyan The holidays are for coming home, and this end-of-year show built around songwriters Adam Randall Liam Bauman has come to be a good place to re-connect. Happening this year in the cozy confines of The Far Forest, Randall and expat Bauman welcome guitarist Graham Bhuyan along with jazzy indie-folk artist Emilio Gonzalez. The latter hails from Tampa, but graduated from Berklee College of Music and is also in a band with Emme Cannon (a vocalist and guitar player for country star Maren Morris).(The Far Forest, Tampa)

C The Heavy Pets w/Guavatron/ Roosevelt Collier/Melody Trucks/The Heavy Horns/Minim Florida jam scene lifers are never short on shows to go to, and they’ve always had The Heavy Pets to lean on. An almost genre-agnostic outfit, the Pets (featuring whiz guitarist and keyboardist Jeff Lloyd and Jimi Wuest) celebrate 20 years of bandom on a weekender tour. Dunedin Brewery (a scene staple in itself) pitches in for this Jannus Live show where a savant of sacred steel (Roosevelt Collier) opens along with percussionist-vocalist Melody Trucks and others. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) Holiday Riverfest: Ernest w/Uncle Kracker/Shaylen/Road House A brandnew holiday celebration is coming to Tampa this winter, bringing country music, weiner dogs, ugly sweaters and more. The inaugural Holiday RiverFest transforms Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park into a holiday hub, complete with activities, and a finale of lights and fireworks. Nashville singer-songwriter Ernest (stylized in all caps) and country star Uncle Kracker follow the Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. (Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa)— Sophia Lowrie

SUN 21

C Beat Fanatic Takeover: Slopfunkdust w/Sponatola/Naso/more Beat-minded outof-towners back home for the weekend can be reminded of the scene they left behind at this no-cover shindig featuring some of the

very best hip-hop producers in Tampa including, SlopFunkDust, Sponatola, Naso, DeeJay Kellan, Wally Rios and Knux. A trio of triedand-true DJs hold it down in between the beatsmiths and yet-to-be-announced special guest emcees. (Velvet Gypsy, Tampa)

TUE 23

C Coppertail Brewery Legacy beer unveiling: Florida w/Emo Night DJs/Four Star Riot/[the] Soft Rock Renegades A key element of the lore surrounding soonto-shutter Ybor City venue Crowbar was Tuesday nights starting in 2008 when [the] Soft Rock Renegades (DJs Archaea and 2Critical, aka Cameron Correa and Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s current art director Jack Spatafora, respectively) took over the patio for a night of handpicked, impeccablytasteful music from across the spectrum. Liters were $5 back then, but it’ll cost a bit more if you want to get your hands on a signature “Legacy” beer brewed by Coppertail and meant to mark “one last dance” before Crowbar makes its final run (the lease is set to expire this summer, after 20 years). The Renegades are joined by fellow legendary Tampa DJ duo Chris Wood and Theo Severson (founders of Emo Night Tampa), plus Four Star Riot and Billy Summer’s raucous, ripping rock and roll band Florida. There’s no-cover for the show. (Crowbar, Ybor City) See the extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 47

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48 | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | cltampabay.com

RANDY MIRAMONTEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK

The Florida Strawberry Festival is less than three months away, and once again has one hell of a concert lineup coming to the bandstand in 2026.

While both old and new country are wellrepresented on the bill, pop (Lauren Daigle) and R&B (Brian McKnight with Ginuwine) are on the lineup, too.

As usual, pretty much every one of the 11 days includes multiple concerts, each carrying its own separate ticket. With a couple exceptions, concertgoers must always purchase a gate admission ($4.45-$11.05, kids five and under free, with special discounts available daily) to gain access to the concert venue.

Tickets to Florida Strawberry Festival concerts happening in Plant City Feb. 26-March 8 are on sale now. See the full 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival headlining concert lineup, complete with showtimes and ticket prices, below. More information is at flstrawberryfestival.com.

Notable headliners include Joan Jett & the Blackhearts closing out the festival on March 8, Riley Green on March 1, The Offspring on March 7.

Come back next week for Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay.—Ray Roa

Thursday, Feb. 26 Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra: 10:30 a.m. No cover with paid gate admission The Oak Ridge Boys: 3:30 p.m. $40-$45 Alabama: 7:30 p.m. $65-$85 Friday, Feb. 27 Jo Dee Messina: 3:30 p.m. $40-$50 Jamey Johnson: 7:30 p.m. $45-$75

Tuesday, March 3 Sandi Patty: 3:30 p.m. $30 Lauren Daigle: 7:30 p.m. $70-$85 Wednesday, March 4 John Foster: 3:30 p.m., $25-$35 Brantley Gilbert: 7:30 p.m. $50-$85

Saturday, Feb. 28 Lonestar: 3:30 p.m. $35-$45 Ty Myers: 7:30 p.m. $50-$75

Thursday, March 5 Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets: 10:30 p.m. No cover with paid gate admission The Bellamy Brothers: 3:30 p.m. $30 Dierks Bentley: 7:30 p.m. $70-$90

Sunday, March 1 Riley Green feat. Hannah McFarland: 6:30 p.m. $110-$135

Friday, March 6 The Marshall Tucker Band: 3:30 p.m. $35-$40 Forrest Frank: 7:30 p.m. $70-$90

Monday, March 2 Gene Watson: 3:30 p.m. $30 Legends of Love feat. Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard: 7:30 p.m. $40-$80

Saturday, March 7 The Offspring: 7:30 p.m. $70-$90 Sunday, March 8 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts: 7:30 p.m. $45$75

cltampabay.com | DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 | 49

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Quickies

about being erased by the “vanilla assumption,” there is something to be said for hidden depths. Kinky secrets are the best secrets.

By Dan Savage

s Donald Trump a closeted gay man? I can’t think of anything that screams “secretly gay” louder than building a golden ballroom. Donald Trump has been married to three different women (two of whom were immigrants), he’s been accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women, and he was found liable—by a jury of his peers—for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. I don’t care if his ballroom has gilded slings, gilded lube dispensers, and gilded bottoms, that man is not one of mine. You’ve talked about how urine is sterile but also switched to calling it “mostly” sterile. Is it safe to use in a neti pot? Sterile is binary—something either is or isn’t sterile (sterile is not a spectrum!)—so it wouldn’t be accurate to describe urine as “mostly sterile.” My bad. That said, urine does have fewer bacteria than a lot of other things we ingest, from a Costco hot dog to the ass of a hot stranger. But seeing as it isn’t safe to use tap water in a neti pot—at least not in Florida—it’s probably not a great idea to use urine in one. Do any women actually love anal sex? Some do, most don’t. Adjust your expectations accordingly. New partner wants to explore Shabari. I’m down, but it feels like a huge undertaking in terms of learning. There are a ton of resources out there, but I have no idea what sites are good. Any recommendations? “Learning from other experienced ropers in person is invaluable, and some kind of formal rope instruction is available in most big cities,” said RopeSweatAndTears, an incredibly talented gay Latine roper based in Seattle. If you don’t live in a city where you can find an in-person class, RSAT recommends the book “Tie Me Up: The Complete Guide to Bondage” by Stephen Niederwieser and online bondage tutorials from The Duchy and Shibari Study. “Like with any new skill, rope bondage takes practice, persistence, and patience,” said RSAT. “Start with basic and simple ties and gradually increase complexity as your skill grows.” RopeSweatAndTears is the co-founder of RopeLab Seattle. Follow @Rope.Sweat.And. Tears on Instagram. Do all non-asexual shy women are subs sexually? I like the idea of dating a cute shy woman, but I wouldn’t want to be a Dom. Also: Am I the only non-asexual person in the world who is not interested in domination and submission? It’s not true that all “non-asexual” women— shy or otherwise—are subs. And I don’t know how you got the impression that you’re the only

“non-asexual person” in the world who prefers vanilla sex, but you can rest assured: your majoritarian sexual preferences are shared by the majority. I have severe ED. It doesn’t move. Messy divorce 10 years ago. Haven’t gotten hard since. I’m broke. Tried Viagra. Tried Cialis. Nothing. Please help. If you can pinpoint an inciting incident— you haven’t gotten hard since your divorce—it’s therapy you need, not meds. Still, you might want to ask your doctor about TriMix. I’ve read awful stories about people recently dressing up as Nazis. The prankster in me wants to throw drag balls and parody the shit out of Nazi outfits. What do you think? I confess, I’m a het woman so I don’t know how the LGBTQ community would react. While I never claim to speak for the LGBT community, in this case I’m going to make an exception: The entire community would react with anger if a straight lady—even a well-intentioned straight lady— started throwing Nazi-themed drag balls.

Any cock ring brands for big dicks? Something for a six-inch circumference? I’m at my wit’s end here. There are adjustable cock rings out there— but if you want something solid, why not commission something from a metalworker? Anyone who makes custom piercing jewelry (or custom cock cages) would be happy to make a custom cock ring. It’ll be pricey, of course, but time is money, and it sounds like you’ve wasted a lot of time already on your search for a cock ring that fits. What’s the best way to not be creepy when asking for sex? Depends on who you’re asking. If you’re asking someone you’re already fucking—if you’re asking an established/regular/cohabitating sex partner—there’s nothing creepy about asking directly. If you’re asking someone you aren’t already fucking, an accurate reading of the room and/or vibe (which will require you to control for dickful thinking) can keep the ask from coming across as creepy. If you’re asking someone you shouldn’t be fucking under any circumstances—your therapist or your mom or your parole officer—the ask will never not be creepy.

SAVAGE LOVE

Do gay dads do it better? Or best? Gay dads—good gay dads—do their best, same as good straight dads, bi dads, pan dads, ace dads, omni dads, etc., etc., etc. Can you please coin a phrase or term as a dog whistle that would make it possible for kinky people to identify other kinky people in vanilla spaces? Sexual minorities had dog whistles—secret handshakes, code words, tell-tale accessories (colored hankies, green carnations, rings of keys), even entire languages—back in the day. But if modern kinksters were to come up with a code word, phrase, accessory, etc., today, some asshole would jump on social media to do an “explainer” tomorrow, the New York Times would have a trend piece out the day after tomorrow, and the day after that non-kinksters would be using the phrase ironically. P.S. Day collars, to take one example, were not a secret that kept. P.P.S. There’s no such thing as a vanilla space. There are only spaces—there are only certain rooms full of people—where the vanilla and kinky alike adhere to site-specific social norms that discourage sexual displays and/or the telegraphing of sexual interests. Everyone is assumed to be vanilla, which works out fine for vanilla people, as the default assumption is accurate. And while some kinky people complain

What are your ideas for hosting a play party for the first time? Everything I know about hosting play parties I learned from “The Sex Party Handbook: Your Ultimate Guide to the World of Orgies, Sex Clubs and More (and How to Host Your Own)” by Ali Bushell. P.S. Ali Bushell shared his tips for hosting sex parties on Episode 890 of the Savage Lovecast. Can you give head after having a tooth removed? I have to get a right lower molar removed and I’m supposed to let that spot “stay empty” for three months until I can get a goddam expensive tooth implant! How long do I have to wait after the tooth is removed before performing fellatio? Can’t ask my actual dentist this, so turning to you. I took your question straight to the top: Dr. Darren Cox is a professor in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Cox is also the president-elect of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. “This question has to be answered on the basis of wound healing and preserving a clot in the socket the extracted tooth occupied,” said Dr. Cox. “Any aggressive motion should

be avoided after the extraction, so as not to dislodge the clot. No spitting, smoking or sucking through a straw. No gargling or swishing. Dry socket—which is when the clot dislodges and exposes the bone—is really painful. Light licking or passing into the mouth should not dislodge the clot after a week. Gentle ‘sucking,’ without really SUCKING, should be OK. Or they can just wait!” I love gay erotica, but I want to find erotic porn. Even porn that has the stupidest “storyline,” like the first porn video I bought at Tower Records: “Don’t Kiss Me! I’m Straight!,” a classic I got on VHS. Porn “content” that starts with two guys naked and immediately going at it is boring. Will I be stuck re-watching porn from the late-’80s? The porn you’re searching for—modern gay porn with plot, stakes, character arcs, great dicks and great performances—can be found at Himeros TV. I’m a cis lady who wants to learn more about throatgasms from deepthroating. I heard an interview with a sex expert about it, but haven’t had much luck finding more info about having an orgasm in your throat from giving head. Can you enlighten me? I can’t enlighten you about throatgasms because throatgasms are not a thing. If they were, I would’ve had one by now. I know for males, there’s “blow job.” Is there a slang noun form for a female’s getting off by having her clit sucked/tickled to orgasm? I’m trying to complete the sentence: “My boyfriend gave me the most amazing ______ last night.” Thanks! The universal/unisexual term for oral sex— giving and receiving—is “head.” Makes sense: Look down as someone who’s sucking your clit and/or your dick and what do you see? The back of their head. That’s why we—men and women alike—talk about “getting head,” “giving head,” “good head,” “bad head,” etc. Vagina-having person here: Is it cheating if a penis-having person living in another state sends me a customized sex toy modeled after their own anatomy? Does this penis-having person have a something-or-other-having partner? If they do and you don’t know whether their partner would regard this as cheating, that’s a good sign this penis-having person hasn’t asked their partner. And the most likely reason they haven’t asked their partner is because they already know their partner’s answer—and the answer isn’t “no, it’s not.” Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

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WE INTERRUPTS 62 Mount that Moses 126 Astronomer’s tableau climbed THIS PROGRAM 127 “Wine-dark” places 63 Recommended By Merl Reagle 128 Some grains amt. ACROSS 129 Lives 64 Dew Drop and 1 Hydrogen ___ Dolly Wright (gas that smells like 65 Canadian prov. DOWN rotten eggs) 1 Bait-and-switch, 66 Sinking signal 8 Flop e.g. 67 Interrupted show 12 Florence sits on it about prune-loving 2 Arm bone 3 Interrupted actor 16 Something to private eyes? who’d been sitting 72 Detour abbr. stand on around too long 19 Beaver’s last name 75 “You betcha” anyway? 20 Soprano’s neighbor 76 Letterman’s time 4 Clan: abbr. 77 Hawaiian tuna 21 Turn sharply 5 A paler shade of 78 Supermodel who 22 Resident of San white wed David Bowie Simian? 6 Don’t mention it, in 1992 23 Cup-shaped flower in Durango 82 Awakened, in a 24 Interrupted film 7 Previously, to the way about Southern Bard 84 Bust bottom farmers? 8 Diet restrictions 85 Frankenstein neck 27 Military or music 9 Skin cream herb feature abbr. 87 Jannings and Gilels 10 Pianist José 28 Made tracks 11 Attach firmly 88 With 96 Across, 29 Pianist Rudolf the other Tammany 12 Mary Kay rival 30 Whitman’s dooryard 13 Boxer separator Hall scandal? bloomers 14 Starting-over goal 90 “Too much!” 31 Half-wild, 15 Maker of Tater Tots 91 Opposite of sud half-domesticated 16 Aa or pahoehoe 92 Golfer Hogan canine 17 Roots was one 93 Auction gesture 34 Gide’s good 18 Hair goos 94 Ark of the 35 Conceal 25 Guesser’s plea Covenant, e.g. 36 A step ahead of the 26 Tin is one 96 See 88 Across MPs 32 Ring cheer 103 Oft-dedicated 38 Interrupted blue33 Bask successfully poetry collar spinoff 35 A living nightmare 104 ___-Contra of Dallas? 36 Incendiary crime 105 Jousting title? 45 Rise up 106 Muscadet wine city 37 “___ not amused” 47 Darned spot 39 Heaps 108 A Musketeer 48 Barrister’s quaff 40 Luau accessory 111 Take to a higher 49 Mr. Kazan 41 Linden and Roach authority 50 Laid orbs on 42 Casablanca role 114 Sizable: abbr. 51 Interrupted and namesakes 115 Geometry proof aerobics-show 43 Mislead abbr. theme? intentionally 118 Interrupted series 57 Photographer 44 Elihu and Linus about a cramped Adams 46 ’60s mindbender flying saucer? 58 Oligocene critters 120 Blend 52 Go downhill (literally, 53 Settle 122 Parent co. of “toothed mountain Universal Pictures 54 “A big fat hen” dwellers”) preceder 123 Glass coloration 60 Last gasps for 124 Anarchist Goldman 55 Recipient 56 Unseat gamblers 125 Hop on an iron 57 Italian wine city 61 Plutocrat’s digs horse 1

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59 JFK’s spy hero 98 Some snakes 61 Caruso or Fermi 99 Dog in old RCA 64 ___ Teen-age logos Werewolf 100 Gorgeous, to a girl 65 Last box on a 101 More subdued questionnaire 102 V-8, for one 68 Mirror-breaker’s 107 Gray’s Anatomy et al. bad-luck span, 108 Baksheesh briefly 109 Top 40 format 69 A concrete 110 Fired, as a amount torpedo 70 Crusades crusher 71 Part of a circle’s 111 Mound dwellers 112 Pinnacle area 113 Poetic pastures 72 Demetrius’s 116 City or canal workplace 73 Slot machine fruit 117 Hibernation stations 74 Classic Ford, 119 ___ big way familiarly 79 Interrupted show 121 Angle or cycle preceder about lawn-care crimefighters? 80 ___ of one’s own medicine 81 Salamanders 83 “That ___ religion” 84 See 59 Down 85 Sierra Club sci. 86 Baby’s need, for short 88 Word in a PUZZLE FANS ! Joe McCarthy For info on Merl's question Sunday crossword 89 Biol. blueprint anthologies, visit 92 Pet www.sunday 95 Weed yanker crosswords.com. 97 Watch sites

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