EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Events & Media, LLC, 633 N Franklin St., Suite 735. Tampa, Florida, 33602.
The physical edition is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampabay.com. Copyright 2023, Tampa Events and Media, LLC.
The newspaper is produced and printed on Indigenous land belonging to Tampa Bay’s Tocobaga and Seminole tribes.
Join us for FREE Family Day at Camp Centro on Saturday, June 28 from 10 AM–12 PM at Centro Ybor! Enjoy a morning of fun with a bounce house, face painting, bracelet making, flag decorating, and gift card giveaways. Afterward, explore the Ybor City Saturday Market! @centro_ybor
Cream of the canopy
Photos by Nick Cardello
Food lovers across the Tampa Bay area can’t resist a great rooftop, and the canopy at The Birchwood is home to one of the best vistas in the scene. Last Thursday, Chef Lee Aquino welcomed some of his most talented colleagues and the eaters who love their work for the 2025 edition of Meet The Chefs where they shared plates, cocktails, conversations, and more. See all the photos via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa
Tampa Bay's best things to do from June 19 - 25
Zest of the zest
To help celebrate the 10th installment of Epic Chef—Feeding Tampa Bay’s friendly cooking competition—the nonprofit is kicking things up a notch this year. The 2025 installment will feature six local chefs instead of the usual four, plus a boost in the winner’s prize money. Each summer, during the local industry’s “slow season,” Feeding Tampa Bay and its sponsors host a multi-week cooking competition between local chefs from both sides of the bridge. The chef who makes it through all three rounds takes home the grand prize, which is a whopping $10,000 this year—a sum that represents Epic Chef’s ten-year anniversary. This year’s competitors include Eat Art Love’s Executive Chef Mario Brugnoli (pictured, left), Amalie Arena’s Executive Chef Marvilou Mapa, Chef de Partie Angel Gaston of Rooster & the Till, Robert Blanque of Martin’s Italian in Oldsmar, Wild Child’s Brandon Greenwalt and Birria Bros.’ Mohamad Elbanna. At the kickoff party, these six chefs will create their signature dishes while attendees sample them and vote for their favorites. Four chefs with fan favorite dishes will continue to the competition series, with each round pitting two of them against each other in a “Chopped”style competition with unknown ingredients, a time limit, and a live audience.
Epic Chef Kickoff Reception: Monday, June 23. 6 p.m. $50. Feeding Tampa Bay, 3624 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. feedingtampabay.org—Kyla Fields
It’s Freedom Day, I’m in love
Even if the Trump administration isn’t aware of emancipation, it’s still worth celebrating. This is Roc the Block’s main event in its week of Juneteenth celebrations. The family-friendly festival includes live DJs, dance performances, musical guests, a KidZone, food and booths for local vendors and resources. Check out our roundup of Juneteenth events at cltampa.com/arts
5th Annual Juneteenth Festival: Saturday, June 21. 3 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover. Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa. roctheblockinc.com—Selene San Felice
Two studs, no duds
Chaunté Wayans might be the famous brothers’ niece, but her comedy stands up on its own. After growing up on the “poor side” of the famous family, she was estranged from her uncle Marlan after they got in a pre-show argument and he farted on her. But they’ve since cleared the air, and she’s made her own big, gay name for herself. She headlines this St. Pete Pride comedy show with the hilarious Washington D.C. native Paris Sashay.
Woymn in Comedy: Saturday, June 21. 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
$20-$50. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. stpetepride.org—Selene San Felice
Syntax is sexy
Prolific women’s historical fiction author Eliza Knight has talks on both sides of the Bay this week to promote her new book. “Confessions Of A Grammar Queen” follows a young copyeditor in the 1960s who wants to girlboss her way to the top of the publishing world and bring other women with her. On Saturday, she discusses the work at Oxford Exchange with Sarah Penner, author of bestsellers “The Lost Apothecary,” “The London Séance Society” and “The Amalfi Curse.” Registration is $6.65, which can be put toward a bookstore purchase at OE. It’s $21.15 to reserve a signed book with your RSVP. Knight heads to Tarpon Springs’ The Gilded Page on Monday for a no-cover talk with Rebecca J. Sanford, author of “The Disappeared.” More information on both events is at cltampa. com/arts.—Selene San Felice
Happy Beerthday
Gulfport Brewery celebrates its fifth anniversary with five comrades—Dissent Brewing, Crooked Thumb, Dade City Brew House, Tidal Brewing Co. and Grand Central Brewing—pouring all-you-can/should drink beers. The party is also a coming out for five collab beers with each brewer. Tim Balajadia, Joy Wagon and Poly Essence will provide the tunes. Tickets include limited edition glassware and goodies from special guests St. Pete 420 and Tampa Beer Week. VIPs get early access and greasy goodness from Smash Burger.
Gulfport Brewfest: Saturday, June 21. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. $44.51&up. Gulfport Brewery + Eatery, 3007 Beach Blvd, Gulfport. @GulfportBrewery on Facebook—Selene San Felice
POLITICS ISSUES OPINION
Drawing lines
Federal trial over Bay area Senate district wraps.
By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix
Apanel of three federal judges is now weighing whether a Tampa Bay state Senate district created in 2022 was the result of illegal racial gerrymandering. A four-day trial resulting from a lawsuit over the district concluded last Thursday, June 12 and judges must decide whether the constitutional rights of voters in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties were violated when the Legislature created the Senate district in 2022 that crossed from St. Petersburg over the water to Hillsborough County.
Florida was sued by three voters who are represented by the ACLU of Florida and the Civil Rights & Racial Justice Clinic at New York University School of Law. The plaintiffs allege that the Legislature’s plan to connect Black populations from parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties violated their equal-protection rights by unjustifiably concentrating Black voters into District 16 by removing them from nearby District 18, reducing their influence there.
sent a memo to all 40 state senators accusing Warren of violating Senate rules for not disclosing he worked for the ACLU of Florida. Warren testified earlier this week that he drew the map on his own personal time and resources and not during work hours. Moreover he said Senate committee appearance forms do not require individuals to list their employers.
ELECTIONS
Isbell testified on Thursday that he believed the GOP-majority Legislature was motivated by partisan politics to bifurcate the city of St. Petersburg, an allegation that attorneys for the Florida Senate president’s office have strongly denied. After Isbell’s video appearance concluded, the closing statements began, starting with the plaintiffs.
‘Race predominated’
The defendants, Senate President Ben Albritton and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, have denied that claim, saying that the maps were lawfully drawn up and previously approved as legally sound by the Florida Supreme Court. But the defense’s arguments go beyond contesting the plaintiffs’ claims. Indeed the defense went on the offense both before and during the trial to allege that the ACLU of Florida’s lead attorney in the case, Nicholas Warren, worked behind the scenes with Democratic House and Senate staffers to try to get a partisan map approved. To bolster that argument, attorneys representing the state called Matthew Isbell to the stand (remotely) on June 12, their last witness.
Isbell is a Tallahassee-based data analyst and consultant who has worked with Democrats and Democratic-affiliated groups over the past decade. Text and direct Twitter messages between Isbell and Warren show how both men hoped that the Senate would adopt a map that kept Pinellas and Hillsborough counties intact.
Warren offered his own map to the Senate Committee on Reapportionment in late 2021 but did not disclose that he was a staff attorney for the ACLU of Florida. Upon discovery committee chair and Republican Sen. Ray Rodrigues
Warren said “race predominated in the drawing of the district.” To back up that statement, he played a video clip from a November 2021 committee hearing. The excerpt shows that Orange County Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy asked Jay Ferrin, Senate Committee on Reapportionment staff director, why the newly proposed Senate District 16 district stretched across two counties.
Ferrin replied that it was to comply with the Fair Districts amendment in the Florida Constitution, specifically the “Tier 1” standards that provide protections for racial and language minorities. Bracy then asked Ferrin if there was a way to comply with the Tier 1 standards and keep the counties separate.
Another video exchange showed Pasco County Republican Danny Burgess telling Bracy that Senate “staff” had said keeping the counties separate wasn’t possible, because it would lead to a “significant number of voters who would be disenfranchised.” At the time Burgess was the chair of the Senate reapportionment subcommittee.
Ferrin agreed with Burgess, saying it would result in a “wide diminishment” that would ultimately disenfranchise Black voters in Pinellas County. Bracy pressed, asking how much the Black vote would be diminished and Ferrin replied “close to 30%.”
Failing to make the case?
Daniel Nordby, who was representing Ben Albritton in his official capacity as president of the Florida Senate, and Mohammad Jazil, who was representing Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, shot back in their closing statements.
Nordby said the plaintiffs had to prove that race was a predominant factor in the creation of Senate District 16, but that they fell short. “Plaintiffs have not come close to doing so,” Nordby said.
He emphasized how Ferrin had recognized the constitutional requirements for drawing up districts—which is that districts should be compact, and when possible, utilize existing political and geographic boundaries.
Nordby said Ferring met the Fair Districts requirements noting that boundaries such as I-275, the Hillsborough River, and 22nd Avenue North in St. Petersburg, a major artery, were used to configure the Senate district.
Nordby said race was taken into consideration, because “it had to be.” He also dismissed the three alternative maps drawn up for the plaintiffs by Pennsylvania State University professor of statistics Cory McCartan that keep Hillsborough and Pinellas counties separate.
And he then addressed the peculiar situation regarding Warren, saying, “This case is an odd one.”
Nordby asserted Warren had essentially “laundered” his map through the alternative presented during the trial by McCartan.
He also questioned why none of the lawmakers that plaintiff attorneys had indicated could be witnesses in the case—Sen. Darryl Rouson, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell and most notably former Bracy, the “alleged lynchpin” for the plaintiff’s case, never showed up.
Bracy was a scheduled witness but failed to appear earlier last week, much to the disappointment of the ACLU attorneys. When contacted by phone on June 10 by a representative from the three-judge panel, Bracy said he hadn’t seen the subpoena until that very day and said that he had already told plaintiff attorneys that he did not intend to show up.
Representing Byrd, Jazil said all of the proposed Senate maps that the ACLU had presented during the trial were examples of partisan and racial gerrymandering, and cited his text messages to House and Senate staffers involved with the reapportionment process.
A ‘contrived kerfuffle’
In response to the defense’s closing arguments, Daniel Tilley, another attorney with the ACLU of Florida, noted how no lawmaker had testified. Tilley said all of the attention focused on Warren was a “contrived kerfuffle” that found no evidence to support the idea that members of the Senate were influenced by his map. It was, he said, a “spectacular failure.”
During the four-day trial there were hours of detailed descriptions by experts that dealt with how to draw legislative districts that were logically configured and not oddly shaped.
The Florida Senate District 16 seat is held by Rouson, who resides in St. Petersburg. Several Tampa-based constituents in the district complained earlier in the trial that he was not as accessible to meet in Hillsborough County, though defense attorneys said he has district offices in the county in Tampa and Brandon.
The three-judge panel that will decide the case includes two of them who are Trump appointees. The panel was led by Andrew L. Brasher, who serves in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Accompanying him was U.S. Senior District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell and U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber, both of whom serve on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Brasher and Barber were appointed by Trump during his first term as president in 2019.
If they rule in favor of the plaintiffs, their hope would be that the Florida Senate could create and approve a new map of the district in time for the 2026 election.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
SHOP TALK: Jarvis El-Amin is one of three plaintiffs suing the state of Florida.
King breakers
St. Pete among Florida cities that took part in ‘No Kings’ protests.
By Jackie Llanos & Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix
In the largest mobilization against the policies of the Trump administration since the president returned to the White House in January, Floridians last Saturday gathered in more than 70 cities as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day” protests.
In Tallahassee, several groups came together four weeks ago to organize the protest that drew thousands to the Florida Historic Capitol, said Claudia Sperber, one of the co-organizers and president of the Leon County Chapter of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida.
STATE NEWS
Brizeida Patiño, 19, said she came to the protest to stand up for her parents, who immigrated from Mexico, and the immigrant community in Tallahassee. More than two weeks ago, federal immigration officials and Florida Highway Patrol conducted the largest raid in the state so far to crack down on illegal immigration, targeting a construction site near the Florida State University campus.
protests against one such raid last week in Los Angeles compelled President Trump to call up 2,000 soldiers from California’s Guard against the wishes of Gov. Gavin Newsom, which has few precedents in U.S. history.
“He’s deporting people unlawfully,” said St. Petersburg resident Neil Pajwa. “They’re not getting proper due process. He’s using the military, which has almost never been used before. I think he’s setting himself up to basically be a dictator.”
Several people in the crowd said that to date they have been disappointed with the Democrats, who are in the minority in Congress and Florida government.
Ruth Liss, a senior citizen, walked through the crowd with a sign that read, “Congress: Sale on Balls—you need ‘em!”
Organizers emphasized safety training in their preparations for Saturday, in light of the warnings earlier this week from state and local officials promising to quash violent protests by any means necessary.
“We wanted to be careful, but we refused to be bullied,” Sperber said. “We know it is a classic playbook from a dictator to make people feel afraid, and we refused to be afraid.”
Approximately 5,000 protested in Tallahassee, according to the organizers. That number is not independently verified.
During a June 12 press conference with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned protesters that disobeying or hurting law enforcement would lead to arrests and death.
“If you throw a brick, a fire bomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at because we will kill you, graveyard dead,” he said.
The Tallahassee event was unfolding as news flashed about a shooting in Minnesota, where a Democratic legislator and her husband were killed, and another legislator and his wife were seriously injured. That prompted authorities in that state to warn people against attending the rallies.
However, the demonstration in the state capital, which started at 10 a.m., remained peaceful. There was a group of four Trump supporters in the crowd.
Chants, songs, and speeches filled the air for four hours. “Stand up, fight back. Stop the madman now,” a group of women sang.
Even as the official programming ended, crowds remained in front of the Florida Historic Capitol and lining up along Monroe Street, one of the city’s main roads. Among those who attended the event were Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, and Rick Wilson, the famed anti-Trumper and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
“My parents immigrated from Mexico, trying to seek a better life for me, my siblings, and they’ve done a great job, and they’ve done no harm to this country,” she said. “Matter of fact, they’ve definitely made it better. They’re hard-working people, the same way all these other Hispanic, Latino, people of color.”
St. Petersburg
There were protests all over the state, including one near Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach resort and home of Trump. Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on the street corners of three intersections.
Many of the protesters’ signs in St. Pete expressed anger about the unprecedented number of raids of undocumented immigrants performed by the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months. Public
Pajwa said he was particularly disturbed by a speech Trump gave at Fort Bragg, N.C., this week at which uniformed soldiers cheered the president’s political comments. “I’ve never seen the military vocally supporting such statements,” he said. “That was very scary.”
Rhonda Keller said she’s not confident that protests bring about change but felt it was important to participate. She noted that in the past 48 hours, Trump has told ICE to pause raids and arrests in the agriculture industry, hotels, and restaurants. For Keller, the reversal of policy shows that Trump is a “masterful manipulator.”
“I’m just surprised that he has people who keep kowtowing to him,” she said. “I’m sick and tired of having to hide under the sofa and that’s exactly what Congress is doing. That’s what everybody in a suit seems to be doing,” she said. “I feel that the country is frightened. I think that the country is fed-up, and we don’t know what to do and this is the only way we can start.”
While most in the St. Petersburg rally expressed optimism about the future, none thought the political situation in Washington would coursecorrect anytime soon.
“You don’t see any violence around here.”
“It’s going to get worse before it’s going to get better but it starts here, right?” said Keara Kersey. “It just brings awareness, and we’re getting a lot of support here. Maybe it changes some minds.”
“I don’t believe he’s a bright human being, but he is a masterful manipulator, and for him to control the narrative and to say, ‘Oh, we need to not hurt our farmworkers this way or our hospitality industry this way.’ Like dude, you were literally the one who is hurting them and now the MAGA people are going to be able to say, ‘See, he doesn’t want to hurt farmworkers,’ even though we are actively hurting them,” Keller said.
Kearsey said she had been uncertain about attending Saturday’s event because of fears of violence breaking out. She said she was disturbed to hear Gov. Ron DeSantis say this week that drivers who feel threatened by protesters should hit them with their cars.
“It’s our right to free speech to protest,” Kearsey responded. “You don’t see any violence around here.”
CALL ON TYRONE: Protesters near Tyrone Square in St. Petersburg.
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
Big cheese
St. Pete pizza gem gets new truck, and more local food news.
By Kyla Fields
Anew spot for New York-style pizza soft opened in The ‘Burg this month. Cipolla Rossa’s new food truck is parked at 2927 Central Ave. in the Grand Central District, and is already dishing out the artisan pies it’s known for.
Owner Josh Anson—who is typically slinging ‘za at maker’s markets throughout St. Pete—tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that his newest venture is a collaboration with Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe.
Anson had already been longtime friends with Hawthorne Bottle Shop co-owner Anthony Roman, so the mutually-beneficial partnership was quickly established earlier this year. Anson needed a more permanent location to sell pizzas out of, and Hawthorne Bottle Shop wanted hot food options in addition to its cold offerings.
At Cipolla Rossa’s new location, Anson is now operating out of a fully-equipped food truck, a notable upgrade from his pop-up and woodfired oven setup which was already one of the best food pop-ups in the Bay area. With more space he’s able to expand his pizza menu to include new options like buffalo chicken and vodka meatball, in addition to classic flavors like cheese, pepperoni, margherita, bianca (or “white pizza”) and mushroom.
Cipolla Rossa’s new food truck is now open from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays, with plans to expand operating hours in the future.
Follow @cipollarossapizza on Instagram for the latest information about pop-ups, menu changes and its grand opening party, slated for Saturday, July 28.
Matjoa Korean BBQ moves from Clearwater to North Tampa
Matjoa is heading across the Bay to join a hub of Asian food in North Tampa. The restaurant’s last day at 3580 Ulmerton Rd. in Clearwater was June 8. A reopening date has not been announced for its new location 25 minutes away at 8568 Gunn Hwy. in Odessa.
OPENINGS
The spot opened in February of 2020, pivoting soon after from its traditional community-forward grill tables to takeout. Even without the in-house flair, Matjoa’s food was good enough to survive COVID lockdowns.
Matjoa will add Korean to Citrus Park’s Asian food scene of mostly Japanese sushi and ramen. Citrus Park’s only other Korean BBQ restaurant is Perry’s in Citrus Park Town Center.
Anson adds a small amount of naturallyfermented yeast into his pizza dough, giving it a springy texture and deep flavor without tasting too sour.
All pizzas will be available for purchase as 16-inch pies, but folks can also grab slices of margherita or pepperoni.
“I know it sounds crazy to say, but this new oven makes our pizzas even crispier…this is literally our best pizza coming out of this oven,” Anson tells CL. “We’re really not taking any shortcuts here—we’re making all of the sauces from scratch, baking bread daily. And all of our pizzas pair really well with the beers that Hawthorne has on tap.”
There are also a handful of new, non-pizza menu items on the horizon as well, like homemade garlic bread, meatballs, salads and dessert.
For the time being, Anson’s new location will be the main focus of Cipolla Rossa, but he still plans to pop up at markets and events throughout Tampa Bay with his trusty wood-fired oven on wheels.
The menu at Matjoa includes appetizers like jumbo Korean style corn dog, KFC (that’s “Korean fried chicken”) wings and kimchi pancakes. Its most popular entrees are beef bulgogi, spicy pork, tteokbokki and short ribs.
Marleigh Brown
Lolita’s Wine Market returns to its first location in downtown St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg’s Lolita’s Wine Market is making a comeback—literally coming back to where it started.
Lolita’s Wine Market opened in 2017 with a prime spot right off Central Avenue, but in 2023 it moved to the warehouse district’s Morean Center for Clay. Now, the market will return to its first location at 16 18th St. S.
Aside from pouring 70 different wines, Lolita’s is known for serving tapas and showcasing local art. Owners Alex and Kelly Rodriguez told I Love The Burg that they hope to be more affordable while still offering catering,
charcuterie/grazing boards and pretty much any kind of cheese you can think of.
At the Morean Center, it was nearly impossible to get in without a reservation. The Rodriguezs want to move back to first-come first-serve with the relocation to Lolita’s initial venue. They will no longer accept reservations except for large parties.
Lolita’s last day in the Morean Center for Clay will be Saturday, June 28; it plans to reopen at the new location in mid-July.—Jani Burden
Cellar Masters celebrates 5 years “in the Snake Den”
The shop has put on food pop-ups since it opened, but what makes this one noteworthy— other than the sick poster done by St. Pete artist and CL contributor Joe Frontel— is its celebration of beating the small wine biz odds.
The self-proclaimed “snake den” of a windowless wine shop opened amid a “wine drought” in 2020, fueled by Napa Valley wildfires and COVID supply chain shortages. Still, the shop was named one of the best bottle shops in the country by Wine Enthusiast magazine back in 2022, and it has since aged like fine wine with a crazy label. “It was built to be a community bar with a deep shop, where everything was shitty but the wine,” shop owners Ryan Ruggs and Kory Lynn wrote in a social media post. The wine-slinging dive bar also has no wine list. The best way to figure out what you want is an old-fashioned face-to-face convo. “You gotta talk to us but we’re damn good at it so don’t stress,” Cellar Masters wrote. They’ll know what pairs best with Saturday’s food popup, Lupita’s Home Style Mexican, and one of St. Pete’s morning market regulars, Crooked Johnson, on Sunday.—JB
SMELL THE ROSSAS: Josh Anson has parked in front of Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe.
Yelp me out
Tampa’s 20 best ‘hot and trendy’ restaurants right now, according to Yelp.
By Marleigh Brown and Jani Burden
Yelp is a controversial word around the Bay area lately, after Tampa restaurant Hales
Blackbrick filed a lawsuit against a user who left a negative review. The suit is another example of how a restaurant can be so tied to its reputation online—and that rings true with these Tampa Bay area eateries loved so deeply by local and visiting foodies alike.
DINING GUIDE
The following 20 culinary destinations have earned their spot in a June 2025 search of Yelp’s top “hot and trendy” restaurant list around Tampa, plus eastern parts of Hillsborough County. They include Michelinrecommended staples, chains, local ramen shops, breakfast nooks, pubs and more, all highly rated by Yelpers (whose reviews are posted below).
Blaze Pizza (5114 E Fowler Ave. Ste. 103, Tampa) Blaze Pizza offers a great fast-casual
dining experience with customizable, made-toorder pizzas cooked in an open-flame oven. One of these locations’ standout features is the spacious parking, making it easy to find a spot without hassle. The curbside pickup is also smooth and efficient, allowing for a quick and convenient graband-go experience. —Silas M Blush Wine Room (5863 Goldview Pkwy. Unit No. 107, Wesley Chapel) Very cool place located at the Krates in the Grove in Wesley Chapel. This place is a wine bar, you can order by the glass or bottle. There also have a wine wall where you can get a card and pay by volume to try lots of different wines. They also have some light food available. There’s a couple places to sit inside like the bar area and some nice tables outside. At the Krates you can purchase alcohol and
walk around. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.—Lara T c. 1949 (6905 N Orleans Ave., Tampa) The vibe inside was chill but cozy, with just enough cool lighting to make you feel cute but not like you’re in a nightclub (thankfully). Definitely a great spot to post up with a pint and unwind. —Madison C Cali Tampa Palms (17004 Palm Pointe Dr.,Tampa) This place makes you feel great after eating a great meal. All the dishes feel fresh, healthy, and delicious. The staff is incredible. Service is quick. They had live music while I was there outside. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. This is my first time at this location, as I normally go to the St Pete location which is just as great. —Gabriela P
Drip Kratom, Kava, Vapor & Brew Bar (6166 Gunn Hwy., Tampa) Every time I have come here it’s always a great experience from the service and the ambiance. I love trying new drinks and I’m always asking the staff for their recommendations. They are always happy to help and friendly service. If anyone is looking for new drinks nonalcoholic or alcoholic, def check out Drip!—Lc C
The Fat Rabbit Pub (16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W, Tampa) Wow. Stopped here on our way to Gainesville. Food is AMAZING! I had the Blackened Chicken Roll. I am pretty sure they went out back and picked the peppers fresh and sautéed them up with some onions and tomatoes. My sister had the Caesar salad which she said was awesome. Hubby ordered the quesadillas but when they were delivered, they had a cheddar jack cheese blend and he cannot have cheddar. The menu did not say cheddar. Our server handled it either ease, and brought him something else. All in all a great experience! Highly recommend!—Tammy B
Fresh Kitchen New Tampa (8648 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa) Finally a good healthy food place in the neighborhood. Fresh Kitchen serves up some tasty bowls with organic and hormone free meats along with their veggie options. The build your bowl option was great and chose the blackened chicken with brown rice with spinach. Sweet potatoes etc. just perfection. The store itself is clean and new and service was good.—Lori N
continued on page 33
GOLDEN STATE:
Cali’s SoCal Bowl
Kyoto Ramen (11417 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) I came here for my birthday. As someone who is particular about what goes in their ramen i absolutely loved their make your own bowl. My friends all picked different types and we were just quiet as we ate because we got lost in the sauce. Our server was very sweet and made the experience all the better. The location is central to dale Mabry and inside is a beautifully decorated small place. Will def come back.
—Grace J
Noble Crust (11618 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) I went for brunch with my family. I ordered the Strawberry Cheesecake French toast. Every dish that we ordered came out fresh and hot . The Mimosa was a fine touch in the end. I loved this place. The staff was friendly and professional. We did not wait long for the food. I loved it. I do recommend this place. In the end 5 stars for a great brunch place, clean both in the eating area and bathroom. The atmosphere was inviting and the staff were welcoming.
—Betsy G Noble Crust (28330 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel) We went to Noble Crust for a friend’s birthday, and it was a great experience. The service was awesome. Our server was super attentive and gave us the best recommendations. I went with her suggestion and got a salad with grilled chicken, and it was delicious! Everything tasted fresh and well balanced. The sangria was really good too, super refreshing. Overall, the food was great and the vibe was nice. I’ve heard their brunch menu is amazing, so I’ll definitely be back to try it!
—Maria Gabriela M
Mango’s Cafe and Specialty Store (9718 N 56th St., Temple Terrace) I could honestly eat here every day, that’s how good the food is! This isn’t your every day chain restaurant, this is a family owned establishment and the food is clearly cooked with love! I love the owner here, she is truly an angel. The Southern Fried Catfish was unbelievably delicious and cooked to absolute perfection. Best catfish I have EVER had in my life! The collard greens were perfect, the dirty rice was SO flavorful and the scratch made cornbread is heavenly! They are busy on the weekends but the food is worth EVERY bit of the wait, and they are opening a new and bigger location soon! I would give them 100 stars if I could, I already can’t wait to come back.—Brittany B Maple Street Biscuit Company (13028 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) Found this hidden gem while I was waiting around in the area. Who doesn’t want to eat a biscuit?! Maple is simple but has a variety of choices. Went with the breakfast options. Being a fan of the Food Network, had to choose the Squawking Goat. Goat cheese, chicken, biscuit and pepper jelly all in one bite. Yum! Only downside I wish the pepper jelly was spicy. They clearly advertised it wasn’t so I can’t be mad. OJ looked good but didn’t get a chance to try it. For the next time.—Valerie N
Otsuka Ramen (6800 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) I’ve visited this place multiple times, and it never disappoints. They offer a diverse selection of ramen, including a veggie broth option for those who prefer non-pork choices. The fries are a must-try--crispy and flavorful. I always enjoy coming here and highly recommend it, 10/10.—Susan F
Rooster & the Till (6500 N Florida Ave. Tampa) A must visit in Tampa! The flavors here are very unique and interesting. Things that you wouldn’t think go together work well here. And while the presentation is stunning, the quality
service staff at Scared Pepper is “Exceptional” and everyone is so friendly, attentive, efficient, knowledgeable, and very welcoming.—Ken V Sogna Napoli Trattoria & Pizzeria (12913 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) I sat at the bar area and this is the most Italian pizzeria I have been too and it was amazing. I got the Margherita 12” pizza and I cannot explain how good it was. I really havent had woodfired pizza too often in my life, however this is the best I have tried so far. The place isnt too big but the bar seating makes up for it. If you sit at the bar closer towards the oven, you will have a front
enjoyed eating at a hockey rink more! The food is amazing. Brunch, yess please, bottomless mimosas say less. The service is spot on. We came for a hockey tournament, I had multiple restaurants saved to try, but Top Shelf kept calling us back. There is so much great food that we did brunch, lunch, and dinner here during our stay, and not once we’re we disappointed. Would come here even if we didn’t have hockey. The ambiance is loud and fun. You can sit and watch the rink below.
—Kay C
Twisted Sprocket Cafe (16950 Vibrant Way, Land O’ Lakes) I went there today with
and flavor of the dishes supersede it. The cobia collar dish is a must order - the Vietnamese dipping sauce pairs well with the fried, flakiness of the cobia. And they do dessert excellently here! Genius and innovative pairings. The vibe is also chill, yet elevated - which I think is very hard to pull off. Service is very inviting and genuine. A great spot all around.—Danessa D Sacred Pepper (15405 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) Sacred Pepper is my favorite restaurant in the Tampa area. They have awesome selections of wine/cocktails, shareable plates, dinner entrees, sides, after dinner drinks and delicious desserts. The chef’s menu is a symphony of flavors. The restaurant itself has a pleasant ambiance and is tastefully decorated. Very comfortable chairs and a gorgeous bar area. The
row seat to the amazing pies they make. The service was amazing, both individuals checked on me to make sure everything was good. This place will be very tough to resist and I certainly will be back.—Pathik P Tampa Karaoke VIP (930 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa) We had a great time hanging out for karaoke. The room itself was spacious and we were able to find all the songs we wanted. Heads up: you are searching on an iPad (through YouTube) for your karaoke songs. We felt like it was still more fun than doing karaoke at home since we were able to scream and shout without getting a noise complaint. Service at the bar was quick as well which was great.—Ansley D
Top Shelf Sports Lounge (3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel) Never have I
DINING GUIDE
my dad for lunch. Super cute, tucked back away from the main road. The menu is simple and very affordable. The cafe is clean and quaint. Two booths and a few tables inside. Outdoor seating is available. Outside was my favorite.
—Kelly L
Via Italia Woodfired Pizza & Bar (8644 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa) One of the best pizza and Italian restaurants in Tampa Bay and it’s so close to our home! I also love their happy hour deals that spices through $5 Italian Cocktails. We love over-ordering and taking pizza home because they are just as good the second day and after! The staff is always friendly and it is a good place for family as well as date nights because the bar is always bumping!
Jisoo B
COLLAR AT YA GIRL: Yelpers say Rooster & the Till is a must-visit.
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Work it
Novelist Phil Melanson comes to Florida to discuss da Vinci’s queer history.
By Arielle Stevenson
Imagine a young Leonardo da Vinci as a broke, brilliant, and queer artist struggling to stay alive. The Italian polymath who’d become one of the world’s most famous artists was briefly imprisoned after being accused of homosexual acts in 1476. Sodomy was considered a criminal offense in his birthplace of Florence, and da Vinci could’ve faced the death penalty if found guilty, but the charges were ultimately dismissed.
That’s the framework author Phil Melanson offers in “Florenzer,” his debut novel that mixes Renaissance politics, intimate emotional truths, and the messy realities of art, commerce, and survival.
What sets “Florenzer” apart is that it’s rooted in historical documents, actual physical evidence linking da Vinci to a male sex worker. Using that concrete connection, Melanson imagines da Vinci’s 1476 sodomy accusation and its impact on the artist and the man.
The book is already making waves. Kirkus Reviews called “Florenzer” “well-researched, proudly lusty historical fiction,” and those Kirkus guys never use words like “lusty.”
Can I start by saying thank you? I’m always grateful to somebody who braves the Florida book circuit to bring us culture from the Metropol.
When I was speaking with the publicity team, they asked if there were any bookstores on my radar that I’d love to go to. The Lynx Books in Gainesville immediately came to mind. I’ve been following their story in London for years. I feel lucky to be able to go there. It’s a bit of a dream come true for me.
That means a lot. There’s this narrative: “Just cut off Florida and be done with it.” And it’s not helpful.
BOOKS
Florenzer:
I think that’s such an ugly rhetoric. There are people here who don’t agree with what’s happening at the state house. I think we need to show up and support those who are doing the work, people like Lauren [Groff] and the indie bookstores fighting bans. We need to be in solidarity.
An Evening with Phil Melanson Friday, June 20. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
A former screenwriter and film marketer (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Little Women”), Melanson returned to the page to bring an unapologetically queer perspective to one of the world’s most famous artists. Melanson lives in London with his husband. And while many authors are skipping Florida on their book tours this year, he’s doing the opposite. He’s coming directly into the state during Pride and at a moment when LGBTQ+ literature faces heightened censorship.
Melanson—who also appears at The Lynx Books in Gainesville (June 19) and Books & Books in Coral Gables (June 21)—will be in conversation with writer and professor Tyler Gillespie (“The Thing About Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State”) this month in St. Petersburg. Before the event, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay caught up with him to talk about queerness, creativity, the state of book bans, and how the late Pope Francis helped inspire the novel’s title.
I’m curious about what drew you to da Vinci and were there other figures you considered?
I knew I wanted to write a novel about the relationship between art and commerce during the Renaissance. It was a relationship based on power and the exchange of funds…who could access that power and who had the approval of those in charge. I arrived at Da Vinci somewhat reluctantly, because he’s probably the most famous artist of all time. But in reading his biographies, and others from that era, I was struck by how unsuccessful he was early on compared to peers like Botticelli. That raised the question of why.
And then there’s the often overlooked aspect of his personal relationships and his sexuality. There are surviving historical records—ones I’ve held in the Florence state archives—that connect him to a male sex worker. These suggest he may have been what we’d now call queer, even if that term doesn’t quite fit the Renaissance context. I became fascinated by what it meant to be accused of sodomy in Florence in 1476. Historians focus on what we know for sure, but
continued on page 37
IN LUST WE TRUST: Phil Melanson plumbed the historical record to get inside da Vinci.
continued from page 35
as a novelist, the potential lies in what we can’t know…the emotional experience, the interiority, and the idea of inspiration. What led him to create the masterpieces we still see today?
What is your relationship with fine art before this?
Extremely limited. I didn’t study art history at university. I never even took an art history class, if I’m being honest. But I think that actually helped. There’s so much reverence in traditional scholarship, and I approached the Renaissance with curiosity.
You make a case that part of why he wasn’t successful early on was due to being ostracized. Is that part of what unfolds?
It’s set up very early in the novel that Leonardo is constantly trying to balance two sides of himself; his personal, sexual desires and his public identity as a painter, artist, and inventor.
Let’s talk about the title. How did you land on ‘Florenzer’?
It wasn’t the original title. We only decided on it about a year before publication. And I have to give credit, oddly enough, to the late Pope Francis. Last spring, there were stories that he used a very specific gay slur in Italian. That got me thinking about reclaiming slurs and embedding that complexity into the novel. “Florenzer” is a German slang term from the Renaissance. It came from Florence’s reputation as a magnet for men who would now be described as queer, though they were labeled sodomites at the time. The term appears halfway through the book, and it captures both the tone and historical tension of the story.
What was it like transitioning into a project like this?
I studied screenwriting in film school, so the marketing side was really the detour. I spent the better part of a decade there. Eventually, I felt the pull to get back to storytelling, back to the page. I knew this novel couldn’t exist as a script. I wanted interiority, which is hard to render on screen. But the marketing experience did help me understand how this novel might be positioned. I also had to unlearn a lot, like worrying about who would read it or how it would be received.
Email voice is hard to unlearn.
Absolutely. I went from working in an office full time to writing full time. I could see it in my drafts, especially the passive voice.
Well, your marketing work speaks for itself. Mamma Mia! was everywhere. That was a conga line of a marketing campaign.
That was a joy of a campaign. A conga line of a film.
Do you have any favorite “bad” ones you worked on?
I worked on more than one “Purge” movie. Not exactly my cup of tea.
What’s it like to be here talking about these issues of queer identity, commerce in the art world, during Pride? I know it’s your debut, too.
When we were planning the tour, I thought it was important not to just hit the standard cities like New York, L.A., Boston, or Chicago. I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, and before that, Nebraska. I didn’t have independent bookstores around me. So it felt essential to visit places where the fundamentals of queer existence are being challenged. The more writers show up here, the more a queer kid in Florida might feel seen and less alone.
GAY-LUMINATI: Open up to shed light on an overlooked part of da Vinci.
PATEL CONSERVATORY THEATER
Yankowitz, Draped Impotent Squares, c. 1969, Acrylic spray on canvas. Courtesy of the Artist and Eric Firestone Gallery.
Yankowitz / Licensed by VAGA
Shine in
Dalí Museum’s new immersive mural exhibit is now open in St. Pete.
By Ray Roa
Aplay about Salvador Dalí’s possible gay lover recently closed in Tampa, but across the bridge, one artist continues to explore the fluidity of identity in the context of the surrealist icon.
“I was inspired just as much by Dalí’s work as by his identity and presence in the art world, and the impression he left on me as the archetype of the eccentric artist,” Lauren YS, told reporters at St. Pete’s Dalí Museum last month.
“I wanted to capture the sense of eccentricity and sort of manic expression that he sort of leaves on your memory,” YS said. Their mural taps into their creative Rolodex to capture Dalí’s energy. The work is inspired in part by 1940’s “Daddy Longlegs of the Evening–Hope!” and has a quote from the artist: “Mi locura es sagrada, no la toquen,” which translates to ““My madness is sacred, do not touch it.”
The Los Angeles artist is one of 13 painters from across the world who’ve transformed the temporary exhibit space at the museum into an indoor mural festival. YS’ work—curated by Shine Mural Festival’s Allison McCarthy— lives next to trippy stuff from Naomi Haverland, an immersive Greg Mike, plus signature work from beloved locals like Nicole Salgar, Bask, Tes One, Chad Mize and Palehorse.
Next to Haverland, Chris Parks—aka Palehorse—worked on his intricate mural that combines goddesses of art, music, learning, wealth, and a fierce goddess named Durga. “Gala was known to be really, all of those things,” Parks said, noting how Dalí’s wife helped the artist not just sell paintings and find curators, but be inspired, too.
“She was seen as his muse, kind of like a physical manifestation of his creative cues, and she really helped bring out the best in his work. So this is a representation of that,” Parks added. “And then personally, it’s also a homage to my own wife, who has been so crucial in my art career.”
There’s a tribute to another woman in the mural by St. Pete artist Salgar, who, like Mize, visited the museum as a child.
“I have this connection with Dalí because he was so strange and mystical and wild and different, which stood out as from other qualities of artists I had seen at my age,” Salgar said. Her piece adopts symbolism from the Dalí, including the artist’s plaster lobster phone.
LOCAL ART
‘Outside In: New Murals Inspired by Dalí’ Through Oct. 26. Included with admission Dalí Museum, 1 Dalí Blvd., St. Petersburg thedali.org
As Shine (stylized in all-caps) approaches its 10th anniversary, the Dalí wanted to bring artists who previously participated in the festival to paint—in air-conditioned climes this time around.
“This is sort of a love letter to the creative spirit of St Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area,” McCarthy told reporters as scissor lifts beeped in the background while artists finished their work.
Mize—whose signature doodle style is a welcome sight at the “Outside In: New Murals Inspired by Dalí” exhibit, which runs through Oct. 26—was inspired by a 1990 high school field trip to the old Dalí museum location.
“My favorite piece was ‘The Hallucinogenic Toreador,’” Mize told reporters, adding that he referenced that late-60s work with color while adding bright, retro St. Pete vibes. “I was totally wowed by the work. It was kind of the first museum I ever went to, and it inspired me to be an artist.”
Also at “Outside In” is work from Haverland, an Australian artist known for anamorphic, seemingly three-dimensional work that pops off the wall. Her piece is made so that visitors can pose on a designated spot on the floor and snap a photo that looks like Dalí is reaching out and holding them.
“I really am interested in forms of communication and how we communicate with one another,” she explained before pointing to a spot in the mural where she painted three figures, including her mom. “It’s the essence of her, and she’s answering the phone.”
Leon Bedore—aka Tes One—is another Tampa Bay artist who answered the call from the Dalí, and his work riffs on the artist’s practice of micro-napping with a key to capture his dreams.
The nap was supposed to happen in a bony armchair, with head tilted back and hands hanging from the furniture. A heavy key—with an upside down plate on the ground below it—was to be held lightly in the left hand between the thumb and pointer finger.
“The moment the key drops from your fingers, you may be sure that the noise of its fall on the upside down plate will awaken you,” Dalí explained.
The practice was supposed to harness the power of the hypnagogic sleep state where the mind is fluid, and facilitate creative connections between remote concepts that might not be accessible while awake. Art lovers have a chance to walk amongst the dreams right now.
All photos c/o Dalí Museum—see more via cltampa.com/slideshows.
STAND OUT ONLINE
Transform your online presence with our custom web design services, tailored to reflect your brand’s unique identity.
Let us know how we can support your brand localculture.org
@localculturecreative
Peak heat
In front of sold-out crowd, Tampa Bay Sun FC wins first-ever USL Super League title.
By Ray Roa
In November of 2023, Denise Schilte-Brown checked in from Scotland with an update on her efforts to recruit the players from every corner of the globe to come play pro women’s soccer in Tampa Bay. “Most everybody wants to leave this tundra and come to sunny Florida,” Schilte-Brown—head coach of Tampa Bay Sun FC— told WMNF public affairs program The Skinny.
One of those players, forward Natasha Flint—who helped Celtic FC win the Scottish Women’s Premier League before coming to Tampa Bay—has been instrumental in the Sun’s second-half-of-theseason rise.
match, earning a 1-0 overtime win over Ft. Lauderdale United FC.
verge of another championship while the Tampa Bay Lightning watch from home.) This latest chapter in the “Champa Bay” story also builds on the Bay area’s long love affair with soccer. The Rowdies—beloved locally before the Bucs, Bolts and Rays—also won a championship in their inaugural season 50 years ago.
the locker room, it wasn’t a great first half. And, you know, one of the resounding things was, ‘We got here together. Let’s stay together,’” DSB said about the halftime break. “‘How do we lift each other up and do this together?’ And that’s coming from players that aren’t even on the pitch.”
SPORTS
But just like the lightning off in the distance for the entirety of the game, it seemed as if the Sun might not ever strike. Despite dominating in shots (22-16) and corners (11-5) Tampa Bay and Ft. Lauderdale held each other off long enough to force the extra periods. In the 100th minute, after yet another short corner kick, another international— Danish forward Cecilie Fløe—found the back of the net to score the game winner.
More importantly, it continues the USL Super League’s push to give young women an opportunity to get paid to play sports in front of fans who love them.
As USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay early this month ahead of the Sun’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Dallas Trinity FC, her league is expanding, with teams already re-tooling rosters hoping to lift the trophy this time next year.
DSB also reflected on big changes during the USL Super League spring campaign where tactics called for a new formation, along with new players who came after having their work visas cleared.
And last Saturday, 575 days after that update from overseas, DSB (as she’s referred to by some in the club’s Heatwave supporters section) and her players basked in the glow of all their hard work.
In front of more than 5,000 fans packed into a sold-out Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School, DSB’s side dominated play in the first-ever USL Super League championship
Fløe’s goal was assisted by Sydny Nasello, a University of South Florida alum whose dominating play has been key to the Sun’s success. (Nasello, who was drafted by the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, was named the USL Super League Final MVP.)
The win adds more intrigue to the Florida derby and is a boon for Bay area sports fans looking for another champ to get behind. (It can’t be lost on locals that another Ft. Lauderdale sports team, the Florida Panthers, is on the
In a postgame press conference posted in full by RBLR, DSB reiterated the fact that her side had no doubt that they had prepared well enough to win the championship game. She also repeated her belief that the culture of the Sun clubhouse— where the women support each other, laugh together and really have each other’s back— was a huge reason for the success.
“If you have good culture at the end of a long season like this, then you can go really far.”
The Sun won’t have much time to enjoy the win either. The team’s 2025-26 campaign kicks off in two months on Aug. 12 when the side travels to Brooklyn. It returns to Tampa a week later to lift a proverbial banner in the season opener on Saturday, Aug. 30 against a USL Super League expansion team—and potential new in-state rival— Sporting Jacksonville. In all, the Sun will play at home six times during the fall portion of the next season, and eight times during the spring portion.
“If you have good culture at the end of a long season like this, then you can go really far. And in
Home field is a big deal for the Tampa Bay Sun, too; the championship effort marked the sixth straight win at Riverfront Stadium and adds to the Tampa Bay Sun FC’s league-best home record. Visit cltampa.com/arts to read about new plans for a stadium.
LET IT FLØE: Cecilie Fløe after her go-ahead, game-winning goal.
RYAN KERN
Thursday, June 19, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Latina Legacies: Brunch, Book, and Film Premiere with Dr. Sarah McNamara @ Centro Asturiano de Tampa 1913 North Nebraska Avenue Tampa Free to the public
bit.ly/BrunchBookFilm
Saturday, June 21, 2025 • 8:00 PM - 11:59 PM
2025 Juneteenth Tampa Networking & All White Party @ 1920 Ybor
1920 East 7th Avenue, Tampa
Tickets from $52.19
bit.ly/JuneteenthTampa
Saturday, June 21, 2025 • 9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
2025 Endless Night: Tampa Vampire Ball @ The Castle Ybor
2004 North 16th Street Tampa
Tickets from $31.59
bit.ly/VampireBallYbor
Thursday, June 26, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Viberti Barolo Wine Dinner @ Chateau Cellars Ybor
2009 N. 22nd St. Tampa
$114.47 tickets
bit.ly/VibertiWineDinner
Sunday, June 22, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Chicken Yoga with Yoga Loft Tampa and Ybor Misfits @ Hotel Haya 1412 East 7th Avenue Tampa
$14.64 General Admission bit.ly/41WVJnj
Sunday, June 22, 2025 • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Street Photography Class
@ Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
1630 East 7th Avenue Tampa
$81.88 General Admission
bit.ly/FMOPAStreetClass
Friday, June 27, 2025 • 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Sound Xchange: Afro Jam
@ 1920 Ybor
1920 East 7th Avenue, Tampa
Tickets from $21.30 bit.ly/AfroJamYbor
Saturday, June 28, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ybor City Coffee & Tea Poetry Night
@ Ybor City Coffee and Tea Co
1907 North 19th Street Tampa
Open to the public, Poetry competition $49.87
bit.ly/PoetryNightYbor
Saturday, June 28, 2025 • 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tampa Pride Bar Crawl
@ Centro Cantina
1600 East 8th Avenue #A200 Tampa
Tickets from $15.75
bit.ly/PrideBarCrawlYbor
Friday, July 18, 2025 • 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thai Yoga Training for Yoga Teachers
@ Yoga Loft Tampa
East 6th Avenue Tampa
$250 Tickets
bit.ly/YogaLoftThai
Mema’s Alaskan Tacos 1903 N 19th St, Tampa memasalaskantacos.com
Monster Pizza 1616 E 7th Ave, Tampa monsterpizzainc.com
Barrio Tacos 1822 E 7th Ave, Tampa barrio-tacos.com
Try Out These Restaurants: Where to Live: Places
Casa Ybor
Casa Ybor offers unique retail spaces, office spaces, and apartment homes for rent or lease in both newly constructed and lovingly restored historic buildings throughout the vibrant National Historic Landmark District of Ybor City near Downtown Tampa, Florida. casaybor.com
La Union
Community, connection, and culture come together at La Unión Apartments, where Tampa’s rich history and vibrant future unite. Inspired by the historic social hall once on this site, our Ybor City apartments honor that legacy by fostering bonds among residents, the neighborhood, and the area’s deep-rooted heritage. bit.ly/LaUnionYbor
Addict Pickleball 1701 E 2nd Ave, Tampa
Come visit Addict’s first-ever brand store surrounded by 12 courts and located in the heart of Tampa, Florida - Ybor City. addictpickleball.com
Cheeseology
1527 E 7th Ave
Bringing people together through the art of cheese-making cheeseology.net
Tempus Projects 1624 E 7th Ave, 2nd Floor, Ybor City
TEMPUS PROJECTS is dedicated to nurturing established and emerging local, national, and international artists through exhibitions & collaborations. tempus-projects.com
UPCOMING SHOWS
AUGUST
AUGUST
OCEAN
AUGUST
By Josh Bradley C CL Recommends
THU 19
C Glass Animals w/Sofia Isella One of the reasons that 97X Next Big Thing has always been such a hit is because once in a while, a non-headliner will actually go onto top their own major shows, making the festival live up to its name (Thirty Seconds to Mars was an opener in ‘09). A few weeks following its most recent NBT appearance, where the band served as opener for Twenty One Pilots, Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” blew up online, leading to over three billion Spotify streams and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist (Olivia Rodrigo ended up taking it home). (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)
FRI 20
C Avril Lavigne w/Simple Plan/We The Kings Lavigne’s more recent tours have had limited presence on U.S. soil, and if you were born the day of her last show in town (a postRays game concert that made headlines due to her saying obscenities after a microphone malfunction), you’re probably an incoming high school freshman. Since then, the 40-yearold pop-punk pioneer put out three studio albums, and is now touring behind a greatest hits compilation that dropped last summer. This scorcher of a gig at the ol’ Gary amphitheater is gonna feel like a stripped-down Warped Tour with Simple Plan and We The Kings opening. Mazel tov to her, right? (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)
C The Beat Lab: Hwoofer w/Iowcapa. city Once upon a time, before ridiculous rents pushed the clubs off of St. Petersburg’s 600 Block, Jason Feder used to bring his huge speaker system to the long-shuttered
Fubar watering hole for nights dedicated to the then-fledgling sounds of dubstep. A little bit of that spirit returns to downtown with this new series headlined by Feder (performing under the Hwoofer moniker). (The Nest at St. Pete Brewing Co., St. Petersburg)—Ray Roa
C Flavors of India: An Evening of mangoes and music feat. Shankh Lahiri Lahiri is no stranger to the Bay area’s world music calendar, and the tabla maestro gets fruity for this house show. Florida Fruit Cooperative—which is working to bring locally-grown tropical fruit to its followers and subscribers—is a co-host for a seasonal concert that celebrates Indian-style mangoes grown in the Sunshine State. Light fare will be followed by the performance happening in Shore Acres. (House show, St. Petersburg)—RR
The Movement w/Tribal Seeds/Mike Love Columbus, Ohio doesn’t come to mind immediately when it comes to reggae music, but The Movement doesn’t care about that. The band has long been a fixture of the reggae-rock circuit and it joins another staple of the scene, San Diego’s Tribal Seeds, for a big park jam in Pinellas Park. Trump-loving Beach Boy Mike Love plays support. (England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park)—RR
SAT 21
C FL Rules 2025: Blown Apart w/430 Steps/Gaijin/Age of Refuge/Blockade/ more Brandon’s big DIY, packed-to-the-gills weekend-long festival brings together hard-hitting Florida-grown bands (slam metal quartet Blown Apart, Orlando’s 430 Steps, Gaijin from Port Charlotte). (The Noise Box, Brandon)—RR
C Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks If you’ve kept up with the Yes co-founder at all in the last decade, you’d know that while his live shows tend to stick to the prog-rock bangers that put his band on the map, his new material is some of the freshest you’ll hear from someone in his age bracket. The 80-year-old latest album True , made with his new repertoire The Band Geeks, sounds like he’s still at the helm of Yes, keeping the band evolving with the times rather than only channeling the band’s classic lineup era like the current lineup of the band does. His soprano hasn’t diminished even a little bit and his current tour sees him performing 20-minute epics without even breaking a sweat, so maybe pay the babysitter for an extra hour this Friday night. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Liz Longley Postpartum depression and motherhood both played a massive part in inspiring Longley’s latest album New Life “Start Again”—a song off of the 37-year-old pop singer-songwriter’s latest effort— stemmed from how she had to relearn to do certain things in life with a newborn, and the adjustments she had to make. (Music4Life Living Arts Center, Clearwater)
THU JUNE 19–THU JUNE 26
Lobster’s Gyro Shack w/Julia Powell/ Moonthing/This Is Goodbye Pregame with some cheddar biscuits. Lobster’s Gyro Shack, a Tampa food-rock band, is back in Ybor Heights (home of This Little Pig restaurant and food truck) to play songs like “The Beef Cow” and “Let’s Talk About Biscuits.” If you think a band featuring members with names like Hushpuppy (drums), Cray Cray Crawfish (bass, the instrument), Langosta Gigante (guitars) and frontperson Squid Vicious is too out of your lane, you probably have more in common than you think. “I really hate my father,” Vicious sings at one point. “I want a tomahawk steak.” Indeed. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)—RR
C Queen of Coins w/GreyMarket/Florida/ High Press Travis Hearne—frontman of mid2000s rock-punk-country hybrid Tailgunner Joe and the Earls of Slander—now plays dark and riffy new-wave ish rock from the ‘90s with help from Kasandra Bibaz-Hearne and scene luminary Dean Tidey (who’s toured with U2, the Rolling Stones and Coldplay). Queen of Coins’ latest, The Administration EP, was released last weekend, and Hearnes is joined on this bill by pop-punk band High Press, power-pop savant Billy Summer’s Florida project, and future-pop-rock outfit Greymarket. (Crowbar, Ybor City)—RR
C Ringo Starr and his all-Starr Band
Even in death, all of the Beatles have remained relevant since their 1970 split, but Ringo Starr especially has been having a bit of a year, with the release of Look Up , his first country album (a genre he has loved and been inspired by since his days with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes). He's also excited to be portrayed by Barry Keoghan in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopic tetralogy, which may have been the only understandable casting choice. On the heels of his 85th birthday, Ringo and his ever-tight All-Starr Band return to Coachman Park this weekend with Aerosmith’s Buck Johnson now on keyboards, and a setlist featuring the infamous, anti-drug “No-No Song,” which came out at the height of Ringo’s drug use in the ‘70s.
(The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)
C The Wandering Hours (single release) w/Passerine/Mark Wagner & The Bad Habits The BOTB-winning “neo-traditional mountain folk” quintet celebrates the release of two new singles with this local bluegrass-drenched gig. Some lo-fi, live-without-a-crowd versions of “Irene,” anchored on some killer mandolin parts and fiddle leads, and the more harmonious “Hard To Travel” have both been released along with music videos filmed in Hot Springs, North Carolina, but neither studio version will emerge until June 20. The Wandering Hours is also taking pre-orders for seveninch records, so maybe off one of your dad’s old 45 adapters, or maybe take the eight-minute drive to Bananas Music to buy another one for cheap. (Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg)
Ziggy Alberts w/Steph Strings The Aussie singer-songwriter brings a new album New Love—described as a “return to simplicity, to a time when life was led by magic and adventure, and finding joy in chaos”—to what appears to be his first-ever show in Florida. And don’t even think about bringing a face mask (Alberts has spoken out about the PPE and a covid-era mandatory mask order that he said, “strips Australians of their basic rights.”) (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
SUN 22
C Swing Sundays: Falcons w/DJ Ku It’s been a year-and-a-half since Falcons introduced himself to Tampeños with a sweaty set alongside Pangea Sound cohort Supernova. The producer (Amaarae, Bas, Young Thug, Lil Tecca) and DJ returns to town for a rooftop set dedicated to soul, jazz, and house. Tampa’s No. 2 DJ—if you believe the silly ranking floating around this week—DJ Ku helped bring Pangea Sound to Ybor City in January 2024 and plays host for the no-cover throwdown where reservations are recommended. (M. Bird, Tampa)—RR
C Homeboy Sandman w/E-turn/Stick & Ditty/B.C. The Moon Tower has quickly become a reliable home for out-of-the-mainstream sounds, and the space next to Dunedin Brewery welcomes one of the OG-est of hyper-lyrical rappers to town. Sandman stays busy and is on the road supporting a foursong EP, Manners , stuffed with head-nodding, gritty bars and ridiculous breath control. E-turn, lord of the Orlando underground rap scene, is on the show along with Stick Martin & Jon Ditty, plus Tampa rap godfather B.C. (Moon Tower, Dunedin)
MON 23
Fluorescents w/Felicity/Discord Theory/ hollyglen/No One Road Fluorescents cites The White Stripes, Blink-182, and turnof-the-century pop-punk in general as its influences—and released its first album Scream It At Me ! earlier this year. A “zesty” new single from the Chicago-based band also drops this month. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
THU 26
C Nate Najar w/Jeff Kashiwa Nate Najar is no stranger to Bay area jazz fans, but he almost always plays onstage with musicians more rooted in tradition. That goes out the window a bit for this one where saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa who plays an electrified take on sweaty, often sultry, sooth jazz. Patrick Bettison plays keys on this one along with drummer Dave Reinhardt. (Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
Avril Lavigne
Fostering is free: all supplies provided!
Help cats and dogs get a break from the shelter
Raise kittens and puppies in a safe home environment
Earn 4 volunteer hours per day
Tampa Bay millennials can relive their Hot Topic days with two bands coming to the Bay area this fall.
The Maximum Fun Tour— featuring A Day To Remember and Yellowcard— hits 36 North American venues, including MidFlorida Credit Union in Tampa.
Albany, New York-based pop punk band State Champs and Boundaries, a metalcore act from Hartford, Connecticut, open the show.
Ocala-born A Day To Remember released its most popular song “If It Means A Lot To You” in 2009. Yellowcard, originally from Jacksonville, peaked with “Ocean Avenue” in 2003 and has since sold 4 million albums and garnered over 1 billion streams.
Putrid Pule w/mysteryxmeat/Los Reyesz Bong Death/Antiseptic/Law of Casuality Saturday, June 14. 7:30 p.m.
$23.18. Brass Mug, Tampa
Joe Marcinek Band w/John 'Papa' Gros/The Family Funk Wednesday, June 18. 5:30 p.m. $20. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg
Side Winder Thursday, July 3. 7:30 p.m.
$10. Brass Mug, Tampa
Slum Village w/Vice Souletric/Kaelin Ellis/DJ Deacon Sunday, July 6. 7 p.m.
$30.83 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Deorro Friday, July 11. 10 p.m. $36.87 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Saints Of Saturn (formerly The Dirty Janes) w/Shy Blossom/Sevenstone/ Face The Fence Friday, July 11. 7 p.m.
$12.49. Crowbar, Ybor Cit
Dead of Summer Party: Thin Spaces w/High Press/Grim Gardener/Social Wreckage Saturday, July 12. 6 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa
In honor of its re-surfacing, A Day To Remember released A Day To Remember’s Big Ole Album Vol. 1 earlier this year.
After disbanding in 2017 and rekindling in 2022, Yellowcard followed suit, announcing its first album in almost a decade, Better Days to be released on Oct. 10. The band also released a single, “Honestly I,” (stylized in all-lowercase) showing off the album’s production by Blink 182’s Travis Barker— who drums on all of its songs.
Tickets to see Yellowcard and A Day To Remember play Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Saturday, Sept. 27 are on sale now and start at $30. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below. —Jani Burden
Prom Night Party: Kingsleyiii w/Fessi K/Pilot Jonezz Saturday, July 12. 9 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City
Velvet Sky w/Silver Bullet Smile/ Decibel Dogs/Valhalla Calling/Side Winder Friday, July 18. 7 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa
EyeHateGod w/Crowbar/Swamp Tooth/ Cold Steel Friday, Aug. 8. 6 p.m. $30 & up. Brass Mug, Tampa
Slander: Prosecute w/Vctre/Trxggx/ Nejvex/Redline Friday-Saturday, Aug. 8-9. 10 p.m. $59.67. The Ritz, Ybor City
Lost 80’s Live: A Flock of Seagulls w/General Public/The Vapors/Big Country/The Icicle Works Tuesday, Aug. 12. 6 p.m. $66 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Blair Crimmins and The Hookers
Thursday, Aug. 14. 8 p.m. $12.23. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa
Sultan + Shepard Saturday, Aug. 16. 11 p.m. $46.75. The Ritz, Ybor City
Hope and carnage
By Caroline DeBruhl
Iused to live in Downtown Los Angeles, a block off of skid row in a hotel called The Cecil. I moved in 2010, before any attempt at gentrification, when the majority of my neighbors were homeless, and you could buy a loosey with two quarters from the liquor store on 5th Street. When I told coworkers and friends where I lived, they told me how dangerous my neighborhood was. When I told my neighbors where I lived, they told me how many murders had happened there. People talked as if evil were localized, always somewhere else, somewhere worse.
Warnings of danger come in a binary form. This is the bad part of town, meaning there’s a good part somewhere else. These people cause harm, these protect. This was a place of danger, this of safety. I was warned again about my bad neighborhood when I moved to Austin, warned again when I moved into Ybor City.
I didn’t feel particularly unsafe in any of these areas because I grew up in New Orleans, a city where violence plagues every neighborhood, touches every family. Places might feel safer than others, but nowhere is completely safe—and nowhere is completely dangerous. Most places are filled with people who are looking to just live their lives.
But as I have watched ICE raids escalate for months, watched people get hooded and shoved into vans, as I’ve watched the Trump administration disregard law, legal precedent, constitutional and human rights, as I watched nearly 5,000 military personnel stand around my old neighborhood, on those piss-covered streets, clutching their little weapons of war, as I’ve
watched police in dozens of other cities—frightened to death of shouting and shoving—shoot rubber-covered bullets at close range at protesters and journalists, as I’ve watched the gleeful acceptance from my fellow countrymen as if this the natural progression of things, I have felt that there is no safe harbor anywhere anymore.
We are all in danger.
And we must save ourselves. No other help is coming.
I asked three questions this week: what to do about ICE, what the military deployment means, and what can we, as a collective, do to stop an authoritarian takeover?
Regarding ICE, The cards I drew—Temperance, Four of Cups reversed, and Six of Pentacles —offered a more philosophical answer than a practical one.
And then, we have to give—money, time, things of real value. We have to protect those most vulnerable to ICE, free those in custody, we have to hinder ICE and try to dismantle it, and we have to go on a hearts-and-minds campaign for those who believe ICE is protecting them. Like a hydra, one has to both cut off the head and cauterize the wound to stop it from regrowing. It is difficult work but work that must be done.
As for the military deployment, the cards tell us nothing new. Three of Wands, leaving what is known and moving in a new direction.
The Hierophant, the embodiment of Institutions. The Emperor reversed, a leader uninterested in diplomacy. Trump is using the military in an unprecedented way to protect the power of the institution and disregarding diplomacy and will continue to do so for more than six months. A shocking revelation, truly.
ORACLE OF YBOR
Send your questions to oracle@cltampa. com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram
ICE exists as a reaction from those wallowing in their Four of Cups dissatisfaction. It’s looking for someone to blame and, clouded by emotions, can lead to unfounded anger or sadness—especially if persuaded by someone else.
One of the reasons it’s easy to blame someone else for our problems—or to think a group is dangerous compared to ourselves—is that we naturally sort things into binaries. There is good vs. evil, in vs. out, with us or against us. Temperance is a card that reminds us that to be human is to hold paradoxes, contradictions, and multiple points of view. It is to realize that the so-called enemy that ICE protects us from does not exist.
The final question, what can we do, has both a straightforward and complex answer.
The Knight of Pentacles, riding the bronco from hell, knows what needs to be done as does it. It is a card of action—not questioning, not debate, action. Pentacles are the suit of values; we must act in accordance with them on a big-picture level.
The Lovers are a card of unity as well as choice. We have to work collectively but that doesn’t mean we have to follow the same pattern, respect the same old hierarchy. Like a romantic relationship, The Lovers invites us to listen to each other, to understand that our wants and desires might differ, but to see us as one unit, as opposed to two individuals. It is not a time for in-fighting. It is not a time for “us vs. them.” This machine will crush us
all—even those operating it—if we let it. We have to put love and action above ego.
And then we have to remember our joy.
The Two of Pentacles is a card of balance, often representing the work-life dichotomy. In this view, the balance of labor is at play. It’s responsibility and fun, seriousness and joy.
Musician Nick Cave wrote that hopefulness is adversarial. It is a warrior emotion, and acts of hope and love and joy are what keeps ‘the devil down in the hole.’ To rejoice in the face of tyranny, to celebrate in the shadow of fear, is to relish in your humanity as a system tries to strip you of it. To live fully and loudly and uncensored is to hold on to your own power, to state that your life is worth fighting for, as another tries to rip it away.
I am not naive. I don’t think dancing is all a revolution needs. But fear cannot stand to be teased. It cannot hold up to mocking, cannot justify itself when shamed. In order of tyranny to work and in order for it to be overthrown, hearts and minds must be won. Cruel tyranny cannot become the logical next step if it has no backing. A little coup will stay a little coup.
The goal, as happy warriors, is to stop the growth of that cruelty, to purge it from the hearts of those already under its sway, to stop it from taking root again. This is done in addition to direct action. This is done in addition of tangible things. This is done with joy and splendor and rage at the coming of the night.
Do not hide your glory. Do not hide your love or hope or courage from yourself. Do not hide your humanity from your own heart. To keep ahold of that is to be a worthy adversary of tyranny.
To keep that is for you to be the dangerous one.
See more of Caroline and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to Section 715.109, notice is hereby given that the following property will be offered for public sale and will sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash: a 1972 IMPE mobile home, VIN 312310B and 312310A and the contents therein, if any abandoned by previous owner and tenant Peter George Suja IV. on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at 130 Sycamore Drive, Tavares, FL 32778.. ICARD, MERRILL, CULLIS, TIMM, FUREN & GINSBURG, P.A. Alyssa M. Nohren FL Bar No. 352410 2033 Main Street Suite 600 Sarasota, Florida 34237 Telephone: (941) 366-8100 Facsimile: (941) 366-6384 anohren@icardmerrill.com smenasco@icardmerrill.com Attorney for Tiki Village MHC, LLC
