Creative Loafing Tampa — January 1, 2026

JANUARY 01-07, 2026 (VOL.39, NO.01) • $FREE CREATIVE LOAFING - CLTAMPABAY.COM

PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DAVE DECKER

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

Ring in 2026 with a free concert in the park.

Rock the Park kicks happens Jan. 1 in Tampa, p. 45.

Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta

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

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

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No Clubs has staged a staggering number of concerts ...

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NO CLUBS

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

MUSIC WEEK ��������������������� 45

A scene staple turns 40, p.39.

SAVAGE LOVE ���������������������51 CROSSWORD ��������������������� 54

The physical edition is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampabay.com. Copyright 2023, Tampa Events and Media, LLC. The newspaper is produced and printed on Indigenous land belonging to Tampa Bay’s Tocobaga and Seminole tribes.

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

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/food More cheap eats /music Listen to Music Week /arts Catching up /news Legal issues to watch this year

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Joy wave

Photos by Dave Decker

S

ligh Middle Magnet School, AKA Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy, hosted its namesake’s “Joy of Giving” celebration on Saturday, Dec. 20. WWE superstar Titus O’Neil and his sons, TJ and Titus Bullard, were assisted by 250 volunteers from his Bullard Family Foundation and the City of Tampa to distribute more than 5,000 gifts to local families. See more of the photos, plus Decker’s Top 25 shots of 2025, via cltampa.com/news.—Selene San Felice

6 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 7

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from January 01 - 07

The big comfy casting couch

Two critically acclaimed one-woman fringe shows are back on stage in Tampa Bay. Gabrielle Leonore’s “My Life as an ‘Inspirational P*rn Star” and Emily Weitzman’s “Furniture Boys” both showed at Tampa and Edinburgh fringe festivals over the summer. Leonore’s show is part standup, burlesque and character study with a PowerPoint presentation and a soundtrack punctuated by Olivia Rodrigo’s “Brutal”. Weitzman’s “Furniture Boys” is an absurdist comedy about boyfriends who become, well, furniture. The show combines clowning and spoken word for a reflection on love and impermanence. The Guardian called it “shimmeringly silly, ingenuous, and ridiculous and revelatory.”

Straight from the Fringes: Next Thursday, Jan. 8-Saturday, Jan. 10.

7:30 p.m; Sunday, Jan. 11. 2 p.m. $27. TheatreFor, 1863 N Highland Ave., Clearwater. theatrefor.com—Selene San Felice C/O EMILY WEITZMAN

Back to werk

Following Tampa-based Jewels Sparkles’ near win last season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” another Tampa Bay queen is ready to snatch the crown. St. Pete’s own Discord Addams brings her punk couture realness to the mainstage. After hosting multiple seasons of watch parties at Cocktail and a decade of auditioning for the show, Addams will finally see herself on screen. And you can watch with her. She’ll be at Cocktail’s Wet Spot premiere party to perform before and after the show, and spill a little behind the scenes tea. Alphabet Soup in Gulfport also hosts a premier watch party and closet sale at 8 p.m. Check out Sapphic Sun's cover story on Adams’ road to “Drag Race” on page 33.

DAVE DECKER

C/O HERBAN FLOW

‘Drag Race’ premiere party: Friday, Jan. 2. 7 p.m. No cover. Cocktail, 2355 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. cocktailstpete.com—Selene San Felice

Sip, sip, pass

Drinking your weed has become tres chic these days, and there are a lot of ways to do so. More than 60 brands will showcase their THC-infused drinks, plus adaptogens, nootropics and alcohol-free libations at St. Pete’s Coliseum this weekend. The event includes unlimited tastings in a product sampling hall, a wellness village with local businesses, live music and food. Tickets run $40-$60, and DDs get in free.

High and Dry Festival: Saturday, Jan. 3. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. The Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. highanddryfest.com—Selene San Felice 10 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Grand finale

Creative Pinellas’ eighth Arts Annual exhibition will be its last. The exhibition themed “From Now to Next” acts as its goodbye celebration as the publicly-defunded arts program prepares to close its office and gallery space in Largo by Feb. 1. A total of 122 works from 73 artists span the exhibition, including painting, sculpture, spoken word, ceramics, mixed media, assemblage, film, and a special site-specific installation from the artist Bask (stylized in all caps). Some of the exhibit’s featured artists, like Miss Crit aka Laura Spencer, credit Creative Pinellas with their success after being nurtured by the program. “Creative Pinellas has always been there for me and our artistic community,” Spencer said in a release. “It’s an absolute honor and privilege to participate in the final exhibit at the gallery.” Others, like Cristi López, will show their work for the first time. In the gallery’s closing announcement, she said being showcased in the last Arts Annual “affirst that I made a great decision in moving here.”

C/O TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART

Arts Annual: From Now to Next: Runs through Jan. 4. 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. No cover. The Gallery at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo. creativepinellas.org—Selene San Felice

C/O CREATIVE PINELLAS

Colorful quiet

The Tampa Museum of Art closed 2025 with a celebration of multi-talented Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko’s work, opening his first major presentation in Florida. But there’s still plenty of time to see the exhibit. “Silence Before Sound” features nearly 50 pieces of Kaneko’s large-scale ceramic sculptures, paintings and works on paper, tracing back six decades of his work. His creative process is shaped by moments of pause or “Ma,” a concept rooted in Japanese aesthetics that Keneko has said is essential to the balance of an artwork.

“Silence before Sound”: Runs through Aug. 23. $5-$25. Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. tampamuseum.org—Selene San Felice

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 11

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Help keep local journalism alive this giving season.

F

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

14 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

FLORIDA NEWS POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Road woes

It’s not getting any safer for Florida’s bicyclists.

By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix

Frustration among cycling advocates “What is the response of the local law enforcement officers? Nothing,” fumes Matt Scarborough, Isaak’s attorney who specializes in defending cyclists involved in accidents. “We’re seeing in my practice that cyclists are just being ignored. If this was a motor vehicle vs. another motor vehicle causing this much damage to somebody, I think it would be a much different story.”

One of Scarborough’s other cases involves pro triathlete Gabrielle Suver, who was cycling along the side of a county road in Lake County on Nov. 15 when a driver sideswiped her, resulting in a broken back, a fractured neck, a broken leg, fractured kneecap, liver laceration, scapula and sternum fractures and concussion, according to WESH-TV. She was released from the hospital Dec. 14 after 28 days.

For decades, Florida’s roads have been listed as the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians and bicyclists, and there has certainly been more awareness regarding safety concerns in

the Sunshine State. But observers lament that conditions aren’t getting better.

A recently released report from the Bicycle Accident Lawyers group concluded that Florida remains the most dangerous state in the nation for bicyclists, looking at combined 2022 and 2023 data. And there were another 207 bicycle fatalities in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

These troubling statistics continue despite the fact that Florida lawmakers in 2006 passed a law requiring motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of space when driving along or passing them.

Cynics question how often that’s being enforced. Just 130 motorists were cited for

Florida’s 3 foot rule “The 3-foot rule is not the 3-foot rule,” says Tampa attorney Steele Olmstead, who has represented injured cyclists. “The statute says that the motorist has to pass at a safe distance. Not less than 3 feet? Well, cops fall back on that and go, ‘Oh, well. I can’t get out and measure it. I couldn’t tell whether it was 3 feet or not.”

Florida statute 316.083 (2) says that that any driver overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle or an electric bicycle occupying the travel lane must pass that vehicle “at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet or, if such movement cannot be safely accomplished, must remain at a safe distance behind the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle or electric bicycle until the driver can safely pass at a distance of not less than 3 feet and must safely clear

the overtaken bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle or electric bicycle.”

Olmstead says he “might have” won one case over the past decade in which a motorist received a ticket for unsafe passing.

Officials say increasing bicycle deaths is a national problem but note that there is a greater proximity to higher speed roads in Florida.

“There’s often a transition from a 20-25 miles per hour neighborhood development that’s relatively self-contained or something like a quasi-gated community, and then you’re immediately on a 45 mph road,” said Ken McLeod, policy director for the League of American Bicyclists. “And at 45 mph, any mistake by a driver is more likely to cause a death for a person biking or walking.”

And while more Florida cities have incorporated separated paths for people to bike and walk, there remain plenty of unprotected bike lanes. “All it takes is driver looking down at their phone and continued on page 18

“The 3-foot rule is not the 3-foot rule.”

STILLGRAVITY/SHUTTERSTOCK

N

iki Isaak was approximately 33 miles into the Central Florida Classic bike ride near Brooksville in October when a group of motorcyclists entered the bike path and began riding dangerously close to her.

Despite there being a wide-open road, one motorcyclist narrowly passed Isaak on the right shoulder, another pinned her in on the left, and a third finally hit her from behind.

The sudden impact smashed her body to the ground, puncturing her anal canal and fracturing her tailbone, among other injuries.

She was immediately rushed to HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital, where she remained in the trauma center for three days before being released to return to her home in Fort Myers.

Two months later, she is still doing physical therapy and has created a GoFundMe page to help with the medical bills now totaling more than $400,000 as she tries to pick up the pieces in her life.

“The impact is so big,” she said in a Zoom conversation last month. “It’s ruined our lives in so many ways, and we don’t even know the outcome. I just hope people can see that it’s just getting worse.”

Despite the seriousness of the accident, the offending motorcyclist was only charged with a citation for careless driving, a moving violation.

violating that law in 2024, according to the annual uniform traffic citation report produced by the state.

NOT-SO-GOOD MEASURE: Injured bicyclists almost never win any judgments involving a state rule on passing bikes safely.

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 15

16 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

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process, that includes both motorists and cyclists,” said Logan Lewkow, deputy executive director of operations for the Florida Sheriffs Association.

“You can look around the state—sheriffs’ offices have created visibility enforcement programs specifically to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The safety of pedestrians and cyclists is very important to law enforcement.”

The Florida Highway Patrol did not respond to a request for comment.

LINDSAYCROSSFL/X

CROSS’ ROADS: St. Pete’s Rep. Lindsay Cross often rides her bike to the state capitol. continued from page 15 drifting down into the bike lane at 45 mph, and you have a crash that could be a fatality, because you have that high speed and that kinetic energy potential is there to cause the death,” McLeod said. “If it was 35 or 30, you have a lower chance of death when that crash occurred.”

The League of American Bicyclists “Benchmarking Report” released in December 2024 showed that the percentages of bicyclist deaths have increased in Florida from an average of 143 between 2014 and 2018 to 197 between 2019 and 2023, a 38% increase.

And, according to preliminary data compiled by the state of Florida, as of Dec. 13, there had been 185 bicycling fatalities this year (along with 9,277 injuries from bicycle crashes).

(A group called “Ghost Bikes” places whitepainted bicycles at sites where someone was hit or killed while riding.)

Some law enforcement officials say the fault often lies with cyclists. In a YouTube video posted last month, Pinellas County Sheriff Sgt. Jessica Mackesy said that at least four cyclists were critically injured or killed in crashes with vehicles because they didn’t stop at a stop sign or a red light.

“Physics doesn’t care if you’ve done it 100 times before. A 4,000-pound vehicle versus a bike, there’s only one outcome,” Mackesy said.

“And looking both ways isn’t enough when there’s a driver who has the right of way and expects you to stop. Stop means stop—on the road, on the trail—every time.”

The Florida Department of Transportation last updated its Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Safety Plan in October 2021. In it, the agency reported that, between 2016 and 2020, 90% of all pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries on state roadways occurred in just 25 of the state’s 67 counties. (The top five counties for fatalities and serious injuries were Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough, and Duval).

Potential solutions?

Pinellas County Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross is a cyclist who can be seen riding her bike to the Capitol during the legislative session. She says there are common-sense things that government can do to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, such as creating more protected bike lanes and pedestrian crosswalks, but she believes part of the problem is with how local governments develop communities.

“They’re all focused on having a car,” she said.

“People by and large will choose places that are more walkable, that have mixed uses where you can walk to your grocery store or to a coffee shop.

People like that, but a lot of the new development doesn’t have that as an option. You’ve got to drive to get into your community. You probably have to go a couple of miles to get to a grocery store.

“Maybe there’s sidewalks in your community, but they’re not leading to anywhere. They’re just a loop within the community. So, I think fundamentally, we need to shift the way our development is happening, so it’s geared towards people moving at

18 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

a slower pace. Cars are also going to have to slow down and make it safer. That also helps to just enhance our quality of life, make it more accessible for people who are aging to have those options.”

John Sinibaldi Jr. is president of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club. He has been hit twice by motorists while biking, the last time in 2010 when a collision with a distracted driver led to two lower-back surgeries and two cervical spinal-fusion surgeries. He offers two changes that he thinks could significantly improve bike safety in Florida.

“I would increase communications dramatically between the state and the people who drive on our roads,” said Sinibaldi, whose late father, John Sinibaldi Sr., was a twotime Olympic cyclist in 1932 and 1936. “That would include visual things like billboards and public service announcements on TV. That would include better driver education before you get your license, [and] driver education when you renew your licenses.”

His other idea is less prescriptive, and more philosophical.

“The second thing is we have to get our local police out of the mindset that if a motorist in a car hits a cyclist, the default option should not be to just assume that the cyclist did something wrong. And yet that’s often the case,” he said.

The Phoenix reached out to law enforcement agencies in Florida for reaction.

“Law enforcement works to enforce the law, and they will treat everyone with respect in that

Legislation The Florida Bicycle Association says its top legislative goal is for the state to pass a comprehensive “Hands Free” law that would make it illegal to hold a phone while operating a motor vehicle. The group says such legislation must go beyond “texting and driving” to encompass all activities that take a driver’s hands and attention away from the road, including scrolling through social media, streaming videos, and any other non-driving activity requiring manual interaction with a handheld device.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, sponsored a bill to do just that during the 2025 session, which passed in the Senate, 37-9. But its House companion never moved at all.

No similar bill has been filed yet for the 2026 session.

Bills addressing bike safety have been introduced for the coming Florida legislative session, but only regarding electric or e-bikes, a relatively new phenomenon resulting in a spike in injuries around the state.

Lots of people—from kids to seniors—began using e-bikes during the COVID pandemic. “A new subculture” of seniors who never rode a bike before are using e-bikes seeking the freedom they’re looking for, Sinibaldi said, adding that he sees younger people who have lost their licenses or can’t drive for whatever reason who are also using these new bikes.

“They’re terrorizing the Pinellas Trail— there’s no other way to put it—because they don’t know anything about trail etiquette,” he said.

The trail occupies old railroad right of way between St. Pete and Tarpon Springs.

A bill (HB 243) sponsored by Republicans Yvette Benarroch from Collier County and Kim Kendall from St. Johns County would require a person using or renting a class 3 electric bike to hold a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Class 3 electric bikes are the fastest legal bikes with a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. Anyone caught purposefully modifying an E-bike to boost its motor-powered speed would face a fine up to $100. Subsequent violations could go up to $250.

And Hillsborough County Republican state Rep. Susan Valdés filed legislation last week (HB 667) that would require anyone under 18 to wear a helmet while operating or riding an e-bike.

FLORIDA NEWS

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 19

CELEBRATING

50 YEARSion

of Love & Fash in Ybor City!

New and Vintage Clothing & Accessories Hats, Shoes, Jewelry, and More!

OPEN EVERYDAY 12-6:45PM

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20 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

put a woof over their head because pets are family too

This holiday season, keep domestic violence survivors and their pets safe.

Help CASA renovate its kennel & care for survivors’ pets.

scan to donate

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

CASA’S Shelter housed 87 pets in the past year: cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and fish. cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 21

22 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

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Giancarlo’s opens in Hyde Park and more Tampa Bay food News.

By Selene San Felice

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

COURTESY OF GIANCARLO’S

F

or those needing comfort food in Hyde Park, has taken over. Mythos Greek Bistro opened last month, transforming the casual spot with a new diner has emerged with Italian flair.

Giancarlo’s Cafe & Spirits opened Dec. 1 at upscale Mediterranean aesthetics. Yes, the 1532 W North B St. in Tampa’s Hyde Park neigh- outdoor swings are gone, but now you can get borhood. It’s literally the sibling spot to Santoro’s tableside flaming saganaki in the same spot.

Pizzeria. Both are named after owner Travis And the Nun’s old stage is still set for live enterKaiser’s children, he told the Tampa Bay Times. tainment. Mythos’ menu includes classic spreads Giancarlo’s offers a fast-casual counter, cock- and small plates, kebab platters, branzino, lamb tail bar and coffee shop serving Tampa-roasted chops and Scottish salmon.

Wuz Here Coffee, as well as full restaurant Chef Konstantinos “Dinos” Chilias, who service. co-owns the spot with business partner Daniel The menu includes classic diner breakfasts Marina, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and New Jersey-style deli sandwiches for lunch, that he isn’t worried about Baba being just a as well as crispy, square-cut tavern-style piz- block away. He said he sees Mythos as being zas. The Italian-American a more casual, familyfriendly bistro. “This dinner menu features house-made meatballs is a little bit different,” and marinara, along with Chilias told CL. “I’m from Italian rolls imported Greece...It’s two differfrom a shop in New Jersey. ent things.” Chilias also Giancarlo’s Cafe & Spirits Giancarlo’s Cafe & runs La Creperia Cafe in 1532 W North B St., Tampa giancarlostpa.com Spirits is open SundayYbor City and previously Thursday 7 a.m.-11 p.m. operated the Crepeway and Friday-Saturday 7 a.m.-midnight. Visit Cafe in St. Pete’s EDGE District. Mythos Greek giancarlostpa.com or follow @giancarlostpa on Bistro is open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday Facebook and Instagram for updates.

4 p.m.-10 p.m.; 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; FridaySaturday 4 p.m.-3 a.m. It’s closed on Mondays.

Flan Factory opens in Armature Works Visit mythosgreekbistro.com or follow @mythosFlan Factory is bringing the sweetness of greekbistro on Instagram for updates.

Ybor City to Tampa’s Armature Works. The expansion inside Armature Works’ Heights The Copper Kettle opens in St. Pete Beach Market at 1910 N Ola Ave. opened on Dec. 10.

Fans of breakfast at The Frog Pond are At its flagship location (1718 N Nebraska bound to like its predecessor a brunch. The Ave.), Flan Factory serves about 30 rotating Copper Kettle celebrated its grand opening last flavors of flan, including original Cuban style, month at 7390 Gulf Blvd. in St. Pete Beach. guava, coquito, pistachio and white chocolate The Frog Pond moved out of that spot after raspberry. being destroyed by Hurricane Helene in 2024, The shop is also known for its sandwiches but has since opened two locations in St. Pete and small bites—including the must-try Beach and Redington Beach. The Copper Kettle Timba—and drinks like its classic cafe con is owned by Alex Victorero, The Frog Pond’s leche and horchata iced latte. manager of eleven years. He and his wife and coPalau started the business in 2016 to honor owner, Nikki, are keeping the comfort breakfast his abuela, who died two years prior. Using food tradition alive with an extensive breakfast her recipes, he worked as a vendor at weekend and brunch menu including seven egg omelets, markets for four years before opening his brick- platters, waffles, bennedicts, quiche, crepes, and-mortar Flan Factory in 2020. smashburgers, sandwiches and much more.

The Copper Kettle is open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mythos Greek Bistro opens in St. Pete Monday-Saturday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays.

Four months after Salty Nun closed its doors Follow @thecopperkettlespb on Facebook and for good at 2501 Central Ave., a new restaurant Instagram for updates.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Giancarlo’s Cafe and Santoro’s Pizzeria are both named after owner Travis Kaiser’s sons.

The Revolution Ice Cream closes The Revolution Ice Cream closed both its Brandon and Seminole Heights shops at the end of November. In a social media post, owners attributed the closure to health issues and economic problems. The original shop opened in Brandon in 2013, followed by Seminole Heights in 2016 and South Tampa in 2020. The South Tampa location closed at some point last year.

Before starting the shop, Bill Workman started making ice cream at home as a hobby while working what he previously called his “square job.”

His Ben and Jerry-esque flavors, like Coconut Curry and Drunken Brownie, became so popular that at one point he was making 250 pints a month before opening the shop. In 2020 and

2022, The Revolution Ice Cream Co. won “Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Frozen Yogurt” in Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay awards, and was a frequent runner-up in years prior. It was also a staff pick for “Best Ben-and-Jerry’s-better-watch-out ice cream shop” in its first year.Posts about its closure were filled with comments from community members saying they’ll miss the shop, including the account for Bo’s Ice Cream less than half a mile down the road. “We always enjoyed being able to send people your way who were looking for something more creative or that better fit their diet/allergies,” Bo’s commented. “I personally loved sneaking over there and trying out the rotating flavors, they were always awesome. Y’all did great things and will be missed!”

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“I’ve always just been inspired by anyone that challenges authority”

JUST RIFFING: Discord Addams performs at St. Pete Pride’s Sunday Street Festival 2025.

Leather and lacefronts

Discord Addams reps St. Pete on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’

By Evelyn Long/Sapphic Sun

N

otably relaxed in delicately arranged It all began in the most unlikely of places: armor made of spikes and studs, Discord Akron, Ohio. Discord was well-embedded in the Addams sat across from me, sipping some local punk scene, but didn’t make her way into kind of mezcal concoction. It wasn’t an unusual the realm of drag until she had seen alternative Friday night scene for us—Discord and I have style icon Raja take the “Drag Race” catwalk. cackled over cocktails more times than I can “I loved seeing that drag is a medium that remember (the drinks may have something to you can communicate any message through,” do with that).

Discord explained. Inspired But something was

by Raja’s high fashion club different about tonight— kid aesthetic, Discord made in just a few days, the her drag debut in 2012 at ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ premiere entire world will be Akron’s Interbelt. watch party w/Discord Addams invited into the irrevFour years later, Discord Friday, Jan. 2. 7 p.m. No cover erent, punk rock world relocated to Chicago with Cocktail St. Pete, 2355 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. cocktailstpete.com she’s built over the last her partner, Gidget Von 13 years. After a decade Addams (the other half of of auditioning for the megahit series, Discord what is soon to be America’s favorite quasi-lesbian was finally accepted as a contestant on Season couple). While she found plenty of opportunity in the 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Windy City, she felt there was still a need within With so much on the horizon, we did what the local scene to uplift women and people of color, any good friends would do: sat down for a drink who were often overlooked as drag entertainers. to chat about the long road that led her here and “I’ve always been a champion for people who the path she’s forging ahead. aren’t getting what they deserve. I think justice

INTERVIEW

is a big core in the art that I make and also the way that I present myself in and out of drag.”

For Discord, platforming women isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s also about giving back. “If you were to ask me point blank ‘What men do you find inspiring?’ I’d be really, really hard pressed to give you an answer.”

When asked who does inspire her, Discord had an immediate answer: Rosie O’Donnell. “She really, I would say, kind of changed my life. I have her Barbie doll.” She tacked Lady Gaga, Kesha, and her own mom onto the list of inspirational figures.

“I’ve always just been inspired by anyone that challenges authority.”

Discord escaped the cold and found her way to the Tampa Bay area in 2020—but was on a bit of a drag hiatus after experiencing social burnout in the Windy City. Thankfully, a healthy dose of southern hospitality from none other than St. Pete’s own Adriana Sparkle was enough to get her back in the saddle.

“Meeting Adriana is what got me back into happily doing drag,” she admitted. Discord credits the welcoming, noncompetitive energy of the Florida drag community as her motivation for pursuing drag as an artistic medium again.

Years after finding a home bar at Cocktail St. Pete, Discord got the call that she would be starring in Season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

DAVE DECKER

She described the experience as “very validating.” Discord continued, “I’ve always been my biggest fan, but at some point you question yourself, like, am I delusional?”

Discord hopes that her run on “Drag Race” will inspire other artists to be authentic and speak loudly about what they believe in.

“I think due to being on the spectrum, I’m incapable of being too far outside of who I am at any given time,” she said. “I wish more people would realize that if you do exactly what you want to do at all times, people will like it. Even if it’s not everybody—the worst artists in the world are the people who are adored by everybody.”

She also aspires to be a public example that high fashion does not need to be expensive or new. Each of her creations has been put together, pulled apart, and reimagined, with the majority of her pieces made out of thrifted fabric: “We refuse to waste any scraps.”

Post-“Drag Race,” Discord is looking forward to creating art on a larger scale—including the realization of her longtime dream of releasing a punk album.

Other than making music, Discord has one simple wish for the future: “I really want to find a way to cameo on “Wednesday.” Making Discord Addams canon in the Addams family would be crazy.”

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MUSIC NEWS

‘Live since ‘85’ opening Saturday, Jan. 3. 7 p.m. No cover The Factory, 2606 Fairfield Ave S. St. Petersburg. noclubs.com

REVIEWS

PROFILES

MUSIC WEEK

The show goes on

Legendary concert promoter No Clubs celebrates 40 years of scene building.

By Eric Snider makes No Clubs’ longevity all the more impressive. Any concert market leaves a trail of wannabe promoters and slippery operators who cut corners, cheat bands, leave vendors holding the bag, and slink off into the shadows. Tampa Bay is no different. Tony and Dave have been free of such sleaze, and that’s a major reason No Clubs has endured.

“They’ve always taken care of business,” explains Rob Douglas, the former in-house pro-

the likes of David Byrne, Eddie Vedder, Laurie Andersen, Lou Reed and others.

Early on, Tony and Dave learned how to take wins and losses in stride. “You have to,” says Tony, sitting at the table with me and Vicki, a leather bag strapped over his denim jacket. “We learned not to judge it on a show-to-show basis. I learned to take into account what we did for the year. If we finished in the black, we’d succeeded, and were able to continue into the following year.”

I ask Tony how many years ended up in the red, give or take. “Quite a few,” he replies with a sly smile. But the shows went on.

No Clubs has encountered myriad bumps in the road, several potholes (you try han-

C/O NO CLUBS

“F

orty years as an independent concert promoter—it’s wild,” muses Vicki Huddy, sitting in a large, otherwise empty, room at The Factory in St. Petersburg.

On Jan. 1, 2025, she became the third partner in No Clubs Presents, joining founders Tony Rifugiato and Dave Hundley, who are affectionately known to music-industry people and scenesters as “Tony and Dave.”

“They’ve made such a wide-ranging contribution,” Huddy continues. “I want to see them get their flowers.” That bouquet takes the form of Live Since 1985, an art show held at The Factory showcasing the flyers, photos and memorabilia from the No Clubs archives. The opening night party is Saturday, Jan. 3, and the show will run until Feb. 28. There’s no cover for all of it.

No Clubs has staged a staggering number of concerts over four decades—340 of them from 1985 to 1995. Tony and Dave were the prime drivers in the early development of an alternative music scene in the Bay area by booking punk and hardcore acts in the ‘80s.

Butthole Surfers, Circle Jerks, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Black Flag, The Damned, Corrosion of Conformity, 7 Seconds (10 times)—that barely scratches the surface.

They soon began to stretch out and include in their slate such acts as Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade (probably the first African-music shows in Tampa Bay), Pearl Jam, Richard Thompson, Marilyn Manson, Ween, Cocteau Twins, and even an artist as obscure as Mississippi bluesman R.L. Burnside. In more recent years, No Clubs has presented early-career concerts by Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Kendrick Lamar, and a fledgling Dua Lipa.

Most No Clubs concerts have been in venues with capacities of 200 to 2,000—many of them in St. Pete at Jannus Landing and the State Theatre (now The Floridian Social). The duo owned and ran the State Theater from the late-‘90s until 2018. Tony, 76, and Dave, 70, never broke into the big venues, other than a few shows. That was partly intentional and partly due to the niche they carved out in the marketplace.

Live Nation and AEG—big players Tony and Dave have routinely subcontracted with—have essentially gobbled up the concert industry, which

district of London, a West Indian neighborhood.

He’s diminutive in stature, reserved but quietly charismatic, and he’s not lost an iota of his British accent. Dave, raised in Safety Harbor, is a mustachioed mensch, a relentless storyteller.

“I’ve been told I’m loquacious,” he says wryly.

No Clubs is a partnership—and a friendship. The latter has been necessary. Yes, their four-decade run has been successful, but far from easy or lucrative. “I don’t think I ever made more than 20, 30 grand in the early days, quite a bit more later on,” Dave says. But they have not gotten anywhere close to rich.

Their adult lives have been an ongoing cycle of booking shows and promoting the hell out of

TAKE ME TO CHURCH: Tony Rifugiato and Dave Hundley (L, R, respectively in cream long sleeve and pollen polo) with Bad Religion moter at Jannus Landing (now Jannus Live) who has partnered extensively with No Clubs and is longtime friends with Tony and Dave.

“They never stiffed anybody. They were fair.

They didn’t leave anyone in the lurch. When they told you they were going to do something, they fucking did it.”

It seems fair to describe Tony and Dave as an odd couple. Tony grew up in the Brixton

them, then hoping and praying that enough tickets sell to break even and hopefully generate a profit. Imagine scheduling what seems like a surefire thing and watching it bomb for some inexplicable reason. On the other hand, imagine a prescient booking that sells out within days and hauls in some serious coin. Imagine hearing the cheers of a packed house as the lights go down. Imagine spending quality time with

dling marauding skinheads), a few craters and a couple of crashes. In 1989, during a period when Tony and Dave were looking to diversify programming, they booked platinum-seller Jody Watley into the 2,200-seat Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (now the Straz). They sold about 300 tickets and took it in the shorts.

Hundley recalls losing “30, 40 thousand dollars. continued on page 42

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Wild beginnings Both were music fiends. Both were in their 30s.

Their tastes overlapped. Neither was into punk.

Dave Hundley had spent a year-and-a-half on the road as an advance promoter for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, where he embraced the credo “the show must go on.”

He was running monitors at the Agora Ballroom in Tampa for the likes of Ultravox and Psychedelic Furs. Tony Rifugiato lived in Sarasota and owned Daddy Kool Records. (The store is now located in the Factory and he still owns it.) He was also DJ’ing, booking one-hit-wonder track acts like Shannon and Planet Rock at a skating rink, organizing breakdance competitions, and other ad hoc ventures in the lower rungs of the entertainment business.

A mutual acquaintance thought the two should meet, so set up a get-together at the Stuffed Pepper, a bar on St. Pete’s Central Avenue that played local acts. The meeting went well. Dave told Tony to call him if he needed any help. Tony said he would.

The first No Clubs concert happened as a lark. In early December 1985, Tony got a call out of the blue from Scooter Melton, who booked Act IV, a punk/new wave club in Tampa that occasionally presented up-and-coming national acts.

As Tony remembers it, Scooter said, “I screwed up—I can’t do this show, because it’s too big for [Act IV]. But I told the agent that you would do it.” Tony asked: Why me? “He told me that word had gotten around that I was a reliable guy who could probably pull this off.’”

The act in question was Suicidal Tendencies.

Tony seized the opportunity and set up the deal with the agent. He had nine days to put together a show for Dec. 20. Tony called the Cuban Club in Ybor City, which had an open date. He set the ticket price at $7 at the door. He called Dave, who put up some cash toward the artist fee. “I always tell people that I started in this business with $10,000 and—you know what?—I’ve still got

that $10,000,” Dave quips. Neither partner can definitively recall how much they paid Suicidal Tendencies, but they agree it was around $2,500.

Dave enlisted soundman Mike Abdishi, who, Tony recalls, charged a princely sum but brought in high-level gear.

The concert, held in the Cuban Club basement, sold out. The room was packed with 600 or 700 kids. Slam-dancing ensued, but nothing occurred beyond the normal mayhem at a punk show. “Everything went perfect,” Dave says.

The band benefited from production way above punk standards, plus catering, a dressing room.

In effect, Suicidal tendencies received firstclass treatment and the audience got a terrific show. After it was over, No Clubs handed the band a $750 bonus. As Tony recalls, “The road manager looks at us and says, ‘Y’know, this is the first time we’ve gotten a bonus on the whole American tour.’”

Two neophyte promoters had pulled it off.

Tony figured that was it. “We hadn’t planned to do another show,” he says. What prompted the intrepid duo to forge on? “The phone never stopped ringing,” he replies. Word had gotten around within the insulated world of punk touring that two guys in Tampa Bay could be relied upon to do business in an honest and ethical way.

The rest, as the shopworn saying goes, is history.

Amid all the hard work, stress, negotiations, logistics, chaos, emergencies, the late nights into early mornings, let’s not forget something.

“We’ve had a lot of fun over 40 years.” Dave says.

And while the tandem has made a substantial contribution to the Bay area’s music scene and culture overall, it’s also simpler than that. Tony sums up their legacy thusly: “It’s only in the last few years that I’ve really understood that what we do has made a lot of people happy.”

MUSIC NEWS

C/O NO CLUBS

continued from page 39 [The industry] thought we were buried. It took us a year of making payments to her agent, but we paid it off.”

About 10 or 12 years ago, Tony remembers, “Everything was black. I had very little money in the bank. I remember one morning getting up really depressed. We were running out of money because so many of the shows were downers. I thought, ‘My God, this is gonna end now—after all we’ve done, all the hard work and everything. I can’t see a way out.’

Then I thought, ‘Y’know what? Screw it. I’m not gonna let that happen. I’m gonna focus harder on what we’re doing.’ And from then on we started taking [off ] again.”

“I want to see them get their flowers.”

The shows must go on No Clubs brought in Huddy, 33, to help move the company forward. Tony and Dave—both of whom have dealt with serious health scares— have scaled back their activity, especially when it comes to boots on the ground. Huddy has taken over most day-of-show duties. She also handles ticketing, advances the shows and heads up the small marketing team.

Like her partners, the St. Pete native delved deeply into music from an early age, starting with Joy Division. In her mid-teens she began attending shows, many of them at the State Theatre and Jannus Landing. She joined band street teams, handed out flyers, sold merch. “I liked every aspect,” Huddy says of the concert scene. “I liked that anything can happen at any time.”

42 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

ENCORE, WE WANT SOME MORE: After 15 years at No Clubs, Vicky Huddy is now a partner.

She decided to forego college and instead scored an internship with Tony at age 18. Huddy worked at Daddy Kool, helped market shows, and contributed anywhere she was needed. It took her 15 years, but she made partner. “A lot of times I come to Tony and Dave with weird or interesting pitches and ideas that they wouldn’t think of doing,” she says. “I think they are very appreciative of that because at this point they’re not constantly researching what’s the current trend or what’s speaking to this generation.”

I ask Huddy for her vision of No Clubs as it forges onward. She hesitates, then chuckles,

“Um, that’s a big one,” she replies. “Tony and Dave have set a really great foundation to work off of. What I hope to bring going forward is more community-driven things—events and partnerships that help our local scene, which has its ebbs and flows. Also to move forward in an industry that is not kind to independents. It would be beautiful to see No Clubs make it to 80 years, but I also understand that the industry is very volatile.

“I’m hopeful, and I’m gonna put as much effort as possible into making sure we survive as long as the world will let us.”

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44 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

THU JANUARY 01–THU JANUARY 08

C CL Recommends

THU 01

Austen van der Bleek Afterparties are so 2025. This no-cover, 12-hour DJ gig in St. Petersburg’s warehouse district doesn’t get going until 7 a.m. on New Years Day and promises “head high waves of slow rolling funk, soul, disco, boogie, and anything else that stokes this eclectic selector as he waxes up his decks and takes the Sunshine City for a ride.” And yes, organizers are seeking a chef to cook brunch as the sun comes up. (Suite E Studios, St. Petersburg) C Rock The Park: Whale Feral w/ Bauxmonk/Max Norton Some people believe that whatever you do on New Year’s Day will carry over into the entire year, so why not ring in 2026 with a free concert in the park? Downtown Tampa’s monthly showcase of homegrown talent is in its 16th year and kicks off the year with Whale Feral. The rock quartet is almost 12 months removed from its latest LP, Word’s We Can’t Read, which just got a deluxe reissue that includes a live recording of the album. St. Petersburg producer Bauxmonk—who just released his AftrDinnr_9 beat tape—is also on the bill along with expat Tampa songwriter Max Norton. (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)

FRI 02

C Beginning of the End: This Is Goodbye w/Wulfgang Amadeus/The Tilt/Clockworkx/Deaf Company/Indie Indigo/more There might as well be a countdown clock above the front door to Crowbar. The storied Ybor City music venue celebrates 20 years in the historic district in 2026, and is quickly approaching its last day open since the lease is set to expire this summer. It begins the end with a two-day mini festival of local talent, including the appropriately-named This Is Goodbye, a post-rock outfit featuring guitarist and luthier Mike Ingold, bassist Sean Pomeroy and drummer Chris Croft. Rising rock outfit Wolfgang Amadeus headlines night two, and go ahead and make plans to do a three-night stand at Crowbar since one of the Bay area’s premier turntablists, DJ Qeys, is on the bill for Church Sessions, a patio party born from the ashes of the venue’s long-running, recently-shuttered, Ol’ Dirty Sundays series. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

SAT 03

The Original Wailers feat. Al Anderson w/Part One Tribe/Ichroniq Al Anderson played guitar with The Wailers up until the death of the reggae outfit’s leader Bob

Marley. The 78-year-old remains on the road with this iteration of the band which includes singer-guitarist Chet Samuels, Ras Klamps on keys, bassist Omar Lopez and drummer Paapa Nyarkoh. This is a chance to see the band in a new-ish venue, Zodiac, which is bringing live music back to a Ybor City address once home to The Rubb (plus Twilight, The Honey Pot, and PTL after that).

(Zodiac, Tampa)

SUN 04

Opera Tampa: D’Angelo Young Artist Vocal Competition Opera has always been a jaw-dropping affair—and don’t try to say that it’s only for the blue hairs. Launched by former Opera Tampa board chair Gina d’Angelo to honor her parents’ Pennsylvania competition, this contest seeks to build opera stars of the next generation. There’s no cover, but tickets are required, for this final round where the winner gets $5,000 and a role in an upcoming Opera Tampa production. (TECO Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) Road To Nowhere Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads will be at Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre on Jan. 21 for a screening of the 1984 Talking Heads concert film, “Stop Making Sense,” but Road To Nowhere can hold the Headiest of fans over until then. The cover outfit celebrates 4,000 shows with this no-cover party.

(The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg)

THU 08

Barry Manilow Crooner Barry Manilow kicks off 2026 by heading out on the road on a farewell tour of nine cities, and one of those will be his last show “ever” in Tampa. Manilow hits the road for this mostly Southern run of concerts in early January, including one at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. The singer and man who writes the songs promises a hits-heavy set including “Mandy,” “Looks Like We Made It” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

(Benchmark International Arena, Tampa)— Matthew Moyer C Geri X w/Roc Helton When it comes to OGs of the Bay area folk scene, they don’t get much realer than Geri X, a perennial Best of the Bay-winner who is switching gears a bit and bringing a piano into the Ale & the Witch gallery as she kicks off a month-long Thursday residency. Known for her clarion call vocal, the 36-year-old born Gergana Micheva will rip your heart out after a support set from young country songwriter Roc Helton, who released his debut LP, My Kind of Gone last summer. Mark your calendar for the Jan. 29 show, too, as it marks 15 years since Geri X’s first show at the local live music staple. (The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg)

Geri X

DAVE DECKER

By Ray Roa

C The California Honeydrops The Honeydrops are a different kind of improvisational band, rarely sticking to setlists, often asking for requests, but never overindulging on jams. After getting their start busking in Bay Area subway stations, the ensemble was quickly pulled to the surface with the “new retro” resurgence of the 2010s.

Channeling heartland soul by way of the West Coast, the Oakland R&B outfit struck a nostalgic chord with audiences, gaining popularity throughout the country with their live shows. The Honeydrops’ latest release, Redwood Highway (released Aug. 8), reaches beyond the expected Motown grooves with a roadtrip across southern styles. The album explores both the loneliness and beauty of life on the road, broadening the band’s sound into a full spectrum of modern Americana.

(Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)—J.C. Roddy

Also playing

Face 2 Face: Pushman & MYR Saturday, Jan. 3. 10 p.m. No cover before 11:30 p.m. w/ RSVP ($10 & up otherwise). The Ritz, Ybor City Ikawnic Underground Presents: Futures Theory w/Bino Bih/Kayla Korpics/Don’t Pet the Dinosaur Saturday, Jan. 3. 11 p.m. $10. University Boba Tea House, Tampa Jah Movement Saturday, Jan. 3. 10 p.m. $10. Jerk Hut, Tampa Lot Lizards w/Rath & the Wise Guys/ Low Rent Zapruder/Zamn Zaddy Saturday, Jan. 3. 2 .m. No cover. Flock House, Holiday Church Sessions: Qeys w/Shines Sunday, Jan. 4. 9 p.m. $5. Crowbar, Ybor City Elvis birthday bash: Scot Bruce w/Mike Albert Monday, Jan. 4. 1 p.m. $24-$33. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Melody Artisans of the Crooked Thumb Every other Tuesday. 7 p.m. No cover.

Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor

The Glenn Miller Orchestra Thursday, Jan. 1. 3 p.m. $103.10 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Ritmo Tuesdays: Mila Killa Tuesdays through Jan. 6. No cover. M. Bird, Tampa

New Years Day brunch: LaRue Nickelson Thursday, Jan. 1. 11:30 a.m. No cover. Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa Anoluxx Friday, Jan. 2. 9 p.m. $20 & up. TK Lounge, Tampa The Rise of Decades: George Lynch of Dokken w/Lynch Mob/Terry Ilous’ XYZ/ Brett Carlise of Great White Friday, Jan. 2. 8 p.m. $39.27 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

A Tribute to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman: Elona Krasavtseva & Alex Boyd Thursday, Jan. 8. 7 p.m. $30$60. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Fil Pate Second Thursdays through April 9. 6 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Tampa, Tampa

Heathen Sun Friday, Jan. 2. 7 p.m. $20.97 & up. Orpheum, Tampa

Kingston Trio Thursday, Jan. 8. 7:30 p.m. $30 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Shelby Sol Friday, Jan. 2. No cover. Flor Fina at Hotel Haya, Ybor City

See the full version of this listing via cltampa. com/music.

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 45

Chuck Redd, quite literally, is vibes—and he’s bringing them to Tampa Bay first this year.

STEVE SPLANE / C/O TAMPA JAZZ CLUB

The 67-year-old jazz vibraphonist is no stranger to the Tampa Bay area, and just played the Suncoast Jazz Festival, but is all the rage (and outrage) lately these days.

That's because he canceled a Christmas Eve show at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center to protest President Trump adding his name to the building.

Roma Daravi, current Kennedy Center spokesperson and Trump acolyte since at least 2016, says the center will sue Redd for $1 million, but in the meantime, the jazz composer who’s toured with Dizzy Gillespie and played both drums and guitar for Charlie Byrd is still gigging.

Tampa Jazz Club welcomes Redd to New Tampa Jazz Nights next month, where he’ll be backed once again by Best of the Baywinning trio La Lucha.

Redd isn’t the first artist to protest Trump, obviously, and joined the like of “Hamilton” and Rhiannon Giddens who’ve canceled or moved Kennedy Center shows over the president’s overhaul of the storied venue, which has included an overhaul of the board and acrackdown on so-called “woke” programming.

Inhuman Condition w/Wretched/ Trash Panda Friday, Jan. 9. 7 p.m. $17.67.

Crowbar, Ybor City Leftover Crack w/La Pobreska/Bad Future Thursday, Jan. 15. 6 p.m. $26.33.

Brass Mug, Tampa Zeta w/Discord Theory/Pet Lizard Friday, Jan. 16. 8 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City Bolo Saturday, Jan. 24. 10 p.m. $25.96 & up.

The Ritz, Ybor City Rick Monroe and The Hitmen Sunday, Jan. 25. 7 p.m. $18.30. Brass Mug, Tampa

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46 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

James McMurtry & Betty Soo Saturday, Jan. 31. 8 p.m. $30.30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa Brooke Lee (opening for NeedToBreathe) Thursday, Feb. 5. 7:30 p.m. $127 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa Teenage Bottlerocket w/Authority Zero/Billy Liar/Right On Time Thursday, Feb. 12. 7 p.m. $20. Brass Mug, Tampa

Tickets to see Chuck Redd play New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 17 are still available for $10-$35.

See Josh Bradley’s latest list of newly announced Tampa Bay concerts below.— Ray Roa Cult Member w/TBA Saturday, March 14.

7 p.m. $29.67. Crowbar, Ybor City Ship Wrek Saturday, March 14. 10 p.m. $20.77 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City FlyingFish w/Love Letter Sunday, March 22. 6 p.m. $24.06. Crowbar, Ybor City Saturdays At Your Place w/Retirement Party/Kerosene Heights Sunday, March 29. 7:30 p.m. Crowbar, Ybor City Billy Strings Wednesday, April 8. 7:30 p.m. $69.55 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa The Academy Is Saturday, April 18. 6 p.m. $51.25. The Ritz, Ybor City Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra Friday, April 24. 8 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Troy Doherty Saturday, May 2. 7 p.m. $31.97 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City Evanescence w/Spiritbox/Nova Twins Friday, June 12. 7 p.m. $49 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Markus Schulz Saturday, Feb. 28. 10 p.m. $20.77 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Chicago w/Styx Wednesday, July 15. 7 p.m. $42 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Ventana w/Aeternum Thursday, March 12.

7 p.m. $18.30. Brass Mug, Tampa

Megan Moroney Friday, July 17. 7 p.m.

Prices TBA. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

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Good working order

By Dan Savage

M

y partner is still in love with her ex.

For ten years, she believed him to be the love of her life. It’s been two years since they spli,t and there’s no possibility of them getting back together because he betrayed her in the most despicable possible way. It was the kind of betrayal that sends most people to jail. That’s all I’ll say about it. She insists the betrayal was a symptom of his “illness,” so in some form she makes excuses for him and what he did. Such was the love she had for him. She’s told me that I make her feel the same way he did, but we’ve only been together for a few months. So, our relationship doesn’t have the same depth, and our connection can’t be compared. The issue is this: whenever we share a moment that is similar to something they once shared—a holiday moment or an inside joke or us having sex—she is triggered into overwhelming grief. This is causing me to feel insecure about our future. We’ve had a few tough talks about what it means for us. She seems to want to find exactly what she had with him, but in a new person. Are we doomed? I want to help her with this.—Girlfriend’s Really Intense Emotional Fragility This woman isn’t in good working order, GRIEF, and you can’t help her with this. If she can’t buy a tree with you, share a joke with you, or have sex with you (!) without collapsing into grief about her ex, she isn’t ready to be anyone’s “partner.” She’s not ready for a new boyfriend.

Zooming out for a second: Using “partner” to describe someone you just started seeing is a bad idea. Take GRIEF here: he’s only been seeing his new girlfriend for a few months. Technically, GRIEF and his girlfriend are still in the getting-to-know-you phase of this relationship.

And here’s what he knows now that he didn’t know three months ago: his new girlfriend is not only still in love with her ex, but she’s prone to making excuses (out loud, to her new boyfriend) for the crime or crimes her ex-boyfriend committed. GRIEF’s girlfriend needs a therapist, not a boyfriend, and GRIEF should’ve walked away two months ago. But he doesn’t feel right about abandoning this woman—that’s not what a partner would do—and so he stays.

Back to you, GRIEF: Ending this relationship is the kindest thing you can do—it’s really all you can do—but you should be honest about why you’re ending things. This is not a situation that calls for the good, old, ego-sparing it’snot-you-it’s-me little white lie. It is her. While we don’t have to be 100% over our exes before we start fucking and/or dating other people, it doesn’t sound like this woman is even 0.01% over her ex. Again, if your girlfriend can’t drink

eggnog or suck dick without bursting into tears about her awful ex-boyfriend, she doesn’t need a new boyfriend. She needs a shrink.

So, be kind, but be direct: “You’re clearly not over your ex, and it worries me that you excuse what he did. I don’t think having a boyfriend right now is good for you—and being your boyfriend right now isn’t good for me.”

My friend came out as a transgender male when he was eighteen. That was six years ago.

He recently shared with me that as he was growing up, he shamed himself for being attracted to men. When he came out as trans, he was dating a cis woman but had questions about the genuineness of his attraction to her. Today, at almost 24, he’s in a polyamorous relationship with a nonbinary person. He has been out there exploring his sexuality and recently had a fantastic sexual experience with a gay man. Now, he’s feeling shame about enjoying it so much, and at the same time, wondering if he’s really attracted to his “main squeeze” in his poly relationship because he’s never felt that kind of sexual energy with them.

He loves his primary partner, but he’s struggling to answer the question of whether he’s sexually attracted to them. His primary partner wants their primary to be sexually attracted to them.

Do you have any insight into this? This cisgender heterosexual is at a loss. He’s such a wonderful, honest young man and has struggled so much to find his true self as a transgender man. Now that he has found great trans pride, his sexual identity has become really confusing.—Tough Realization About Needing Sex If your friend has to ask himself whether he’s sexually attracted to his main squeeze… he’s not sexually attracted to his main squeeze.

And if your friend has always been attracted to men… but only gave himself permission to fuck a man for the first time recently (call it the Heated Rivalry effect)… and if fucking that man worked for him in ways that sex with his current and past partners never did… your friend isn’t confused. He’s gay.

So, what we have here is a painful situation, not a confusing one. Your friend’s primary partner doesn’t want to be with someone who doesn’t find them sexually attractive—which is perfectly reasonable—and your friend doesn’t find his primary partner sexually attractive.

I’m going to hazard a guess here: like the cis woman your friend was dating when he came out as trans, TRANS, your friend’s current nonbinary partner was assigned female at birth as well. If my hunch is correct, it seems clear that your friend isn’t into cis women or non-binary

SAVAGE LOVE

AFAB persons. He’s into men, he’s always been into men, and he needs to stop dicking his current partner around (figuratively) and start dicking other dudes around (literally).

If this guy were my friend, TRANS, I would implore him not to drag this out. If he’s not sexually attracted to his current partner now because they’re not a man and/or biologically male, he’s not gonna be sexually attracted to them two years from now. Stupid monogamous people sometimes end relationships they shouldn’t—stupid monogamous people sometimes end relationships they would be better off opening up—but stupid polyamorous people do something that’s arguably worse: they don’t end relationships they should. Breaking up with people is hard, TRANS, and some poly people choose to avoid the pain because, unlike monogamous people, we don’t have to end the relationship we’re in before finding someone new. But staying with someone when you know you can’t meet their emotional and sexual needs isn’t kind. It’s cowardly and selfish, TRANS, and in your friend’s case, it comes pretty close to being a consent violation.

Straight married guy in his mid-forties here.

Somewhat recently, my wife has become a squirter. As she describes it, for many years she would sort of have this feeling that she needed to pee (I know, I know) and she would hold back from full relaxation during sex. But when she finally got comfortable enough to let go, squirting was the result. It seems to be pleasurable for her, and I want her to experience pleasure and feel good. But it kind of grosses me out. Not from a perspective of “Yuck, bodily fluids!” (we all have them, sometimes they don’t go where they’re supposed to, I get it), but that literally wind up completely soaked every time we have sex. She’s also soaked, the bed is wet, our skeets/pads quickly get cold, and it’s just an unattractive feeling for me personally. But I do not ever want to say anything about this and risk making her feel self-conscious. Any suggestions for how I might get myself past it in the moment? Other than diving out of the way, which sometimes isn’t practical or may tip her off!—Wanna Enjoy This

Hm… seems to me that if straight women can tell their husbands they’re not always/ever down to swallow their loads because it grosses them out—and straight women are allowed to tell their husbands that—you should be allowed to tell your wife you’re not always down to get drenched. And if the sheets and your mattress wind up drenched every time she comes, WET, it’s easy to see how that could create a negative association between her orgasms and your comfort. Not because you’re opposed to and/or grossed out by your wife’s bodily fluids, but because sleeping in a king-sized wet spot is gross.

And since I can’t imagine your wife loves sleeping in that wet spot either, WET, and since skeets and pads aren’t doing the job, you should strategize with the wife to figure out ways she can have her orgasms and the two of you can have a warm and dry place to sleep afterwards.

Maybe you need a second location—a dedicated sex room, a wrestling mat you can throw down on the floor, an inflatable mattress—where you can fuck each other’s brains out and then go and cuddle in your nice, warm, dry bed afterwards.

And while I think you should be game to get soaked now and then— especially if your wife likes drenching you—you shouldn’t always have to be in the line of fire. Sometimes you should be face down in her crotch when she goes off, and at other times you could be behind her, beside her, or under her.

P.S. You also have the option of getting waterproof play sheets—cheap mattress protectors or pricey fuck sheets—that cover the entire mattress. Strategicallyplaced skeets and pads can shift during sex and may not be where you need them to be when the moment (and the wife) comes, but a fitted, waterproof fuck sheet is always where you put it.

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

cltampabay.com | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | 51

52 | JANUARY 01-07, 2026 | cltampabay.com

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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 January 9, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at Compass Self Storage 1685 Hwy 17 N Eagle Lake Florida 33839. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at time of sale.

All Goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase.

Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 2054 Darline Felix-Auguste Unit 3025 Nicholas Carsley Unit 1029 Timothy Ephriam Unit 1038 Oscar Moran. Run dates 12/25/25 and 1/1/26.

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 January 6th, 2026 at 10:00 am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 2291 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, Florida 33563. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase.

Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 2003 Beunca Mitchell Unit 2054 Mercedes Milton Unit 3050 Shontia Lowman Unit 3135-3151 Richard Wood. Run Dates 12/25/2025 and 01/01/2026

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FOOD NAMING: 58 Polite term of 116 She’s coming out 55 Suppress anger, 89 Douglas and Reed address e.g.

A REPORT CARD 90 “And ___ of 59 Rose supporters DOWN 58 Les ___

By Merl Reagle 60 Destroyer thousands” 1 Short distance 59 Undoes an edit ACROSS detector 91 Funny Dennis or 2 Area near 60 Dundee dogs 1 Tope opener 62 Meat entree Larry TriBeCa 61 Assents 4 Make ___ (grade: F) 92 Mag that 3 Stays on the 62 Lucknow attire (complain) 67 Indian corn “exposed” Burt range too long? 63 Wharf extension 9 My gal 68 Has a taste for 93 Cheer, of a sort 4 Cutting tool 64 Intentions 12 Spurious name 69 Busby Berkeley’s 5 Ducks, geese, 65 Burnett vignette 94 Neuwirth and 17 Mo. of decision real name Rebozo and turkeys 66 Latin phrase of 18 Recipient 70 Raw resource 95 Suspicious 6 Takes off one’s position 71 Let in or let on 19 “___ boy!”

100 Mexican dessert cloche 67 Often angry 72 Pop 20 WWII field 102 Plumlike fruit 7 Japanese assemblage marshal, familiarly 74 Picture tube: abbr.

103 Rub follow-up watchmaker 71 Fuel suffix 77 Chinese appetizer 21 Popular bread 105 Dove sound 8 States, in comix 72 Grand Canyon (grade: F) spread (grade: F) 106 Chess pcs.

9 Mason’s secretary transit 81 One with a rash 23 Another popular 107 Boxer’s blow 10 Order to relax 73 A wire service 108 Sugar ending or a yen bread spread 11 Eric Clapton 74 Of an ancient 83 411 respondent: (grade: F) classic illness abbr.

25 Powder or shoe 12 I love, in Latin 84 Bi plus 1 75 Actor Santoni follower 13 Coach Holtz 85 ___ on (get 76 Fierce dinosaur, 26 “Mighty ___ a 14 Doubled up, drunk) in shorthand Rose” perhaps 86 Tampa Bay talk 78 Big grower in 27 English 15 Immediately radio station (or Hawaii hymnologist its location in the 16 Elect. keyboard 79 Resorts of sorts John Mason ___ 19 ___ dei state) 80 Of the ear 28 Myrmecology 88 Cowboy 22 Empower specimen 82 Element in humorist’s full 24 Pig’s digs 29 Picture taker, photoelectric PUZZLE FANS ! name, William 30 Do zen briefly cells For info on Merl's Penn ___ Rogers 32 Taboo list 31 Deli purchase 86 Paler Sunday crossword 91 Breakfast cereal 33 Paraphernalia (grade: F) 87 Socks or Stimpy anthologies, visit (grade: F) 34 Honeybunch 36 Popular chocolate/ 92 Betty Crocker www.sunday 88 Conductor 35 Grape abuser nut candies crosswords.com.

Toscanini side dish 36 With “free,” (grade: F) (grade: F) a common 39 A direction, in Solution to New England Style Chatter 2 96 You, politely, in redundancy Durango German L I MB KON A C AWE D A CH E 37 Anthem start 40 ___ kleine A S I A I RON O L D P RO L RON 97 Well goo 38 Damage the Nachtmusik MOC K TWA I N ROOMA N D B AWD 98 Insurance giant P U R L O I N A A A S S T U I I I patched spot 41 Tristan’s love 99 The little guy ROA R GOB B L E DME S S AGE S 42 Quick 42 Collectibles V O S W E B D O A I T S 101 Sky bear J E A N H O L L OW C U T T Y S O C K 43 One who puts ending 104 Bakery items L E S T OS S T A C K L E P A N things away 43 Type of dive or (grade: F) E S E P E A F OW L CH A S H E 44 Grains and S P U D C O W F O U G H T A P A C H E song 107 Dessert (grade: F) I MA A B R C EO R AM karats: abbr.

45 Pretend 109 Forget-___ B U I C K S K Y L O C K WM T A J A X 47 Flying ttoys 46 Meat entree OS S T E A UGO O F S T ON E 110 QED section S P A L I E SON COO T I N S 48 Extorted (grade: F) 111 Places CO TWH E E L S L AWNGR E E N E 49 Gomer’s org.

53 Cobb and Hardin 112 Promise to pay S E N L E A COB D A Y H AMME R H E A D S HOC K L E NO 50 Jo or Rose 54 Hospital battery 113 Cookies AM I D I A OU T S E A T C A K E follower 56 Casablanca’s 114 “Send help” DON T SQU E E Z E T H E S H AMA N T U T U U L S T E R EON S R E PO 51 Madonna’s ex Lund et al.

115 Ex-Chicago R E S T E R I S 52 Prepare to feather O R Y X E S S E N 57 Teachers’ org. mayor Jane 1

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