Creative Loafing Tampa — January 5, 2023

PUBLISHER James Howard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf

MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields

STAFF WRITER Justin Garcia

FOOD and THEATER CRITIC

Jon Palmer Claridge

FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

CONTRIBUTORS Alexandria Jones, Chloe Greenberg, Jessi Sherbet

PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel

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ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

SeaWorld in February, animal rights claiming the practice of keeping wild dangerous. But even though public many don’t see a parallel between the kind and the practice of displaying animals asking for too much? Or is it time for a “entertainment” animals?

Alexis Quinn Chamberlain

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Lauren Caplinger

EUCLID MEDIA GROUP

at SeaWorld in February, animal rights claiming the practice of keeping wild and dangerous. But even though public widespread, many don’t see a parallel between the kind Vick and the practice of displaying animals activists asking for too much? Or is it time for a “entertainment” animals?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Andrew Zelman

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS

Chris Keating, Michael Wagner

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sarah Fenske

Music Week ...................................................42

VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

REGIONAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Music Week ...................................................42

Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42 The List ..........................................................46

Hollie Mahadeo

Movie reviews 63

Free Will Astrology.........................................64

Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42 The List ..........................................................46 Movie reviews 63

Puzzler ...........................................................66

Savage Love 69

Free Will Astrology.........................................64 Puzzler

DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Jaime Monzon euclidmediagroup.com cltampa.com cldeals.com

Savage Love 69

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

Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Weekly, LLC, 633 N Franklin St., Suite The physical edition is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampa.com. Copyright 2021, Tampa

tampa.creativeloafing.com/cltv

How was your Date? cltampa.com/movies on cltampa.com/PartyPics

How was your Date? cltampa.com/movies cltampa.com/PartyPics

That wasn’t all that derailed Smith’s re-election last summer. Rejected by voters, controversial judge finds friend in DeSantis, p. 12.

twitter.com/cl_tampa facebook.com/cltampa editors Connects,

twitter.com/cl_tampa facebook.com/cltampa editors Connects,

Ybor Festival of the Moving Image cltampa.com/arts

Ybor Festival of the Moving Image cltampa.com/arts

Chute yeah

Ybor City’s Kress Collective kicks off the weekend.

By Jessi Sherbet

The Ybor City Kress Collective is buzzing with new exhibits to launch into the New Year. This Thursday, Jan. 5 from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. four galleries within the collective will hold opening receptions, while another holds a closing. The Kress Building is discreetly located on 7th Avenue’s 1600 block—between Habibi Hookah Lounge and Revolve Clothing Exchange.

Jessica Todd’s “Parachute Gallery” will house a solo exhibition by contemporary bookbinder and mixed-media conceptual artist Jacob Z. Wan titled “Late Night Thoughts”, which will be up through Jan. 19. Through creating a dreamy experience with paintings, handmade books, and installation, this exhibition emphasizes the importance of oneself in romantic relationships and portrays intimate conversations of longing as a gay boy.

The Tempus Volta gallery will be exhibiting recent work by Miami born and New Orleansbased visual artist Cristina Molina. The show, “Ghost Orchid: Fever Dream,” is described by Molina as a “dual-channel video installation.”

Emiliano Settecasi’s gallery “The Department of Contemporary Art” will highlight the work of four Tampa Bay local initiatives: Casual Tuesday Ride, Emo Night Tampa, For the People Food Plot, and Nest (Nourishment, Education, and Social Terraces at HCC, stylized “NEST”).

The exhibit, “Models for the Future Here Today,” will showcase a collection of memorabilia, artifacts, party posters, and slideshows intended to raise awareness about these Tampa Bay groups and educate the community about how to get involved with them.

Quaid Gallery will showcase a new body of work by its own member Anthony Record in a solo show “Dinonetics: Fossilized Feelings and Prehistorical Misfortune” from Jan. 5-Feb. 11. Dinonetics features abstract and improvisatory paintings of dinosaurs and other charismatic megafauna from prehistory.

Dinosaurs are a metaphor for Record’s process of painting itself—in the same way that a paleontologist constructs an unknown species from a few isolated fossilized remains, Record paints both recognizable and heretofore undiscovered species starting with an improvised skeleton of a few stray calligraphic strokes in a primordial landscape. Neither scientific illustration nor fantasy art, Record uses subjects from the deep past as a jumping off point for exploring the boundaries of recognition and the limits of human perception.

Tempus Projects, the largest of the five galleries, will be closing out the group show “Karst Grounds:: Quatro Sunistra” which is the fourth iteration of an annual open-call exhibition that explores the sinister side of the Sunshine State. The exhibition title is a portmanteau of “sunshine” and the Latin word “sinistra”—the forebearer of the English word “sinister,” which retains some of its original connotations of something more harmful and inauspicious. The play on words reflects the often idyllic/ nightmarish dichotomy Florida embodies in its natural, social, and political climates. This serves as a thematic jumping-off point for the exhibition’s applicants as the artists investigate this peculiar state through their diverse perspectives and unique approaches.

CATCH THE DRIFT: The Kress Building is discreetly located on 7th Avenue’s 1600 block.

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Every day, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers submit events to the CL event calendar. We’ve pulled out some of the best local events happening this week. So have a look, put this paper down, call a friend, and get out there. To be considered for this listing, please submit your event at cltampa.com.

Dia De Los Reyes Concert Live event featuring a concert and conversations with local classical musicians and guests from FGCU Coalition for Collegiate Musicians of Color. Proceeds will benefit the Gabe Cazares Scholarship awarded by the InterCultural Advocacy Institute through the St. Petersburg College Foundation. Hors d’oeuvres, a coquito cash bard, and rosca de reyes will be served from 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m.:30-9 p.m. $25-$50. Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center. 4951 78th Ave N, Pinellas Park. hispanicoutreachcenter.org

Curator Talk with Dr. Leah Lehmbeck

In this lecture we will outline how Rodin assured his own artistic relevance, and then discuss his importance in America, which ultimately led to collections such as the one at LACMA, now featured in the exhibition True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Free with museum admission. Marly Room at Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org

Night Letter: A Conversation with Sterling Watson Tombolo Books is kicking off our 2023 event lineup in an exciting way! We are thrilled to welcome back local author and friend of the bookstore Sterling Watson for his latest heart-pounding mystery, “Night Letter”! “Watson delivers a taut thriller set in Florida’s desolate panhandle that is part coming-of-age story and all hard-boiled noir!” There are multiple ticket options, and the first 30 people to pre-order a copy of “Night Letter” will receive a $10 gift card to Tombolo!

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. $28.95 & up. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com

5th Annual Dunedin International Film Festival Peace, Love & Cinema. Join us for four days of Film, Live Performances, Live Music, Workshops and Panels at multiple pop-up theater locations in Dunedin and our Gala and Awards Ceremony at the historic Fenway (pictured above). Meet local filmmakers, and enjoy films made locally as well as selections from around the world. Panel discussions with actress, Eugenie Bonderant and local filmmaker, Victoria Jorgensen. Tour filming locations with the St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission aboard the Jolly Trolley. Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 12-15. $15. Various venues, Dunedin. dunedinfilmfestival.org

POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

No vacancy

Developer and Jane Castor supporter sues City of Tampa for $6.6 million.

By Justin Garcia

After hearing the concerns of Harbour Island residents, Tampa City Council twice voted against a developer’s proposed hotel in 2022. In response, he’s taking the city to court.

Hillsborough County court documents show that Punit Shah’s Liberty Hospitality Group is once again pursuing a lawsuit that seeks $6.6 million in damages from the City of Tampa. The lawsuit was initially filed in July of last year, after city council first voted against the proposed AC Marriott Boutique Hotel, which was planned for 800 S Harbour Island Blvd., just feet away from the residential community’s entrance gates. But the lawsuit was put on hold, pending discussions with the city and Harbour Island residents.

In public mediation sessions, Liberty Group’s attorneys said they wanted to give council a chance to reconsider the vote before taking next steps in the lawsuit. On Dec. 15, council met again to reconsider the hotel with the possibility of legal action hanging over the city.

Shah—who donated $5,000 to Mayor Jane Castor’s election campaign in 2019 and who attended Castor’s mayoral campaign launch event last month—had offered to reduce the size of the hotel as a compromise. A special magistrate judge supported changing the size of the hotel from 12 stories to 10, along with some other compromises to potentially help reduce traffic and congestion for the nearby community.

Still, after residents filled council chambers to present concerns over zoning, traffic, safety and noise, council voted the hotel plans down 4-3. Councilmen Luis Viera, Orlando Gudes, and Joseph Citro voted to approve the hotel, while the rest of council voted against it.

“We are disappointed with the City Council’s decision this evening, particularly since City of Tampa staff recommended approval twice,” Shah wrote in a press release after the vote. “The hotel would have created desperately needed jobs in our community, built tourism, and boosted the local economy. It is disappointing that this City Council will not support our efforts to enrich the Harbour Island and downtown Tampa community.”

Shah added that he hoped council would reconsider their decision in future board meetings. Four days later, he filed to have the hold on

his company’s lawsuit against the city removed. On Dec. 21, the motion to lift the hold was approved by Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe. According to a court document, the city has until Jan. 31 to respond to the lawsuit.

The main law firm representing Shah is Stearns Weaver Miller, but a court document shows that on Dec. 19, Ethan J. Loeb was added as additional counsel. Loeb was one of the attorneys who forced the Contentious exit of former city

Dingfelder. Grimes resigned six months later.

Loeb also represented a city employee who accused Councilman Gudes of hostile and toxic workplace behavior and sued him. The case was dismissed in Hillsborough County court last year, but not before city attorneys paid the accuser $200,000 before any lawsuit was filed against the city.

“It is unfortunate that a developer’s playbook if denied is to sue the City and hire Ethan Loeb,” Larry Premak, President of the South Neighborhood Association (SNA) wrote in an email to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “It goes against everything great developers like Jeff Vinik do; who involve the community instead of alienating residents.”

Atlantic City Boardwalk. We trust the courts will find this lawsuit to be without merit.”

Shah and Loeb declined to give comment for this story.

LOCAL NEWS

Harbour Island resident Susan Doyle told CL that the anger and frustration of Harbour Island residents at the second public hearing was “palpable” and that many who live in the community felt pushed aside by city staff.

“City Planners began their presentation by ignoring the 657 homes and nearly 3,000 residents who live south of Knights Run Ave,” Doyle said. “They only showed images of the area north of Knights Run with the high rises. They made us invisible!”

Last March, a public records request revealed that Loeb was in regular contact with City Attorney Gina Grimes who used her personal cell phone to discuss the lawsuit with him, even though she declined to represent

Premak said that residents of Harbour Island trust that the legal process will see that their concerns about the hotel are valid.

“The city council has twice denied Liberty,” said Premak. “It is clear that this request for a zoning exception is to fundamentally change Harbour Island and turn Knight’s Run into an

Leading up to the December meeting, residents of Harbour Island had also been advised by city legal staff that they shouldn’t voice concerns to city council members due to the pending litigation—even though the First Amendment is supposed to protect the public’s right to air grievances to their government.

councilman John Dingfelder in a public records lawsuit.

LIBERTY BELL: Residents have loudly rejected Punit Shah’s development proposal.

“We trust the courts will find this lawsuit to be without merit.”

He went to Jared

DeSantis appoints anti-abortion Hillsborough County judge to appeals court.

By Justin Garcia

Hillsborough County voted Jared Smith off the bench last year after his controversial behavior gained national headlines. Now, Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed him to the Sixth District Court of Appeal. DeSantis made the announcement Dec. 20 in a news release, stating that Smith will start his new position at the newly-created, Lakelandbased appeals court on Jan. 1.

what to do with her own reproductive system, and ruled against her getting an abortion.

LOCAL NEWS

In court records, Smith argued that Doe has, “never had any financial responsibilities, even so much as paying her own cellphone bills.” But higher judges from a panel that overturned Smith’s ruling found that at the time, Doe worked around 20

Despite Smith’s decision, a Florida panel of judges declared the teen mature enough to earn a “judicial bypass,” a legal process that allows minors to get abortions without the consent of their parents, in a 2-1 ruling in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal.

But that wasn’t all that derailed Smith’s re-election last summer.

During the campaign, a video showed

An attack ad aimed at Jacobs that called her a “woke” judge also came under scrutiny. Legal experts said the ad may have violated judicial canon by making non-objective claims about Jacobs. The company that produced the ad denied that Smith took part in it, but campaign records show that he paid them $1,000 for an advertisement just a week before the attack ad launched.

The press release also referred to Smith as hailing from Lakeland but it didn’t explain what his connection is to the area. In November, Smith’s bid for a judgeship on the appeals court was challenged by a lawmaker who said he shouldn’t be appointed because he lived in neighboring Hillsborough County. But the challenge was denied by the Florida Supreme Court, which ruled that Smith only needed to be a resident of the district at the time of appointment, and not beforehand. Smith has not yet responded to a request for comment on when he moved to Lakeland.

Smith last served as a Hillsborough County judge on the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, where he was appointed by DeSantis in 2019. In August, he was defeated in an election by challenger Nancy Jacobs, who replaced him this year. Smith’s loss in Hillsborough was rare, because incumbent judges usually retain their seats in elections. But the judge made local and national headlines throughout the year for troubling rulings and questionable campaign behavior.

Last January, Smith cited a 17-year-old’s grades and maturity in his ruling that denied the teen an abortion.

The teen, named “Jane Doe” in court documents, said that she didn’t feel ready to have a child. She was thinking about joining the military, and then hoped to become a nurse.

Smith said that because Doe had a C average in school and because she wasn’t fully able to take care of herself at her age, that she shouldn’t be able to make a decision about

hours a week, and had $1,600 in savings. While she lived in her parents house, she paid for other costs of living.

Smith’s wife, with the judge standing next to her in a church full of people, saying that Jacobs, who is Jewish, “needs Jesus.”

Smith also made a public apology over a false claim he made about Creative Loafing’s reporting.

The controversy surrounding Smith eventually led to several high profile leaders who previously endorsed him to rescind their support. Tampa City Councilman Joe Citro pulled his endorsement, adding that while he thinks Smith is a good man, this particular judge race has gotten “a little ugly” for his politics. He added that Smith made a statement during a speech to Smith’s church that condemned the entire Democratic Party, but that judges shouldn’t participate in that kind of behavior.

Retired Hillsborough judge E.J. Salcines—who has a 50 year career in law and served 17 years as a judge—also pulled his support for Smith.

“I have withdrawn my endorsement,” Salcines, who won the Florida Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor Award in 2021, told CL. “I’ve been very disappointed with what I have read about him. My endorsement came before I learned certain things about him, and it does not stand.”

However, many stayed in Smith’s camp, including former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board also “recommended” Smith during his judicial race, while at the same time admitting that the abortion decision was problematic.

After losing his election, Smith made a bid for the Sixth District Court of Appeals, which was created in June. Now, thanks to DeSantis, Smith and eight other judges will hear appeals cases from several counties in Central Florida.

Got it

Pinellas sheriff secretly texted traffic stop video to former TPD chief.

By Justin Garcia

Former Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor got a pass when a Pinellas County Sheriff deputy let her out of a traffic stop last month, but the professional courtesies didn’t end there. Text messages show that Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri leaked body camera video of the traffic stop to O’Connor while Creative Loafing Tampa Bay waited for the clip as part of a public records request from PCSO. The video shows O’Connor and her husband Keith pulled over for not having a license plate on their golf cart and O’Connor using her badge to get out of the traffic stop. The incident made international news after CL first reported it on Dec. 1, and O’Connor resigned four days later at the request of Mayor Jane Castor.

On the afternoon of Dec. 1, the video was provided to CL and a sergeant said “You are the first to receive it all” in an email. Around the same time the story about the traffic stop was published on CL’s website, TPD shared the video in a press release with an apology from O’Connor.

LOCAL NEWS

The texts between Gualtieri and O’Connor were discovered via TPD’s response to a CL’s public records request. But in PCSO’s initial response to a similar request, the texts between the two were missing. When asked why, PCSO responded by apologizing for the “miscommunication” and provided the same text messages that had been provided in the request from TPD.

But on Nov. 30—a day before the video was released to CL—public records show Gualtieri texting O’Connor a Google Drive link to a video named “TRAFFIC_ STOP.” Six minutes later he followed-up and wrote, “Did you get it?” There was no response from O’Connor included in the public records request.

Earlier on Nov. 30, CL was informed that the video had been found, based on information provided in a public records request.

But PCSO said that it would be 24 hours before the video could be provided, because the legal team had to review the video for redactions. CL agreed to wait, unaware that Gualtieri would leak the video to O’Connor. Tampa Police Department’s Professional Standards Bureau found that on that same day, O’Connor confessed about the incident to Castor.

In the video of the incident from last month, O’Connor and her husband Keith were pulled over in Oldsmar, where they live, by PCSO deputy Larry Jacoby. O’Connor flashes her badge and tells Jacoby that she is the police chief in Tampa. She then asks if his body camera is on, and the deputy confirms that it is.

O’Connor then says, “I’m really hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight.” She hands Jacoby her business card, and they thank each other for their service before Deputy Jacoby lets the couple go.

Last month, PCSO told CL that Jacoby will not be reprimanded for giving preferential treatment to a fellow officer. And during a press conference on Dec. 6, Gualtieri defended the deputy’s behavior. “Deputy Larry Jacoby did absolutely nothing wrong. I stand by him 110%,” he said.

HE LEAKIN’: PCSO said its boss’ missing text was a ‘miscommunication.’

Feelin’ finest

Tampa police cap off 2022 with another firing.

By CL Staff

Over Christmas break, the Tampa Police Department quietly announced the firing of a cop caught on camera dragging a handcuffed woman on the ground during a jail booking. According to a press release sent on the afternoon of Dec. 27, former Tampa police officer Gregory Damon violated multiple departmental policies while booking an inmate into the Orient Road Jail on Nov. 17.

Video shows Damon—who arrested a woman for trespassing in East Arbor Heights after someone called to report her sleeping outside Tampa Family Health Center—at the detention center dragging her from the cop car and across the floor to the jail entrance.

LOCAL NEWS

Two Hillsborough County met him, picked up the woman and began the intake process. Damon’s behavior was reported to TPD by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the officer was immediately relieved of his duties when the investigation opened on Nov. 18.

Bodycam footage shows Damon threatening to drag the woman out of the patrol car after she refuses to get out at the jail. “I want you to drag me,” she said in response.

A Professional Standards Bureau investigation found that “Rather than remaining professional, Damon himself made rude and derogatory comments to the arrestee.” A 2013 TPD policy update says, “dragging an individual who is uncooperative is never an appropriate practice, with the standards bureau saying that Damon officially violated multiple policies including: Searching,Transporting, and Booking of Prisoners; Courtesy to the Public; Response to Resistance; Treatment of Persons in Custody; Standard of Conduct: Policies related to Body Worn Camera and Incompetence.

“Professionalism is not only expected, it is demanded, in every encounter our officers have with the public, regardless of the arrestee being uncooperative or unpleasant in return. As law enforcement officers, we are held to a higher standard,” Interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in the release.

Bercaw was appointed to interim chief last month after controversial Chief of Police Mary O’Connor resigned following CL reporting that unearthed video of her using her position to get out of a traffic stop. The incident came less

than a year after Tampa Mayor Jane Castor hand-picked O’Connor to lead the department despite outcry from the community in response to O’Connor’s past history which included charges of battery on a law enforcement officer.

Damon’s termination also capped off a tumultuous year for Tampa police which in 2022 saw its officers come under scrutiny for making jokes after shooting a dog, not immediately disclosing a federal investigation into its crime-free multi housing program, using homophobic slurs amongst other infractions.

See a rundown of TPD’s worst moments of 2022 below. A full version of this recap is at cltampa.com/news.—Ray Roa

Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor resigned after flashing badge to get out of golf cart traffic violation In November, Mary O’Connor was pulled over on a golf cart with her husband Keith O’Connor, who was driving. She took out her badge and told a Pinellas County Sheriff Deputy “I’m really hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight.” She also gave the PCSO deputy her business card and told him to let her know if he needs anything. The incident made international headlines and O’Connor was forced to resign. She lasted less than a year as police chief, and was appointed by Mayor Jane Castor to controversy because of a previous incident where she drunkenly punched a fellow cop.

A Tampa police officer shot a dog, and then made jokes about it In 2021, a TPD officer shot Nala, a pitbull that neighbors described as loving and kind, in the head. This year, CL found that the officers who were involved in Nala’s shooting made jokes about it. On top of that, body camera video revealed that TPD officers stopped Nala’s owner from leaving for the veterinarian as the dog bled. Luckily, Nala survived. TPD decided that the officer who shot Nala, who had several problems during training, did not violate any department policies.

After keeping it from the pubic for months, it was discovered that TPD’s crime-free multi housing program was under federal investigation In April, it was announced that TPD’s “crime-free multi housing” program, which targeted Black renters for eviction, is under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Mayor Jane Castor, a former police chief who oversaw the program, kept the investigation a secret from the public for five months. Despite the investigation, Castor defended the program. Currently, the DOJ is looking to speak with victims of the program.

TPD’s controversial gunshot detection program unfairly targeted East Tampa, a predominantly Black community In August, Tampa City Council considered the continued funding of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection program that has landed innocent people in jail

HONEY HOLE: Tampa police headquarters.

RAY ROA

and caused controversy around the country. In November it was revealed that the technology only exists in East Tampa, where the residents are mostly Black. Two councilmen pointed out that this was unfair, and called for the location of the technology to be equitable.

TPD concealed neighborhood crime data, then had to restore it Without notifying the public, TPD quietly changed the way it reported neighborhood crime data in January. The department decided to stop reporting crimes on a block level, and instead switch to a “grid” style reporting that covered multiple square miles instead. The problem is, this type of reporting of crime leads to inaccurate data, and makes it hard to tell where crimes are actually occurring. After CL wrote about the change, TPD switched back to block reporting, amid criticism from the public.

Black Tampa police officers said the department is racially biased A Buzzfeed investigation into TPD revealed that Black police officers were having trouble overcoming what they called a “good old boy” system at the department, where white officers got preferential treatment to Black officers. Not only that, the officers also talked about white officers being racist toward everyday citizens while out in the field.

Tampa police use “geofencing” to investigate crimes, a spying tactic critics call unconstitutional Tampa police are using a surveillance tactic that collects digital data to investigate suspected crimes. But the same tactic also spies on everyday citizens and is responsible for innocent people being wrongly accused of crimes, causing experts to call it unconstitutional. The spying method collects data from any electronic device that was in an area designated by the police, within a certain time range.

TPD charge Native American man with misdemeanor after protesting Tampa’s monument to the pedophile Christopher Columbus TPD charged an Indigenous man with criminal mischief with less than $200 in damage after attending a protest against Tampa’s shameful Christopher Columbus statue on Oct. 15. At that protest, fake blood made of water and food coloring was thrown on the Columbus statue by protestors. For Indigenous people, Columbus represents pedophilia, slavery, rape and genocide. After the publication of this story, it was revealed that a second Indigenous person had also received charges.

TPD pushed for controversial noise ordinance in Ybor, then it was repealed In January, there was uproar from business owners in Ybor over a noise ordinance that would allow TPD to ticket club owners for noise over a certain limit without a warning and limit all outdoor sound. Turns out TPD was helping push the ordinance, which was presented to the city council. Council initially approved

the ordinance for the party district, but then reversed their decision after public outcry and questions about constitutional rights.

Former Tampa police chief says Tampa’s hideous “back the blue” mural should go A testament to the stubbornness of Tampa leadership, the “back the blue” mural, which was illegally painted by right wingers during the George Floyd uprising in 2020, is still in downtown Tampa. It’s been the subject of mockery around the country, mainly because the artwork is horrible and it reads more like “Bock the Blub.” Former police chief Brian Dugan even said it needs to go, and noted that it looks like a “first grader’s art project.”

the use of the function can be tracked. O’Connor told council that there’s no way to track it. But the body camera provider told CL that there is in fact a way to do so, and sent an example which shows when and how long the mute function is used on a camera.

LOCAL NEWS

Tampa police officer who violently arrested innocent Black woman had a history of violations This year it was revealed that in 2021, TPD officer Brigitte Curbelo violently

Before she was police chief, Mary O’Connor oversaw “Biking while Black” and “Renting while Black” When O’Connor was working under current mayor and former police chief Jane Castor, she oversaw two racially biased programs, public records show. Both programs were subjects of federal investigations. Documents obtained by CL show emails between O’Connor and officers discussing plans to ramp-up bicycle stops in East Tampa, which came to be known as “biking while Black” and to speak in favor of “renting while Black” at a public event.

TPD’s officer of the month was fired then rehired, and violated policy 18 times in total In May, TPD presented officer Algenis Maceo as the department’s officer of the month to city council. But it turns out Maceo had a sketchy police record. According to IA files, Maceo has 18 violations, six of which occurred after he was rehired in 2020 following a scandal that involved failure to properly document and record evidence, failure to comply with search and seizure policies, and more. He’s still on the streets, handling highly sensitive gun and drug seizures.

Tampa police officers made several DUI arrests below the legal limit, and an officer alleged forced quotas In June, TPD admitted that its DUI squad made several arrests when drivers blew beneath the legal alcohol limit. At a Tampa’s Citizens Review Board meeting, a TPD DUI squad officer accused his supervisor Sergeant Anthony Portman of “destroying morale” by imposing DUI quotas on the squad, along with other questionable behavior.

Police union leader surveilled an activist who pushed for police transparency, and then city council suggested an internal affairs investigation In November, Tampa City Council members suggested an internal affairs investigation into a police officer, who is also a high-ranking member of the police union, to learn the extent of opposition research he did on a local activist who has pushed for police transparency. TPD has not yet said if the IA investigation took place.

arrested an innocent Black woman during a traffic stop. She was found to have violated four department policies and received a three day suspension as punishment. But a deeper look at Curbelo’s past revealed that she had several previous offenses.

Tampa police added a controversial mute function to body cameras In April, TPD tried to sell what the department called a “minor” change to police body cameras. But in fact, the mute function that they were adding to body cameras has caused controversy around the country, especially in highly sensitive situations like police shootings and instances of officer misconduct. This is why St. Pete Police Department chose not to use the mute function, for the sake of transparency.

Tampa police chief and body camera provider were at odds over mute function City council was concerned about the controversial aspects of the mute function, and asked Tampa police chief Mary O’Connor to find out if

Data leak reveals Tampa police officer’s stepson is a member of neo-Nazi group Patriot Front On Jan. 21, a journalist collective leaked chats from the white supremacist organization Patriot Front. One member and organizer, Calvin Stow-Ortiz, is the stepson of Tampa Police Department officer Antonio Ortiz-Saldana. In the chats, Stow-Ortiz said that he said that he planned on “absolutely destroying the Tampa-St. Pete area,” with the group’s neo-Nazi propaganda.

Tampa police officer got wasted at Busch Gardens, abused her power to cut a line, then resigned This year it was revealed that a TPD captain retired early during an investigation into her drunkenly trying to use her badge to cut the line onto a Busch Gardens ride, then pushed an employee and cussed out a fellow officer in October of 2021. The captain was off duty, drunk, and tried to force her way to the front of the line for the “Cobra’s Curse” roller coaster, when all hell broke loose.

Tampa City Council blocked subpoena power for the police department, after pressure from police chief For years, the community has asked for the Police Citizen’s Review Board (CRB) to have more power via obtaining subpoena power for obtaining evidence. The CRB voted to recommend that city council leave the matter up to the voters. But in November, council made an undemocratic move and decided against letting the public vote on the matter, after being lobbied by former TPD Chief Mary O’ Connor.

Tampa police officer resigned after using homophobic slurs during an arrest Like several of the disturbing TPD stories that were revealed this year, this one occurred back in 2020. Because of a lack of transparency from the department, scandals often stay hidden for years. This one happened at a Walmart, where arresting officer Bryan Perry called a suspect the “F-word” multiple times. The officer resigned during an investigation into the incident.

HART bus seats fully reinstalled after TPD requested them removed Last year, CL found that Tampa’s Metro Rapid bus stop seats had all been removed, per the request of TPD. At the beginning of this year, HART finished fully reinstalling all of the seats, despite the police department not wanting people to be able to sit out of concern that it leads to more crime.

TAKE IT DOWN: Bayshore’s Columbus statue was again at the center of police controversy.

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Joe me the way

10 questions for 2023.

By Jeffrey C. Billman

Now that we’ve spent the last two weeks hitting the highs and lows of 2022, let’s take a look at the year to come. I’ve learned through experience that predictions are a fool’s errand. But we have a sense of the questions that will define American politics over the next 12 months.

1. Which path will the GOP take? The election should offer Republicans a clarifying moment. Donald Trump cost them the Senate and a sizable House majority. But he still commands the loyalty of a large chunk of the GOP base. Meanwhile, the likes of Marjorie TaylorGreene will hold considerable sway in the Republican House caucus, as Kevin McCarthy capitulates to extremists in his bid for the speaker’s gavel (see no. 5).

2. Will Trump be charged? The Department of Justice has appointed a special counsel to investigate Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and his theft of classified documents after leaving the White House. Prosecutors in Georgia are probing his attempt to overturn the state’s 2020 election result. Prosecutors in New York are investigating potential fraud. The walls appear to be closing in. But the DOJ has never prosecuted a former president or presidential candidate, and Trump is both.

3. Does the GOP’s DeSantis crush last? The GOP is down on Trump for the same reason they’re up on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: They want to win. DeSantis, who culture-warred his way to a landslide re-election, looks like a winner. But it’s an open question whether DeSantis wears well on the national stage, or whether other Republican upstarts—Gov. Brian Kemp or Sen. Tim Scott, for example—steal his spotlight.

4. Will Joe Biden seek re-election? If Biden runs, he’ll get the nomination, probably without a serious challenge. But the president is 80 years old. If he wins a second term, he’ll be 86 before it’s over. It’s not ageist to wonder if that’s a good idea. If he doesn’t run, the field is wide open: Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsome, maybe Raphael Warnock, too. And Gretchen Witmer has to merit consideration after her dominance in Michigan. But Biden’s probably going to run. And if the economy’s growing, he’ll probably win. But six years is a long time for even a healthy octogenarian.

5. Will Kevin McCarthy be Speaker?

House Republicans have elected McCarthy as their leader, but actually becoming Speaker requires 218 votes, and there are several hardliners who say they won’t vote for him, no matter what. If more than four stick to their guns, one of two things will happen: Republicans will find a unicorn who satisfies the far right and the caucus’ handful of moderates, or absolute

chaos. The more likely scenario, however, is that McCarthy agrees to the far right’s demands, stripping himself of control and rendering the House ungovernable for the next two years.

6. Will Congress blow up the debt ceiling? Next year, the House has to raise the debt ceiling. Failing to do so risks global financial calamity. Republican hardliners have already said they’ll hold the faith and credit of the United States hostage, using it as ransom to extract spending cuts and other concessions from the White House. But without the Senate, Republicans lack leverage, and Biden appears to have learned

counter-inflation effort is that it would freeze economic growth into a deep recession rather than cool it into a soft landing. The good news: The Fed has indicated that it will slow rate hikes in 2023, an indication that inflation is tapering. Still, there’s no guarantee that we won’t hit a recession this year. Getting through this without one—or even with a mild, brief one— will bolster Democrats’ 2024 prospects. But if Congress defaults on the country’s debt, any hopes of avoiding a deep recession will vanish.

justices seemed skeptical, but we won’t know for sure until they rule this spring.

INFORMED DISSENT

8. Will the Supreme Court eviscerate democracy? In December, the court heard oral arguments in Harper v. Moore, in which North Carolina Republicans asked the right-wing justices to endorse a fringe legal theory that says that state courts can’t stop legislatures from ger-

9. How desperate will Russia get? To say the invasion of Ukraine has not gone to plan is an understatement. The bully got punched in the nose in front of the whole world. But the bully still has nuclear weapons. In December, Putin mused about adding a nuclear first strike to his military strategy. The likelihood that Putin follows through on this threat seems low; he would be signing his own death warrant. But the risk isn’t zero, and the consequences are potentially world-changing.

10. What will happen to Elon Musk’s Twitter?Before its acquisition last year, Twitter had grown into a hub for journalists, policymakers, academics, activists, and politicians

that negotiating with hostage-takers encourages them to take more hostages. If McCarthy—or whoever is speaker—puts the debt ceiling on the floor for a vote, Democrats will ensure that it passes. But doing that might cost McCarthy his Speaker’s gavel.

7. Will the economy have a soft landing? The risk inherent to the Federal Reserve’s

rymandering congressional districts to partisan ends even if doing so violates the state constitution. Further-reaching versions of this theory would allow legislatures to overrule voters and appoint the presidential electors of their choosing, ignore independent redistricting commissions, and disregard state court rulings on things like voter ID. At least a few conservative

to disseminate information. It was also a vile shithole of racist trolls and ad hominem attacks. But it was our vile shithole. Billionaire edgelord Elon Musk made all of the bad stuff worse, and the useful stuff worse, too. With the site becoming a higher-rent Gab, I wonder what gap it will leave in our national conversation—and what will emerge as the next information hub.

BIDEN HIS TIME: Predictions are a fool’s errand.

ADAM SCHULTZ

MONDAY 02

Shit Happened

WFLA reports that Polk County burglars called 911 for help moving stolen items. That’s worse than the The Wet Bandits, man.

SATURDAY 07

Because it's the internet, people are big mad that the three finalists in Tampa International Airport’s name-the-flamingo contest are Cora, Finn and Phoebe. They weren’t gonne name it it Fallopian or Fellatio, dude.

TUESDAY 03

Florida Democrats agree to pay $43K in settlement with FEC after the party faced accusations of failing to properly report its debts in the 2020 election. FlaDems owe voters a lot more for completely bumblefucking every golden opportunity the GOP hands them.

Activists will protest anti-trans law at the Tampa office of a Florida Board of Medicine surgeon Michael Wasylik who was appointed by DeSantis and part of the body which finalized a rule that aims to prohibit health providers from providing gender-affirming care for transgender youth under the age of 18. It’ll be rich if Wasylik screams cancel culture in response.

SUNDAY 08

Starting Sunday, drivers who frequently use Florida tolls will begin to tally credits for rebates on those payments. Under the program, drivers who hit 35 tolls in a month will get a 50% rebate the following month. And no, you can’t get your past balance forgiven.

More shit, breaking resolutions already, via cltampa.com/news.

RESTAURANTS RECIPES

DINING GUIDES

Sundries your eyes

Munch’s closing leads new, heaping roundup of Tampa Bay food news.

By Kyla Fields

Apopular and longstanding no-frills diner experience in St. Pete has come to an end. Munch’s Restaurant and Sundries—which has operated in south St. Pete since 1952—closed its doors last week after owner Larry Munch recently finalized the sale of both his business and the property.

However, there’s a possibility of the property’s new owner continuing the historic restaurant, since their $2.7 million dollar purchase came with the business’s name and equipment as well. A representative of the buyer, Brian Wedlake, told the Tampa Bay Times that “the new owners hope to find a new operator with a shared vision of tipping their hat to the past while embracing the improvements and growth that is occurring in the area,” also adding that there will be changes made on the property itself. Although there’s a chance that the Munch’s legacy will live on, loyal customers of many different ages said their goodbyes to the iconic St. Pete eatery.

Walking into this old-timey diner, you’re typically greeted with walls covered in vintage photographs and a friendly (but busy) waitress that always calls you “hun.” When going to pay at the counter up front (with cash only, of course,) you’re usally met with a variety of old school candies and tie dyed, Guy Fieri-approved merchandise.

Staples on the Munch’s menu included sweet country sausage patties, hand-churned milkshakes and its prized cream chipped beef, which was featured on season 11 of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Fieri also tried Munch’s famous fried chicken and Texas hash, securing St. Pete’s reputation as a Flavortown of its own.

The diner’s entire property at 3920 6th St. S was listed for sale for a whopping $2.7 million back in June. Sixty-eight-year-old, second generation owner Larry Munch told Bay News 9 back in August that he made the decision to sell the restaurant because he’s simply ready to retire. He hoped that whoever ended up buying the property would keep the legacy of his namesake alive, but only time will tell if his wishes come into fruition. Larry’s parents, Dean and Clariece Munch, opened their post office and sundries stand in 1952. Selling simple sandwiches out of the back of their car eventually evolved into a full-service diner with a longstanding reputation in The Burg’.

In addition to Munch’s, the acre-long parcel of purchased land also includes Southside Coffee Bar, Phillips Air Conditioning & Heating, Coquina Meat Market in an adjacent building and the duplex in the back of the parking lot. “The lot includes a strip center with multiple rental tenants alongside Munch’s, as well as two single-family homes,” the now-defunct real estate listing reads. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to Southside Coffee Bar to see if it shares a final day with its neighbor, but was unable to reach a representative of the business.

of The Burg.’ Perry’s Porch is a new restaurant that will open adjacent to the St. Pete Pier and the St. Petersburg Museum of History at 600 2nd Ave. NE—a space most recently occupied by craft beer spot Hops and Props.

This upcoming concept will be a combination of open-air and indoor seating, since its name is a homage to the 20th century developer Perry Snell, who’s known for revitalizing several St. Pete neighborhoods with his unique approach to architecture, nature, and walkability. Perry’s Porch will offer a menu chock full of fresh and local flavors when it debuts in the summer of 2023. Construction will begin early this year.

Seed & Feed Hospitality Group is behind Perry’s, and also operates popular concepts like Trophy Fish and Mandarin Hide in downtown St. Pete and Mandarin Heights in Tampa.

Renderings from St. Pete-based WJ Architect firm depict Perry’s as a sleek restaurant with an adjoining cafe, both covered in dusty pink tones and scenic foliage.

“We see this as a chance to leave an indelible mark on the St. Pete culinary scene,” Seed & Feed’s Blake Thompson wrote in a press release. “We want this venue to become an extension of the St. Petersburg Museum of History experience and have us help serve as St. Pete ambassadors to each guest that may be visiting our amazing city.” Thompson joins fellow St. Pete natives Ryan and Bill Griffin in the opening of this St. Pete Pier-adjacent concept.

For more information on Perry’s Porch summer 2023 opening, keep up with its website perrysporch.com or follow its newly-formed Instagram at @perrysporch.

Another St. Pete diner might soon share the fate of Munch’s, as Kissin Cuzzins at 951 34th St. N is currently for sale as well. Munch’s will soon join the ranks of recently-closed St. Pete institutions, including Wilson’s Bar and the Central Avenue bookstore Haslam’s, which never re-opened after 2020’s COVID-19 lockdowns.

Perry’s Porch, a new open-air restaurant, will debut at the St. Pete Pier this summer

The folks behind some of St. Pete’s best bars are opening a new concept that will surely boast one of the most scenic waterfront views in all

According to a press release, Perry’s Porch will offer a unique, to-go “picnic experience” for folks who want to enjoy their meal at Spa Beach Park or Vinoy Park instead, in addition to a curated cocktail menu similar to that of its sibling concepts.

Perry’s Porch is a small part of the expansion that the 100 year-old St. Petersburg Museum of History is currently undergoing. Its website states that other additions include a Visit St. Pete/Clearwater welcome center, Explore Florida! exhibit, the scenic “Flight Deck” and a massive piece of artwork from artist Ya La’Ford.

Downtown St. Pete’s Dr. BBQ restaurant

has closed

A downtown St. Pete favorite and go-to pre-game spot quietly closed its doors last week. Dr. BBQ and its adjoining tiki bar Burnt Ends—both located at 1101 Central Ave.— served its last customers on Thursday, Dec. 29, according to a podcast from stpetersburgfoodies.com.

The American restaurant was a collaboration between celebrity chef and licensor Ray Lampe and Datz Hospitality Group, which owns and operates several concepts throughout Tampa Bay. Dr. BBQ debuted in its prime downtown location, adjacent to Tropicana Field, in 2018, while its second-story tiki bar opened last spring. The building that housed Dr. BBQ was sold about six months ago, and Datz Hospitality Group was renting the space from its new owners until last week’s closure, according to the podcast. Back in August, Datz Hospitality Group sold its 7,935-square-foot building for $4.5 million dollars to PTM Partners, a Fort Lauderdale-based company, St. Pete Catalyst reports. PTM Partners have other construction projects happening throughout St. Pete, including the upcoming Moxy Hotel by Marriott, under construction at 1234-1246 Central Ave.

Dr. BBQ was known for its meaty menu of loaded chicken wings, house-smoked meats like pulled pork and brisket, burnt end tacos and approachable cocktails.

St. Petersburg Foodies podcast host Kevin Godbee interviewed Dr. BBQ himself last week, as the two discussed the restaurant’s somewhat shocking closure, Lampe’s next steps, and more.

“It was business decision, I had no say in it, but

WAKE ME UP: St. Pete’s Munch’s is closed after 70 years.

STPETEPD/TWITTER

I do believe I would have done the same thing,” Lampe explained in the podcast. “It’s the nature of how things are going in St. Pete right now…. the property value basically exceeds the interest in running a restaurant. That’s basically what happened.”

Lampe says that the developer told him that the former Dr. BBQ building will be torn down in 18 months, also reiterating that the relationship between him and Datz’ Roger and Suzanne Perry still remains strong. The idea of another Dr. BBQ opening elsewhere in St. Pete is still a possibility, but Lampe could not confirm or deny the continuation of his signature restaurant.

Suzanne Perry of Datz Hospitality Group told the Times that another tenant is taking over the former Dr. BBQ space until the building’s demise next year, so keep your eyes peeled on the stadium-adjacent space for any signs of a brand new restaurant.

Adjacent to the University of South Florida and Busch Gardens, lies Tampa’s newest— and perhaps sweetest—dessert cafe. According to its social media, Tampa’s very first Peach Cobbler Factory celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 7 at noon. Located at 5003 E Fowler Ave. Suite A, Tampa’s debut Peach Cobbler Factory shares a plaza with Einstein Bagel Bros.

With a menu absolutely overflowing with sweet treats, this new dessert spot offers a dozen cobbler flavors—ranging from cherry and apple walnut raisin to cinnamon praline, sweet potato pecan, strawberry and blackberry peach. Other desserts on the menu include massive cookies, milkshakes, cinnamon rolls, and 12 different banana puddings—which include flavors like

Nutella, Oreo, peanut butter and jelly, coconut cream and New York Cheesecake.

And if you can’t decide on one of Peach Cobbler Factory’s many treats, the chain also offers a dessert flight, where guests can sample four different sweets of their choosing. The upcoming chain also sells a variety of drinks like peach sweet tea, iced coffee and strawberry and chocolate milk to help wash your decadent desserts down.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

The first Peach Cobbler Factory debuted in Nashville in 2013, and the chain now boasts dozens of locations across the country. There are several locations throughout Florida, including another upcoming Peach Cobbler Factory headed to Brandon, according to the “coming soon” tab on its website.

Follow its newly-formed Facebook page (@getpeachytampa) or Instagram at @

peachcobblerfactory for more information on Tampa’s very first Peach Cobbler Factory

Tampa’s Ocean Prime and Ulele make Opentable’s ‘Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants in America’ list

Another year, another listicle from your favorite online reservation and review website. Opentable analyzed more than 13 million reviews from its diners across the U.S. to compile 2022’s superlative list. The website releases different “Top 10” lists throughout the year, but its end-of-year “Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants” is its most widespread and honorable roundup by far.

Among its 100 best restaurants in the entire country, Tampa Bay’s seafood-focused eatery Ocean Prime, native Floridan-inspired Ulele and Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant made the cut. A little further south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota’s Connors Steak & Seafood and

Tampa’s first Peach Cobbler Factory opens this weekend

PUMPHOUSE IT UP: Ulele made Opentable’s ‘Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants’ list.

LongBoat Key’s Dry Dock Waterfront Grill also made this year’s “Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants” list.

Ocean Prime is known for its massive seafood towers, sushi rolls and freshly-caught fish, while Tampa Heights’ Ulele focuses on native Florida ingredients and flavors, like its popular alligator hush puppies and tomahawk pork chops. Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant boasts a menu of pastas, risottos and steaks that compliment its wide variety of wines, cocktails and sangrias.

Opentable has shown Tampa Bay’s dining scene a lot of love over the past few years, as many local restaurants—including Ocean Prime, Ulele and Oxford Exchange—have made its “100 Most Romantic” restaurants and “Restaurants with the Best Service” lists.

Tampa’s La Teresita lands on Food & Wine’s list of ‘Best Diners in Every State’ Tampeños, plus Best of the Bay voters and critics, already know that La Teresita is a gem of a restaurant, but Food & Wine made it official in its list of “The Best Diners in Every State.” Published over the summer (yeah, we slept on the news, sorry), the magazine’s editors said that La

Teresita, located at 3248 W Columbus Dr. in West Tampa, “is perhaps the city’s most famous Cuban restaurant.” They lauded the horseshoe-shaped counters, budget-friendly helpings of ropa vieja, buttered cuban toast and cafe con leche, adding that, “soaking up the vibe is half the point.”

La Teresita was one of two Florida restaurants to make the list alongside Sarasota Amish food mainstay Yoder’s, which was praised for “big breakfasts, crispy broasted chicken just like they do it up north, and a sometimes overwhelming selection of pies.”—Ray Roa

a few local restaurants and taquerias we might be able to expect at next year’s event include Los Chapos Tacos, Jimmy’s Tacos, Loli’s Mexican Cravings, Total Tacos and Los Tacos Mariachis.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Guests can expect a wide spread of tacos, of course—from quesabirria and al pastor to carne asada, chicken, seafood and more. Several vendors will also be slinging sides like elote and rice and beans, in addition to margaritas, cerveza and aguas frescas to help wash down your meaty feast.

76th Annual Fiesta Day, a celebration of all-things Ybor, returns to Seventh Avenue next month

Once a year, the heart of Ybor City shuts down so Tampeños can celebrate the immigrant heritage and culture of the historic district. Fiesta Day 2023 happens on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Seventh Avenue will host a variety of local vendors, businesses and restaurants, historical exhibits and live entertainment when this hyper-local celebration returns for its 76th year.

A few local organizations that we can expect at next year’s Fiesta Day include the Ybor Misfits Microsanctuary, La Gaceta newspaper and Krewe of Italia. Freshly-rolled cigars will be provided by the 127 year-old J.C. Newman Cigar Company, while 107 year-old La Segunda dishes out its prized Cuban eats. This family-friendly celebration is free to attend, but make sure to bring enough cash for the dozens of local vendors that will be scattered across Seventh Avenue.

Throughout Ybor City’s rich history, folks from Cuba, Africa, Germany, Spain ,Italy and beyond have made the district home, and Fiesta Day is the one time a year where we can celebrate Ybor City’s unique past. Fiesta Day is presented by J.C. Newman, the Ybor City-based cigar museum and manufacturer, and sponsored by the city of Tampa and the Ybor Chamber of Commerce. If you’re interested in vending at next year’s Fiesta Day celebration, the Ybor Chamber of Commerce has a sign-up form.

3rd annual Sweet & Spicy Festival heads to Tampa’s Water Works Park next weekend

A popular foodie festival takes place in Tampa next weekend, and its variety of eats are sure to cater to any palette. The 3rd annual Sweet & Spicy Festival happens from 11a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15 at Water Works Park, located at 1701 N Highland Ave. in Tampa Heights.

Next weekend’s festival is free to attend and both pet and child friendly. This celebration of all things spicy and sweet is hosted by Your Tampa Markets, a local event organizer that brings a variety of food, art and vendor-focused events to Tampa’s Riverwalk and beyond.

5th annual Tampa Taco Fest returns to Al Lopez Park next month

Get the Tums, Pepto Bismol and wet wipes ready, because the Tampa Taco Fest is making its yearly pilgrimage to Al Lopez Park. Taking place on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4810 N Himes Ave. in Tampa, this popular food festival is back for another year of endless tacos, stiff margaritas, family-friendly activities and live entertainment. 2023’s rendition runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and is kid and pet friendly, as usual.

Although the full list of participating vendors for Tampa Taco Fest have not yet been released,

Tickets are on sale now via tickeri.com, starting at $7 for general admission and $40 for VIP passes. VIP tickets come with two cocktails from an exclusive bar, access to a private tent, as well as two tacos, chips and salsa. According to the event’s website, day-of general admission tickets will be available for $12 at the gate. Kids under the age of 12 can attend 2023’s Tampa Taco Fest for free.

For the latest information on this popular foodie event, head to its website 813tacofest. com or keep up with its Facebook page (@tampatacofest), which typically hosts a free ticket giveaway as the festival nears closer.

Although the full list of local businesses and food trucks participating in this year’s Sweet & Spicy festival has not yet been released, its organizer says over 70 vendors will be scattered throughout Tampa’s Riverwalk. Live bands that will also take over the Water Works Park bandshell. A variety of different sauces, jams, salsas and desserts will be available to enjoy by the Hillsborough River or taken home. There will also be a kid’s art area set up under one of Water Works’ many pavilions.

Another exciting foodie festival with a similar theme happens in Tampa next month, as the Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival: Sweet & Spicy edition takes place in Port Richey on Saturday, Feb. 11.

WORKS IT: Tasty views will complement the eats at Sweet & Spicy Festival.

Metro boomin’

Ambitious cooks find success in local culinary arts programs.

By Alexandria Jones

For recent graduate Qubilaha “Sweets” Henry, enrolling in Metropolitan Ministries’ Culinary Arts program was all about doing something different for herself. Prior to that, she hadn’t worked in years, so the Tampa-based program helped rebuild her confidence.

“I hadn’t worked in a long time, so this was a good opportunity to start believing in myself. It was a good mind change for me,” she said. Her favorite thing in the program: learning how to chop, specifically cutting peppers because it taught her a different way to prepare the vegetable. “I want to be a prep cook; I want to be a helper,” she said.

to feed 100 people. “It’s like a culmination of all they’ve done and they really get to enjoy that,” Young said.

Kitchen Manager Alice Mann worked at Taco Bell for 30 years, most recently as a general manager before a friend convinced her to enroll in the culinary program in 2019. The program was a life-changer for her.

“The program was excellent. Very good, very educational,” she told CL. “Even though I grew up cooking, it’s different when you’re in a classroom setting.”

FOOD NEWS

Two weeks before graduating second in her class, Mann said that Cliff Barsi, Vice President of Social Enterprise and Food Services, and Chef Lewis offered her a job at Metropolitan Ministries. She started out in the catering department, moved up to overseeing the childcare program, then was promoted to her current role just a couple months ago.

“I feel like God told me to be here.

Every day I come to work feeling like I’m not even working because I love it so much,” Mann added.

C/O KALONJI MCCLELLAN

Enrolling in the program is simple: you have to be 18 to apply, but there is no age limit. Graduates are equipped with basic skills like proper knife use, baking, and back of house operations. Once students graduate the 12-week program, they intern at area restaurants for a short period. Instructors at Metropolitan Ministries understand their students have lives outside of the program so they try and help them in any way possible from paying a living wage of $15.50/hour, which helps if students have no other source of income while enrolled, to even purchasing bus passes for those without personal vehicles.

“We just want them to be able to get that job and not have to struggle once they get started,” Culinary

Instructor Joshua Young told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Young added that some students can get their foot in the door via Metropolitan Ministries’ annual Tampa Bay Food Fight contest. “The participating restaurants know about the program and have taken students in the past,” he said.

Towards the end of the program, each student gets to lead the class for the day. The student and instructors work together to create a menu before developing a recipe

Metropolitan Ministries has another iteration of the program in St. Petersburg at Tropicana Field and is bringing one to the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. This gives students a chance for more hands-on experiences cooking in a different setting than a classroom. They’ll get the chance to work alongside other chefs while learning how to make food for a larger number of people than they’re used to.

“You’re not just learning how to cook. You’re learning stuff mentally,” Henry said. “They’re trying to really help you.”

If you or anyone you know may be interested in enrolling in Metropolitan Ministries’ Culinary Arts program, reach out to their program coordinator Kalonji McClellan at (813) 209-4889 or email kalonji.mcclellan@metromin.org.

Help CL with this evolvinglisting. Did we miss a brewery or leave out an important detail? Email rroa@cltampa.com. Include brewery name, address, phone number and website, plus a short description of the unique offerings.

3 CAR GARAGE 8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton. 941-741-8877, 3cargaragebrewing.com

3 DAUGHTERS BREWING 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-495-6002, 3dbrewing.com

3 KEYS BREWING 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com

5 BRANCHES BREWING 531 Athens St., Tarpon Springs. fivebranchesbrewing.com

7VENTH SUN BREWING 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013/6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-231-5900, 7venthsun.com

81BAY BREWING CO. 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 813-837-BREW, 81baybrewco.com

ANECDOTE BREWING CO. 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. anecdotebrewing.com

ANGRY CHAIR 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com

ARKANE ALEWORKS 2480 E. Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com

AVID BREWING 1745 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-388-6756, avidbrew.com

BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com

BASTET 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. bastetbrewing.com

BAY CANNON BEER CO. 2106 W Main St., Tampa. 813-442-5615, baycannon.com

BAYBORO BREWING CO. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-767-9666, bayborobrewing.com

BEACH ISLAND BREWERY 2058 Bayshore Blvd. Suite 5, Dunedin. 352-541-0616

BIG STORM BREWING CO. Multiple locations, bigstormbrewery.com

BIG TOP BREWING 6111 Porter Way, Sarasota. 941-371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com

BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. 652 Oakfield Dr., Brandon. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com

BREW HUB 3900 Frontage Rd. S., Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com

BREW LIFE BREWING 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com

BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 7272-940-2350

BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com

CAGE BREWING 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278

CALEDONIA BREWING 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com

CALUSA BREWING 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. 941-922-8150, calusabrewing.com

CARROLLWOOD BREWING CO. 10047 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 23, Tampa. 813-969-2337

CIGAR CITY BREWING 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-348-6363, cigarcitybrewing.com

CLEARWATER BREWING CO. 1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. clearwaterbrewingcompany.com

COMMERCE BREWING 521 Commerce Drive S, Largo. commercebrewing@gmail.com

COPP WINERY & BREWERY 7855 W Gulf Lake Highway, Crystal River. 352-228-8103, coppbrewery.com

COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com

CORPORATE LADDER BREWING COMPANY 4935 96th St. E, Palmetto. 941-4794799, corporateladderbrewing.square.site

COTEE RIVER BREWING 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-807-6806, coteeriverbrewing.com

CRAFT LIFE BREWING 4624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-575-8440. facebook. com/CraftLifeBrewing

CROOKED THUMB BREWERY 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com

CUENI BREWING CO. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing.com

CYCLE BREWING 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. cyclebrewing.com

DADE CITY BREW HOUSE 14323 7th St., Dade City. 352-218-3122, dadecitybrewhouse.com

DARWIN BREWING CO. 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. 941-747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com

DE BINE BREWING CO. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964.

DENTED KEG ALE WORKS 5500 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-232-2582, dentedkegaleworks.com

DEVIANT LIBATION 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727-379-4677, deviantlibation.com

DISSENT CRAFT BREWING CO. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-3420255. facebook.com/ dissentcraftbrewing

DUNEDIN BREWERY 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com

DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 216-6318, dunedinhob.com

EIGHT-FOOT BREWING 4417 SE 16th Place, Cape Coral. 239-984-2655, eightfootbrewing.com

ESCAPE BREWING CO. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com

FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel. 813-452-6333, floridaavebrewing.com

FLORIDA BREWERY 202 Gandy Rd., Auburndale. 863-965-1825

FOUR STACKS BREWING 5469 N. US HWY 41, Apollo Beach. 813-641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.com

FRONT PAGE BREWING CO. 190 S Florida Ave., Bartow. 863-537-7249, frontpagebrewing.com

GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-202-6071, grandcentralbrew.com

GREEN BENCH BREWING COMPANY 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com

GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. 4824 14th St. W., Bradenton. 941-896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com

GRINDHAUS BREW LAB 1650 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab.com

GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY 3007 Beach Blvd., Tampa. facebook.com/GulfportBrewery

HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks.com

HOB BREWING CO. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. hob.beer

IF I BREWED THE WORLD 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4484, ifibrewedtheworld.com

IN THE LOOP BREWING 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com

INFUSION BREWING CO. 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. 7272-484-4757

KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-7529100, keelandcurleywinery.com

KING STATE 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813-221-2100, king-state.com

LAGERHAUS BREWERY & GRILL 3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor. 727-216-9682, lagerhausbrewery.com

LATE START BREWING 1018 E Cass St., Tampa, latestartbrewing.com

LEAVEN BREWING 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com

LIQUID GARAGE CO. 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey. 727-645-5885. theliquidgarage.com

MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com

MAGNANIMOUS BREWING 1410 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com

MARKER 48 12147 Cortez Blvd, Weeki Wachee. 352-606-2509, marker48.com

MASTRY’S BREWING CO. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727-202-8045, mastrysbrewingco.com

MOTORWORKS

BREWING 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com

MR. DUNDERBAK’S 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-9774104, dunderbaks.com

OFF THE WAGON BREWERY 2107 S Tamiami Trail, Venice. 941-497-2048, otwbar.com

OLDE FLORIDA BREWING 1158 7th St. NW, Largo. 727-2298010, facebook.com/oldefloridabrew

OVERFLOW BREWING 70 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-0665, facebook.com/ overflowbrewingco

OZONA BREWING COMPANY 315 Orange St., Palm Harbor. 920-392-9390, ozonabrewing.com

PEPPER BREWING 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com

PESKY PELICAN BREW PUB 923 72nd. St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-302-9600, peskypelicanbrewpub.com

PINELLAS ALE WORKS 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970, pawbeer.com

POUR HOUSE 1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com

PYE ROAD MEADWORKS 8533 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. 813-510-3500, pyeroad.com

RAPP BREWING COMPANY 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER 2244 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-360-0766, stpetearcadebar.com

ROCK BROTHERS BREWING 1901 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-241-0110, rockbrothersbrewing.com

SARASOTA BREWING COMPANY 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota. 941-925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com

SCOTTY’S BIERWORKS 901 East Industrial Circle, Cape Coral. 239-888-5482, scottysbierworks.net

SEA DOG BREWING 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island/ 26200 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater. 727-954-7805, seadogbrewing.com

SILVERKING BREWING CO. 325 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. 727-422-7598, silverkingbrewing.com

SIX TEN BREWING 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-886-0610, sixtenbrewing.com

SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-601-1698, soggybottombrewing.com

SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com

SOUTHERN LIGHTS BREWING CO. 2075 Sunnydale Blvd., Clearwater. 727-648-4314, southernlightsbrewing.com

ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com

STILT HOUSE BREWERY 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com

SWAN BREWING 15 W Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com

TAP THIS! BAR AND BREWING CO. 10730 US-19, Port Richey. 727-378-4358, tapthisbar.com

TBBC 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933

Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813-2471422, tbbc.beer

TEMPLE OF BEER 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-350-3055, templeofbeer.com

THREE BULLS TAVERN & BREWERY 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. 813-381-3853, threebullstavern.com

TIDAL BREWING COMPANY 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-701-1602, tidalbrewingfl.com

TROUBLED WATERS BREWING 670 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-221-9973, troubledwatersbeer.com

TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, facebook.com/twofrogsbrewing

TWO LIONS WINERY & PALM HARBOR BREWERY 1022 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-786-8039, twolionswinery.com

ULELE SPRING BREWERY 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com

UNREFINED BREWING 312 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-4822, unrefinedbrewing.com

WELTON BREWING CO. 2624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’Lakes. 813-820-0050, thebrewcraftery.com

THE WILD ROVER BREWERY 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com

WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-238-8717, facebook.com/woodwrightbrewing

WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. 456 W Columbus Drive, Tampa. 813-443-9463, wovenwaterbrew.com

YUENGLING BREWING CO. 11111 N 30th St., Tampa. 813-972-8529, yuengling.com

ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813-715-2683, zbcbeer.com

ZYDECO BREW WERKS 902 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. 813-252-4541, facebook.com/ zydecobrewwerks

MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE

The play’s the thing

Jobsite’s ‘Hamlet’ leads short blast of A&E news.

By Chloe Greenberg

To be or not to be at Jobsite Theater’s run of “Hamlet” is the hottest question in Tampa Bay this month.

The company will visit the Shakespeare classic as it tells the timeless story of Hamlet, a young student forced to face grief, mortality, murder, lost love and tragedy. The play has been adapted and directed by Jobsite’s David M. Jenkins and scored by the company’s awardwinning resident composer Jeremy Douglass.

“A ghost story, detective adventure, and revenge tale all at once, Hamlet is often regarded as the best-written play of all time,” the Jobsite Theater website reads.

“Hamlet” will show at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 13-Feb. 5, with select preview shows on WednesdayThursday, Jan. 11-12. Tickets are available now for $39.50 for regular showings and $24.50 for previews. More information about the show and ticket sales can be found at jobsitetheater.org.

Localtopia, a giant celebration of St. Pete makers, returns to Williams Park next month

It’s already pretty hard to find parking in downtown St. Pete these days, but the one day a year that Localtopia returns to Williams Park, it’s nearly impossible. Get your rideshare, bike or walking shoes ready, because 2023’s Localtopia—a massive, yet hyper-local makers festival—heads to downtown St. Pete on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Localtopia is always free to attend, but you’ll definitely want to make sure to have enough money to browse through its 300plus local vendors, businesses and artists packed into Williams Park, located at 350 2nd Ave. N.

According to the festival’s website, 2023’s installation of Localtopia is set to be the biggest one yet. Although the full vendor list hasn’t been released yet, a few popular businesses we

can expect to return to Localtopia include Made Coffee, Fox & Crow, The Hive, Recycled Earth Pottery and AfterBurnt. The festival prides itself on accepting strictly St. Pete-based makers, steering clear of franchises and multi-level marketing businesses.

In addition to its wide spread of local makers and artisans, Localtopia also offers an incredibly stacked lineup of Tampa Bay-based food trucks,

year’s Localtopia festival, make sure to visit signupgenius.com.—Kyla Fields

Let’s leave negativity behind and just enjoy the fact that the Bucs are back-to-back NFC South champs

Enough with the negativity. No reason to think about the playoffs on this first week back to the office. Let’s just enjoy the fact that, as predicted, the Bucs won the NFC South for consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.

Pretty sweet way to do it, too. Tampa Bay took down the Panthers 30-24 last Sunday in an offensive clinic put on by Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and this entire offensive line.

inching ever closer to Jerry Rice’s record of doing it 11 straight seasons. My disappointing fantasy football end aside, Sunday’s was quite a performance for the Bucs. They created turnovers defensively (three to be exact), the biggest coming on an Anthony Nelson strip sack in the fourth quarter that essentially clinched the victory.

The offense finally remembered how to push the ball down the field, with Evans’ three touchdown catches all being of the 30-plus-yard variety. Godwin had an ugly fumble in the first drive of the game, but other than that, the Bucs played turnover-free football.

A truly remarkable turn of events when you look at Tampa Bay’s previous performances this season. Again, not looking at this in a broad context where we all get excited about thinking of the Bucs as Super Bowl contenders, it was a really fun Sunday. I am even having difficulty finding ways to criticize the team. The Bucs won the NFC South, they’re on their way to the playoffs, and this weekend they have a game to mess around and do whatever they want next week against the Falcons.

With no route to getting anything but the fourth seed, there’s no incentive to win this Sunday in Atlanta (the game is set for 1 p.m.).

Tom Brady told the media after the win that he’d be upset if Head Coach Todd Bowles rested him, but the seemingly logical thing would be to rest all starters and just prepare for Dallas (or Philly, as they lost to the Saints Sunday afternoon).

But perhaps this coaching staff doesn’t want to lose any momentum built from this game. Maybe it lets the offense run out there and continue these good vibes.

including popular spots like Anju, Funnel Vision, Latin Lunch Box, Pop Goes the Waffle, The Twisted Indian and Maggie on the Move.

For more information on 2023’s Localtopia and its vendor lineup and festival map, head to localtopia.keepsaintpetersburglocal.org or follow its popular Facebook page (@localtopiastpete). And if you’re interested in volunteering at next

It took them long enough to break through and have a stellar game like this. To the chagrin of fantasy team owners everywhere, Evans waited to have a monster outing that could earn him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, racking up 207 yards receiving and a trio of TDs in a game where he secured his ninth consecutive thousand-yard season,

Honestly, I see both sides. If the Bucs sit starters, they’ll be criticized if they come out flat come playoff time. If they play their starters and someone gets banged up, then the coaching staff gets blamed for being stupid.

Regardless, it’s a good problem to have. The Bucs are division champs, and all is well in the Tampa Bay football world.

Fire those cannons.—Carter Brantley

NED AVERILL-SNELL

THIS BE MADNESS: (L-R) Giles Davies (Hamlet), Katrina Stevenson (Ophelia).

Auguste Rodin, Eternal Spring, c. 1881–1884, cast before 1917 (?), Bronze (Barbédienne cast no. 23), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Allan C. Balch Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

THU 05

Mary Gauthier w/Jaimee Harris In comments to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, New Orleans-born songwriter Mary Gauthier said that “Gram Parsons, in all his rhinestone splendor, kicked open the doors that helped give birth to what we now call ‘Americana music.’ He took the best elements of American music, threw them into his creative pot, stirred, and sparks flew. I now walk the trail that he blazed.” On Thursday, the Grammynominated folkie kicks down the door at a Winter Haven venue that bears Parsons’ name, all in support of a new album, Dark Enough to See The Stars . Accompanying Gauthier at at the Derry Down and again at the Fogartyville Community Arts Center in Sarasota on Friday is her partner, Jaimee Harris, who is opening the show and playing guitar alongside Mary. (Gram Parsons Derry Down, Winter Haven)

Rock The Park: Ashley Smith & The Random Occurrence w/Josh Gluck/ Slopfunkdust Downtown Tampa’s free monthly concert series comes into the new year swinging. Powerhouse Americana-blues and pop songwriter Ashley Smith headlines along with her band The Random Occurrence (collectively known as “Astro”). Broward-based songwriter Josh Gluck (his “To The Light” single would play well for the blues lovers at Skipper’s Smokehouse) rocks the middle of

FRI 06

Goatwhore w/Caveman Cult/ Herakleion/Must.Not.Kill/The Path New Orleans-based metal outfit Goatwhore is pretty much the stereotype that suburban Jesus freaks see in every band or artist that even loosely associates with heavy metal. Its latest album Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven is as Satanic, furious, and loaded with witchcraft as you could want. If that’s your bag, Goatwhore returns to Tampa Bay for its first local gig in five years, alongside fellow metalheads Caveman Cult, Herakleion, Must.Not.Kill, and Tampa’s own psychedelic metal quartet, The Path. (Orpheum, Tampa)

Steve Poltz w/Rebekah Pulley The main creative force behind California alternative quintet The Rugburns has been on a solo roll since the mid-’90s. But sometimes, all the excitement can cause even your weed trips to get out of hand enough that you think a 95-year-old woman eating a burger has stabbed you in the hand with a steak knife while out with a young man who is her lover, not her grandson. It’s anyone’s guess what other anecdotes Mr. “Football Tonite” has under his hat, but he’s spending the first week of 2023 in Florida, with Skipper’s Smokehouse sandwiched in between dates in St. Augustine and Clearwater. Rebekah Pulley opens. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

SAT 07

Emo Night Tampa: Intervention w/ Menu/Spoiled Rat/P.M. Tiger Emo Night Tampa might as well market itself a new music discovery service at this point. Throughout last year, founders Crate Brothers (which runs a Friday radio show on WMNF Tampa 88.5-FM from midnight-2 a.m.) brought some of the state’s most exciting young acts to play free shows across the 813. The trend continues to kick off the new year. Local favorites Spoiled Rat and P.M. Tiger provide support for Jacksonville outfit Intervention, still riding high on its 2022 release, The World Is Screaming , which will please fans of Jimmy Eat World and even Thursday. Atlanta band Menu rounds things out with the catchiest brand of pop-punk on this no-cover affair. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

FYA IX: Life Of Agony w/Cold World/ Fiddlehead/Drain/Mindforce/Anxious/ Age Of Apocalypse/more Following a 2022 outing that found Turnstile playing on the grounds of the old Homer Hesterly Armory in NoHo, FYA Fest is back in 2023 and reaching to the old school by tapping alt-metal veteran Life Of Agony to headline 30 years after the release of its landmark debut album River Runs Red . Blasting in from the more recent past is Wilkes-Barre hardcore outfit Cold World, plus posthardcore supergroup Fiddlehead. Don’t get caught drinking in the parking lot. (Bryan Glazer Family JCC, Tampa) RR

Slap of Reality w/Caught Fire/Arcane Arcade Slap of Reality guitarist Dave Peralta underwent heart surgery last summer. He seemed to bounce back quickly, as he was back onstage in October, and it’s been said that the locally legendary melodic-punk outfit is in the process of whipping together a new LP, currently due sometime in the next few months. Caught Fire and Arcane Arcade open this no-cover gig at The Bends, where, with any luck, Dave and friends will show off some currently unheard material. (The Bends, St. Petersburg)

SUN 08

Adolfo Mendonça Quartet It’s no surprise to see Tampa Bay’s EMIT collective bringing in some Brazilian jazz, but pianist and keyboardist Mendonça—part of a quartet that features La Lucha’s Alejandro Arenas (bass) and Mark Feinman (drums) alongside esteemed

the lineup anchored by Tampa beat fanatic and hip-hop scene mainstay Slopfunkdust. (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)

vocalist and songwriter Ona Kirei—manages to work a lot of rock into his hybrid acoustic-electric sound. (Studio@620, St. Petersburg) RR

Chuck Owen & ReSurgence w/Kate McGarry/John O’Leary, Simon Lasky, and Zach Bartholomew Tampa Bay’s resident Grammy nominee Chuck Owen is living up to his word that once he retired from his position as USF’s director of jazz studies, he would

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa

C CL Recommends

Mary Gauthier

continue being creative. This weekend, he brings together ReSurgence—a scaled down version of his 19-piece Jazz Surge ensemble— for a brief tour of Florida. Owen won’t only be holding the baton, but also take on keyboards, and maybe even accordion segments. Joining in the fun is special guest jazz vocalist Kate McGarry, whose resume includes providing vocals on a Kenny Loggins children’s album, and once recording a stirring version of Paul Simon’s “American Tune” with Grammynominated guitarist Keith Ganz. If you need the full Surge treatment from Owens, then make it a weekend and see the big band in Wesley Chapel on Jan. 6. (Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

The Kingston Trio Bob Shane—the last surviving member of the original Kingston Trio which inspired Brian Wilson and Al Jardine to put “Sloop John B” on Pet Sounds passed away in January 2020. But even before Shane’s retirement in the early-2000s, his folk trio’s lineup shifted immensely, even having gone out as “The New Kingston Trio” in the 1970s. In recent years, cousins, family friends, and former members’ children have performed in the group, but no matter how strongly you feel about it being a personnelbased affair, Buddy Woodward of The Dixie Bee-Liners will be present at the Kingston Trio’s seemingly annual visit to Florida. (Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo)

Liquid Pennies w/Chlorine Fields/ Razor and the Boogie Men/Blind Pass

Last Thursday saw St. Pete’s Flordian Social packed with more than 300 people there to see two of the neighborhood’s most beloved indie acts take the stage. It almost felt like old State Theatre again, and that’s the vibe Floridian is going for as part of this nocover “State Theatre Sundays” show which hopes to tip its cap to “when the 600 block was filled with artists, music venues, and the State Theatre ruled.” To ring in the new year, Floridian welcomes three rock bands that made a lot of noise in 2022, plus Blind Pass, which we’ve yet to catch live. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

Too Many Daves w/Jesse Thorson & The Banned/Trash The Rental/Tension Electric Punk and alt-country songwriter Jesse Thorson somehow escaped the frozen tundra of Minnesota and managed bring a band he’s calling “The Banned” along to help him play the songs of Pretty Boy Thorson, Thorson’s new band Slow Death, and Loose Behaviour (a band featuring members of Slow Death, The Ergs, The Raging Nathans and Pale Angels). Gainesville garage-punk unit Trash The Rental, plus Tampa’s own Too Many Daves and Old Vices, round out this bill making its way around Florida this weekend. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Webster’s Wheel ‘Bama kids Daniel Lee Webster and Marie Robertson—better known as Webster’s Wheel—went from harmonizing on old hymns in front of farm animals, to releasing five albums over the course of three years. Their harmonies and acoustic guitar usage on their latest record, Yum Yum Pie sound eerily like Peter, Paul and Mary did in their prime, had one of the guys sat out a session or two. The Wheel makes its Tampa debut in the New World biergarten, on the heels of a massive tour that will mainly cover the South. (Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa)

TUE 10

Melody Artisans of the Crooked Thumb: Seven Year Anniversary In a quaint and peaceful corner of one of Tampa Bay’s most picturesque communities, Melody Artisans of the Crooked Thumb has spent Tuesdays inviting songwriters to not only play, but write a new song based on a fresh prompt from chief Artisan Joshua Reilly. To celebrate the notion of new ideas, Reilly is giving a free beer to anyone who comes to perform a few original songs.

(Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor)

WED 11

The Chuck Prophet Trio Golden State roots-rock mainstay Chuck Prophet is in the other Bay area and touring with a trio that will help the 59-year-old bring to life songs from his latest album, The Land That Time Forgot , which treads familiarly psychedelic, rich songwriting from his Prophet’s storied 37-year-old discography that dates all the way back to his days with Green On Red. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Jasmine Cain Cain—a regular to motorcycle live music events—opened for Lita Ford in Ohio last month, and her most recent album Seven touches on people shoving their beliefs in her face, and the “when one door closes, another one opens” ideology. She kicks off a three-month Florida residency in Florida with this acoustic set at Stirling Wine right next door to Flanagan’s Irish Pub. Not to worry, though: Whether she’s moving here or not, Cain going electric in the next few weeks is surely inevitable. “Burnout” played on an acoustic would be interesting, but definitely not motorcycle rally material. (Stirling Wine, Dunedin)

Marc Broussard w/Kristopher James Swamp rocker Marc Broussard is currently working on a new EP, off which he has already released two songs since last July. In the meantime, the 40-year-old Yamaha-strumming Louisiana boy returns to downtown Clearwater exactly one year after he last tore down the Cap, and a few days before celebrating his 41st trip around the sun. No telling if Mr. “Lonely Night in Georgia” will be back in a few months for another free AARP gig at The Ritz— for which he’s still a bit young for—but it’s easy to love him, love him. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

THU 12

his annual birthday show, former Reax Magazine advice columnist, and Tampa’s most prolific pop songwriter had assembled a new band, The Power Bottoms, which is part of a lineup of local outfits that’ve learned songs from Gloff’s sprawling 30-year-old discography so that everyone can sing along. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Jeremy Gloff and the Power Bottoms w/Navin Ave/Direwood/Jeff Brawer/Melissa Grady/Christopher Knolton/Deb Ruby/$tephmoney For

DAVE DECKER

Jeremy Gloff

The lineup for last month’s America First Festival in Arizona read like a right-wing nutjob wet dream thanks to appearances from Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk, Andy Ngo, Kari Lake, Matt Gaetz, Candace Owens, Lauren Boebert, Tampa Bay’s own Anna Paulina Luna and more.

There to soundtrack some of it was Chase Rice, a country songwriter who’s also coowner of recently-opened St. Petersburg bar Welcome to the Farm (aka “WTF”). If that sounds like your cup of tea party, then you’ll want to be in downtown St. Pete this spring when the 37-year-old brings the MAGA vibes to the venue next door.

Tickets to see Chase Rice play Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, April 28 are on sale now and start at $32.50. He is touring in advance of his forthcoming album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell (due Feb. 10), and he’s tapped Oklahoma’s Read Southall Band to open the show.

The Urbane Cowboys Friday, Jan. 6. 9:30 p.m. No cover. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa

Jaguar (The Artist Formerly Known as Achilles the Conquerer) w/Yzm/G’on Git Friday, Jan. 13. 10 p.m. $10. Crowbar, Ybor City

Roxx Revolt & the Velvets w/Gullwing/ Former Contenders Friday, Jan. 13. 8 p.m. No cover. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Mobius Loop w/Leper Dance Friday, Jan. 20. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Brass Mug, Tampa

Moth Bite w/Tone I.E./The Hand Of Reason/The Roulettes Saturday, Jan. 21. 7 p.m. $5. Brass Mug, Tampa

Hanging Brains w/Til Now/Sincerely Yours/Black Clash/Chef Boy Howdy Thursday, Jan. 26. 6:30 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa

Gat$ w/Hollowhouse/Ahrod Friday, Jan. 27. 8 p.m. $15. The Brutalist, St. Petersburg

United Music Mafia Metal: Announce The Apocalypse w/Get Out Of Nashville/Our Final Feud/Twisted Misery Saturday, Jan. 28. 7 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa

SydLive & Friends (Album Release) w/ Pusha Preme/ABR/YZM & Milli Moon/ Stampede Brass Band/Zeta The Babe/ Tone IE/more Friday, Feb. 10. 8 p.m. $15. Hooch and Hive, Tampa Shitstorm w/Heaven’s Gate/Cornered/ Walled City/Drug Run Saturday, Feb. 11. 7 p.m. $15. VFW Post 39, St. Petersburg

Bella’s Bartok w/TBA Thursday, Feb. 16. 8:30 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Don’t expect Rice to hold back on any of his views, either. In 2020, he was among a vocal minority of country singers who griped over celebrations following Joe Biden’s election win. “Also, glad to see thousands gathering again, cool, glad that’s happening, concerts can resume,” he wrote on Twitter, drawing a false equivalency between spontaneous election parties and organized concerts.

See Josh Bradley’s first new concert roundup of the new year below.—Ray Roa

The Lonely Ones w/TBA Thursday, Feb. 16. 7 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa

Alexis Cole & Helios Orchestra Thursday, Feb. 23. 7:30 p.m. $25-$35. HS 109 at St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg

Zach Bartholomew Trio Friday, Feb. 24. 7:30 p.m. $25. St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg

Jason Charos Quartet Saturday, Feb. 25. 7:30 p.m. $25. American Stage, St. Petersburg

Umbilicus w/Witch Hiatus (opening for King Buffalo w/Swell Fellas) Saturday, Feb. 25. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Crowbar, Ybor City

Thelma & the Sleaze w/TBA Saturday, March 4. 8 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Gorod w/Cognitive/Summoning The Lich/Flub/Corrupted Saint Tuesday, April 11. 7:30 p.m. $18. Crowbar, Ybor City

Halfway 2 Halloween 2023 feat. The Cunningham Wake/Screaming At The Silence/Highest Crown/Crimson Shadow/Burn Forever Saturday, May 6. 7 p.m. $15. Brass Mug, Tampa

Latrice Royale Saturday, June 3. 8 p.m. $33.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Waterparks w/Hunny Saturday, June 3. 6 p.m. $24.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Goo Goo Dolls w/O.A.R. Monday, July 24. 6 p.m. $49-$129. Coachman Park, Clearwater

Igorr w/Melt-Banana/Otto Schirach Friday, Sept. 15. 7 p.m. $22. Orpheum, Tampa

Quickies

By Dan Savage

How long after a divorce does someone become “emotionally available” for a new relationship?

Someone who initiated a divorce—someone who made up their mind, got a lawyer, and filed the paperwork—is probably going to be “emotionally available” a little sooner than someone who was blindsided when their spouse “asked” for a divorce. (It’s not really an “ask,” since you don’t need someone’s permission to divorce them.)

But if the person who initiated the divorce was being abused, they may need more time to recover from the marriage than the “blindsided” abuser they left. And if a marriage wound down after a decade or two and the decision to divorce was mutual and amicable, both parties could be “emotionally available” before they’ve taken their rings off, much less finalized the divorce.

desire—so long as you have the right attitude about them.

SAVAGE LOVE

My relationship with my husband—with my everything—is in trouble. We were together for a few years, then he got busted with drugs and wound up in prison, and we lost contact for 20 years. Then I saw his profile on Facebook and we wound up talking for a long time. I hate blowjobs in part because I was forced to give this guy a blowjob when I was a teenager. He says blowjobs are what he desires the most.

He has to have blowjobs, that’s his bottom line. I gag. I throw up, I get angry and feel sad. He can’t even get it up most of the time. I want him to fuck me so bad, but it’s just not in the cards for me. He is horny all the time and I’m going through menopause and have no desire. He thinks

gonna need you to do that every day for the rest of your life or we’re through,” is an asshole. Call his bluff: tell him he’s free to go but if he chooses to stay, there will be no more blowjobs. I can’t promise you he won’t leave… but whether he accepts your terms (and stops demanding blowjobs) or makes good on his threats (and good luck to him finding blowjobs elsewhere), you’ll be better off.

Is it normal for a gay guy to not be interested in penetrative sex?

Most gay men enjoy penetration (fucking, getting fucked, flip fucking), but not every gay man is into anal sex. “Some men prefer what’s called outercourse, which is everything except penetration,” said Dr. Joe Kort, the psychotherapist and author who went viral earlier this year after coining a term for gay men who aren’t interested in penetrative sex. “Other people might think of outercourse as foreplay, but that implies that the main act is intercourse, but some gay men aren’t tops or bottoms. They’re sides.”

Gay guy here into threesomes and playing with gay couples. How do you tell someone that you hooked up with in a threesome (half of a couple) that you would rather hook up with him solo because you’re not that into his partner? This has happened to me a couple of times recently.

Be direct with the one you’re into without being cruel to the one you’re not: “I would like to hook up with you again, but just the two of us.” If he asks why, be honest: “I’m into you but not your partner.” If they “only play together,” if a one-on-one hookup would constitute cheating in the context of their relationship, well, then you’ll either have to fuck them both again (which you’ll regret) or you’ll have to go find someone else to fuck (which shouldn’t be that hard).

Am I a bad guy for dating a married man in a sexless marriage who has kids in college?

Nope.

Does bottoming make your butt bigger? More muscular?

Is being a “vaginaphile” an acceptable thing in 2023? Regardless of the other person’s identity?

Absolutely. Dick is nice, I’m a fan, but dick isn’t for everyone. Same goes for pussy. I find it strange that it’s often the same people who insist demisexuality is valid (and it is) and sapiosexuality is valid (and it is) and asexuality is valid (and it is) who will turn around and insist that homosexuality (being attracted to members of the same sex) or heterosexuality (being attracted to members of the opposite sex) somehow aren’t valid (and they are).

Pro-tips for someone who’s never eaten ass before but wants to?

We’re not going to run out of ass—our strategic national ass reserves are well-stocked—so don’t feel like you have to eat all the ass the first time you try. Take it slow. Suck the dick or eat the pussy of your freshly showered partner, wander down to the taint, then go deep—take a couple of swipes at the ass with your tongue—before retreating back to the taint, giving yourself time to assess, and then dive back in if you’re enjoying it as much as your partner is.

I’m living with my boyfriend’s parents for a few weeks. I need to get laid. Suggestions please?

I would suggest fucking your boyfriend. If you don’t feel comfortable fucking him in his parents’ house, fuck him on their roof, fuck him in the showers at the gym, fuck him in the nearest bar with a single-stall restroom and a door that locks. Obstacles can frustrate desire, yes, but they can just as easily fuel

I don’t love him anymore! Please help! We don’t want to lose each other! At least, I don’t want to lose him. He is fucking me up mentally. He is very persistent. He wants a blowjob every day. Whenever he can get it. I can’t last long enough to make him cum. My jaw is dislocated from my ex-husband. You are my last chance to save this.

Anyone who sees their partner weeping in a puddle of their own puke after they’ve performed a particular sex act and then says, “I’m

Bottoming ≠ squats—that’s cum you’re having injected into your ass, not steroids.

I’m curious what type of guys Dan Savage is most attracted to. Also, does Mr. Savage like receiving explicit pics from his fans?

Mr. Savage is primarily attracted to men with what Mr. Savage has described as “Muppet faces,” i.e., men with large mouths, big eyes, and other exaggerated facial features. Not one of the men that Mr. Savage has ever dated and/or married regarded “Muppet-faced” as a compliment, despite Mr. Savage’s sometimes frantic efforts to explain that “Muppet-faced” was not just meant as a compliment, but it was the highest compliment Mr. Savage could possibly bestow. For the record: Mr. Savage does not require his sex partners to wear fuzzy body suits, spray chocolate chip cookie crumbs all over the bed, or pop out of garbage cans to heap verbal abuse on him. Mr. Savage welcomes explicit pics. Men with Muppet faces are encouraged to submit.

A young gay male friend has referred to his ass as his “cunt” in front of me, a cis female, and he was not having sex at the time. (You wrote last week that this was something young gay men do while having sex, with their sex partners, and not with their women friends.) I found this offensive and told him so. He rolled his eyes. Now what? I don’t want to spank him but I might have to.

I’m happy to spank him for you—provided he’s got a Muppet face and a nice cunt.

Send your burning questions to mailbox@ savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at savage.love!

ACROSS

Good name for a kidder?

What bad vaudevillians get

Cut, in a way

shaper

Fire truck

Patriot Patrick

Beef tool or slang for “hand”

Aura

Elf’s cousin

On a sub, perhaps

Not engaged

Doing Persian work?

Foreign inc.

Place to skate

Cheer (for)

Ms. Farrow

Dance, to Danielle

Navy scandal of 1991

Farmer fathers

Phone word

Molten stuff

___ d’art

Japanese general of WWII

Tariff-cutting plan of 1994

Bird of Florida

Dickens pseudonym or singer Scaggs

“Get ___ paper here!”

Bradley et al.

Additional

Elvis line

Go bad

Hebrew month

Schnauzer arousers

“The longest time”

Picasso contemporary

Maintained

Perfectly

Firstborn

CD players?

Netter Nastase

Within spitting distance of

Skippy rival

Open, as a latch

Medit. nation

Apiece

Composing key: abbr.

Top ___ List

Duds in bed

___ Paulo

Disagree, dogstyle

College course, briefly

97

Looks (at) lasciviously

100 Ex-Florida governor Bush 101 Classic Ford

Where to park your parka

Toss water on

106 Ms. Fleiss

115

117

PUZZLEFANS! Forinfo on Merl's Sunday crossword anthologies, visit www.sunday crosswords.com.

Light golf stroke 92 “___ hopeless” 94 Changes, sci-fistyle