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FRIDAY March 27th 2026
LIVE COMEDY SHOWS THIS WEEK
THURSDAY, MARCH 5 TH
7:00 PM: WEEKLY IMPROV DROP-IN CLASS
Give improv a try in a super supportive, fun environment! No prior experience required.
8:30 PM: LONGFORM IMPROV SHOWCASE
The Commodore's best improv teams split the bill in this weekly show! Come for the Drop-In at 7:00, and stay for this show for free.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 TH
7:00 PM: SUFFERING SPIRIT / SERRATED FL / NEAR DEATH / XEROCIDE / THE SHOTGUN PRODIGY
Some of the area's best hardcore bands take the stage in a killer show this Friday.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7 TH
7:00 PM: STANDUP COMEDY SHOWCASE
The region's best and brightest stand-up comedians appear in this one-night-only showcase. 10:00 PM: SMISEK SINGS SEDAKA
Czechia's top Neil Sedaka interpreter, live and in-person.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8 TH
6:00 PM: IMPROV STUDENT SHOWCASE
Our improv students show off what they've learned in their class graduation performance!
B4 you go
Want to support local radio, see drag queens, play games and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in a free space? Bingo! We’ve got you covered. Cocktail hosts drag bingo for WMNF’s Big Gay Radio Show in St. Pete this week. Local performer Alexis de la Mer will be handling the balls, and this isn’t her first time. She’s raised thousands of dollars for local nonprofits through St. Pete drag bingo nights, including Mondays at Cocktail and Wednesdays at Mad Hatters. This one supports Tampa Bay’s only radio program dedicated exclusively to the LGBTQ+ community, and 2025 Best of the Bay finalists for Best Radio Show and Best Radio Personality (host Chris Gorman). This year so far, Gorman and his co-hosts Esmé Russell and Vyn Suazion have covered topics like affordable LGBTQ+ healthcare and preserving the history of bygone gaybars, with features on pup play, local queer artists and serious news coverage. A $10 donation includes 10 rounds of bingo, with all proceeds benefiting WMNF Community Radio at this 21+ event.
WMNF’s Big Gay Bingo: Monday, March 9. 8 p.m. Cocktail, 2355 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @cocktailstpete on Facebook—Selene San Felice
Let’s get ready to rummage
Tampa Bay’s most beloved art party and garage sale is back. Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Trashy Treasures offers fine art pieces (what didn’t sell at its big party the night before) and a ton of gently used crafting supplies to browse through.
“Whether you’re an artist stocking up, a collector hunting for something special, or simply someone who loves the thrill of discovery, this is the day to come explore,” DFAC spokesperson Cassy Combs said in a release. Every purchase supports the center’s mission to keep Dunedin artsy through exhibitions, education and community initiatives.
Trashy Treasures Art Garage
Sale: Saturday, March 7. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. DFAC.org—Selene San Felice
NICK CARDELLO
You’re gonna need a bigger boat
Since it made a splash in theaters half a century ago, “Jaws” has been a classic film. But in 1974, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider didn’t know they were making a hit. In this play, based on the misadventures of making the movie, the trio is seasick and sick of each other as they deal with storms, malfunctioning mechanical shark, big egos and short tempers. It’s co-written by Ian Shaw, stared as his father in the original production. Robert Shaw died three years after the film’s release, when Ian was 8. Before the show premiered at Edinburgh Film Festival in 2019, Ian said he spent most of his life avoiding association with his father. “He was a very successful film star, but I wanted to be an actor in my own rights,” Shaw told People. But in the play, he confronts Robert’s grief over losing his own father as a child (Ian’s grandfather) to suicide. “It’s about love, I think. And you feel it in the audience,” Shaw said. Jobsite Theater’s production opening at the Straz Center this week runs select dates and times through April 5.
‘The Shark is Broken:’ Opens Wednesday, March 11. $59.40 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa. strazcenter.org—Selene San Felice
Down ‘n’ dirty
Red Bull is getting Tampa Bay dirty this weekend. Motocross festival Day in the Dirt Down South brings dirt bike lovers from around the country to Dade City MX. Amateur dirt bike enthusiasts will ride in extreme and sometimes silly events with some of the world’s best, including Tarah Geiger, a movie star stuntwoman and one of MX’s most decorated athletes, and FMX island hopper Tyler Bereman. And the party isn’t limited to two wheels. It’s also a showcase for tricked-out campers, modified pit bikes, and everything moto.
Red Bull Day in the Dirt Down South: Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. $25-$50. Dade City Raceway, 36722 State Rd. 52, Dade City. dayinthedirtdownsouth.com—Selene San Felice
Reel exciting
We’ve had the pirate parade, the arts festival, the running race, and now it’s finally time to chill out and watch some movies. Gasparilla International Film Festival opened Tuesday night with “She Dances,” about a father trying to reconnect with his daughter over her dance competition—starring real life father Steve Zahn and dancing daughter Audrey Zahn. There are still plenty of star-studed films screening over the weekend with names like Al Pacino, Willem Dafoe, and Luis Guzmán. And, of course, much of the lineup is Tampa Bay and Florida based, including documentaries on the Seminole Heights murders, College Hunks Hauling Junk cleaning up after the 2024 hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Times’ annual Top Restaurants list. Some films, like “Mistake”— about an intersex child raised in the Deep South—are also screening across the Skyway this week at the women-focused Reel Equals Film Festival.
Gasparilla International Film Festival: Now-Sunday, March 8. $16.79 & up. Various times and venues throughout Tampa. gasparillafilmfestival.com—Selene San Felice
C/O
“That sincerity builds trust... something AI simply can’t accomplish.”
Ex machina
The Tampa Bay Times publishes AI-generated stories.
By Colin Wolf
Anew reporter is working at Florida’s largest daily newspaper, one who doesn’t need a desk or health insurance.
The Tampa Bay Times AI News Engine has been covering beats like high-end real estate transactions and breaking news about extreme weather since September.
Readers who don’t check bylines may not have noticed. There was no dedicated press release, and there’s no article or announcement on the website. But back in August, the paper disclosed its upcoming AI bot to readers of the subscriber-only “Best of Times” newsletter. There, it’s buried under a story asking readers to purchase a Bucs anniversary coffee table book.
“You may not have noticed because it represents a tiny percentage of the content we produce on our website,” Times Executive Editor Mark Katches told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about his new worker.
According to Katches, the Times AI News Engine is the creation of a Swiss-based third party vendor called United Robots, and it works somewhat like a Mad Lib word game. The staff creates pre-written article templates before the AI bot “writes” the stories by filling in the gaps via publicly available information scraped from government websites.
Martinique Avenue includes five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It was sold by ECH Capital LLC to Alise G. Bartley, David W. Bartley II and the Alise G. Bartley Revocable Trust.”
The article is incredibly brief, and honestly, pretty hard to screw up. The only photo is a Google Streetview image of the property’s address, and the copy doesn’t go into any history or detail about the home, other than the price per square foot and the sales of other nearby properties.
“Every real estate story is reviewed and edited before publication,” said Katches to CL. “Again, I’ll stress, the Times wrote every template with specific blanks to be filled in when AI scrapes official sites of real estate transactions in the communities where we’ve directed it to look. These are pretty short, straightforward stories. And all these real estate stories that are generated get edited by our staff.”
Katches is right, the bot needs human oversight, as evidenced by headlines like, “How much were the top 10 most expensive home sales in Pasco, reported last week?”, a collection of words that would break any human editor’s brain.
LOCAL NEWS
But while the safeguards of human intervention exist on the Times’ real estate stories, the emergency weather alerts are completely left to the discretion of the AI bot.
“This is additive, supplementary coverage,” explained Katches. “Coincidentally, our newsroom has actually grown in size slightly since we launched this use of AI. I say that only to drive home the point that the goal of this is not to cut newsroom jobs.”
Of course, the Times does have living, breathing reporters who cover real estate, breaking news and environmental issues, but Katches claims the bot will only free up time and “not replace any work done by the Times.”
The bot has been busy over the last six months—churning out at least 50 news stories across the Times website. For instance, last week the AI bot published a 126-word story about the sale of a $6.9 million home in Tampa’s Davis Islands neighborhood.
“A single-family home in Tampa sold on Jan. 29 for $6.49 million. It features 6,054 square feet of living space,” wrote the bot. “The home at 107
“These may auto publish in the interest of public safety,” Katches said. “This way, when an extreme weather alert is issued–like a tornado warning or a flash flood warning that has a limited time of an hour or so, we can get these alerts posted immediately, including when we’re not staffed to edit a story.” If the National Weather Service (NWS) posts at 3 a.m., the bot will regurgitate that post on the Times site at 3:01 a.m., Katches says, “when there is no staff actually working…”
“That type of story is the only exception for when we will publish something immediately. Everything else is read by an editor before posting.”
Anyone (or any bot for that matter) can read a weather report from the NWS, and getting this information out is vital in an emergency situation. But there’s a reason why the public looks to local meteorologists and trusted climate reporters to explain and give nuance to this information, especially during hurricane season.
The Times hasn’t decided if the bot will publish hurricane alerts, Katches said, “But it’s a possibility.”
Denis Philips, the longtime suspenderwearing Chief Meteorologist at Tampa’s WFTS, told CL he doesn’t see the harm in the Tampa Bay Times using an AI bot to scrape the NWS site.
“It’s really no different than the crawls that run at the bottom of the screen of your TV during severe weather,” Philips wrote in a text message. “Now, if these stories go one step further and start addressing POTENTIAL severe weather, that’s another story entirely.”
According to Philips, the NWS and National Hurricane Alerts do in fact offer some detailed information and nuance to storm tracking, but warns that there’s always a “grey area.”
“You’re not just giving a forecast. You’re taking the person by the hand and helping
them through the event,” said Philips. “You’re showing empathy and understanding, often because you and your family and friends are ALSO going through it. That sincerity builds trust...something AI simply can’t accomplish.”
The Times is hardly the first publication in Florida to feature AI bylines. In 2021, the Miami Herald launched the Miami Herald Bot, which was also created by United Robots, and has been used in various forms over the years—covering everything from real estate, storms, and even food reporting. As of now, the paper only acknowledges the use of its AI bot in a disclaimer footer found at the bottom of every Times AI News Engine story. But the Times has yet to create a publicly available AI ethics policy, which is something heavily recommended by the paper’s parent company, Poynter.
“That literally is in the final editing stages,” Katches said.
SIGN OF THE TIMES: The Tampa Bay Times AI News Engine launched quietly in the fall.
Bobby’s bones
Buckhorn PAC has more than $1.4 million, mostly from development and investment interests.
By Jasmin Parrado
Bob Buckhorn swears he’s entering the race to succeed term-limited Jane Castor (nine candidates are registered in the race so far). Winning that contest is going to involve cash— and the man who’s already had two terms as mayor has a lot of it.
To support the campaign, Buckhorn’s political action committee, Friends of Bob Buckhorn, is equipped with more than $1.4 million in contributions. And if money talks, then it appears that investors and developers are Buckhorn’s best friends.
According to a February Tampa Monitor analysis of campaign finance data, donations connected to construction, development, and real estate total $404,200—or 28% of total PAC contributions.
Contributions from people and entities connected to finance and investment total $460,250—or 32% of PAC donations.
Tampa’s outgoing mayor, Jane Castor, was Buckhorn’s choice for police chief and endorsed by her predecessor. She also benefited from a PAC funded primarily by development interests.
Buckhorn told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay he appreciates his PAC contributions. Developers and investors, as he sees it, helped make Tampa an attractive destination for talent. Further development is how the city continues to lure in young talent, he argued.
Buckhorn said that Tampa was once a “donor city,” from which its “best and brightest” youth moved. Developing Tampa after the recession, he claims, reversed that migration pattern.
But it did create an affordability problem. A study from the National Low Income Housing Coalition found that Florida renters would have to make at least $37.27/hour to afford a twobedroom rental home.
Buckhorn has previously told CL that affordability will be a hallmark of the race to be Tampa’s next mayor. And while development has not always made the city more affordable, Buckhorn added that he “would much rather preside over a growing city than a dying city.”
“It would be tragic if, after all of that work to build this city to the place where this is where they want to be, they are priced out of the market,” Buckhorn said. “So, absolutely, it is a priority.”
And there are donors who are willing to satisfy Buckhorn’s priorities (see the PAC donation analysis at cltampa.com/news).
Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties LLC (TBEP) is the biggest donor to Buckhorn’s PAC. The company, founded in 2017 by Benchmark International Arena and former Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, has donated
$100,000. TBEP operates Benchmark, along with the Yuengling Center at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.
Vinik Sports Group is also partnering with Strategic Property Partners (SPP) to manage a venue it hopes to build in 2027, just across the street from Benchmark International Arena.
Buckhorn said he’s proud to have the partnership and support of Vinik, a billionaire who oversaw the development of Water Street Tampa. Despite critics calling projects like Water Street “vanity projects,” Buckhorn stands by the success and benefits that came from those investments.
Revisiting the downtown CRA’s commitment to spend $50 million reimbursing Water Street Tampa’s developer, Buckhorn referenced estimates saying that between $3-$4 billion has been spent on the project so far, adding, “So as far as I’m concerned, that’s a pretty damn good investment.”
“When people criticize city government or criticize me for investing in providing the seed money for projects like this, I will tell them in no uncertain terms, ‘Hell yeah,’ and I would do
it again—10 times over every day of the week— because of what it brought to this community,” Buckhorn said.
and then work my hardest to make sure it’s successful,” Buckhorn said.
Vinik isn’t the only one looking to play ball.
Dream Finders Homes LLC, owned by Rays owner Patrick Zalupski, donated $50,000 to Buckhorn’s PAC. In a proposal for a new stadium at Hillsborough College in Tampa. Team owners said they will only pay half.
Buckhorn has presided over past Tampa stadium talks with the Rays’ last owners, and told CL he’s certain that the deal will be finalized before the next mayor begins their tenure.
“Folks elected me twice.”
Buckhorn admitted not knowing every nuance of the conversations around the new deal. But he believes the remaining cost will primarily have to be addressed by the county, especially since Collective Investment Trust funds are limited in where they go to and the county has more resources and methods it can use.
“I will honor whatever agreement that is struck between the Rays and certainly the city,
Ballpark builders aren’t the only ones pitching in to get Buckhorn elected. Real estate enters the mix with contributions from Related Group, a Miami-based real estate development company. Three employees from the company contributed to the PAC. Managing Director Kurt Drvstvnensek, Vice President Christopher Hernandez and Senior Vice President Arturo Pena each donated $100 to Friends of Bob Buckhorn. Individual contributors can only donate up to $1,000—up to $100 if in cash, and up to $50 if they remain anonymous. To bypass these limits, contributors can donate another $1,000 through their business. Related Group gave $1,000 to the PAC, according to campaign finance data.
Buckhorn said Related Group has done great work in the area—and he hopes it does more. As for its influence and position in the city’s development interests, Buckhorn said that most of its continued on page 16
KNUCK IF YOU BUCK: It’ll take a scrappy candidate to overcome Buckhorn’s war chest.
processes and plans are public and transparent.
“It’s incumbent upon the bidder to put the best feel forward for the city, just like I did for the eight years when I was the mayor before; there is a process in place,” Buckhorn said. “There is no favoritism, and the numbers in the proposal speak for themselves.”
Prominent individuals have also spoken up about Buckhorn’s imminent candidacy—with money and their mouths.
Developer and investor Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., who was convicted of fraud in a sports gambling scandal back in the ‘90s and later pardoned by Trump, donated $30,000 to Buckhorn’s PAC last November. DeBartolo is also the father-in-law of Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
Carlson added that other electoral races have shown how “raising a lot of money, especially from developers, is a negative, not a positive,” and that Buckhorn’s PAC is no exception.
Carlson pointed out that other council members, like District 3’s Lynn Hurtak and District 1’s Alan Clendenin, have won elections against candidates endorsed by Castor, despite funding deficits.
ELECTIONS
“The pattern is that the grassroots, the community, wants change,” Carlson told CL. “They don’t want the same shortsighted mentality in political bullying that’s been going on for the last 15 years.”
Blake Casper, Caspers Company co-owner and CEO, also donated $25,000 to Buckhorn’s PAC. Casper was formerly backed by Buckhorn in the 2023 general election for the Tampa City Council District 4 seat against Councilman Bill Carlson.
“Raising a lot of money, especially from developers, is a negative, not a positive.”
Casper’s last-minute entry into the one-man race left many speculating whether Mayor Castor aimed to back a candidate against Carlson, who has been an opponent of Mayor Castor’s development agenda throughout her tenure.
Carlson himself is slated to join the race. He told CL that he’ll be rolling out his plan in the coming months—and that in the meantime, people are asking for him to join the race as a change candidate.
“They’re tired of potholes and money that’s spent in the wrong ways and the bullying of the community, divisiveness,” Carlson continued. “They want a positive vision for the community, and they want somebody who’s a consensus builder, who will bring the community together toward the goals of the community.”
Buckhorn told CL that this isn’t his first rodeo and he doesn’t care who’s going to run against him; he’ll just run his race.
“That one particular individual has a long history of saying bizarre and conspiratorial things,” Buckhorn said. “I don’t pay any attention to him or the things he says.”
If anything, Buckhorn is most confident in what past voter outcomes say about his potential.
“Folks elected me twice. They re-elected me in 2015 with 95% of the vote, so they know me, and they know what I can do because of what I’ve done,” Buckhorn said.
BILL OF SALE: Tampa City Councilman Bill Carlson has thoughts on Buckhorn’s cashflow.
continued from page 14
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Axon to grind
Hillsborough deputies can now use controversial AI for some reports.
By Valerie Smith
Deputies are now allowed to use Axon Draft
One AI to generate some preliminary police reports, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced last Thursday. Critics of the software say that police contractor company Axon designed the tool to prevent anyone—including media, defense attorneys and civil liberties organizations—from telling exactly which parts of a report were composed by AI and which were written directly by the officer.
Draft One uses audio recordings of police interactions from a body camera to draft reports. Since video isn’t used by the AI, an officer approaching a red vehicle would have to state as much out loud and read out the license plate if they wanted to ensure Draft One captures it in the report.
Prior to the implementation of Axon Draft One a deputy responding to a non-criminal call for service would type out a report of what happened in their own words. Now, that deputy goes back to the vehicle and lets AI draft a report, which will then be edited by the officer based on prompts provided by the system. Deputies must certify that reports match their own account of what happened.
The Anchorage Police Department discontinued use of Draft One in 2024 after finding it inefficient. “We were hoping that it would be providing significant time savings for our officers, but we did not find that to be the case,” APD Deputy Chief of Administration Gina Burington said at a public meeting.
every agency requires a report to disclose if Draft One was used to generate it. A representative for HCSO told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she is looking into the office’s disclosure policy, and this article will be updated once we hear back.
EFF also found that when departments do disclose AI was used, it’s impossible to tell which parts of the report were generated by AI, and which edits (if any) were made by the deputy. This is because Axon intentionally does not retain the drafts generated by AI.
“We don’t store the original draft and that’s by design,” Axon’s senior principal product manager said in a roundtable discussion about the product. “That’s really because the last thing we want to do is create more disclosure headaches for our customers and our attorney’s offices.”
EFF’s report says the lack of draft retention makes it harder to assess the performance of the AI bot. It’s not possible to detect large-scale bias or errors if you can’t even compile an accurate database of information composed by Draft One, EFF says.
Former state prosecutor and current defense attorney Francesca de la Grana told CL that police should always be disclosing AI use and reviewing cases carefully.
LOCAL NEWS
“A police report is a direct account of the events that occurred. As a defense attorney, we rely directly on the police reports to identify what happened in a case. I don’t see how a police report could be generated by AI,” de la Grana added.
“We don’t store the original draft and that’s by design.”
Because every detail had to be verbally noted to be included in AI’s summary, Burlington said the editing process took about as long as writing a report from scratch.
For now only non-criminal reports are being drafted with AI. But police departments continue to expand use of Axon products like Draft One every year, driving quarter-overquarter stock price increases for the company, including a 17.5% jump just yesterday. Axon’s sales reps are given high quotas and get smaller paychecks if they don’t hit them, according to postings on employer review sites like Glassdoor. Digital civil liberties organization Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) compiled a comprehensive report on how difficult it is to audit the performance of Draft One. The findings are titled “Axon’s Draft One Is Designed to Defy Transparency.”
EFF requested Draft One records from several police departments, only some of which were actually able to compile a list of reports generated with Draft One. This is because not
De la Grana noted that, per her preliminary impression, the way Draft One is being used is seemingly OK for now as long as the officer is actually editing the report.
By Axon’s design, however, it’s impossible to know the degree to which the officer has edited it.
De la Grana said that while AI can be a helpful tool for efficiency, it’s important that deputies take full responsibility for the accuracy of their reports rather than blaming the AI tool for any issues.
“You are a law enforcement officer, and you have to swear that this report is true and accurate,” de la Grana told CL. “If you didn’t review it and sign off on it, then it’s not.” She warned that if a department becomes overly reliant on AI to write reports, it could diminish an officer’s credibility in court.
California created a new law last year to require that the first draft of any AI-generated police reports be retained, contrary to Axon’s policy.
EFF says police should not use AI to write reports at all.
“There are just too many unanswered questions about how AI would translate the audio of situations and whether police will actually edit those drafts, while simultaneously, there is no way for the public to reliably discern what was written by a person and what was written by a computer,” EFF’s report reads. “This is before we even get to the question of how these
reports might compound and exacerbate existing problems or create new ones in an already unfair and untransparent criminal justice system. … Anyone with control or influence over police departments, be they lawmakers or people in the criminal justice system, has a duty to be informed about the potential harms and challenges posed by AI-written police reports.”
JUST AN ECHO: Axon developers say they don’t store report drafts to prevent ‘disclosure headaches.’
HUEVOS RANCHEROS | $11
black beans, tomatillo, tortilla tostada, guajillo salsa, egg
SOPE | $18
pork belly, mole verde, goat cheese, pickled carrot, on a masa sope
MASA BENEDICT | $12
soft masa biscuit, hollandaise, poached egg
CON AMOR BREAKFAST | $16
eggs, bacon, hash, side salsa, pickle mix, guajillo marmalade, side tortillas
HASH BOWL | $20 (ADD EGG $2)
deshebrada, hash, poblano & bell pepper, onion, pickled jalapeno, pickled fresno, guajillo salsa and avocado crema
BREAKFAST BURRITO | $18
pancake, sausage, egg, maple syrup, on a flour tortilla, side hash brown
Nueva Cantina expands, and more Tampa Bay food news.
By Selene San Felice
North Pinellas will have more options for tacos and margs this summer. Nueva Cantina announced plans on Wednesday for a new location at the Palm Harbor Shops Plaza. The restaurant at 35903 US Hwy-19 N is slated for the summer, making it the fourth Nueva Cantina since the brand’s relaunch.
The original Nueva Cantina (formerly El Gallo Grande) operated under previous ownership for a decade in St. Petersburg’s Old Northeast neighborhood before owner and CEO Raul Medina took over in 2024.
Turkish delight
In Istanbul, whether you’re at a fancy rooftop restaurant or a food stall under a bridge, the best dining overlooks the Bosphorus. Now, Tampa Bay is getting a taste.
FOOD NEWS
It has since opened in downtown Tampa and Brandon, serving freshly squeezed margaritas and Mexican street food with flavors influenced by ingredients imported from Mexico.
“Nueva Cantina is on a mission to become Tampa Bay’s go-to destination for tacos and margaritas,” Medina said in a release.
The brand became employee-owned in 2024, shortly before its Downtown Tampa location opened. Top employees at each spot can earn equity ownership in their locations.
Bosphorous, a Florida chain known for its Mediterranean cuisine and elaborate, old-world decor, has arrived in downtown St. Petersburg. The restaurant, first opened by a Turkish couple in Orlando in 2004, expanded to Tampa last year with a location on South Howard Ave. A Wesley Chapel location is also in the works.
The new location on the first floor of EDGE Collective at 1246 Central Ave. soft-opened on Feb. 20.
At Bosphorous, Turkish art and culture are just as important as the food. Guests dine in what owners describe as “polished casual” style, with imported glassware and dishes, surrounded by colorful ebru artwork, silk carpets, and imitation pillars.
Prices for entrees like meat kebaps and patties cost around $23-$35, with specialties
like mixed grilled kebaps for two going for $54. Classic Turkish appetizers, soups, salads, and Turkish pastries are also available.
Bosphorous is open Sunday-Thursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. and nd Friday-Saturday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. For more information and updates, check out bosphorousrestaurant.com and follow @bosphorous_turkish_cuisine on Instagram and @ BosphorousTurkishon Facebook.—Kailey Aiken
Ron DeSantis isn’t quite full
The governor’s time in office is coming to an end. Like any guy who knows he’s about to get kicked out of a Golden Corral, Ron DeSantis is spending his final minutes traveling the state in an attempt to get as full as humanly possible.
Since January, the governor has been rolling out a short social media series called “Diners, Drive-ins & DeSantis.” The clips seem to simultaneously allow restaurant owners to praise Ron for his non-existent COVID policies, and also allow the governor to lick his fingers in a safe space.
The three-to-four minute videos are posted on Ron’s official X and Meta accounts and typically start with a boisterous theme song from a non-descript country singer. “Down in sweeeeet Floridaaaa, our governor is red, white and bluuuuue,” blares the title music, while a list
of our DeSantis’ favorite delicacies—sandwich, pizza, burger, pasta, burritos, hot-dogs, nachos— scroll across the screen. A map of Florida then appears showing where Ron will gorge next.
According to the News Service of Florida, so far the governor has been fed “‘Jesus Chicken’ with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at Tom’s Chicken Shack in Bartow, stone crabs at Kathi’s Krab Shack in Steinhatchee, roast pork and a Cuban sandwich at Arco Iris Café in Tampa, classic meatloaf, chicken and pie at Yoder’s Amish Restaurant in Sarasota, and seafood at S.S. Wreck & Galley Grill in Marathon.”
“Whoa. You guys would like this. Oh man,” DeSantis said to an off camera staff after taking a mouthful of a “traditional Amish recipe chocolate cake” at Yoder’s. “Yeah, that’s legit. My kids would eat all this. I know that.”
The man knows his food, and it truly is remarkable to watch how efficiently Ron can house a conch fritter. But as of now, it would appear the governor has not reached his limit. Just today, another episode of “Diners, Drive-ins & DeSantis” was released, this time highlighting a spot in the Florida Keys, where the owners fed him tuna poke nachos and peppered him with compliments regarding his stance on “medical freedom.”
“I will tell you,” he said, “Those nachos… I would give ten out of ten.”—Colin Wolf
JUST IN QUESO: Nueva Cantina is coming to Palm Harbor.
C/O NUEVA CANTINA
PINELLAS
JIMMY’S TACOS
SONDER SOCIAL CLUB
RED MESA MERCADO
FRESCO’S WATERFRONT
TEQUILA DAISY
WHO’S ON FIRST
ROOSTER FISH GRILL
THE LURE
CLEARSKY CAFE
BIRCHWOOD CANOPY
GIGGLEWATERS
BARFLY
VIP MEXICAN RESTAURANT COCKTAIL
RED MESA RESTAURANT
HIFI ROOFTOP BAR
RED MESA CANTINA
THE BRINEHOUSE
MADISON AVE PIZZA
PIER TEAKI
RUMFISH GRILL TEAK
PISCES SUSHI
TROPHY FISH ST. PETE
THE GALLEY ST. PETE
THE HELM
ST. PETE DISTILLERY
GOOD INTENTIONS
CASA TINA CRAFTY SQUIRREL
CANTINA
THE HONU
MARINA
Margarita March MARGARITA IN TAMPA BAY?
Competition runs March 5th - April 2ND
WHERE TAMPA COMES TO
Beyond the events in our Do This section on pp. 8-9 and our events listings on p. 42, there are a ton of food and drink experiences happening around Tampa Bay. Have a look at more events—like the 20th Annual Taste of South Tampa—going down the week of March 5-11 and beyond. All events are at community.cltampa.com unless noted otherwise. Head there for more events and list your own.—Selene San Felice
Tots 4 Teachers: The Tater Tot Union Thursdays. 3 p.m. No cover. New World Brewery, Tampa. newworldtampa.com
Florida Strawberry Festival ThursdaySunday, Feb. 26-March 8. 10 a.m. $4.45 & up. Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City.
1st Friday Lunchtime Market Friday, March 6. 10 a.m. No cover. 400 Cleveland Street, Clearwater
Strawbeery Festival Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. 2 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday. No cover. Rapp Brewing, Seminole Broadway, Beer and Booze Cabaret
Saturday & Sunday, March 7 & 8. 7 p.m. $15 & up. Deviant Libation, Tampa Lake Wales Carnival & Street Food
Invasion Saturday & Sunday, March 7 & 8. 12 p.m. No cover. Eagle Ridge Mall, Lake Wales
Tampa Roller Derby Draft Party
Saturday, March 7. 7:30 p.m. $10. Shuffle, Tampa
20th Annual Taste of South Tampa
Sunday, March 8. 1 p.m. $70.81. Tampa Garden Club, Tampa
Sourdough Strawberry Shortcake workshop Sunday, March 8. 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. $107.63. Armature Works, Tampa
The Messorem Taco Club (Chat De Nuit release) Tuesday, March 10. 12 p.m. No cover. Ology Brewing, Tampa
Tampa Tubesday (Beer release & trivia) Tuesday, March 10. 3 p.m. No cover.
BarrieHaus Beer Co., Ybor City
Lakeland City Commission Sun ‘n Fun
Breakfast Wednesday, March 11. 7:30 p.m.
$30. Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus, Lakeland RO Sushi Rolling Experience
(Hands-on Maki class) Wednesday, March 11. 7 p.m. $93.75. Armature Works, Tampa Heights
Tiki Night with Xul Thursday, March 12. 4 p.m. No cover. Ology Brewing, Tampa
Yuengling Tampa Brewery tour and stout dinner experience Thursday, March 12. 6:30 p.m. $89.95. Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen, Tampa
Zillicoah and BarrieHaus beer release Thursday, March 12. 3 p.m. No cover.
BarrieHaus Beer Co., Ybor City
Drink and Draw Every second Thursday. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa.
Woodwright tenth anniversary bottle release Saturday, March 14. 1 p.m. Prices TBA. Woodwright Brewing Co., Dunedin Hail Bloody Mary Bar Every third Sunday. 2 p.m. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa
Sailors and Sires Sapphic Mixer Friday, March 20. 7 p.m. No cover (donation suggested). Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg. @suncitysapphics on Instagram.
Easter Brunch Sunday, April 5. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. No cover for entry, but reservations required. Maestro’s Restaurant at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Taste at Straz Saturday, April 18. 6 p.m. $180. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
Mother’s Day Brunch Sunday, May 10. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. No cover for entry, but reservation required. Maestro’s Restaurant at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Sweet serenity
Tampa
photographer turns backyard spring into a portrait studio.
By Laura Troyer/Photos by Jen Naugle
Sunbeams filtering through water, sediment stirred by movement or lily pads drifting into frame–what might be imperfections elsewhere become defining features in Jen Naugle’s portraits. For the Tampa-based photographer, underwater portraiture is more than just capturing what meets the eye. In her lens, women emerge weightless, serene and celebrated, each image a delicate blend of fine art and personal empowerment.
Naugle works primarily with women, crafting dreamlike portraits that resemble watercolor paintings more than traditional photos. Much of this work happens in a natural spring on her property in Seminole Heights, a setting that shapes both her creative process and the ethereal quality of her images.
controlled, Naugle embraces the unpredictable variables of the environment.
“The spring is my favorite–there’s just such an interesting depth to the sediment that comes up,” Naugle said. “There’s a lot less in my control, which is really exciting creatively.”
LOCAL ARTS
Naugle began her photography career in 2005 after studying graphic design at Ringling College of Art and Design and working in marketing at Raymond James. She started with weddings, headshots and family portraits, but over time her interests and client base shifted.
“The spring is such a lucky thing,” she said.
“I didn’t have this big epiphany. I just felt intuitively it was the right thing to do.”
“It was definitely a learning experience,” she said. “Every photo shoot turns out so unique— they’re never going to look the same. It has to do with the ground, how calm the client is, whether they kick things up, and then how the sunbeams illuminate the sediment in the water.”
Her sessions are both physically and emotionally immersive. Before clients ever enter the water, she spends 30 to 45 minutes on the phone answering questions, then follows up with detailed instructions about what to bring and how to prepare.
Once submerged, nerves are common, but fleeting.
“People will feel during the photoshoot like they’re flailing around. They don’t feel like they look good. And I’m always like, ‘It looks beautiful, I promise,’” she said.
By the end, clients often feel energized and invigorated–a transformation that draws many women to her work.
“It almost gave me the freedom to not feel pregnant–it was like, ‘I’m just a woman today’”
“I just love working with women–I love seeing people feel good about themselves, and to see how beautiful they are,” she said. “We don’t walk around every day thinking about ourselves like that.”
Unlike studio photography, where factors like lighting and angles can be tightly
She gradually, nervously, moved toward underwater photography. After buying underwater camera equipment, she admits she didn’t touch it for over a month. Her breakthrough came when she photographed her daughter and friends in the spring, unlocking an entirely new photographic style.
“I work with a lot of women going through divorce, kids leaving the house, retirement,” Naugle said. “To see these beautiful images of ourselves in a special way–it makes me so happy.”
Angelica Gillot, who photographed with Naugle while 32 weeks pregnant with her first child, said the experience allowed her to briefly step outside the identity of pregnancy and reconnect with herself.
“Everything is heavy and hurts, but then you get in the water, and you feel this lightness that you’re otherwise incapable of feeling,” she said. “It almost gave me the freedom to not feel pregnant–it was like, ‘I’m just a woman today’.”
Seeing the final images was emotional, not because of the milestone, but because of the opportunity to see herself in a different light.
“I’ve had professional photos taken before, but these were just so different,” Gillot said. “To see myself photographed in such an atypical way–it was incredibly powerful.”
Influenced by photographer Sally Mann, she prioritizes mood and atmosphere, encouraging clients to turn their shots into physical artwork on acrylic, metal or fine-art paper rather than just digital files.
“These deserve to be seen,” she said. “Digital images just disappear into a computer.”
That fine-art focus has begun to carry her work beyond private sessions. Naugle’s photographs are currently included in a Florida Museum of Photographic Arts member exhibition on view through mid March, and she is preparing to participate in She Is Art, an all-female, alllocal showcase tied to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation’s She Is Football Weekend.
“I want people to come away with something that feels like art,” she said. “Something that only happens in that moment.”
“I want people to come away with something that feels like art”
Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7th th
Springs break: 25 Florida springs worth the drive
While tourists flock to the beaches this spring break, Florida’s springs have plenty of sunshine and swimming—and way cooler wildlife than Chad from Northwestern. Here’s a guide to drivable springs from the Tampa Bay area for day trips and camping (drive times estimated from downtown Tampa).
Lithia Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 40 minutes
The campground offers great springs swimming and trail hikes, along with 44 sites for tents and RVs complete with electrical, water and shower services as well as restrooms, picnic shelters and grills. 3932 Lithia Springs Rd., Lithia, 813-744-5572. $2 per vehicle. Swimming is $2 per person, and camping starting at $24 per night
Weeki Wachee Springs
Estimated drive: 1 hour
Yep, this is the one with the mermaids. But there's so much more to do, like tubing and riverboat cruises. There's no onsite camping, but there are nearby options such as Cody’s RV Park and Camp-A-Wyle Lake resort. 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, 352-592-5656. Admission to Buccaneer Bay is $13 for adults
Seven Sisters Springs
Estimated drive: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Although it doesn’t receive as much traffic as nearby springs like the Chaz, Seven Sisters is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the state. Its exceptionally clear water is perfect for snorkeling and swimming. As the springs are only accessible by water, it’s recommended that visitors park for $5 and rent kayaks or canoes from the Chassahowitzka Campground. 8544 W Miss Maggie Dr., Homosassa, 352-422-4078, $5-$7
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Estimated drive: 1 hour, 30 minutes
This wildlife filled park standsout for its underwater dome, which allows visitors to walk beneath the spring’s surface among fish and manatees. Camping is available nearby at the Homosassa River Carefree RV Resort, and Nature Resort Campground. 4150 S Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, 352-628-5343, Entrance starts at $13 per person, camping $30 & up per night
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 1 hour, 35 minutes
With miles of trails to be explored, Wekiwa is a local favorite. A variety of different camping experiences are available, from RV and primitive tent sites, to horse-friendly spaces off the equestrian trial. Amenities include two restrooms with showers and a Ranger Station with firewood for sale. Day use-entry to this local spring now requires reservations. 1800 Wekiwa Cir., Apopka, 407-553-4383, $2-$6 per vehicle. Camping is $5-$24 per night
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Estimated drive: 1 hour, 40 minutes
The only refuge created to protect the threatened Florida Manatee, it provides a critical habitat for the manatees to migrate
to each winter. No camping is available at the refuge, but sites are offered nearby at the Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park. 1502 SE Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River, 352-563-2088, No cover
Rainbow Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Tubes are available for $25 per person for one ride down the river, with kayak and canoe rentals starting at $19 per hour. Campsites are located a few miles from the headspring and day-use area, and are equipped with water, electricity and a complete hook-up. Amenities include a recreation hall, showers, restrooms, laundry and a playground. Guests can access the river from the campground to fish, swim and paddle. 19158 SW 81st Pl. Rd., Dunnellon, 352-465-8555. $4 per vehicle. Camping starting at $30 per night
Alexander Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours
Located in the Ocala National Forest, this extremely popular campground offers ample space for tent camping and level parking pads for RVs, as well as a small general store and restrooms complete with flush toilets and showers. Guests can swim, dive, and canoe as long as they keep their eye out for gators. 49525 CR-445, Altoona, 877-4446777, $13 canoe launch, camping $46 & up per night. $21.40 per vehicle.
Devil’s Den Spring
Estimated drive: 2 hours
This prehistoric underground spring offers a unique scuba diving and snorkeling experience. For lodging, guests have the choice between campsites, an RV park, or four fully furnished cabins. Other amenities include a heated swimming pool, grills, cabanas, and showers, and restrooms.
5390 NE 180th Ave., Williston, 352-528-3344, $30 snorkeling, $48 scuba, $22 & up per night
Otter Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours
This 636-acre spring area offers electric sights for RVs and tents, three fully furnished and equipped cabins, a stilt house, and primitive tent camping for those looking to rough it. The campground’s centerpiece is the Otter Springs natural pool, but also offered are hiking, fishing, and a heated pool pavilion with wifi. 6470 SW 80th Ave., Trenton. 352-4630800, $13 & up per day
Salt Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours
Located in the Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs is the only campground in the area to offer trailer camping as well as tent camping. Canoe rentals are available at the marina, swimming is permitted within the marked boundaries and fishing is allowed with a license. There's also a fantastic run that takes paddlers through mangroves, tidal creeks, and salt marshes. 13851 FL-19, Fort McCoy. 352-685-2048. Day passes $12. Camping $46 & up per night
Kelly Park and Rock Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Upgrade your Orlando vacay for a fraction of the price. The park features a free-flowing natural spring that stays at 68-72 degrees year round, a concession stand, picnic pavilions and a playground. Tube rentals are available from vendors outside the park. Guests may bring their own pool noodles or floats as long as they are less than five feet in length or width. 400 E Kelly Park Rd, Apopka, 407-254-1902, $3-$5 per vehicle
DeLeon Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 11 minutes
De Leon is famous for the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, where guests can cook their own pancakes. Boat tours, hiking, swimming, snorkeling and fishing are also offered as well as rentable picnic pavilions with tables and grills. Camping is available nearby at Hidden Valley Park, YMCA Camp Winona and Highland Park Fish camp. 601 Ponce de Leon Blvd., De Leon Springs, 386985-4212. $2-$6 per vehicle.
River Rise Preserve State Park
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Surrounded by quiet woods and trees, this campground is perfect for guests searching for a peaceful getaway. The park offers approximately 35 miles of multi-use trails that can be used biking, hiking or equestrian use. The area contains a 20-stall horse barn, available on a first come, first serve basis, a restroom with showers and two fire circles. There are no electric or water hookups in this camping area. 373 SW US-Hwy 27, High Springs, 386-454-1853, $5 & up per night
Manatee Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 13 minutes
True to its namesake, this spring is great for spotting manatees in the winter months. The park features 80 campsites, each with their own hot shower restroom, electricity, water and a short walk from the springs.
11650 NW 115 St. Chiefland, 352-493-6072. $2-$6, camping $20 & up per night.
Fanning Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Located along the Suwannee River, visitors have the choice between primitive camping and staying in one of the park’s two bedroom cabins. Swimming, volleyball, snorkeling and boating is available, along with several other outdoor activities. Guests are also encouraged to spot wildlife such as white-tailed and pileated woodpeckers along the cypresslined boardwalk and jump off the dock into the spring below. 18020 NW Hwy-19 Fanning Springs, 352-463-3420. $2-$6. Camping starting at $5 per night
Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 15 minutes
One of the oldest spring parks on the East coast, Juniper is one of the best known recreation areas in Florida. Located between Ocala and Ormond beach the site offers swimming, hiking trails and campgrounds. No full hook-up sites are available, but all sites are shaded and equipped with a picnic table, grill, campfire ring, lantern post and space for tents. Other amenities include hot showers, flush toilets, a dump station and a convenience store with camping supplies. 26701 SR-40, Silver Springs, 352-625-3147, $14.50 per person, camping starting at $46 per night.
Rock Springs State Preserve
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 15 minutes
With 17 miles of trails, guests can explore the site on foot, by bike or even by horse. As for camping, the park offers primitive camping sites accessible only by canoe and equestrian camping complete with horse corrals, stables, and posts for tethering. There is also recreational vehicle and trailer parking. Hunting is allowed on select weekends September through January.
continued on page 39
Seven Sisters Springs
Springs break: 25 Florida springs (cont'd)
Amenities include a restroom with showers and a grill. All spots are first come first serve. 30601 CR-433, Sorrento, 407-884-2009, starting at $5 per night, $3 per vehicle
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 40 minutes
The newest addition to the Florida State Parks is comprised of 25 campsites, 17 of which are fitted for RVs, and has not one but five available springs. Swimming, snorkeling and hiking are popular activities at each pool. Amenities include a picnic pavilion for larger parties and restroom facilities around the park. 7450 NE 60th St., High Springs, 386-454-1369, $6 per vehicle
Ginnie Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 40 minutes
From swimming to scuba diving and tubing down the Santa Fe River, Ginnie Springs has made a name for itself among Florida residents. As for camping, the park offers 121 sites, both primitive and electric, a water dumping station for RVs, restrooms, showers, a laundry room and a fully furnished cottage. 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Rd., High Springs, 386-454-7188, starting at $25
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Known best for its warm weather tubing experience, the Ichetucknee River also offers canoeing, kayaking, fishing, wildlife viewing and eight major springs that join together to create the six-mile river run. Although no camping is offered on site, River Run campground, Ichetucknee Family Canoe and Cabins, and Ichetucknee Springs campground are nearby. 12087 SW US-Hwy 27, Fort White, 386-497-4690, $6 & up per vehicle
Blue Spring State Park
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Not to be confused with the Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, this campground has 51 sites complete with water, electricity, picnic tables and a grill for both RV and tent use. For those more interested in “glamping”,
cabins are also available. Although swimming or boating with them is not permitted, Blue Spring is known for its abundance of manatees and can be spotted from shore. It also reaches capacity regularly, so call and plan ahead. 2100 W French Ave., Orange City, 386-775-3663. $2-$6, camping starting at $24 per night
Hart Springs
Estimated drive: 2 hours, 40 minutes
One of the largest spring-fed swimming areas in the state of Florida, Hart Springs is a family-oriented experience accessible by car or boat (no alcohol or intoxicated people are allowed). Pitch a tent at one of their primitive sites, located under a canopy of granddaddy oaks, to take advantage of their RV sites with full hook-up. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available, as well as a shuttle service to and from the spring. 4240 SW 86th Ave., Bell, 352-463-3444. Entrance starts at $3, with camping starting at $46 for primitive sites.
Edward Ball Wakulla Spring
Estimated drive: 4 hours
Despite being one of the furthest springs listed, it’s too good to leave out. Unlike most springs, this one has a small beach perfect for small children. For those a little more adventurous, there is also a 22-foot observation tower guests can jump from. Also available are an abundance of water activities such as swimming and scuba diving, as well as hiking and cycling opportunities plus boat tours. 465 Wakulla Park Dr., Wakulla Springs, 850-561-7276, fees start at $6 & up
Florida Caverns State Park
Estimated drive: 5 hours
Also far from the Central Florida area, the long drive is more than worth it. As the name suggests, this state park offers guests the rare opportunity to explore stunning caves. Cycling and boating is also available, as well as cavern tours, primitive and equestrian camping equipped with water and electrical hook-ups. 3345 Caverns Rd., Marianna, 850482-1228, $4-$20
ART & ARCHAEOLOGY SUMMER CAMP
JULY 13-17, 9AM-4PM | AGES 6-10
Are you ready to dig up some history? Travel back in time as we learn about the art and science of archaeology. Discover how archaeologists piece together the past from Ancient Greece and Rome, to Mesoamerica, and even right here in Tampa Bay! We’ll spend the week exploring our own miniature archeology sites, puzzling together artifacts, and creating a time capsule for archaeologists of the future to open!
Price: $240 members, $290 not-yet-members
STEAM SUMMER CAMP
JULY 20-24, 9AM-4PM | AGES 6-10
Discover the ways science, technology, engineering, and math tie into the arts. We’ll dive into marine biology and our local ecosystem, experiment with colorful chemistries, and go on gallery safaris. Special guests throughout the week will bring nature encounters to the classroom to not only inspire us in artmaking but to share how to protect nature and wildlife right here in Tampa Bay. This camp also includes a fieldtrip to the St. Pete Pier and the Tampa Bay Discovery Watch Center.
Price: $240 members, $290 not-yet-members
ART LAB SUMMER CAMP
JULY 27–31, 9AM-4PM | 5 DAY-CAMPS | AGES 11-13
Join the MFA for a week of experimenting in the art lab. Each day-camp will center around a different theme. Sign up for just one day or the discounted 5-day package.
DAY 1 - CREATIVE CANVASES | DAY 2 - UPCYCLED ARTMAKING DAY 3 – PRINTMAKING | DAY 4 - ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
DAY 5 -SCIENCE AND ART EXPLORATION
Day Price: $55 members, $65 not-yet-members
Week Price: $240 members, $290 not-yet-members
Registration opens March 1. With limited space and high demand, camps fill quickly. Register early to guarantee your spot.
Ichetucknee Springs
Fair lady
SPIFFS celebrates immigrants at 50th fair.
By Valerie Smith
In 1975, thousands of immigrants had recently moved to Pinellas County as the Vietnam war made their home countries inhospitable. As antiimmigrant reactions spread, the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) was formed to showcase the beautiful things people from other cultures can bring to our community.
In the decades since, SPIFFS has held annual events celebrating the customs and food of the many ethnicities that make up Pinellas and surrounding counties.
This weekend, the festival marks a milestone with its 50th International Folk Fair. The SPIFFS Fair includes two dozen nationalities presenting a mix of music, food, dance, martial arts demonstrations, sword fighting, handmade goods, and more from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
added to the fabric of our country. That mission is still exactly the same,” SPIFFS contributor JoEllen Schilke told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “It’s just really sad that we need it just as much as we needed it 50 years ago. You’d think in 50 years, maybe we would have gotten a little bit better.”
SPIFFS is also hoping people can connect with their roots through the event. Schilke said that the Scottish and Indian tents at last year’s fair saw a lot of people with Scottish or Indian heritage approaching to try to learn more about where they came from. “Is your grandma from Poland? Is your auntie from Venezuela? … Let’s celebrate the roots of where they’ve come from,” Schilke said.
A&E EVENTS
SPIFFS Fair
SPIFFS will even have an international beer tent and two performance stages. The “Parade of Nations” will end in a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens. The event wraps with a Vietnamese dragon dance.
Saturday, March 7. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $12 England Brothers Park, 5010 81st Ave. N, Pinellas Park. spiffs.org
Many of the groups are staffed by first or second-generation U.S. residents. Countries represented at this year’s festival include Vietnam, Germany, Ukraine, Jamaica, and Eritrea—where Olympic medalist and Tampa resident Meb Keflezighi was born back when it was still a part of Ethiopia.
“Fifty years later, we are celebrating what immigrants have brought to our country and
Beyond fighting antiimmigrant sentiment and connecting people with their roots, SPIFFS just wants everyone to have an affordable good time. Ticket prices haven’t gone up since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (general admission is just $14), parking is free, and Schilke says all the food is priced between $3–$10.
“What we can do is present the joyful side of (immigration),” Schilke told CL. “The side that people sometimes forget about when the news is trying to gin up drama. You know, here are people who are making delicious food.
Here are people who work really hard. Here are people who are proud of being American and proud of their history.”
SPIFFY: St. Pete’s celebration of immigrants marks 50th anniversary this year.
C/O SPIFFS
Out and about: Events happening in Tampa Bay
The events listed in our Do This section on pp. 8-9 aren’t the only things to do in town this weekend. Have a look at more events— like Batsu! at the Straz Center—going down the week of March 5-11 and beyond. All events are at community.cltampa.com unless noted otherwise. Head there for more events and list your own.—Selene San Felice
ARTS
Brian Maguire: La Grande Illusion Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7. No cover. USF Contemporary Art Museum at University of South Florida, Tampa. Cirque Ma’Ceo Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. Select times. $20 & up. Avalon Stables, Lutz. Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party Thursday-Sunday, March 5-8. Various times. $31.40 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
The Sleeping Beauty by International Ballet Stars Thursday, March 5. 7 p.m. $47.95 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Above and Under the Surface opening reception & lecture Friday, March 6. 5 p.m. No cover. First Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg Beacon Dance 2026 Friday, March 6. 8 p.m. $15 & up; $10 for students. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Louis Comfort Tiffany Flower Glass Class Friday, March 6. 10 a.m. $110 & up. Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg Pink Martini Friday, March 6. 7:30 p.m. $60.35 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Stroll Magazine Community Block Party Friday, March 6. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Venetian Isles, St. Petersburg Voices of Women Theatre Festival
Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $22.94 & up. Hillsborough College Theatre, Tampa Women - Leading The Change feat. Zeta the Babe Friday, March 6. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Art Gallery, Gulfport Clearwater Library Comic Con Saturday, March 7. 10 a.m. No cover. Countryside Recreation Center, Clearwater
Hot & Bothered Saturday, March 7. 7:30 p.m. $5. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa Japanese Cultural Heritage Night Saturday, March 7. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Roser Park, St. Petersburg
Tampa Fine Art Show Saturday & Sunday, March 7 & 8. 10 a.m. No cover. Cotanchobee
Fort Brooke Park, Tampa FSC LEGO Build Competition & Tour Sunday, March 8. 10:30 a.m. $10. Ordway Hall at Florida Southern College, Lakeland Workshop: Encaustic Monotype Basics Monday-Tuesday, March 9-10. 10 a.m. $250. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa WMNF Big Gay Radio Show presents Drag Bingo feat. Alexis De La Mer Monday, March 9. 8 p.m. No cover. Cocktail, St. Petersburg Neurographic Art and Sound Healing workshop Tuesday, March 10. 6 p.m. $45 & up. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg Ballroom Drag Bingo feat. Brianna Summers Wednesday, March 11. 6 p.m. $20. Red Mesa Cantina, St. Petersburg Gaudi + Galban: Exhibit & Conversation Wednesday, March 11. 6 p.m. No cover. Center for Architecture & Design, Tampa Selina Román: Abstract Corpulence Through March 29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $0-$20. Sarasota Art Museum, Sarasota. Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound Through Aug. 23. $5 & up. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa.
BOOKISH
A Family of Readers feat. Rob Sanders
Thursday, March 5. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg
Wade Rouse Thursday, March 5. 6:30 p.m.
$6.71 & up. Oxford Exchange, Tampa
Tracey Enerson Wood (Book signing and discussion) Saturday, March 7. 4 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor
‘Served Him Right’ book launch w/Lisa Unger & Kelsey Jeagneaux Monday, March 9. 7 p.m. $35 & up. Coastal Creative, St. Petersburg. lisaunger.com
The Kite and the Snail: An Evening with Hilary Flower Tuesday, March 10. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg
Aaron Cometbus and Scott Satterwhite
Wednesday, March 11. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg
COMEDY
Dirty John’s Dirty Disco ThursdaySaturdays. 8 p.m. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg.
Batsu! Tuesday-Sunday, March 3-8. $37 & up. Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. strazcenter.og
DeRay Davis Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. 7 p.m. & 9:45 Friday; 6:30 p.m. & 9:15 Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. $42. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Derrick Stroup Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 & 9:30 p.m. Friday; 6 & 8 p.m. Saturday. $28.80 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Michael Palascak Friday, March 6. 7 p.m.
$25.15 & up. Oscura, Bradenton
Matteo Lane Saturday, March 7. 8 p.m.
$54.15 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Todd Barry Sunday, March 8. 7:15 p.m. $29.80 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
FILM
International Cinema: Sirat - Spain & France Friday, March 6. 7 p.m. Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg
The Windup: An Evening of Baseball Film & Music Saturday, March 7. 6:30 p.m.
$15. Jack Kerouac House, St. Petersburg Kids Movie On The Deck: Finding Dory Wednesday, March 11. 5 p.m. No cover. Lower Deck Harbour Island, Tampa Movies On The Deck: Bridesmaids and Guardians Of The Galaxy Wednesday, March 11. 7 p.m. No cover. Lower Deck Harbour Island, Tampa
LEARN
Cafe con Tampa Fridays. 8 a.m. $12. The Portico, 1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. cafecontampa.com
Bill Leavengood (Playwriting workshop) Mondays throughout March. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. $200 tuition. The Studio @ 620, St. Petersburg. bill-leavengood.com
Bill Leavengood (Acting workshop) Saturdays throughout March. 10 a.m. $200 tuition. The Studio @ 620, St. Petersburg 13th Annual Awakening Into The Sun Festival Saturday & Sunday, March 7 & 8. 10 a.m. No cover. North Straub Park, St. Petersburg Dare to Dream Workshop Saturday, March 7. 10 a.m. $49. Embarc Collective, Tampa Tampa Bay Abortion Fund’s Fund A Thon Kickoff Party Saturday, March 7. 3 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Seminole Heights
Uncommon Travelers: Birding Around the World Sunday, March 8. 4 p.m. No cover. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Oldsmar Trivia In The Courtyard Monday, March 9. 7 p.m. No cover. Armature Works, Tampa East Hillsborough Democratic Club meeting Tuesday, March 10. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Brandon Crossroads Bowl, Tampa Kettler Gasworx Architectural Tour Tuesday, March 10. 5 p.m. $20. Gasworx, Tampa
Tampa Bay Beer Week Tuesday, March 10. 5 p.m. No cover. Shuffle, Tampa “What’s Up With My Energy Bill?” Community Discussion Tuesday, March 10. 7:30 p.m. No cover. C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, Tampa
MARKETS
Tampa Bay Boat Show Friday-Sunday, March 6-8. 10 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa The Grove Grand Opening Friday, March 6. 5 p.m. No cover. The Grove, St. Petersburg She is Football Market & Festival Saturday, March 7. 10 a.m. No cover. AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa SPIFFS 50th Annual International Folk Fair Saturday, March 7. 10 a.m. $9.31 & up. England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park
SPORTS
2026 Vans Clash of the Crews Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7. 12 p.m Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday. No cover. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa Harbour Island PPA Challenger Friday, March 6. 8 a.m. $15.55 & up. Harbour Island Life Time Pickleball, Tampa
USF Baseball vs Southern University Friday, March 6. 5 p.m. $11 & up. USF Baseball Stadium, Tampa USF Baseball vs Southern University Saturday, March 7. 1 p.m. $11 & up. USF Baseball Stadium, Tampa
USF Women’s Lacrosse vs. Navy Saturday, March 7. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. $10. Corbett Stadium, Tampa. gousfbulls.com
USF Men’s Basketball vs. Charlotte Sunday, March 8. 2 p.m. $14 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus
Blue Jackets Tuesday, March 10. 7 p.m. $41.10 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
THEATER
Eight O’Clock Theatre: My Fair Lady Thursday-Sunday, March 5-8. 8 p.m. (2 p.m. Sunday). $33 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo. eightoclocktheatre.com
My Name is Asher Lev March 6-22. $30$50. Stageworks Theatre, 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. stageworkstheatre.org
Dog Man: The Musical SaturdaySunday, March 7-8. Various times. $35.80 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
The Flame Bearer Oath Sunday, March 8. 6 p.m. No cover. Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, Tampa
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Sunset on the Serengeti Select dates through March 8. 5:30-8 p.m. $90 & up. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa. buschgardens.com
Interested in advertising around this listing? Contact jhoward@cltampa.com and acarbone@cltampa.com for details.
Thursday March 5, 2026 • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CAMPGround26 / The Fifth YearConcert 1: Monodrama @ Tempus Projects 1624 East 7th Ave
Tickets - $23.18 bit.ly/CAMPGroundYbor
Friday March 6, 2026 • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Yoga Teacher Training YTT 200 Hour
@ Yoga Loft Tampa 2002 E 5th Ave
Training - $3,203.06
bit.ly/YogaTeacherTrainingYbor
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Kettler GASWORX Tour @ AIA Tampa Bay 1314 E 7th Ave
Tickets - $23.18
bit.ly/GasWORXybor
Friday March 13, 2026 • 8:00 PM
Neon Nights: A Glow-in-the-Dark Sip and Paint
Experience @ Marcolina’s Fine Arts Gallery 1517 East 7th Ave
Tickets - $$65.08
bit.ly/NeonNightsYbor
Saturday March 14, 2026 • 7:00 PM
Cult Member w/ BODY☆BAG @ Crowbar 1812 N 17th St
Tickets - $29.67 cultmember26.eventbrite.com
Saturday March 14, 2026 • 10:00 PM
AFROBEAT X KONPA MEET THE POP BALLONS
@ Geo’s Lounge 1730 East 7th Ave
Tickets Free - $23.18
bit.ly/AfrobeatYbor
Saturday March 14, 2026 • 1:00 PM
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Bar Crawl
@ Bad Monkey Ybor 1717 East 7th Ave
Tickets start at $20.31 bit.ly/TampaStPatBarCrawl
Sunday March 22, 2026 • 6:00 PM flyingfish w/ Love Letter, Harsh Intention & Flowers For Emily @ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St
Tickets - $24.06 flyingfish26.eventbrite.com
Saturday, March 25, 2026 • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Legacy of Artist Arnold Martinez Sr. |
The Art of Coffee, Tobacco & Wine @ Centro Asturiano de Tampa 1913 North Nebraska Ave
Tickets - $17.85 bit.ly/ArnoldMartinezSrYbor
Saturday March 29, 2026 • 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CUBAN SANDWICH FESTIVAL @ Centennial Park 1800 E 8th Ave
Free to attend - Tickets to Ybor Museum available bit.ly/CubanSandwichFestival
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.
Sterling Cigar Bar 1531 E 7th Ave. 4th Floor
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. sterlingcigarbar.com Cheeseology 1527 E 7th Ave
Bringing people together through the art of cheese-making
Ybor City Saturday Market 1901 N. 19th Street
The largest continually operating outdoor market in the Tampa Bay Area ybormarket.com
THU 3/5 - FERG’S COUNTRY NIGHT
BLACKWATER JACK BAND
FERG’S TRIVIA (INSIDE)
FRI 3/6 - COMEDY NIGHT (UPPER DECK)
THE FULCOS (PARTY DECK)
SAT 3/7 - HIT N RUN BAND (FROM NY)
SUN 3/8 - SCHOOL OF ROCK (PAVILION)
DILLION LONG BAND (PARTY DECK)
MON 3/9 - SAM FARMER (SOLO)
FERG’S TRIVIA (INSIDE)
TUE 3/10 - DAVE ARAZMO (SOLO)
WED 3/11 - BAREFOOT BOB & THE HOPE (OPEN JAM)
THU 3/12 - FERG’S COUNTRY NIGHT LINE DANCE INSTRUCTION (FREE)
SECOND RODEO BAND
FERG’S TRIVIA (INSIDE)
FRI 3/13 - BIG BROTHER BAND
SAT 3/14 - TROPICS MUSIC FESTIVAL (PAVILION)
FEATURING 8 HOUSE/BASS DJ’S FLO-RAW BAND (PARTY DECK)
SUN 3/15 - THE 727’S BAND
By Ray Roa C CL Recommends
THU 05
C CAMPGround26 The live music calendar presents so many comforting, familiar places to take your listening, but there are always opportunities to think outside of the box,. For the better part of half-a-decade now, CAMPGround has been happy to play that role. Built around “new music,” the festival is a composer’s paradise dedicated to solo and ensemble arrangements, monodramas, and immersive sound installations featuring artists from around the world. The three-day festival kicks off in Ybor City (Tempus Projects at Kress Contemporary) and travels to Seminole Heights (Disco Dolls), the edge of West Tampa (Steinway Piano Gallery), and a house in East Tampa before it wraps. Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7. 7 p.m. Thursday; 12 p.m. Friday. $15 & up. Tempus Projects, Ybor City
C Rock The Park: Mossheads w/Monae Marleau/Ken Apperson For nearly six years, Ken Apperson was the voice driving the “Live Music Showcase” that airs Friday afternoons on WMNF Tampa 88.5FM. Last month, Apperson, a songwriter himself, signed off the show for the dinal time—before announcing that he’ll stay on the community radio station as the host of the Monday morning show. He kicks off downtown Tampa’s more than 15-years running no-cover concert series where Bay area rapper Monae Marleau and indie-pop outfit Mossheads round things out. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa
FRI 06
Fixed Game w/Step 2 This/Quick to Judge/ Soul on Fire/Obscured/Common Bond
There’s never a shortage of hardcore shows on the Bay area concert calendar and this one finds longtime players in the scene coming together under the Fixed Game moniker to headline. Jacksonville’s Step 2 This—which plays a strain of the genre made for fans of Lockin’ Out Records, Boston hardcore outfit Rival Mob, and Florida’s own Kids Like Us—plays visitor. 8 p.m. $15. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa
C Shovels & Rope w/Mechanical River
Fresh off a stripped-down fall tour, Shovels & Rope is ready to plug back in and get loud. There aren’t very many venues better suited for the duo’s brand of sweaty Americana. For the uninitiated, Skipper’s is legendary for its oak canopy and history hosting acts like The Black Keys, Avett Brothers and Mofro before they hit it big. Joel Hamilton, a Charleston composer working under the Mechanical River moniker, arrives supporting Parts Work, a majestic 2025 album of cathartic, folk and rock that was one of the best LPs to come out of the south last year. 8 p.m. $30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
SAT 07
C The Sh-Booms (album release) w/ Hovercar/Skeletizer/Last Bias/DJ Yuca Frita
There’s no forgetting The Sh-Booms. Staples on the Central Florida indie-rock scene, bassist Alfred Ruiz and singer Brenda Radney made a mark with a garage-soul sound that’s since expanded, especially on a forthcoming EP, This Is A Test… due March 10. On it, the nine-piece band takes a giant leap into pop, with stops in the worlds of post-punk, funk and new wave along the way—all fitting for a concept record about two astronauts on a collision course. The support bill is eclectic as Ruiz and Radney’s tastes, and includes grunge-y Tampa band Hovercar along with Orlando metal outfit Skeletizer arriving in support of a fiery, fast, and loud mini album of its own, Sounds From the Doomshed. 7. 7:30 p.m. $20.99. Crowbar, Ybor City
SUN 08
39th Annual Festival of Praise Concert
Michigan State University’s Associate Director of Choral Programs is getting out of the cold for this long-running festival of large ensembles running through a gamut of choral music. The hat will be passed, so bring some cash. 4 p.m. No cover. First Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg
C Carl Fischer’s Sunshine City Brass w/ Mike MacArthur Billy Joel famously treats his band members like gold. As the piano man works up to a return to the stage following a diagnosis with a balance-altering brain condition, the musicians are staying sharp. Carl Fischer’s been on Joel’s payroll for 20 years playing trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, and saxophones. He also spent more than a dozen years playing with famed horn player Maynard Ferguson. For this matinee, Fischer leads a band of Bay area players including fellow Ferguson collaborator saxophonist Mike MacArthur, multi-instrumentalist Patrick Bettison, monster fusion bassist Tim George, and The Golden Boy of the drums, Luis Alicea. 3 p.m. $30; $10 for students; no cover for HC staff and students. Mainstage Theatre at HC Ybor, Ybor City
Gary Numan Known early for his mostly synthesizer-centered albums and songs, Numan’s later career has rocked into harder territory. Numan scored a synthesizer-heavy No. 1 U.K. hit “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” with his band Tubeway Army in 1979 and in 1980 reached No. 9 stateside with his synth single, “Cars.” But following the mid-1990s and a series of slow-selling, R&B-inspired LPs, Numan bounced back in popularity with a guitar-heavy Exile album in 1998. Since then, he’s returned with a vengeance, releasing six Gothic-rocked tinged albums through 2021’s “Intruder.” On a break after Caribbean cruise ship shows for The ‘80s Cruise 2026, Numan says the Jannus setlist will be mostly newer album tracks rather than “hit” singles. “I try to find things that I really enjoy doing. It’s
THU MARCH 05–THU MARCH 12
The Sh-Booms
important for me that when I look at the setlist that I’m excited about each song that comes along,” he told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I don’t want it to become a ‘job’ because it’s what the crowd expects me to do. Once I’m doing that, I’ll fucking give up.” Read more via cltampa.com/music. 8 p.m. $50.69. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg—Paul Catala
C Women’s Day Celebration: Eemmyy w/Shevonne/Tay Money/Kaysmoov/ Queenofex/Ari Chi/Nashshedrums/ Aja Iman/Frikidonya/Niyah Badass/T. Couture/more It’s International Women’s Day, and some of the most righteous babes in the Bay area music scene come together to help celebrate. Curated by Tampa expat producer Betty Dawl (performing as Eemmyy, stylized all-caps), the lineup includes Purple Gurl guitarist and drummer Shevonne and Natalie Depergola, respectively, along with, battle-tested emcee Queen of Ex, uke-wielding songwriter Ari Chi, plus Texas rapper Tay Money. Some of the finest selectors and DJs from around here play in between sets. 8:30 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City
WED 11
C Charley Crockett Crockett’s dual semi trucks are pulling into the local casino this week on another stop of what feels like a never ending tour for the 41-year-old descendent of Davy. Arriving ahead Age of the Ram, the third and finally piece of his Sagebrush Trilogy, Crockett, a country singer, is in the zone, appearing at The Grammys recently, and occasionally triggering MAGA types when he speaks out against the state of the country not just in song (“Kentucky Too Long”) but in social posts like one from last month where skewers the “felon running this country” and hurts feelings of people making excuses for the oppressors at the wheel of the U.S.A. “If you can sleep at night licking their boots that’s between you and yours, but that type of thinking isn’t freedom. It’s mental slavery,” he wrote last month. 8 p.m. $95.15 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Machine Girl After opening for 100 Gecs in the same courtyard, Matt Stephenson’s Machine Girl project gets to headline. Now a trio, the New York outfit is on tour behind PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X , an overly-stimulated album of trashy, hard EBM underpinned by Jung and Joseph Campbell. 8 p.m. $41.97. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
THU 12
Landon Conrath w/Abby Holiday Conrath’s second studio LP Employee of the Year recently had a birthday, but the 26-year-old latest triumph was dropping a new EP, Can I Win Just a Little Bit??? The acoustic project has a subplot centered around the side of depression that isn’t always spoken about, like the ever-growing pile of clothes on your bedroom floor and feeling less awake every time he wakes up. 7 p.m. $27.51. Crowbar, Ybor City—Josh Bradley
C Reggae Rise Up: Sublime w/ Rebelution/Slightly Stoopid/Cypress Hill/more The ultimate heady spring break has arrived, and St. Pete has come to embrace this nearly weeklong reggae-rock takeover of downtown. Stacked from to back, the lineup has some heavyweights—including 311, Slightly Stoopid, and a revamped Rome Ramirez-less Sublime—along with stuff for the hip-hop heads thanks to Cypress Hill and surviving members of De la Soul. ThursdaySunday, March 12-15. $75 & up. Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg
C Maggie Koerner w/Olivia Barnes Koerner is known for the sultry and powerful vocal she brought to New Orleans jazz-funk outfit Galactic. She’s really got control of the ship on her latest solo outing, Upstate . With help from friends like The Revivalists’ David Shaw, the 39-year-old went back to her roots, to a place in her life when she was just starting to make music in Shreveport.
See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
JAMES HAND
Alabama Shakes is dusting itself off and bringing a new tour to the Tampa Bay area this spring. The band fronted by Brittany Howard exploded onto the scene with its 2012 debut album Boys and Girls , immediately garnering both critical and public acclaim for a rhythmic blend of reverbheavy guitar and haunting, emotional vocals.
From its formation at the end of members’ high school years in 2009, it wasn’t long before the spacey, bluesy band was sharing stage time with Jack White and The Kings of Leon. But success at such a young age made guitarist and vocalist Howard ponder the path she was speeding down. Less than three years after Alabama Shakes’ 2015 triple-grammy-winning second album, Sound and Colo r, Howard decided to step away from the band. She followed with a more dance-heavy solo album in 2019, still retaining her signature cosmic-soul sound.
At the end of 2024, Howard played a solobilled show in Nashville, briefly popping off stage for a guitar change only to return with the members of Alabama Shakes. The surprise reunion sparked plenty of speculation, much of which proved to come true. After nearly a decade, the band is back with a
John Legend Wednesday, March 18. 8 p.m.
$92.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers Thursday, March 26. 8 p.m. $25.03. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Dead Butterflies w/The Caution Children/i.liedtomyself/Cheap Cult Friday, April 3. 7 p.m. $15.10. Magnanimous Brewing, Seminole Heights
Quit w/Snodgrass + Buddies (feat. Bill Stevenson of Descendents)/Pohgoh/ Miller Lowlifes Friday, April 3. 8 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City
Ethan Regan Tuesday, April 7. 7 p.m.
$28.25 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Peso Pluma Saturday, April 18. 8 p.m.
$75.20 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Chameleons w/The Veldt Thursday, April 23. 7 p.m. $48.64. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
G-space w/Patches Friday, May 1. 8 p.m.
$27.75. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Mietze Conte Saturday, May 9. 7 p.m.
$24.06. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
Prince Daddy & The Hyena w/Remo Drive/Restraining Order Saturday, May 9. 8 p.m. $28.03. Crowbar, Ybor City
new single (“Another Life”), a new tour, and hopefully much more to come.
Having played St. Petersburg’s Jannus live in 2013 and Ybor City’s Cuban Club in 2016, Alabama Shakes is rounding out their Tampa Bay bookings with a show at Clearwater’s BayCare Sound on Thursday in April. Alabama songwriter Lamont Landers opens the show.
Tickets to see Alabama Shakes play BayCare sound in Clearwater on Thursday, April 30 are still available and start at $75. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—J.C. Roddy
Guavatron w/Solar Circuit Friday, May 22. 7 p.m. $24.80 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Protoje & The Indiggnation w/Jesse Royal Saturday, May 23. 7 p.m. $48.58. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Timmy Trumpet Saturday, May 23. 10 p.m. $47.26 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Tori Amos w/Bartees Strange Friday, July 10. 8 p.m. $63 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Men at Work w/Toad the Wet Sprocket/ Shonen Knife Saturday, July 18. 7 p.m. $44.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Luke Bryan w/Lauren Watkins/ Lanie Gardner/Randall King/DJ Rock Thursday, Sept. 10. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Zac Brown Band w/Brothers Osborne Friday, Sept. 18. 7 p.m. Tickets available Friday, Jan. 30. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Tedeschi Trucks Band Tuesday, Oct. 13. 6:30 p.m. $44.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Haunted
How to stop playing hard to get and just get some.
By Jane Dyke/Sapphic Sun
I’m a transmasc lesbian on the asexual spectrum. I love the thrill of meeting and flirting with girls of all kinds, but as soon as it gets too real and they show interest in me, I freeze up and can’t ghost them fast enough. I crave romantic and sexual connection, yet I still feel terrified by it. Am I some kind of theoretical sex addict, or just a messy bitch? How do I learn to just make friends with people without having to create expectations for something else?
—Avoidant Asexual
ASK A DYKE
Have you had good sex? Think about what made past sexual encounters good or bad—just be honest with yourself and don’t invent reasons that aren’t there. If you’ve never had gay sex, I think you should explore it as a serious option since it seems to be weighing on you so much.
to connect and build an understanding of what you really like and desire.
Going on a date with someone in person also generally means that both sex and nonsexual romance are on the table. You and the person you’re out with can mutually reach an understanding of what you want. With enough prospects, you’re likely to find someone who matches your freak (or lack thereof). Every first date comes with a degree of experimentation and learning about yourself, but try not to let your dates be so experimental that you’re leading people on or making them feel used.
You can go to Dyke Nite, documentary screenings, guided hikes, local DIY shows or just a bar on a busy night to meet more friends. Strike up conversations often and make it a goal to learn a lot about the person you’re talking to without giving mixed signals. The more genuinely interested you become in their life, the more you’ll find them wanting to talk with you. As long as you’re operating within reasonable bounds of what might be considered platonic and meeting relatively well-adjusted people, you should be free and clear of leading anyone on.
Hi Avoidant, You haven’t provided much information about what you mean when you say you’re on the asexual spectrum, but what I’m hearing is this: You crave romance and sex, but for some reason you can’t follow through on those desires.
When you say you ghost people after they start showing too much interest, I take this to mean a lot of your flirting is over text. I gently suggest you stop doing that. If you feel as though you only enjoy an abstracted ideal of sex, you could benefit from grounding your interactions in the physical world. Seeing someone and being able to touch them, even just in a casual flirtatious way, will help your body and brain
If you find yourself relying on flirting to make friends, you will probably be sorely disappointed to discover that these friendships come with a certain baggage, at least at first. You’ll also limit your field of friends to people who are attracted to you. Not all riffing is flirting! Try figuring out how to joke around with or otherwise connect with someone in a platonic way. Unfortunately, trial and error is going to be the most reliable way for you to do so. Buckle up!
Yours in love, Jane Dyke
The Sapphic Sun is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project TBJP, a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication interested in TBJP, please email rroa@ctampa. com. Support Sapphic Sun by subscribing to its monthly print edition at sapphicsunfl.com.
Out with it
By Dan Savage
Ihave a complicated question. I’m a woman in my 30s who has been married for a few years to my husband. We are very much in love and have a wonderful relationship. We met when I was in college, and worked at the same place together. Eventually, we became friends. We maintained a long-distance connection after I moved away, we fell in love, and then the rest is history. But during the time that we were friends, I had a mildly physical, mostly emotional affair with our boss, who was much older than us and married at the time. The boss and I never had sex. We only made out a few times and exchanged dirty messages. This didn’t last very long. By the time my husband and I were actually dating, my affair with my boss had been over for years, so there was never any overlap between them or any infidelity on my part..
My husband knows that I had an emotional affair with an older man during that time period, but I never told him who the older man was. I didn’t tell him because I felt shame about it. I also didn’t know HOW to tell him, even though he is a really rational, emotionally intelligent man. I am still worried that telling him would hurt our relationship or that he would think less of me due to the age gap between our former boss and me. But recently, my husband has expressed an interest in reaching out to our old boss. He is proud we are married, and he wanted to let this boss know because he thinks that the boss will find our story heartwarming. I don’t think the boss would say anything about our affair to my husband, and I honestly think my husband is correct in how he thinks the boss will receive the news of us being married. I actually do think it would warm his heart.
Should I tell my husband about this affair before he reaches out? Or should I let him e-mail the boss without telling him? Is this something I should have told my husband years ago, or is it okay for me to have kept this to myself? It feels icky to let my husband reach out to our old boss and share life updates without him having this information. But I am also concerned that telling him could ruin our amazing relationship.—Brooding Over Serious Secret
Tell your husband who the old man was. In general, a spouse is not entitled to your complete sexual and romantic history. A married person, like any other kind of person, is entitled to some privacy and a zone erotic autonomy. Omitting arguably irrelevant details about your past—because the detail isn’t important or makes you look bad or makes you feel bad—is allowed. So, yeah: It’s okay to keep some things to yourself. For instance, if you fucked your best friend’s boyfriend in high school and she found out and it was a whole thing and she’s not your best
friend anymore and you moved away after high school (ahem), you don’t necessarily have to share that information with some guy you met and married a decade and change later.
But personally, BOSS, I wouldn’t want to be with a guy I couldn’t share that story with. I wouldn’t want to be with a guy I couldn’t laugh with about what a piece of shit I was in high school. Don’t we all want our spouses to love us for the fallible human beings we are? And don’t we all deserve spouses who are smart enough to appreciate that our pasts—including the mistakes we made—helped to shape us into the people they met and fell in love with years later?
All that said, BOSS, this—who the old man was—isn’t exactly an irrelevant detail. Your husband knows you had a brief thing with an older man, but you never told him who that old man was. (Stop calling it an affair! It was never consummated!) So, if your husband was going to judge you for messing around with an older man, he would’ve judged you on that score already. The potential problem here is the old man knows who your husband is… but your husband doesn’t know who the old man was… and if your husband finds out on his own, BOSS, he could feel humiliated (your former boss knew and he didn’t) or he could feel hurt that you didn’t trust him enough to tell him yourself and tell him sooner.
I have been in a long-term relationship with a man for over ten years. I’m a bisexual woman in my late 40s. I love my partner, but for the past several years I have seriously thought about leaving the relationship. I feel stuck. We have had a lot of conflict in the relationship and have tried couples counseling. Although things feel slightly more peaceful, the spark feels gone and I can’t regain my desire for him. Because I don’t want to be intimate with him, I feel guilty a lot of the time. I have talked to him about opening the relationship so I can explore my sexuality, but he is not on board. I feel afraid of throwing away our years together, being alone and starting over. I have seen a therapist for the last year to try and decide, but I’m no closer to knowing what to do. Any advice to help me get unstuck?—Can’t Help Myself
You could let your partner make this decision for you—or you could let him make it for himself, CHM, and by extension make this it for you.
conflicted, and I didn’t care. We didn’t kiss, we didn’t take our underwear off, we just spooned, my arms around him. I got what I wanted, but he was clearly very uncomfortable. After about 30 minutes, he went back to his room. I feel enormous guilt. No, we didn’t have sex, nor did I force myself on him physically, and he’s an adult. But I did manipulate him into breaking a vow—even the cuddling was a transgression. So, while what I did might not have been criminal, it felt deeply unethical. I want to apologize. I have his contact information, and we have mutual acquaintances, although I haven’t seen him since. I worry about sending a card that his husband might ask about. I worry about sending an email and having him share it with others. Which is to say, I want to apologize, but I don’t want anyone else to know what I did because I’m ashamed of it. What would you do?
—Feelings Of Guilt
SAVAGE LOVE
While you believe your former boss would never say anything—and maybe he wouldn’t— people change as they age. So, while it’s possible the old guy you made out with in college wouldn’t have said anything, you can’t be 100% sure the man he is now wouldn’t blurt that out. So, you need to get out in front of this thing: “Hey, honey. Before you reach out to our old boss, there’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago. Before we dated, I fucked around with an older man—that part you knew—but I never told you who that old man was. Yeah… it was our boss. It ended years before you and I got together and I never told you because I was embarrassed and it was awkward. But I don’t want you to be blindsided if you reach out and he says something, so I’m telling you now. And, again, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you years ago.”
P.S. Reaching out to your old boss yourself— and first—and asking him not to say anything, as your husband doesn’t know, is also an option. But if your husband finds out you were running interference behind his back, you’ll have three things to worry about: two ancient wrongs (fucking around with your boss, not telling your husband about it) and a more recent wrong (an attempted coverup).
But to make a fully informed decision about whether he wants to stay with you, CHM, your partner needs all the information you have, and it doesn’t sound—reading between the lines here—like he does. So, you need tell him you love him, but you’re no longer sexually attracted to him and couples counseling and individual therapy didn’t change that. If you went into couples counseling with the expressed intent of working on repairing your sex life, he may think you’re still open to working on it or that there’s some “regain” fix you haven’t stumbled over yet. But you’re not working on it, CHM, and there isn’t a fix. If you ever have sex again, it’s not going to be him; if he ever has sex again, it’s not going to be you. He needs to know that. And since you wanna have sex again at some point and so (presumably) does he, CHM, the only outstanding question is whether you’ll still be together when you start fucking other people.
There are lots of people out there in sexless companionate relationships and marriages, CHM, but companionate relationships only work—they’re only loving and low-conflict and fulfilling — when they’re what both partners want. And since it doesn’t sound like an open but sexless primary relationship is something your partner wants, he will most likely make the decision you’re afraid to make: he’ll end it.
I’m in a marriage that’s been unhappy for about a decade. Lots of fighting and periods of serious loneliness. We are non-monogamous. Five years ago, I was at a conference and met a radiantly handsome man, and we hit it off. He was, and still is, in a monogamous marriage. One evening, we were in my room, and I pressured him to go to bed with me. I saw that he wanted to, and I convinced him to set aside his commitment to his husband. I saw that he was
You have tenuous connections to this man—you have mutual acquaintances, and you presumably work in the same field (hence being thrown together at a conference)—which means circumstances will most likely put you in the same place at the same time again. If and when that happens, you can apologize to him in person. If the wait is making you crazy, you could engineer a circumstance that puts you in the same place again, e.g. you could attend a conference you know he’s going to attend or you could go to a mutual’s holiday party. If and when you do see him again—whether it happens organically (which would be preferable) or not (which could result in you having something else to apologize for)—don’t ask him to speak to you in private. Just pull him aside when other people are around but out of earshot and tell him you feel bad about your behavior the last time you saw each other. As the offense was low-key, you can keep your apology low-key: “I feel bad about how I behaved last time we saw each other. I should’ve been more respectful of your relationship, and I put you in an awkward position. I’m glad nothing happened that night—or nothing else happened that night—but I behaved selfishly and wanted to apologize.”
P.S. There’s a non-zero chance his relationship is open now and if you nail that apology, FOG, you might finally get that dick.
P.P.S. Disregard that last P.S., as it was inappropriate and unhelpful. You can’t make a meaningful apology if you have an ulterior motive.
P.P.P.S. Still.
P.P.P.P.S. I’m going to assume there’s some good reason why you haven’t put an end to your awful-but-open marriage. If there isn’t, please put yourself out of its misery.
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