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Cloudflare just confirmed what pretty much anyone holding this newspaper knows: There are more bots than humans online these days. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers don’t seem to mind. On any given day, they are on our social feeds calling out, and pointing out, those bots, but also engaging with the other actual people who come to us online. Readers are still sending letters, too, and this week we got one from John Hill, who recently retired from the Tampa Bay Times after nearly four decades in the newspaper biz. He was miffed about the explanation his former boss gave in the wake of changes to the Times’ election recommendations. Read the letter below. Scan the QR code on this page to give us feedback, or just find us wherever the algorithm has trapped you and chime in there.—Ray Roa Former Times columnist says the change to election recommendations isn’t about transparency, but pawning off a civic duty In a column published July 16, Tampa Bay Times Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty announced the paper was “changing the way we make election recommendations.” I’m glad the paper finally came clean about this monumental retreat, coming days after early ballots for the August primary hit our mailboxes. But the column was as misleading as it was self-serving, perfuming a surrender that disserves Times readers and the people of this state.

had a “deep” tradition of recommending candidates. But he maintained the process “created confusion” at the Times, as if the entire staff had backed a candidate. Rather, Gallaty wrote, “it has always been a small group (at the Times) offering its judgment,” leaving the distinction between the newsroom and Editorial Board “not always clear.” Going forward, he announced, undisclosed Times staffers “will be putting our individual names to the recommendations.” Moreover, he wrote: “We will also publish the thoughts of community members backing candidates in their campaigns.” Confusion? During my years on the Editorial Board, the Times could not have been clearer about the people and process behind our recommendations. The Times held open houses during election season to explain the separate roles the newsroom and Editorial Board played. Editors made clear to the campaigns at multiple points how the news and editorial sides functioned separately. Editorial editors also routinely penned columns explaining to readers how the Times arrived at its recommendations. And all candidate recommendations were published on the editorial pages, flagged separately from the news hole. I’m not sure how Gallaty found this process confusing. Maybe because he wasn’t there.

Dismissing the Editorial Board as a “small group offering its judgment” is another jab intended Scan this to QR code to mail us: to legitimize this decision. Over my time, the board Gallaty started out fine, arguincluded – among others – three ing that as newspapers struggle Pulitzer Prize winners, three with revenues and audiences Pulitzer finalists, lawyers, acaamid a changing media market, demics, veterans from The New the Times must be smart about York Times and Washington focusing its elections coverage. Post and some of the most But that’s nothing new; newspaexperienced and respected pers, like every other business, journalists in Florida. Gallaty make decisions every day about wrote his decision marked “a how to spend their resources. change in format, not in misHaving worked for three newspapers in sion,” but who’s he kidding? Replacing the Florida for nearly 40 years, including nearly Times’ Editorial Board recommendations 30 years at the Times, I’m here to tell you with ghost-written odes from campaign there is plenty of fudge in the bowl to cover donors and surrogates is not journalism; whatever political campaigns a newspaper it’s free advertising. This change isn’t about desires. Like everything in life, it boils down transparency, but pawning off a civic duty. to priorities. The Times has plenty of capable journalists But whatever; Gallaty runs the Times and to carry on this important tradition. It’s too it’s his decision to make. But it’s a shame late for 2026, but hopefully the newspaper he chose to rationalize the move by diminwill look back on this election cycle, recognize ishing the work and impact of the Times’ the void it created and regain its obligation to Editorial Board, which for decades weighed speak for a better Florida.—John Hill in on candidates for federal, state and local offices, along with statewide constitutional John Hill’s entire professional life has and local ballot referendums. That decision been dedicated to readers, be it at Tampa is why I retired in April after three decades Catholic’s student newspaper, the Oracle at on the Times Editorial Board. the University of South Florida, The Ledger in Lakeland, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, St. In his column, Gallaty acknowledged that the Petersburg Times, and the Tampa Bay Times. editorial boards of American newspapers He retired from the Times in April 2026.

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So cool

Photos by Nick Cardello

weaty armpits quickly dried up last Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning opened Benchmark International Arena to fans looking to throw one back inside downtown’s extremely air-conditioned hockey palace. At the ninth annual Bolts Brew Fest, brewers both local and beyond took over not just the floor of Benchmark, but the concourse, too, for what felt like a laid back, libatious kegs party complete with locker room tours, slushy tequila, the loudest steinhoist ever, Stiegl shots, games, golf, Denis Phillips, and more. See all the photos via cltampa. com/food-drink.—Ray Roa

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from July 30 - August 06

Happy history

VISIT FLORIDA

Construction on downtown Tampa’s Floridan Hotel started 100 years ago. It opened in 1927 and shut down in 1989 before renovation efforts led to a reopening in 2012. It found new owners in 2021 and is now operated by Hilton under a new moniker: Hotel Flor. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, the hotel has tapped staff at its restaurant, The Dan, to spend Fridays in July spotlighting different eras in the venue’s history. Anyone in 1920s garb gets a free dessert at The Dan for this final installment of the “Historic Happy Hours.” Next month’s theme? Prohibition.

Historic Happy Hours: Friday, July 31. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. The Dan at Hotel Flor, 905 N Florida Ave., Tampa. hotelflortampa.com —Ray Roa

KEYSTONE VIEW COMPANY, RESTORED BY CREATOR:ADAM CUERDEN, PUBLIC DOMAIN, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Nerdvana

Don’t worry, you did not have too many THC drinks. Downtown Tampa will be crawling with people cosplaying as their favorite anime, gaming and comic characters this weekend for Metrocon. The three-day festival sort of has it all, from shows and activations (sword fights, fire breathing, comedy) to the arcade and LARP dungeon, to panels and appearances by cosplayers and voice actors like Suzie Yeung (pictured). It’s nerd heaven.

Metrocon 2026: Friday-Sunday, July 31-Aug. 2. $75 & up. Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. metroconventions.com—Ray Roa

A sh of au reno artis Featu Bank $35 mos and chan first t artis “Flow Origi actor Lisa” who says

Have you ever heard

Most of Florida’s more than 311,000 Jamaicans live south of the Tampa Bay area, but that’s not stopping locals from celebrating Jamaican Independence Day. Following more than three centuries of British rule—and through hard wars, rebellion and movements led by the likes of Paul Bogle and Marcus Garvey (pictured)— —green, gold and black became the Caribbean nation’s official colors just 64 years ago. One of Tampa’s most popular and longest-running Jamaican restaurants throws a big party complete with platter specials and live music.

‘The & u Cen bank

‘Jamaica Love’: Saturday, Aug. 1. 10 p.m. $20. Jerk Hut, 1241 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. @thejerkhut on Facebook—Ray Roa PEDRO HESHIKE FOR GALAXY CON, CC BY 2.0

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See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Numbers game

AUTHOR PHOTO

Improv is having its moment in the Bay area, thanks, in no small part, to the Commodore. The theater in between Ybor City and Tampa Heights has been a haven for the art form and practice, and on Wednesday the nearly three-year-old venue kicked off its 10th annual Countdown festival. The 2026 lineup includes nearly 140 acts—trios, duos, and solo—representing 20 states, all performing nightly. Hillsborough College’s Studio Theatre, Mainstage Theatre and Rehearsal Hall, a 15-minute walk from The Commodore, also host shows like “The Absent-Minded Professor” where Pittsburgh’s Sarah Schultz (pictured) does an improvised lecture. All-ages and family matinee workshops and performances on Saturday expand the festival’s reach, and organizers say there’s something for everyone. Daily tickets are available along with full-festival passes.

Countdown Improv Festival: Nightly through Sunday, Aug. 9. $11.64$103.30. The Commodore and Hillsborough College, Ybor City. countdownimprovfestival.com—Ray Roa

HEADSHOT

Thighs and lows

Romance novels usually evoke terms like “spicy,” “steamy,” “cute” and “Is it bestiality if it’s not a real animal?” But rarely is the term “healing” tossed around, even for a booming genre. But that’s the word author Hayley Fleming uses to describe writing her debut romance novel, “Thighs Wide Shut.” In an essay for People published last week, Fleming opened up about having vaginismus. The condition involves pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina involuntarily contracting, making penetration—whether for sex, managing periods, or pelvic exams—painful or impossible. Fleming gave her main character, Emma, the same condition in “Thighs Wide Shut.” It’s a genuine, relatable tension in a genre saturated with tropes and escapism. The resulting book, as she describes it, is “a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt their body is a barrier to their happiness.” The Florida-raised author now lives in Washington, D.C., but she returns to the Sunshine State next month to discuss “Thighs Wide Shut” at St. Pete’s Tombolo Books with fellow Florida romance writer Alicia Thompson, bestselling author of “Love in the Time of Serial Killers,” “With Love, from Cold World,” “Never Been Shipped” and more.

Thighs Wide Shut—An Evening with Hayley Fleming: Tuesday, Aug. 4. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover, RSVP requested. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. hayleyfleming.com—Selene San Felice Of the wall

A show featuring the largest private collection of authenticated artwork from internationally renowned, and still somewhat anonymous, artist Banksy opens this weekend in Tampa. Featuring over 160 original works, the Art of Banksy, the collection is estimated to be worth $35 million, and includes some of Banksy’s most famous pieces, like “Girl with Balloon” and “Rude Copper.” Visitors will also get a chance to see previously unseen work for the first time, including a piece that belonged to the artist’s former girlfriend Leonie Laws, entitled “Flower Thrower,” as well as the “Mona Lisa.” Originally purchased directly from Banksy by actor Brad Pitt for his private collection, “Mona Lisa” was later returned to the artist in 2022, who then transformed it into a new piece, says a press release. Read more on p. 35.

‘The Art of Banksy’: Aug. 1-30. $29.99 & up. Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. banksyexhibit.com—Colin Wolf KYLE FLUBACKER

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 13

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POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Flipping birds

77-year-old Republican stages solo protest against St. Pete’s Flock cameras. By Valerie Smith

arl Gunn, 77, was concerned for his privacy when he spotted a camera outside his St. Petersburg neighborhood of Coquina Key, mounted on a 12-foot tall black pole. Gunn later learned that the device was operated by a private, for-profit company, and that it automatically loads license plates and AI-generated profiles of each passing car into a massive database. The only 12-foot pole Gunn had was his pool skimmer. He taped a sign to it, grabbed a camping chair, and sat himself in front of the camera. Last Saturday, all the camera saw was Gunn’s sign: “DOWN WITH FLOCK CAMERAS.” “This is just another thing to take our information and to spy on us,” Gunn told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I have a constitutional right to my privacy. I’m a law-abiding citizen, and I don’t need anyone sticking their nose in my business. And if they do, I’m going to chop it off.” This was Gunn’s second protest against Flock cameras, his first being a week prior at a camera a few blocks away. CL interviewed Gunn as he sat under the sun with his sign and watched the public reaction to his protest.

VALERIE SMITH

LOCKED AND LOADED: Carl Gunn is armed with a 12-foot pool skimmer.

Gunn was eventually joined by a supportive stranger who brought him a shade umbrella and a cold soda. Passing drivers honked in support, and one even dropped off cold drinks and snacks out of her passenger window. Gunn told CL that officers in two St. Petersburg police cruisers stopped by to question him for about 10–15 minutes before driving off. Footage shared with CL appears to show two cruisers stopped in the road beside Gunn as the driver taking the video shouts: “Yo, what’s your name? I’ll come bail you out!” Flock cameras are run by a private company and have been in St. Petersburg since 2022. The St. Petersburg Police Department has said that the cameras help solve crimes. Civil liberties organizations and bipartisan lawmakers say Flock cameras are an unprecedented mass surveillance tool that could change the landscape of personal freedom nationwide. Like any security camera, Flock cameras collect video evidence constantly. Unlike other cameras, they automatically read each license plate, collect every detail about a scene through AI and put it all in a searchable database.

LOCAL NEWS

A police officer can search 100,000 cameras nationwide to see if a fugitive has passed any Flock cameras, or get an alert when they do. They can also search for identifying features like make, model, color or even unique dents and bumper stickers. Police can also use the cameras to surveil protestors and stalk ex-lovers—or strangers they find attractive. The cameras have raised questions on constitutionality and have led to wrongful arrests across the county. “We’re private citizens; we don’t need this stuff,” Gunn told CL. “And they’re reporting now that the Chinese have already picked up all of our voter registrations. They’re picking up more information on us, on how we live, and you know there’s a reason for it.” Experts have said that obtaining voter data is fairly common and that it doesn’t necessarily indicate a breach of voting systems or election interference. Gunn’s protest was inspired in part by a trend where people damage Flock cameras in an effort to reduce surveillance in their cities. Instead, he wanted to find a legal, nondestructive way to protest and inhibit Flock. “They don’t own the air,” Gunn told CL. St. Petersburg already has around 50 Flock cameras. The DeFlock website has a map showing their locations, and the FlockHopper app can be

used to navigate without passing any of them. Law enforcement across the country—including immigration agents—may request access to the data. One camera covers the entry to the St. Pete Pier. Another watches Wildwood Park and a youth rec center in south St. Pete. Nine Flock cameras blanket a retail complex surrounding Lowes and Home Depot. According to records loaded into Flock monitoring website Have I Been Flocked, St. Pete police have used the cameras to search for suspects in federal investigations targeting noncitizens, vandalism cases, and, in one instance, littering. “In a democracy, the government shouldn’t be watching its citizens all the time just in case we do something wrong,” ACLU Senior Policy Analyst Jay Stanley said in 2025. “It’s one thing if a police officer out on a street sees something suspicious in public and reacts. But this is an entirely different matter.” Flock, founded in 2017, “surpassed $300 million in annual recurring revenue in early 2025, a 70 percent increase year over year,” according to the TDG wealth management company. “The Flock company, they’re doing this for profit,” Gunn told CL. “We didn’t give them permission to do it on us. If they want to do it for profit, I want my paycheck.”

“I’m a law-abiding citizen, and I don’t need anyone sticking their nose in my business.”

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 17

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Family matters

Welch slams Crist after Florida Politics publisher spreads affair rumors. By Valerie Smith

ELECTIONS

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

he upcoming St. Petersburg mayoral race is And so I’m at that moment, returning home, getting dirty, personal and expensive. Last and being asked if I am bringing vengeance?” Monday morning, incumbent St. Pete Mayor “I AM BRINGING IT ALL,” Schorsch’s post Ken Welch asked former governor and opponent concluded. Charlie Crist to condemn a recent post from Last week, candidate Brandi Gabbard made Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch, who a Facebook post saying that even though she’s spread rumors that Welch had an affair with a running against Welch, she believes a Crist former staffer, something Welch denies. ad attacking him over hurricane response was Welch shared a video to social media deny- unfair as Crist was in Minnesota during the ing the rumors and asking Crist to condemn 2024 hurricanes. Schorsch commented, calling Schorsch. “Peter Schorsch, the husband of her a “pick me,” a term typically used for women Charlie Crist’s campaign manager—the same who deride other women for male attention. It’s guy who just last weekend introduced Charlie unclear what he meant by this. Crist at his office opening—has crossed a disPeter Schorsch issued this statement to graceful line,” Welch said in the video. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “Charlie, Peter is your guy,” Welch contin“The video Welch posted today is as lackluster ued. “Stop hiding. Condemn the lie publicly, and and as unfocused as his campaign. unequivocally.” Yes, I made a comment about Ken Welch Schorsch is married to Crist campaign chair and Stephanie Owens on social media. Yes, I Michelle Todd Schorsch, whose political consult- deleted it. But ONLY out of a courtesy to a coming business is the second largest recipient of munity leader who is neutral in the mayoral funds from Crist’s PAC. Extensive Enterprises race who asked my wife to ask me to delete it Media, the parent comin order to lower the temperature in the race. Yes, pany of Florida Politics, has also received over I lost my temper posting $24,000 from Crist’s St. Petersburg Municipal Elections that comment because a PAC, according to camCounty Commissioner Early voting: Aug. 8-16. paign finance records. was attacking my wife, Election Day: Tuesday, Aug. 18 votepinellas.gov Florida Politics, while also diminishing my which has been criticized wife’s work in the mayoral in the past for “pay-to-play” policies, has not race by inferring that I am more involved in the shied away from constant attacks on Welch. campaign than she is. It was incredibly upsetting Screenshots appear to show a now–deleted to see someone, another woman no less, ignorFacebook post on Peter Schorsch’s page made at ing my wife’s accomplishments in furtherance about 10 p.m. last Thursday, July 23. The initial of attacking me. Michelle deserves better, and I post contained nothing but the name of a former will always be her fiercest defender. deputy mayor who resigned. Her resignation All of this said, I am not a politician. My followed accusations from now-Florida Politics name is not on the ballot. I am a news publisher. Senior Political Editor Janelle Irwin Taylor who And Ken Welch is attempting to intimidate a accused the former deputy mayor of creating a media figure who has called out the Mayor’s lack hostile work environment. of leadership in response to the devastating hurFollow up comments in the screenshot ricanes that destroyed my neighborhood. I have appear to show Schorsch saying that Welch questioned his leadership on many other issues. cheated on his wife with the former staffer. And now he is angry and desperate.” “Please (prove) me wrong,” reads a comment St. Petersburg’s Mayoral Election could wrap attributed to Schorsch in the screenshot. “Take on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 18 if any one me to court and let’s do discovery. Please!” candidate earns more than 50% of the vote. Schorsch—who deleted the post—has used Otherwise, a fall runoff will take place between his personal Facebook page to post frustra- the top two finishers. tions and campaign fodder over the last several Florida Politics’ coverage has heavily critimonths. He’s also been the subject of regular cized Mayor Welch since the hurricanes. Much harrasment and attack videos portraying him of the coverage from Peter Schorsch since as Shrek. Crist’s entrance has favored the former gov“This campaign cycle has been brutal,” ernor, although the website does have writers Schorsch posted to Facebook on Saturday, in (ie: Jesse Mendoza) that cover the race more text overlaid on a picture of Matt Damon as objectively. Crist did not respond to a request Odysseus. “AI videos of me. Hurtful memes. for comment. Lies while calling me every name in the book. continued on page 20

THE JUICE: Ken Welch is asking Charlie Crist to condemn a lie about his personal life.

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 19

This month alone, the website—one of the largest political news sites in Florida— has published at least 30 articles tagged “Ken Welch,” with many slamming the mayor over his performance in polls, hurricane response and handling of the Rays deal. Others are personal complaints, like Welch refusing to shake Schorsch’s hand or how much of a “dud” Schorsch thought the July 4 fireworks show was. Some of Schorsch’s articles are “drafted with assistance from AI”; a disclaimer says editorial judgement, sourcing and final review are performed by him and the website’s editorial team. Peter Schorsch was the subject of an extensive joint investigation in 2023 by NPR and nonprofit newsroom Floodlight for running Florida Politics as a “pay-to-play” publication: soliciting money in exchange for news coverage, without providing disclosures on his website. The investigation found that Peter Schorsch frequently requested ad buys from candidates across Florida. If they failed to pay up, coverage would often stop or become negative, according to the investigation. Florida Politics—which let CL use staterelated content after we laid off 67% of our staff during the pandemic—also employs well over a dozen journalists who cover races locally and statewide. In 2022, Peter Schorsch got one of the biggest scoops of the year. Peter Schorsch isn’t shy about his involvement in Crist’s campaign. He recently published a column on the death of former state senator Jack Latvala, who resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and trading legislative favors for sex. “Everything I know about campaigning — almost every tool I am deploying right now to help my wife in her effort to elect Charlie Crist Mayor of St. Petersburg — I learned, in part, from Jack Latvala, some 25 years ago,” Schorsch’s column reads. Schorsch goes on to recall boarding a Disney cruise when he got a call from Latvala denying the accusations, a lie Schorsch said he will “never forgive” the late senator for telling. Florida Politics might still publish pro-Crist articles even if the Schorsch household wasn’t receiving money from the Crist campaign. Michelle Todd Schorsch was Crist’s aide when he was governor, and the Schorsches have long been supporters of the St. Pete High grad who was senior class president and starting quarterback for the school in the mid-’70s. Peter Schorsch, who is a Republican, told NPR and Floodlight that he is more likely to focus on coverage when the subject matter is

an advertiser or a friend. Every newsroom and every reporter has some bias—even though some legacy outlets may want to claim they’re objective—but few fail to make a distinction between opinions they’ve developed organically as people familiar with politics and those they’ve been directly paid to promote. In an article he published last month, Peter Schorsch criticized the Tampa Bay Times for starting up a marketing company. “How can a publishing company court marketing clients—such as the businesses and developers it covers—while also covering them objectively?” Schorsch wrote in the article. He wrote that the move was hypocritical, as the Tampa Bay Times had previously accused Florida Politics of being pay-to-play. “The news relies heavily on editorial decisions—the choices that determine which stories get covered, which get killed and what angle is worth pursuing,” Schorsch’s article continues. “Adding a marketing agency into the mix, simply put, thins the wall between revenue generation and news coverage.” Schorsch told NPR and Floodlight his publication was “setting new rules” by soliciting advertising from the subjects of Florida Politics’ coverage. Pay-to-play is not a new business model, but an outdated one; advertiser-influenced editorial coverage was the norm until newspapers established codes of ethics. Stephen A. Smith (no relation to the ESPN anchor), executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, is an eyewitness to the influence of money on Florida politics. Smith told CL he praised Crist for standing up to electric utilities as Florida’s attorney general decades ago. Crist’s funding and involvement with Schorsch have led Smith to recant his praise. Electric utilities are one of the top sources of money and lobbying in Florida politics, spending nearly $80 million on political contributions alone from 2017-2025 according to a report from the CLEO institute. Some of that money has found its way into the pockets of Peter Schorsch. An invoice he shared with NPR shows that Florida Power & Light paid Schorsch at least $43,000 in 2021 alone. Since then, Schorsch has published a number of articles in support of investor-owned utilities. Two of his articles are heavily promoted by the Pinellas Energy Alliance, a dark money group connected to Duke that uses the articles as “expert opinions” justifying a contract renewal with Duke. Smith has been on the opposing side of utility money for decades and said he is disappointed by the influence he believes the money now has over Crist’s campaign.

ELECTIONS

CHARLIE CRIST CAMPAIGN

continued from page 19

“The video Welch posted today is as lackluster and as unfocused as his campaign.”

20 | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | cltampabay.com

CHARLIE IN CHARGE: Crist’s campaign fund dwarves Welch’s. “We were hoping that the Charlie Crist that we’d known over the years and worked for would be who was running for mayor in St. Pete,” Smith told CL. “Someone who had been a champion for consumers and for citizens has, it appears, lost the fire in his belly to protect the consumers and is, in turn, cashing in on relationships.” “This is not the Charlie Crist of old,” Smith said. “This is a compromised version of Charlie Crist.” Smith criticized St. Pete Shines, Crist’s PAC run by Michelle Todd Schorsch, calling it a “fundraising machine” that shakes down corporate interests for money. Peter Schorsch routinely boasts Crist’s fundraising advantage over Welch as a positive, despite a large portion of it coming from large donations from PACs, lawyers and industry interests.

Much of the money donated to Crist’s campaign goes back to the Schorsches. St. Pete Shines has paid nearly $140,000 to Todd Schorsch’s political consulting business, All Too Strategic LLC. This makes her firm the PAC’s second largest single expenditure. An additional $33,000 has gone to Todd Schorsch in reimbursements. Over $24,000 has gone to the parent company of Florida Politics. Over $16,000 went to direct mail, more than $4,000 went to media production. “This is a love triangle, so to speak, of money and grift that people need to be aware of before they go to the polls,” Smith said. “This is the kind of stuff that does not lead to electing somebody who is looking out for the people. It’s somebody who’s looking out for corporate interests.”

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RESTAURANTS

RECIPES

DINING GUIDES

This woman’s work

Tampa’s new gas station Thai spot, and more local restaurant news.

n Tampa, the stretch of N Armenia Avenue between Interstate-275 and Waters Avenue is known for international cuisine, be it Filipino (Lucky Tigre), South American (La Pequena Colombia, L.P.C.X, Antojito’s) or even Italian (Cacciatore & Sons). Add Thai to the flavor profile, too. Chef Sirikullaya “Layla” Martinez opened Chalawaan Thai Delish inside the Citgo gas station on 5018 N Armenia Ave. three months ago. Named after Chalawan, a folkloric crocodilian king revered in Martinez’s home province of Phichit, the restaurant boasts a menu broken up into four sections—appetizers, noodles & fried rice, stir-fries & curry, and desserts— with close to three dozen items to choose from. Prices range between $6 (egg rolls, pot stickers) to $18 (fried catfish in green curry sauce); Thai teas and coffees are $5. A massaman curry and Thai tea was around $20 before tip (got it “Thai hot,” and while the heat almost killed me, it did not mask the deeply aromatic, nutty and creamy flavor of the sauce). Martinez told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay she’s been in the U.S. for about five years and previously worked in other Thai restaurants including Lemongrass on Kennedy Boulevard. She does her shopping pretty much every day at Sanwa Farmer’s Market just a 10-minute drive away. Tampa’s Chalawaan Thai Delish is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

This is the first of multiple Cook Out locations planned for the Tampa Bay area, with locations soon to open in Carrollwood and St. Petersburg. The 35-year-old chain has been rapidly expanding as of late, and already has over 300 locations mostly in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Mississippi. Lumbre, the latest restaurant from local Michelin-starred group is now open in Tampa A new modern Spanish concept from the folks that brought you Michelin-starred Rocca, Michelin-recognized Bar Terroir, and Michelin Bib Gourmand Streetlight Taco, is now open in the North Hyde Park area. Lumbre, the latest concept from local hospitality group Tastes Pretty Good, officially opened its doors on Wednesday, July 15. Located in the Rome Collective development, at 220 N Rome Ave., the new Spanish restaurant is led by Executive Chef and Co-Founder Nick Orr, who previously helmed the kitchen at Rocca. “Nick Orr was my first hire and he’s been core to Rocca’s success ever since,” says Bryce Bonsack, Culinary Director at Tastes Pretty Good, in a statement. “He’s earned this opportunity through years of consistency, leadership, and craft. Lumbre is his moment to step forward and continue our team’s work to shape Tampa’s reputation as one of Florida’s most compelling dining destinations.” Lumbre’s menu is broken down into four sections: cheese and charcuterie, bocados, entrantes (starters), and platos principales (large format), and spans everything from “wood-fired grilling, traditional paella, tapas featuring seafood and imported cheeses & hams and a full bar with Spanish wines and cider, and a fresh sangria to start the meal,” says the press release. Lumbre is open Sundays through Thursdays, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are currently available on Open Table.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Tampa Bay’s first Cook Out is now open near USF Popular North Carolina-based fast food chain Cook Out has opened its first Tampa Bay location in Temple Terrace. Located at 5501 E Fowler Ave., the new Cook Out outpost softopened on July 16, but a day later officially celebrated a grand-opening in the roughly 3,272 square-foot building formerly home to a Boston Market. Cook Out’s menu centers around a variety of American-style fast food offerings with over 40 milkshake flavors, fresh chargrilled hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, chicken, corn dogs, quesadillas, hushpuppies, fries and more.

RAY ROA

By Colin Wolf and Ray Roa

LEGEND HAS IT: Layla Martinez is the sole force behind Chalawaan Thai Delish. Group behind Tampa’s Michelin-starred Rocca will open new Clearwater restaurant Rippers, a new American-style restaurant from the team behind Michelin-starred Rocca, is moving into Clearwater’s historic Telephone Building on Cleveland Street. Located on the ground floor at 534 Cleveland St., Rippers will be Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality Group’s first Pinellas County concept, and is also the first to move into the Telephone Building. Built in 1914, the Telephone Building is the first fully-restored historic landmark completed by the Cleveland Street Alliance’s coordinated restoration initiative, which is focused on reactivating the Cleveland Street corridor. Apparently the building itself inspired the Rippers concept and menu, according to culinary director and Michelin-starred chef Bryce Bonsack. “When we walked into that space, we were immediately drawn to it. It’s historic, it has incredible character and there’s so much history behind it,” said Bonsack in a statement. “We wanted to create something that keeps telling the story of America through classic

food that’s approachable, delicious and affordable. The building and the concept simply belonged together.” Rippers will focus on American classics like burgers, wings, sandwiches, fries, milkshakes and its signature deep-fried “ripper” hot dogs, which they cook “until it rips,” says a press release. “We started in Tampa as a love letter to the city we grew up in,” said Tastes Pretty Good CEO Nick Reader, in a statement. “When this opportunity arose to come to Clearwater, we saw something very familiar. We understood the vision, we understood where it could go and we knew we wanted to be part of it.” Tastes Pretty Good has been growing relatively quickly as of late. The hospitality group recently announced a new modern Spanish concept, Lumbre, now open in the North Hyde Park area (read above). Besides Rocca, Tastes Pretty Good also operates Michelin-recognized Bar Terroir, and Michelin Bib Gourmand Streetlight Taco. continued on page 31

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continued from page 27 Tampa icon Wright’s Gourmet House will open new locations in Brandon, Wesley Chapel Two years have passed since longtime South Tampa favorite Wright’s Gourmet House was sold to the Caspers Company, and now the iconic sandwich shop and bakery will bring its popular sandwiches and sheet cakes to the suburbs. According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Wright's will open two new 15,000-square-foot locations—one at 328 Brandon Town Center Drive in Brandon and the other at Wiregrass Ranch on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel. Both outposts will include cafes, catering facilities, a market and more. No exact opening dates were announced, but the Brandon location will debut in summer 2027, while the Wesley Chapel spot has a rough target date of family-owned 2028, says TBBJ. Earlier this year, the Casper Co., which is led by former city council candidate and local McDonald’s tycoon Blake Casper and his sister Allison Casper Adams, opened a satellite Wright’s café at Tampa General Hospital’s Davis Islands campus. Besides Wright’s, the Casper Co. also operates Tampa’s Oxford Exchange, Casa Cami, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Predalina, The

Current hotel, and The Stovall House under its Oxford Commons brand. The company purchased the original Wrights location at 1200 S Dale Mabry Hwy. in 2024. Two years prior, the Caspers sold off dozens of family–owned McDonald’s franchises, which they offloaded for an undisclosed amount. Tampa’s Kim Bros. Korean market is closed After roughly 35 years, Tampa Korean market Kim Bros. closed last Sunday—but it’s not the end of its story. Jin Cha, one of the owners, and the woman responsible for making the killer kimchi so many have come to love, told CL that while the lease is up here, Kim Bros. beloved foods that have grown a cult following can still be found in Temple Terrace at Soul of Korea (7612 N 56th St.), and soon inside the H Mart food court. While H Mart is moving quickly during construction across the street, Kim Bros., located at 4021 W Hillsborough Ave., pretty much sold out of everything before the closing last Sunday. “Thank you, everyone. Thank you for loving my food. Thank you for all of the love,” Cha, who’s

worked at the location for the last five years, added. “I have been happy here.” Last spring, H Mart, which is easily America’s favorite Korean grocery chain, filed work permits to build out a store at 3908 W Hillsborough Ave.—just a mile north of Raymond James Stadium and half-a-mile from Kim Bros. While there’s still no equipment inside of Tampa’s H Mart as of this week, the outside facade is looking a lot like many of the more than 100 locations the chain operates across the U.S. When it opens, Tampa’s H Mart will be one of two Florida locations after Orlando’s opened after many construction delays. (FYI, the “H” in H Mart stands for “Han Ah Reum”; in Korean, the phrase loosely translates to “one arm full of groceries.”)—Annalise Mabe

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Old Heights Bistro in Seminole Heights is moving to South Tampa Old Heights Bistro is leaving Seminole Heights. After more than a decade at 4703 N Nebraska Ave., the popular neighborhood spot served its final guests last Saturday, July 25.

“First and foremost, thank you! Serving you here in Seminole Heights has been an absolute joy, and we are incredibly grateful for the love, laughter, and support you’ve shared with us at our tables,” reads a social media post from the restaurant. Philip Hutchison and co-owner Shima ran the spot for nearly 11 years. “He does the sushi and I do all the rest of it,” Hutchison says. “We’ve been cooking together for 20 years.” Hutchison looks forward to the new space. “I got parking, new AC, everyone is nice and willing to work with me,” he says. The new South Tampa location plans to open by late-August or early-September in Palma Ceia’s former Brunchery space at 3225 S MacDill Ave., which is in the same plaza as Pane Rustica. Since opening in 2015, Old Heights Bistro (spelled “Olde” on some instances) has been a fixture of the Seminole Heights neighborhood, serving up a variety of beer, wine, and sake, as well as an eclectic menu spanning everything from sushi rolls and hummus, to steaks, burgers, curries and ravioli. A representative from Old Heights Bistro told CL the new space will only serve breakfast and lunch for the first two years. This post includes reporting from Annalise Mabe.

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DAVE DECKER

Deviant Libation In his Deviant Underground zine, Tim Ogden supplements the communal vibe of his brewery and distillery with confessions (“it’s easy to feel powerless”) and offers options for people looking for meaning (“participate in mutual aid,” “join a band”). Every Sunday for lunch, the venue opens for a community potluck where attendees bring a dish and leave with a full cup, too. There’s no cover for the “Breaking Bread” community potluck that happens weekly at Deviant Libation in Tampa. See more local food & drink happenings below.—Ray Roa Duckhorn Vineyards 50th Anniversary Dinner Friday, July 31. 6:30 p.m. $375. Epicurean Theatre at Epicurean Hotel, Tampa. epicureanhotel.com Hazy Hour (Rags To Riches Animal Rescue fundraiser) Friday, July 31. 6 p.m. Magnanimous Brewing, Seminole Heights. ragstorichesanimalrescuefl.org Ordinance One 2nd Anniversary Beerfest Friday, July 31. 6 p.m. No cover. Ordinance One, New Port Richey. ordinanceone.com Pints & Paws Adoption Day Saturday, Aug. 1. 11 a.m. No cover. The Blind Goat Food and Drink Co., Tampa. humanesocietytampabay.org Make Your Own Dumplings Wednesday, Aug. 5. 6:30 p.m. $55 & up to register. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg. 3dbrewing.com The Art of Coffee: A Tasting Journey Featuring Mission Grounds Coffee Friday, Aug. 7. 10 a.m. $7.18 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com Bad Moms Brunch Monday, Aug. 10. 10 a.m. Shuffle, Tampa. shuffletampa.com R&B Ink & Sip Night (Beginner tattoo experience and wine tasting) Friday, Aug. 21. 6:30 p.m. $104.07 & up. Vino Ghvino 21, Tampa. vinoghvino21.com

I Like It HOT! Festival Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 12-13. 10 a.m. No cover. England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park. saucyqueen.com

Recurring

Breaking Bread (Community potluck) Every first Sunday. 1 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa Thirsty Thursdays at the Polish American Society Thursdays. 5:30-9 p.m. No cover. Polish American Society of St. Petersburg Sip & Shake (Hands-on cocktail class) Every first Thursday through Oct. 1. 6 p.m. $75. St. Petersburg Distillery, St. Petersburg Drink and Draw Every second Thursday. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa. First Friday Lunchtime Market Every first Friday. 10 a.m. No cover. 400 Cleveland Street, Clearwater Sip & Stroll Every last Friday. 5 p.m. No cover. Corey Avenue, St. Petersburg Funky Brunch Sundays. 11 a.m. No cover to RSVP. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com Breaking Bread (Community potluck) Every first Sunday. 1 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa Hail Bloody Mary Bar Every third Sunday. 2 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa. deviantlibation.com Gulfport Fresh Market Tuesdays. 9 a.m. No cover. Beach Blvd., Gulfport. visitstpeteclearwater.com Techno & Tequila Every third Tuesday. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta Every first Wednesday. 11 a.m. No cover. Lykes Gaslight Square Park, Tampa. tampasdowntown.com Bold Brainstorm Business Networking Dinner Every third Wednesday through Nov. 19. 6 p.m. $42.13. Sweet Krunch, Ybor City Sip & shake (Hands-on cocktail class) Every first Thursday through Oct. 1. 6 p.m. $75. St. Petersburg Distillery, St. Petersburg. stpetersburgdistillery.com

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34 | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | cltampabay.com

SHOW PREVIEW The Art of Banksy

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Straz Center’s Banksy show opens this weekend. By Avery Anderson/Tampa Bay Arts Passport

A global first on the main stage The exhibition has historically adapted to some truly chaotic venues, including a 1920s ammunition factory in Toronto, a concrete shell of a supermarket in Tel Aviv, and an old London department store where King Charles was literally the landlord. However, the Tampa layout is pulling off a global first: the entire exhibition is being housed directly on the Straz Center’s main stage. For Michel Boersma, the exhibition’s executive producer and curator, this theatrical collision is a full-circle moment for his 30-year background as a theater producer. It also completely upends the traditional audience experience. Visitors won’t be strolling through a grand lobby to sit in velvet seats; instead, they will enter and exit the Straz through the backstage loading bay. “Their experience starts in a completely different way… they enter through backstage and then they also leave backstage through the loading bay—of course, exit through the gift shop—and then they go out again,” Boersma notes. “For the visitors in Tampa it’s also a whole new way of seeing their venue.” The ‘Gateway Drug’ of the art world With 160 authenticated pieces, this is the world’s largest touring exhibition of genuine Banksy art. Boersma is quick to draw a hard line between this show and the sea of unauthorized, replica-filled knockoffs that frequently steal their marketing. “There’s no replicas, there’s no selfie walls and that kind of stuff within the exhibition,” he explains, noting that the real art is incredibly expensive to transport, secure, and insure. But why does an anonymous street artist from Bristol command this kind of global blockbuster footprint? Because Banksy is the ultimate

populist creator, stripping away the gatekeeping of fine art galleries. “I always jokingly say… it’s like a gateway drug into the arts,” Boersma says. “You don’t have to stand in front of a Banksy for 10 minutes, look really wise and not having a clue what it means… Banksy, you can have your own interpretation. There’s always a bit of humor in there, and it has a message”. Girlfriend drama, Brad Pitt, and grinders While the public knows the “street art Robin Hood” caricature, the exhibition aims to add nuance by pulling back the curtain on the artist’s personal life and career. It turns out that nuance involves a healthy dose of reality-TV-level drama. Take, for example, the iconic “Flower Thrower,” which is making its U.S. debut in Tampa. The exhibition reveals that the image wasn’t a spontaneous street capture; it was actually a staged photograph from an anarchist newspaper used as an anti-Shell oil protest. Furthermore, the specific piece on display was

How to commit elite vandalism (the corporate way) Ultimately, the exhibition answers the burning question that haunts every casual fan: How

does the most famous artist in the world illegally paint public walls across the globe without getting arrested? As it turns out, it isn’t a complex, hightech operation involving night-vision goggles or “Mission: Impossible ropes.” The secret to elite criminal anonymity is hilariously mundane. “It all comes down to a little builder’s van and a highfizz jacket,” Boersma reveals. “Because you don’t ask questions of a construction worker, right? If a construction worker goes into your street and does something on a house, you’re not going to ask questions. And that’s how the whole system of Banksy works”. For a city like Tampa, “The Art of Banksy” offers a rare, authorized, and deeply funny deepdive into an artist who managed to conquer the fine art world using nothing but cardboard, spray paint, and a brilliantly applied neon safety vest. This post first appeared at TB Arts Passport, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project (TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication interested in TBJP, please email rroa@ctampa. com. Support TB Arts Passport by subscribing to its free newsletter or becoming a paying Arts Passport Member.

KYLE FLUBACKER

or an artist who built a career on anonymity and anti-establishment graffiti, there is a certain beautiful irony to the reality of a massive, heavily secured blockbuster exhibition. Welcome to “The Art of Banksy,” a touring juggernaut making its highly anticipated Tampa debut at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. But if you are expecting a quiet, high-brow evening of staring blankly at a canvas while pretending to understand modern art, you are in the wrong place.

originally a Valentine’s Day gift from Banksy to an associate named Leoni Lo. However, that romantic gesture comes with an incredible twist of absolute chaos: • The Double-Gift: At the London opening, Boersma hosted three of Banksy’s ex-girlfriends. They discovered that Banksy had given a blue version of the exact same “Flower Thrower” print to another woman on the exact same Valentine’s Day. • The Review: As one of the exes dryly told Boersma: “Banksy is an amazing artist, not a very good boyfriend”. • The Grudge: Years later, when Leoni gave the piece back to Banksy to get a certificate of authentication, he kept it for nine months, took a mechanical grinder to the top right corner, ground off his original romantic message, and wrote a new one underneath it. Visitors in Tampa can actually inspect the grinder scratches via a high-resolution scan at the exhibit. The exhibition also features another major U.S. premiere: a multi-layered “Mona Lisa” piece created on an air conditioning filter, which was previously owned by Brad Pitt before being sold to one of the exhibition’s private collectors.

THREE FOR THE SHOW: Three rare color variations of Banksy’s iconic ‘Girl with Balloon’ are part of ‘The Art of Banksy.’

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 35

DALÍ Limited-Time Exhibition

Locals Save on Admission

AMERICA How America created the global icon Final Days

36 | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | cltampabay.com

TheDali.org

Cracked up: Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs for August If you tell someone you’re seeing stand-up comedy at Side Splitters, they might ask “which location?” The 34-year-old local staple has multiple venues, after all: One on N Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, and another at The Grove in Wesley Chapel. Later this year, Side Splitters adds a third on the other side of Tampa Bay, at the Sundial shopping center in downtown St. Pete.

The new club will have some features that mirror the other two locations, like convenient parking, an open mic night and spots for local comedians to perform on weekend shows. But it will also have some unique features, like a dedicated green room and a separate path for comedians directly to the stage. Thompson also wants to set up a separate area for comedians with more professional recording devices. Thompson was hoping to have the venue, which will seat a similar number of patrons as the Tampa location, ready by summer. But while demolition and construction are under way, it might take a bit longer to bring the laughter to St. Petersburg. “Realistically, late ‘26,” Thompson predicted. “Things take a while sometimes.” Lineups for all Side Splitters locations can be found at sidesplitterscomedy.com. The August comedy lineup doesn’t have much in the way of large-venue shows, but it does have Roseanne’s ex, Tom Arnold, coming to Side Splitters on Aug. 2. There’s also have a comedy festival, Joke Wrld, which features two days of stand-up comedy and podcasts throughout downtown St. Petersburg. And every club has a full lineup of talented comedians. Visit each venue’s websites for lineup changes and other details.—Michael Murillo Dedrick Flynn Thursday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 1. 8 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. $25 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa JJ Curry Thursday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 1. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Jimmy McCartney Thursday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 1. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $22.50. Snappers, Palm Harbor Lance Weiss Friday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Leslie Norris Friday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach

Tom Arnold

AJ Wilkerson Saturday, Aug. 1. 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $27 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City Tom Arnold Sunday, Aug. 2. 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. $30 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa MWOOD99/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“St. Pete is a great market,” owner Brian Thompson told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “As it continues to grow, I feel it’s a market that could use a club.”

Nik Macik Friday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater

Carl Rimi Thursday-Friday, Aug. 6-7. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Shawn Banks Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 6-8. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers, Palm Harbor Kurt Metzger Friday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8. 8 p.m. on Fridays. 10 p.m. on Friday. And 10:30 p.m. Aug. 8. $25. Side Splitters, Tampa Marcus Crespo Friday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Mike Rivera Friday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Lance Weiss Friday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater Connor King Friday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8. 8 p.m. $29.80 and up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg Michael Colyar Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. $27. Funny Bone, Ybor City Jay Yoder Saturday, Aug. 8. 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. $28.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Sam Tallent Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 13-15. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. $25 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa Joey Vega Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 13-15. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers, Palm Harbor Igor Martinez Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Michael Yo Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $25 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City Danny Braff Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach John J.Murray Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Ginger Kelly Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater Joke Wrld Comedy Festival with more than 70 comedians scheduled to appear, including Greg Fitzsimmons, Sam Tripoli and Maddy Smith FridaySaturday, Aug. 14-15. 1 p.m.-midnight. $139.55 and up. Coastal Creative and other venues in downtown St. Petersburg. jokewrldfest.com. Mike Loftus Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 20-22. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $27.50. Snappers, Palm Harbor Ian Bagg Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. $25 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa Ron Taylor Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $27 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City Subhah Agarwal Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Jacoby Bruton Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Michael Murillo Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach

Law Smith Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater Caitlin Peluffo Friday-Saturday, Aug. 21-22. 8 p.m. $24.80 and up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg Nick Mullen Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 27-29. 7 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. $35 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa Paul Snyder Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 27-29. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel Jay Moreno Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 27-29. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers, Palm Harbor Rene Vaca Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $32 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City Lando Gonzalez Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Stephen Henry Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach Jojo White Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater Rachid Badouri Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29. 8 p.m. $24.80 and up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg

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(Left) Yvette Mayorga (American, b. 1991), Rhinestone Vaquero After Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 2025, textile, rhinestones, buttons, belt buckle, gold flakes, silver flakes, glitter, and acrylic piping on canvas, 72 x 60 inches, Image courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche Gallery. (Middle) Élisabeth Vigée-LeBrun (French, 1755-1842), Julie as Flora, Roman Goddess of Flowers, 1799, Oil on canvas, 50.9 x 38.5 inches (Right) Yvette Mayorga (American, b. 1991), Self Portrait of the Artist After Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 2025, textile, collage, stickers, gold flakes, silver flakes, pen, lace, buttons, acrylic nails, nail charms and acrylic piping on canvas, 72 x 60 inches, Image courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche Gallery.

AFTER VENUS

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

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ARTS

GrowHouse’s 1st Mondays Open Mic and Poetry Workshop Every first Monday. 7 p.m. No cover. The Backroom, Tampa Oh, Cuore Mia Through Sept. 17. No cover. Tempus Projects, Ybor City Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound Through Aug. 23. $5 & up. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. tampamuseum.org Christmas In July Friday, July 31. 6 p.m. No cover. Pistil House, St. Petersburg. pistilhouse.com Adult Emo Late Skate Friday, July 31. 10 p.m. $10. United Skates of America, Tampa The Art of Banksy Multiple times and dates between Friday, July 31 through Sunday, Sept. 27. $29 & up. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Fashion Against Fascism Friday, July 31. 7 p.m. $15 & up. New World Brewery, Tampa Laser Light Shows: Country Friday, July 31. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. Mosi, Tampa. mosi. org Laser Light Show: U2 Friday, July 31. 8:15 p.m. $10 & up. Mosi, Tampa. mosi.org The Resonance of Art Opens Friday, July 31. 12 p.m. No cover. Pinellas Ale Works, St. Petersburg. pawbeer.com Castle Cosplay Night XVI: Villain Vogue Saturday, Aug. 1. 9 p.m. $25 & up. The Castle, Ybor City. castleybor.com Parent-Child Doll Making with Emilie Hernandez Saturday, Aug. 1. 10 a.m. $85. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org Unearth a Story Summer Carnival Saturday, Aug. 1. 12 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org Derek Hough Tuesday, Aug. 4. 8 p.m. $105.40 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa Workshop: Surreal Collage Tuesday, Aug. 4. 6 p.m. $30 & up. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org Art After Dark: Summer Sessions Thursday, Aug. 6. 5 p.m. No cover for members and under 18; $16 for everyone else. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfast. org Dani Lewis: Apricity (Opening reception) Saturday, Aug. 8. 5 p.m. No cover. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg moreanartscenter.org Theatre Kids Broadway Dance Party Saturday, Aug. 8. 8 p.m. $20.97. Orpheum, Tampa

Asian Summer Food & Music Festival Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23. 12 p.m.; 5 p.m. Friday. No cover. Coachman Park, Clearwater Coffee and Poetry featuring Tim Huff Sunday, Aug. 30. 3 p.m. $12.51. Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse. com Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue Saturday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. $57.50 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater An Evening with the Celebrity Housewives Wednesday, Nov. 11. 7:30 p.m. $72.80 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Dante Gebel Tuesday, Nov. 17. 8 p.m. $69.09 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa Cirque du Soleil: ‘Twas The Night Before Select times and dates from Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 18-29. Prices TBA. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Jonathan Van Ness Thursday, Nov. 19. 8 p.m. $81 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa

BOOKISH

Mini Bookshelf Bar Night Friday, July 31. 7 p.m. Sold out. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com Book Exchange Saturday, Aug. 1. 1 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa Rose Santoriello (Book signing) Saturday, Aug. 1. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com The Legacy of Julia Child’s Kitchen with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson Tuesday, Aug. 4. 2 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org Thighs Wide Shut - An evening with Hayley Fleming Tuesday, Aug. 4. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg Tradwife with author Michelle Brandon (release party) Tuesday, Aug. 4. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore. com Book Bedazzling Thursday, Aug. 6. 6 p.m. Sold out. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com Aaron Cline Hanbury Sunday, Aug. 9. 3:30 p.m. $6.71 & up. Oxford Exchange, Hyde Park OE Book Club: On the Calculation of Volume Tuesday, Aug. 11. 6:30 p.m. $32.64. Oxford Exchange, Hyde Park H.M. Wolfe with Krystal Lang Wednesday, Aug. 12. 6:30 p.m. $39.41. Oxford Exchange, Hyde Park Bookstore Romance Day Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore. com Kristin Harmel Sunday, Aug. 30. 3:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Oxford Exchange, Tampa OE Book Club: The Midnight Train Tuesday, Sept. 8. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Oxford Exchange, Hyde Park

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ART

Tampa Bay’s arts & entertainment calendar is almost impossible to keep up with, but damned if Creative Loafing Tampa Bay doesn’t try to keep our readers in step with the active creator community that makes our neighborhoods so beautiful to live in. This listing—which includes recurring events like the Florida Museum of Art’s 25th anniversary show up through Dec. 6—is maintained by CL staffers and contributors, who also keep a close eye on the publication’s usersubmitted events calendar. Please help us out by submitting yours at community. cltampa.com.—Ray Roa

FILM & TV

Spellbound Friday, July 31. 7 p.m. $10. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg The Moleman of Belmont Avenue (Screaming Cinema Series and Filmmaker Mixer with additional short films) Saturday, Aug. 1. 4 p.m. No cover. Xzanthia’s Art Asylum Studio, Gulfport. tampabayscreams.com National Treasure Saturday, Aug. 1. 2 p.m. $5. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

LEARN

Art & Nature Sunset Tour with the MFA & Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center Every last Sunday through Sept. 27. 3:30 p.m. $45. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org Cafe con Tampa Fridays, 8 a.m. No cover. The Portico, Tampa Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa Thursdays through Dec. 31. 2 p.m. $18.95. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org Adult Field Trip Friday, July 31. 10:45 a.m. No cover with registration (full, but waitlist open). Chihuly Museum, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org Every Map Tells a Story Friday, July 31. 2 p.m. No cover. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org Unearth Cottagecore Too Friday, July 31. 10 a.m. No cover with registration. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org Permission Granted Experience Sunday, Aug. 2. 2:15 p.m. No cover. President Barack Obama Main Library, St. Petersburg. adencyselena.com Cameras & Coffee Monday, Aug. 3. 5 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org Joy Postle: The Art of the Florida Wild with Rick Kilby Wednesday, Aug. 5. 5 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org

THEATER

Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts: Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Friday, July 31 & Saturday, Aug. 1. 7 p.m.; 2 p.m. matinee Saturday. $15. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Memory Lane Saturday, Aug. 1. 2 p.m. No cover. Catherine A. Hickman Theater, Gulfport Jobsite Theater: Penelope Select times and dates from Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 6. $71.40 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 22 & 23. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $5; no cover for members. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Death Becomes Her Select times and dates from Tuesday-Sunday, Dec. 8-13. Prices TBA. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa The Great Gatsby Select times and dates from Tuesday-Sunday, Jan. 19-24. Prices TBA. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Wicked Select times and dates from Wednesday-Sunday, Feb. 3-28. Prices TBA. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa The Sound of Music Select times and dates from Tuesday-Sunday, March 9-14. Prices TBA. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Disenchanted! Select times and dates from Friday-Sunday, April 9-11. Prices TBA. Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@cltampa.com for details.

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INTERVIEW Crowbar’s final show

w/Talib Kweli/Dynasty/Queen of Ex/Aych/ Perception/DJ Sandman/more. Friday, July 31. 8 p.m. Sold-out. Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City. crowbarybor.com

REVIEWS

PROFILES

MUSIC WEEK

Finish strong

Crowbar’s closing, and the future is now. By Ray Roa

in the district, but navigating the waters has become impossible. Crowbar is closing, DeGeorge has said, because he can’t afford to do it anymore given the rising costs of rent in Ybor City and monopolistic practices of corporate ticket sellers and venue operators. “Hosting this was a no-brainer,” DeGeorge explained about the show in front of him.

“If he was afraid of moving on you’d never notice,” DeGeorge wrote. It was moving on after a tragic incident and the closure of Ybor City’s Masquerade, where he was GM, that led DeGeorge to his own space, after all. When Crowbar opened in 2006 with a rager headlined by Earl Greyhound, the address had already been home to many failed nightlife endeavours like Jelly Rolls, On The Rocks, Earthquakes, and others long forgotten. Ahead of that show, DeGeorge told CL that those misses were part of why he and his business partner Devin Norton wanted to go for it. “I kind of knew that no one had been able to make it work, and I liked that kind of challenge,” he added. DeGeorge poured himself into Crowbar. And as pieces of him started embedding themselves into parts of the venue, the room became a living, breathing entity of its own. “I wouldn’t spend as much time away from my own family if I didn’t think of it as its own life form,” he said. Safe to say, the devotion boomeranged. Crowbar’s run has been inarguably legendary. Lessons learned at 1812 N 17th St. should inspire other venues as they find their own way. DeGeorge told CL that he had a chance to extend the lease at Crowbar even further, but the universe was telling him not to. There’s work to be done at NIVA, where he is the Southeast Director. Festivals around the country consult DeGeorge for security. And through his newish company FMAM, DeGeorge will start to book shows at other venues like the emergent Coppertail Brewing loading dock, New World Tampa, and Microgroove. He’s even hinted at finding a venue that he can own outright so he never gets priced out again. “It’s the end, and that’s OK, because the future, I think, will be good,” DeGeorge said. “Everything comes to an end. Nothing lasts forever.” And while Crowbar certainly won’t be here anymore, it’s quite possible that DeGeorge—and perhaps the entire Bay area music scene—is just starting to take flight.

“The future, I think, will be good.”

DAVE DECKER

our days away from turning the page on a 20-year chapter of his life, Tom DeGeorge has worked for 21 days straight and more or less eats all his meals standing up. He’s lost 12 pounds, too, but he’s not exactly proud about it. “It’s because I haven’t slept. This is not the way you want to lose weight,” he tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “But I do feel strong. I feel rested. I have energy.” Inside, homegrown filmmaker Dylan Melcher is hosting the soundtrack release for “Jellyfish Season," his indie projectshot on 16mm Kodak reels. Chance Reynolds, a bright young drummer from St. Petersburg, who scored the movie, leads a quartet. It’s the last jazz gig Crowbar will ever see. And 2,322 days after Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered nightclubs like his to close due to the coronavirus, the 52-year-old coowner of Ybor City’s most beloved performance venue looks—for at least a moment—like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. “I feel good,” he adds. That’s a relief to hear. DeGeorge’s last six years have been nothing short of a whirlwind. There was the long road to reopening where he and those fuckers from the thennascent National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) secured a $15 billion bailout for indie rooms across the U.S. There have been profiles in national publications, a risky lease extension, the failed bid for Tampa City Council, and a May trip to Capitol Hill where DeGeorge stood tall as lawmakers asked for guidance on how the hell to deal with Live Nation and Ticketmaster. As guests inside dance around in illuminated jellyfish headwear, DeGeorge says it’s nice to have an atypical Monday crowd in the building. He goes into the part of his stump speech about how all these folks spent money at surrounding businesses. His room is an anchor

“It was as close as I could imagine to when somebody’s about to die, and they say they see the bright light, and all of a sudden they’re surrounded by everyone they’ve ever loved. That’s literally how I felt,” DeGeorge said. “Every song they sang felt like my heartbeat, it felt like the soundtrack of my life.” This Friday, the club that’s been a haven for local hip-hop will tap the Bay area’s best rappers to set the stage for a shutdown orchestrated by New York emcee Talib Kweli. Come Saturday though, the countless bands—both national and local—who’ve found quarter on the Crowbar stage will have to seek new life elsewhere. And next week, as the moving com-

LAST CAW: Tom DeGeorge during Crowbar’s final Hot Dog Party this month. “Because Dylan understands the struggles that independent artists and creators deal with in modern America today.” And in the days leading up to this last week, DeGeorge started to realize just how intense closing the door on Crowbar is going to be. During last Saturday’s Americana hootenanny, and for the last hip-hop patio party the night after, memories from his entire life started to flood his mind.

pany comes to take the posters off the wall at Crowbar, DeGeorge’s journey, personal and professional, will go on, too. In spring interviews with CL and filmmakers creating a documentary about Crowbar’s exit, DeGeorge said July 31, the venue’s last day, also happens to be the first anniversary of the passing of his father. In a eulogy last year, DeGeorge called Thomas DeGeorge Sr. his family’s hero.

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 41

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THU 30

C Leon Majcen w/Kristopher James/ Adam Randall & The Band As far as capacity goes, Crowbar is one of many small indie venues across the U.S. where homegrown acts can cut their teeth as openers and headliners on local bills—and then pack the room on sold-out national tours. Leon Majcen (say it, “might-zin”) is the perfect example of that arc. After finding his sound as he emerged from St. Pete College, the Bosnian-American songwriter is now a rising star of country music, with glowing write ups in Rolling Stone and slots opening for the likes of Kip Moore, Paul Cauthen and Margo Price. Living on the road, the 27-year-old has spend the last three years checking things off his bucket list, like playing Montana’s scenic Old Saloon (opening for Benjamin Todd). This is Tampa’s last chance to head to Crowbar and leave saying they saw an artist back when. 7 p.m. $28.03. Crowbar, Ybor City

FRI 31

CThe Final Set: A Palladium Send-Off feat. Bryan J. Hughes w/Jean Bolduc/ James Suggs/John C. O’Leary/Elias Tona/Jeremy Carter/Allison Nash/John Lamb This weekend, St. Petersburg College’s historic Palladium Theater kicks off a $13 million renovation that’ll bring new seating, sightlines, and sound to Hough Hall, while adding accessibility improvements and preserving the 100-year-old building’s architectural character (it opened as a church in 1925 and came to life as a venue in 1998). To send the old lady off in style, Executive Director Paul Wilborn has tapped some of Palladium’s favorite sons and daughters for the send off. Bassist John Lamb, undisputed jazz legend of St. Pete, is the special guest as Bryan J. Hughes leads his Crew ensemble through a sold-out set of jazz, pop, rock and more. 8 p.m. Sold-out. Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg C Jazz Night feat. Dominic Walker Last Monday, Bay area jazz guitarist, songwriter and DJ Dominic Walker spent three hours guest hosting WMNF Tampa’s “Jazz In the Night Program” where he celebrated all the jazz musicians that made it to the voting round of the 2026 Best of the Bay awards. The show is always a great listen and proved to be especially enriching this week on account of Walker’s infectious enthusiasm for his colleagues in the scene. It’s the same energy he brings to the Friday night back patio residency on Davis Islands, which has become a hot ticket on the calendar. Get there early, and plan to take a cab home. 7:30 p.m. $5 at the door. DI Coffee Bar, Tampa (Davis Islands)

C L’Eclair w/Charlie Chimi/Akasha System/Karl Jaims A year after landing a set from Nigerien desert blues band Etran de L’Aïr, Bayboro Brewing Co. gets another visit from an acclaimed international artist. L’Eclair has long defied categorization and continues in that vein even after swapping out members over the last few years. Fans have lamented the addition of vocals on a 2025 album, Cloud Drifter (the Swiss outfit’s first for the American label Innovative Leisure), but brothers Yavor and Stefan Lilov (pictured to the right) still draw a crowd to a revered live show. It’ll be interesting to see the latest lineup of the group weave between the lo-fi disco, funk, bubbly pop and folk on the record. Dominican-raised Cuban artist Charles Garmendia brings his Charlie Chimi Latin club project to open along with local favorites. 7 p.m. $20.70. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg C Talib Kweli w/Queen of Ex & DJ Qeys/ Aych/Dynasty/Perception/DJ Sandman/ DJ Deacon The end is here. Since its opening 20 years ago, Crowbar has been a haven for hip-hop, so it makes sense to see the famed Ybor City venue close its doors with a show headlined by one of the greatest to ever do it. Talib Kweli—who once did an impromptu Black Star set with Mos Def on Crowbar’s patio back in 2011—will be the final artist to take the stage when Crowbar shuts the door on 20 years of concerts in Tampa. The 50-year-old emcee is in excellent company for the finale, too. DJs Sandman and Qeys handle the ones and twos all night while heavyweights of the Tampa scene rock the mic in the runup to the venue’s final moments. Aych, who held a cypher at Crowbar for nearly the entire 20-year history, is on the bill along with expat Tampa rapper Dynasty who collaborated with Kweli on “Stay Shinin’,” a song the duo performed together at the venue more than a decade ago. Queen of Ex and Perception round out the talent. Good luck getting in, too, because this might be the hottest ticket in town. 8 p.m. Sold-out. Crowbar, Ybor City

SAT 01

Voidrium w/Pontifex/Piss on Christ/ Bullet Wounds Tampa is the birthplace of death metal, but it likes to travel, too. Voidrium captures that spirit in its brand of black metal inspired by the heavy sounds in the Greek and Italian scene as well as the history and mythology of ancient Rome. Songs from an LP released in April (Aquae Inferis) take listeners to hell (“Porta Avernus”), plumbs the past (“Umbrae Praeteritorum”) and pays homage to the Roman goddess of burials (“Libitina”). Orlando’s Pontifex, a metal band with symphonic and ambient tendencies, plays support along with Dan Castro’s tough, blasphemous outfit Piss on Christ. 7 p.m. $10. Deviant Libation, Tampa

L’Eclair

COURTESY

By Ray Roa

MON 03

C John Mellencamp The 74-year-old spent 2025 working on his next studio album, Orphan Train, which he expects to drop later this year. While there’s no telling if we’ll get a taste of Johnny’s next era, the “Dancing Words” tour promises to see him showcase a number of songs that haven’t been performed live in over a decade, along with his normal regimen of heartland rock standards. If this show is anything like his three-night stint at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall three years ago—during which he dared a heckler to come onstage, and also ripped the privatization of American healthcare centers—you’ll want to suck it up and bring a sweat towel. 8 p.m. $27.50 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa—Josh Bradley

THU 06

The George (album release) w/The Pleasantries/The Tilt/Fly Trap/Kingsley III Tampa historians have been talking about “The George” after the city announced plans to restore West Tampa’s historic George Guida Sr. House. The music-loving slice of those nerds might want to check out a band that shares a moniker. The outfit celebrates the release of Dog Days, a new album propelled by the bouncy, party-starting sound of new single “Lil Bo Peep,” which is perfect for fans of The Nude Party and even Twin Peaks. 7 p.m. $20.97. Orpheum, Tampa See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 43

Grant Peeples & Sara Stovall

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SUKI WATERHOUSE The average age for members of The Altons can’t be more than 32 years old, but the Los Angeles band’s sound is much older. The quartet, as vocalist and guitarist Bryan Ponce explained to the L.A. Times, is unmistakable product of East L.A. where weekends on the street are often soundtracked by parties blasting anything from cumbia, to punk rock or Art Laboe-approved oldies. Drawn in by the pull of frontwoman Adriana Flores along with the sometimes multilingual, always retro, sound of singles like “Love You Like That” (2025) or the band’s long-awaited Daptone Records debut fulllength Heartache in Room 14, fans of The The Murder Junkies w/F!/Pig Pen/Olde Rage Saturday, Aug. 15. 7 p.m. $15. The Potion Portal, St. Petersburg AntoneNow w/RuslanSilvr/Lennon Cripe Saturday, Aug. 22. 8 p.m. $20. New World Music Hall, Tampa

Altons are just as diverse and often span three generations.

SEPTEMBER 27

Archer Oh, the garage-rock project of Arturo “Archie” Medrano, has just been announced as the opener.

SunRay Cinema

Bayboro Brewing

Tickets to see The Altons play Bayboro Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Nov. 11 are still available and start at $25.

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Angel Du$t w/Agnostic Front/Step 2 This Sunday, Oct. 4. 6 p.m. $30. Oscura, Bradenton

First To Eleven Tuesday, Nov. 10. 7 p.m. $25.67 & up. New World Music Hall, Tampa

Cheerleader Roadkill w/Appleseed/Diva Bleach Thursday, Aug. 27. 7 p.m. $27.51. New World Music Hall, Tampa.

The Wailers ft. Julian Junior Marvin w/Third World/Inner Circle/Ska-tilites Sunday, Nov. 15. 7 p.m. $35 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater.

Vader w/Jungle Rot/Fleshcrawl/Trash Panda Sunday, Sept. 20. 6 p.m. $35.06. Orpheum, Tampa

MATEWAN W/ WILL OLDHAM

The Beths Saturday, Oct. 3 7 p.m. $36.05. The Ritz, Ybor City

Homicide Jenny Sunday, Aug. 23. 7 p.m. $22.21. Why Not Bar, Tampa

Buzz Kull & Kontravoid Tuesday, Sept. 15. 7 p.m. $28.69. Orpheum, Tampa

No Clubs Presents! SEPTEMBER 27

The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA Wednesday, Oct. 21. 8 p.m. $68.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.

Snow Strippers Saturday, Sept. 12. 8 p.m. Sold Out. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Jannus Live

After summer festival dates and one-offs on the west coast, The Altons will jump on a plane for a short tour of Florida that includes three stops ahead of the Sublime Reef Madness Cruise out of Miami.

William Black Saturday, Aug. 22. 10 p.m. $31.67. The Ritz, Ybor City

Rico Nasty Wednesday, Sept. 2. 7 p.m. $40.75. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Jannus Live

Chrissy Chlapecka Tuesday, Nov. 17. 7 p.m. $29.67. New World Music Hall, Tampa. Gene Simmons Band w/Lita Ford Saturday, Jan. 30. 6 p.m. $59.99 & up. Ferg’s Pavilion, St. Petersburg VNV Nation Saturday, Mar. 13. 8 p.m. $41.70. Orpheum, Tampa

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46 | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | cltampabay.com

Get a room : Tampa Bay music venues outdoor venue and the second-highestselling amphitheater in the U.S., as of June 2026. Before the venue opened in 2023, the waterfront had been home to Clearwater’s historic Jazz Holiday and Sea-Blues Festival dating back to the 1950s (Jazz Holiday lives in adjacent Coachman right now). Sitting right on the water’s edge, with roughly 9,000 seats (including the roomy open lawn), the venue hosts internationally known acts across all genres. Past shows have included Diana Ross, The Black Keys, Remi Wolf, and Of The Trees. 255 Drew St., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com

1920 Ybor 1920 Ybor is an exciting event and art space located in the heart of Ybor City. At almost 14,000 square feet, the venue has an open outdoor seating area along with a stage, an indoor art gallery and cafe, and the largest rooftop on 7th Ave. It regularly hosts fundraiser events, arts markets full of local vendors, and live shows. 1920 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. 1920yborcity.com

The Bends The Bends, an iconic selfproclaimed “classy dive bar” off 1st Ave in downtown St. Petersburg, is a small, energetic bar and live space. The Pinellas County staple frequently hosts Booty Bounce dance parties, Unfun emo nights, and live shows featuring diverse genres. A visit to The Bends guarantees a lively, sometimes tightly packed time that lasts until 3 a.m., with the bar itself open seven days a week. 919 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg. @the_bends on Instagram

The Ale and the Witch Unique thanks to its position within a breezy office complex, the Witch offers a killer beer list and is known for hosting songwriters and jam bands in its outdoor courtyard, with the occasional show inside the gallery. 111 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. thealeandthewitch.com Alter Ego Since opening in 2024, Alter Ego has quickly become the spot to dance and catch a vibe in Downtown Tampa. The bar describes itself as a music-focused cocktail lounge with six days of music a week, ranging from R&B classics to Latin dance to tribute nights dedicated to a single artist. Locally beloved DJs like T.Couture, AJ Hall, and DJ Blenda frequent the Alter Ego decks and are guaranteed to give you a good time. 420 S Nebraska Ave., Tampa. alteregotampa.com Bayboro Brewing Bayboro Brewing is a craft brewery, restaurant, and venue for weddings, parties, live shows, and weekly genre-themed brunches. The North Room at Bayboro, its designated venue, fits 330 people (standing room only) and hosts both national and local acts. It’s an easy, reliable one-stop shop for catching a good show, bite, and brew—while experiencing one of the best sound setups in Pinellas County. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com The BayCare Sound Operated by Ruth Eckerd Hall, the BayCare Sound at Coachman Park is Clearwater’s premier

Benchmark International Arena Benchmark is Tampa’s largest indoor venue for sports, concerts, and live entertainment. When the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t playing, the arena opens its whopping 21,000 seats to concertgoers, live comedy fans, and anyone who goes to Monster Jam. Located in downtown Tampa’s Channelside district, the Bench is surrounded by walkable restaurant and bar options, including Sparkman Wharf. 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa. benchmarkintlarena.com

Brass Mug Tucked off Bearss Ave on the corner of Skipper Road in an unsuspecting strip mall is a legendary local music hub that’s bounced around locations over 40 years. Brass Mug hosts a variety of local and national musical acts from reggae to punk, with a bit of a lean toward hardcore and the occasional butt-rock act. 1450 Skipper Rd., Tampa. @brassmugtampa on Facebook The Bricks The Bricks in Ybor City regularly hosts local DJs and artists, as well as showcases and parties such as BNC Live. The venue is indoor-outdoor, with the main room, an event/ gallery space, and the main stage occupying the courtyard out back. The iconic bar, restaurant, and venue has been standing strong on 7th Avenue for more than 15 years and recently took on new ownership. It’s the perfect destination for a laid-back but quality vibe. 1327 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. @thebricksybor on Instagram Crooked Thumb Brewery Serving some of the most beloved beer in the Bay area, Crooked Thumb is also a haven for songwriters who flock to the brewery’s Melody Artisans open mic, which takes place on a covered stage surrounded by majestic oaks. 555 10th Ave. S, Safety Harbor. crookedthumbbrew.com Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park This waterfront park is equipped with a playground, dog park, splash pads, and is the primary

The BayCare Sound

YVONNE GOUGELET

Beyond concerts slowly becoming one-percenter-only events, it’s no secret that with Ybor City’s Crowbar shuttering in August and a controversial proposed 4,300-capacity venue run by Live Nation planned to open in 2028 not far from there, the feeling of endangerment is lingering in Tampa Bay’s live music scene. But the good news is that even if you have to sit in traffic for a half-hour longer, when you look at the bigger picture, there’s no shortage of local stages for bands, rappers, and beyond to storm on any given night. In 2022, I gathered a list of over 100 said rooms, and while there have definitely been some closures since then, there are still 40-yearold metal bars, jazz clubs, DIY spots, and breweries that hold album release parties. And if you’re looking for more nationally known acts to support, there are heavyhitter spots for that, too. Madelyn Aiken has compiled a list of venues still kicking it in the wake of Crowbar’s closure. Here are a few of our favorites. Come back over the next few weeks as we flesh out the updated venue guide.—Josh Bradley

gateway to the Tampa Riverwalk. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park regularly hosts food festivals and outdoor concerts—including the monthly Rock the Park Tampa. It’s accented by the Tampa Museum of Art and the Glazer Children’s Museum and directly across the river from the historic turrets at the University of Tampa. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts The iconic, glamorous, Straz Center in Downtown Tampa is the go-to venue for musical theater in the city. With five theaters collectively seating more than 4,300 guests, the performing arts center is never short on entertainment. The main Morsani Hall hosts touring productions such as “Les Misérables” and “Hamilton,” as well as the Tampa Opera residency. The Straz is currently undergoing renovation outside and sits along the Tampa Riverwalk, offering guests easy walking access to one of the best views of the city. 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Pl., Tampa. strazcenter.org Deviant Libation Deviant Libation, located in Ybor Heights, is dedicated to providing a safe space for creative and LGBTQIA+ communities to gather and express themselves. The brewery and distillery routinely hosts open mic nights every Wednesday and bring-your-own-vinyl nights on the last Thursday of every month, along with community mixers and markets. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. deviantlibation.com Duke Energy Performing Arts Center at Mahaffey Theater The Duke Energy Performing Arts Center at Mahaffey Theater—a survivor from the Bayfront Center era—features a regular assortment of comedians, musicians and bands, movies in concert, ballet performances, and more. Additionally, and after significant renovations over the years, it’s home to the many concert series of The Florida Orchestra. The Mahaffey Theater looks directly out onto Tampa Bay and is only

a few blocks away from numerous hotel and dining options in downtown St. Petersburg. 400 1st St. S, St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com Dunedin Brewery Dunedin Brewery is a staple of Tampa Bay’s live music scene in downtown Dunedin. The space has brought together musicians from around the Bay area through a Wednesday Night Open Jam for 26 years and counting. A consistently updated bill of live acts, both homegrown and touring make it a Pinellas County gem. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. dunedinbrewery.com England Brothers Bandshell The England Brothers Bandshell is the outdoor venue space of (you guessed it) England Brothers Park in St. Petersburg. Seating is standing room only on the grass, with lawn chairs allowed unless stated otherwise. The park regularly hosts food festivals and annual gatherings like the Renaissance Fair. This fall, it welcomes Grammy-winning hardcore band Turnstile. 5010 81st Ave., Pinellas Park, FL 33781 The Hangar At The Hangar, music fans can grab a burger, a drink, and a Monday jazz jam session, all while gazing upon the arrivals and departures to and from the Albert Whitted Airport. 540 1st St. S, St. Petersburg. thehangarstpete.com Hard Rock Event Center The Hard Rock Event Center is the 1,500-capacity event hall on the second floor of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Catch a concert, comedy show, dance showcase, or Chippendales experience before browsing the restaurant, bar, and gaming options. Additionally, the hotel hosts raging pool parties at the outdoor pool, predominantly featuring EDM artists, such as DJ Diesel and Zeds Dead. The room undergoes a renovation this fall. 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa. casino.hardrock.com/tampa/events

continued on page 48

cltampabay.com | JULY 30-AUGUST 05, 2026 | 47

Get a room : Tampa Bay Music venues (cont'd) Skatepark of Tampa

DAVE DECKER

continued from page 47 The Hub After over 70 years, The Hub stands strong as a historic, moody Tampa dive bar in the center of downtown. If those walls could talk, they’d tell decades worth of no-frills live music on the checkerboard floor with many more to come. 719 N Franklin St., Tampa. Find “The Hub Bar” on Facebook Hyde Park Cafe Aside from happy hours heavily populated by college students, Hyde Park Cafe has long been a house music staple that consistently brings a solid roster of local DJs. 1806 W Platt St., Tampa. @hyde_park_cafe_tampa on Instagram Independent Bar and Cafe The Indie transformed a 1930s filling station into a meeting place for the food and beer culture of Europe and Tampa. The restaurant hosts a Sunday live music series in the Biergarten as well as a jazz series every first and third Saturday of the month—and there’s never a cover. 5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa. independentbartampa.com Jannus Live If an artist is coming south of Orlando, chances are they’re playing Jannus Live. The 2,000-capacity outdoor venue is enclosed by the buildings of Downtown St. Petersburg, with a clear view of the skyline— a unique layout that envelops the audience in the live experience. Jannus has hosted the likes of Chappell Roan, Baby Keem, The Black Keys, and more and continues to be a favorite among locals. 200 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg. jannuslive.com Learning The newest DIY community space in Clearwater and the headquarters of the grassroots Gulf Coast radio station, Sector.FM. In addition to local live shows and DJ sets, Learning serves as a muchneeded third space, booking workshops and lectures. 13757 49th St. N Unit A-7, Clearwater. @learning.mp3 on Instagram

Microgroove Microgroove is an indie record store in the heart of Seminole Heights, run by the fine folks behind Tampa’s storied New Granada record label. In addition to fun ticket giveaways and a killer selection, the store occasionally hosts local acts, and the occasional national touring act (like Ida, which has sold-out its 2026 show). 4906 N Florida Ave., Tampa. @ microgroovetampa on Instagram MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre Year-round at the fairgrounds, you can find international acts hitting the once-covered MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre stage. The Live Nation-operated venue seats approximately 20,000, including the vast open lawn space. Throughout the venue, you can find concessions from locally owned restaurants, free water refill stations, and a variety of cold and frozen drinks. 4802 US Hwy. 301 N, Tampa. midfloridaamp.com/shows The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre A block from The BayCare Sound, the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre is located in Clearwater’s Cleveland Street District. The theater hosts concerts and movie showings, offering a little more than 750 seats. Now operated by Ruth Eckerd Hall, it opened its doors in 1921 and stands today as one of Florida’s oldest existing theaters. 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com New Tampa Performing Arts Center Quite possibly the best thing Hillsborough County has done for the arts in recent years, this public facility—which hosts jazz, songwriters, dance and theater—has elevated the offerings in north county, and set the standard for what municipalities can do with taxpayer dollars. 8550 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa. newtampaartscenter.org New World Tampa Formerly known as New World Brewery and located mere minutes down the road from Busch Gardens,

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New World is a local destination for Tampa Bay-based music lovers, artists, bands, and DJs, as well as national acts. New World offers two stages: the Music Hall, a 250-capacity room separate from the bar/ restaurant, and the outdoor Biergarten stage. In addition to shows, the venue hosts parties like the always-anticipated Summer Heatwave, thrown by For The Girls Tampa; educational panels and lectures; Super Smash Bros tournaments; and open mics. 810 E Skagway Ave., Tampa. newworldtampa.com The Noise Box The Noise Box is a small venue in the ‘burbs with a heavy focus on hardcore shows. The 300-capacity venue at Christ Community Church hosts FL Rules, an annual two-day festival stocked with the bestof-the-best from the metal, punk, and emo scene across the state. 1310 John Moore Rd., Brandon. @thenoiseboxfl on Instagram The Orpheum Since relocating from its 20-year residency in Ybor City in 2022, Orpheum continues to serve the city with a fruitful selection of live shows and events from its new-ish home in North Tampa. The calendar’s vibes have range, opening doors to those who love Broadway-themed dance parties and just as wide as to hardcore metalheads. The venue offers two stages, one indoor for more intimate shows and one outdoor that can accommodate up to 720 people. The Orpheum holds weight as a historic Tampa venue, having hosted acts like The Killers to Denzel Curry, while providing a community space for a wide variety of scenes. 14802 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. theorpheum.com Palladium Theater Run by St. Petersburg College—and set for renovation this year— Palladium Theater includes two rooms: the 750-850 capacity Hough Hall upstairs and a 150-175 cap basement cabaret called the Side Door. 253 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. mypalladium.org Pistil House The charming Pistil House bungalow provides a monthly lineup of local musicians for evening “porch tunes,” from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. every Thursday and Saturday. 2533 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. @pistilhouse on Instagram Raymond James Stadium RayJay not only stands as the home turf of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but as the largest entertainment venue in the Tampa Bay area. It regularly hosts USF football games, the annual Gasparilla Bowl, international acts like The Rolling Stones and Beyoncé, and the occasional Monster Jam. Raymond James seats 65,000 for sporting events, and expands to 75,000 for concerts and other live entertainment. 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa. raymondjamesstadium.com The Ritz Ybor The Ritz lies in the heart of Ybor City, featuring two small rooms and a main stage with an overall capacity of more than 1,700. The venue’s calendar features artists of all sounds, with a focus on EDM,

earning it the unofficial status as the go-to spot for Tampa Bay’s large EDM-head population. Outside of the electronic sphere, The Ritz is regularly stacked with recognizable names, including Chance the Rapper and American Football in the final months of 2026. 1503 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. theritzybor.com Ruby’s Elixir If there’s one thing a visit to Ruby’s Elixir can guarantee, it’s live music. The sultry, smoking-friendly bar and cigar lounge offers local live music seven nights a week, primarily of the soul and jazz vibe, all powered by longtime resident artists. 15 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg. rubyselixirdtsp.com Ruth Eckerd Hall The historic Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired concert hall, unveiled in 1983, is a landmark in Clearwater. Ruth Eckerd Hall is one of the most popular entertainment venues in the area and regularly hosts musicians, comedians, and theatrical productions. It’s found just off the Courtney Campbell Causeway and is a 20-minute drive from downtown Clearwater. 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com Safety Harbor Art and Music Center One of two gem live music venues in the low key Pinellas town, SHAMc is a whimsical, artsy small venue with a covered stage that’s attracted some of the biggest names in American blues, folk and Americana. 706 2nd St. N, Safety Harbor. safetyharborartandmusiccenter.com Shuffle Shuffle in Tampa Heights is a vibrant and locally beloved one-stop shop for shuffleboard, food, drinks, live entertainment and snarky banter at the bar. Past events have included the hilarious Drunk Tampa History nights and For the Girls Tampa’s Sunday Special party/market. Its outdoor stage and backyard regularly host shows both tickets and no-cover. 2612 N Tampa St., Tampa. shuffletampa.com Skatepark of Tampa If you’ve been on the hunt for Florida hardcore shows in an energetic and intimate location, your destination is the Skatepark of Tampa (SPoT). Tucked in a corner room at the south end of the vast, legendary skatepark is the cafe stage, with enough standing room to mosh your heart out. They regularly host multi-act shows from local hardcore label Armageddon Records and Clearwater’s prime sound guys at Jollywood. 4215 E Columbus Dr., Tampa. skateparkoftampa. com Skipper’s Smokehouse For more than four decades, Skipper’s has been a rite of passage for any self-respecting Bay area music fan. Famous for its Skipperdome oak canopy, the venue has hosted huge bands way back when (Avett Brothers, Black Keys) and regularly hosts Americana, songwriters, jam bands and more. 910 Skipper Rd., Tampa. skipperssmokehouse.com Last updated July 28, 2026. See the full list at cltampa.com/music.

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Find strength By Caroline DeBruhl

“catch up” and see if that helps build up a rapport. Keeping an open line of communication is key. Because I do think something might be going on with Jane, particularly in her career. The King of Pentacles is a master of his trade, hardworking and level-headed. But both the King and the Ace of Pentacles—the idea of work and what we value—are reversed. It makes me wonder if Jane has perhaps hit a plateau in her career or is considering something else. The Lovers is traditionally a card of relationships, but since you didn’t mention Cards for Jane: King of whether Jane is married or Pentacles (reversed), The with anyone, I’m going to Send your questions to oracle@ Lovers, Ace of Pentacles read it as her own passion and cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle (reversed), Strength desire. If she’s lost the “spark” on Instagram Dear Friend, it can be diffifor her job, she might be lookcult to have an honest conversation with a friend ing for something that inspires more passion, a in crisis because that honesty has to be twofold: career that she could “fall in love with.” Many they have to be honest with themselves about of us fall into career paths we didn’t expect, what’s going on, and then they have to be hon- and while we can be great at them, it might not est with you. Many people, for one reason or be enough. (This is especially true if someone another, have a difficult time with one or both doesn’t have a robust life outside of their job and of those things. that job takes up most of their mental energy.) I understand your concern. It’s hard to judge The last card, Strength, is pulling double what’s going on when you can’t lay eyes on a per- duty. It can be that Jane has to be strong to son and only have an impression. You ask if you stay in this job for now (to pay bills, support should keep pressing or mind your own business, children, keep health insurance), or she might but those aren’t the only two options. You can be looking for the strength to leave this job to start by calling Jane a little more often to just try something else. ear Oracle, I’ve been friends with “Jane” since high school. While life happened, we kept in touch all these years and catch up on the phone a couple of times a year. Lately though, I feel like she might be struggling. She seems very unhappy with something in her life, but when I ask more directly, she brushes it off and says everything’s fine. But there’s something in her voice that makes me think elsewise. We live on opposite sides of the country, so I can’t just take her to lunch. Should I keep pressing or mind my own business?—Concerned Friend

ORACLE OF YBOR

Whatever it is, keep talking to her. Send more texts to check in. Call when you’re on a long drive. If she wants to talk to you about this, give her plenty of opportunities. I hope everything goes well for you both, my dear. Dear Oracle, I’m a manager of a small company. I really, really love my job, but the owner of my company is an asshole. I don’t interact with him all the time, but he’s absolutely creating a more toxic work environment, and we’ve lost people to his behavior. (There is no HR lol.) I’m not ready to move on but something has got to change. How can I navigate this jerk’s behavior while keeping both my sanity and job?—Bummer Boss Cards for How To Deal: Ten of Pentacles (reversed), Justice, Queen of Pentacles (reversed), Three of Cups (reversed) Dear BB, I’ve written before about shitty bosses and how they’re usually bad because their own ass is on the line. This might be the case here, or being a dick might come naturally to your boss. I’m unsure. The Ten of Pentacles is the completion of a job, but also the cementing of a legacy. Paired that with the generous and hardworking Queen of Pentacles and I bet that you not only love your job but you’re great at it. However, the love of a job can only get you so far if the environment is toxic. With the Major Arcana of Justice, I do think this is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Justice is about balance, honesty, and

fairness. Your job should be promising you a fair shake because that’s both the ethical and legal obligation of your employer. A lack of Justice will only breed resentment and drive you out of your beloved job. I do think you might need to address his behavior, but that should not be done alone. The Three of Cups is a card of friendship and allyship, so if you think the rest of your coworkers are also distressed by this dude’s shitty behavior, then perhaps you can all go in on it together. I would speak to an employment lawyer about the best course of action and see what they have to say. I wonder if you, as the Queen of Pentacles, have more leverage than you give yourself credit for. You’re clearly an authority figure, and you might even be one that the owner respects. If you come in as the head of the collective, that might give you enough ammunition for change. Especially if your boss listens to you on other matters. Of course, the worry is that the owner just fires everyone—which would wreck his business, but vindictive people tend to do stupid things like that. Whatever you decide to do, get together with your coworkers (that you can trust!) and come up with a game plan together. Collective action works when everyone is on the same page. Hopefully, your boss will listen to you all. Or he’ll check out completely, and you can keep running the show without him. Either way, best of luck, my dear. See more of Caroline and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.

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Cashing out By Dan Savage

’m a straight woman in her early-30s dating a straight man in his late-20s. We’ve been together for two years. We kept things casual for the first 16 months or so. When we had our “define the relationship” talk (at his request!), he agreed to my “no important secrets” policy. The big secret I shared with him: I was engaged for a year, so I have an extremely bitter ex-fiancé out there. (The fact that we’re not friends is on my ex, Dan, not me. I’m friends with most of my other exes, while he hates all of his exes— which now includes me. You’re right about that being a red flag.) His big secret: He has a social media account where he posts thirst traps. That by itself would be fine. But my boyfriend accepts money from submissive men, sells them his used underwear (!), and uses extremely homophobic and degrading language when he interacts with these men. He’s not actually homophobic, he insists, and I believe him. He doesn’t have a problem with gay people. He says it’s just a performance. I get it: some people want to be abused. What I don’t get is why he’s doing the abusing. I would understand if he was doing this kind of sex work (is it sex work?) if he needed the money or if it turned him on. But he insists it doesn’t turn him on, Dan, and he comes from a lot of money (very wealthy parents), and he has a high-paying job with his family’s company. So, what is it about, Dan? When I ask why he keeps doing it—it takes a lot of time and effort—he insists he’s only in it for the money. Does he get off on the attention? Is he an exhibitionist? Is it that men talk to him about his body in ways that women don’t? I honestly don’t think my boyfriend is secretly gay, and I don’t think this counts as cheating. But I can’t help but feel like he’s been lying to himself about why he’s doing this and now he’s lying to me.—Finding I Need Dan’s Outrageous Moral Support P.S. One nightmare scenario: My brother is gay. He hasn’t met my boyfriend yet, but he’s going to. And then what if—God forbid—my brother winds up stumbling across his alt? Your boyfriend could be bisexual, FINDOM, but in a very limited way. By which I mean, your boyfriend gets a low-key thrill out of showing off for men and/or he enjoys cranking subby guys up and/or he likes knowing there are men out there huffing on his used underwear while they have a wank. This particular kind of sex work your boyfriend is doing—and, yes, it’s sex work—can be pretty time consuming, so he has to be getting something else out of it. And since he doesn’t need the money, that leaves one other possibility: these interactions are lighting up

the reward circuits in some remote corner of his brain. And if your boyfriend is only bi for findom, FINDOM, I don’t think there’s anything dishonest about him identifying as straight (to himself, to you, to his clients). Or… maybe it is the money? If we’ve learned anything about rich people over the last few decades, FINDOM, it’s that they’re not satisfied with what they already have. Millionaires want to be decamillionaires, decamillionaires want to be billionaires, billionaires want to be trillionaires, etc. (It’s not enough to have a yacht, your yacht has to come with a submarine.) So, the possibility that your boyfriend is in it for the money can’t be dismissed out of hand. Just because your boyfriend has a lot—and it sounds like he stands to inherit even more (get that ring, girl)—doesn’t mean your boyfriend doesn’t want more. And you know what? So long as the guys paying your boyfriend for his time and his attention—and his underpants—feel like they’re getting their money’s worth, there’s nothing wrong with what your boyfriend is doing. And given his age and that he didn’t share this with you until you had that DTR convo, it’s entirely possible you’re the first person he’s ever talked to about this kinky side hustle. If he hasn’t thought too deeply about it, he might not have been able to fully articulate why he does this. Telling your boyfriend you don’t have a problem with his side hustle—actually expressing your support—while also telling him you don’t fully understand why he’s doing this could lead to more conversations (and perhaps more introspection on your boyfriend’s part), FINDOM, and one day you’ll get an answer out of him that makes more sense. P.S. I asked Sunshyne Smile, a bisexual male model who creates a milder form of the content your boyfriend shares online, what he thought your boyfriend was doing it for. “I myself wouldn’t do it if there was no financial or sexual gain,” Sunshyne replied via email. “I think this woman’s boyfriend is needing a sense of power and control. He wants to feel powerful and dominant and lacks it in his other areas of life and found a place where he can get that sense of power.” I think Sunshyne may be onto something here: your boyfriend essentially works for his wealthy parents, which means he’s never been out from under their control. Finding a little corner of the Internet where he gets to be the boss could hold some appeal. P.P.S. Really? Your gay brother “stumbling across” your boyfriend’s anti-gay-for-pay alt? That’s your nightmare scenario? My

worst-case-scenario disorder instantly came up with this: Seeing a flash of recognition on your brother’s face when you introduce him to your boyfriend… and in that moment realizing there are ten pairs of your boyfriend’s underwear hidden in the back of his sock drawer… that’s the real nightmare scenario. Forty-year-old cis woman here with a question about rediscovering my submissive sexual identity after experiencing sexual assault. To summarize what happened, during consensual vanilla sex with my now ex, I asked to stop due to discomfort, and he used physical restraint and didn’t stop despite my escalating NOs and despite me using a safeword which we had previously agreed upon when experimenting with kink. It took me quite a long time after the experience to understand that this was rape: he admitted he made a mistake in the aftermath but also characterized it as partly my responsibility, because I’d previously told him that I want to be dominated, and I hadn’t recently reminded him what our safeword was. (I understand how fucked up these statements are now and what a shitty person he is.) I am now safe from my perpetrator and thankfully have been able to enjoy vanilla sex with more than one partner since. However, even thinking about experimenting with kink again gives me a big feeling of anxiety in my body—just going as far as sharing my desires with partners feels dangerous and extremely vulnerable in case someone once again uses “I thought you wanted to be dominated” as cover for rape. The loss of kink feels very profound. Being submissive has been a focal part of my private sexual identity and my fantasies since my very earliest sexual thoughts, and I was only just beginning to experience the joy of exploring this with others before my traumatic experience. I’m having specialist therapy and have begun to explore the kink issue with my therapist who is great, but I wondered if you and your community of listeners might have some suggestions for me too. I’m poly and have at least one trusted partner who knows my background and is up for working on this stuff with me, but no current partners who I was kinky with before the rape, and I’ve sadly had only a handful of positive, safe kink experiences in my life.—Scared Manchester Sub

SAVAGE LOVE

“The sense of identity loss SMS describes is completely normal — not in spite of her being kinky, but because of it,” said Rena Martine, intimacy coach, educator, and author. “Submission requires a level of trust and vulnerability above and beyond most vanilla sex. Having that trust violated can add an extra layer of betrayal and leave behind a profound sense of mistrust.”

In her previous life, Martine worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles, SMS, where she advocated for women who’d survived domestic abuse and assault. In her practice and her book, “The Sex You Want,” Martine helps women—including survivors—embrace their desires and their sexualities. And for some women, that means finding their way back to their kinks after the kind of violation you experienced. And not just embrace their kinks in theory, SMS, but embrace them in practice. “There’s a common misconception that therapy is the final stop in healing from sexual assault or abuse,” said Martine. “In my own practice, I’ve seen many clients come to me feeling ‘broken’ because years of talk therapy hadn’t fully helped. And while talk therapy can be invaluable, at some point we also need to introduce opposite action: giving the brain and body new experiences that directly contradict what the trauma taught them.” Martine thinks you should—slowly and carefully—start exploring your submissive desires again. Once you get a few positive experiences under your belt, SMS, the negative experience you had with your ex won’t loom so large. “The great news is that SMS already has a trusted partner willing to walk this journey alongside her,” said Martine. “Here, opposite action could mean very gently reintroducing kink into her intimate life, gradually increasing the level of submission in small, intentional steps. For example, she might introduce a set of easily removable Velcro cuffs while her partner is simply in the room. When that feels comfortable, she might ask her partner to be the one to put the cuffs on and remove them.” And if wearing Velcro cuffs with your new partner goes well, SMS, you could progress to your partner symbolically binding you by adding an easily removable clip. If that goes well, you could swap out those Velcro cuffs and carabiners for restraints you can’t release yourself from and padlocks you can’t open on your own. (We’re using bondage as an example. If bondage isn’t where your submissive desires take you, SMS, identify the relevant baby steps you can take while exploring whatever submission looks like to you.) “The most important element is that she remains firmly in the director’s chair,” said Martine. “Our brains are always trying to protect us, and they do so based on the evidence we provide them. Think of each of these micro-steps as introducing new evidence that says, ‘You are not going to be sexually abused every time you relinquish control.’” Follow @_rena.martine on Instagram. To learn more about her work, visit renamartine.com. 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.

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Legals 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 August 14th, 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 2036 Monica Mincy Unit 3019 Zackary Jarvis Unit 3033 Janice Jennings Unit 3120 Natasha Lopez Unit C200 Danny Pike Unit C201 Wayne Benjamin. Run dates 7/30/2026 and 8/6/2026. Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding

on www.storagetreasures.com ending on August 14th, 2026, at 10:00am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 3000 Mulford Rd. Mulberry Fl, 33860 Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sales are subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. 5013 Ð TAYLOR, THOMAS 5005 Ð TAYLOR THOMAS 5012 Ð TAYLOR THOMAS. Run dates 7/30/2026 and 8/6/2026. Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on August 14th, 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 210 Kelly Preston Unit 2269 Shahidah Phillips Unit 2064 Harry Fleming Unit 2162 Anne Noyola. Run dates 7/30/2026 and 8/6/2026.

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

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