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Just stepping into FloridaRama (stylized “FloridaRAMA”) is a trippy experience, but things also got tipsy at the St. Petersburg immersive art experience last Friday night when Highball returned to Pinellas County. Utilizing hand-picked spirits—Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Tequila Herradura, Ford’s Gin, Diplomatico Rum, and Chambord Liqueur—mixologists from nearly a dozen of the Bay area’s best bars and restaurants worked to impress a panel of three judges and the ticketholders who cast votes of their own. See more photos, and the winners, via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa
Electric Elixir
Pear of Aces
Rye Pie
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from February 27 - March 05
The real McCoy
Almost $100,000 in prize money and scholarships (including the $15,000 Raymond James Best of Show Award) is on the line this weekend at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, but more than that is the chance to show work to the estimated 100,000 visitors organizers say come to the park over two days. Fifty-four years after its first show, GFA now welcomes nearly 300 handselected artists—including some showing in the emerging artists section (Michael McCoy’s work, pictured)—to downtown Tampa for the juried exhibition. Music is also part of the agenda, with this year’s lineup topped by Puerto Rican composer, singer, and cuatro player Fabiola Méndez (read more in Music Week on p. 53).
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts: Saturday-Sunday, March 1-2. No cover (VIP available starting at $150). Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N Blvd., Tamp. gasparillaarts.com—Ray Roa
Time for sinnin’
Gluttony is apparently one of the seven deadly sins, and with Lent starting this week, it’s time to cram that shit in. Ybor City’s Casa Santo Stefano can help with its first-ever Carnevale celebration. In Sicily, Carnevale goes back centuries and is a chance to binge eat before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which finds Catholics—devout and otherwise—trying to sacrifice something to emulate Jesus’ alleged 40-day fast in the desert (the season is 43 days this year). Santo Stefano, an Italian restaurant that pays homage to the gastronomy of Sicilians who emigrated to historic district, celebrates daily with decor, face painting, magic, balloon animals and a 10-item Carnivale menu. Highlights on the specials include cheesecake Guiseppe with marsala-macerated berries, bracioluni flank steak, pappardelle a rau Siciliana (braised short rib ragu, pictured) and the arancini al burro—a traditional teardrop-shaped antipasti of fried saffron risotto balls combined with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto and served with the restaurant’s fresh house-made tomato sauce. Reservations are suggested but not required. Carnevale: Daily through Tuesday, March 4. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Casa Santo Stefano, 1607 N 22nd St., Ybor City. casasantostefano.com—Ray Roa
Crazy ass white boys
After throwing down in cities like West Palm Beach, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London and Abu Dhabi, the car festival drifts into town this weekend, with “Fast & Furious” actors Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker set to appear, too. A press release says, “The FuelFest drift pits are open access, allowing fans to get up close to their favorite race cars and see what these amazing machines are all about.” It adds that more than 800 custom and exotic cars and trucks will be at the festival where drift ride alongs will also be available. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), a nonprofit founded by the late Paul Walker and continued by his brother, Cody Walker. Cody helped finish the final scene for Paul in “Furious 7” after the elder Walker died in November 2013. Read more on p. 47.
Fuelfest: Saturday, March 1. 1 p.m.-8 p.m. $35 & up (kids under 12 get in free). Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Hwy-301, Tampa. fuelfest.com—Ray Roa
Tampa Bay Sun FC’s push for the playoffs kicked back off this month, and the Bay area’s first professional women’s soccer team has one hell of a matchup this weekend. The friendly against Gotham FC, the 2023 champions from the National Women’s Soccer League, marks the first matchup between teams from the 12-year-old NWSL and the USL Super League, which launched its inaugural season last summer. It’s is a huge get not just for Blake High School’s Riverfront Stadium, but for local fans of the game who may very well get to see Gotham FC stars—including 2019 USWNT World Cup winners Rose Lavelle, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Sonnett—play in downtown Tampa. The Sun, for its part, includes three of the USL Super League’s top goal scorers, Carlee Giammona, Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (pictured), and Natasha Flint. Tampa Bay—just two points out of the playoffs, with 12 games to play—returns to league play next Saturday, March 8. Tampa Bay Sun FC v. Gotham FC: Sunday, March 2. 6 p.m. $15 & up. Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School, 1701 N Blvd, Tampa. tampabaysunfc.com—Ray Roa
Start your engines
The streets of the ‘Burg will be abuzz with loud engines this weekend. This four-day event kicks off the IndyCar season—and there are free tickets available thanks to a promo code good for two general admission Friday tickets (a $60 value). During the 20th edition of the race in the city, fans will be able to see IndyCar legends like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power, as well as rising stars like Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward—last year’s St. Petersburg winner. Track action starts bright and early on Friday with practice followed by its qualifying sessions. Around lunchtime, attendees will have the chance to meet their favorite IndyCar drivers at Fan Village for an autograph session followed by practice sessions from the Indy NXT and NTT IndyCar series. Saturday follows a similar format, and the big 100-lap race starts around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. To redeem the free Friday tickets all you have to do is visit gpstpete.com/greenflagfriday and type in the code GFF:TDEUO. Friday is the only day organizers let general admission ticket holders explore the outside of the team’s garages. Here you can see the mechanics dismantle the cars and work on them to prep them for the big day. You might even see a driver or two pop out of their trailers.
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 2. $30 & up. Downtown St. Petersburg. germantampabay.com—Sofía García Vargas
Wurst of times
It’s time to link up at one of St. Petersburg’s most flavorful festivals. With an expected attendance of 1,000 to 1,500 people, this family-and-pet-friendly event promises a day filled with mouthwatering eats, lively entertainment and plenty of fun for both two and four-legged attendees. There’s a meaty lineup of vendors, too, with sausage makers from Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Poland and the U.S. offering more than 15 styles, whether you’re craving a classic bratwurst or something more exotic. Since nothing pairs better with sausage than beer, guests can enjoy a selection of German brews while soaking in the vibrant festival atmosphere that includes DJs and traditional German dances. For the dog lovers, Sausage Fest includes wiener dog races, a dog talent contest, and a dog costume contest, too. Attendees can also check out specialty vendors like Skyway Dachshund Rescue and Doxie Boutique for all things pup related. Beyond the food and dog-friendly festivities, Sausage Fest will also have raffle prizes and local vendors like Churned Ice Cream, Crooked Johnson, Southern Steer, and Tip Top Canning Co.
3rd annual Sausage Fest: Saturday, March 1. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $5-$8. German American Society, 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. germantampabay.com—Sofía García Vargas
Let it Fløe
LIVE MUSIC LINEUP:
12:30PM-1:15PM Cage O’Hanlon
1:15PM-2:00PM St. Pete Irish Dancers
2:00PM-2:45PM Cage O’Hanlon
3:00PM-5:00PM Dave Gilmore and Pat Mangan
5:15PM-5:45PM Isle of Skye Highland Dancers
5:45PM-7:15PM Lucid Druid
7:30PM-8:00PM Suncoast United Pipes & Drums 8:00PM-10:00PM First of The Day
Collins’ card
Tampa
Bay Republican wants to remove working caps, mandatory breaks for minors.
By Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix
Republican Sen. Jay Collins of Hillsborough County has filed a bill allowing employers to schedule minors to work at any time and for more than 30 hours per week.
SB 918, filed last Wednesday afternoon, rehashes Republicans’ attempts during the 2024 legislative session to remove break requirements and scheduling limits for teenagers. Although the Legislature passed what was one of the most contested bills last year, the final result requires parents to sign a waiver for 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours per week while school is in session and maintain a 30-minute break every four hours of their shift.
Collins wants to remove the waiver requirement for older teens and let them work earlier than 6:30 a.m. and after 11 p.m. on school nights. SB 918 would also get rid of the breaks. There is no House counterpart yet.
Salzman, R-Pensacola, filed the similar bills (SB 920 and HB 759) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 4.
The bills would set the minimum age at 18 for purchasing rifles and other long guns. Federal law bars people under 21 from buying handguns.
The Legislature and then-Gov. Rick Scott approved the ban on people under age 21 buying rifles and other long guns after the February 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 students and faculty members.
The shooter, Nikolas Cruz, was 19 at the time and used a semiautomatic rifle.
LOCAL NEWS
The changes wouldn’t only apply to minors over 16. Under the proposal, 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated from high school, earned a GED, are homeschooled, or attend virtual school could also work longer hours.
The senator did not immediately respond to Florida Phoenix’s request for comment.
Approximately 61,318 of 16- and 17-year-olds who attend school in Florida are also employed, according to an analysis of last year’s legislation from the Florida Policy Institute. The group opposed the changes Republicans originally proposed but considered the final version that is now law less harmful.
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.
Tampa Bay Republican Jay Collins files bill that would allow teens to buy rifles
Amid a continuing legal battle, House and Senate Republicans this week filed bills that would repeal a law that prevents people under age 21 from buying rifles and other long guns.
Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, and Rep. Michelle
The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law, and the case is pending at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The House last year passed a bill that would have repealed the law, but the Senate did not approve it.
Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, also has filed a bill (SB 94) that seeks to eliminate the law. Fine will leave the Senate at the end of March because he is running in a special election for a congressional seat.—News Service of Florida
Mosaic’s ‘radioactive road’ plan for Florida challenged in appeals court
An environmental group last Wednesday went to a federal appeals court as it fights a plan to use phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of the phosphate industry, in a Florida road project.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking review of a December decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC, a subsidiary of The Mosaic Company, to move forward with the pilot road project on company property in Polk County. Phosphogypsum is typically stored in huge stacks, but Mosaic proposed building four sections of test road that would include different mixtures of phosphogypsum in road base material, according to the EPA’s notice of approving the plan.
The project is slated for the company’s New Wales facility.
The EPA said the “approval applies only to the proposed pilot project and not any broader use.” But environmental groups have long argued that using phosphogypsum in such projects could pose risks to people working on roads and to water quality.
In a news release last Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity said the pilot
project is part of an effort to use the material in roads nationwide.
“The EPA is directly contradicting its own science and regulations by tripling the permitted cancer risk to the public and ignoring key radiation pathways,” Ragan Whitlock, a Florida-based attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a prepared statement.—News Service of Florida
MINOR SITUATION: Hillsborough County Republican Sen. Jay Collins.
ON
EXHIBIT MARCH 1 - AUGUST 3, 2025
Organized by: In collaboration with: With the support of:
WUSF presents the Longest Table. Join us on April 3rd for an epicurean experience right down the middle of Bayshore Drive in St. Petersburg. Details available online at wusflongesttable.org or by calling (800) 741-9090.
Taste the Sunshine: Vibrant
2709 E. College Ave., Ruskin, FL 33570
Come practice your swing at Ferg's Clubhouse! Now taking reservations for Full Swing sports simulators, great for groups, parties, and team building.
1–2 hours | Age 21+ | Up to 4 people
1320 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 822-4562 | fergssportsbar.com Book online or email events@fergssportsbar.com
“It’s
about beer in Tampa Bay, not the beer of Tampa Bay.”
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
Of great import-ance
Tampa Bay Beer Week pulls in breweries from all over the globe.
By Ray Roa
Tampa Bay Beer Week (TBBW) won’t officially start until Saturday, but it soft-launched last Thursday and Friday with fundraisers and parties dedicated to strawberry beers and lagers. All told, there are nearly 70 events happening between right now and Dunedin’s Hangover Day “Hair of the Dog” party next Sunday. Hell, there’s even a golf tournament. And it can’t happen without contributions from breweries across the U.S.
“It’s about beer in Tampa Bay, not the beer of Tampa Bay,” Chris Fairchild, Vice President of the Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance, said, drawing a distinction between the local brewers alliance and the weeklong beer week it helps organize.
Sean Nordquist, Executive Director of the alliance, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that beer week’s reach goes even further than that. He pointed to an event at Independent Bar & Cafe next Tuesday——the celebration of Belgian styles is just one of seven TBBW happenings at the Seminole Heights watering hole.
“These are the beers that inspired us,” Fairchild told CL about all the speciality and rare beer headed for our neighborhoods.
“Some of the spots will bring in some of the best beers from Europe. You may never get another chance to taste some of these beers,” Nordquist added. “Some of the European styles— sours, lagers—historically, are the best in the world. They’ve been emulated, and tweaked, and that inspiration has led to some of the great beers that are now coming out of this area.”
And if you are looking for a more regional celebration, the 2025 Brewer’s Ball happening Sunday at Tampa’s River Tower Park is a chance to taste the best Florida has to offer beyond core beers at each brewery.
“These are the best of the best in all the different kinds of categories,” Nordquist said about the event that gathers winners of the Best Florida Beer Championships. Judges at the ball, he added, celebrate brewers, their craft and how good they are at what they do.
“From the most traditional, on point, historic recipe of a German lager to some crazy, wild, sweetened chocolate, something, or stout muffin thing,” laughed Nordquist.
“The camaraderie at this event is unbelievable. If you’re gonna ask me about one beer week
event that I will not miss, it’s Brewers Ball every year, 100%,” Fairchild said.
There might not be a better time to raise your glass to the local brewer either.
Both Fairchild and Nordquist agree that the Bay area beer scene is healthy—it’s still hard to drive more than a few miles without finding a good neighborhood brewery or bar with a good craft beer selection, after all.
But our ecosystem has not been immune to craft beer contraction happening nationwide. Many factors play into that shrinkage, including the proliferation of non-beer products, the changing interests of Gen-Z, and the aging craft beer consumer.
And like many others in the goods and services business across the U.S., brewers across the Bay area are clenching their cheeks as they grapple with rising rents, property insurance and the potential impacts from tariffs on imported steel (where brewers make beer), aluminum (where it’s stored), and even grain (one of beer’s main ingredients).
“A majority of the ingredients are not grown in the United States. We get more grain from Canada than we do from the Midwest. We were getting more grain from Ukraine for the longest time, but that’s long slowed down to a trickle,” Fairchild said.
Nordquist said the alliance has started to mitigate these impacts by working with suppliers that have domestic stock, but noted that the approach is not a long-term solution. “And it’s not going to be cheaper. It’s just going to be accessible,” he said.
At the end of the day, some of the rising costs inevitably find their way to the consumer. Still, both Nordquist and Fairchild agreed, it’s still too early to tell how it will affect what ends up in the craft beer drinker’s glass over the next few years.
but the smaller entities just don’t have the space or the means to make runs between large storage spaces and their production facilities.
DRINKS
Tampa Bay Beer Week Saturday-next Sunday, March 1-9. Various venues. tampabaybeerweek.com
“But I don’t see it being a positive for the consumer,” Fairchild said, noting that the creativity isn’t going to solve some of the most pressing issues facing craft beer production. “There’s no strategic grain reserve like we have for oil—it’s grown and sold pretty quickly.”
What’s more is that bigger breweries will be able to squirrel away steel, aluminum, and grain,
However, there are elements that might work in the small craft beer brewer’s favor. For better and worse, having good beer isn’t the be all and end all anymore. It’s not enough to make really good beer; service is as important as quality, along with the opportunity to create a welcoming environment or one that’s uniquely suited to regulars (look at the wild lineup of metal, cabaret and special releases lined up at Ybor Heights’ Deviant Libation where Tim Ogden brews some of the best stuff in Tampa).
“It’s another way to bring people through the doors with an experience that’s unique and different from what everybody else is doing,” Nordquist said about all the ways brewers are adapting. “You really have to create this experience that people will want. Something they will want to have more than once and tell their friends about. It’s a very different industry and business than it was, you know, 10 years ago.” See more TBBW events via cltampa.com/ food-drink.
WE THE BEST: TBBW’s Brewer’s Ball showcases the cream of Florida’s craft crop.
Help CL with this evolving listing. Did we miss a brewery or leave out an important detail? Email rroa@cltampa.com. Include brewery name, address, phone number and website, plus a short description of the unique offerings. (Last updated Feb. 27, 2025)
3 DAUGHTERS BREWING One of downtown St. Pete’s most popular hangouts and a beautiful facility in which to drink some great brews. The brewery also has an outpost on Clearwater Beach. 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727495-6002, 3dbrewing.com
3 KEYS BREWING South-of-the-Skyway restaurant and brewery and gastrobrew specializing in small batches. 2505 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com
7VENTH SUN BREWIN G Some of the best sours, IPAs and collabs going at one of Tampa Bay’s OG breweries. 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013. 7venthsun.com
ANECDOTE BREWING CO. Sip inside or on the patio of Indian Rocks Beach’s first micro brewery. 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. anecdotebrewing.com
ANGRY CHAIR BREWING Crazy-good Seminole Heights beer, open TuesdaySunday. The taproom has tons of parking and a food shanty that low-key slings some of the best chicken wings in Tampa Bay. 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com
ARKANE ALEWORKS A wide variety of styles and flavors from the second brewery to open in Largo. 2480 E Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com
BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. Lager-specific brewery, carrying on a more than 150-year brewing legacy. With Zydeco gone from the historic district, it serves the cleanest beers in Ybor City. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. 813-242-2739 barriehaus.com
BAYBORO BREWING CO. Veteran-owned kid-friendly brewery that has tons of events to go with its creative tap list and low-key music venue/listening room that tops most others in Pinellas. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727767-9666, bayborobrewing.com
BIG STORM BREWING CO. Brewery with fun, signature brews (Bromosa, anyone?), and a gigantic footprint that includes a Pasco Storm Room, Clearwater outpost and new Ybor City spot overlooking 7th Avenue. 12707 49th St. N., Clearwater. bigstormbrewery.com
BIG TOP BREWING Perhaps Sarasota’s premier purveyor of locally crafted beer, Big Top’s reputation has spread far beyond the region and gets served up at two locations just south of Tampa and St. Pete. 975 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota/ 2507 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton. 941-371-2939/ 941-708-2966, bigtopbrewing.com
BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. This Tampa taproom from Bootleggers Beer & Wine Home Brewing Supplies offers house-made suds and guest beers.10256 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com
BREW HUB Some of the area’s best beers are produced here along with suds for their own
BREW LIFE BREWING Ultra-small batches and a lot of ‘em at this unassuming plaza brewery. 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com
BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. Tarpon Springs spot specializing in music-inspired brews like the “So Fresh n’ So Clean sour” and “All the Single Belgians.” 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 7272-940-2350, @brighterdaysbrewco on Facebook
BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. A multitude of styles from former garage brewers is on tap in Valrico. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing. com
CAGE BREWING Custom brews in the Grand Central District from one of the ‘Burg’s best brewery-music venues. 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278. cagebrewing.com
CALEDONIA BREWING Great in-house beers in the historic Dunedin Times building. 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com
CALUSA BREWING Family-owned and operated; open Tuesday-Sunday. 5377 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, 941-552-8846, calusabrewing.com
CIGAR CITY BREWING Tampa’s most famous craft brewery. There’s also a taproom at Amalie Arena and inside Tampa International Airport. 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-3486363, cigarcitybrewing.com
CHANNELSIDE BREWING CO. This new addition to the bustling Channelside district is a contract brewing facility with a few neat pilsners and IPAs of its own. 802 N 12th St., Suite C, Tampa. 813-592-5700, Channelsidebrewing. com
COMMERCE BREWING Live entertainment, events, and a wide variety of brews live at this newly-opened taproom. 521 Commerce Dr. S, Largo. 727-330-7011, commercebrewing@ gmail.com
COMMON DIALECT BEERWORKS Seminole Heights’ new family and dog friendly brewery—located right next to the Health Mutt pet store—has a familial and welcoming feel for all walks of life, plus beer from longtime brewer Mike Conze. 5023 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 813443-6659. commondialectbeer.com
COPP WINERY & BREWERY A one-stop shop for all wine, beer and brewery needs in Crystal River. 7855 W Gulf Lake Highway, Crystal River. 352-228-8103, coppbrewery.com
COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. Some of Tampa’s best beer, in one of its best tasting rooms—all complemented by one hell of a kitchen program featuring some of the best food in Tampa, brewery and otherwise. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com
CORPORATE LADDER BREWING COMPANY Brewery focused on customer experience and celebrating social gatherings. 4935 96th St. E, Palmetto. 941-479-4799, corporateladderbrewing.com
COTEE RIVER BREWING Craft beer in the heart of historic downtown New Port Richey. 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-807-6806, coteeriverbrewing.com
CRAFT LIFE BREWING Originally based in Land O’ Lakes, this small-batch spot brewery now serves sips out of its larger location in Hudson. 6810 Tower Dr, Hudson. 727-378-4530, craftlifebrewingcompany.com
CROOKED THUMB BREWERY Safety Harbor’s first brewery boasts homegrown flavor and local guest taps, plus local food trucks and a stacked live music calendar. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com
CUENI BREWING CO. Located off the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin and is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary there. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing. com
CYCLE BREWING A true destination of The ‘Burg’s and one of the OG craft breweries in downtown St. Pete . 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. Cyclebrewing.com
DADE CITY BREW HOUSE The heart of downtown Dade City’s destination for original beers, wines and ciders. 14323 7th St., Dade City. 352-218-3122, dadecitybrewhouse.com
DE BINE BREWING CO. This addition bolsters the Northern Pinellas craft beer scene. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964, debinebrewingco.com
DENTED KEG ALE WORKS Local brewery nestled in downtown New Port Richey. 5500 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-232-2582, dentedkegaleworks.com
DEVIANT LIBATION Latest project from local beer god Tim Ogden now open in Ybor Heights, and you might catch a local hardcore show there, too. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727379-4677, deviantlibation.com
DISSENT CRAFT BREWING CO. Unique flavors and adventurous style outside downtown St. Pete. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-342-0255. @dissentcraftbrewing on Facebook
DUNEDIN BREWERY Florida’s oldest. Beer, eats and live music in what’s now become an iconic setting. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com
DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER This beer stop brews its own, and also has 40 guest taps. 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 216-6318, dunedinhob.com
ESCAPE BREWING CO. Another very worthy Odessa-Trinity destination that’s in the process of building out a new food hall. 11495 Trinity Blvd., Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com
FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. Beer for the Sunshine State brewed in a familyfriendly taproom. Its newly-opened location in Seminole Heights dishes out a full food and cocktail menu, too. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel/4315 N Florida Ave., Tampa,. 813-452-6333/ 813-358-2927, floridaavebrewing.com
FLORIDA BREWERY Built in 1937, the second oldest brewery in Florida offers a Lagerfocused brew menu that’s distributed to 15 countries around the globe. 202 Gandy Rd., Auburndale. 863-965-1825, floridabrewery. com
FRONT PAGE BREWING CO. This Bartow brewery offers Wednesday trivia, Thursday bingo and live music on the weekends. 190 S Florida Ave., Bartow. 863-537-7249, frontpagebrewing.com
GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE 10,270 square-foot brewery, taproom, beer garden, and event venue with a lager-focused tap list. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-2026071, grandcentralbrew.com
GREEN BENCH BREWING COMPANY A James Beard-nominated space worthy of the adventurous beers it produces, and you can always walk over to Webb’s City Cellar for funky ferments. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com
GOLDEN ISLES BREWING CO. This new, kid-friendly neighborhood brewery in St. Pete features its own ales, IPAs, porters and lagers on tap and also hosts a handful of different food trucks each week. 3000 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg. 727-502-9446, staygoldenstpete.com
GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. Dozens of taps and beer-friendly fare from a husbandand-wife duo, who also operate a nearby distillery and cocktail lounge under the same company umbrella. 1570 Lakefront Dr, Sarasota, 941-770-4282, thegoodliquidbrewing.com
GRINDHAUS BREW LAB Small batches and no extracts from this Pinellas-based “boutique brewery.” 1650 N. Hercules Ave. #1, Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab. com
GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY Small batches—like its Gulfport Golden Ale or Hippie Oasis hazy IPA—plus an artisanal food menu. 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. 727-9544109, gulfport-brewing.com
HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS This Tampa Heights brewery features a rotating tap selection of unique craft beers. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks. com
HOB BREWING CO . Rotating taps, with some brewed on-site and alongside a combination of local breweries, plus local and international craft beer makers. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-474-5584, hob.beer
IF I BREWED THE WORLD A self-described “mixtape of breweries” with a bit of everything from the classic to the fun and outrageous. 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4484, ifibrewedtheworld.com
IN THE LOOP BREWING Family-friendly with a lot of community support and plenty of events. 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com
continued on page 36
GOLF CLASSIC
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INFUSION BREWING CO. Another great location in the good-beer-packed Trinity/New Port Richey area. 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. 7272-484-4757, infusionbrewingcompany.com
JUICY BREWING CO. The Virginia brewing company gets its flavor from fruity sours and IPAs, offering smoothie-style beers such as the guava strawberry or banana passionfruit mango coconut sour. 1745 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER
Tasty brews from the folks behind Keel & Curley winery. 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-752-9100, keelandcurleywinery.com
LATE START BREWING Beloved Tampa label formerly doing its thing inside the Pour House, but is now building a new location in downtown Tampa. 1018 E Cass St., Tampa, latestartbrewing.com
LEAVEN BREWING Riverview’s first brewery is run by folks who’ve got experience brewing big and small. 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com
LIQUID GARAGE CO. Trendy one-offs and traditional styles all in Jeffery Ashline’s industrial and automotive-themed taproom. 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey. 727645-5885. theliquidgarage.com
MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING Brews, ciders and meads by the beach. 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com
MAGNANIMOUS BREWING In a warehouse a half-block north of I-75, this addition to Tampa Bay’s beer scene provides a large variety to drink in or to go curbside pickup. Magnanimous also operates a taproom in Seminole Heights. 1420 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com
MARKER 48 BREWING Hernando’s first production craft brewery with tasting room and beer garden 12147 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill. 352-606-2509, marker48.com
MASTRY’S BREWING CO. From CD Roma’s restaurant to sweet new digs on St. Pete Beach. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727202-8045, mastrysbrewingco.com
MOTORWORKS BREWING A taproom and beer garden featuring full liquor and wine as well as 30 taps. In 2025, Motorworks expanded to Tampa’s Harbour Island (707 Harbour Post Dr.) 1014 9th St. West, Bradenton. 941-5676218, motorworksbrewing.com
MR. DUNDERBAK’S The longtime restaurant, biergarten and homebrewers’ hangout is serving up its own beers. 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-977-4104, dunderbaks.com
OLOGY BREWING CO. This Tallahasseebased company opened its first Tampa location in 2023 and now offers a variety of in-house
brews, coffee and spirits. 6401 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 850-296-2809, ologybrewing.com
OUTCAST BREWING COMPANY Opened out of the building where King State’s The Brutalist and Flying Boat Brewery once operated, and in addition to its main indoor bar, Outcast’s large space boasts several different spaces that focus on different beverages—with one room focusing on wine-based craft cocktails and another offering prosecco and high-end wines. 1776 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-258-7176, outcastbrewingcompany.com
OVERFLOW BREWING CO. Laid-back spot courtesy of St. Pete native and head brewer Troy Bledsoe and company. 770 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-0665, overflowbrewing.co/
OZONA BREWING COMPANY Fresh, local craft beer made on site, wine, food and live entertainment in the heart of Ozona. 315 Orange St., Palm Harbor. 920-392-9390, ozonabrewing.com
PEE-PA’S GARAGE CRAFT BREWERY We think your dad will totally love this new brewery, which is known for its lighter ales, stouts and fruited goses. 6340 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. 727-526-2300, peepasgaragecraftbrewery.com
PEPPER BREWING The Angry Pepper Taphouse’s in-house label, available “on a limited basis.” 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com
PINELLAS ALE WORKS PAW offers a dogfriendly environment in addition to tasty brews. 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727235-0970, pawbeer.com
POUR HOUSE With new release events and special feature nights, Pour House celebrates all things beer. 1208 E Kennedy Blvd. #112, Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com
RAPP BREWING COMPANY The late Greg Rapp’s award-winning styles are carefully crafted at this “nano-sized” brewery. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com
SEA DOG BREWING COMPANY This Treasure Island craft brewery also operates a handful of food trucks throughout Tampa Bay. 9610 Gulf Blvd.,Treasure Island. 727-954-7805, seadogbrewing.com
SESH The newest concept from the owners of Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. is also a restaurant serving craft cocktails and house-brewed craft beers, seltzers and ciders in a supposedly-haunted historic building. 2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-933-0266. Seshstpete.com
SKY PUPPY BREWING The opening lineup featured a dozen beers on tap, along with four natural wines by the glass. Beer styles created with Sky Puppy’s seven-barrel SS Brew Tech system included Mexican lager, hazy IPA and hazy DIPA, Czech pilsner, Belgian wit, two Florida weisses, and a sweet stout. 1313 E. 8th Ave., Tampa. 813-302-9450, skypuppybrewing.com
SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING More Dunedin goodness, including some truly original flavors
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 05, 2025 | cltampabay.com
and inventive brews. 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-601-1698, soggybottombrewing.com
SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING Multiple brews only available in its tasting room, as well as products and guidance for homebrewers. 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking. com
SOUTHERN LIGHTS BREWING CO. Only the finest hops, grains and natural ingredients go into these handcrafted small-batch ales and lagers. 2075 Sunnydale Blvd., Clearwater. 727648-4314, southernlightsbrewing.com
SPONGE CITY BREWING A “fresh take on modern brew houses,” this newly-opened taproom dishes out IPAs, stouts and beer-friendly bites. 501 South Pinellas Ave.,Tarpon Springs. 727-937-8677, spongecitybrewing.com
ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY Beers crafted specifically for the climate, plus a bumpin’ event space next door. 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com
STILT HOUSE BREWERY Friendly joint specializes in high-ABV ales and other styles you won’t find elsewhere. 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery. com
SUN KING BREWERY This Indiana-based brewery expanded its footprint to Florida in 2022 and now operates an airy taproom in North Sarasota. 1215 Mango Ave., Sarasota. 941-893-3940, sunkingbrewing.com
SWAN BREWING Nearly four decades of combined brewing experience go into the offerings at this pet-friendly joint. 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com
TAP THIS! BAR AND BREWING CO.
Neighborhood beer and wine sports bar. 10730 US-19, Port Richey. 727-378-4358, tapthisbar.com
TBBC Formerly Tampa Bay Brewing Co., local favorite for nearly two decades with two locations including one in the heart of historic Ybor City. 1600 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933 Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813-2471422, tbbc.beer
THIRSTY BUFFALO BREWING COMPANY
Located at The Hub, Land O’Lakes’ new brewery features ales, IPAs, the Midnight Bull vanilla milk stout and a coffee blonde made with beans from Bexley-based Yummee Coffee Roasters. 16794 Focus Loop, Land O’ Lakes. 813-475-5591. thirstybuffalobrew.com
THREE BULLS TAVERN & BREWERY Smallbatch handcrafted beer and food made from scratch wrapped in a creative atmosphere. 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. 813-381-3853, threebullstavern.com
TIDAL BREWING COMPANY Small batches in Spring Hill. 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-701-1602, tidalbrewingfl.com
TROUBLED WATERS BREWING An easygoing taproom featuring draft and bottled craft brews, billiards and live music. 670 Main St.,
TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY Tarpon Springs’ latest brewery and taproom focuses on American ale styles. 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, @twofrogsbrewing on Facebook
ULELE SPRING BREWERY Beer crafted in accordance with traditional Bavarian purity laws, inside a gorgeous municipal pump house turned award-winning restaurant. 1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com
UNREFINED BREWING All-natural and only in-season ingredients go into these craft brews. 312 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727940-4822, unrefinedbrewing.com
WELTON BREWING CO. Its Land O’ Lakes brewery closed at the end of 2022, but its upcoming Pinellas Park location—which seems to share its property with Pinellas’ German-American Society—has experienced serious construction delays. Its most recent update said a grand opening was slated for December 2023. 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. 813-820-0050, thebrewcraftery.com
THE WILD ROVER BREWERY What started as an English pub in Odessa is now a higherproduction facility in Westchase. 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com
VOODOO BREWING Craft beers, seltzers and cocktails and a full food menu. 220 4th St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-273-8014, saintpetersburg. voodoobrewery.com
WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY Traditional German styles in downtown Dunedin. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-2388717. woodwrightbrewing.com
WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. Tampa Heights brewery with a focused menu often using fresh fruit as part of its beers. 456 W Columbus Drive, Tampa. 813-443-9463, wovenwaterbrew.com
WULFAVEN BREWING CO. Carrollwood’s new brewery, making crisp and clean beers, but also some juicy and bitter IPAs and pale ales for the hop-chasers. 10828 Perez Dr., Tampa. 813-374-8226. wulfaven.com
YUENGLING BREWING CO. One of just two U.S. Yuengling destinations, and now home to recently-opened Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen. 11109 N 30th St., Tampa. 813-9728529, yuengling.com
ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY East Paco’s first microbrewery. 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813-715-2683, zbcbeer.com
ZYDECO BREW WERKS This New Orleansinspired brewery and restaurant closed its flagship location in Ybor City earlier this year, but is still pouring reserved brews at its scaleddown operation at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry aka MOSI. 1902 E 7th Ave, Tampa. 813-240-5213, zydecobeer.com
Email rroa@cltampa.com for any corrections and updates. Thanks!
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 • 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM
HYPERGLOW • America’s Largest Glow Party @ The Ritz Ybor 1503 E. 7th Ave – Tampa
General Admission starts at $25 hyperglowtampafl.eventbrite.com
Pop Punk Emo Night TAMPA by PunkNites @ CATACOMBS YBOR CITY
1909 N 15th St Suite A Tampa
$10 General Admission bit.ly/4gFCov2
Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 • 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Grown Folks Only Day Party @ 7th + Grove 1930 East 7th Avenue Tampa
Tickets start at $10 shorturl.at/imL1U
Sunday, Mar. 2, 2025 • 3:00 PM - 9:00PM
R&Vegan: Ybor City @ 1920 Ybor 1920 East 7th Avenue Tampa
$10 General Admission shorturl.at/rfoWp
Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brass Key Book Club: Circe @ The Brass Key
1702 North Nebraska Avenue Tampa
Tickets start at $8 shorturl.at/m6mGz
Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025
Doors at 5:45 PM, Show at 7:00 PM
Charleston White @ The Funny Bone
1600 E 8th Ave C-112, Tampa
Tickets start at $37 shorturl.at/pTvrZ
Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025
Doors at 7:30 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
PSYCH MONTANO’s “Skeleton Key”
Album Release Party @ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St Tampa
$27 General Admission crowbarybor.com/calendar/#/events
Friday, Mar. 7, 2025 • Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM
SHOVELS & ROPE Tour 2025 @ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St Tampa
$27 General Admission, $30 at the Door crowbarybor.com/calendar/#/events
Saturday Mar 8, 2025 • 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Las Damas Tea @ Centro Asturiano de Tampa
1913 N Nebraska Ave Tampa
$30 per adult, $15 per child under 12 years old
https://shorturl.at/BIBUL
Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company 1603 E. 6th Ave., Tampa Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company is dedicated to maintaining that great family tradition. tampasweethearts.com/
Casa Ybor Casa
Living history
A
Tampa civil rights milestone is honored in a play revival
By David Warner
On Feb. 29, 1960, about 50 African American students from Blake and Middleton high schools in Tampa dared to do something historic: They marched down to Woolworth’s department store, sat down at the segregated lunch counter, and ordered food.
Other cities in the South had confronted such lunch-counter sit-ins with arrests and brutality. But things turned out differently in Tampa, thanks to a biracial committee led by a white mayor, Julian Lane; a Black religious leader and president of the Florida NAACP, Rev. A. Leon Lowry; and a prominent white attorney known for defending Black clients, Cody Fowler. Mayor Lane, using what he called the “Tampa Technique,” ordered police to protect the demonstrators rather than arrest them, and the committee arranged negotiations between Black leaders and white business owners that ushered in a peaceful shift toward desegregation throughout the city.
at the Straz.
The demonstrations were among the most successful civil rights actions in the South, say historians. Yet they have remained a littleknown chapter in Tampa history. “When the Righteous Triumph”—a play that premiered at Stageworks Theater two years ago and returns for a second run March 6-16 in the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theater—aims to remedy this.
THEATER
When the Righteous Triumph Jaeb Theatre at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, May 6-16. $50. stageworkstheatre.org
Playwright Mark E. Leib, a Tampa native, had not heard about the sit-ins until reading a chapter in “From Saloons to Steakhouses” by Andy Huse, historian and curator for Florida Studies at the University of South Florida Tampa Library. Stageworks Producing Artistic Director Karla Hartley, a third-generation Tampeña herself, didn’t know about them either until Leib approached her about commissioning a play on the subject. And when former U.S. Congressman Jim Davis saw Leib’s play at Stageworks in 2023, he decided it deserved a wider audience.
“I knew the story from my father,” says Davis, whose grandfather was Cody Fowler. “But to see it brought to life in such a compelling fashion was inspiring. My cousin, who’s very conservative politically, loved it, too.”
Feeling that such a “unifying” play is needed now more than ever, he launched the notion of a revival. His interest, he says, “blossomed into a group.”
Boy, did it. Hartley and Straz CEO Greg Holland told him how much it would cost to mount such a revival, not least of which would be the challenge of mounting it on the much larger Jaeb stage. (Christopher Jackson, who masterfully directed the premiere, returns for the revival.) A coterie of friends and supporters went about raising the money.
sit-ins. As part of that project, WEDU will film an entire performance, which will be shareable for free with other PBS stations around the country. The money raised so far for the production and the documentary totals approximately $500,000. In part, these funds will enable student matinees, which weren’t part of the original run. Now 2,400 high schoolers from 40 schools, including Blake and Middleton, are scheduled to see the play.
“I’m excited about the young people who will see the matinees,” says Hartley. “It’s an opportunity for them to see what previous generations have done as high school students—that you can make this positive change and you can do it non-violently.”
“I’m excited about the young people who will see the matinees.”
That team included former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Florida’s former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Straz benefactors Frank and Carol Morsani, and former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, who at age 17 was one of the Middleton High students who took part in the sit-ins.
Even after production expenses were raised, still more people wanted to donate, so Davis talked to WEDU President and CEO Paul Grove about getting involved. Now the PBS station is producing a documentary about the play and the
Even though this chapter of Tampa’s past has remained relatively obscure until now, it’s not ancient history. The actors embody figures who are still remembered and in some cases still alive. Intimidating much?
“Absolutely it was,” says Clay Christopher, who is reprising the role of Rev. Lowry. “It was my fi rst time playing a historical figure. And so many people are still alive who were in his orbit.” He benefited greatly from the help of Shirley Lowry. The reverend’s second wife, she provided
continued on page 44
HAVE A SEAT: (L-R) Mark Wildeman, Jim Wicker, Clay Christopher, David Warner, Kelli Von Shay, Kyle Stone
BY ASHLI HARPER
continued from page 41
Christopher with “a wealth of knowledge” about her late husband, even lending him articles of clothing that he wore and providing him with audiotapes of Lowry’s sermons, which the actor recorded on his phone. “I call her Mama Lowry,” says Christopher.
Audiences may not recognize Christopher from his most recent role: his Theatre Tampa Bay Award-winning turn as Dr. Frank N. Furter in Jobsite’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” last summer. Do these two characters have anything in common?
“So certainly not heels and a corset. But I would say right off that it’s their ability to command those around them. Frank was commanding in a toxic way, Lowry more inspiring, but both were somebody who people come to out of love,” he added.
Wicker returns both as Fowler and Police Chief Neil Brown in the revival. He’s gratified at Davis’s reaction, especially since “I’ve never played a character that was so famous and so recent.” But he didn’t listen to recordings. “The main thing I try to do is play the character who’s in the text. The words on the page inform what I do.”
As Fowler, he gets to deliver many of the play’s most memorable lines, including this echo of the title: “You can’t be a righteous person if you live in an unrighteous society.”
I’m also fond of another line, spoken by Mayor Julian Lane. When Chief Brown predicts that Lane will lose voters due to his stance on desegregation, Lane assumes he means white people. Brown replies, “Of course, the white people. Who else?” and Lane says:
“Well, something tells me I’m mayor for everyone, ‘who else’ included.”
THEATER
Christopher’s own family has its share of commanding characters, including his maternal grandfather, Ken Littlefield, who was a pastor and a state legislator at the same time as Arthenia Joyner. “My first official paid job from age 8-15 was a page and messenger in the Florida House. During talkbacks [for the 2023 production] I got to remind Arthenia Joyner that I used to bring her coffee.”
Kelli Vonshay plays Roberta Warner, a young woman who takes part in the sit-ins. Though Leib invented the character, Vonshay took inspiration from Joyner’s “fiery energy… her sass.”
Joyner’s fire hasn’t dimmed. Explaining to a TV interviewer why she was supporting the revival of “Righteous,” she said, “I want people to see what happened 65 years ago and what it was like living in a segregated society. We’ve come a long way, but the fight continues.”
Profiles in courage abound in Leib’s play. Mark Wildman plays Clarence Fort, who as head of the NAACP Youth Council bravely led the student sit-ins. Lance Markeith Felton plays a composite character named Dasher who, impatient with Lowry and Fort, organizes his own demonstrations and faces police threats as a result.
One reason I’m fond of that line is that, full disclosure, I’m playing Julian Lane. And the more I’ve learned about the man, the more I realize what big shoes I have to fill.
Like Fowler, Lane is remembered as a man who quietly went about doing the right thing, no matter the consequences. His grandson, Julian Lane III, shared a telling anecdote with me—how after he was elected in 1959 he called a maintenance man into his office in Old City Hall and told him to take down the “Colored” signs from restrooms and water fountains after everyone had left the building for the day: “‘Don’t tell anybody about it, just do it.’”
“‘Don’t tell anybody about it, just do it.’”
He also chose to take his wife and four children to the Florida State Fair on its designated “Colored Days,” not on regular Fair Days. When his daughter (Julian Lane III’s aunt) asked what the “Colored” and “White” signs were for on the Fair restrooms, he told her, “Don’t worry. They’re coming down very soon.”
Attorney Cody Fowler was a noted defender of equal rights. Hiis grandson suspects it’s because he grew up the son of a single mother.
“He had a certain appreciation of people not having what others have,” says Davis. Though Fowler rose to positions of power, including president of the American Bar Association in 1950, “he saw the good in everybody, and believed that when you have the opportunity to step up, you see what can be done. That was his nature.”
Davis was blown away by Jim Wicker’s performance as Fowler.
“Just the little things,” he remembers. “When he laid back in the chair, that gesture—that really hit me deep. He captured not just the spirit but the embodiment of my grandfather.”
Lane’s “Tampa Technique” was not just a political stance. His beliefs ran deep, deriving from a time when he trained African American artillery soldiers in Louisiana during WWII. He would say afterwards that he couldn’t imagine having sent these men to risk their lives on the battlefields and then not allowing them to sit at lunch counters or use beaches and city pools.
Unfortunately, Chief Brown’s prediction came true. Lane did go on to lose re-election by a very narrow margin in 1963, and his defeat was attributed partly to his desegregation efforts.
Nevertheless, he and the other defenders of equal rights who launched desegregation in Tampa in 1960 deserve to be remembered. The righteous did triumph, for a while at least. Here’s hoping the revival of a play that honors that triumph will remind us that, as Arthenia Joyner says, the fight is not over.
“THE FIGHT”
Woman’s Furisode, c. 1935, Silk, Collection of Peter Kuhlmann and Diane Gilmour
Walker this way
Cody Walker talks FuelFest, coming to Tampa this weekend.
By John W. Allman
Whether you own a fast car, you love movies like “The Fast and the Furious,” or you just want to find out what drifting is all about, FuelFest is where you want to be this weekend.
Spearheaded by his youngest brother Cody, FuelFest began in 2018 as a one-off opportunity to raise money for the late actor Paul Walker’s nonprofit organization, Reach Out WorldWide (“ROWW”), and has grown into an international phenomenon set to roar into Tampa for the first time.
FuelFest provides a singular experience for anyone and everyone who loves cars, whether gearheads, enthusiasts, or amateur street racers, as well as a chance to hobknob with both stars (Tyrese Gibson) and vehicles from the $7-billion-plus grossing “Fast and Furious” film franchise, which Paul Walker and Vin Diesel launched in 2001. Paul starred in six of the franchise’s 10 movies before his death in 2013 in an automobile accident.
“It’s easy to call FuelFest a car show,” Cody told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We like to say ‘automotive festival.’ There are so many things going on. There is your car show area, fun media interviews and Q&A’s with notable people from the car world, a big music stage, live sets, special guest appearances, motorsports with drifting, sometimes a competition and not just an exhibition, and also ride-alongs so people can go for a ride with vetted drivers.”
More than that, FuelFest has become a vehicle itself to raise money to help others in need.
When Paul died, Cody was working as a paramedic in Oregon. Someone needed to continue Paul’s legacy, so Cody stepped up to assume oversight of ROWW and today serves as its CEO.
“Our mission is going in to put boots on the ground and helping communities after natural disasters,” Cody said. “We’ve traveled to various different parts of the world and all across our beautiful country from hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes. Obviously, the most recent here is wildfires.”
Such work takes resources, though, which prompted Cody to think outside the box about fund-raising in 2018.
The very first event wasn’t called FuelFest; it was a labor of love made possible by calling in favors, Cody said.
“We raised $75,000 for ROWW,” Cody recalled. “I said to myself, I’m going to create a big event, higher production value, and hire people to put on multiple events per year and we will generate way more for ROWW.”
Seven years later, FuelFest has raised more than $600,000 for ROWW, and created an
experience for film fans and car fans alike. In 2024 in West Palm Beach, the event drew 23,000 attendees, Cody said, which prompted discussion about adding a second location in the Sunshine State.
“Obviously, you guys have awesome cars in Florida,” Cody said. “A rich car culture in Florida.”
Many people come out hoping to see or meet their favorite stars from the “Fast and Furious” films. While Gibson has attended the most FuelFest events, Cody said Diesel has been a surprise attendee on three occasions and Ludacris performed a surprise set at a past West Palm Beach event.
“People don’t really understand. How is this possible? These are just my friends. They’re doing this because they want to,” Cody said. “I’m very fortunate. It’s so cliched, ‘Fast and Furious’ and family, but it really is. All these people, we’ve all grown up together.”
INTERVIEW
For Cody, one of the highlights of every event, he said, is meeting people who have been impacted by his brother’s performance as Brian O’Conner, which begs the question of what Paul would think about FuelFest.
said. “I meet people all the time that are anywhere from 18-to-50-years-old, the movies have been out for so long, who go, ‘I wasn’t a car guy until ‘Fast and the Furious’ and your brother’s character was the shit and got me into it. “So many stories that I could share that people have wanted to share with me.”
FuelFest
Saturday, March 1, 1-8 p.m. $30 & up.
Florida State Fairgrounds. 4800 U.S. Hwy-301 N, Tampa. fuelfest.com
Cody said he never grows tired of hearing such reactions, in part, because he understands the impact.
“I think first of all, he would be blown away that ROWW still exists and so many people have worked so hard to see it through. He would think that was just nuts. He would be so proud,” Cody
“I was in middle school when OG ‘Fast and the Furious’ came out,” Cody said. “He’s the reason why I became a car guy. When people share their story with me, I look them in the eye and go, ‘Me too.’ That’s why I had any interest in the world to create FuelFest.”
PUSH IT: Cody Walker called in a lot of favors to get the first-ever FuelFest out of the garage.
COURTESY
CORNELL
Big time
They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh talks vinyl and upcoming new album.
By Josh Bradley
It’s been a while since They Might Be Giants has been a two-piece, and nothing will be more apparent on its new “Big” tour. This run of shows promises to see John Linnell and John Flansburgh—along with a three-piece horn section and normal backing band—present a full career retrospective, while also giving some extra light to a different early album every show.
“We kind of just cycle them around,” Flansburgh told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay from his weekend house in New York's Catskill Mountains. “We currently have 80 songs actively in the show, and we probably just added another half dozen for this leg.”
On the side, Flansburgh— who once went to a record store to get Sparks’ Propaganda on its release day—is also working on the long-awaited project of issuing the band’s entire discography on vinyl. Long Tall Weekend, which was initially released exclusively in digital format back in the ‘90s was one of the first ones to go out, but some of the CD-era releases are proving to be difficult, largely due to much of the original album artwork being lost to the ages. “A lot of the art has been lost. Sometimes, overseas record companies have the art, and it’s a lot of finagling to pull it together,” he added.
The 64-year-old maintains a pretty impressive vinyl collection himself, which he admitted has changed over the years thanks to moves and burglaries. But Flansburgh still holds streaming services and CDs very close, and doesn’t have the ideology of “you don’t own the album if you don’t have it on vinyl.”
celebrated 33 years of their breakthrough album Flood. Read an abridged Q&A below and see the full chat via cltampa.com/music.
This “Big” tour is being described as a run of shows that will celebrate all corners of Giants’ career, while also having a di erent album in the spotlight every night. What do you think the decision making process is going to look like for each album? Like, are you and
speak to how it gets selected, we kind of just cycle them around. I mean, we’ll do a Mink Car show one night, we’ll do a John Henry show the next night, and then Apollo 18 the next night, and just try to keep it as different as possible for the people who are coming back, as well as ourselves.
I mean, to be perfectly honest, it’s really fun to put on a different show every night. Like, to have this amount of material under our belts, and—I can sort of relate to why people like doing Repertory Theater, because once you sort of have the muscle memory of doing a song, and you’re well-rehearsed, you can do more than one show. It’s possible to do more than one show, and being stuck to the same setlist night after night
of things happen that are public, and all sorts of things happen that are private that kind of shade how you feel about various things, various work that you might have done. I think the thing that was frustrating about Mink Car professionally is that we had worked so hard on it to try and create something that would be commercially viable and like…listen, we’re an unlikely band. We’re not like a natural fit on the radio, a natural fit in the popular culture, and we’re just as aware of that as anybody, and I think with Mink Car, we were trying to…our career is very odd in a way, because we have had a lot of commercial success, a lot more commercial success than a band like us would typically have, with our sensibility, our sense of humor and the musicality of what we’re doing.
[John] Linnell gonna draw straws every show morning?
is one of the very real traps of live performance.
“I’m very happy to have Spotify, and be able to draw on that all the time. That’s very satisfying to me,” he said. No matter what your format is though, you’ll probably see at least some wax for sale when John and John return to Jannus Live for the first time in two years, when they
Yeah, right now, we’ve got three albums in rotation, and I guess we’re about to have a fourth, once we get enough songs in the repertoire. Even just to do the spotlight stuff, we currently have 80 songs actively in the show, and we probably just added another half dozen for this leg. So there are just a lot of new songs and old songs coming into the show. And to
You mentioned Mink Car. A great record for sure, but considering its unfortunate release date [September 11, 2001], do you guys see that album in a di erent light than, say, the week before 9/11?
The thing about having a long career is that you do see the bumps in the road. You live your life around the work that you’re doing, and all sorts
I think it’s very much a take it or leave it thing, and that’s not the kind of music that necessarily ends up on the top of the charts. So I think, with Mink Car, we were trying to make an interesting album, but we were also trying to make songs that would be interesting to hear on the radio. A song like, “Man, It’s So Loud In Here” that’s very much a piece of electronica that is like, if you like electronica, you can enjoy that song just on its own terms. And there are other tracks on the record like that, you know, like “Cyclops Rock.” It’s a very rockin’ song…I don’t know. It’s like we were kind of swinging from the rafters with that one, and I think it was frustrating to have the rug pulled out of it right on that day. But it was a crummy day for everybody, so…
I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you about the album that you and Linnell are currently working on. Is there anything new you can tell us about it?
We are essentially done, unless we’re not. It doesn’t have a firm release date, and it doesn’t have a cover. I can tell you both of those things are happening, but you know, maybe there’ll be some last-minute adjustments. It’ll be out sometime relatively soon, and it’s a very strong record. I’m into it. But again, you know, only time will tell. There’s a song with strings, and there’s a bunch of songs with horns. It’s like a big production.
SUPER COOL: John Linnell (L) and John Flansburgh.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY
SATURDAY MARCH
ROCKABILLY BATTLE ROYALE
REVEREND BILLY C. WIRTZ
By Ray Roa
THU 27
C Elvis Crespo It’s been two decades since “Suavemente” brought a new element to backyard barbecues from the Bronx to Brickell, and the merengue classic’s creator is still on the road singing it. Elvis Crespo makes just one stop, in Florida on this ninestop coast-to-coast tour. The 53-year-old has enjoyed being in the same conversation as Lady Gaga lately, as fans draw comparisons between her comeback video, “Abracadabra,” which features nods to a Crespo track with the same name, according to some observers. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa)
FRI 28
C Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival: Eric Gales w/Blood Brothers/Ally Venable/ Mr. Sipp/more Love is for sale on the last day of this annual Coachman Park shindig when Chris O’Leary—one of the smoothest voices in roots rock—pushes his latest album The Hard Line . On it, the New York boy channels rockabilly and the early days of blues (the record has a vibe similar to the Rolling Stones’ 2016 cover album Blues and Lonesome ), while also expressing how he was able to let out his frustrations of being a Marine on “I Cry At Night.” O’Leary also mentored under Levon Helm at one point, and with Garth Hudson being the last member of The Band’s lineup to pass on in January, at least downtown Clearwater will get to hear The Band’s influence in real life as part of this three-day party. (Coachman Park, Clearwater)—Josh Bradley
C The Florida Orchestra: Yo-Yo Ma Ma, one of history’s most cherished cellists, makes his third and final stop of a short Florida run to help raise money for The Florida Orchestra. Expect the 69-year-old to bring a special brand of emotional depth and precision to this performance of Richard Strauss’ famed tone poem “Don Juan,” from its opening flourish and through the piece’s sweeping horns and tender oboe passages. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)—Grace Stoler
C The Path of Increased Indifference (album release) w/Prescribed Fire/ Purr Purr Purr/Dead Mirrors/Headless State Fronted by Deviant Libation founder and brewmaster Tim Ogden, The Path of Increased Indifference is a band that plays a self-described “post-hardcore meets noisecore with a math rock twist” brand of rock. Its new album, Night School Field Trip , has been in the works for about as long as the venue’s been open—and while it’s been five years since there’s been anything new from the band, you don’t rush art, especially
when you’re able to score a guest spot or two from fellow Tampa-based artists like Meatwound’s Marty Iglesias contributing to the title track. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)—JB
C The Space Between: BK Jackson w/ Bianca Fitzpatrick Smooth jazz gets Water Street’s new live music series out of the gate, thanks to BK Jackson, who was a wavemaking Blake High School alum way before Doechii (he did a four-year sting in Prince’s New Power Generation Hornz band, people). The 33-yearold smooth jazz composer and saxophonist is joined by Root Mod frontwoman Bianca Fitzpatrick for this gig happening at at the district’s “Via Corazon” plaza located between the Cora building and the East Cumberland garage. (Water Street Tampa)
C Florida Strawberry Festival: Reba McEntire No one should be shocked by the popularity of Strawberry Festival headliners, who could probably sell out arenas as easily as they do the shed in Plant City (alum of the festival includes Johnny Cash and Taylor Swift). Reba McEntire was last in town for a 2022 set at Amalie Arena, and has played the barn at least five times since 1987. Don’t be surprised to get a mini acoustic set from the 69-year-old country music queen should she choose to promote her book and companion album, Not That Fancy. (Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City—JB
SAT 01
C Rockabilly Battle Royale: Round Ten w/ The Oak Hill Drifters/Deke Dickerson/Willy Barry,/Shaun Young
One of New World’s most beloved events celebrates a decade of knockout, rowdy roots rock-and-roll. Rev Billy C Wirtz will be in the biergarten playing keys in a no-cover set, but the action inside the venue’s music hall includes a set from Oak Hill Drifters, a purveyor of jump blues and classic R&B that is unafraid to get extremely-country, too. (Music hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)
The B-Town Getdown: Slap Of Reality w/ Clairmel/DJ Noi Step into a time machine transporting punk-rock lifers back to the days of Angelfire and Geocities websites. That means the late-’90s when Tampa’s still-active A.D.D. Records put out its first-ever release: a 7-inch split that featured two tracks from Clairmel, an outfit that would go on to put out a handful of No Idea Records releases. Expect that unit (which in full disclosure includes Creative Loafing Tampa Bay photographer Dave Decker) to cover the breadth of its catalog at this show where another (resurgent) staple of the Bay area’s punk-rock scene, Slap Of Reality, plays songs old and new. It’s hard to overstate how much of an influence oldschool Brandon had on modern day Ybor City, and you’re sure to hear some stories at this no-cover get together. (The Bricks, Ybor City)
C Gasparilla Festival of the Arts: Fabiola Méndez w/Prizilla/Pusha
THU FEBRUARY 27–THU MARCH 06
Preme/Joseph Mukeveri Blessed/Boho Sideshow/Izzy Bradburn/more The visual arts are the main course at this weekend’s Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (more on p. 12), but organizers have also booked two full mornings and early-afternoons of live music emceed by Tampa Bay’s favorite weatherman, Denis Phillips. Topping the lineup is Puerto Rican artist Fabiola Méndez who weaves her rich culture and storytelling into vibrant, bouncy folk songs driven by the cuatro (a guitar-lookin’ and actin’ descendent of the lute that the 28-yearold Berklee grad has played since she was six years old). An alum of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and NPR Tiny Desk, Méndez is a great get for the music bookers at GFA who’ve long brought high-quality national acts to the stage. She’s part of a two-day lineup that includes more than a dozen performing artists like Tampa rapper Pusha Preme, pop outfit Prizilla, Congolese songwriter MK Blessed, spoken word from the Growhouse collective, Tampa rock band TV Breakup Scene and more. (Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa)
C Hot 8 Brass Band A gig from Hot 8 Brass Band is both concert and communion, complete with plenty of high-stepping, hand-clapping, and yes, horns. The Grammynominated outfit is on the road supporting a new album, Big Tuba, which is a tribute to band founder Bennie Pete who, in 2021, died at the age of 45 due to complications related to sarcoidosis and COVID-19. Pete was a gentle giant whose influence was larger than life, and it’s safe to say that this gig will feel less like a funeral and more like a celebration of his contributions to New Orleans and music in general. (Orpheum, Tampa)
Matt Pless w/Neverless On the road from Maryland, songwriter Pless brings a bright, deeply-melodic brand of acoustic, introspective, pop to an evening record store gig where ska-ish Sarasota punk-band Neverless opens. (Microgroove, Tampa)
WED 05
C Bright Eyes Rainbows on the overpass are a somewhat common sight in the Tampa Bay area, and you can count on Conor Oberst & co. to sing about it when Bright Eyes comes to Tampa Bay. The 44-year-old’s trio released a new album, Five Dice, All Threes, last year and has a three-pack of Florida dates supporting the outing. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
THU 06
C Cardiel w/Hovercar From Mexico City, this duo redefines metal. Singer and drummer Samantha Ambrosio alongside guitarist Miguel Frano originally wanted to make music skateboarders could jam to. What they ended up with is an epic blend of punk, psychedelic and a hint of stoner rock that
embodies the feeling of racing through an obstacle course at full speed.With its dark vibe and history of hosting metal bands, Deviant Libation is the perfect venue to amplify Cardiel’s raw sound. Look for another heavy-hitting duo, Tampa’s own Hovercar, to possibily molt into a trio at this show. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)—GS
C Psych Montano album release w/ Sponatola/Finesse the PoetAcoupstix/ Midaz the Beast Dig up your best explorer outfit because Psych Montano wants folks to dress the theme (“Tomb Raider,” “The Mummy,” “Indiana Jones”) for this Skeleton Key album release. Three years in the making, the album features locals (Shevonne, DJ Qeys), plus national emcees (Alfred Banks), and is produced by Bay area producer Spontonola, who’ll warm up the crowd with a beat set. After that, a live band joins the Tampa rapper to play the album in full, just hours before it arrives on streaming services. The album’s latest single, “Vice City” includes Shevonne and is an allusion to the temptations the album’s main character must navigate. “The song builds from apprehension about people and my own shortcomings, evolving into more of a state of self-reflection and acknowledging that not everyone is your friend,” Montano told CL. “However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find your tribe and ultimately where you fit in.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)
C Rock The Park Tampa:
The Brainiacs w/Mailey Rock/9henom Downtown Tampa’s no-cover, pet-and-family-friendly concert series is on the move, for this month at least, and lands a mile north on the Tampa Riverwalk at Water Works Park. The bill is a doozy, too, showcasing the future of Tampa Bay’s music scene thanks to sets from emerging emo band Maily Rock (FFO of Boygenius, Jay Som) and genre-bending St. Pete rapper-songwriter 9henom. The night closes with a high-energy blast from the past care of The Brainiacs, which features members of beloved NYC ska band The Toasters and Bay area giant of the genre, Magadog. (Water Works Park, Tampa)
See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
C CL Recommends
Psych Montano
FRI., FEB. 28 KICKOFF PARTY
from 6-10 p.m. with performances from Flow Tribe and more.
SAT., MARCH 1
The Shaelyn Band
Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast
Eddie 9v
Mr. Sipp
Eric Gales
SUN., MARCH 2
Dig3 Band
Chris O’Leary Band
Ally Venable
Blood Brothers
Gates open at 2 p.m. each day
Nearly 33 years after its inception, the Wu-Tang Clan wants to bring the “ruckus” one last time. Last Monday, the legendary Staten Island rap group announced a run of shows for what appears to be their its latest and final tour—Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber. Run The Jewels opens pretty much every show on the run, which has just one Florida stop this summer.
“Wu-Tang Clan has shown the world many chambers throughout our career; this tour is called The Final Chamber,” said RZA in a statement. “This is a special moment for me and all my Wu brothers to run around the globe together one more time and spread the Wu swag, music and culture. Most importantly to touch our fans and those who have supported us throughout the years. On this tour we’re playing songs we’ve never played before to our audience and me and our production team have designed a Wu-Tang show unlike anything you’ve ever seen. And to top it off we’ve got the amazing Run the Jewels on our side.”
The Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber Tour will feature all of the surviving members of Wu-Tang Clan, including RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son Young Dirty Bastard, according to The New York Times.
The tour is being marketed as the group’s “final” tour. Though it’s unclear if this
Thomas Day (opening for The Driver Era) Saturday, March 8. 8 p.m. $24.75 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Youth Antics w/Cozy In The Black/ Amateur Taxidermy/Sure Thing Saturday, March 12. 9 p.m. No cover for over 21, $5 for 18+. Crowbar, Ybor City
GreyMarket album release Saturday, March 15. 8 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City
Crimewave: A Darkwave Party Friday, March 21. 9 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City
Josey Scott’s Saliva w/Hed PE/Flaw/ Adema/Core/Kalus Saturday, March 22. 6:15 p.m. $30. Brass Mug, Tampa
Urban Heat w/Blaklight Tuesday, April 1. 7 p.m. $17. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
ARTMS Tuesday, April 8. 7:30 p.m. $42 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Protoje and the Indiggnation Thursday, April 17. 7 p.m. $35. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Layton Giordani Saturday, May 10. 10:30 p.m. $25 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Bodie w/Gracie Binion Tuesday, May 13. 7 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
means the group is breaking up, or just not touring together for the foreseeable future. Either way, the tour comes as the Wu recently wrapped up its Las Vegas residency, which was a first for the genre. The last time Wu Tang was in Tampa was 2023, when a handful of members played a daytime pool party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with Nas and De La Soul.
Tickets to see Wu-Tang Clan and Run the Jewels play Amalie Arena in Tampa on Tuesday, June 10 went on sale to the public on Friday, Feb. 28 and start at $54.75. Read Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Colin Wolf
Asking Alexandra w/From Ashes To New/Royale Lynn/What Lies Below Wednesday, May 14. 5:30 p.m. $39.25. The Ritz, Ybor City
Chase Shakur Wednesday, May 21. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Tchami Friday, May 23. 10 p.m. $25 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Dierks Bentley w/Zach Top/The Band Loula Friday, June 6. 7 p.m. $49.75 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Vktm Friday, June 6. 10 p.m. No cover with RSVP, $10 for guaranteed entry. The Ritz, Ybor City
Dance Gavin Dance w/The Home Team/ Belmont/Dwellings Saturday, June 7. 6 p.m. $97 (resale only). Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Old Dominion w/Redferrin Saturday, June 7. 6:30 p.m. $42.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Max McNown Friday, June 13. 7 p.m.
Prices TBA. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Rainbow Kitten Surprise w/Michael
Marcagi Wednesday, June 18. 7 p.m. $36 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
RZA(L) & GZA
That’s rich
By Caroline DeBruhl
Dear Oracle, I don’t know what to do about my husband. We met in the same Ph.D. program, but he was on a student visa and had to go back to his home country. We married three years ago and spent SO MUCH money on immigration lawyers trying to get his green card, and FINALLY, he was able to move in with me six months ago. (It wasn’t a disaster, but he was very depressed because he couldn’t get a job, and he was NOT easy to live with.) But, it turns out the university in his home country requires him to buy out his contract or finish it and spend another year there teaching, and he’s not getting his shit together to make sure his green card doesn’t lapse. I thought our goal when we got married was to make a life in the U.S., but he doesn’t seem to be doing everything he can to work toward that goal.
I think our options are: 1.) We get divorced because he can only find a job in his home country, and I’m unwilling to move there. 2.) His green card lapses, but he does everything he can to get a job in the U.S. that would sponsor a work visa. 3.) We spend another boatload of money on an immigration lawyer (AGAIN) to help with the green card and he comes back and mopes around until he DEIGNS to get a job at Publix so his wife (ew) doesn’t have to be the sole breadwinner. Or 4.) He swallows his pride and borrows money from my dad to pay off his contract.
To make matters worse, I just got laid off from my tech job, and even though I have six months of expenses saved with no lifestyle change, if we have to get lawyers involved for either the first of third options, I’m worried about paying for it. I don’t even believe in tarot, but desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess? Logical wife
Since your letter didn’t ask a specific question, I asked a few of my own. The first is how you both view your current marriage. It seems like you still view your marriage as having the potential to be something wonderful. The Two of Cups is the potential for a great love story, and the Six of Pentacles is sharing our wealth, values and life with someone. It’s potential, but not realization.
Your husband, on the other hand, seems to be in a dark place. The Ten of Swords is a card of fear, crisis, and feeling utterly defeated. With the quiet black of The New Moon, I think he’s trying to figure out a plan to save it, but the idea hasn’t arrived yet.
You mentioned the “goal” of marriage, so I asked what each of you wants for your marriage. For your husband, the Queen of Cups suggests he wants you—a loving, accepting you—and with the Three of Pentacles, he wants a collaborative partnership, one that allows each of you to ask for help and work together equally. With both cards being reversed, he may have wanted this for a long time.
Your cards suggest other priorities. The Nine of Wands sometimes appears when we are trying to micromanage the universe and control things that are way out of our control. And I think you might be doing this from a place of unexamined fear.
ORACLE OF YBOR
Send your questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram
The Four of Pentacles is a card that shows up when we prioritize our personal comfort over growth, often due to fear or misunderstanding. (It’s also a card that suggests seeking therapy. Perhaps personal and couples counseling?)
Cards for how you view the marriage/ your desire for the marriage/how to achieve that: Two of Cups, Six of Pentacles (both reversed); Nine of Wands (reversed), Four of Pentacles; The Tower, Page of Swords (reversed)
Cards for how he views the marriage/his desires for it/ how to achieve that: Ten of Swords, New Moon; Queen of Cups, Three of Pentacles (both reversed); Knight of Cups, Page of Pentacles
Dear LW, if you have quite a bit of savings and aren’t currently working, why not visit your husband for a few weeks? It seems like you both need to have some difficult conversations and manage some very stressful situations; perhaps it would be easier and more clarifying if it was face-to-face. (And I imagine LinkedIn works just as well in Lisbon or Lima or wherever your husband lives.)
Do you think that you are willing to compromise on certain comforts if it means your marriage would get stronger? Are you flexible and adaptable when outside circumstances force you to pivot? Are you willing to honestly look at your own behaviors? Do you want to be married if it means saying “yes” to the above questions?
I know nothing about your marriage. I cannot, in good faith, speculate when I only have a short letter from you and don’t even know your husband’s name. But I can notice things. For instance, you don’t mention if you love your husband. You don’t mention being happy living together—you say the opposite, in fact. You mention his depression but then call it “moping around.” You suggest that he’s being silly or haughty for not getting a job at Publix but don’t mention what it would mean to him to leave his home country, family, friends, and career as a university professor in order to immigrate to a new country and only work in a grocery store. You mention that if the roles were reversed, if you had to leave your country and family and friends, you would choose divorce over immigration.
I do not know your situation. I do not know where your husband lives or what this situation looks like beyond what you’ve written. But, from your letter and the cards, I think you two might want different things.
In order to get what you desire—personal comfort, an orchestrated fate—I do think divorce is the path forward. With The Tower, I think the institution would have to fall, and the Page of Swords suggests you’d find it freeing (in the short term.)
For your husband, in order to get to his dream marriage of love, acceptance, and partnership, he has to be his most vulnerable, charming, romantic self, a true Knight of Wands. The Page of Pentacles suggests that he has to work hard at that, has to be willing to learn and open for growth.
I think some deep soul-searching on your end and some honest conversations with your husband are the first steps. If you find that you still want to have a loving relationship, one that shares everything, then I think your husband is more than willing to work towards that. But, if you decide you don’t want to be married, proceed with the divorce. No matter what you choose, I do strongly recommend working with a therapist through all of this. Neither option promises immediate happiness, but a therapist can help you tolerate the unhappiness of your choosing.
I also hope that the cards are wrong, that you both want the same thing, that you get to work towards that, that you live a wonderful, happy life together, laughing at how silly tarot is.
See more of Caroline and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
Low and slow
By Dan Savage
Dear Readers: When I open a column with “Dear Readers,” it’s usually to let you know I’m taking a week off. But this is a brandnew column! All new questions, all new answers. But I intentionally dug through the mail for relatively simple questions because I’m just fried from the news. So, if you wrote in this week about a particularly thorny interpersonal conflict that would require me to think and focus before responding… you’re not going to find your letter. All the questions below are easy pitches—low, slow, and over the plate because those were the only ones I felt capable of taking a swing at after the week we’ve all had.—Dan
I’m a newly-out gay man who is also exploring kink and leather for the first time. It has been fun, especially because I love daddies, and some wonderful older men have been my guides to this brave new world of rubber and slings. However, a few have ghosted me because I end up texting too much due to the fact that I’m worried they’re losing interest. I’m realizing this is a red flag to others. I’m needy but it’s rooted in the fact that this is all new to me AND since I feel late to the party, I need to move things along quickly to make up for lost time. How do I parent myself through this situation and stop pushing Daddies away with my neediness?—Boy Losing Opportunities With Incessant Texting If you’ve gotten unambiguous “you’re too intense/you’re too much/you’re too needy” feedback from multiple guys—verbal and/or non-verbal—you should be able to correct course. I mean, you may have just come out, BLOWIT, but you’re a grown-ass man and a grown-ass man can resolve to do things differently. So, how about you identify a friend whose phone you can blow up with messages about your latest sexual adventure? Then after blowing up your friend’s phone for 24 hours, you can send a single thankyou text to the nice guy who set up his sling for you and let him know you’d love to take another ride. Playing it cool is not to be confused with playing games. People who play games lie about their interest or their availability in order get things they want from people who wouldn’t give them those things—their time, their attention, their holes—if they knew the truth. When you play it cool, you’re being honest about your feelings (“I had so much fun and would love to meet up again”) but you’re being thoughtful, considerate, and strategic about when and how you express them.
giddy text messages about him to your best friend. He won’t just be flattered that you felt that way about him—and relieved you didn’t blow up his phone—but even more attracted to you than he was already, BLOWIT, because the ability to self-regulate is something people look for in partners, both play and life.
right now it’s your wife’s turn to play the fool. When she comes to her senses, HOTMESS, you can be there for her with a pint of ice cream and some enthusiastic oral. (Always does the trick for my husband.) You can gently point out the signs she missed, if she wants to talk about it, and make her promise to be just as patient when it’s your turn to play the fool.
me feel terrible since despite me helping her with her career, she feels worse now than when I met her.—Gloomily Ruminating Over One Mostly Elicit Relationship
SAVAGE LOVE
How does one navigate unrequited crushes while in a monogamish marriage? My wife has been crushing on someone that has proven to be a mess and is practically unavailable. They have an attraction for one another and have exchanged some flirts and kisses, but this person doesn’t have the time or energy for her that she hoped he would. I’ve stayed out of it because it hasn’t caused any issues for us as a couple. However, at this point it’s the same song and dance without any change of perspective on my wife’s part. How can I support her so she can move on? We go out fairly often to find different cute lesbos. She’s still hung up on this hot mess who, to me, isn’t worth the effort beyond a purely platonic friendship. Always appreciate your advice.—Hoping On This Mess Exiting Sometime Soon
Married poly people—or poly people with primary and/or nesting partners—are often asked how it feels to watch our spouses go through the NRE (“new relationship energy”) stage of a new relationship. (Some of us feel fine about it, others are threatened by it; some of us wanna hear every detail, some of us wanna be on a need-to-know basis.) But we’re rarely asked what it’s like to watch our partners suffer through an unrequited crush, a shitty first date, a disappointing or disqualifying first sexual experience with someone new, etc. Short answer: it sucks—watching someone you love suffer always sucks—and figuring out how to help (or whether you’re the right person to help) isn’t always easy. Sometimes the spouse just wants you to listen, sometimes the spouse wants you to weigh in.
Quite a few years ago I was tricked into participating in a threesome with my ex and his friend when I was high. I brushed it off as a bad experience and did nothing about it. I’m starting to hear that it was an act of conquistadorial machismo since I’ve moved back home. It was suggested that the boys planned the event to use the interaction as blackmail or gossip material. Should I report this to the police? I’m starting to fear the gossip might turn violent. Looking for advice!—Tricked Into Threesome
If you have reason to fear for your safety or if your ex has threatened to blackmail you, TIT, you should be speaking to the police right now and not sending emails to sex-advice monkeys. But if what you’re dealing with is lingering (but totally valid) anger over being talked into doing something dirty while high (but not incapacitated), along with hearsay about gossip (not a crime) and blackmail (a crime if attempted)… then no, the police are not gonna swoop in and arrest your shitty ex and his equally shitty friend. Unless and until something actually happens, you’ll have to go back to brushing this off.
Some men convince themselves they’re doing good things when they’re actually doing deeply shitty things. Other men, aware they’re doing deeply shitty things, will toss in a good deed or two to compensate or cover for the deeply shitty things they know they’re doing. And #NotJustMen: we all—men, women, enbies, all of us—have the capacity to construct the kind of self-serving rationalizations that help us sleep at night.
And if you wind up regularly getting with a guy that you played it cool with at first, BLOWIT, then you can tell him you were so excited after your first session you sent 300
So, HOTMESS, if you have the kind of relationship where you’re welcome to weigh in on your wife’s other relationships—if you generally talk about the other people you’re pursuing or doing—you could gently point out the mess your wife is currently too blinded by lust to see. But if you typically don’t discuss other partners or prospects, you would be well advised to keep your mouth shut. If your wife’s crush was negatively impacting you and/or your marriage in some tangible way, HOTMESS, I would urge you to speak up. But it’s not—you said it wasn’t—so you shouldn’t.
Love makes fools of us all, as they say, and
I recently ended an affair with someone younger than me. We work in the same industry and were in the process of changing our relationship to only being professional and friends. After speaking with her confidants, she let me know that I groomed her during our relationship. Beyond sex, there was a transactional exchange (of a sexual nature), since we live in different states. I am a bit confused since she’s 30 and I am 45 and I presumed a 30-year-old woman had agency. I always encouraged her to reach out to her friends and never tried to isolate her. Is it possible that a 45-year-old adult was grooming a 30-year-old adult? I am gutted, I’ve always tried to follow your campsite rule. Other than being shitty for having an affair, this all makes
Now, since I don’t have the security footage— and since I can’t subpoena you both and take your depositions under oath—I can’t say whether you were being any shittier than the average person having an affair. (Even when justified, all affairs involve some shitty behavior.) Likewise, I don’t know if you were honoring the campsite rule or just going through the motions. And I don’t know whether your offer of professional support turned what was already transitory and transactional into something exploitative. Did your affair partner feel that way all along? Or is she reassessing things now that it’s over and revising your history together to paint you— with the encouragement of her confidants— in the worst possible light? I don’t know and I can’t tell you. But I know and can tell you this: You didn’t groom anybody. When we’re talking about sex—not hair care or ski hills—grooming has a very specific meaning. It’s not a 45-yearold adult having consensual-if-ill-advisedand-regrettable sex with a consenting 30-year-old adult. Grooming is when an adult insinuates himself into a child’s life, gains the trust of that child’s caregivers, and then sexually abuses that child. Whatever else you’re guilty of, GROOMER, you are not guilty of that.
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Legal, Public Notices
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 March 14th 2024 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 1033 Lacarsha Robinson, UNIT 3166 Alicia Vaughn. Run dates 2/27/25 & 3/6/25.
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 March 14th, 2025 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 3165 Micaela Miguel. Run dates 2/27/25 and 3/6/25
HOW TO PLAY: In each “word addition” problem, the answer to the first clue must be reversed before being entered into the grid. Thus, “One more time (rev.) + Sun god” translates as AGAIN spelled backward, plus RA, which forms NIAGARA. Every theme answer is a common word or phrase. As they say, sometimes you have to back up to go forward.
