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OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 (VOL.39, NO.43) • $FREE CREATIVE LOAFING • CLTAMPABAY.COM

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Editorial DEPUTY EDITOR/DIGITAL DIRECTOR Colin Wolf STAFF WRITER Valerie Smith IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, David Warner PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker, Alexis Thompson IN-BETWEEN INTERN Leif Helland (apply for spring by emailing clips and a resumes to rroa@cltampa.com)

DAVE DECKER

PUBLISHER James Howard CHAIRMAN Mike Trentalange EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Paul Pavlovich POLITICAL CARTOONIST Bob Whitmore ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson Advertising SALES DIRECTOR Anthony Carbone SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dan Winkler CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER Jerrica Schwartz

We need candidates who can change the Democratic party.

Tampa Bay Journalism Project DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR John T. Fox PARTNER NEWSROOMS Cigar City Sounds, The Gabber, San Pedro Gazette, Sapphic Sun, TB Arts Passport, WMNF News Events and Marketing MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Leigh Wilson SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jessica Prieto MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman Circulation

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

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CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta

Ashley Herrmann among recommendations in 2026 CL voter guide, p. 25.

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CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

/food Burger Week is back /music More Music Week /arts Bananas /news Trop doesn’t suck

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SHUTTERSTOCK

In this issue, readers will find Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s ballot recommendations for the General Election. Last week, we ran an op-ed against the retention of Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz. Here are some reader letters in response to that piece. See more ballot recommendations on pp. 25 & 27, plus extended recommendations and reasoning via cltampa.com/news. Keep sending us letters. We’ll keep running them with your permission. Thanks for reading; now go vote.—Ray Roa People usually appeal to stare decisis only if it favors their positions, something you’ve clearly done in your critique of Justice Muniz. Recall if you will that the 13th amendment was specifically a circumvention of stare decisis which eliminated legal protections for the abominable practice of chattel slavery. Had the darling of stare decisis won the day in 1865 over the 13th amendment, chattel slavery would have retained its judicial protections. So, you’d like to apply it to abortion because you favor the notion of reproductive rights, but that brings me to the crux of it. Calling abortion “reproductive health” is, in the words of Seth Dillon, “like calling rape some kind of love-making”. The issue it seems to me is that you haven’t acceeded to the scientific, medical reality that abortion is horrible. Most of its victims have been African American and we’ve now exceeded 60,000,000 innocent deaths. As in the case of chattel slavery, “Legal is not always Moral”. I for one am grateful that a Constitutional Convention wasn’t needed for Florida to put the brakes on this senseless bloodshed. It is at least as horrific as chattel slavery, if not more so. Thank you.—Chris Finn, Musician, Flagler Beach

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Your Op-Ed piece on Justice Muniz I found to be disturbingly interesting. I am not a lawyer, as you are not. Yet, to fully comprehend your premise and conclusion does not require a knowledge of the law. It requires merely a smidgen of common sense. Slavery was supported by precedent, or stare decisis, in this country under both British Common Law and Constitutional law for 150 years. By your reasoning, it still should be. It is clear that you support Roe v Wade of 1972 even though the Supreme Court reversed the unquestionably political 50 year Constitutional error. The current Supreme Court in 2024 reversed the Supreme Court’s Chevron deference decision of 1984 where the Supreme Court at the time abdicated its Constitutional obligation/authority and that “precedent” stood for 40 years resulting in the uncontrollable federal bureaucracy that now even negatively impacts your life, to which you are completely ignorant. I normally vote against retaining any and all justices just in case I am with the majority. This election I will make one exception. I am also voting against all three Amendments on the ballot due to the fact that they are not proper Constitutional issues. I am a 78 year old registered Independent who definitely rejects the “NPA” or No Party Affiliation ballot and registration designation as being punitive and pejorative as if to insinuate a lack of commitment or patriotism. With a degree in Political Science and significant political experience over the years, I am the last person to be silent. In that light, I will simply say that if those of similar mind to you become the majority in this country, I shall prepare for the consequences by learning Mandarin. In Liberty.—Lou Magill, First Person Historical Interpreter of James Madison Send letters to rroa@cltampa.com, and let us know if we can publish your thoughts.

S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T P R E S E N T E D B Y S A V O R S T. P E T E

Savor St. Pete Returns For The 14th Annual Weekend Of Food, Wine & Waterfront Fun! Restaurants, Chefs, Premium Pours And Food Lovers Come Together For Two Unforgettable Days At Savor St. Pete, November 7–8.

here’s something about great food, a glass in hand and an afternoon spent with friends that makes for a pretty perfect weekend. Add the beautiful St. Petersburg waterfront to the mix, and you have SAVOR St. Pete. SAVOR St. Pete Food + Wine Festival returns to Vinoy Park November 7–8, 2026, bringing together restaurants, chefs, premium wines, spirits and food lovers for two days of sipping, sampling and discovering new favorites. At the heart of SAVOR is the Grand Tasting Village, where guests can make their way through the festival sampling bites from participating restaurants and chefs alongside an impressive selection of wines, spirits and other beverages. One stop might introduce you to a restaurant you’ve been

meaning to try, while the next could lead to a new favorite wine or cocktail. The experience is designed for exploring. There’s no need to choose just one restaurant or settle in for a traditional meal. Instead, guests can spend the afternoon tasting, sipping and enjoying everything at their own pace. And while food and drink may be the reason you come, the atmosphere is a big part of what makes SAVOR special. Set in beautiful Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg, the festival offers a waterfront backdrop for an afternoon with friends, a date day or an entire weekend built around good food and good company. SAVOR welcomes guests from St. Pete, Tampa, Clearwater, communities throughout

the Tampa Bay area and beyond, making it a true regional celebration of food, wine and the people who enjoy them. Want a little more time to SAVOR? VIP admission begins at noon, giving VIP guests an additional hour inside the festival before General Admission entry begins at 1 p.m. Both experiences continue until 4 p.m., leaving plenty of time to explore the Grand Tasting Village and discover everything the festival has to offer. With two days to choose from, SAVOR also makes it easy to turn the festival into part of a bigger weekend. Before or after the event, guests are just steps from downtown St. Petersburg’s restaurants, bars, museums, shops and waterfront attractions.

Whether you’re coming for the incredible food, discovering new wines and spirits, spending the day with friends or simply looking for something different to do, SAVOR is the kind of experience best enjoyed with an appetite and a sense of adventure. So gather your favorite people, come hungry and get ready for a weekend filled with great tastes, memorable pours and plenty of reasons to raise a glass. SAVOR St. Pete Food + Wine Festival November 7–8, 2026 Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg VIP: Noon–4 p.m. General Admission: 1–4 p.m. Sip. Savor. Repeat. Tickets and festival information are available at SAVORtheBurg.com

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Life’s a movie Photos by Alexis Thompson

ime travel was real last Thursday on Franklin Street as Tampa Theatre staged the finale in a weeklong unveiling for its $24.5 million centennial restoration, which kicked off last March. After not getting to set foot inside the venue’s historic Duncan Auditorium for seven months, Tampeños admired the work that has the atmospheric movie palace looking just like it did on opening night, Oct. 15, 1926. After and in between comments from theater leadership, donors, boardmembers, the 1924 silent film “Sherlock Jr.” screened, soundtracked by the theater’s mighty Wurlitzer and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. The ensemble then closed the evening with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” accompanied by surprise projection mapping that illuminated the details that architect John Eberson built into what is considered one of the most beautiful movie houses in the world. And for all the rah-rah, the real star of last night was the old lady herself, repainted as

Eberson imagined, with every architectural and aesthetic detail allowing visitors to imagine the humanity involved in creating such a spectacular venue. As Tampa Theatre house photographer Jeff Fay re-created the famous opening night crowd photo outside the venue, it was hard not to think about all of the movies, performances and memories the walls inside, and out, have seen. It was impossible not to think about people like Andy Huse, the late Tampa historian, librarian, author and archivist whose last work was the definitive history of the Tampa Theatre (a seat now bears his name, so he always has a place there). Not lost on anyone last night was the political will it took—and the continued effort it takes—to save something that many consider a lost cause, or too expensive, and how sometimes we have to do hard things so that our kids, grandkids and neighbors can have a chance to experience beauty in such close proximity. See all the photos via cltampa.com/arts—Ray Roa

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VOTED BEST ART CLASSES

art classes

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do this

Tampa Bay's best things to do from October 22- 29. See more on pp. 37, 41-42 & 45 Pearl of a girl

Early this month, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay contributor Alex English called South Tampa’s Paper Seahorse the “Best Proof the Future Is Analog,” and the shop proves it again to kick off the weekend. A variety of shorts set to music open the night before a screening of “David and Lisa.” Released in 1962 and nominated for two Oscars (Best Director, Best Writing: Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium), the black-and-white film is kind of perfect for Halloween and the beginning of cuffing season as it finds Keir Dullea (as David Clemens) and Janet Margolin (as Lisa Brandt) playing teenagers who form a bond while being held in a psychiatric facility. The movie will be presented on 16mm microfilm, and nerds can get some extra credit by reading the 1958 short story that inspired it (“Jordi/Lisa and David”).

16mm Microcinema Friday Night, ‘David & Lisa’: Friday, Oct. 23. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $20. The Paper Seahorse, 211 S Howard Ave., Tampa. paperseahorse.com—Ray Roa HELLER-PERRY PRODUCTIONS

Transit formers

KYRIAKOS CAROS/CLEARWATER GREEK FESTIVAL

On Oct. 13 in Ybor City, Doug Gordon, co-author of “Life After Cars,” gave a room full of transit activists an assessment on Tampa’s peoplecentric infrastructure. Surprisingly, he was kind of impressed. Yes, this city has too many parking podiums and not enough shade (ironically, the former creates the latter at certain times of the day), but we’ve got a nice East West Green Spine Cycle Track, and designated lanes for cyclists he said, before turning the microphone over to a panel of transit-minded local leaders and elected officials. Tampa City Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak said the city is making incremental changes that shouldn’t be ignored, but added that there has to be more political will to get that done. Dayna Lazarus, pictured, co-founder of Transit Now Tampa Bay (TNTB), spent her childhood exiled in the ‘burbs where transit options lacked, agreed and said part of her approach to growing transit to is take anyone who shows a remote interest in making better and encouraging them to do one little thing about it. This Saturday, and every Saturday until Election Day, Lazarus’ grassroots organization is knocking on doors to canvass for pro-transit candidates on the November ballot (we’ve endorsed them on pp. 25-27) and against Amendment 3. If passed, TNTB says it could slash the budget for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority by at least 18% by 2035 and reduce the operating budget by 26%. “...routes and frequencies will be completely eliminated,” TNTB said. The group meets in Seminole Heights in the morning, and is done no later than 12:30 p.m.

Feta believe it

Canvass for transit w/Transit Now Tampa Bay: Saturdays (Oct. 24 & 31), 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. No cover. Meet at Rivercrest Park gazebo, 4802 N Blvd., Tampa. transitnowtb.org

—Ray Roa

BRIERA CROCKETT/TRANSIT NOW TAMPA BAY

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At nearly 60 years old, the Clearwater GreekFest is one of the oldest cultural celebrations in the Bay area. A fundraiser for the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the three-day pita party includes tours of the grand cathedral (which was severely damaged by fire in 2015 before reopening four years later), an “opa!” party tent, and hordes of beloved Greek foods from lamb shank, to salad, plaki, pastitsio, gyros, souvlaki, desserts and more. Cooking demonstrations and Hellas dancers of all ages round out festivities. Operating since 1969 the local Greek Orthodox community emphasizes that folks don’t have to be from the motherland to join, adding that “in fact 80% of marriages in our church today are between Greeks and non-Greeks.” Bring some breath mints then, too. Clearwater GreekFest: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Noon-6 p.m. on Sunday). No cover. Greek Orthodox Church, 409 S Old Coachman Rd., Clearwater. clearwatergreekfest.com—Ray Roa

See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com Typo shit

Over the summer, the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee came down to a spelloff between 14-year-old Shrey Parikh from California and 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta from New Jersey. They each had 90 seconds to spell as many words correctly as possible. Parikh ended up doing 32, setting a new record. Words in the tournament included Parikh’s final word, “bromocriptine,” and you can bet there’s no way the contestants at this local bee will get close to that. The “F*cked Up Spelling Bee” goes down at DIY east Ybor City spot The Gimmick (literally facing the tracks between 22nd and 23rd Streets, near Casa Santo Stefano), where the venue promises to showcase comedians getting drunk and trying to impress the crowd and esteemed panel with their intelligence or lack thereof. The best part, it’s BYOB for anyone who buys a ticket. F*cked Up Spelling Bee: Next Thursday, Oct. 29. 8 p.m. $10. Gimmick Comedy Club, 2213 E 6th Ave., Ybor City. @thegimmickcomedy on Instagram—Ray Roa

Walking dead

RAY ROA

Cemetery drama is real in the city of Tampa, and this afternoon stroll through one of Tampa’s oldest graveyards is sure to provide some tea. Dating back to 1850, Oaklawn Cemetery is home to Tampa’s first mayor who is buried there along with a dozen other city mayors, a governor and a pair of Florida Supreme Court justices. Led by Manny Leto, the brain and liver behind the infamous Drunk Tampa History, this tour will casually move through the historic site offering, “real stories of murder and mystery from Tampa’s past.”

Brick Street Tours, ‘A Not So Spooky Oaklawn Cemetery Walking Tour’: Saturday, Oct. 24. 4 p.m. $30. Oaklawn Cemetery, 606 E Harrison St., Tampa. brickstreettours.com—Ray Roa

GOOGLE MAPS

Candy crush

Set for next Saturday, Halloween is going to be lit for adults. Kiddos get to warm up this weekend though, with two big family-centric trick-or-treat events happening on each side of the Bay. Tampa goes first on Saturday when the southern end of the Tampa Riverwalk hosts an afternoon party that starts with 4 p.m. trick or treating and ends with a 7:15 p.m. movie in the park (Cotanchobee Park, 601 Water St.). The event coincides with the tickets 15th annual "A Night at the Museum" happening inside Tampa Bay History Center (because we all should reckon with the ghosts of history, regardless of a holiday). Across the bridges on Sunday, St. Petersburg’s Edge and Grand Central Districts host their annual car-free trick-ortreat and festival, which spans 22 blocks. More information on both is available via thetampariverwalk.com, grandcentraldistrict.org, or by finding this post on cltampabay.com.—

Ray Roa GRAND CENTRAL DISTRICT

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VOTE NIXON: Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon will have to win independent voters over to get to Washington D.C.

Radical times

In Ybor City, Nixon and Sanders rally against ‘lying, cheating, scheming, thieving Ashley Moody’. By Ray Roa

urrounded by more than 2,000 rain-soaked supporters at the Cuban Club courtyard in Ybor City last Saturday, Rebecca Dean made an admission: She’s casting a ballot for Angie Nixon. The 61-year-old teacher from Gulfport told the crowd she’s known the Florida lawmaker for years, from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) where Nixon, now running for U.S. Senate against appointed Sen. Ashley Moody, is a dues-paying member. “I’m a registered Republican,” she explained, nervously, “and I’m voting for Angie.” Dean was met with a roar from a crowd that braved the weather, even bringing their kids, and climbing the back wall of the courtyard where pink plumeria blooms matched the bright ponchos Nixon’s campaign volunteers wore as they navigated the crowd. Dean, of course, is not alone. Ted Leo, the punk musician, warmed up the crowd while wearing a staff t-shirt from working class Tampa dive bar The Hub. He closed his set with a cover of The Ramones’ “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg),” a song about President Ronald Reagan’s controversial 1985 visit to a German cemetery that contained the Nazi soldiers and SS men.

But the throngs of people came not just to hear from him or Nixon, but from Sen. Bernie Sanders, too. The famously independent was barnstorming Florida last weekend, and suggested that Florida might not be as red as politicos have painted it this year. “Angie can win it. She can win it if working people come out to vote. If working people are out there knocking on doors, making phone calls, all the things we need,” Sanders, 85, said. “They got the money, we got the people.” It won’t be easy. Nixon, who’s spent six years in the Florida legislature, earned 705,835 votes in the primary, and she’ll need way more to defeat her Republican opponent, former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody who was chosen for the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Sen. Marco Rubio got called up to serve in the Trump administration. With voter registration closed ahead of this midterm, Republicans hold a 1.55 million advantage over Democrats in Florida. At the rally, newly-minted attorney and strategist Jackson McMillan echoed what everyone knows (that Florida’s 3.3 million NPA voters will decide the race) while adding that young voters will have to play a part.

DAVE DECKER

“By young voter I mean under-40, not Nixon was a single mom for 12 years and 18-22,” the 24-year-old told Creative Loafing runs Jacksonville’s Café Resistance Bookstore Tampa Bay. and Coffee Shop. During her six years in the Last year, McMillan’s four-year-old firm, Florida legislature, she filed bills that enhanced Key Lime Strategies, raised $25 million for Gay early learning and worked on panels pushing Valimont and Josh Weil in their failed congres- back against cuts to public education or restricsional and senate races. tions on a woman’s right to choose. She was He said that standard polling has failed even arrested for her vocal protests against because it samples people who are consistent Florida’s new gerrymandered voting maps. voters. SEIU President April Verrett told Ybor City “Where Angie is going to make up that that Nixon, “doesn’t need a focus group to know math and potentially carry other candidates what working a double shift feels like.” over the line with her is with At the Cuban Club last Saturday, Nixon did what people who wouldn’t have shown up otherwise,” he said, many Florida Democrats seem noting how significant it was incapable of—effectivively, and that Sanders, and Alexandria viscerally, dismantling her 2026 General Election Ocasio-Cortez before him, opponent, calling her “lying, Early voting: Now through think Florida is in play. cheating, scheming, thieving Sunday, Nov. 1 “That kind of thing Ashley Moody.” Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3 doesn’t happen if they’re not She went in on Moody’s role pretty confident that their presence actually in the Hope Florida scandal where allegations means something,” McMillan added. in a now expunged grand jury report detailed Nixon—a 42-year-old who stunned how a “sophisticated scheme” moved $10 milDemocratic party lifers with a resounding vic- lion that could’ve gone to children’s healthcare tory in a primary race where she was outspent to PACs supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ politi16-to-1 by an anointed candidate—is easy to cal priorities. get behind. Nixon noted how Moody’s stock trading volCreative Loafing Tampa Bay is recommend- ume while in Washington D.C. have made her ing readers select her to represent Florida in the millions of dollars richer and how the TampaU.S. Senate (read more recommendations on pp. based lawyer’s “Big Beautiful Bill” vote ushered 25 & 27 and see an extended guide at cltampa. in the largest cut in Medicaid funding in history. com/news). continued on page 21

VOTING GUIDE

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continued from page 19 Nixon recently told WMNF Tampa that if elected, her first order of business will be to file legislation that extends ACA subsidies. “Ashley Moody voted against that, and it knocked nearly 300,000 people off of the Affordable Care Act rolls here in this state, and it caused everyone on private insurance for their health insurance to skyrocket,” Nixon added. “She works for the corrupt and powerful to advance herself and put millions in her own pocket. But I know who I work for,” Nixon told the crowd. “I work for you. I fight for you.” Nixon did not let up in Ybor City, bringing up the fact that Moody refuses to debate her. “Ashley Moody is running scared. She doesn’t want to talk about her record,” Nixon told supporters. “Instead of talking about your cost and her corruption, Ashley Moody just wants to talk about little old me.” Nixon noted how Republicans are now painting her as radical because she wants to lower costs, shore up social security, and protect families from bankruptcy and exorbitant medical bills—partly by increasing taxes on ultra-wealthy Americans. “If believing that our teachers should be able to afford to live in the communities where they teach is radical. Then call me radical,” Nixon said. “If believing that a child with cancer should get treatment they need, whether their parents can afford it or not, is radical,” she went on. “Then call me radical.”

“If believing that we should spend more money taking care of our children than fighting endless wars is radical, then what?,” she then asked the crowd. “Call me radical,” they screamed back. Republicans, if you’ve turned on a TV these days, are painting any Democrat—even former Republican, and current Democratic nominee for governor David Jolly—as a radical socialist. The connection was ironic in the shadow of Ybor City’s 109-year-old Cuban Club, which functioned not just as a social club for immigrants, but a place where they would organize to rally for workers rights and take care of each other through socialized, localized, healthcare. Right-wingers tried to attack Nixon and Sanders’ rally at the Cuban Club, claiming Cubans who fled communism should be appalled. Alba Lopes wasn’t giving in to that simplistic assessment. “I think there’s a misconstrued concept of socialism. Socialism is not just getting things for free; it’s just helping a sector for a society that is vulnerable,” Lopes told CL. “And we as a society do have the responsibility to care for one another.” Lopez told CL she drove her family 90 minutes from Venice to be at the rally, because of her own beliefs. “I’m here today because of hope. I believe in change. I believe in our leaders. I believe in our democracy,” she said, and I do believe in the goodness of people.”

VOTING GUIDE

DAVE DECKER

SOCIAL EVENT: Alba Lopes says a lot of people misunderstand the concept of ‘socialism.’

cltampabay.com | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | 21

Help keep local journalism alive this giving season.

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

22 | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | cltampabay.com

CAMPAIGN IN THE ASS: I trust Ken Welch. Charlie Crist is likeable, but I don’t trust his reasons for running.

For St. Pete’s sake Mayor Ken Welch deserves another term. By David Warner

ayor Ken Welch has been up against it during his nearly five years at city hall. Two hurricanes took an unprecedented toll on city services. The roof blew off the Trop in the midst of negotiations with the Rays, and the team decided to leave St. Pete for Tampa. A governor and state legislature wrested control from Florida’s cities, bulldozed (or should I say bull-DOGEd) their budgets, and sent all DEI initiatives to die. Republicans in Washington D.C., dedicated only to their supreme leader and his fellow billionaires, helped create an affordability crisis driven by their own selfish policies and undeclared wars. Could Mayor Welch have stopped these winds from blowing? No. Yet his opponent, Charlie Crist, suggests that Welch coulda, woulda, shoulda done a lot more. And that he, Good Time Charlie, coulda, woulda, shoulda done better. Maybe he coulda. If he’d been here. But he wasn’t. He was here intermittently in the city he loves to say he loves, mostly to deal with family issues here and in Minneapolis. And now he’s back, doing what he does so well: campaign. Crist is an excellent runner for things, no doubt. His soothing manner suggests he could make a mint doing ASMR videos. His varsity jacket reminds us he used to play high school ball. His platform and his debate remind us of all the offices he used to hold.

But listen to the Bay News 9 mayoral debate—the only one Crist agreed to—and watch those informative one-on-one interviews on Fox13. What you get from the two candidates is this. Ken Welch speaks in specifics. Crist speaks in bromides. I’m going to take as just one example their views on the Historic Gas Plant District, the 86-acre tract that will be freed up when the Rays depart. The mayor talks about the Burg Bid, the plan already developed with Blake Investment Partners and others that would have an estimated $8 billion impact, leading to affordable housing, more than 30,000 jobs, and workforce training that would tie into arts and innovation in the district. Crist’s plan? “I think it should be very green. I’d like to plant a lot of trees.” Oh, and he wants to form a “blue-ribbon panel.” Right. Another panel. “We have studied this to death for 40 years,” says Welch, and he’s right. Another panel is exactly what we don’t need. And then there’s Crist’s notion that we can still get the Rays to stay in St. Pete. “Ya never know unless you try!” he says, employing one of his favorite platitudes. To which, in the debate, Welch responded, “To say we have a shot at baseball now when they’re signing contracts in Tampa is just not realistic.” Not realistic—that sums up a lot of what Crist is campaigning on. Regarding the Gas

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

Plant, Welch wants to live up to promises made multi-million-dollar discount on city-owned land. to the community 40 years ago. Crist wants to Plus, he points out, Orlando Health has now make pie-in-the-sky promises of a Rays rescue built a respected cancer facility right downtown. that cannot possibly be kept. Are there areas in which Welch can improve? Then there’s the promise Crist is making to As numerous critics (including Crist) have pointed cut property taxes by cutting city bureaucracy. out, Welch’s City Hall has problems with accessiSounds nice, but the cuts Crist is proposing bility and transparency that must be addressed. wouldn’t make a difference because those posi- He’ll never be as natural a glad-hander as Crist, tions are not funded by property taxes. but he needs to examine how his office commuAnother impossible dream: Crist insists that nicates with citizens—and how it responds to Welch should have sued DeSantis and his lack- queries. (Anecdotally speaking, it’s notoriously eys to stop them from painting over the rainbow difficult for new businesses to get through the crosswalks. Crist knows well that suing the mini- permitting process in St. Pete.) Mussolini who so soundly beat But Ken Welch has been him for governor would have here—not just as our mayor done no good—and it’s Welch, for four years, but as a county not Crist, who has the endorsecommissioner for 20. He’s seen ments of Equality Florida and our area’s problems up close and 2026 General Election Stonewall Democrats. personal for all that time, while Early voting: Now through More woulda coulda Charlie Crist was climbing variSunday, Nov. 1 shoulda: According to Crist, ous political ladders to higher Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3 Welch and the city shoulda office. I had the pleasure of workbeen more prepared for the hurricanes. For two ing with Welch when he was, as commissioner, storms unprecedented in their impact. Uh-huh. an ex officio board member for Creative Pinellas, To his credit, Welch is now supporting the $600 where I serve on the board. I knew him as a sage, million GO (General Obligation) bond referendum effective advisor with a calm demeanor and dry to fund improvements to stormwater systems sense of humor that maybe voters don’t always see. under his St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) proBottom line, I trust Ken Welch. Charlie Crist is gram—a bond referendum which, by the way, likeable, but I don’t trust his reasons for running. Crist once supported until he didn’t. The race is nonpartisan, but given the boatAs for decisions over which Welch did loads of Republican, lobbyist, and utility-tied have control, there’s the whole Moffitt Cancer money supporting his campaign, I have to wonder Center dust-up. His decision not to accept a whether this Republican-turned-Independentdeal for Moffitt to build a St. Pete branch has turned-Democrat-turned-whichever-way-thebeen excoriated by Crist as a missed oppor- wind-blows candidate will truly have St. Pete’s tunity. Ignored by those who agree with that interests at heart. stance is Welch’s reasonable—and fiscally See more recommendations on pp. 25 & 27, sensible—response that the developer wanted a and an extended guide on cltampa.com/news.

VOTING GUIDE

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CHECK HERE: Creative Loafing 2026 Voting Guide Some people don’t do politics, choosing instead to let politics do them (and their neighbors). Many don’t have that privilege and that’s why you’re here. The 2026 general election ballot is a doozy that’ll take stamina, but consider this voting guide as training. These picks come after Creative Loafing Tampa Bay skipped endorsements for the summer primary, partly to staff limitations, but also because we weren’t sure readers wanted them. We were wrong, you did, and we’ve done everything we can to deliver this guide in time for early voting.

There aren’t any recommendations for Polk County seats; CL staff c. 2026 simply does not have the bandwidth to cover that area properly. The same goes for Largo, Seminole, and Belleair Beach; we’ll do better in the next election. One theme in the recommendations here— and the extended ones—is the curse of incumbency. There’s a lot that sucks about living in Florida right now, and some elected officials who’ve been in charge for the last 20 years should shoulder the blame, regardless of party. And while CL’s guide unsurprisingly tilts left, there are plenty of races where the so-calledDemocrat isn’t really that inspiring. The fact of the matter is, the Republican Party has come so far off the rails in Florida that there’s almost no choice in the general election— but this state also needs candidates who can change the Florida Democratic Party to a side that’s unafraid to fight and unwilling to cower toward the middle for the sake of staying in office.

If you don’t have an ID, cast a provisional ballot that will count if your voter status is verified. Yes, you are allowed to bring this voter guide into the ballot box.

Federal races

U.S. Senate (special election): Angie Nixon U.S. House, District 12 (Hillsborough): Kimberly Overman U.S. House, District 13 (Pinellas): Leela Gray U.S. House, District 14 (Hillsborough): Kathy Castor U.S. House, District 15 (Hillsborough): Robert People U.S. House, District 16 (Pinellas and Polk): Kelly Kirschner

Statewide races Governor and Lieutenant Governor: David Jolly/Gwen Graham Attorney General: José Javier Rodríguez Chief Financial Officer: Annette Taddeo Commissioner of Agriculture: Joey Mendoza Atkins

Florida constitutional amendments (read more on p. 29)

Judicial retention

How to vote

Florida Supreme Court, Justice Carlos G. Muñiz: NO

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is no later than 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election—Oct. 22. Mail ballots must arrive at the supervisor of elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3; postmarks don’t count. You may drop your mail ballot at your county supervisor of elections office or early voting site (listed at the end of this guide). On Election Day, the only place you may vote is at your assigned precinct; voting happens 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Election Day polling places don’t

Second District Court of Appeal retention J. Andrew Atkinson: NO Morris Silberman: YES Daniel H. Sleet: YES Andrea Teves Smith: NO

DAVE DECKER

For everyone else, early voting is happening now through Sunday, Nov. 1; check your local supervisor of elections office for details (votehillsborough.gov, votepinellas.gov).

Kimberly Overman for U.S. House, District 12

Amendment 1, Budget Stabilization Fund: NO Amendment 2, Tax Exemption for Tangible Personal Property on Agricultural Land: NO Amendment 3, Increased Homestead Exemption: NO

Hop in, and stay tuned.—Ray Roa

If you haven’t registered to vote, womp womp, your time has passed, and you’re sitting this one out; still, get signed up for the next one ASAP.

DAVE DECKER

What you’ll find here is an abridged version of the online guide, which has expanded explanations for ballot items that will come before voters in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

accept mail ballots. Election Day voters must bring: a valid photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or student ID), at least one ID you bring must have a signature.

Florida Legislature State Senate, District 14 (Hillsborough): Brian Nathan State Senate, District 18 (Pinellas): Karla Kemp State Senate, District 20 (Hillsborough): Gerald Baldi State Senate, District 21 (Pinellas, part): Jordan Hensley State House, District 57 (Pinellas): Wendy Hoy State House, District 58 (Pinellas): Bryan Beckman

continued on page 27

Brian Nathan for State Senate, District 14

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CHECK HERE: Creative Loafing 2026 Voting Guide (continued) continued from page 25 State House, District 59 (Pinellas): Susan Rochelle Leff State House, District 60 (Pinellas): Lindsay Polega-Quigley State House, District 61 (Pinellas): May Thach State House, District 64 (Hillsborough): Luis Salazar State House, District 65 (Hillsborough): Ben Braver State House, District 66 (Hillsborough): José A. ‘Dante’ Sánchez Sánchez State House, District 67 (Hillsborough): Luis Viera State House, District 68 (Hillsborough): Tony Smith State House, District 69 (Hillsborough): Ashley Elizabeth Herrmann State House, District 70 (Hillsborough): Luther Keith Wilkins

Hillsborough County Hillsborough County Commission, District 1: Harry Cohen Hillsborough County Commission, District 3: Gwen Myers Hillsborough County Commission, District 5 (countywide): Neil Manimala Hillsborough County Commission, District 7 (countywide): Aileen Rodriguez Hillsborough County School Board, District 2: Daniela Simic Hillsborough County School Board, District 6 (countywide): Karen Perez

Pinellas County Pinellas County Commission, District 2 (at large): Tim Hughes Pinellas County Commission, District 6: David Glenn Jr. Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (at large): Curtis Campogni St. Petersburg Mayor: Ken Welch (p. 23) St. Petersburg City Council, District 2: Gabriel Hament St. Petersburg City Council, District 6: Linsey Grove St. Petersburg Referendum No. 1, $600 Million Water and Stormwater Bonds: YES St. Petersburg Referendum No. 2, Harborage Marina Lease: YES St. Petersburg Charter Amendment No. 1, Jamestown Vacant Lots for Housing: NO St. Petersburg Charter Amendment No. 2, Port Lease Limit to 25 Years: YES

Clearwater City Council, Seat 5: Mark Bunker Dunedin City Commission, Seat 4: Nan Bennett

J.W. Cate Recreation Center 5801 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg Supervisor of Elections Office, County Building 501 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg Supervisor of Elections Office, Election Service Center 13001 Starkey Rd., Starkey

Lakes Corporate Center, Largo Supervisor of Elections Office, Pinellas County Courthouse 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater More via cltampa.com/news.

Early voting sites HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach Bloomingdale Regional Public Library 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico Bruton Memorial Library 302 W McLendon St., Plant City C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library 2607 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa Fred B. Karl County Center 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library 3910 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library 2902 W Bearss Ave., Tampa Keystone Park & Recreation Center 17928 Gunn Hwy., Odessa Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa New Tampa Regional Library 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa North Tampa Branch Library 8916 North Blvd., Tampa Northdale Park & Recreation Center 15510 Hooting Owls Pl., Tampa Northwest Regional Office 4575 Gunn Hwy., Tampa Port Tampa Center 4702 W McCoy St., Tampa Providence West Park 5405 Providence Rd., Riverview Riverview Public Library 9951 Balm Riverview Rd., Riverview Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center 2514 N Falkenburg Rd., Tampa Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library 1505 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa Seffner-Mango Branch Library 410 N Kingsway Rd., Seffner Southeast Regional Office 10020 S U.S. Hwy. 301, Riverview SouthShore Community Resource Center 201 14th Ave. SE, Ruskin SouthShore Regional Service Center 410 30th St. SE, Ruskin Temple Terrace Public Library 202 Bullard Pkwy., Temple Terrace Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library 7606 Paula Dr., Tampa USF Training Center (PTB-Training Room) 13309 USF Plum Dr., Tampa Victor Crist Community Center Complex (Annex Building) 14015 N 22nd St., Tampa West Tampa Branch Library 2312 W Union St., Tampa PINELLAS COUNTY Centre of Palm Harbor 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor Countryside Recreation Center 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater Gulfport Neighborhood Center 1617 49th St. S, Gulfport

CAMPAIGN HANDOUT

Hillsborough Referendum No. 1, Elected School Superintendent: NO Hillsborough Referendum No. 2, Larger County Commission, All Single-Member Districts: NO Hillsborough Referendum No. 3, School Sales Tax Renewal: YES Temple Terrace City Council (vote for up to three): Karen Michalski, Ryan Gessman

St. Petersburg Charter Amendment No. 3, Even-Year Election Cleanup: YES

Gabriel Hament for St. Petersburg City Council, District 2

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Ties to ‘ghost candidate’ scandal just one reason to vote Amendment 3 down. By Colin Wolf and Ray Roa

unded almost entirely by Florida Realtors, Rodríguez who never even campaigned or had the Vote Yes on 3 campaign is hoping to get a party affiliation, to run against District 37 Amendment 3 passed this November and Democratic incumbent José Javier Rodríguez. has raised over $21.5 million to make this hapThe idea, according to prosecutors, was pen. Campaign finance records show that over to siphon off enough votes because they have 98% of the political committee’s expenditures the same last name. Ultimately it worked, are going to a political operative tied to one of and Ileana Garcia won by just 34 votes after Florida’s biggest election fraud scandals in the a recount. last decade. According to NBC Miami, emails subpoeAccording to public campaign finance naed by prosecutors showed that Data Targeting records, the Vote Yes on 3 political committee paid Artiles over $90,000 plus expenses to “keep has spent $14,465,117 in a series of payments tabs” on José Javier Rodríguez, including who between Sept. 8 through Oct. 9, with the vast he had lunch with, and getting reimbursed for majority of it ($14,213,745) “research” and plane tickets. In going directly to a vendor listed September 2020, Artiles even as SGS Inc. in Gainesville. wrote in an email that he was “standing by for orders” from Owned by longtime GOP operative Patrick Bainter, SGS Bainter, reports the station. Early voting: Now through Inc. advertises itself as a fullBainter, and his company, Sunday, Nov. 1 service polling, communications reportedly cooperated with Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3 and political operations comprosecutors and was never pany, and since it’s a private institution, it’s charged with a crime. unclear exactly how it’s spending the money. While he’s been a major player in state But the company does share an address (6211 politics for over three decades, Bainter’s NW 132nd St.) with another one of Bainter’s most recent payments from the Vote Yes companies, Data Targeting. on 3 campaign seem to dwarf his previous Back in 2020, Data Targeting was embroiled jobs. For example, campaign finance records in a “ghost candidate” election fraud scandal that show that through the entire 2024 election saw Republican and former State Sen. Frank cycle, Data Targeting was paid a total of Artiles convicted of three felonies and sentenced $8,696,113, mostly from a handful of Florida to two months in jail. Republican candidates and organizations. Essentially, Artiles was accused of help- SGS Inc., on the other hand, was paid a total ing Republican Ileana Garcia get elected to of $4,067,524.84, with the Realtors Political the Florida Senate by recruiting his friend, Advocacy Committee listed as the primary an auto parts salesman in Miami named Alex benefactors.

VOTING GUIDE

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to Bainter and the Florida Realtors association for comment with a detailed list of questions and will include any response we receive on cltampa.com. If approved by voters, Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption on non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It would also lower the annual assessment growth cap from 10% to 5% for non-homestead properties such as commercial buildings and rental units, and would require people moving to Florida after Dec. 31 to wait five years in continuous residency before qualifying for the full increased exemption. The proposal, backed by Florida Gov. DeSantis, needs 60% support from voters, but recent polls have showed declining support, with one poll from EDGE Communications and MDW Communications showing “yes” votes at 50%, “no” votes at 27% and “undecided” at just 23%. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Florida’s Constitutional Amendment recommendations Amendment 1, Budget Stabilization Fund: No On the ballot, expanding the “Budget Stabilization Fund” might sound like a good idea. Who doesn’t want a bigger rainy day fund? Over time, the proposal raises the fund’s maximum balance from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections (that is money the state gets from sales taxes and other taxes and fees that are not set aside for a specific purpose).; the nonpartisan Florida Tax Watch says it could take 22 years to reach that 25% threshold. Gov. Ron DeSantis told voters to vote “No,” on this—and we agree with him. The fund was created in 1992, and is almost maxed out. It hasn’t been used since 2008, and there’s no reason to give lawmakers in Tallahassee more control over our taxes to fix something that isn’t broken.

JUST SAY NO: All three Florida ballot amendments deserve a no vote.

Amendment 2: Agricultural Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption As far as convoluted amendments go, this one’s not so Byzantine. Basically, it’s a tax break for farm equipment classified as “tangible personal property.” If passed, the state foresees a roughly $31 million drop in property-tax revenue. Farmers undoubtedly have it rough, but this is a special interest tax break that gives big farming interests the most relief. In Florida, small farms already pay less for equipment thanks to state laws that exempt the first $25,000 of tangible personal property for every business. Lawmakers need to work harder, and smarter, if they really want to improve the wellbeing of mom-and-pop farmers and farmworkers across the state. Amendment 3, Homestead Exemption and Non-Homestead Assessment Caps: No Want to live in a kingdom where small towns have to beg the king for money? Amendment 3, colloquially known as the property tax cut amendment, would defund local governments at such a clip that even police and firefighter unions urge a “no vote” on the proposal. Rushed at best, the amendment was drafted during a Ron DeSantis special session (this one was a whopping three days). A judge even threw out the original ballot summary and amendment title, forcing a similarly haphazard rewrite. Supporters say school taxes won’t be affected, but state economists estimate local governments would lose about $11.8 billion a year by 2031–32. Amendment 3 has seen millions of dollars of support come in from the Florida Realtors lobby. It’s also a distraction from the real issue of property insurance, an industry that pumps money into lawmakers’ campaign funds and PACs. Folks on both sides of the aisle increasingly rally against “big government.” This amendment is a hypocritical powergrab that should embarrass its authors.

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Tampa free speech advocate and ‘strip club king,’ dies at 86. By Colin Wolf

ampa free speech icon Joe Redner has passed away at the age of 86, his family confirmed. Joy Lynn Redner, one of Redner’s children, announced his death on Facebook last Friday night. “We love you. You will be missed Dad. Joe Redner passed away this morning. He died peacefully in his sleep,” she wrote. Originally from New Jersey, the strip club mogul moved to Tampa when he was eight-yearsold and attended Chamberlain High School, though he never graduated. Before becoming the “Strip Club King,” Redner worked a number of odd jobs around Tampa Bay, including pouring terrazzo floors, selling furniture at Levitz, and he was even a traveling carnie. He got his start in clubs managing a ‘70s go-go bar called the Deep South, which at the time was located on Hillsborough and Rome avenues. In 1976, Redner opened the Night Gallery, a strip club on Hillsborough, along with his business partner, who happened to be a bail bondsman. “The cops’d come in, arrest eight or 10 people and we’d bond them out,” Redner said to Creative Loafing in 2003. “They’d do that three, four times a day. It was war.” In the early-80s, Redner opened Tanga Lounge in Rocky Point, then Mons Venus in 1981, along with a number of other clubs like Bare Elegance in 1989, which was opened in

CREATIVE LOAFING TAMPA BAY GRAPHIC

HAPPY FIGHTER: Joe Redner was always on the forefront of First Amendment battles.

Citrus County without a license and resulted in Redner spending 57 days in jail. While in the clink, Redner earned his GED. Mon Venus was arguably his flagship club, which he sold in 2025 to 2001 Odyssey. However, Redner maintained ownership of the land and acted as the business’s landlord. Redner was often embroiled in controversy and legal battles, like fighting to have fully nude dancers in Tampa clubs, rallying against “protest zones” that politicians would use to herd dissidents away from public appearances, as well as advocating for medical marijuana rights and LGBTQ Pride events. Redner was also a familiar face in local politics, running for multiple offices and famously sparring with then-Tampa city council member and current candidate for mayor Bob Buckhorn over “the six foot rule,” which for a while kept strippers and customers six feet apart. “You need people like him to make the process work,” said Luke Lirot, Redner’s first amendment attorney. “If everyone gets trod upon and accepts it, eventually society as a whole suffers. When one person will stand up against oppression, and do so with Redner’s ferocity and dedication, then everyone benefits. Government is less inclined to be abusive of people’s rights than they would be otherwise.”

When asked by CL about his constant struggles with the courts and fighting for the public good, Redner replied: “I’m happy fighting, I feel like I’m accomplishing something for society.” Redner was also a cannabis crusader who aggressively fought for the right for medical patients to grow their own, saying medical marijuana helped him beat the stage four lung cancer he was diagnosed with in 2011. Redner took his fight all the way to the Florida Supreme court where, in 2019, judges declined to review his case against the state. In 2024, when voters had a chance to legalize the recreational use of pot, Redner’s response to the proposal was simple: “It’s not the government’s business.” Last Saturday on social media, tributes poured in from Tampeño elected officials, activists, and more of his family members. “Thank you, dad. You were always there for me and you taught me so much about what it really means to be a man and a good person. I truly thought we would have you for years to come and I am struggling to imagine a world without you in it,” Joey Redner, founder of Cigar City Brewing, wrote. “I love you, dad.” Tampa City Councilman and mayoral candidate Bill Carlson mentioned that many people knew Redner for “one business,” but that his “brilliant legal mind” helped shape a lot of political thought. “Joe Redner was a tireless advocate for the community,” Carlson wrote. “His passion for people and fight for justice will be terribly missed.” Attorney Gretchen Cothron noted Redner’s support for the local ACLU and nonprofits,

IN MEMORIAM

while Jack Crocetto, an LGBTQ rights activist revisited Redner’s work to combat anti-gay rhetoric and anti-choice legislation from then Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms. “The man was an endless ball of piss and vinegar and did a lot of good for good causes,” Crocetto added. Phil Compton, from the Friends of the Hillsborough River, noted how about 25 years ago Redner pitched in with $500 (“quite a bit back then!”) to help his nonprofit in a legal fight with the City of Tampa and Southwest Florida Water Management District (AKA “SWIFTMUD”). “We knew Joe Redner was a generous contributor to progressive causes, so we met with him. Joe lived on the river and instantly understood,” Compton added.” When we settled our challenge on the minimum flow out of court our attorney waived his fees and we gave Joe his money back, but we never forgot his generosity and community spirit. RIP to a true Friend of the Hillsborough River.” Criminal defense attorney Shelley Reback remembered arriving from New York while Redner was in a fight with the city over lap dances. She joined the Florida ACLU board and remembered how Redner—who had a show on what is now the state’s only public access channel TBCN—was always ready with a check to support. “In every local fight for human rights, equality and justice, you would find Joe. I will miss having Joe with us for all the “good fights” ahead,” Reback wrote. “Joe was an atheist, so I don’t offer prayers. Just rest in peace and power, Joe.”

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DINING GUIDES

James Beard-winning author comes to WEDU, and more local food news.

here are some homes where the PBS is reimagined through seasonal ingredients, never not on, and those loyalists know about thoughtful presentation, and contemporary Steven Raichlen. He’s been the host of many technique,” says a press release. programs from the once-publicly funded channel V Modern Italian seems to have quite a (“Barbecue University,” “Primal Grill,” “Project few “elevated” dishes, like the “Tutti Antipasti Smoke,” “Project Fire”), and had bylines in Food Tower,” which is described as a three-level & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, and the New structure consisting of “chef-curated antipasti.” York Times, where his cookbooks have appeared There’s also a Martini Tower,” featuring twelve on best-seller lists.Raichlen, a self-proclaimed Espresso or Dirty Martinis served for the table,” nice Jewish boy from Baltimore, has also won and a six drink “Cocktail Carousel.” five James Beard awards for cookbooks like “My goal with V has always been to take “BBQ USA” and “Healthy Jewish Cooking.” everything I love about classic Italian cuisine The 73-year-old and make it feel fresh calls Florida home and exciting again,” now and is on tour says Ciotti in a stateafter finally cooking ment. “The menu Steven Raichlen: up a memoir—“Man respects the traditions ‘Man on Fire’ BBQ & book celebration on Fire: Of Life, Love, and flavors that define

AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

By Colin Wolf and Ray Roa

FOOD NEWS

Friday, Oct. 23. 5:30 p.m. $87.21 (includes BBQ, Literature, and Really Italian cooking while drinks & book). WEDU PBS Berkman Family Broadcast Good Barbecue” due giving guests someCenter, 1300 N Blvd., Tampa. wedu.org thing unexpected to Oct. 20—that tracks his life from the early discover. Tampa has Charm City days to his transition from French an exciting and evolving culinary scene, and literature nerd to acclaimed kitchen and we’re looking forward to becoming part of it.” TV-newspaper guy. V Modern Italian is open Monday-Wednesday Raichlen comes to Tampa’s local PBS sta- from 4 p.m.-11 p.m., Thursday from 4 p.m.-midtion, WEDU, for a night of BBQ (from Jimbo’s night, Fridays from 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Saturdays in Tampa), along with drinks, fire, and book from 3 p.m.-1 a.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m.signing. 11 p.m. All-inclusive tickets for the “Man on Fire” BBQ & book celebration with Steven Raichlen, New Mexican restaurant La Victoria opens in happening Friday, Oct. 23 at WEDU PBS in downtown Tampa Tampa, are still available for $87.21. See more The absence of margaritas isn’t going to stop of the best food & drink events coming to Tampa downtown Tampa’s latest coastal Mexican resBay between Oct. 22-29 at the end of this page. taurant from opening. La Victoria, located at Look at more food news below. 105 W Tyler St. in the former Melting Pot Social spot, announced on social media Monday afterV Modern Italian, led by Michelin-starred chef, noon that it will finally open its doors, despite opens in North Hyde Park the fact it’s still waiting on approval for a liquor NoHo will finally get a glimpse of Michelin- license from the City of Tampa. starred Chef Stefano Ciotti’s latest concept, “A little patience on the pours, but absolutely V Modern Italian. Located at 1701 W North no compromise on the plates,” wrote La Victoria A St. in a 7,400 square-foot space within the on Instagram. new Rome Collective development, V Modern The new concept is led by Gus Thieken, forItalian officially started taking reservations mer general manager of The Pearl, alongside real early this month. estate investor Erick Felipe Meza and executive “Guests can expect a menu rooted in authen- chef Terrell Manning. ticity, featuring antipasti, fresh-made pastas, Neither operating hours or a full menu have signature entrées, and fun twists on classic yet to be released, but Thieken previously told Italian desserts. Familiar Italian flavors are the TBJJ that La Victoria’s regular menu will

SMOKIN’: Steven Raichlen has finally cooked up a memoir, due Oct. 20. include classic Mexican dishes like ceviche, chilaquiles and shrimp tostadas and have a full-service bar. The new 3,800-square-foot space also allows guests to rent a “tequila locker,” which essentially allows one to store their own tequila within a glass locker within the restaurant. La Victoria is just a block away from another new coastal Mexican spot coming to downtown Tampa, Matilde, which hopes to open next year. Tampa Bay food & drink events (Oct. 22-29) Modern Greek Mezze (Night out cooking class) Thursday, Oct. 22. 6–9 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com Savor the Bay Chef Series Thursday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. $65. Luma at SkyBeach Resort, St. Petersburg. lumastpete.com Appy Hour Cooking Class – Taco Party Friday, Oct. 23. 4 p.m. $55. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com Clearwater Greek Festival FridaySunday, Oct. 23-25. 11 a.m.; 12 p.m. Sunday. No cover. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Clearwater. clearwatergreekfest.com

St. Pete Boos & Booze Halloween Bar Crawl Saturday, Oct. 24. 4 p.m. $18.23 & up. Dublin Drop, St. Petersburg. barcrawlusa.com Lunch with the Boobie Docs Sunday, Oct. 25. 11 a.m. $18 & up. Temple B’nai Israel, Clearwater. tbiclearwater.org Master the Art of Charcuterie (Interactive workshop & tasting) Sunday, Oct. 25. 2 p.m. $40. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater. aspirationswinery.com The Haunted Room 27: A Halloween Speakeasy Experience Select times MondayFriday, Oct. 26–30. $10 & up. Fenway Hotel, Dunedin Omakase Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 27. 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $150. ro, Hyde Park Blind Wine Tasting Wednesday, Oct. 28. 6 p.m. $85. Chateau Cellars, Tampa. givebutter.com Lunch in the Gardens — Fall 2026 Thursday, Oct. 29. 11 a.m. $175 & up. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Night Out Cooking Class – Italiano Moderno: Italian Elegance Thursday, Oct. 29. 6 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com

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DALÍ Limited-Time Exhibition

AMERICA How America created the global icon Final Days Exclusively at The Dalí

40 | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | cltampabay.com

TheDali.org

Running for two hours a night ThursdaySunday throughout October, the wash features creepy characters and zombies, jump scares and special effects. All of it happens while your car gets cleaned and dried and is covered in the price of a wash ($25). Get more information via @ BluSwanExpressCarwash on Instagram. Get your last taste of Halloween with fall listings below. An extended version of this listing is at cltampa.com/arts—Ray Roa Who Haunts Pinellas County w/Brandy Stark Thursday, Oct. 22. 1 p.m. No cover. Gulfport Library, Gulfport. pplc.us The Blair Witch Project Thursday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Shadow of the Vampire Thursday, Oct. 22. 9:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Clue Friday, Oct. 23. 9:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Gorgo Friday, Oct. 23. 10 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Legend Friday, Oct. 23. 7 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Them! Friday, Oct. 23. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa 15th Annual A Night at the Museum Saturday, Oct. 24. 2 p.m. $20. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org Burnt Offerings Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Costumed Dog Parade Saturday, Oct. 24. 4 p.m. $20 to register, no cover to spectate. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg Halloween Lock & Key Singles Party Saturday, Oct. 24. 7:30 p.m. $32.78. City Dog Cantina, Tampa Haunted Howls Bay Paws Ybor Saturday, Oct. 24. 6 p.m. No cover. Bay Paws Pet Resort, Ybor City. baypaws.com KPop Demon Hunters (Sing-along) Saturday, Oct. 24. 3 p.m. $17; $14 for members; no cover for 12 and under. Tampa Theatre, Tampa PumpkinFest Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 a.m. No cover. Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo. flbgfoundation.org The Rocky Horror Picture Show (with Beyond Any Measure) Saturday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. & 11 p.m. $17; $14 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Strait-Jacket Saturday, Oct. 24. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Dracula (1931) Sunday, Oct. 25. 2 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Drácula (Spanish Version) Sunday, Oct. 25. 4 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa

Halloween on Central Sunday, Oct. 25. 12 p.m. No cover. Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. grandcentraldistrict.org Halloween On Central: Rockell w/EMM/ Ashley Britteny/Saint Micah Sunday, Oct. 25. 5:30 p.m. $35 & up. The Wet Spot at COCKtail, St. Petersburg Horror of Dracula Sunday, Oct. 25. 7 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa The Mummy Sunday, Oct. 25. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Trunk Or Treat and Chili Cook-Off Sunday, Oct. 25. 3 p.m. No cover. First Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg. fpcstpete.org Young Frankenstein Sunday, Oct. 25. 4:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Cronos Monday, Oct. 26. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Campfire Stories Tuesday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Indie’s Annual Family Pumpkin Carving Tuesday, Oct. 27. 5 p.m. $15. Independent Bar, Tampa The Tingler Tuesday, Oct. 27. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Haunted Prison Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 28-31. 7 p.m. $12.50. OCC Roadhouse, Clearwater. occroadhouse.com A Quiet Place Wednesday, Oct. 28. 7:30 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa Art After Dark: Halloween Edition Thursday, Oct. 29. 5 p.m. $16; no cover for members and under 17. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org Chopping Mall Thursday, Oct. 29. 10 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa The Coven Party: Ladies Heights Happy Hour Thursday, Oct. 29. 6 p.m. No cover. Shuffle, Tampa. shuffletampa.com Forbidden Fruits Thursday, Oct. 29. 7:15 p.m. $13; $10 for members. Tampa Theatre, Tampa

MARKETS & RETAIL

Hyde Park Village Annual Pumpkin Patch Select times Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 10-25. No cover to attend. Hyde Park Village, Tampa. hydeparkvillage.com St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch Select times Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 10-25. No cover. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg. stpetepier.org Fall Market Thursday, Oct. 22. 6 p.m. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor Halloween Night Market Friday, Oct. 23. 6 p.m. No cover. Angry Chair Brewing, Seminole Heights. angrychairbrewing.com Groovehive Market (Halloween bash) Saturday, Oct. 24. 9 p.m. No cover. The Bends, St. Petersburg Syndicate Trade Show: Trading Cards, Collectibles & Comics Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 24-25. 10 a.m. $10 & up. Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Tampa. syndicatetradeshow. com Ada T. Payne Friends of the Library Book Sale Monday, Oct. 26. 11 a.m. No cover. Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, Tampa

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THEATER

Constellations Select times and dates Thursday-Sunday, through Oct. 25. $21 & up. The Off-Central Players, St. Petersburg New Tampa Players: Come From Away Select times and dates Friday-Sunday, through Oct. 25. $22 & up. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa Jobsite Theater: Misery Select times and dates Wednesday-Sunday, through Nov. 8. $47.40 & up. Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Sophisticated Ladies Select times and dates Wednesday-Sunday, through Nov. 22. $21 & up. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota “The Extraordinary Ordinary” Pastel art show opening reception Friday, Oct. 23. 5 p.m. No cover. First Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg. fpc-stpete.org 7 Lamb Live Podcast Saturday, Oct. 24. 4 p.m. No cover. Emerald City Comics, Pinellas Park. emeraldcitycomics.com Chinese Brush Painting Workshop with Jo-An Thomas - Plum Blossom Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 a.m. $60. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue Saturday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. $57.50 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Good Vibes: A Mental Health Block Party Saturday, Oct. 24. 11 a.m. No cover. Coppertail Brewing Co., Ybor City Old Southeast Artist Enclave Studio Tour Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 a.m. No cover. Donika Vlada, St. Petersburg. oldsoutheaststpete.org Poets & Songwriters Series feat. TBA Saturday, Oct. 24. 1:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery. com

Sueños de Dalí: The Surreal Jewel Box w/Raqs Al Hasan (debut) Saturday, Oct. 24. 8 p.m. $175; $150 for members. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org Tania Vergara Dance-Theater: Echoes of My Barrio (World Premiere) w/Rey Pantoja Saturday, Oct. 24. 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. $35. Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Sarasota Lola la Mentalista Sunday, Oct. 25. 4 p.m. $294.50. Location sent after ticket purchase. Dan and Phil Monday, Oct. 26. 7:30 p.m. $70.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Radio Theatre Project with Dylan Barlowe Monday, Oct. 26. 7 p.m. $27 & up. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg Studio 55: Encaustic Sculpture MondayWednesday, Oct. 26-28. $60. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. tampamuseum.org Palehorse Artist Talk with Erik Jones Tuesday, Oct. 27. 6 p.m. No cover. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org

BOOKISH

If My Sister Were A Worm - Storytime with Julie Hauswirth Saturday, Oct. 24. 10:30 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com L.L. Campbell (Book signing) Saturday, Oct. 24. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com Storytelling feat. JD Adler Saturday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. $12.51. Jack Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse.com 100 Things to Do in Florida Before You Die & Secret Florida Sunday, Oct. 25. 1:30 p.m. $6.71. Oxford Exchange, Tampa J.S. Park: We Are Made of Us w/Rev. Beth Bostrom Sunday, Oct. 25. 3:30 p.m. $6.71 & up. Oxford Exchange, Tampa

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DAVE DECKER

Black History Book Club: “The Talented Ribkins” by Ladee Hubbard Monday, Oct. 26. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Tampa’s Black History Museum, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org A Court of Splintered Harmony (Midnight release) Monday, Oct. 26. 10 p.m. $37.15. Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Tampa. oxfordexchange.com “Acotar #6” by Sarah J. Maas (Release party) Monday, Oct. 26. 10:30 p.m. Sold out. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com Midnight Masquerade: A Court Of Thorns And Roses 6 (Book release ball) Monday, Oct. 26. 7:30 p.m. $180.82. Kapok Special Events, Clearwater. portkeybooks. com The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman with Deesha Philyaw Monday, Oct. 26. 7 p.m. $32. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com ACOTAR 6 Release Faerie Ball Tuesday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m. $100 & up. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com Everything Is Everything with Steven E. Jones Tuesday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m. No cover. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com Graphic Novel Book Club: “Bowling With Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown” by Mike Mignola Wednesday, Oct. 28. 7 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview The Library Lunchtime Book Club: “American Fantasy” by Emma Straub Wednesday, Oct. 28. 11:30 a.m. $12.28. The Library, St. Petersburg. oxfordexchange.com New and Noteworthy Book Club: “The Searcher” by Tara French Wednesday, Oct. 28. 6 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete. com Shelf Indulgent Romance Book Club: “Out on a Limb” by Hannah BonamYoung Wednesday, Oct. 28. 6 p.m. No cover. Largo Public Library, Largo. largopubliclibrary.org Chef Geoffrey Zakarian: Original Food – Recapturing the Joy of Eating Thursday, Oct. 29. 6:30–8:30 p.m. $6.71 & up. Oxford Exchange, Tampa

signup. Compton Park Clubhouse, Tampa Palms (Hybrid). hillsboroughcountydemocrats.org Riverview Democratic Club - October Meeting Monday, Oct. 26. 6:30 p.m. No cover with signup. The Regent, Riverview (Hybrid). hillsboroughcountydemocrats.org 44th Annual Planning and Design Awards presented by TECO Thursday, Oct. 29. 5:15 p.m. $87.70 & up. Shanna and Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center, Tampa. planhillsborough.org

COMEDY

Urban Myth Comedy Storytelling: D.C. Benny & more Thursday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. $20. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg Jessica Kirson Friday, Oct. 23. 8 p.m. $49.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Tony Roberts Select times Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25. $27. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa Garrison Keillor and Erica Rhodes Saturday, Oct. 24. 8 p.m. $49. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Josh Thomas Saturday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. $50.50. Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Etta May Sunday, Oct. 25. 7 p.m. $30 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

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LEARN

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Dustin Nickerson Thursday, Oct. 29. 7 p.m. $27. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa F*cked Up Spelling Bee Thursday, Oct. 29. 8 p.m. $10. Gimmick Comedy Club, Tampa

PRIDE

Gulfcoast Pride Festival and Street Party Saturday, Oct. 24. 4 p.m. No cover. Rosemary District, Sarasota. ppsrq.org Lick and Flick: Sapphic Dive-In Movie Night Monthly Mondays. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Cocktail St. Pete, St. Petersburg AFK: Nerds Night Out at The Ball Wednesdays. 8-10 p.m. No cover (two-drink minimum). 21+. The Ball, St. Petersburg Drag Bingo w/Alexa at Mad Hatters Kava Bar Wednesdays. 9-11 p.m. $10 (10 games). Mad Hatters Kava Bar, St. Petersburg Sapphic Sunday Fourth Sunday of each month. 5-8 p.m. No cover. Rotating locations in St. Petersburg (check discord.gg/ J4dCNd7Vu for monthly location

FILM & TV

The Rocky Horror Picture Show screening and Q&A with Patricia Quinn Thursday, Oct. 22. 7:30 p.m. $71.80 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa First They Came For My College Select times and dates Friday-Thursday, Oct. 23-29. $10 & up. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg Take Me Home Select times and dates Friday-Thursday, Oct. 23-29. $10 & up. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg VHS Club: Transylvania 6-5000 Saturday, Oct. 24. 8 p.m. $10. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg Craft Club Cinema: Cocoon Sunday, Oct. 25. 2 p.m. $15; $13 for students and seniors. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg The Room screening w/Greg Sestero Sunday, Oct. 25. 6:30 p.m. $42.80; waitlist open. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor

Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game Tuesday, Oct. 27. 2 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin Q the Camp! with Coriander Spice/ Valentina/Paprika Burns/Benedict Down/DJ Princess Kida Wednesday, Oct. 28. 8–9 p.m. $20. Sun-Ray Cinema, Tampa. sunraycinema.com

NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Urban Expansion Area Study — I-4 Corridor, Round #4, Community Meeting #2 Thursday, Oct. 22. 6 p.m. Bailey Elementary School, Dover. planhillsborough. org Day of Action with Metropolitan Ministries Friday, Oct. 23. 2 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa. floridadems.org Coffee with a Neighbor - HD57 North Pinellas Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 a.m. No cover with signup. East Lake Cafe, Palm Harbor. pinellasdemocrats.org Coffee with a Neighbor Mid Pinellas County (The Original) Saturday, Oct. 24. 9 a.m. No cover with signup. Belleair Coffee Company, Largo. pinellasdemocrats.org October Meeting - Hillsborough County Democratic Party Jewish Caucus Saturday, Oct. 24. 2:30 p.m. No cover with signup. Casa Jolly, Tampa. hillsboroughcountydemocrats.org Urban Expansion Area Study — I-4 Corridor, Round #4, Community Meeting #3 Saturday, Oct. 24. 11 a.m. Bailey Elementary School, Dover. planhillsborough.org Democratic Women’s Club of Upper Pinellas Monthly Membership Meeting Monday, Oct. 26. 12 p.m. No cover with registration. Clearwater East Community Library @ St. Petersburg College, Clearwater (Hybrid). pinellasdemocrats.org New Tampa Dems Monthly Meeting Monday, Oct. 26. 7 p.m. No cover with

Hidden Heroes of the Revolution with the Daughters of the American Revolution Thursday, Oct. 22. 2 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin FMOPA Photography Social & Networking Event Thursday, Oct. 22. 8 p.m. No cover. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org Grow Your Own Tea Garden Friday, Oct. 23. 2 p.m. No cover. East Community Library at SPC, Clearwater. myclearwaterlibrary.com The Haunted History of Florida Friday, Oct. 23. 2 p.m. No cover. Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library, Tampa McGough Park Gardening Series: Guided Nature Tour Friday, Oct. 23. 11 a.m. No cover. George C. McGough Nature Park, Largo. playlargo.com Coptic Stitch Journal Making Saturday, Oct. 24. 2 p.m. $112. The Paper Seahorse, Tampa. paperseahorse.com Dr. Joe Ponds: Author of “The 600 m.o.l. – Black Helicopter Pilots in Vietnam: Tuskegee Glory” Saturday, Oct. 24. 1 p.m. No cover. Countryside Library, Clearwater Land Records: Genealogy Saturday, Oct. 24. 12 p.m. No cover. John F. Germany Public Library, Tampa Living Mirror Playback Theatre: Stories of the Differently Abled – Overcoming Preconceived Biases Saturday, Oct. 24. 2 p.m. No cover. WMNF Broadcast Studios, Tampa. wmnf.org Shadow Journaling Saturday, Oct. 24. 10 a.m. $75. The Paper Seahorse, Tampa. paperseahorse.org Tall Tales of Old Florida Saturday, Oct. 24. 6:30 p.m. $18. Cracker Country, Tampa. floridastatefair.com F*ck Live Nation: Artist Open Mic & Public Comment Training Sunday, Oct. 25. 2:30 p.m. No cover. Shuffle, Tampa. shuffletampa.com The Buildings That Built Us Monday, Oct. 26. 11 a.m. No cover. Seminole Heights Branch Library, Tampa Paint Native Florida Wildflowers Monday, Oct. 26. 6 p.m. No cover. Largo Public Library, Largo. largopubliclibrary.org Committee on Environmental Quality and Sustainability Tuesday, Oct. 27. 6 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin Public Library Outreach Portraiture: Learn and Create Tuesday, Oct. 27. 4–5:30 p.m. No cover with registration. James Weldon Johnson Community Library, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org

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By Ray Roa C CL Recommends

FRI 23

Dfaz’s Rap House: Ava Iri w/MacDeezy/ The Stay Tuned Crew/Ab.Nrml/ MatWithOne.T Eight months after getting new ownership, The Bricks continues to book hip-hop, and Ybor City is better off for it. Danny Fazoli keeps doing his part, too. Known on the ones and twos and Dfaz, the DJ and tastemaker brings his “Rap House” series back to the patio, this time showcasing soulful pop singer Ava Iri, expat Nevada rapper Mac and Dog House Music Festival curator MacDeezy, and others. 8 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City

C Tampa Halloween Indie Night: Rohna w/Parrotfish/Kitty Kitty Meow Meow/ Palova Last summer, Indie Night co-founder Andres Hernandez stared at the end of his series’ run at the now-shuttered Crowbar and told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the party would simply have to look for a bigger room the next time it happened. “We’ll keep growing it,” he added, “and just kind of raise the bar for ourselves.” The bar is apparently just a few blocks down E 7th Avenue at The Ritz Ybor. The move from a roughly 300-capacity room to another that holds over 1,000 concertgoers was a longtime coming, Hernandez said, noting that they’ve long sold-out smaller clubs plus outings at the larger Floridian Social in St. Petersburg two years ago. “We felt like we’d have enough momentum to bring this to a venue like The Ritz with the help of No Clubs,” he said. Fans, he noted, can expect an even higher level of production, similarly great bands, but at a larger scale. “Imagine our usual indie night energy but with three times as many people, more lights, more sound, a giant disco ball, everyone wearing costumes, and more,” Hernandez said. Per usual, his band, Rohna, is on the bill. Expat indie-pop band Parrotfish, now based in Nashville, comes home for the gig and plays alongside the “most chalant” band in Central Florida Kitty Kitty Meow Meow along with Gulf Coast emo outfit Palova. 5:30 p.m. $21.65 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

C The Hip Abduction w/Coyote Island/ Sensamotion Since its inception 16 years ago, St. Petersburg reggae-rock band The Hip Abduction has carefully, and slowly, grown into larger venues. This weekend it plays perhaps its biggest hometown headlining set to close a short run through the Southeast. On the road with just a handful of bandmembers, don’t be surprised if this set under the stars sees an expanded lineup fleshed out with musicians that’ve helped the group cultivate a feel-good brand of beach-pop that’s grown more expansive and introspective over the course of six LPs. 7 p.m. $47 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater Nekrogoblikon w/Aborted/Signs of the Swarm/Party Cannon When it comes to Halloween-timed concerts, metal fans can probably do no better than Nekrogoblikon. From California on paper, the band is a kobold-channeling viral sensation that went through a big lineup change three years ago when founding vocalist Nicky Calonne stepped away. John Goblikon and Dickie Allen have split vocals since. In an age where fans have to really dig in to draw out the differences between metal bands, Nekrogoblikon is at least sticking to its schtick to stand out, even on this 20th anniversary tour. 5 p.m. $44.25. The Ritz, Ybor City

Costume contest prizes include entry into a year of shows hosted by FMAM, cash and band merch. 6 p.m. $15. Coppertail Brewing, Tampa

SUN 25

C Jacuzzi Boys w/The Venus/Kneedz Almost a year ago, shortly after its frontman Gabriel Alcala’s oligodendroglioma brain tumor diagnosis, Jacuzzi Boys released its first full-length in a decade. Too Cold to Tango is a magical record, especially for fans of The Cramps, Big Star and even Sam The Sham. Alcala has had a positive recovery, too. “In so many ways, he honestly feels better than he has in years, which has been both surprising and such a huge relief. Looking back, it’s clear the tumor was causing a lot more suffering than we understood at the time, and there’s a deep gratitude in our home for the second chance he’s been given,” a GoFundMe update from last January said. The Miami garagerock favorite is back in Ybor City this weekend, with Alcala in the lineup, and playing a club that’s keeping indie live music alive in Ybor City. 7 p.m. $25. Zodiac, Ybor City

track to own its masters in 12 years. On the album released last August, The Linda Lindas expand the band’s sound with dips into go-go pop, ‘80s sounds and even trash. The new LP’s title couldn’t be more apropos this week either, since early voting kicked off on Monday. “Voting is for all of us—every voice counts, every vote counts, every election counts,” de la Garza told a crowd in Georgia last week, “even if it’s not the big one.” The Rat Utopia Experiment, a “circus rock” band from the Pacific Northwest, opens the show. 7 p.m. $39.52. Orpheum, Tampa

TUE 27

Alice Cooper More than 40 years after his solo debut, with more than 50 million records sold, Alice Cooper can now say he’s a best-selling author, too. That’s because a new memoir, “Devil On My Shoulder” landed at No. 1 on the U.K.’s Sunday Times non-fiction bestseller list this week (it was No. 4 on the New York Times’ list). The work even got a Kirkus Review, where critics lauded how the 78-yearold shock rock pioneer sheds light on both his stage persona and Vince Furnier, the golf-club wielding every man. His Alice’s Attic Tour spans nearly a dozen songs that cover his entire career, including deep cuts and his latest LP, last year’s The Revenge of Alice Cooper. 7 p.m. $79 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater JAXON WHITTINGTON

Rott Fest: Deadweight w/Slugbleed/ ZeroFL/Burned at the Stake/Gurm/ Crimson Shadow/Category Three/more Metal and hardcore bands from across the Southeast are headed for Ybor Heights this weekend for the two-day Rott Fest. Kicking off Friday afternoon with Deadweight, the massive lineup of about two dozen bands cover a wide swath of hyphenated subgenres like slamgaze (Gurm), groove metal (Ghost Tape), and nu-metal-dad-rock (Trailer). Alabama’s Slugbleed (“trailer park slam”) and homegrown heavy hitter ZeroFL (playing the indoor stage on day two) are among the headliners. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24. $15. Deviant Libation, Tampa

SAT 24

THU OCTOBER 22–THU OCTOBER 29

Rap-Toberfest 2026: Hallowed Hive w/Alfred Banks/ Phxntom33/Pedro El Poeta/ Complexi*T/Palm Pact/BLK MGE/Dillon The Villian, Glob & Sean Raine/DJ Wulang There’s an air of artistic freedom that permeates around the 900 Block of Dunedin’s Douglas Avenue, and a lot of it has to do with the independent spirit of a music-friendly microbrewery that opened its own warehouse stage next door. An eclectic lineup of lyrical rappers, including Grammy-nominated New Orleans export Alfred Banks, will tap into that energy for a show where costumes are 100% encouraged. 7 p.m. $15. Moontower at Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin C Ybor Horror V: Flagman/ The Linda Lindas Discord Theory/Sky Navy/ Persephone’s Choice/Cozy In The Black/He Kindly For the first “Ybor Horror” concert since the C The Linda Lindas w/The Rat Utopia closure of long-running indie venue Crowbar, Experiment Touring in support of a third bands have moved the show a few blocks east studio LP, The Linda Lindas are sort of elders to the loading dock at Coppertail Brewing. in the indie-punk scene. Still, the Los Angeles Genre-jumping rock band Discord Theory quartet—Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza, (which has one of the most entertaining live Mila de la Garza, and Bela Salazar—continsets in Tampa) anchors the lineup and is joined ues to tread new ground. Gotta Get Out is the by punk outfit Cozy In The Black and Orlando band’s first album on a major label (Reprise/ metal group Flagman, which brings a FestWarner Records), features a collaboration centric Florida leg to Tampa before a swing with Hayley Williams, and finds the group on through the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard.

THU 29

C Heightened Senses: Katara feat. Perception w/ They Hate Chance/Skip & the Sentimentals/more Alchemy is never off the table at Heightened Senses, and this month’s edition of the Tampa Heights art party is pretty much magic, musically at least. The gathering always features an outdoor market, tunes on the back patio, and a show inside. October brings a major treat, however, when Tampa gets a rare appearance from They Hate Change, the homegrown rap-duo that ignored the rules of hip-hop on the way to being signed by revered indie imprint Jagjaguwar. The duo has since launched the Best of the Bay-winning Sector.FM online radio station and built out a Clearwater DIY space, Learning. Icing on the cake comes in the form of drum and harp centric duo Katara, which is joined by Bay area rapper Perception. Dance, Modelitos and wine, tacos, baloons, art exhibitions, and tarot round out the program. 7 p.m. No cover. Wave & See Creative Sanctuary, Tampa See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.

cltampabay.com | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | 45

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Twenty years after a benefit to help him following a serious accident, the Tampa Bay blues scene is once again coming together to lend a hand to Damon Fowler (pictured). The guitarist and songwriter has been a staple in the Bay area since he first hit the stage at 14 years old, and now, at 47 years old, finds himself recovering from a medical emergency and surgery that landed him in the ICU early this month. Fowler told followers he had another perirectal abscess and that his diabetes is causing blood sugar issues. Upon going home, he found out that he’d need to work on fissure and fistula issues and somehow find enough money to get back on diabetes medication he stopped taking due to high out-of-pocket insurance costs ($1,000 a month for one prescription). In other updates, Fowler shared his trademark positivity, acknowledging the extreme pain and immense gratitude for his family and fans.

“I can’t tell you how lucky I am,” he wrote on Oct. 11. “At this time, I’m not able to walk very much...much less play a show. I know this is gonna be an uphill battle. I’m working hard every day to get on the good foot and I cannot wait to get back to playing music for all of you.” A GoFundMe has already surpassed its $25,000 goal. To help further, Skipper’s Smokehouse, a homebase of sorts for local blues players, is turning its Halloween Freaker’s Ball into a benefit featuring Fowler’s band—including guitarist RJ Howson, Chuck Riley on bass. Complete with a bayou-themed costume contest, all proceeds will go towards Fowler’s medical expenses. Tickets to Freaker’s Ball happening Friday, Oct. 30 in Tampa are still available and start at $15. See Josh Bradley’s weekly rundown of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Ray Roa

Lamont Landers Saturday, Nov. 7. 7 p.m. $25.03. Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa

The Lemonheads Thursday, Feb. 18. 7 p.m. $35.06. Orpheum, Tampa

The Spill Canvas w/Greywin Sunday, Nov. 8. 8 p.m. $51.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

The Temptations Saturday, Feb. 20. 6:30 p.m. $70 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Matt Maeson w/Sam MacPherson Thursday, Nov. 19. 7 p.m. $42.04 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City Summer Hoop (Self Disrespect EP release show) w/Echos Wednesday, Dec. 9. $20.97. Orpheum, Tampa

KC & The Sunshine Band Friday, Feb. 26. 7 p.m. $75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Southern Culture on the Skids Saturday, March 6. 8 p.m. $25. Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa

Vision Crystal & Remedy Tree Saturday, Dec. 19. 7 p.m. $22.75. New World Music Hall, Tampa

Kenny Wayne Shepherd w/Eric Johnson Saturday, Mar. 20. 6:30 p.m. $58.25 & up. Ruck Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Karla Bonoff Friday, Jan. 22. 7 p.m. $63. Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

The Psychedelic Furs w/Living Colour Thursday, Apr. 8. 7 p.m. $62.19 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

cltampabay.com | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | 49

50 | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | cltampabay.com

Divorce proceeding By Dan Savage

would love to get your opinion here, as someone who’s married, poly, and advises on all sorts of married relationships. In this day and age, is the American institution of marriage a scam for someone like me? Some context: I’ve been with my partner for nine years. We’re both queer in gender and sexuality, but we pass as cishet. I’m the femme one. We technically have an open relationship, but we’re both lazy, and it’s mostly for if and when the stars align for hot gay sex. We live the late20s DINKWAD lifestyle. We don’t want kids, but we do want to buy a house in the next few years. For the past few years, I’ve been thinking that I want to get married, both for the gesture of commitment it conveys (I am a hopeless romantic), and because I want to throw a cheap-but-bangin’ wedding and bring all our communities together. However. My retired parents, who have been married for 31 years, recently notified me that they are divorcing. The divorce was initiated by one parent, but the other is being amicable and cooperative. They’re not seeking couples therapy, they’re just gonna be done with it. I am reeling. I haven’t seen their relationship through rose-colored glasses for a long time, but I had thought that the dissatisfied parent was content to “round up,” as you put it. Instead, some straw broke the camel’s aging back. I admire the ritual of commitment but right now we are on our own insurance plans, we maintain separate financial accounts, and—barring some horrific accident—we don’t anticipate needing power of attorney for each other in the near future. I also feel a little like the open relationship makes marriage feel more complicated. I advocated for the open agreement initially, in part because my partner had same-sex experiences before we got together and I had not and I wanted to leave the door open. (I still haven’t walked through that door yet.) I know a lot of poly people are happily married, but if one of us were to get involved with someone and realize we wanted to change our lives to be with them instead, marriage would make it harder. All that said, I love my partner; we’ve been through a lot, and the last year and a half or so of our relationship has probably been the healthiest, happiest, and sexiest yet. We are talking about buying a house. Between my partner, friends, my own therapist, and our couples’ therapist, I have an excellent support system to process my parents’ divorce. Maybe this rejection of the institution of marriage is just me grieving my changing family, Dan, but right now I feel like marriage is a trap sold to us by the Monogamous Romance Industrial Complex. I’d love your perspective.—Sad And Confused Kid Experiencing Divorce What do you know about marriage now—now that your parents are getting a divorce—that you

didn’t know about marriage before? While the news about your parents doubtless came as a shock, theirs can’t be the first divorce you’ve ever heard about. Angelina Jolie divorced Brad Pitt a decade ago; Henry VIII divorced two of his six wives centuries ago; Tiberius divorced Vipsania two millennia ago. People have been getting divorced for almost as long as they’ve been getting married, SACKED, and you, the femme one in your cishet-presenting relationship, must have known that when you got engaged to your partner, the masc one in your cishet-presenting relationship. And while most marriages are monogamous, SACKED, anyone who reads my column (or has been paying attention to the discourse) knows that not all marriages are. While some people think their marriages are monogamous when they’re not (and that’s sad), there are tons of people out there in open marriages. (And at least half of them have written books about it.) So, just as you already knew some marriages end in divorce back when you got engaged, you already know that not all marriages are monogamous. And while it’s true that most people will assume your marriage (if you go through with it) is monogamous (because most are), SACKED, you already have some experience with people making incorrect assumptions about your relationship. (You’re so very, very queer but you pass as a cishet couple.) Going to pause here to quickly answer a couple of your questions: No, I don’t think marriage is a scam. If one person marries another under false pretenses, the person who did the deceiving was a scammer. But just as we don’t blame apartment buildings in general when an arsonist sets fire to one, we shouldn’t blame the institution of marriage for the bad actions of one married person. And while people in open relationships may face an increased risk of being left for someone else, people in monogamous relationships get left for other people—or for no one—all the time. And, yes, being married does make it a little harder to bolt—for someone else or no one at all—because divorce means lawyers and paperwork and a date with a judge. But that’s a feature, not a bug. There was a low point in my marriage where Terry and I were both thinking about ending things. But getting a divorce is messy, embarrassing, and expensive—this can’t be a decision your parents took lightly—and we hesitated to take that huge step. Instead, we decided to see a couples’ counselor. Ten minutes into our first session, our poor counselor told us he’d never seen two people who screamed at each other the way we were screaming at each other that didn’t wind up getting divorced. He advised

us to lawyer up if we weren’t willing to dial it down. We chose to dial it down, and—seven years later—we’re glad that we’re still together. And I can honestly say that my husband and I wouldn’t still be together now, SACKED, if it was easier for us to walk away then. It’s something of a paradox, I realize, but it’s the truth: being married saved our marriage. Rereading your letter, SACKED, I get the feeling that something else is going on here. Yes, your parents’ announcement was shocking and upsetting, but it feels like some underlying anxieties you already had about getting married—and about what being married would mean to you—somehow attached themselves to your parents’ big announcement. I mean, the fact you’re your relationship has been officially open for nine years but that you’ve never once acted on it—no gay sex for you (don’t know about your other half)—could be a tell. Meaning, maybe the problem isn’t the idea of marriage being shoved down your throat by the Monogamous Romance Industrial Complex, but that getting married is forcing you to face up to your own revealed preferences. While you might be queer where gender and sexuality are concerned, you may be more traditional where relationship structures are concerned, SACKED, and the prospect of getting married while your parents are divorcing is forcing you to face up to who you really are and what you really want.

SAVAGE LOVE

I’m a 30-year-old bi guy, semi-closeted. Four years ago, I was outed in my hometown by a close friend and moved across the country to start fresh. Where I live now, I’m “socially straight,” and only a few trusted people know. Three years ago, I joined a martial arts gym and became close friends with a guy very close to my age. We’re both from conservative Catholic backgrounds. We soon became fast friends, texting almost daily, training together, and hanging outside the gym. We’ve both spent months in different states for work, but we text when we are apart and both of us have expressed how we miss each other. He’s only ever presented himself as straight. Over the years, however, I’ve caught some signals: He once texted me that he was “lying in bed naked” when I asked what he was up to; he’s called MMA fighters “handsome as shit” while pressing his thigh against mine at a bar (I pulled away); he’s made more gay jokes than most straight guys I know; and he hugs me longer and tighter than anyone else. I’ve also caught him staring at me from across the room, and he blushed. Recently, showing him pictures on my phone, I swiped past a selfie and he said “what a hunk.” But he also talks about wanting to find a girlfriend constantly, though little comes of it. And when a mutual friend recently asked if he was looking for a relationship, he snapped, “Well, I’m not looking for a man!”

Part of me thinks he might be closeted or questioning and he suspects the same of me. Part of me thinks I’m projecting because I want him to be interested. I haven’t told him I’m bi because I’m terrified of losing one of my closest friends. I’m torn. Should I come out to him? Risk telling him how I feel? Or am I reading into things because I want them to be there?—Gym Bod Gym Buds It could be dickful thinking—dickful thinking can never be entirely ruled out—but you should come out to this guy regardless, GBGB, because you’re a grown-ass man and you should be open about who you are with people closest to you. Yeah, yeah: He’s only ever presented himself as straight—but you could say the same about yourself, GBGB, and you’re not straight. He also makes a lot of gay jokes, he talks about wanting a girlfriend, and there was that one time he reacted defensively to an innocent question about wanting a relationship. I’m sorry, but making gay jokes and talking about all the women you would be fucking if you could only find the time are things closeted guys do to throw others off the scent. My God, telling homophobic jokes, talking about girls, staring longingly at a certain male friend—these are clichés about closeted guys right up there with a girlfriend who lives in Canada. (Has it really never occurred to you, a closeted bisexual man, that there might be other closeted guys out there?) And even if he turns out to be straight, GBGB, what do you have to lose by coming out to this guy? An emotionally torturous friendship with a man you don’t really want as a friend—or at least not just a friend. If he’s into men and into you, great! If he’s not into men and/or not into you, there’s a chance you’ll lose this friendship. But why would you wanna be friends with someone who wouldn’t wanna be your friend if they knew who you are? And even if he’s straight, GBGB, it doesn’t follow that he’s homophobic— gay jokes notwithstanding—and won’t be able to be your friend after you come out to him. There are straight guys who can take the compliment, give the guy who hit on them some time to get over it, power through the awkwardness, and remain friends. (For the record: coming out to him ≠ hitting on him. But you’re not just gonna tell this guy you’re bi, GBGB, you’re gonna tell him you’re bi and into him. Rip both those BandAids off at once.) P.S. Guys who make a lot of gay jokes are thinking about gay sex all the time. P.P.S. I’m sorry you were outed. It sucks that you didn’t have a choice about coming out four years ago—but you have a choice now. If you don’t choose to come out now, one day you’re going to look back on your life and regret the risks you didn’t take for love and/or dick and/or both when you were still young enough to enjoy them. Don’t waste your life, dude. Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! More at Savage.Love

cltampabay.com | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | 51

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Tell me about it: Easy, bud

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In the Savage Love column on p. 51, Gym Bod Gym Buds tells Dan Save about being outed four years ago in his hometown. He’s recently become interested in a new “fast friend” from a martial arts gym who’s become one of his closest friends. Gym bod wonders if he should come out to his bud. Here’s what Clair S. and Carly T.—Tampa Bay locals who’re developing a new advice column for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay—had to offer as an alternative response.—Ray Roa First of all, it is very sad that you got outed. I’m sorry that happened. But whatever you do, don’t tell this guy you like him at the same time that you tell him you are bi. We have all been in situations where we have been terrified to tell someone we like them and that is hard enough. We have not (us lady writers) had to come out to our friends because we are straight (even though we both drive Subarus) but we can imagine that that is even more difficult.

to do both at once when you’ve had scary experiences of coming out/being outed in the past? But you should also ask yourself why you fear his rejection of your romantic feelings for him. Are there other things in your friendship that have happened that made you question whether he would be accepting of you regardless of your sexuality? Because from what you mention, it seems like signs point to yes, he’s also gay or bi. Or, is it your past experiences that give you pause about coming out to someone again? If you’re trying to keep a better control of the narrative than you had in the past, then the safe route would be to approach this in two simple and easy steps. Step 1: tell friend you’re gay, read his feelings.

So let’s take this one step at a time.

If they’re good feelings, then proceed to step 2: tell friend you’re gay FOR him and you’ve got two one-way tickets to Pound Town, USA.—Carly T. and Claire S.

If you feel like there is any chance that your buddy won’t want to be your friend if you come out to him, you should take things slowly. This would give you the space to gauge your friend’s reaction and, if it’s negative, you would be able to spare yourself a double rejection. Why force yourself

‘Tell Me About It’ is a new, locally-produced column offering alternate responses to the ones Dan Savage presents in his long-running column, which appears in the back of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s print issue. Send your questions to rroa@cltampa.com and he’ll forward them over.

cltampabay.com | OCTOBER 22-28, 2026 | 53

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