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Local motion
Creative Loafing has new owners.
By Ray Roa
For the first time in 18 years, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is locally-owned. Last Thursday afternoon, a group of current employees and two new partners completed the purchase of Tampa Bay’s 39-year-old alt-weekly from San Antonio-based Chava Communications, which has owned the publication since 2023.
The publication’s previous owners—Euclid Media Group (2018-2023), SouthComm Inc. (2011-2018), and the Atalaya hedge fund (20092011)—were based in Cleveland, Nashville, and New York, respectively.
Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.
“We’re now our own overlords,” said Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Editor-In-Chief Ray Roa, who started at the publication in 2011 as a freelancer before being hired as music editor in 2016. “I’m really excited for the next chapter of a publication I’ve been reading for more than half of my life.”
Publisher James Howard, who celebrated his 31st anniversary at the publication last week, is among the new co-owners alongside Roa, Senior Account Executive Anthony Carbone—who has 26 years at the publication—and Digital Editor Colin Wolf, who returns to the masthead after a 10-month sabbatical.
“When this offer came in front of us, I knew we had the team to continue growing our publication, website, events, newsletters and audience for our readers and clients,” Howard said. “We’re proud of the journey we had with our past owners and grateful for this opportunity.”
The sale was made possible by an investment from Tampa trial lawyer Mike Trentalange, who comes on as a co-owner alongside John T. Fox, a public affairs consultant.
The sale happens less than two months after the launch of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project,
a nascent, nonprofit donor and grant-driven effort that finds Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and other community websites teaming up to bring more non-paywalled news and information to readers across the Bay area.
“With so many local stories going untold and major outlets shifting focus to statewide and national coverage, the need for accessible, community-centered journalism has never been greater,” Roa, wrote in a release announcing the launch of the fund. “Our mission is to provide reporting that holds power accountable, highlights real issues affecting residents, and remains free for everyone.”
The Tampa Bay Journalism Project directly addresses this need by funding four full-time editorial positions: news reporter, A&E editor, food & drink editor/critic, and staff photographer. The fund will also support public records requests, legal review, and freelance investigative work. All reporting produced through the project will be shared with Tampa Bay Journalism Project partners who are free to repackage and publish each other’s work to ensure quality information is widespread across the region.
Chava Communications will continue to operate Orlando Weekly, San Antonio Current, and the Local Culture Creative agency.
“We’re proud of the work accomplished at Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and excited to hand over the reins to a team that knows Tampa better than anyone. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on future projects,” said Cassandra Wagner, co-owner of Chava Communications.
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s existing staffers—Creative Director Jack Spatafora, Marketing & Events Director Leigh Wilson and Managing Editor Selene San Felice—will stay on as part of the sale.
WE BOUGHT A ZOO: (L-R) Mike Trentalange, John T. Fox, Anthony Carbone, James Howard, Colin Wolf, Ray Roa.
RAY ROA
Scream team
Photos by Dave Decker
Christian supremacist content creators shouted anti-Islam obscenities at a vigil being held in memory of Tampa business owner Sayfollah Musallet last Sunday night, Jan. 11, outside Musallet’s former ice cream shop. Musallet was born in Port Charlotte, Florida. and was raised in the Tampa Bay area. He went to visit his family in Palestine’s West Bank last year when he was killed by unidentified Israeli settlers at 20 years old. The disrupted vigil was commemorating the six month anniversary of his death. Read more on p. 28. See all the photos via cltampa.com/news.—Valerie
Smith
CHI
do this
Living the dream Trump may have taken Martin Luther King Jr. Day off the list of free admission days at U.S. National Parks, but MLK’s legacy is far stronger than anything Trump’s ever done. ICare St. Pete, a nonprofit providing medical, dental, food services and other important resources to underserved residents, hosts a “Love Thy Neighbor” festival to do just that in MLK’s honor. The festival has no cover and includes free food, dental cleanings and other healthcare resources, kids’ activities and giveaways.
MLK Love Thy Neighbor
Festival: Saturday, Jan. 24. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Harbordale Park, 6th St. S and E Harbor Dr. S, St. Petersburg. icarestpete. org—Selene San Felice
Tampa Bay's best things to do from January 22 - 28. See more things to do on p. 44.
Kissed by a rose
St. Petersburg City Councilman
Richie Floyd is running for re-election, and to kick off his upcoming campaign, he’s hosting a record store party. Floyd’s new campaign follows his four-year term in District 8, with similar objectives to his previous run, including sustainability, affordability and a stand against corporate control over municipalities, to name a few. Floyd, named council vice chair this month, is the youngest person elected to city council in St. Petersburg and the first openly Democratic Socialist elected in the city. His win in 2022 preceded a higherprofile victory from newly swornin New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is also an unapologetic member of DSA. Read more at cltampa.com/news.
Richie Floyd re-election campaign launch: Saturday, Jan. 24. 7 p.m. No cover. Bananas Records, 2887 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. linktr.ee/richiefloyd— Jasmin Parrado
The legend behind Tampa Bay’s most famous event doesn’t involve crushing Miller Lite and hard liquor, or throwing beads. But the lore of Jose Gaspar, AKA Gasparilla, has been fueling drunken parades here for more than 120 years. Tampa Bay History Center docent Jim Dinsmore reveals the facts among the fallacies of the legendary Spanish pirate and his treasure. See p. 41 for more Gasparilla events.
The Tampa Bay History Center Presents: ‘The History of Gasparilla’— Friday, Jan. 23. 11 a.m.–12 p.m. No cover (registration required). East Lake Community Library, 4125 E Lake Rd., Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org—Selene San Felice
DAVE DECKER
Hist-aarrrgh-y
The real locals
The fourth annual Plantapolooza celebrates Florida native plants and the people fighting to keep them thriving. Presented with The Community Wildlife Corridor, the event highlights how native gardens help reconnect wildlife between Florida’s protected parks and everyday neighborhoods. Expect free native seedlings while supplies last, a packed lineup of Tampa Bay-area nurseries and eco-minded vendors, youth activities and lectures from experts in the native plant world, covering everything from garden basics to coastal resilience. Parking is limited, so plan accordingly, and bring something sturdy to haul your living loot home.
Plantapolooza: Sunday, Jan. 25. Noon-4 p.m. $8-$18. Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. sunkengardens.org—Laura Troyer
Roll out the red carpet
The Dunedin International Film Festival (DIFF) returns for its eighth year with a curated lineup of indie films from around the globe. Whether you’re deep in the indie film scene or just looking for something (DIFF) erent, this festival delivers four days full of culture and connection. It features a mix of genres from thrillers and dramas to documentaries, while showcasing both international filmmakers and local talent. Joseph Restaino, producer of “What We Hide” (pictured) starring McKenna Grace and “Pig” starring Nicholas Cage—is among the filmmakers doing Q&As. Between screenings, attendees can get glammed up for red carpet photo opportunities and mingle with directors and artists over cocktails. Screenings and events happen across HOB Brewing Co., the Dunedin Fine Arts Center and the Fenway Hotel.
Dunedin International Film Festival: Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 22-25. $12.51 & up. dunedinfilmfestival.org –Laura Troyer
WEDNESDAYS
WINGS FROM
99 CENT CHICKEN WINGS FROM 5PM TO CLOSE
+ LIVE MUSIC: 11/19 McLEAN MANNIX 6-9PM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 ND
7:00 PM: WEEKLY IMPROV DROP-IN CLASS
Give improv a try in a positive, supportive environment. No prior experience required! 8:30 PM: STU.CO.: A MONTHLY SHOW
FEATURING THE STUDENTS OF THE COMMODORE
Students from our improv classes perform with their instructors in this monthly showcase!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 RD
9:30 PM: THE DARK SHOW
Standup comedians perform their darkest material! Come see the comedy you can't see anywhere else.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 TH 7:00 PM: LIZARD QUEEN, CRUCIAL FIX, BIG SAD, & LYCHEE CAMP
Savage Beat Productions presents a night of great live music. That's right -- we do more than just comedy here!
Whether you're finding your first home or parting with one full of memories, a REALTOR® does more than guide you through the process—they walk beside you with local insight, trusted experience, and unwavering support. This isn’t just a transaction. It’s your next chapter. And they’re here to help you start it with confidence.
“You’ve got the entire federal government behind you.”
POLITICS ISSUES OPINION
We want you
Inside St. Pete’s Border Patrol recruitment event.
By Valerie Smith
Dubbed “The Green Monster” by some DHS officials, Border Patrol has a reputation as more aggressive and unpredictable than ICE. Its recruiting experience reflected the militaristic culture of the green-suited agency.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held a two-day recruitment expo last Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hilton hotel. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay sent this reporter to the event as a registered attendee to get an inside look at CBP’s recruitment tactics.
DHS’ opaque media strategy, the fact that the event is open to any member of the public who registers, and the importance of bringing DHS’ recruitment tactics to light contributed to this reporter’s decision to register and attend without openly advertising press status. At no point during registration or attendance was I asked if I was press, though I would have answered truthfully if asked. I did not provide any false information at any point.
The event page advertised a $60,000 recruitment bonus “for select Border Patrol and CBP positions,” which flyers at the event clarified were for “most difficult-to-fill locations” and are only paid out after several years on the job.
There were five tables inside the room where the event was held. The first, near the entrance, was for Border Patrol. There were also tables for boat and plane interceptors, customs officers who work at ports of entry, internal investigators, and general information. No U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruiters were present.
The event was widely circulated among left-leaning social media circles as an ICE recruitment, despite ICE’s lack of attendance. Many recent newsworthy incidents attributed to ICE are often actually done by Border Patrol: Greg Bovino’s sweeps of New Orleans and Chicago, agents rappelling down from helicopters into residential apartment complexes, and agents jumping out of the back of a U-Haul truck to detain suspects at a Home Depot.
Border Patrol is often tasked with suppressing resistance to ICE, including the recent deployment of 800 agents to Minneapolis to quell protests over the killing of Reneé Good by an ICE agent. ICE’s recent hiring surge and a
recent reorganization that placed Border Patrol personnel at top ICE positions may affect the organization’s culture and bring it closer to Border Patrol in both tactics and function.
Border Patrol
My experience with Border Patrol felt like a military recruitment: it was an organized, systematic routine that took people in to process them and move on. By never saying “no,” I was corralled from standing near the recruitment table to having a completed application sub -
he said. He did not expand on this statement, but Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri has previously said that he believes local law enforcement’s participation in 287(g) agreements with ICE have kept the agency from targeting Florida cities.
“How old are you?” the recruiter asked. When I responded, he said, “You’re going to retire at 49.” He told me I would be able to start at a higher pay grade because I had three years of full-time employment. I told him I had no law enforcement experience, and he said it didn’t matter. “Walmart, Walgreens,” the recruiter said. Anywhere that I had fulltime employment meant I was qualified. He advertised a training period of “just 115 days” for Border Patrol agents.
someone’s statutory or constitutional rights while on-duty, they are immune from prosecution and damages unless it can be proven that a “reasonable person” would have known better.
IMMIGRATION
In theory, qualified immunity allows law enforcement to do their job without having to let criminals go out of fear of personal liability if they make a small procedural error. In practice, the ACLU says it often allows police brutality and civil rights violations to go unchecked, as officers know they are not likely to be punished for any violations they commit.
Local law enforcement
mitted on my behalf, and I was told to expect a tentative job offer within weeks.
I spoke with a man who identified himself as a full-time recruiter from Border Patrol. When asked if a prospective employee would be able to work in the Tampa Bay area, he said that Border Patrol tends to work “where people try to sneak in,” so they’re mostly at land borders. He did not mention the recent deployment of Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis or the sweeps of New Orleans and Chicago.
The Border Patrol recruiter began to recommend ICE as a career path for those interested in staying local, but he stopped himself. “ICE isn’t really here because they don’t need to be here,”
Qualified immunity: “You’ve got the entire federal government behind you”
When asked about personal liability insurance, the Border Patrol recruiter immediately explained that I likely wouldn’t need it as I would have “qualified immunity.” He told me that as long as I act in pursuit of doing my job, I would not be held liable for any consequences of my actions.
“You’ve got the entire federal government behind you—not in front of you,” the recruiter said.
Qualified immunity—so-called because it is immunity with a few limitations, or “qualifiers”— is a legal principle that allows law enforcement to act without full understanding of, or compliance with, the law. If an agent mistakenly violates
When asked how a job with Border Patrol differs from a job with local law enforcement, the recruiter said that if a prospective employee wanted to “just ride around in Clearwater or whatever,” Border Patrol probably wasn’t for them. He recommended that anyone pursuing law enforcement should pursue a federal job over local for the benefits and status. “If you want to go big, go federal.”
Corralled into applying
I did not ask to apply for a job. After attempting to get his tablet to work for several minutes, blaming his technical difficulties on another recruiter, the recruiter at the Border Patrol table told me to fill out a short digital form. I asked if I would be required to apply for a job just because I filled out this form, and he said no. “We’re not the military,” the recruiter joked.
Once this was done, he told me to follow him to another room. “You’re here to apply for a job, let’s apply for a job, brother,” the recruiter said. I entered a large room that had about 78 workstations, each with a laptop open to an application page. Most seats were filled, and most of the applicants appeared to be either nonwhite Latino or Black men. The Border Patrol recruiter handed me off to a separate recruiter who was helping several people fill out their applications. I was instructed to create an account on usajobs.gov and wait for further assistance.
AI-generated resumes
After creating an account, the recruiter opened up an AI resume-generating website called livecareer.com. The previous applicant’s “work experience” page was still open; they used AI to generate a description for their nightclub bouncer job. I was directed to erase that and do continued on page 19
HOMIE LAND: A DHS officer at The Hilton in St. Petersburg, Florida Jan. 13, 2026.
the same with my own previous experience as a software engineer. “Make it sound as fancy as possible,” the recruiter said.
After entering my former job title, a menu appeared with about 65 suggested job responsibilities, like “Mentored junior developers, sharing knowledge and expertise to support their professional growth and development within team.”
IMMIGRATION
When I clicked one, a bullet point was added to a “job description” field containing that text. “Click everything,” the recruiter said.
I read each sentence, confirming that it was an actual part of the job that I completed, then I clicked it to add it to my job description. After I had added about five responsibilities, the recruiter reached over my shoulder to click all of them faster than either of us could read. “According to America, as a software engineer, you did all these things,” he told me. “You’re a rockstar.”
Once he had selected all of the responsibilities, he copied the output and pasted it into the government application website to create a resume. It was over 5,000 characters; too long. He erased a few bullet points from the end and continued, generating a sloppily-formatted resume that was little more than a single lengthy paragraph with a header. The result was so unreadable that I couldn’t imagine a human being would be personally reviewing it.
Hands-free application
Once I began the application, I reached the “merit hiring questions,” which are optional sub200-word narrative questions that highlight an applicant’s character. The first question read: “How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.”
In each response field, the recruiter instructed me to paste the words, “I’d prefer not to answer.”
From this point on, I mostly only touched the computer to type what was dictated to me into text fields. The recruiter, reaching over my shoulder, filled out the application on my behalf, answering some questions faster than I could read them without asking me for input.
I was asked a few questions regarding my past. Was I born in the U.S.? Have I ever had sex in jail? Am I willing to use lethal force? Have I ever smoked weed? “It’s OK if you have,” the recruiter assured me regarding drug use, “you just have to let me know.” He did not say whether or not the answers to other questions would disqualify me from getting the job. Many of the questions were only briefly summarized by the recruiter, and I did not get the
chance to read them until I left the event and was able to review (but not edit) my application. One question asked if I was willing to “encounter people experiencing extreme poverty and personal hardships, such as separation from family; witness drownings, vehicle accidents and other tragedies,” alongside a lengthy slew of risks associated with being a Border Patrol agent. The recruiter only asked me: “Do you acknowledge that this is a tough job?”
One question asks if an applicant would like to enter on-duty before their background investigation is completed, using a “provisional clear” status. The recruiter asked me if I wanted to do so to “get paid sooner.” When I declined, he asked if I was sure before he moved on.
The day after attending this event, reporter Laura Jedeed published an article about her experience being recruited for ICE. Her experience mirrors mine with CBP in many ways, except that she was presumably granted this provisional clear status that would have allowed her to work before her background check was approved. ICE also conducted on-site interviews, which did not happen for CBP recruitment.
I did not get a chance to read or answer the final question, which the recruiter answered on my behalf without requesting my input. The question read in-part: “I hereby certify to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information provided by me is true, correct, and complete and made in good faith. … False or fraudulent information provided herein is also criminally punishable pursuant to federal law, including 10 U.S.C.1001. By clicking ‘Yes’ below, I certify that the information I have provided is true to the best of my knowledge.”
I did not provide any false information in the recruitment or application process. However, had I been able to read the question, I would not have selected “yes,” and I would have ended my application process immediately.
After completing the application, the recruiter told me that I will either receive a job offer in my email or be told I am ineligible. If ineligible, he told me to fix whatever made me ineligible and reapply during the February recruitment cycle.
test and a final interview. In Jedeen’s experience with ICE, these steps were not required before her “enter on-duty” date, though it’s unclear if that requirement would be similarly waived for the more militaristic Border Patrol. I left the event less than an hour after I entered with a CBP-branded bag full of flashlight pens, refrigerator magnets and flyers stating all of the benefits to which a CBP agent is entitled.
CBP did not respond to a request for comment on this article.
“Do you acknowledge that this is a tough job?”
A flowchart provided to me showed the next steps: a medical exam, a fitness test, a polygraph
Shortly after this article was filed for publication, I received an email from CBP: a tentative job offer. Upon successful completion of all the next steps, which would include a few examinations and a background check, I would be given a final job offer. If I chose to enter on-duty on “provisional clear” status (which the email also says I will have a second chance to opt-in to), I would be able to begin my training before my background check is complete. Per discussions on online forums, provisional clear status has been a policy for years and, like many flawed facets of Border Patrol, predates either Trump administration.
BIG IDEA: About as many cops as protestors gathered outside St. Pete’s Carillon Park Hilton last week. VALERIE
Long game
Four people have signed up to be Tampa’s next mayor—so far.
By Jasmin Parrado
Tampeños will elect a new mayor in 2027, and so far less than a handful of candidates have officially registered to succeed Mayor Jane Castor, who is term-limited after being reelected in 2023. Some big names are rumored to be running—including Bob Buckhorn, who’s already served two terms and District 4 City Councilman Bill Carlson—but just four are officially in the race.
Election Day in Tampa’s 2027 municipal election is set for Tuesday, April 27, 2027. Early voting days have yet to be determined, and the voter registration deadline is Feb. 1, 2027.
Alan J. Henderson
At 23 years old, Alan Jared Henderson would be the second-youngest mayor in Tampa history (as previously-reported James Edgar Lipscomb, the 13th Mayor Of Tampa, served from 1873-1876, and was 23 years old when he was sworn in). First to register in the race, the Brandon-native has a master’s degree in business administration and management from Golden Gate University currently leads Dilemma Esports and Entertainment where he is founder and CEO.
Julie Magill
Contractor and real estate broker Julie Magill also claims she shares a strong belief in transparency. Investigations into municipal funding over time have left her with questions about the city indulging in “wasteful spending,” she said.
Magill previously ran for primary as a Republican in the Hillsborough County Public Schools Board of Education District 1 against Nadia Combs and Layla Collins in 2024. Now, as a candidate for mayor, she wants to evaluate where the city’s funding is going to and to help reallocate it toward better infrastructure.
Poor management of storm drains and other facilities which she claims led to immense storm and flood damage with no reprieve, is another issue Magill will take up.
ELECTIONS
Tampa municipal election 2027
Tuesday, April 27, 2027. Register to vote by Feb. 1, 2027. votehillsborough.gov
Despite a heavy entrepreneurial background, Henderson told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay he doesn’t plan to run Tampa like a business.
Henderson has expressed a vision prioritizing reform based on open communication with Tampa residents for community empowerment. His initiative largely includes improving housing affordability and integrating more public feedback through new mechanisms. This includes a plan to instate the Mayor’s Mobile Office Initiative, a resource for services that can travel in rotation to neighborhoods across the city. “If people have questions they want answered, they can come in, or if they want to directly give us feedback, they’ll have a mechanism for that consistently,” he said. Henderson said he wants to establish a “resident-obsessed government” and emphasize transparency in his vision for the city by ensuring that facts and memoranda are presented in an understandable manner for residents.
“When I look across Tampa, I see families and friends and the residents that I’ve met with,” Henderson said. “I hear their concerns about affordability and wanting to get around easier and making the city safer. It all resonates on a really personal level to me.”
Magill told CL she aims to improve and streamline processes for construction and repairs. This includes reforming criteria for storm damage renovations, which she recalled was a pressing issue when letters were sent to countless residents south of Gandy stating that their homes were not deemed fixable after suffering damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“When you have solid concrete block homes, they’re telling you to tear them down,” Magill said. “I know people that did tear them down. It breaks my heart.”
Magill also wants to help redevelop Sulphur Springs, a Tampa neighborhood that she said she spent most of her childhood in and admires. She believes that due to abandonment on part of landlords and law enforcement, crime resides highly in unmaintained, inexpensive duplexes across the district within city limits.
Reginald B. Strachan
Reginald Byron Strachan hails from Miami, but he has lived in various cities across Florida—from Tallahassee to Leesburg—and he believes his experience and character has equipped him with the skills to best serve Tampa’s residents.
One of Strachan’s primary objectives for the city is to instate more funding for academic resources and vocational training in public education. Strachan also told CL that he wants to stimulate higher median incomes for essential professions such as teaching.
Strachan said his emphasis on strong interpersonal skills stems largely from an extensive background in auto retail as a salesperson,
where he has harnessed what he considers the most essential skill, aside from trade and financial savvy: “listening to the people.”
He also wants to create a welcoming and intimate environment for residents to voice their concerns, as he has witnessed past leadership put up a social “wall” in community discussions.
“I don’t have a closed-hand philosophy,” Strachan said. “If your hand is closed, you can’t give anything and you can’t receive anything. People are the real wealth because they’re your legacy.”
Khadim R. Abdi
Khadim R. Abdi declared candidacy in December last year with goals for reform in mainly three areas. He wants to improve public transportation, with more bus routes in neighborhoods and training for bus drivers.
Abdi also wishes to reform systemic issues in law enforcement. One of these issues is the community’s relationship with law enforcement agencies, which Abdi believes is worse off by the overarching presence and actions of
the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“ICE today is an example of how bad the system is,” Abdi said. “What happens with law enforcement is, if there’s no check and balance on them, then they all want to be like wild dogs. ICE would not be welcome in Tampa, a hundred percent.”
Unlike Florida sheriffs, municipalities aren’t required to have their police sign up for a 287(g) agreement with ICE, which empowers police officers who receive training to act as immigration enforcement agents. Tampa is in a 287(g) agreement and recently secured $430,000 it requested from the Florida Board of Immigration Enforcement.
Additionally, Abdi intends to facilitate affordable housing for residents, especially for those in difficult financial circumstances. He also wants to instill more oversight to ensure landlords are fair to tenants in cases of payment issues and deadlines, he explained.
“In the city of Tampa, you will be treated as a human,” Abdi said. “Fair treatment from landlords is expected.”
EARLY BIRD: Alan Henderson on Jan. 3, 2025.
DAVE DECKER
Asleep at the wheel
Three commissioners leave signatures off MLK Day commendation.
By Jasmin Parrado
The Hillsborough County Commission’s annual commendation for the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA) Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast was only signed by four of seven commissioners.
Appearing in the program for TOBA’s annual MLK Day breakfast at the JW Marriott, the only signatories are Gwen Myers, Harry Cohen, Ken Hagan and Chris Boles. Signatures from commissioners Donna Cameron Cepeda, Joshua Wostal and Christine Miller did not appear on the commendation.
Wostal told Florida Politics that he didn’t sign the commendation because of a grievance from a past MLK event where speakers allegedly implied that Gov. Ron DeSantis “was racist,” adding that, “they were promoting division, not the unity MLK demanded, while being subsidized with our residents’ property taxes.”
LOCAL NEWS
Commendations are regularly circulated for county commission, and fairly easy to approve. Since only four commissioners agreed to sign the commendation, it failed to meet the criteria for an in-chamber presentation, which requires six signatures.
The recognitions are fairly common; last year alone saw commendations for Greek organizations, lung cancer screening, Tampa General Hospital and more.
As reporter Janelle Irwin points out, Wostal, Cepeda and Miller, have all been opposed to DEI programs.
“Dr. King’s call for justice in our world shouldn’t be controversial.”
In part, the commendation reads, “Since 1979, TOBA has been steadfast in its work to advance the opportunities and rights of people of color.”
While two Republicans—Hagan and Boles—did sign the commendation, the three non-signatories for the MLK Day breakfast are members of the GOP.
Aileen Rodriguez, a former Republican who turned Democrat in 2019, attended the breakfast and is running against Wostal in the race for the commission’s District 7 seat. She told FP that she was disappointed in her opponent. “I know that Hillsborough County is at its best when we come together to work together, not when we allow prejudice and racism to keep us apart,” Rodriguez added. Dr. Neil Manimala, who is running to unseat Cepeda in District 5 also attended the breakfast and reacted to Cepeda’s snub.
“Dr. King’s call for justice in our world shouldn’t be controversial,” the 35-year-old wrote on social media. “I was glad to attend the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs TOBA breakfast this morning. It gives me hope to know there are so many folks focused on bringing his legacy to life here in Hillsborough.”
Shut up Vigil for Tampa man killed in West Bank interrupted
By Valerie Smith
Christian supremacist content creators shouted anti-Islam obscenities at a vigil being held in memory of Tampa business owner Sayfollah Musallet last Sunday night, Jan. 11, outside Musallet’s former ice cream shop.
Musallet was born in Port Charlotte, Florida. and was raised in the Tampa Bay area. He went to visit his family in Palestine’s West Bank last year when he was killed by unidentified Israeli settlers at 20 years old. The disrupted vigil was commemorating the six month anniversary of his death.
During the vigil, three men approached with megaphones and began shouting vulgar, provocative statements about the Muslim prophet Muhammad while calling the Muslim vigil attendees terrorists, video shows. Violent and sexual obscenities, were included in the harassment, with the men regularly describing child sexual abuse in front of the families and the children in attendence.
by Christian content creators.
“This is for my son,” Dahan recalled the woman saying. “My son died. Can we please not do this?”
At this point, Dahan said he observed one of the men raising a hand as if to strike her. Dahan said that this was when a “scuffle” occurred and a business owner in the complex called the police and asked the men to leave.
LOCAL NEWS
Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies arrived on scene and separated the two groups. Trespass orders were eventually issued for the three men who were then escorted from the parking lot, according to call logs provided by an HCSO spokesperson.
Attorney and former prosecutor Mohammad Mubarak told CL that he attempted to explain to deputies that the business owners had written permission from the property owner giving them authority to trespass individuals from the parking lot of the business. According to Mubarak, deputies maintained that they needed to contact the property owner to verify and could not issue trespass orders for the men until then.
“My son died. Can we please not do this?”
citing several court cases. One was Snyder v. Phelps, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Westboro Baptist Church could not be held liable for picketing a soldier’s funeral with slogans like “thank God for 9/11.”
A similar incident took place last November at the University of South Florida when three Christian supremacist content creators hurled obscenities and waved bacon in front of students during their morning prayer. Two of the men interrupting the vigil appear to be the same content creators from the USF incident: Christopher Svochak and Ricardo Yepez.
The USF police department said that they referred the incident to State Attorney Suzy Lopez’s office, recommending criminal charges be brought against Svochak and Yepez for disrupting a religious assembly with a hate crime enhancement. A representative for State Attorney Lopez told CL there are currently no updates to the case.
In a video of the incident recorded by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay senior photographer Dave Decker, Svochak and Yepez both proudly touted the lack of prosecution brought against them. “You people, you got me fired,” Yepez said. “You terrorists came after us wanting to put us in prison for five years. And yet I still stand here.”
“We hate your stupid religion still, and we’re free,” Svochak can be seen saying in a video he posted to his Facebook page. “We never were arrested by your stupid … press conferences.”
Musallet’s parents were in attendance at the vigil, according to attendee Jared Dahan, who is affiliated with the Progressive Jewish Coalition. “They were inciting violence,” Dahan told CL of the disruptors.
Dahan said that an incident occurred when one of the men in attendance began insulting Musallet’s mother.
Attendees that CL spoke with had mixed opinions on HCSO’s response. CAIR-FL Interim Executive Director Hiba Rahim said that she understood that it was a difficult situation and that verifying information can take time, but also wished the men had been trespassed sooner so that the memorial could continue as planned.
As he did the last time he disrupted a Muslim gathering in Tampa, Svochak quickly created a fundraiser for himself. He posted the fundraiser—created through unmoderated Christian fundraising platform GiveSendGo—on social media, saying that two of his cameras were stolen by the vigil attendees. A spokesperson for HCSO said theft wasn’t reported in the initial call notes, and Svochak did not respond when asked if he filed a police report.
Following November’s USF incident, this reporter spoke with one of the disruptors who worked alongside Svochak, Richard Penkoski. Penkoski said his actions were not criminal,
The Westboro Baptist Church is a well-known inflammatory group whose inflammatory protests have brought bipartisan denouncement, including from the Southern Baptist Convention. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, WBC has received a sizable income from court cases filed in the aftermath of their provocative demonstrations. Since WBC popularized the model, a growing number of independent “street preachers” have adopted an evolved version of the same playbook: find something provocative that will get attention, and capitalize on the attention. Rather than lawsuits, crowd fundraisers seem to be the revenue stream of choice for these controversy-creating internet personalities. No charges have been announced by HCSO or the state attorney’s office following the vigil disruption.
MOMENT OF SILENCE: Mourners speak with Hillsborough sheriffs on Jan. 11, 2025.
WHERE TAMPA COMES TO
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
Ready, Sunset
Downtown Tampa Chinese food staple rebrands a few blocks away.
By Ray Roa
For 18 years, Oriental Express was downtown Tampa’s go-to for quick Chinese food and sushi. That was until the shop, located at 510 E Jackson St. near the county building, shuttered last Halloween.
Wife and husband owners Xue Yun and Chao Lin, from Fujian in southeastern China, quickly found a new home and are back in business a quarter-mile away under the Sunset Lotus moniker.
Xue Yun told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she and her husband had to find a new place when the lease on the Oriental Express address ended.
Their reopening last November at 514 N Franklin St. in between Anchor Bar and Eddie & Sam’s pizza means workers and visitors won’t have to venture out of town to get their fix of classic dishes (General Tso, Happy Family, Mongolian beef, etc., starting at $10.95 with steamed rice). But that’s not everything on the menu at this spot half a block from the CL office.
Just like at Oriental Express, the Lins and their two sons (a third moved to Philadelphia after graduation) serve both broth-based and dry fried ramen ($15.75-$19.75) along with wok dishes ($14.95-$16.95), sushi rolls ($6.95-17.95), nigiri ($7.50-$8) and poke bowls ($15-$18).
Concrete Jungle closes in St. Pete
After two years in downtown St. Petersburg, Concrete Jungle has closed. The “Tulum-inspired” restaurant and lounge at 475 Central Ave. owed more than $100,000 in rent, according to an eviction lawsuit filed last October by the building owner. Concrete Jungle’s owner, Stephen Schrutt, also runs Dirty Laundry, Good Fortune, Lost & Found and Park & Rec DTSP under his Hunger + Thirst Group. Two other Hunger + Thirst concepts, The Avenue and No Vacancy, closed in 2025. An indoor-outdoor, campground-themed spot called Summer Camp has been anticipated to open in the Grand Central district for nearly three years, with no opening date announced.—Selene San Felice
St. Pete’s
Crumb Factory expands to Dunedin
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS
Appetizers start at $2.50 (egg and spring rolls) and go all the way up to $10.95 (beef on a stick), with soups going for $3.95-$12.95. Noodles are $7.75-$14.95. A $11.95 lunch special (dish with two sides, plus fried rice or lo mein) runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Delivery is available via Uber Eats and DoorDash, although walk-in service is super fast. The next closest notable Chinese food spots—Ming Garden in Tampa Heights, Plum Tree on Davis Islands and China Wok in West Tampa's Fiesta Plaza where I once spotted Columbia caretaker Richard Gonzmart picking up takeout)—are not even downtown.
Sunset Lotus is open in downtown Tampa Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday noon-9:30 p.m.
Five years after Crumb Factory brought fresh sourdough and cruffins to St. Pete, a second location is now open in Dunedin. Crumb Factory owners Katie and Pablo Mardones soft-launched the bakery last month at 1689 Main St., which previously housed Southern Bay Bakery. The shop’s grand opening is this weekend on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (its daily hours) or until the good stuff is sold-out, with treats and giveaways promised. The menu for both locations includes freshly baked pastries and breads, as well as a breakfast, lunch and coffee bar menu. Pablo Mardones started the concept with former co-owner Felipe Zavala at the start of the coronavirus lockdown in April 2020, taking orders via Instagram DM before opening at 5701 Central Ave. in St. Pete. The bakery’s popularity led to wholesale partnerships with businesses as well as a former dinner service stint. —SSF
Kahwa opens Tampa drive-thru
Florida’s biggest indie coffee roaster now has drive-thrus on both sides of the Gandy Bridge. Kahwa Coffee opened its seventh Tampa location and third drive-thru at 2802 W Kennedy Blvd., the former longtime home
of Wok N Roll. The chain founded by husbandand-wife team Raphael and Sarah Perrier opened its first drive-thrus in St. Petersburg and South Tampa in 2024. Now in its 20th year, the Sunshine City-based franchise offers a variety of coffee and espresso-based beverages, herbal teas and chai, as well as pastries and light breakfast bites. Kahwa also sells whole beans, single serve pods, cold brew and more at its online shop.—SSF
Karma Juice Bar spins off
Fans of the health-conscious Karma in St. Pete and Clearwater will soon have a new spot to check out. The juice bar’s owner, Josie Barber, longtime employee Ashley Stover and real estate investor Robert Roberts plan to open Karma Kitchen and Bakery in St. Pete this summer, per St. Pete Rising. The bakery takes over the historic building at 2955 Central Ave. and was the longtime home of Craftsman House.—SSF
Belinda
Mr.
“I just looked around and I was like, this is super shitty”
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Trashy treasure
Neighborhood cleanup? There’s a Gasparilla for that.
By Laura Troyer
For most Tampa Bay residents, Gasparilla festivities start with drinks, beads and other items that often end up as trash. For some, like Wesley Roderick, a good party starts with trash.
The Gasparilla Clean Team founder leads roughly 200 volunteers on March 1 in the team’s biggest cleanup yet, fanning out across North Hyde Park with garbage bags in hand, tidying streets and sidewalks near Willa’s Provisions.
Sponsored by Pineapple Insurance with support from Leonard Contractors, Supernatural Food & Wine and Elevated Embers, the event reflects what Roderick described as a growing vision for how future cleanups will look.
“We want to be the festival at the end of all the Gasparilla festivals,” said Roderick. “After everybody’s done the partying, we’ll be the one that comes in and just cleans up.”
Gasparilla Clean Team began last year as a loose, quarterly effort among friends and local business owners, who wanted to make neighborhood cleanups feel less like an obligation and more like a social gathering.
Roderick, also the owner of Tampa sandwich shop Supernatural Food & Wine, launched the project alongside his close friends, including Nate Hammond, owner of mobile sauna company Elevated Embers. The idea took shape during an early-morning workout on Davis Islands Beach, when the amount of trash around them became impossible to ignore.
“I just looked around and I was like, this is super shitty,” Roderick said. “There’s just garbage everywhere.”
Rather than organizing a traditional cleanup, they decided to rework the model. Volunteers would still pick up trash—but they’d also be rewarded with food, workouts, cold plunges, music and time to hang out afterward.
“I think we can do better than a T-shirt and a pat on the back,” Roderick said. “When people come out, it’s like, yeah, we’re gonna do this, and we’re gonna have a fun time. We’re gonna actually enjoy ourselves.”
That approach has helped the group gain momentum quickly. In just under a year, Gasparilla Clean Team has hosted three cleanups across Tampa neighborhoods including Davis Islands, Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights. At its most recent event, about 20 to 25
volunteers picked up nearly 700 pounds of trash in roughly an hour. Earlier cleanups yielded between 400 and 500 pounds.
“It’s kind of wild, to be honest with you,” Roderick said. “You see some of it and you’re like, that’s amazing that that’s just under a bush somewhere.”
The March cleanup will be the group’s fourth overall and its largest to date, with Willa’s Provisions—near the corner of N Rome Avenue and W Fig Street—serving as a home base before volunteers spread out through the surrounding area.
Participation is capped, and volunteers sign up through the Gasparilla Clean Team’s Instagram, where they’re labeled as “VIPs”—Volunteer Impact Partners. Once someone attends an event, they’re given priority access to future cleanups.
“It’s a party,” Roderick said. “It’s not just, ‘Come clean up.’ It’s, ‘Come party—clean up beforehand.’”
While Roderick is often the most visible organizer, he consistently frames the project as a shared effort. “If I’m doing meaningful things, I want to be doing them with people I love and admire,” Roderick said Pineapple Insurance founder Greg Tomlin supports supplies, logistics and overall production.
Roderick, who has built a strong following through his restaurant’s run club and community events, sees the cleanups as an extension of the same people-first philosophy.
“There’s a little less of a boundary between who is firmly a customer and who is my friend,” he said.“I definitely enjoy life much more when I approach it that way.”
LOCAL NEWS
Gasparilla Clean Team
Leonard Contractors helps cover major infrastructure needs like dumpsters, while Supernatural Food & Wine and Elevated Embers, along with other local businesses like Gaze Hot Yoga and Spaddy’s Coffee, contribute food and fun.
Sunday, March 1. Time TBD
Willa’s Provisions. 310 N Rome Ave., Tampa. @gasparillact on Instagram
“They’ve been critical,” Roderick said of Pineapple Insurance. “Without them, we would’ve figured it out, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as sexy. And it would’ve all come out of pocket.”
Looking ahead, the Clean Team plans to continue hosting one major cleanup each year, with the possibility of smaller events throughout the year. Long-term ideas include river cleanups and even incorporating live music—visions that Roderick said sound ambitious but align with the group’s goals. For now, the focus is March 1: one neighborhood, a few hundred volunteers, and a few hundred pounds of trash removed from Tampa streets, all powered by the idea that community work doesn’t have to feel like work at all.
SMALL ARMY: After working with smaller teams, 200 volunteers will work the next Gasparilla Clean Team pickup.
EXHIBITION WINTER 2026
JAN. 16 - FEB. 22
Low Tide / High Root: APIDA Diasporic Perspectives
Tatiana Mesa Paján: MÍO/MINE
Latonya Hicks — When the Lights Came On: Shared Memories and the Things We Keep
Brooke Allison: Life Capturing Lessons
A Juried Exhibition: Face Value
Parrr-ty time: Gasparilla happenings around Tampa Bay
The big parade on Jan. 31 isn’t the only Gasparilla activity in town. This weekend sees the kickoff of official Gasparilla pirate activities when the most powerful men and women in Tampa tone it down for the children’s parade. Kicking off at noon with the pre-schooler’s stroll (you must be registered), the parade starts at 4 p.m. and goes just 1.5 miles. Entertaining families in between are parachute jumpers, with an air invasion and fireworks set to close it out.
Tampa’s still-debauched day of drinking and revelry happens at the end of the month (Jan. 31, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) with a large invasion that could bring more than 300,000 partygoers to Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa. Using public transportation is highly recommended since many surrounding roads will be closed (HART will provide transport, along with the TECO Streetcar)
Bleacher tickets are available for both parades, which are free to attend. Please drink water and respect the neighborhoods.
More wholesome Gasparilla activities follow the parades, thanks to the Gasparilla Distance Classic (Feb. 21-22), Gasparilla International Film Festival (March 3-8), and Gasparilla Music Festival (April 10-12). The unofficial “Gasparilla Clean Team” will also pick up trash in North Hyde Park in March (more info on p. 37)
Have a look at the bounty of events going down this Gaspy season, and see even more on Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s usersubmitted events calendar at cltampa.com. Don’t see your event here? Please head to the website to submit it yourself.—Selene San Felice & Ray Roa
Scallywag Slam Dink Pickleball Tournament Thursday, Jan. 22. 7:45 p.m.10 p.m. $30. Tampa Pickleball Crew, Ybor City. leagueapps.com
The Tampa Bay History Center Presents: ‘The History of Gasparilla’ Friday, Jan. 23. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. No cover (registration required). East Lake
Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org
Barks of The Bay 26’ Friday, Jan. 23. 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. No cover. Dog Bar, St. Petersburg. @DogBarStPete on Facebook.
Gasparilla Parade of Pirates Saturday, Jan. 31. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. No cover (Bleachers $65-$100). Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa. gasparillapiratefest.com
Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage Performances Saturday, Jan. 31.10 a.m.-8 p.m. No coveCurtis Hixon Waterfront Park; MacDill Park, Tampa. gasparillapiratefest.com
For one night only, the MFA presents an original immersive opera in partnership with acclaimed composer Nathan Felix. Inspired by exhibition, In Caravaggio’s Light, this site-specific performance will unfold across the museum’s campus, guiding audiences through the galleries on a layered emotional and musical journey that brings the drama and theatricality of the Baroque to life. Tickets available at mfastpete.org
Matthias Stom (Stomer), Annunciation of Samson’s Birth (detail), c. 1630-1632, Oil on canvas, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi, Florence, Italy
Friday, January 23, 2026, 7:30 PM
GRRLS NIGHT TAMPA w/ Meet Me At The Altar
@ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St.
Tickets from $28.03 crowbar.com
Friday, January 23, 2026, 9:00 PM
Pop Punk Emo Night TAMPA by PunkNites
@ The Catacombs
1909 N 15th St
Tickets - $10
bit.ly/PopPunkYbor
Friday, January 23, 2026, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
SHE’S INVITED Presents: Vision Board Party
@ Industrious
1600 East 8th Ave.
Tickets - $30.66
bit.ly/ShesInvited
Sunday, January 25, 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Elevated Wine Society
@ Ybor City Society Wine Bar
1600 East 7th Ave
Tickets - $59.34
bit.ly/ElevatedWineYbor
Sunday, January 25, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Film Photography Class
@ Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
1630 East 7th Ave
Tickets - $81.88
bit.ly/FilmPhotographyYbor
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friends of Flor Fina Dinner @ Hotel Haya
1412 East 7th Ave.
Tickets - $100
bit.ly/FriendsFlorFinaFriday, January 31, 2026, 9:00
AM - 6:00 PM
9th Annual Gasparilla Bar Crawl, Brunch & Festival
@ Centro Lounge and Kitchen
1600 East 8th Ave.
Tickets from $46.61 bit.ly/GasparillaBarCrawl
Saturday, February 3, 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Sicilian Wine Tasting with Alberto Tasca d’Almerita of Regaleali Winery @ Chateau Cellars
2009 North 22nd St.
Tickets - $47.86
bit.ly/DalmeritaDinner
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
3rd Annual Grand Tasting Event
@ Chateau Cellars
2009 North 22nd St.
Tickets from $88.02
bit.ly/GrandTastingYbor
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Gasparilla Knight Parade Patio Seating
@ Ybor City Society Wine Bar
1600 East 7th Ave.
Tickets - $21.50
bit.ly/GasparillaPatioSeating
Where to Live:
Casa Ybor • casaybor.com
Casa Ybor offers unique retail spaces, office spaces, and apartment homes for rent or lease in both newly constructed and lovingly restored historic buildings throughout the vibrant National Historic Landmark District of Ybor City near Downtown Tampa, Florida.
La Union • bit.ly/LaUnionYbor
Community, connection, and culture come together at La Unión Apartments, where Tampa’s rich history and vibrant future unite. Inspired by the historic social hall once on this site, our Ybor City apartments honor that legacy by fostering bonds among residents, the neighborhood, and the area’s deep-rooted heritage.
Miles at Ybor • milesatybor.com
Step into the pulse of Tampa’s most vibrant neighborhood at Miles at Ybor, where modern luxury apartments in Tampa blend seamlessly with the rich cultural tapestry of historic Ybor City. These aren’t just furnished apartments in Ybor City – they’re your gateway to an elevated urban lifestyle that celebrates both heritage and innovation.
Casual, upbeat haunt featuring karaoke & event nights, plus a wide beer selection & an outside bar. doubledeckertampa.com
Centro Ybor 1600 E 8th Ave
In the heart of Ybor City, where the echoes of cigar rollers and jazz musicians still hum through the brick-lined streets, Centro Ybor is where Tampa’s past meets its future. centroybor.com J.C. Newman Cigar Company 2701 N 16th St, Tampa
Handcrafted premium cigars & a small museum draw smoking aficionados to this longtime factory. jcnewman.com
Out and about: Events happening in Tampa Bay
The events listed in our Do This section on pp. 12-13 aren’t the only things to do in town this weekend. Have a look at more events— like Crooked Thumb’s Swap Night in Safety Harbor—going down the week of Jan. 22-29, and see even more by finding Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s user-submitted events calendar at cltampa.com.—Ray Roa Arts
Abstract Corpulence Through March 29. $0-$20. Sarasota Art Museum. sarasotaartmuseum.org
Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound Through Aug. 23. $5 & up. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. tampamuseum.org
Chinese Brush Painting Workshop with Jo-An Thomas Chrysanthemum Saturday, Jan. 24. 10:15 a.m.-2 p.m. $60. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg
Grape Culture with Toni Nagy and Seraphina Supernova Thursday, Jan. 22. 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. $25. Suite E Studios, 615 27th St. S, St. Petersburg. grapeculturehealing.com
Innovation Labs: Creativity Canvas Friday, Jan. 23. 8 p.m.-noon. $150 & up. The Dalí Museum , St. Petersburg. thedali.org
Art in the Park Saturday, Jan. 24. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. No cover. Seminole City Park, Seminole. myseminole.com
Studio 55: Weaving On and Off the Loom Wednesday, Jan. 28. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. $60. Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin. tampamuseum.org
10/10 Wood Fire Again: 2025 Winter Wood Symposium Exhibition
Wednesday-Saturday through Feb. 7. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Uncommon Beauty - New Paintings by Vlasta Smola Wednesday-Sunday, various times, through Feb. 8. No cover. Soft Water Gallery, St. Petersburg. softwatergallery.com
Santa’s Sudden Dysfunction: Holiday PAW Art of Tim Gibbons Monday-Sunday through Feb. 13. No cover. Pinellas Ale Works, St. Petersburg. pawbeer.com
Impressions: 35 years of Women in Print
Monday-Friday through March 2. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No cover. Graphicstudio at University of South Florida, Tampa. ira.usf.edu
Brian Maguire: La Grande Illusion Monday-Saturday through March 7. No cover. Contemporary Art Museum at University of South Florida, Tampa. ira.usf.edu
Selina Román: Abstract Corpulence Through March 29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20. Sarasota Art Museum, Sarasota
Comedy
Dirty John’s Dirty Disco ThursdaySaturdays. 8 p.m. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg. thestudioat620.org
Stu.Co: A Monthly Improv Show feat. Students of The Commodore Thursday, Jan. 22 8:30 p.m. Pay what you want. The Commodore, Tampa. commodorecomedy. com
The Dark Show Friday, Jan. 23. 9:30 p.m. $14.76 incl. fees. The Commodore, Tampa. commodorecomedy.com
Tampa Metropolitan Improv Third Fridays through May 29. 7 p.m. $5. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa. carrollwoodcenter.org
Bruce Bruce Friday-Sunday, Jan. 23-25, various times. $42. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Josh Sneed Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24, various times. $23.80. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa. sidesplitterscomedy.com
St. Pete Street Market Saturday, Jan. 24. Noon-4 p.m. No cover. Pinellas Ale Works Brewery, St. Petersburg
Swap night Monday, Jan. 26 6-8 p.m. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor. crookedthumbbrew.com.
Learn
Roe v. Wade Commemoration/ Reproductive Freedom Visibility Event Thursday, Jan. 22. Noon-1 p.m. No cover. Select intersections, Downtown St. Petersburg. tinyurl.com/StPeteJan22
Cafe con Tampa: The Decline of Food Quality and How Local Farms Are Restoring Nutrition to Our Communities Friday. 8 a.m. $12. The Portico, 1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. cafecontampa.com
4th Annual Florida Harm Reduction Conference Monday, Jan. 26-Thursday, Jan. 29. $125-$325. Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, St. Petersburg. flhrc.org
Theater
The Comedy of Errors Thursday-Sunday through Feb. 8. $29.50 & up. Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. jobsitetheater.org
Drilled! The Final Term? ThursdaySunday, Jan. 22-25. Showtimes vary. $25-$40. The Studio@620, 620 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg.
The Pink Unicorn Select dates and times through Feb. 1. $25-$55. St. Petersburg. storykeepers.org
Job Wednesday-Sunday, select times through Feb. 15. $5-$44. Urbanite Theater, Sarasota. urbanitetheatre.com
The Scarlet Letter Wednesday-Sunday. Jan. 21-Feb. 15. $0-$60. American Stage, St. Petersburg. americanstage.org
Touching the Void Friday-Sunday, select dates and times. $30-$50. Stageworks Theater, Tampa. stageworkstheatre.org
Don’t see your event here? Please head to the website to submit it yourself. Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@ cltampa.com for details.
By Ray Roa
THU 22
C Béton Armé w/Pena Maxima/moreOne of the toughest purveyors of Québécois Oi!—Montreal’s Béton Armé—brings Renaissance , a 2025 album of thrashing, anthemic, French-language punk and hardcore, to the skatepark where a Miami-based band of hooligans, Pena Maxima, opens. 7 p.m. $20. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa
C Three Deviant Years kickoff: Subterranean Tampa w/DJ Cub/DJ Cat Mat Against the odds, and with the help of a loving community, Deviant Libation celebrates three turns around the sun at the corner of N Nebraska and E Stratford Avenues in Ybor Heights. Tim Ogden’s brewery and distillery marks the anniversary with a three-day throwdown that kicks off with this hang soundtracked by DJ Cub and Cat Mat. A Friday concert features a mix of Bay area bands playing experimental sounds, rock and moody pop, while Saturday sees Atlanta doom and sludge band Lungburner rip the room a new one. Thursday, Jan. 22. 8 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa
C Punk at the Pub: Benefit for Brian Mahar w/Lot Lizards/Human Error The 600 Block’s rock and roll heyday might’ve never been captured on film if it wasn’t for Brian Mahar. The St. Petersburg photographer— with bylines in long-defunct music magazines and blogs Reax and Suburban Apologist, plus Creative Loafing Tampa Bay—was everywhere. From The Local 662 to Fubar, The Bends, and any warehouse show he was hip to, Mahar captured the best moments from the Tampa Bay music scene. And now the 45-year-old needs some help. Over the summer, friends and family launched a GoFundMe to help him during treatment for stage four Hodgkin’s lymphatic cancer and stage four blood marrow cancer. Despite a positive oncology report last November, Mahar now has severe nerve damage in his legs and hands, and faces a long road to healing. 8 p.m. Donations accepted. 49th Street Pub, St. Petersburg.
FRI 23
BeatsNChill: Santiago Purp & MG w/ Raul The Fool/more Tampa’s BeatsNChill, basically the hang where any producer wants to be, gets the clique back together at its unofficial clubhouse for a set with hip-hop beatsmith Santiago Purp. The featured guest is Oakland emcee MG whose work updates the sensuality of Too $hort for the modern age. Jay Browne, one of the best rappers in Tampa, hosts the gig which features a live podcast taping. 7:30 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City
C Caricoa Nights: Daniela Soledade and the Amazon Soul Band After a week of wintery weather, it’ll be nice to go to the beach, at least figuratively. Brazilian Jazz artist Daniela Soledade has a brand new band, which makes its debut this weekend. With a new Sade-flavored single “Brasileira” in tow, Soledade & co. bring all the laidback joy of Rio de Janeiro (“Carioca”) to fans of samba, funk, soul and R&B. 7 p.m. $22.52-$30.52. Bayboro Brewing Co., St. Petersburg
C Off With Their Heads w/Dikembe/ Smug LLC/Floating Boy It’s a warzone in Minneapolis right now, and a band that’s soundtracked so much life in that city arrives to warmer climes, fresh off a tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of its landmark album In Desolation . Supporting Off With their Heads are two totems of Florida punk and emo: Gainesville’s Dikembe and Sarasota outfit Floating Boy which just released one of the best rock LPs of 2026 so far, Perfect Place 7 p.m. $24.06. Music hall at New World Tampa, Tampa
SAT 24
C Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association: The Sounds of Hope For 45 years, the association has done the work of promoting music education through its events and scholarships. Named for the late pianist, educator who was the first AfricanAmerican Commissioner of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, this annual concert honors Downing’s legacy as well as the work and teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. 1 p.m. No cover. Warehouse Arts District, St. Petersburg
Black Tusk w/Meatwound/Knife
Rituals Since its inception in the earlyaughts Black Tusk has always found a way forward. The Savannah rock outfit finally said it outloud on a new album, The Way Forward . The April 2024 outing is a refresh on Black Tusk’s chugging death metal, often utilizing dual vocals (“Dance On Your Grave”), and will play well with new tunes by Tampa-based opener Meatwound which just released its own new album, Macho , last summer. 7 p.m. $15-$20. Music hall at New World Tampa, Tampa
C Lizard Queen w/Crucial Fix/Big Sad/ Lychee Camp As venue spaces go poof across the Bay area, non-traditional rooms are stepping up. Enter The Commodore, an improv comedy house that’s found time to host punk shows on an emergent block at the border of Ybor City and Tampa Heights. Two Gainesville outfits, Lizard Queen and Crucial Fix, top the festivities this weekend and get a boost from beloved locals Big Sad (in full disclosure, fronted by CL photographer Dave Decker) and Lychee Camp which is fresh off the release of a new single, "Stuck" where the trio gives listeners emo that would've been perfect for the salad days of 97X. 7 p.m. $10$15. The Commodore, Tampa
THU JANUARY 22–THU JANUARY 29
C Mes birthday bash w/Mestaurant The 800 Block on N Nebraska and E 7th Avenues is hot. While Commodore hosts a punk show, wine bar and vegan restaurant La Sétima Club hosts a party for a staple of the Tampa music scene, Chris Wood. Better known as Mes McDonald, Wood turns 50 this weekend and celebrates by releasing a new beat tape for the hip-hop and cinemaheads (Mes3 ) before playing a set with Mestaurant, where Wood handles samples while friends play live. 8 p.m. No cover. La Sétima Club, Tampa
54
SUN 25
C 54 Ultra w/Orca 54 Ultra brings his ethereal, bilingual swirl to a sold-out show at Ybor City staple Crowbar (which is closing this summer after 20 years in the district). John Anthony has quickly built a strong following on dreamlike synths and romantic lyrics that slide easily between English and Spanish, inspired by his Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage. Songs like “What More Can I Do” feel tailor-made for late-nights, introspection and maybe a glass of wine. Orca, the duo of Mylena Velasquez and Daniel Galloway, opens with hazy, dream-pop set that feels like the perfect preview for 54 Ultra. Velasquez’s voice is light and intimate, pulling the room
inward and upward–especially on “Letter to You,” which should be a highlight of the show that feels like that moment right before an underground favorites finally breaks through. If you’re holding a ticket, congratulations. 7 p.m. Sold-out. Crowbar, Ybor City—Laura Troyer
C Weef: Radaghast w/Chaunces/The Venus/Delaney Stack Fun is temporary, death is permanent, but Weef days are the best. St. Petersburg’s jovial purveyors of DIY good times are back this weekend with a BYOB “Manual Replenishment Ceremony.” Jake makes the rib sandwiches, and Sector. FM DJ Delaney Stack plays records in between sets from shoegaze-ish rock outfit Radaghast, fresh off the release of a sneaky end-of-2025 LP, 10gollem10 , plus avant-jazz outfit Chaunces. Sunshine City genrebender The Venus, which has ventured into ‘70s-era funk and world-rock on a recent single, “Samadhi,” anchors the bill. Non-cops should follow @weef69 on social media to get the address. 6 p.m. $5 donation. House show, St. Petersburg
WED 28
C Matt Pryor w/Small Uncle/The Burke Bros. At least two generations of sensitive men have sountracked their lives to the music of Matt Pryor. Founder of The Get Up Kids, the 47-year-old is a prolific artist beyond his famed punk band. Under the The New Amsterdams moniker, Pryor released some of the most crucial emo-folk from the last decade-and-a-half. He arrives in his Salton Sea era, supporting a November 2025 album of familiarly anthemic, piano and drum-driven pop colored by tunes that’ll resonate with TGUK fans longing for the high-energy bops (“Barrymores”) and lovelorn melodies (“Harden Your Heart”) of their younger years. 8 p.m. $20-$25. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
THU 29
The Wombats Fix yourself, because The Wombats have a new album out, and they’re kicking off the next leg of a North American tour in our backyard. Oh! The Ocean , which dropped last February, pretty much encapsulates the deeper thoughts of someone raw-dogging depression and anxiety. Along with its relatable-AF title, harmonious opening track “Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come” is an unsettling ode to self-awareness not being the be-all-end-all, but still being able to dominate one’s headspace. And the more industrial-sounding “I Love America And She Hates Me” depicts the nation as a manipulative figure that keeps Matthew Murphy and friends coming back for more. 8 p.m. $46.61. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg—Josh Bradley
See the extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
C CL Recommends
Check it out. John Mellencamp has annou nced a string of summer shows across the country, including an August stop in Tampa. The 74-year-old singer-songwriter spent 2025 off the road and working on his next studio album, Orphan Train , which he expects to drop later this year. While there’s no telling if we’ll get a taste of Johnny’s next era, the “Dancing Words” tour, which was announced with a little help from Sean Penn and *squints at notes* Joe Rogan respectively, promises to see him showcase a number of songs that haven’t been performed live in over a decade, along with his normal regiment of heartland rock standards.
Cory Branan Saturday, Feb. 21. 7 p.m. $27.51. Music hall at New World Tampa, Tampa
Pink It Up 17: Subliminal Doubt w/ Victims of Circumstance/Saganaki Bomb Squad/SB X JG/Bargain Bin Heroes/Over Wait Mammal/DJ One Time Saturday, Feb. 21. 7 p.m. $7. Crowbar, Ybor City
And if this show is anything like his threenight stint at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall three years ago—during which he dared a heckler to come onstage, and also ripped the privatization of American healthcare centers—you’ll definitely want to suck it up and bring a sweat towel or two with you to the old Gary amphitheatre this summer.
Tickets to see John Mellencamp play Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Monday, Aug. 3 go on sale Friday, Jan. 23, with additional presales starting on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Prices have yet to be announced. See my weekly list of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—
Josh Bradley
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Monday, Feb. 23. 8 p.m. $44 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Star Funeral w/Lychee Camp/Lowtalk/ Floating Boy Thursday, Feb. 25. 7 p.m. Free-$10, depending on age. Oscura, Bradenton
Matte Blvck Thursday, Feb. 26. 7 p.m. $20$25. Music hall at New World Tampa, Tampa
Aurelio Voltaire Friday, Feb. 27. 7 p.m. $20-$25. Music hall at New World Tampa, Tampa
Kevin Steele (record release) Friday, Feb. 27. 7 p.m. $22.52 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Luke Schneider w/Rogerthomas/ Katara/Bauxmonk Saturday, Feb. 28. 7 p.m. $10. Suite E Studios, St. Petersburg
Ride it out
By Caroline DeBruhl
Dear Oracle, as the year wraps up, I’m horrified about how quickly we’ve slipped into an authoritative state. I’m scared about the upcoming year, but I don’t want to be pessimistic. I want to be hopeful that we can triumph over fascism, but I’m not sure how to balance that with the feeling that we’re all doomed. I don’t want to be one of those people who “doesn’t read the news,” but I also don’t want to be so overwhelmed with everything that I can’t function or fight for what’s right. So how can I balance these feelings without losing my mind.—Light in the Dark
Cards as above: The Chariot, Six of Pentacles, Ten of Wands.
Cards so below: The World, Waxing Gibbous, Seven of Cups (reversed)
Dear Light, while I received your question at the end of December, these past few weeks of violence and grief have made it feel all the more potent. In a world of chaos and brutality, how do we find balance and hope? I know I’ve certainly wondered that these past few nights. For your cards, I did a different sort of spread. The first three are to help you find this balance and are meant to be read together. The bottom three cards are the shadow of those cards, what you aren’t seeing, and are intended to read as three pairs (ex. The Chariot/The World)
Let us begin, though, with a plan of action.
To get through this, you need to understand your own thoughts, strength, and convictions as The Chariot. The rider in The Chariot is focused but not obsessed. He knows and speaks his own mind and can plow through obstacles with his own sheer force of will—but he also knows when to slow down and when to go at top speed. It is important to you to speak out—literally using your voice— but you also need to be aware of your limitations.
You may have heard the Audre Lorde quote that “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Lorde wrote that in the context of her battling cancer while working as a poet and political activist, and how she could not overextend herself without causing herself harm. Sometimes, it can be difficult to clock what is actually harmful to us versus what is simply uncomfortable, but knowing the difference (and knowing when to step back and rest) is crucial.
There are times when you will need to turn off the news for your own sanity and to replenish yourself. For you, this means community.
The Six of Pentacles is a card of generosity, of sharing gifts and time freely with others. This is time spent with other people joyously sharing life. It takes a village to survive the cold winter of fascism, and that means showing up for other people and living it up with them. It’s a card of
rejuvenation, when the sparks of so many cause a great fire. You need to be reminded that there is good in the world, that life has beauty and wonder and humor in it. And you need to remember that you are not alone.
The last card is the Ten of Wands, the heavy, survivable burden. You can carry this burden alone, but remember that you don’t have to. This task is eased with community, with working together and carrying this bundle stick by stick. Balance can come from the collective, with everyone doing something. You can make it through.
Now, here is what to consider about each card.
While it is important to know yourself as The Chariot, it’s also important to know where you stand in The World. You have power in your life, but you cannot control the universe. The World is a reminder of endings, of beginnings, of the mystery and brutal vastness of fate. There will be things out of your control. It doesn’t mean you should give up, but rather, understand that you are human and exist in a brief moment of time. You might not be able to blast through every obstacle. Adapt, accept, pivot. Do what you need to.
tends to be lonesome, could you volunteer with a group? Would joining a community garden, choir, or D&D campaign fill your cup? What, inversely, can you let go of that drains you? This is a time for nourishing, not spreading yourself too thin.
Lastly, when it comes to the burdensome Ten of Wands, the Seven of Cups reminds us that not all is what it seems. I’ve written before about how this card can appear when something seems “too good to be true” (it usually is), but this can also appear when something looks impossible but isn’t.
ORACLE OF YBOR
Send your questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram
Authoritarianism depends on image. It has to project strength and uniformity, and inspire terror, to stay in power. It does this through very real acts of violence—as we are seeing now. But that strong, uniform base is a lie. Authoritarian governments always breed chaos and corruption, and usually go through several cycles of vanguards who rise to power only to be picked off by a later generation for not being loyal enough. It’s a cannibalistic model of government, and while it will cause great death and destruction as it flails about, it is a weak thing that can be stopped.
When it comes to community and generosity of the spirit, the Waxing Gibbous asks for you to refine and reprioritize. What actually makes you feel rejuvenated and inspired when you’re with other people? This is also a time where new opportunities can arise, which may be healing. If your activism
This is not a lost cause. There is no inevitable conclusion that we must accept this violence and turmoil as our new way of life. We can carry that Ten of Wands together.
Thank you for trusting me with your question. See more of Caroline, and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
Cis fret
By Dan Savage
Iam a 45-year-old femme-presenting genderqueer AFAB person. When I have romantic relationship with cis het men, I’ve noticed two general types: They either enjoy sex and prioritize pleasure and making things fun for their partners and themselves, but make no special big deal about it, and we usually have frequent enough sex and that’s enjoyable and good. Or the sex starts out pretty good but—at some point—they make it known to me that they need to have sex regularly, that they can’t tolerate a lack of sex, that they get grumpy if they don’t have sex, that they’ve been in sexless relationships before—blah blah blah —and soon the relationship starts to revolve around how much sex we’re having. Usually around this time the sex either gets worse or I realize that it wasn’t that good to begin with and then we start having less sex and then it slowly becomes so terrible that I barely want to have sex with them anymore at all and then the relationship ends. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience, and if you have any comments.—Help Explain This Male Entitlement Nonsense
for a person to talk about their sexual expectations, fantasies, desires, hopes, and prayers during the discovery phase of a relationship. If you’re fucking around in the hopes of finding a partner, HETMEN, you’re auditioning someone to play that part for you and they’re auditioning you to play that part for them. And I think it’s good when both parties are honest and upfront about the kinds of sex they wanna have and how much sex they ideally like to have. That goes double or triple or sextuple to the tenth power if a relationship is sexually exclusive or you hope to become sexually exclusive.
SAVAGE LOVE
You’ve noticed a pattern: While not all cis het men suck—sounds like you’ve found and fucked a few good ones—cis het men who tell you they need to have sex regularly, that they can’t tolerate a lack of sex, and that they barely survived their last sexless relationships… those cis het guys tend to suck. In your experience, sex with cis het men who make speeches about how much sex they feel entitled to quickly becomes an obligation, not a pleasure.
So, you’ve collected the data and you’ve identified a pattern—you’ve identified a literal and figurative tell—and with that data set in hand, HETMEN, you can make more informed choices going forward. If a cis het man is good sex and doesn’t suddenly launch into a speech about not being able to tolerate a lack of sex, you can continue fucking that cis het man. If a cis het man is good sex but suddenly makes a speech about how much sex he needs to have, you shouldn’t continue to fuck that cis het man because the sex isn’t going to stay good for long. Unless having your priors confirmed is your biggest kink, HETMEN, you shouldn’t keep fucking guys who make that speech until the sex is terrible. Get out while the fucking is good.
Zooming out for a second: As tempting as it is to shrug and say, “Oh, yeah, some cis het men sure do suck,” which I think is what you expected me to say, I’m gonna be a contrary little cis homo and say this instead: While some of everybody sucks—some cis het men, some cis homos suck, some femme-presenting genderqueer AFAB persons, etc.—it’s not unreasonable
So, and for the record, I don’t think there’s anything inherently problematic about a cis het dude—or any other type of person for that matter (cis homo, trans lezbo, ace acrobat, etc.)— spelling out their needs and expectations early in a relationship. So long as someone is just as interested in hearing about their partners’ needs, wants, and expectations, so long as it’s a dialogue and not a monologue, and so long as someone is realistic about how everyday life sometimes disrupts regularly scheduled fucking, two people making their needs known to each other is a good thing. It’s certainly better than hoping your new partner can somehow read your mind.
And for the record: life is long, every couple goes through dry spells, and no one is entitled to a certain amount of sex. Both partners—or all partners—should make a good faith effort to meet each other’s reasonable sexual needs, HETMEN, both should be willing to make reasonable accommodations when they can’t meet each other’s needs, and both should be down to have a little maintenance sex once in a while. And just like everybody gets to have limits and preferences, everyone gets to have—and everyone is allowed to share—their reasonable sexual expectations.
Zooming out some more: If you’re queer as in not heterosexual and not just queer as in asymmetrical haircut, HETMEN, your dating pool is vast. You don’t have to settle for cis het men if you’ve had more bad experiences with cis het men than good ones. You can date and/or fuck cis women, bi women, trans women, trans guys, bi guys, AFAB enbies, AMAB enbies, pansexuals, omnisexuals, etc., etc., etc. You don’t have to keep eating your least favorite Skittle. Taste the rainbow.
I am a cis het 40-year-old woman. I’m not a virgin, but I also haven’t had a ton of partners. I had sex with a man I like for the first time. This new partner—also cis and supposedly het—asked
me to put my finger in his anus, something no straight man has ever asked me to do before. I listen to your show, Dan, so I understand that this can be very pleasurable. He asked for my consent, and I granted it. My friends are all very judgmental and say he has to be bisexual and that no straight man would ever be up for being on the receiving end of butt play. For the most part, I don’t care what they think, but I like this man and do not want to get attached if he has needs I can’t meet as a cis female. My questions are… 1. Is this a common thing for straight men to ask for? 2. How do I do it properly so as not to hurt him?
I really hope to hear back from you, Dan, because everyone else I know will tell me (or has told me) he is gay. I feel like I know you and I want to hear what you think before I proceed. Really Into New Guy
1. It depends on how you define “common.” Is this something most straight men ask for? No, it’s not. But there are enough straight guys out there who like to be fingered that I feel confident saying that the ask isn’t uncommon. It’s impossible to put a number to it, but I’d guess that tens of thousands of American men asked their female partners to finger them over the last week. Some used their words, some men used body language, but they asked.
Now, this guy could be gay—anybody could be gay — but wanting a finger in his ass isn’t proof this guy wants to get dicked down. Not even wanting to be dicked down is proof a guy is gay these days, RING, as some straight guys are into pegging, some straight guys are extremely heteroflexible, and some straight guys like to bottom for trans women. Brave new world, such people in it, etc.
And asking you, a straight woman, to put your finger in his ass is solid evidence this new partner of yours most likely isn’t gay. (The reaction of your friends, on the other hand, is proof they’re misinformed and homophobic.) While some deeply closeted gay men will have sex with women, RING, deeply closeted gay men are too insecure about seeming gay to ask the women they’re fucking to do shit that might seem gay. A closeted gay dude who didn’t want his new girlfriend to suspect he might be gay is less likely to ask to be fingered, plugged, or pegged than a straight guy who’s A. secure in his sexuality and B. not afraid of his own butt.
2. Here’s how it’s done: trim your nails, use plenty of lube, prep his hole before you penetrate him (massage and circle the outer ring with your lubed up finger before plunging in), and keep asking him if it feels good. If you find out you enjoy penetrating a man, Yahtzee! If you decide it’s not for you—if finger fucking a man is a turn-off (of if finger fucking this man is a turnoff)—you don’t have to do it and/or him again.
We’re a married cisgender straight couple. We are both in our thirties and we live in a little
town in Italy with our five-year-old daughter. We both had only monogamous relationships in the past, but with our previous partners we never experienced the same level of comfort we have between us. We talk a lot about our sexual relationship and in the past year or so we have been talking about—and fantasizing about— sharing ourselves with another couple. This is something neither of us dared to mention to our previous partners. We both want to see each other having sex with other people and we both want to experiment with homosexual activity during a threesome or a foursome. The problem is: we don’t know where to start. We never used online dating, nor do we know about places we can meet similarly interested couples. We have heard that pineapples are signs that identify couples that seek other couples. But if we see a pineapple in couple’s house, how do we make sure it’s not an accidental pineapple? We are worried we may get it wrong. Can you give us some advice for total beginners?—Couple Urgently Requires Intensely Orgiastic Unrestricted Sex
I googled this for you and found plenty of swingers’ clubs and sex-positive organizations in Italy. I’m not going to name any of them, CURIOUS, because I can’t do site visits and therefore can’t vouch for the crowd, décor, or vibes. But clubs for straight swingers exist in Italy, and they’re not exactly underground. They don’t exist in the small town where you live, most likely, but your child is old enough to spend a weekend with the grandparents while you and your wife spend the weekend “visiting museums” in Rome or Milan.
Straight swingers once used pineapples as a sign—swingers displayed pineapples in their homes to let other swinging couples know they were swingers too—in the same way gay men once used hankies to signal their sexual interests to other gay men. But now we have the internet, CURIOUS, so swinging couples no longer have to rely on a symbol that might be misconstrued—sometimes a pineapple is just a pineapple—and gay men don’t have to rely on hankies that no one could actually see in the dim light of a gay bar. Swinging straight couples go to parties and get on hookup apps these days, and gay men list their sexual interests on Grindr, Sniffies, Scruff, Recon, etc.
So, don’t risk an accidental pineapple. Get online and start googling, CURIOUS, look for clubs and parties in an Italian city near you. But just as decent Americans don’t fuck with Republicans, you and the wife shouldn’t fuck with Brothers of Italy.
Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.
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One of a flamenco
Stripping Mr. Peanut 50 Tough exams, for some
Windy, as a day or a senator
Shimon who schmoozes with Shamir
Lubricates
Flaw finders
Dickens’s Little
Metry preceder
Some wall installers
Atomic chainreaction pioneer
Try: abbr.
46 Division of Great Britain’s
Teatro (opera house in Naples)
52 Cads, or cats, sometimes 54 Wooer
55 Beetles’ order
56 Near-perfect games
57 Left in a
Chang’s twin
61 Pierre who wrote The Bridge on the River Kwai and Planet of the Apes
63 Location of the sentry 65 Indigo D&C No. 6 and others
