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Yes, you can add that seafood tower. Tampa Bay restaurants ready to cook for turkey day, p.33.
THE HOLIDAY SEASON
November 20 • 6-9 pm
Holiday magic is taking over Ybor! Join us for a night of festive fun the whole family will love. Enjoy live music from Lexie Hayden, snap a pic with Santa and watch snow fall from the balconies. Stroll the night market, sip hot cocoa and celebrate Ybor’s annual tree lighting!
@centro_ybor
Work it
Photos by Dave Decker
After four months of campaigning, the future of Tampa City Council’s District 5 seat came into clear view early last Tuesday night when Naya Young jumped out to an early lead from mail ballots. The gap only widened as the night went on, and supporters gathered at 7th+Grove in Ybor City let the 33-year-old Middleton High School alum hear it with chants of “Naya” throughout the night. Despite being out fundraised more than 2-to-1, Young defeated former Tampa City Councilman and Hillsborough County Commissioner Thomas Scott in a landslide, by earning just under 61% of the vote. Read more on p. 17 and see more photos from the party via cltampa. com.—Dave Decker
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025 • 6-10 P.M.
PRIVATE EVENT SPACE
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from November 06 - 12
Veg out
If you’re the friend who’s usually stuck with fries or salad as the only vegan options, this one’s for you. Florida Voices for Animals’ 13th annual Veg Fest has vegan vendors slinging lion’s mane mushroom steaks, seafood, burgers, sushi, gyros, soul food, Cuban sandwiches, Chik’n tenders, tacos, mylkshakes, Puerto Rican sweets, tons of fresh fruit and more. The fest also promises speakers, a kids zone, rescue animals, live music, cooking demonstrations and yoga.
Tampa Bay Veg Fest: Saturday, Nov. 8. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1000 E Harrison St., Tampa. tampabayvegfest.com—Selene San Felice
Mother may I
Dyke Night takes a trip to the movies this month with a screening of “Bloodsisters: Leather, Dykes And Sadomasochism.” The 1995 documentary directed by Michelle Handelman covers the lesser-known history of how leatherdykes paved the way for lesbian and trans visibility, turning San Francisco into the ‘90s epicenter of body modification and gender nonconformity. Consider it “Paris is Burning” for pushy bottoms and macho femmes.
Dyke Night presents: “Bloodsisters”—Wednesday, Nov. 12. 7:30 p.m. $10. Sun-Ray Cinema, 12332 University Mall Ct., Tampa. sunraycinema.com—Selene San Felice
Pour decisions
There aren’t many buzzes like the one you get after a warm sip of whiskey. An unlimited number of them are available this weekend in St. Petersburg when Whiskey Business, a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay event, returns to the James Museum. Bourbons and select scotches—including locally-produced spirits, small batch booze, and more—are on the menu along with hors d’oeuvres, live music, line dancing, and more. VIP admission includes swag, early entry, and special VIP-only drink.
Whiskey Business—Boots, Brews & Bourbon: Friday, Nov. 7. 6 p.m. $60$100. James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. whiskeybusinesstampabay.com—Ray Roa
NOVEMBER 06-12, 2025 | cltampabay.com
NICK CARDELLO
and more.
Nice tats
Whether you want fresh ink or just want to see it, Villain Arts’ local fest has you covered (literally). From exhibitors to models and contests, body ink creations will be on full display—as has been the tradition for more than a decade. Special guests include “InkMaster” and VH1 star artists. There’s also a complimentary freakshow of performers lined up, including a contortionist archer and a suspension artist that will make the tattoo needle a lot less intimidating.
Tampa Tattoo Arts Festival: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 7-9. $20 & up. Tampa Convention Center; 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. villainarts.com—Samuel Edme
They’re
#1
Trans activist and comedian Ren Q. Dawe and his friends are just “Here to Pee,” but they’ll probably make you laugh, cry and feel inspired. The St. Pete gig marks the tour’s 46th state along the way to make history as the first all-trans comedy tour to visit all 50 states. The show is as playful as it is a powerful statement on dignity and human rights. Proceeds from the gig go to the nonprofit Trans Network, which connects and supports the Tampa Bay trans community.
‘Here to Pee’—Ren Q. Dawe: Sunday, Nov. 9. 7 p.m. doors, show starts at 7:30 p.m. $23.18. The Ball St. Pete, 49 24th St. N, St. Petersburg. renqcomedy.com —Selene San Felice
Get it, girl
NY/LA Production, a nonprofit, woman-centric creative agency founded by Nyla Hazratjee, presents this celebration of muslim women including short films, dance, and spoken word performances. Iman Zawahry’s “I Am From Palestine,” Sara Rangooni’s “Leveled,” and Rashad Mubarak’s Clara’s Fruit” will be screened, along with a spokenword performance by Sam Obeid. Dance performers include the University of South Florida’s Bulls Dabke troupe, ballerina Reham El-Hennawey and traditional South Asian/fusion hiphop artists Zara & Anannya Khan.
Celebrating Muslim Women: Next Thursday, Nov. 13. 6:30 p.m. doors, show starts at 7 p.m. No cover. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Selene San Felice
SALSA AND BACHATA ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOUR DAYS OF ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCES
INSPIRING WORKSHOPS
ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Something new
Tampa’s new councilwoman Naya Young earns landslide victory.
By Ray Roa
After four months of campaigning, the future of Tampa City Council’s District 5 seat came into clear view early last Tuesday night when Naya Young jumped out to an early lead from mail ballots. The gap only widened as the night went on, and supporters gathered at 7th+Grove in Ybor City let the 33-year-old Middleton High School alum hear it with chants of “Naya” throughout the night. (See photos from the party on p. 8.)
Despite being out fundraised more than 2-to1, Young defeated former Tampa City Councilman and Hillsborough County Commissioner Thomas Scott in a landslide, by earning just under 61% of the vote.
Most voters who didn’t choose Scott or Young last month clearly broke for the newcomer.
Unofficial results from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections showed Young earning 3,116 votes to Scott’s 1,995. With only 5,122 ballots cast, Young dominated Scott in vote-by-mail (+410), early votes (+195) and Election Day voting (+516).
ELECTIONS
Turnout last Tuesday night was slightly lower compared to the 5,411 voters who voted in the primary.
Just 5,112 voters from the district (11.46%) cast a ballot in the runoff election last week, with the Tampa Monitor showing that turnout was highest in several Heights neighborhoods (Tampa, Riverside, Seminole) and East Tampa.
The writing may have been on the wall after the September election when Scott earned just 27% of the vote compared to Young’s 13.29%.
Young won all but three precincts in the race, according to Tampa Monitor, with her strongest support coming from pockets of Tampa Heights, West Tampa, East Ybor, Seminole Heights, and the Riverbend area. Scott performed best in Precinct 338 near Busch Gardens and Precinct 307 around Oak Park.
“I’ve got to frame that map,” Young told CL when asked about her strong showing across district precincts.
Her performance came despite being outraised by Scott in the primary and runoff by more than $53,000 ($94,620.25 to $41,318.00 as of Election Day). As previously reported, Scott’s advantage came largely at the hands of donors with interests in development, construction, and real estate.
Young previously told this reporter and WMNF News that she was proud of her fundraising and that her campaign had been able to do a lot with that money and support from donors begging for something new. This morning she reiterated how her campaign leaned into the grassroots approach in getting out to do the hard work of talking to voters.
“I had to get out there and convince people. If they didn’t vote for me before, I had to convince them to give me a chance. That takes getting out and talking to people directly, one on one. Those are some things that money necessarily can’t really buy,” she told CL. “Another reason I like that map is because it puts things in perspective—I couldn’t get to every person, but people talk to each other, and they say why they’re voting the way they are. People really want to see something different.”
Young, who didn’t get to bed until about 2 a.m. on Election Night, added that she’s ready to work and finish out the term vacated after the expected death of Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson. Henderson’s daughter, Ariel Amirah Danley, was among the 13 candidates who entered the race to fill the seat.
The supervisor of elections certified the results last Friday, and Young was sworn in an hour later at city hall. She makes her first appearance on the dais on Nov. 6.
By all accounts, the city at large is ready to see the University of South Florida and Howard University grad get to work, too.
Scott’s campaign quickly released a statement congratulating his opponent on the hard-fought face, adding that, “We look forward to seeing and working with you to help move District 5 and the City of Tampa forward.” Council chairman Clendenin was at 7th+Grove to congratulate his new co-worker, as was Councilman Bill Carlson who posted a picture of himself with Young’s family at 7th+Grove . Councilman Luis Viera called her victory “remarkable.”
Councilman Guido Maniscalco said he was happy and excited to welcome her to council.
“For the last decade, I have been the youngest member and only millennial, and now we welcome another fresh, new voice to the board,” the 41-year-old added.
Mayor Jane Castor also offered Young her congratulations to Young and thanked every candidate for running. “I know the good work of our late Councilwoman Gwen Henderson will continue for District 5 & all of Tampa,” Castor added.
Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak—who defeated former State Sen. Janet Cruz to win her seat in 2023—was also at 7th+Grove to welcome “#17” to the club.
Hurtak and Henderson, who also won her seat in 2023, used to call each other “15” and “16” respectively, in reference to their places in the sequence of women to ever serve on Tampa City Council.
“Glad I won’t be the only woman on city council any more!,” Hurtak wrote on social media.
THIS WOMAN’S WORK: Naya Young (center) at 7th+Grove in Ybor City, Florida.
Point A
Spark rollout ‘is just the beginning’ of efforts to improve Pinellas bus network, PSTA says.
By Samuel Edme
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) rolled out its most significant change in over 40 years on Sunday, Oct. 26, promising smoother rides for bus commuters. But not all riders are excited. Influenced by feedback from community members and riders compiled every five years, the Connected Community Bus Network (CCBN) initiative promises improved frequencies on high-demand routes, timed transfers and new services.
Most notable of these changes will be the launch of Spark, a sequel concept to the SunRunner, replacing the 34 bus. The 3.7-mile route will cover the US-19 corridor at 34th Street S from Grand Central Station to Eckerd College. Operating at 15-minute frequencies at peak hours and 30-minute off-peak, its features include dual-boarding electric buses, shelters for every stop, and screens displaying real-time travel information. Unlike the SunRunner’s cashless system, Spark will be accepting both cash and card.
travel options and plan their trips under the Connected Community Bus Network.”
Some of the system’s regular commuters told CL they were optimistic about the changes.
Amanda Lemonda, who regularly commutes from Boca Ciega to Pinellas Park, is hopeful that traffic will be alleviated.
“I think it will help the infrastructure and city tremendously and will allow people to get from point A to point B more efficiently,” Lemonada told CL.
LOCAL NEWS
Some, like Walter Butler, expressed concerns that the changes could harm low-income, working-class minorities. While Butler relies on specialized paratransit, he’s concerned about the system prioritizing internal efficiency over the needs of the Black community.
Rider Keith Gamble shared his concern that reroutes will force riders to make more transfers to arrive at their destination.
“The way they have them now, you can take one bus to get to your destination, so what you’ve
got now is a person trying to catch two buses to get to where they need to be,” Gamble told CL. “For me, it’s an inconvenience, and they’re making our elderly walk to another bus for another bus to catch two buses.”
Weaver also added that the system will continue to monitor rider input and travel patterns to make adjustments for the next service change period in February. Other routes expected to be replaced include 7, 14, 23, 32, 34 (on the 34th Street corridor section), 52LX, 66L, 67, 68, 75, 76, 79 and 812. More details about the reroutes are available on the official PSTA CCBN page.
Dems ask DeSantis to help with SNAP
With benefits in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, slated to be halted Saturday because of the federal government shutdown, Democratic lawmakers want DeSantis to use his emergency powers to keep the food-stamp program going.
“As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week, nearly 3 million Floridians,
“We understand that any change to familiar routes and stops can feel disruptive.”
including more than 1.5 million children, are at risk of losing access to food assistance,” a letter from state Democrats said.
The Florida Department of Children Families has posted a message on its website that if the shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits will temporarily stop.
“You may receive notices about your eligible benefit amount, but you will not receive any benefits deposited to your EBT card during this time,” the department said in the post. “The department is monitoring the federal government shutdown closely and will notify you as soon as we can resume issuing benefits, and any updates will be posted to this webpage.”
Asked about the Democrats’ letter, DeSantis on Wednesday sought to put the blame for the federal shutdown on Democrats.
“Did those Democrats write a letter to (U.S. Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer asking him to stop filibustering the spending?” DeSantis said.—Jim Turner/News Service of Florida
Frequency increases are expected on bus routes 4, 9, 52, 74 during weekends, 18, and 34, as well as the Suncoast Beach Trolley and Jolly Trolley, both of which service Pinellas County’s coastal areas.
With these improvements come service frequency cuts on the 74 route during weekdays and the 59 route. With the exception of all the trolley lines, SunRunner, 19, 100x, and 300x buses, the entire system will experience some degree of rerouting. The changes also come at the cost of accessibility for some riders, as level boarding is not yet available on Spark.
PSTA spokesperson Stephanie Weaver told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that some compromises needed to be made to keep the project cost-neutral and avoid using more taxpayer funds.
“These changes have been closely informed by extensive ridership data and are intended to lay the groundwork for future improvements,” Weaver told CL. “This is just the beginning of PSTA’s efforts to create a more clear, consistent, and connected bus network.”
She encouraged riders who need personalized trip planning or have questions about their route to email ccbn@psta.net.
“We understand that any change to familiar routes and stops can feel disruptive, and we know the importance of reliable and accessible transit for all riders, including our seniors and riders with disabilities,” Weaver said.
“Our team has been actively out in the community, at bus stops, onboard buses, and at events, helping riders understand their new
AND ROUND: Officials celebrate Pinellas’ new Spark bus in late-October.
Stacked
Data: Developers have long dominated makeup of FWC.
By Noah Bookstein
“I’m a developer,” said FWC Commissioner Joshua Kellam, describing the makeup of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellam, 39, previously served on the commission and is back to replace Gary Nicklaus, who resigned this year ahead of a controversial bear hunt vote. Kellam is an executive at real estate development firm The Garcia Companies. He argues another developer should have a place on the conservation commission, even as constituents and lawmakers are questioning why the majority of today’s seven governor-appointed commissioners are development industry professionals.
“The public, I think, misses out a lot on what the agency does in working with developers,” Kellam said at an FWC meeting on Aug. 13 as he worked as a commissioner ahead of his own official confirmation.
Two months later, at an Oct. 7 meeting of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) grilled Kellam on his qualifications, questioning the addition of another developer to the commission and what he characterized as Kellam’s bias toward lethal bear control methods.
conservation mission. These issues—including the proposed development of state parks, the death of a manta ray, a controversial bear hunt, and the firing of a biologist—make it important to examine the relationship between development and conservation in Florida’s dedicated wildlife agency.
Senate confirmation records reveal that FWC commissioners overwhelmingly come from real estate and development, the most heavily represented category in the commission’s history. The data suggests institutional capture of a conservation agency by the industries it is meant to regulate.
See a historical table of FWC commissioners and their occupations by finding this story on cltampa.com/news.
ENVIRONMENT
The FWC took its current form in 1999 after a constitutional amendment merged several predecessor agencies to create a unified, constitutional entity responsible for managing the state’s fish and wildlife.
“It’s not that there shouldn’t be a development perspective at all. The push and pull of conservation is you’re always gonna have to balance conservation with development. But having the deck stacked in favor of development in this way is just absurd, and it’s very telling about how that has impacted the current situation as it relates to our state’s conservation efforts,” Smith said.
On its website, FWC defines conservation as stewardship “of our living resources and the habitats that support them.” The agency writes about “managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.”
“You don’t need to conserve nature if you’re not radically transforming nature.”
Kellam otherwise breezed through subsequent hearings amid broader public opposition to the commission’s developer-heavy composition, with Smith being one of just two votes against his confirmation.
“My mission is not to be a rubber stamp for the governor’s appointees. My mission is to ensure that we are doing right by Florida’s environment, by our wildlife, by our conservation goals,” Smith told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “The mission at the FWC is just not being served when there’s no biologists, no conservationists, no one who authentically has a history and experience of furthering the mission of conservation on that board.”
Florida’s wildlife agency has been under intense scrutiny following a series of controversial decisions that appear to depart from its core
“When somebody uses the term development, it conjures in our imagination all kinds of ways that we human beings transform the planet to support the way we live,” said Dr. Nick Quinton, a professor of Geography at Florida State University, adding that conservation and development can take many forms, but both are ultimately bound together.
“You don’t need conservation without development. A society that isn’t developing this way doesn’t need conservation. You don’t need to conserve nature if you’re not radically transforming nature,” Quinton told CL.
A commissioner’s professional background inevitably shapes their approach to conservation, influencing the outcome of conservation practices.
“We all bring our experience with what we’ve been doing into the roles that we serve in. If you have a scientist who has spent their professional life in mangrove swamps studying the distribution of box turtles, they’re going to bring a very different framing of what management for natural and wildlife resources is than someone
who has spent their career transforming the landscape into suburban residential communities and shopping centers,” Quinton added.
Data shows that under the late Governor Lawton Chiles, the commission was more professionally diverse than it has been at any point since the FWC’s consolidation in 1999.
Tony Moss, a Miami-based criminal defense attorney and avid fisherman, was one of Chiles’ last appointments to the commission.
Moss recalls a commission in the late-’90s where commissioners from different professional backgrounds came together because of their shared love for the outdoors.
“During the time that I was on, we really did not have any, as I recall, we didn’t have any hot button issues where parties would take positions based on ideological grounds or grounds rooted in their professional perspective,” told CL. “Because we have a sizable number of Commissioners who are also outdoor enthusiasts, there was kind of a mutual recognition of our missions. We were more oriented toward erring on the side of caution and enacting regulatory measures.”
Moss would also like to see professional diversity return to the commission. With a commission where developers are so heavily represented, Moss is concerned there is “too much potential for group think on issues that would be a direct concern to the resource.”
Yet, according to Kellam, he isn’t just another developer, but a conservationist as well. “I stand here today as a conservationist, I pride myself on being a conservationist,” he told the Senate environment committee despite his professional background.
“It’s hard to call yourself a conservationist when you’re in the business of development,” Smith told CL.
A new governor election marks a chance for voters to push candidates for reform of the commission, as the next governor will have the opportunity to appoint new commissioners.
“Reform of FWC would ensure that you have real conservationists represented on the board, that there’s someone who’s a biologist, someone who’s a scientist, someone that has a professional history of work and advocacy in the wildlife and land conservation space,” Smith said.
DEVELOPER GONE WILDLIFE: Joshua Kellam in Havana, Florida in February 2018.
DUNEDIN ’
BENEFITTING METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES AND SHOWCASING CHEF CLAYTON PARRETT ’ S LOUISIANA ROOTS
“No one should lose food assistance in a state with billions of dollars in reserve.”
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
Full plates, full hearts
Local restaurants and food pantries fill SNAP gap.
By Selene San Felice and Ray Roa
Three million Floridians rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program best known as SNAP. More than a million of those people are children. As the government shutdown nears a month long, SNAP benefits were expected to end last Saturday, Nov. 1.
Tampa’s Sen. Fentrice Driskell shared a letter she spearheaded from Florida’s legislative Democrats to Gov. Ron DeSantis last week, adding on social media, “The Governor has the tools to prevent it and has chosen to do nothing. No one should lose food assistance in a state with billions of dollars in reserve. It’s time to use our rainy day fund to feed Florida’s families.”
DeSantis responded to those calls to safeguard the program by passing the buck to Chuck.
“Did those Democrats write a letter to Chuck Schumer asking him to stop filibustering the spending?” DeSantis told a reporter brusquely at a Tampa press conference last Wednesday.
About 250,000 households across the Tampa Bay region receive SNAP, according to Feeding Tampa Bay, including more than 43% Hillsborough County residents and 31% of Pinellas County residents.
While SNAP recipients will not receive benefits deposited to their EBT card during the shutdown, any existing benefits left on a recipient’s EBT card are available for use. Balances can be checked any time at ebtedge.com. Those who have already submitted an application or renewal are advised not to reapply, as doing so will delay benefits processing.
As the threat of a SNAP gap loomed last week, local restaurants rose to the occasion.
Spearheaded by Safety Harbor Best of the Bay-winner Gigglewaters, Tampa Bay restaurants decided to ignore the politics of it all and offer free food to children.
Here’s a developing list of every Tampa Bay restaurant stepping up to the plate. Find this story on cltampa.com/food for the most updated information.
7th and Grove The Ybor City southern restaurant now offers “pay what you want” on Tuesdays, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (One dinner per person. Must be present to redeem). An option to donate to feeding hungry familiesis at 7thandgrove. com. 1930 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
Cracker’s Bar & Grill “To help provide back to our community we would like to do Crackers Kids meals special! Either a grilled cheese or chicken fingers with applesauce to-go on us for those in need! We feel for our community and what these changes bring for our futures.” 502 NW 6th St., Crystal River Crossroads Hot Chicken “Starting tomorrow (Nov. 1) and running until the SNAP benefits are restored, kids 14 and under can get a FREE Two strip basket w/ standard side
with the purchase of a regularly priced meal. Kids must be present at time of purchase and the discount only applies to purchases made in store. Dine in, pick up, order online, or have it delivered Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM!” 10284 Causeway Blvd, Tampa
The Dunedin Smokehouse
Starting Nov. 1, visitors to the Best of the Bay-winning restaurant can ask for the “Dunedin kid bag” to get a bagged to-go lunch for as many children are present, until SNAP benefits are restored. No purchase necessary. 471 Main St., Dunedin
LOCAL NEWS
Emily’s Family Restaurant “Starting Monday, November 3rd, stop by Emily’s Family Restaurant and ask for a ‘Care Bag,’ one for every
child with you. Each includes a turkey sandwich with cheese or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, a drink, and a side—free for any child whose family is affected by the SNAP pause. No purchase necessary, no questions asked — just a meal if your little ones are hungry. We’ll continue offering these meals for as long as we’re able…” 2609 U.S.-Hwy-19 Alt, Palm Harbor Gigglewaters “Starting November 1st, stop in and ask for a ‘GiggleBag.’ It’s just a simple, bagged to-go lunch, nothing fancy, but it’s a meal if your children are hungry. One for every child with you, every single day, no purchase necessary, until SNAP benefits are reinstated in Florida. We’ll keep helping continued on page 30
THERE IS A LIGHT: St. Pete has the FRESH Pace Neighborhood Store Program.
CUISINE
continued from page 29 however we can, for as long as we can.” 737 Main St. #104, Safety Harbor
Jack Willie’s Bar, Grill & Tiki “Ask for a Jacks bag for any child with you and we will provide a free kids meal to go for as long as the shutdown is going.” 1013 Saint Petersburg Dr. W, Oldsmar The Living Room (Wesley Chapel)
Taco Bus Kids eat free, no purchase neccesary. “In-store dining only, no purchase necessary. Child must be present with an adult at the time. Available everyday until benefits are restored.” Multiple locations
“Starting tomorrow morning, both The Living Room Dunedin and The Living Room at Wiregrass will have free bag lunches available for any children whose families are affected by the SNAP/EBT pause. Each lunch includes your choice of: ��������a m & Cheeseor Peanut Butter& Jelly Fresh fruit anda drink Simply stopin with your children—no purchase necessary, no questions asked. Because this situation is complicated, but feeding a hungry child isn’t.” 2001 Piazza Ave., Suite 100, Wesley Chapel
Orange Blossom Reviving a similar pandemic-era offer, Orange Blossom offers a free kids meal, no questions asked.
The Violet Stone Starting Nov. 1, this popular pizza and Philly cheesesteak spot offers a “shutdown special” available via call-or-walk-in to pick up between 4 p.m.-5 p.m. daily. “…we are going to offer a free meal to families in need,” the shop added. 2607 MLK St. N, St. Petersburg
Groceries and pantries
Metropolitan Ministries leader Sarah Combs told WTSP she expects four times as many residents to seek help from the church, while food donations are down 60%.
Feeding Tampa Bay now has emergency response distribution sites in Tampa, Clearwater, Port Richey, Bradenton, Lakeland, Bartow and Zolfo Springs. Check feedingtampabay.org/snaprelief for the weekly distribution schedule at those locations.
LOCAL NEWS
“We’ll continue this program for as long as needed,” the restaurant added. 101 Multrees Xing No. 101, Dunedin Orange Cycle Creamery Bag lunches are awesome, but this Tarpon Springs spot is giving out a free junior cup or cone to “those affected by the SNAP/EBT pause. No purchase necessary and no questions asked.” 212 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs Parlor House Bistro Starting Nov. 1, the restaurant offers free bagged lunch for any child in need of a meal (choose between chicken tenders or ham and cheese sliders, plus banana, juice box and treat). “Just show up with your kiddo, ask for your ‘Parlor Bag’ and a free lunch will be given. No questions. No reservations needed. Just a free meal for a child in need,” the restaurant added. 1757 Main St., Dunedin Pia’s Trattoria Starting Nov. 1, the Gulfport staple offers a “Shutdown-To-GoSpecial” no questions asked. The free meal is pasta pomodoro, bread and salad, available Wednesday-Sunday, during a one-hour pickup window of 5 p.m.-6 p.m. 3054 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport
The City of St. Pete announced a $20,000 donation last week to help the St. Pete Free Clinic feed an additional 3,200 Pinellas County residents throughout November. Pinellas residents can find more resources and food pantry locations through St. Pete Free Clinic at thespfc. org/map. St. Petersburg’s partnership with the St. Pete Free Clinic also includes the FRES�� Pace Neighborhood Store Program which aims to “help provide healthy food options to families living in areas with limited access”
“...this situation is complicated, but feeding a hungry child isn’t.”
Skipper’s Smokehouse “Starting on November 1st, we will have a couple of things going to assist with the situation at hand. Kids Eat Free–all day, every single day Thursday through Sunday until SNAP benefits are restored. Dine in, only. If you are having trouble feeding the kiddos, bring them in, sit down and we will feed them for you from our kids menu. Sorry, no takeout options available. No purchase necessary. One meal per child. We strongly believe that no kid should ever go to bed hungry.” 910 Skipper Rd., Tampa
Grocery delivery apps have also stepped up nationally. GoPuff is offering $50 in free groceries for SNAP customers who add their EBT card number in the app, with the company committing up to $10 million total. EBT customers can also get a $25 credit and free delivery with promo codes SNAPRELIEF1 (use Nov. 1-15) and SNAPRELIEF2 (if the shutdown continues Nov. 16-30). Last week, Instacart started offering active SNAP customers 50% off their next grocery order, up to a $50 discount. All eligible customers who used EBT SNAP benefits to get groceries delivered via Instacart in October also received an individual discount code, committing up to $5 million in direct relief for SNAP households.
Instacart also offers discounted memberships for SNAP recipients and no delivery fees on orders over $35. DoorDash also announced it would waive service and delivery fees for an estimated 300,000 orders for SNAP recipients in November. The company also promised to deliver 1 million meals from food banks for free. More than 2.4 million DoorDash customers have a SNAP/EBT card linked to their account, according to the company.
Chopped
Where to eat out (or do takeout) this Thanksgiving.
By Selene San Felice, Sophia Lowrie and Emily McLaughlin
If thinking about The Big Dinner before you’ve finished your Halloween candy is too stressful, fear not. Here’s a guide for a Thanksgiving made easy in Tampa Bay. In a 2025 filled with restaurant closures, this might be the best year since COVID to support local businesses. Don’t see your special here? Email rroa@cltampa.com and we’ll add it to this listing, which will run in print weekly (and live online via cltampa.com/ food until the holiday).
4 Rivers Smokehouse This BBQ twist from 4 Rivers is your sign to take that meat smoker out of your Amazon cart. Whether it’s the slowsmoked turkey or the 18-hour smoked beef brisket, the riv’ has plenty of stress-free options. “The Fixins Package” ($67.69) feeds up to six people and includes one quart each of mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cornbread stuffing, and southern green beans (plus a pint of cranberry chutney). Pre-order the meal before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 for pickup on Thanksgiving Day. Multiple locations. 4RSmokehouse.com.
Birch & Vine/The Birchwood St. Pete’s historic Birchwood has multiple ways to enjoy a meal on Thanksgiving Day. Choose between its Grand Ballroom’s buffet with carving stations for roasted turkey and pork loin ($75/ person), or its fine dining Birch & Vine restaurant, which offers both a specialty prix fixe menu and its regular à la carte options. The Grand Ballroom buffet runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on the fourth floor. Birch & Vine is available all day from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended and can be booked directly via OpenTable or by calling 727-896-1080. 340 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. thebirchwood.com
options to add on pumpkin pie or pumpkin flan. Make reservations online or by calling. Multiple locations. columbiarestaurant.com
Cooper’s Hawk The national chain with locations in Tampa, Sarasota and Wesley Chapel offers a special Thanksgiving dinner featuring classic holiday dishes alongside select items from its full, contemporary American menu. The meal ($15.99-$36.99) is designed to be perfectly complemented by its signature wines, available by the glass or bottle. A bring-home feast ($199.99) serves six. Multiple locations. chwinery.com
Craft Street Kitchen This local restaurant in Trinity and Oldsmar offers a chef-prepared take-home feast, available for preorder through Nov. 18. The $200 meal serves 4-6 guests and includes herb roasted turkey breast with gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, savory herb stuffing, green bean casserole, spiced cranberry sauce and soft dinner rolls with cinnamon butter. Guests can also choose add-ons including sweet potato casserole, bourbon chocolate chip pecan pie, bacon charred brussels sprouts and an eight-serving batch of Craft Street’s signature Buffalo Smoked Old Fashioned. Pickup happens Nov. 25-26 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Multiple locations. craftstreetkitchen.com
DINING GUIDE
The Dan at Hotel Flor The menu from Executive Chef Jason Revell reimagine’s holiday classics (think turkey coq’ au vin) while offering salmon ribeye, and twists on sides (gochujang cauliflower, anyone?) too. Reservations are available on OpenTable and by calling 813-225-1700. 905 N Florida Ave., Tampa. hotelflortampa.com
Boulon Bakery The Water Street hotspot offers three signature homemade pies for Thanksgiving dessert orders: apple and brown butter tart with frangipane, hummingbird pecan tart with bourbon caramel and brûlée buttermilk vanilla bean pie with roasted figs, each available for $45. Pies can be preordered through Monday, Nov. 25 to be picked up Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 1001 Water St, Tampa. boulontampa.com
Columbia One of Tampa Bay’s longest-running Thanksgiving dining traditions returns. The Ybor-born local chain offers $195 curbside takeout bundles to feed 10, including a 12-pound roasted whole Vermont turkey, the classic 1905 salad, a loaf of fresh Cuban bread, and much more. Call your nearest location to order by 2 p.m. on Nov. 20 for pickup on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The restaurant also hosts a Thanksgiving dinner ($34 for adults, $9 for children 12 and under) at many locations with
Eddie V’s Prime Steakhouse Dine-in at the Tampa location for a fixed-price meal featuring slow-roasted sliced turkey with brioche sage stuffing, roasted butternut squash and creamy mashed potatoes. The traditional menu is priced ($55 for adults, $20 for children). For guests who prefer to celebrate with seafood or steak, the full regular menu will also be available. Reservations can be made from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. via OpenTable. 4400 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. eddiev.com
Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar The Epicurean Hotel’s restaurant has a full-service menu including stuffed turkey breast roulade, bourbon smoked brisket and sides like smoked gouda mac and cheese ($85 per person, $25 for kids six and up). Reservations between 11 a.m.-8 p.m. can be made on OpenTable or by calling 813-999-8726. 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa. epicureanhotel.com
Flor Fina Hotel Haya’s upscale Latin and Mediterranean restaurant offers a multi-course feast ($95 per adult; $15 children 6-12; Children
5 under free). Standout menu items include fried mortadella with pistachio stuffing and seared grouper with grapefruit beurre blanc and sage gremolata. Reservations can be made from noon-6 p.m. on OpenTable or by calling (813) 4629660. 1412 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. hotelhaya.com
Grace The Pass-a-Grille fine dining spot has à la carte to-go options to boost your homemade meal, including butternut maple bisque, homemade chicken, turkey or vegetable stock, salad dressings, sides and desserts. Preorder on OpenTable or by calling 727-317-4770 by 6 p.m. on Nov. 24. Pickup on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 120 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach. gracerestaurant.com
Hew Parlor & Chophouse The Fenway Hotel’s restaurant offers a four-course dinner
($95 per adult, $25 for children 12 and under) with options including cinnamon short rib with Milligan’s maple pumpkin butter, bronzed turkey ballotine and mesquite charred pork belly. Reservations between 11 a.m.-7 p.m. are encouraged via OpenTable or by calling 727-683-5990 453 Edgewater Dr., Dunedin. fenwayhotel.com Juno & The Peacock The Downtown St. Pete restaurant offers a prix fixe meal ($135 per person, $35 for children 12 and under) with options including: Joyce Farms roasted turkey breast with confit dark meat and herbed gravy; crab-crusted Florida black grouper and bearnaise; Dean & Peeler prime rib & rosemary au jus; and a vegan option: mushroom campanelle continued on page 34
NO DISHES: Lilac and Market are both open for Thanksgiving at Tampa Edition.
continued from page 33
with black garlic cream, king oyster mushrooms, tuscan kale and parsnip crisps. Along with classic Thanksgiving sides and desserts, guests can also add champagne, oysters or a seafood tower. Book reservations between 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m. at OpenTable or by calling 727-258-4222. 400 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. junoandthepeacock.com
Latitude 28 The restaurant at JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa hosts a threecourse meal ($102 per person 13-and-up) including an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Standout options include Florida wildflower honey-glazed duck breast with sauteed spinach, toasted walnuts, fennel puree and onion fig jam; and a pumpkin spiced risotto with grilled butternut squash and fried sage. An à la carte menu is available for children 12 and under, with options ranging from $10 mac and cheese to $38 six-oz. filet mignon. Reservations between 3 p.m.-10 p.m. can be made via OpenTable or by calling 727-604-6128. 691 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater. jwmarriottclearwater.ipoolside.com
Naked Farmer The St. Pete-based fresh food chain has catering packages to feed 10-100 people ($292 & up), including vegetarian Thanksgiving and side trays. Options include spiced farro and butternut squash, blue oyster mushroom mix and homemade cornbread. Order by Nov. 23 for pickup or delivery on Nov. 26. Multiple locations. eatnakedfarmer.com
Ocean Prime Stop by the swanky seafood spot to pickup everything but the turkey. Ocean Prime’s $155 collection of sides includes jalapeño potato au gratin, truffle macaroni and cheese, and bacon creamed spinach, all ready to reheat for dinner, along with break and five-layer carrot cake. Orders must be placed via phone (813-4905288) by Friday, Nov. 21 and will be picked up Wednesday, Nov. 26. 2205 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa. ocean-prine.com
Oystercatchers This longtime Tampa Bay favorite has a Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30 p.m.-9 p.m. ($125 per person, $60 for children 12 and under). Options include mojo turkey breast, New Orleans oyster stuffing, chorizo cheddar
2025 | cltampabay.com
cornbread pudding, ham with cardamom and mango chutney, pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake. Make reservations at oystercatchersrestaurant. com or by calling 813- 207-6815. 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa. oystercatchersrestaurant.com
The Pearl Water Street’s lowkey comfort food hub (those deviled eggs, come on) wants to make your holiday pie. Scratch offerings include rich brown sugar, creamy pumpkin, and more ($40-$55). Place orders by Nov. 21 by phone (813-709-7776). 823 Water St., Tampa. thepearlrestaurant.com
Rusty Pelican In its comeback from Hurricane Helene, and before it closes for redevelopment in 2027, this historic restaurant has two festive dining experiences: a threecourse Thanksgiving brunch and an à la carte Thanksgiving dinner ($89, $35 for children). From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the brunch includes options like the Drunkin’ Pumpkin signature cocktail, pumpkin spiced cinnamon rolls and lobster benedict with jalapeño corn bread. Guests can also upgrade to a hot seafood tower featuring Maine lobster, snow crab, and grilled east and west coast oysters. The dinner, running 5 p.m.-9 p.m., features herb-roasted turkey entrée served with pan gravy, 50/50 mash, green beans and cranberry relish. Reservations can be made on OpenTable or by calling 813-281-1943. 2425 N Rocky Point Dr., Tampa. therustypelicantampa.com
Lilac’s is a $195 per person Mediterraneaninspired pre-fixe feast. Market’s usual Italian offerings will be available, along with its takes on Thanksgiving classics. Market also offers pastries to go Nov. 19-20; ranging $5-$25, options include fall sugar cookies, bourbon pecan pie, cinnamon apple pie, bacon & caramelized onion quiche and butternut squash quiche. Reservations for dine-in and pastry pickup are available at OpenTable. 1000 Water St., Tampa. editionhotels.com
Timpano Hyde Park The village staple hosts an Italian Thanksgiving with special appetizers and sides like burrata with pumpkin jam, pecan butter and focaccia; Italian Stuffing with fennel sausage, apple, roasted corn, and herbs; and a loaded sweet potato with spiced butter, pistachio brittle, and Italian meringue. For the main event: choose between honey and rosemary roasted turkey with ciabatta and fennel stuffing, green bean fonduta, barolo gravy, and cranberry jam; or porchetta with pork belly, smoked salsa verde, and ricotta whipped potatoes. Don’t forget to save room for some pumpkin mascarpone tiramisu. 1610 W Swann Ave., Tampa. timpanohydepark.com
DINING GUIDE
Sal y Mar Midtown’s rooftop restaurant and hotel offers a three-course prix-fixe menu with choices like pumpkin soup, turkey roulade, pie, and more ($55/person, $25 for kids five-to-12 years old). A la carte options like charcuterie, shrimp cocktails, and vegetable crudité are available, too. Seatings happen Nov. 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 3650 Midtown Dr., Tampa. salymarrooftop.com
Seasons 52 The national chain with spots in Tampa, Bradenton and Sarasota offers a classic dinner: roasted turkey, savory pan gravy, yukon mashed potatoes, brioche and sage stuffing and its famous pumpkin pie mini indulgence ($42/person, $19/child). For celebrations at home, the “Thanksgiving Green Box To Go” serves up to six people for $230, also including a field greens salad. Preorder by Nov. 24 for pickup on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Multiple locations. seasons52.com
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Why gamble with doing turkey day at home when you can gamble while doing turkey day instead? Nine of the casino’s dining concepts offer Thanksgiving specials from the classic plate at Hard Rock Café ($32), to the orange chicken special at the noodle bar ($23), pool bar sandwich ($16), buffet ($79.95) and more. 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa. casino.hardrock.com/ tampa/dining
Tampa Edition Ground level concepts Lilac and Market both offer upscale Turkey Day meals.
Tradewinds The hotel’s Island Grand restaurant offers a Thanksgiving brunch buffet with lots of options including a raw bar, breakfast and omelet bar, pasta bar, carving station and desserts. Seating happens hourly from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Adults eat for $75, seniors 65-and-up for $65, children five to 12 years old for $35 and there’s no cost for children four and under. A Thanksgiving dinner menu will also be served inside the Palm Court Italian and RumFish Grill. Make reservations oline or by calling 727-367-6461. 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. tradewindsresort.com
Urban Stillhouse This St. Pete staple puts a Southern twist on its Thanksgiving dinner. The multi-course meal ($89 per adult, $35 per child plus tax and tip) includes a raw bar and Colorado lamb chops in addition to the turkey and classic sides. The restaurant is open Thanksgiving day from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. (last seating at 6:30 p.m.). Reserve on OpenTable or by calling (727) 440-8040. 2232 5th Ave. S, St Petersburg. theurbanstillhouse.com
Willa’s The North Hyde Park eatery offers a contemporary catered meal. The six-person “Big Willa Style” for $500 meal includes appetizers, a turkey breast with gravy and cranberry sauce, a tahini Caesar salad, sides like rosemary focaccia with whipped garlic butter, and for dessert, chocolate oatmeal pie. Items can also be ordered à la carte with more options like Faroe Island salmon and rotisserie chicken. Pickup is Wednesday, Nov. 26 at noon. 1700 W Fig St., Tampa. willastampa.com
Did we miss your restaurant’s special? Email rroa@cltampa.com and selene@cltampa.com to let us know for our next roundup.
BIRD IS THE WORD: Rusty Pelican’s turkey dinner special.
Hell yeah
Chef Jada Vidal represents Florida on new season of ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ and more food news.
By Kyla Fields
There’s a proud Tampeño on television screens across America, and she’s not only representing the city, but the entire state. Jada Vidal, who currently boasts the title Chef de Cuisine of new Italian-Japanese restaurant Kinjo, is competing on the newest season of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen.”
The theme of the 24th season of the popular competition series is “battle of the states,” with Vidal representing Florida. Chef Vidal is on the red team, since the contestants on “Hell’s Kitchen” are typically separated by gender.
The latest season of Gordan Ramsay’s high-pressure cooking show made its debut last month, and is expected to conclude by early 2026—so there’s still plenty of time to watch Chef Vidal make the Sunshine State proud. Ramsay initially selected 50 chefs to represent each state in the U.S., narrowing it down to 20 contestants to feature on the show.
In the initial episode of the 24th season, the chefs had to present signature dishes to Ramsay for their first main challenge. Vidal served a pan-fried salmon fillet with crispy skin served over koshihikari rice, and received a perfect score from Chef Ramsay. Despite being only 23 years-old, Chef Vidal has been climbing the culinary ranks in Tampa since she was in high school. She started as a line cook at South Tampa restaurant Elevage as a teenager and landed at Haven as a lead line cook a few years later.
From there, the Tampa native started hosting multi-course pop-up dinners that quickly gained popularity for her creative interpretations of Southern and Caribbean cuisine, with impressive wine pairings to match. These pop-ups helped catch the attention of Chef Eric Fralick, who owns and operates modern Japanese restaurants Noble Rice and Koya with his wife, Adriana.
Vidal stepped up as Noble Rice’s sous chef in 2022 and remained there until the opening of Itameshi restaurant Kinjo earlier this year. Both Noble Rice and Kinjo are sibling concepts to popular omakase restaurant Koya, which received a Michelin star in 2023—one of the very first Tampa eateries to earn the prestigious award. Although this is her first appearance on “Hell’s Kitchen,” Vidal is no stranger to national cooking competitions. She’s been featured on several Food Network television shows like “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Chopped” and “Beachside Brawl.”
New episodes of “Hell’s Kitchen” air every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST on Fox, and are also available to stream on Hulu. Follow Chef Vidal on Instagram at @thejadavidal for more information on the popular local chef.
Another Aldi converted from a Winn-Dixie opens in St. Pete this week
To your quarters’ dismay, a new Winn-Dixieshaped Aldi opens in this week—the newest store in the grocery franchise’s quest to convert 220 Winn-Dixies and Harveys Supermarkets to Aldis by 2027. Located at 3327 9th St. N, the new store will be St. Pete’s fourth Aldi, occupying half of the former Winn-Dixie building.
For its opening day on Thursday, Nov. 6, the store’s first 100 customers receive a gift bag of what the company calls “Aldi fan favorites” and entry to a giveaway for a chance to win a $500 Aldi gift card. The new St. Petersburg Aldi is among Tampa Bay’s first Winn-Dixie converts, with one opening in South Tampa’s Hyde Park in April.—Alisha Durosier
St. Pete gets ‘Wee’ slice of Britain & Ireland
For British and Irish expats living in St. Pete, finding the taste of home often means crossing the pond (Tampa Bay). That changed this month with the opening of The Wee British Shop at 3705 5th Ave. N, bringing a comforting slice of the U.K. and Ireland to the ‘burg.
The new specialty grocery, founded by U.K. natives and best friends John Tatum and Sarah Denning, offers relief for anyone missing proper Cadbury chocolate (The real U.K. stuff, not what Hershey makes), along with a full range of imported teas, crisps, biscuits, and pantry staples.
When Tatum and Denning met nearly a decade ago, they quickly realized the closest stores for fellow expatriates to find the food and comfort they missed most from home were in Largo and Tampa. Now, the owners want to ensure no one goes without their favorite treats.
“As a Scottish woman living in St. Pete, we just felt like the community was underserved,” Denning explained. “I love living here and I wanted to share my wee bit of home with St. Pete.”
“We strive to be a place in the community where you can come and hear a familiar accent and feel a bit of home,” she told CL.
In addition to packaged foods, owners told CL they plan to introduce freezer items and baked goods as shipping and storage logistics are finalized. Customer requests are being considered as they determine which brands and products to keep in steady supply. The Wee British Shop is open Tuesday-Friday from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and is closed on Mondays. Follow @ theweebritishshop on social media for updates. Sophia Lowrie
FOOD NEWS
YES, CHEF: Tampa’s own Jada Vidal.
“This play asks us to reckon with a question that is still urgent today.”
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Better together
Tampa Bay theaters join forces for ‘Cadillac Crew.’
By Avery Anderson/Tampa Bay Arts Passport
In Pittsburgh, three of the city’s largest theaters are staring down spreadsheets that look like horror scripts. The Pittsburgh CLO, Public Theater, and City Theatre have admitted they’re on “the brink of financial failure,” and consultants are already floating the oncetaboo word: merger.
Meanwhile in New York, Off-Broadway and regional companies are testing the opposite of turf wars: Long Wharf Theatre, the Sol Project, Latinx Playwright Circle, and WP Theatre are all co-producing a single show. That’s four artistic directors, four boards, four sets of donors—all in one kitchen trying to cook one meal. A few years ago, that would’ve sounded like chaos. Now it looks like strategy.
Which makes what’s happening in St. Petersburg this November more than just a local story.
John Milsap splitting his time between them. It’s not a last-ditch move—it’s a deliberate one. While Pittsburgh considers consolidation to avoid collapse, Tampa Bay theaters are experimenting with collaboration to grow.
The power of partnership
For Powerstories, “Cadillac Crew” closes a milestone 25th anniversary season. For The Studio@620, it opens one.
panel on women’s roles in the Civil Rights Movement led by journalist and playwright Jake-Ann Jones, and an exhibition called “The Unseen Thread: Women Art as Movement.”
THEATER
Collaboration by choice, not crisis Powerstories Theatre and The Studio@620 are teaming up on “Cadillac Crew,” Tori Sampson’s play about the women whose work powered the Civil Rights Movement but rarely made it into the history books. The production runs Nov. 6–16 at The Studio@620.
Cadillac Crew
Select nights through Nov. 16. $25 Studio@620, 620 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. thestudioat620.org
Across the country, regional theaters are in the same boat—and sometimes the boat is on fire. Ticket sales are unpredictable, philanthropy is shrinking, and costs keep climbing. The old model of “every theater for itself” is cracking.
“This play asks us to reckon with a question that is still urgent today: whose voices do we amplify, and whose labor do we overlook?”
said Erica Sutherlin, The Studio’s artistic executive director and the show’s director.
On its face, it’s a co-production. Zoom out, and it’s a case study in how Tampa Bay theaters might adapt to the same pressures squeezing companies nationwide.
Earlier this year, the two organizations even began sharing staff, with Director of Production
“Closing our 25th season with ‘Cadillac Crew’ is both intentional and deeply meaningful,” said Fran Powers, Powerstories founder. “This play embodies everything Powerstories stands for—amplifying women’s voices that history tried to silence.”
Clareann Despain, Powerstories’ artistic director, cut even closer to the bone: “‘Cadillac Crew’ is more than history on stage. It’s a mirror. It shows us how progress is often built on women’s invisible labor—and it challenges us to ask how much of that truth still holds today.”
You could say the same about the partnership itself. For decades, theaters have fought for attention, funding, and audiences like rival sports teams in the same division. Increasingly, the winning move is to pass the ball.
More than a play
The show is the centerpiece of a monthlong civic conversation. Leading into the run: a “Hidden Figures” film screening, a community
It’s a reminder that theater is rarely just about what happens on stage. When institutions collaborate, they can create ecosystems of events that stretch across disciplines and audiences—something no single company could pull off alone.
Why it matters now
The national story is one of contraction. The local story could be one of reinvention.
Partnerships like this don’t erase the hard math—tickets still need to sell, donors still need to give—but they do something else: they flip the narrative from scarcity to solidarity.
Or, as “Cadillac Crew” itself suggests, they reveal the hidden labor holding everything up.
This post first appeared at TB Arts Passport, which 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 TB Arts Passport by subscribing to its free newsletter or becoming a paying Arts Passport Member.
HARD WORK: Erica Sutherlin, Executive Director of Studio@620
Yes, and…
Erica Sutherlin details her three-phase plan for The Studio@620.
By David Warner
The collaboration between The Studio@620 and Powerstories is just one of the initiatives that have come into being as part of Erica Sutherlin’s tenure as the Studio’s artistic director. Over the course of the next several months, Sutherlin will continue to put her own stamp on the St. Petersburg arts and community center co-founded by Bob Devin Jones, who retired in June of 2024.
the “@620” part of the name. The look of the building will gradually change, too, and a new website will premiere in January.
Sutherlin told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay she is excited about the Studio’s theatrical season. Following “Cadillac Crew,” she’ll be staging an all-female “Julius Caesar” (March 12-22); “A Streetcar Named Desire” (April 16-26); and the musical “Passing Strange” (June 11-21).
BAROQUE + BOTTLE BOOK CLUB
REPRESENTATION + MARGINALIZATION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 | 6-8 PM
Introducing the Baroque + Bottle Book Club, a dynamic literary series that pairs contemporary fiction with the timeless themes of the Baroque. Presented in partnership with Book + Bottle, St. Pete’s beloved independent bookstore and wine bar, each gathering invites readers to dive into contemporary novels that echo the emotional intensity, moral tension, and timeless questions embedded in the Baroque movement. With expertly paired wines, lively guided conversations, and exclusive in-gallery experiences, this series creates unexpected connections between the masterpieces on view and the pressing issues of today.
The first stage in what she calls “a threephase rollout” was an open house event on May 31 of this year. A new mural on the side of the building emphasizes the welcoming vibe.
A refreshed mission statement reinforces Devin Jones’s “The Answer Is Always Yes” philosophy while emphasizing “the creative workforce”—think of the new motto as “Yes, and…” The Studio, which famously incubated the creation of arts organizations like freeFall Theatre, is now presenting paths forward for individuals, too.
INTERVIEW
Cadillac Crew
Select nights through Nov. 16. $25
Studio@620, 620 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg thestudioat620.org
“The shows represent four different aspects of my creative brain,” says Sutherlin, whose varied resume includes first-rate productions of the twoperson “Pass Over” at the Studio and the massive musical “Ragtime” for American Stage in the Park. “‘Streetcar’ and ‘Julius’ are part of our Sankofa series—a look at classic works through a different lens.” [Sankofa is a Ghanaian concept meaning “look to the past to inform the future”.]
The bare minimum cost of producing a show, she says, is about $35,000.
Case in point: The crew for “Cadillac Crew” includes an audio engineer who’s never done a theatrical sound design before, and the stage manager is taking on her first backstage leadership role.
The next stage in the rollout is what Sutherlin calls “the sustainability phase, building revenue streams that will sustain the Studio beyond Erica.” Plans include a small boutique, strategic partnerships with USF, and expanding on the Studio’s existing education components.
The rollout’s third phase will be perhaps the most visible, as the center modifies its branding so that “The Studio” takes pride of place over
“We have to pay people a decent wage—and I hope to be getting close to a livable wage. And we have to continue to find sponsors and programs that bring in money because tickets pay only a small percentage of the production cost. In a facility with 80 seats, and a top ticket price of $40, even if we sell out all eight performances, that still doesn’t pay for the production.”
Community support will continue to be crucial.
“The space is full and vibrating,” says Sutherlin, “but we are still trying to keep our doors open… If we talk about how much we love the Studio and how it’s been a beacon, we need to support it.”
Matthias Stom (Stomer), Annunciation of Samson’s Birth (detail), c. 1630-1632, Oil on canvas, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi, Florence, Italy
A NEW ERA: Bob Devin Jones (L) and Erica Sutherlin.
Hundred percent
Meet Rose Mallare, American Stage’s rocking cello player.
By Avery Anderson/TB Arts Passport
Rose Mallare doesn’t just play the cello—she attacks it like it owes her money.
If you saw her in “American Idiot” at American Stage—at the time, the company’s highest-selling mainstage show since the pandemic—you already know. She was the musician who made the cello feel like a punk instrument. “I’ve always wanted to be in a band that rocks,” she says. “And this one rocks.”
Now she’s back in “Hundred Days,” a folkrock musical that’s more like an indie concert with feelings than a traditional theatre show. The band doesn’t hide in a pit; they live on stage, tangled in the love story at its core.
“It’s about two people who fall in love in New York City,” Mallare explains. “And it’s also about what happens when you realize time isn’t guaranteed. You’ve got one hundred days. What do you do with them?”
“In a few short weeks, these strangers became a family,” Mallare says. “You see everything—how we transition, how we prep, how we mess with sound between songs. There’s nowhere to hide, and that’s what I love.”
Living like the clock is ticking
At the heart of “Hundred Days” is a dare: What would you do if you only had a hundred days left with the person you love? For Mallare— who’s spent her career moving between classical halls, rock venues, and black-box theatres—the answer is simple: you’d make something beautiful and true, even if it vanishes after the final note.
THEATER
“I love theater that makes people think,” she says. “You have to be willing to think outside the box, too. I’m not gonna drag people by their hair into the seats—but if I can get you to come and talk afterward, that’s the magic.”
Hundred Days
The show, by real-life songwriting couple Abigail and Shaun Bengson, first hit New York Theatre Workshop in 2017 before making a stop at The Straz Center a few years later. Critics called it “a folk-punk ode to living loudly before the lights go out.”
Select nights through Nov. 16. $28 & up American Stage, 162 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg. americanstage.org
Before she hangs up, she adds one last thing—the kind of thing you can’t fake: “I love coming to the theater every day. I know this is exactly where I need to be.”
At American Stage, it’s being done on a smaller, riskier scale—stripped of spectacle, driven by musicians who double as storytellers.
“It’s not your usual proscenium musical,” she says. “It’s immersive. You could come back three times and have a totally different experience.”
Playing off the page
Mallare’s cello is her passport between worlds. Classically trained but uncontainable, she can flip from Bach to a bassline in a heartbeat.
“There’s the conservatory cellists who play what’s written—beautifully,” she says. “But there’s also the ones who go off the page. Who improvise. Who take what they know and throw it into a new genre.”
That’s where she lives—somewhere between the staff lines.In “Hundred Days,” she uses a looper pedal to layer sound live, building a small electric universe around herself.
“Sometimes it’ll feel like there’s more of me than you can see,” she says, grinning. “That’s the electricity.”
It’s the kind of creative risk that mirrors the show itself: a small cast, no safety net, and music that lives or dies by the chemistry between players. Underproduced—in the best way
If Broadway musicals are glossy postcards, “Hundred Days” is a handwritten letter.The lights are close, the instruments are visible, and the sound bleeds into the story. Every creak, every breath, every string buzz is part of the experience.
This story first appeared at TB Arts Passport, which 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 TB Arts Passport by subscribing to its free newsletter or becoming a paying Arts Passport Member.
St. Petersburg Opera Guild
Pinellas County Schools
Robert & Hoyle Rymer Foundation
Irene Athos
John Seibert
Annette Smith in memory of Katherine Hall
Elaine Stupp
CURTAINS CALL: Rose Mallare says her theater band rocks.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 • 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Good Morning Market @ 1920 Ybor 1920 East 7th Ave.
Open to the public bit.ly/GoodMorningYbor
Saturday, November 8, 2025 • Doors at 4PM
Hammer and Nail Fest 2025 @ Crowbar 1812 N 17th St.
Burgundy Grand Tasting @ Chateau Cellars Ybor 2009 N. 22nd St.
Tickets From $116.69 bit.ly/BurgundyYbor
Monday, November 10, 2025 • 5:30 PM - 11:00 PM
250th Marine Corps Birthday Bash @ Bad Monkey Ybor 1717 East 7th Ave.
Tickets $25.31 bit.ly/MarineBashYbor
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship Holiday Party
@ Dracula’s Legacy Wine Bar & Bistro 811 North Tampa St Free Tickets bit.ly/WITybor
Friday, November 14, 2025, • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Pawliday Portraits & Holiday Market @ Hotel Haya 1412 East 7th Ave.
Market - Open to the public, Pawliday Portrait Session - $59.34 bit.ly/PawlidayMarket
Saturday, November 15, 2025, • 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Tampa Winter Bash featuring Skilla Baby, Dej Loaf & Hurricane Wisdom @ 1920 Ybor 1920 East 7th Ave.
Tickets from $55.20 bit.ly/WinterBashYbor
Sunday, November 16, 2025, • 11:00 AM
Chicken Yoga with Yoga Loft @ Hotel Haya 1412 East 7th Ave.
Tickets - $15.74 bit.ly/ChickenYogaOct
Thursday, November 20, 2025, • 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Winter Spectacular @ Centro Ybor 1600 East 8th Ave.
Open to the public bit.ly/WinterSpectacularYbor
Friday, November 21, 2025, • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Holiday Wine & Dine Market
@ Italian Club of Tampa 1731 East 7th Ave.
Tickets from $65 – $595 bit.ly/ItalianWineDine
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C City Mouse w/Too Many Daves/ Miller Lowlifes/The Eradiator Miski Dee Rodriguez has a lot of pals in the Tampa Bay area, and the West Coast punk will be surrounded by them at this Legion gig. Fresh off a U.K. run, Rodriguez brings her band City Mouse to Seminole Heights where Too Many Daves (all warmed up from a weekend at The Fest) is joined by another new transplant in the area (masked punk songwriter The Eradicator) and The Miller Lowlifes, lowkey one of the best new Tampa bands of the last few years. (American Legion Post 111, Tampa)
C Coppertail 11th anniversary concert: Pusha Preme w/Bangarang/ Speak Easy/Pet Lizard/Pilot Jonezz/ Jupiter Bloom/DJ Mes There are brewery concerts, and then there’s this annual throwdown on the loading dock behind Coppertail just outside of Ybor City. Now in its 11th year, the no-cover show
is a celebration for one of Tampa’s most beloved beer makers and a reflection of the shop’s musical taste. This year is headlined by friend of the brewery, Tampa rapper Pusha Preme, who’s flanked by homegrown giants of rock (Bangarang), breezy pop (Speak Easy), punk (Pet Lizard, Pilot Jonezz) along with indie-rock band Jupiter Bloom and long-running DJ Chris Wood (aka Mes McDonald). (Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa)
Dunedin Wines the Blues: The Family Funk w/Jeriko Turnpike/Clave Cafe band/Will Johns Dunedin townies are a bit bummed this week after watching their Spring Training homies, the Toronto Blue Jays, fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series (who says 'merica and its northern neighbors can't get along?). It’s hard to stay sad for too long in the beach town though, and this weekend gives locals and visitors a chance to drown their sorrows in some blues. Four bands take to the green at Pioneer Park as volunteers pour wine alongside a beer lineup that sees more Dunedin-based breweries than ever help with libations. VIP viewing is available via winesthebluesdunedin.com. (Pioneer Park, Dunedin)
THU NOVEMBER 06–THU NOVEMBER 13
C Ed PaLooza: Saganaki Bomb Squad w/The Brainiacs/Swamp Poney/A Twins/The Henry’s/Todd Murphy/Los Mescalitos Last May, Magadog frontman Ed Lowery was to make a triumphant return to the stage as part of an old-school ska show in St. Pete. The revered Tampa musician didn’t get there though, as he was in too much pain from the stage three colon cancer in his body. This weekend, the scene that loves him comes together for a fundraiser to help with medical expenses. Despite having three drains removing fluids after a pancreaticoduodenectomy, Lowery (pictured on this page at Skipper’s c. 2013) has remained upbeat and promises to be at the Skipperdome to say thanks. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Emo Nite: Road To Warped Tour feat. Cassadee Pope Six years after coming to the historic district as the potential new face of country music, West Palm Beach native and former Hey Monday frontwoman Cassadee Pope is back in Ybor City as a punk. The 36-year-old songwriter spent the summer in an off-Broadway musical “Rolling Thunder” and tapped back into her old sound in an August single with Silverstein. She headlines this “Road to Warped Tour” show before the revival of the traveling punk-rock festival happens in Orlando next weekend. (The Ritz, Ybor City)
C Hammer and Nail Fest 2025: Cold Steel (record release) w/NFOM/Actions Speak Louder/Losing Vision/Common Bond/Right On Time/Zero Chill/Watch List/Age of Refuge Cold Steel has plans to go up and down the East Coast before coming home for the holiday, and kicks off the tour as part of this punishing bill of heavy metal. Hammer and Nail Fest doubles as a record release show for the Tampa band that’s attracted fans across the U.S. to a thrashing, aggressive hardcore sound on full display for Cold Steel’s Spinefarm records debut, Discipline & Punish . (Crowbar, Ybor City)
C Skinshape w/Ímã Last weekend, William Dorey was in Mexico as part of the Hypnosis two-day indie-rock megafestival alongside Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Molchat Doma, Spiritualized and at least a dozen more heavy hitters likes Japanese Breakfast, Deafheaven, Crumb and The Budos Band. A week later, the London-based alt-pop maestro finds himself in St. Petersburg as part of a three-date run through the Sunshine State. Dorey—better known by the Skinshape moniker—is supporting Mostrando os Dentes , his second project with Brazilian singer-songwriter Pedro Mizutani. Skinshape has also been a shapeshifting project as of late, as evidenced by a funky 2024 album, Another Side Of Skinshape , which lets listeners into less-explored corners of Dorey’s mind where Ethiopian rhythms, soulful vocals, and experiments with different drum machines and keyboards fill the air. It’ll be interesting to see how much analog equipment Dorey,
and ex-member of the U.K. alt-rock band Palace, is able to bring with him to the Bay area. Ímã, a mysterious St. Augustine duo, opens the show with no music—but a place with Skinshape on the tastemaking Lewis Recordings imprint—to show for. (Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg)
A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett: Roger Bartlett w/Doyle Grisham/Nadirah Shakoor/Tina Gullickson/John Frinzi/ more Buffett would probably puke up a Landshark if someone did a hologram concert of him, so this gig featuring a handful of bonafide Coral Reefers is as close as you’ll probably get. Homegrown hero John Frinzi handles Jimmy’s vocals while OGs like guitarist Roger Bartlett, pedal steel player Doyle Grisham and Buffett vocalists Nadirah Shakoor and Tina Gullickson carry the rest of the tribute set. (Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
WMNF record sale & vinyl art show This mid-morning outing isn’t really live music, but it gives the community a chance to pop into the gem of a studio WMNF has built in Seminole Heights. Three of the community radio station’s most-beloved shows will be on-air for the duration of the sale, too. (WMNF, Tampa)
SUN 09
C Better Strangers w/GreyMarket/Thin Spaces/Gloomchild Nic Collins, son of drummer Phil Collins, brings his band Better Strangers back to Tampa ,this time without former singer Luis Santiago and wielding a darker, denser, and more complex sound. Fresh off a four-track live EP recorded at soon-to-close hometown haunt Gramps, Collins’ trio is supported by a triumvirate of local favorites. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)
MON 10
Bryan Adams w/Pat Benatar + Neil Giraldo Dust of the Walkman for this gig that promises big hits from broth Bryan Adams (“Summer of ‘69,” “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)) plus the inimitable duo of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. (Benchmark International Arena, Tampa)
C Murder By Death Murder By Death is ready to go six-feet under for now. After 25 years on tour and nearly a dozen albums, the indie-rock sextet has one last studio LP, the Kickstarter-success Egg & Dart , to share with fans before calling it quits to take a breath. “The [band] that I have right now is such a wonderful group of people. I think we just really get how to tour together and hang out, which is ironic that it’s also when we’re calling it a day,” frontman frontman Adam Turla recently told Westword. “I wanted to leave the touring life behind me while I was still having fun with it.” (Orpheum, Tampa)
C CL Recommends
Ed Lowery
Old wave night reunion: Rob Pittman w/Mike Roehr/DJ Sean In 1990, DJ Rob Pittman began playing classic 1980s new wave music Monday nights in the long-shuttered north Tampa alternative music dance club DNA. By 1997, Pittman began deejaying Monday “Old Wave” music nights in Ybor City’s goth-alternative music mecca, The Castle. And until 2012, Monday nights at The Castle meant dancing back into the alternative club soundtracks of new wave, industrial, goth and alt rock dance floor classics from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s. Since 2012, The Castle doors have been closed Monday nights, but from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., Nov. 10, Pittman will for one night bring the sounds of classic new wave back to the Castle ballroom. Joining in on the reunion in the Castle dungeon will be VJ Mike Roehr, who from 2003-2013 hosted the popular Thursday “Pop ‘n Wave” nights and will be coming in from Reno, Nevada to DJ pop hits and some of popular and obscure new wave acts. On the patio will be Castle resident DJ Sean, spinning a mix of futurepop, goth, synthpop, industrial and others. (The Castle, Ybor City)—Paul Catala
C Sting After being in town last March for Reggae Rise Up, Sting is back on the other side of the Bay. The tour finds the 73-year-old co-founder of The Police joined by longtime collaborator, guitarist Dominic
Miller, and Chris Maas, the touring drummer for Mumford & Sons and Maggie Rogers. A press release says the 3.0 tour is inspired by a new song, “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart),” and “represents a new dynamic era showcasing selections from his vast catalog through the urgent lens of a tight three-piece combo.” (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa)
TUE 11
C¡Ritmo!: Mila Killa Where Mila Killa goes, so does the party. One of the Bay area’s top DJs over the last year, the Peruvian curates a a samba night monthly, but spends Tuesdays at Tampa Heights rooftop bar M. Bird to spin a mix of reggaeton, dancehall, Afrobeat, Brazilian funk and more. (M. Bird, Tampa)
WED 12
Ne Obliviscaris w/Rivers Of Nihil/ Psycroptic Ne Obliviscaris’ approach to heavy music is academic, literally. The Australian prog-metal band recently saw its song “And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope” added to the Sydney Conservatorium Music Studies Curriculum by Professor Matthew
Hindson, who called the track from the band’s 2021 album Portal of I , “an exemplar in structure, mixing timbres, meters, modes, how to approach virtuosity, sound and noise, extended performance and techniques.” Ne Obliviscaris’ return to North America is part of a huge tour where its two-hour set will be preceded by openers Rivers Of Nihil (playing a new self-titled) and fellow Australian outfit Psycroptic. (Orpheum, Tampa)
THU 13
C Dirty Dozen Brass Band Following last summer’s announcement that the Straz Center would start helping Skipper’s book bigger shows, New Orleans jazz ensemble Dirty Dozen Brass Band has been confirmed for a set at the 45-year-old hangout on Skipper Road. The Grammy Award-winning band, which most recently performed some of the music for Walt Disney World’s new ride “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” celebrated 40 years since the release of its debut album My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now last year. And the record lived up to its name, because from there, there have been gigs including backing up the likes of Elvis Costello and The Black Crowes, and even closing out Jim Henson’s funeral in 1990 with a joyous “When The Saints Go Marching In” (which was meant to be cheerful,
per the Muppeteer’s wishes.) (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)—Josh Bradley
C Greensky Bluegrass You can smoke a lot of weed over 25 years, but Greensky Bluegrass has done so much more than that. Celebrating a commemorative new album, XXV, the Michigan jam-ericana outfit is fresh off its Halloween concert marking two-anda-half decades of bandom and playing its largest local headlining show to date. (The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)
Also playing
Artikal Sound System Friday, Nov. 7. 7 p.m. $20. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
High Press (EP release) Saturday, Nov. 8. 7 p.m. $10. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
St. Pete Punk Rock Flea Market: Lot Lizards Saturday, Nov. 8. 1 p.m. No cover. Planet Retro Records, St. Petersburg
See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music
Skinshape
MIKE LEWIS
Open your car door, because synth-pop OG Gary Numan has announced a new string of North American headlining dates, including a show in downtown St. Petersburg.
The 67-year-old android in la-la land has spent the last few years on tour with the likes of Ministry and The Psychedelic Furs, and before that, he put out a concept album called Intruder, which tells the tale of the earth fighting back against the inconsiderate-as-hell human race, having caused environmental turmoil.
Sean Peabody w/Doc Worthey and the Treatment/Madison Morris Tuesday, Nov. 11. 8 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa
Dirty Dozen Brass Band Thursday, Nov. 13. 8 p.m. $48. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Matt Pryor w/Small Uncle/The Burke Bros Wednesday, Jan. 28. 8 p.m. $27.51. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
Ellise Monday, Feb. 2. 8 p.m. $28.04. Crowbar, Ybor City
With history in the midst of repeating itself, don’t be surprised if Numan heavily leans on material from his latest when he lands at Jannus Live this spring. But if the show is anything like his opening set for Ministry at the same space last year, you’ll probably go home feeling both nostalgic, and ready to take action.
Tickets to see Gary Numan play St. Pete’s Jannus Live on Sunday, March 8 are on sale now for $50.64. See my weekly roundup of new concerts coming to the Tampa Bay area below.—Josh Bradley
Eli Young Band w/Lanco Wednesday, March 4. 8 p.m. $81.75 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Bret Michaels w/Tesla Saturday, March 7. 7 p.m. $54.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Landon Conrath w/Abby Holiday Thursday, March 12. 7 p.m. $27.51. Crowbar, Ybor City
Wayne Newton Wednesday, March 18. 8 p.m. $76.65 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Be the change
By Caroline DeBruhl
Dear Oracle, I’m in a “What am I doing with my life?” spiral. For the past eight years, I’ve worked freelance in a “cool” job that I’m starting to hate and feel burned out by. I live in my hometown that I love but it’s changing for the worse with tech bros, and my social circle is shrinking as people move away. Wandering and lost
Cards for right now: Nine of Swords (reversed), Ace of Pentacles (reversed), Judgment
Cards for what to consider: Three of Pentacles (reversed), Three of Cups Cards to move forward: Three of Wands (reversed), Two of Wands
Dear WAL, I’m filing this column on Oct. 31, known as Samhain in the witch world, and is considered to be the “witch’s new year.” It might seem strange to have the new year in late fall, just before winter starts, but one reason I like it is that the year starts with a pause. Samhain is a time of death and endings. The birth comes on the winter solstice when the sun is reborn. The six weeks between are essentially what Buddhists call the Bardo state. It’s the journey between death and birth, a time to work through what needs to be worked so that you can arrive at your birth ready for a new life. We often get stuck in situations that we know we should get out of because we don’t have a
backup plan. The Nine of Swords is certainly a card that evokes feelings of being haunted by our past and anxious about the path to take forward. But, it’s also a card of transformation—and that transformation comes whether we’re ready or not. I think you’re very much feeling that push to break out now, even if there’s no backup plan.
While you mentioned quite a few things in your question, I do think your job is something that’s weighing on you the most. With the Ace of Pentacles and Judgment, I think your current job has served you well, and while it may have seemed like it at the time, it’s not actually your true calling. Judgment is actually a depiction of the Rapture, of souls rising to join each other in the great by-andby. It’s a card of rebirth and resolution, of shaking off the isolating chains and joining the collective.
Freelance work is, by its nature, an individual affair. (You’re an "independent contractor," after all.) While you can briefly be part of something larger, you are on your own for the most part. While that can afford a lot of freedom, it does come at a cost. I do wonder if what you’re looking for in your work is to be a part of something bigger—especially as an equal collaborator.
With what to consider, we have both the Three of Pentacles and the Three of Cups. The Three of Pentacles is a harmonious collaboration, especially one involving actual work. It’s when everyone is in the right groove and together you’re able to
produce something larger than the sum of your parts. Think of it like a band hitting their stride when recording, or actors in a play building off each other. It’s both grounding and generative. This is coupled with the Three of Cups, traditionally the card of friendships. This could be you working closely with friends to make something, or it could be finding a group of like-minded people who will become friends through your work. However, with the emotional undercurrent of the cups, what you truly need is for your work to feel meaningful. This might be a creative collaboration (join a band) or a political one (join organizers in your community) or a social one (start a commune), but whatever it is, it has to strike that emotional cord in you. It can’t just be intellectually stimulating or good money. It’s something that you’ll gladly give your heart to.
Both cards are actually perfect for the time. Samhain (and the six weeks that follow) is a time known as the “parting of the veil”. It’s believed this time is when the voices of our past can come to us—and the voices of the future. Over the next six weeks, try to spend more time in silence and meditation, reflecting on your past and how far you’ve come and what you’re hopeful for in the future.
ORACLE OF YBOR
Send your questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram
The final cards of the Three of Wands and Two of Wands, which is both looking back at your past and looking forward to your future. The Three of Wands is a practice of acknowledging everything that brought you to this current moment, the good and the bad. It can be a time to make peace with what didn’t work out and express gratitude for what did. The Two of Wands, meanwhile, is a card of pure hope and ambition. It’s looking at the horizon with excitement and moving forward with that hope in your heart.
Perhaps you’ll hear a message—from your gut, your ancestors, your divine watcher—about what step you should take on your path of life. Perhaps you’ll be visited by a spirit of inspiration. Whatever it is, take these next six weeks as a time to reflect. What inspires hope in you? What do you think would feed your heart? How can you fit into a collective? What do you want to be waiting for you on the horizon?
This isn’t the time for making moves. You don’t have to quit your job, disappear from your family and start life anew. It’s a time to pause and think. But eventually, that feeling of transformation will become too big to ignore. You’ll be driven to change and to avoid feeling like you’re just doing the same shit over and over again. Give yourself the gift of honest wonder. What could be different in your life? What would you like to be different? These questions aren’t easy. I hope when the answer comes, it feels as natural as drawing a breath. See more of Caroline and learn about her services via carolinedebruhl.com.
ANNA MENTE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Lesbian love bombed
By Jane Dyke
Icame out as a nonbinary trans woman about five years ago, medically transitioning more recently. About a year ago, a cis lesbian swept me off my feet in this really new, vulnerable time. We started as a “summer fling,” but she insisted that she liked me too much to keep it at just that. She bought me a charm with my name, she annotated essays I sent her, and she asked for a lock of my hair to keep around her neck. One month in. She was an engineering major and so, so hot. As a tranny, it was insanely validating and kind of scary to be wanted by her. However, her mom was homophobic, and she wanted to focus on school. She broke things off awkwardly and I could not feel normal about it. I have literally never been loved so passionately. I kept texting her needily until she blocked me. Do I still have a chance? Am I cooked forever? Is this just what lesbianism is like? Please help me, Sapphic Sun.
Tripped-up T-girl
ASK A DYKE
Got a burning question? Ask a Dyke at sapphicsunfl.com/ask
Hi Tripped-up, You don’t have a chance with her, but you don’t need it. Being a trans woman and a lesbian is a weird, loaded experience. Early
on in my transition, I feared being seen as predatory, even for simply going on dates with people who knew I was trans and were attracted to me. When other women — cis or trans — were into me, I treated their attraction as a benevolent gift bestowed upon me, rather than a natural result of someone liking my looks and personality. Viewing attraction as a rare act of generosity made me scramble to convince the other that I was deserving of their love. The slightest sign of their attention turning away from me was like a terminal diagnosis, and any indication of passion towards me felt like a literary happy ending. My trans experience layered over my frantic pursuit of desire to make a terrible lasagna of self-doubt; validation from a woman I admired, cis or otherwise, made me feel like a “real lesbian” and gave me a fleeting sense of gender euphoria. If I kept looking for my self-worth in a pile of flings and hookups, I would never find it. I changed my strategy. I went to therapy, and I focused on becoming someone I admire, someone whose love I would chase more fervently
than that of some Tinder match. No matter how much you ask someone else to describe you, you will never get a picture as accurate as your own reflection. Grow to love the person you see in the mirror, and a loving gaze from her eyes will mean more to you than that of any other lover. This may be easier said than done. It took me a long time to love myself so much, and the nagging feeling of doubt never really goes away. But it gets much quieter and easier to dismiss. And let me make this part clear: that voice is wrong. Being transgender is not a demerit to your value as a partner or what you deserve in a relationship. I see trans women settling for the worst, most toxic relationships if it means they “get” to be with a cis lesbian. Nobody should have that much power over you, but they gain it through exploiting your lack of self-worth. If someone isn’t attracted to you or is incompatible with you for other reasons, it’s not personal. It’s about them and what they want. Those who are frequently rejected may feel disheartened, but it’s a part of life we all have to risk because there’s no other option. And, for what it’s worth, it sounds like you didn’t experience being “loved so passionately.”
“It sounds like you tangled with someone who way overcommitted with affection…”
It sounds like you tangled with someone who way overcommitted with affection because they liked that it made you happy, and who didn’t know how to stop until they were in too deep and got overwhelmed. This is one of many common relationship traps trans women fall into, and eventually you may come to think that some degree of mistreatment is an inevitability in relationships for our kind. Please know that love is real and accessible to you. Know that the real deal feels different than overwhelming empty passion, and you’ll know it when you have it. Until then, take my final piece of advice seriously. Write it on a sticky note, on your lockscreen, on your skin, wherever you need, but for the love of all that is holy please remember: NEVER, EVER SETTLE.
Yours in love, Jane Dyke
The Sapphic Sun is part of the Tampa BayJournalism 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 emailrroa@ctampa.com
Full spectrum
By Dan Savage
I’m the parent of a 14-year-old boy who is on the autism spectrum. Recently, I discovered that he has been searching online for some niche sexual material. Because of his autism, he tends to hyper-fixate on things, and I’m concerned about what might happen if I ignore this. Could it affect his future sexual development or limit him in unhealthy ways? At the same time, I don’t want to shame him or handle it poorly. My questions are: Should I address this directly with him, and if so, how? What are the risks of leaving it unaddressed? How can I support him in developing a healthy relationship with sexuality, even if dating or relationships aren’t a priority for him? Any advice you can share would be greatly appreciated.—Headed Down The Rabbit Hole
“We live in an age where social media informs and often defines younger generations’ understanding and experience of themselves and the world around them,” said Elana Himmelfarb, an autism spectrum consultant. “Sexuality is part of identity, and HDTRH’s son—like all young people—deserves an intentional, calm, fact-based and supportive approach to this new phase of his personal development.”
“Understanding how he regulates his attention and expresses himself is key. Can he identify and verbalize his emotions and thoughts? If there are other mental health issues—anxiety, panic, obsessive/compulsive behaviors, past trauma, etc.—those will need to be factored in to avoid overwhelming him and to keep dysregulation at bay.”
As for those niche sexual materials he’s been seeking online…
“Is there a self-regulation aspect to his seeking?” asked Himmelfarb. “Are sensory sensitivities and preferences at play?”
Your son, like other teenagers, may intentionally be seeking out materials online that are strange or shocking—for the thrill of the shock (for the sensation), and not because the materials arouse him sexually.
SAVAGE LOVE
So, the following advice goes out to anyone parenting a teenager, HDTRH, not just to parents of autistic teenagers.
“The most important thing is creating a climate where there is shared language and a safety zone that allows for open discussions and questions without shame or fear of judgment,” said Himmelfarb. “A calm approach, planned discussions, teachable moments, and checking in creates an atmosphere that enables teens to connect meaningfully as they navigate the waters of sexual identity, preference, choice, and safety.”
To create the best possible climate for these kinds of conversations, a parent needs to take their own child’s personality into account.
“Some teens respond well to humor, others to facts; some are brimming with questions, and others are deer in the headlights,” said Himmelfarb. “And before parents rush in with tons of information and questions, they need to let their child know—in a way that is sensitive to their child’s individual personality—that sexuality is a topic that it’s OK to discuss, that they won’t push or invade their child’s privacy, and that there’s no such thing as a dumb question.”
Due to your son’s unique issues—he’s a young teen, he’s on the spectrum, and he’s seeking out niche materials—there is, of course, more on your plate and more for you to consider, HDTRH.
“The role autism plays will depend on your child’s neurodevelopment,” said Himmelfarb.
“It is also important to understand his level of self-advocacy,” said Himmelfarb. “Is he someone who is comfortable saying and accepting ‘no,’ setting boundaries, and pivoting if one’s mind changes? There will be significant work to be done if these areas are weak. And it helps to anchor abstract concepts like consent and accountability with scenarios and examples. Movie clips are great way to start those conversations. This scene from “Swingers” is great—it talks about what not to do when asking a girl out—and while I’m not personally a fan of “Love on the Spectrum,” which can be problematic, watching it together can be a great way to open up a discussion.”
Returning now to those niche sexual materials…“Understandably, HDTRH’s mind goes straight to the ‘niche’ themes and his son’s tendency to hyper-fixate,” said Himmelfarb. “But you don’t want to go straight for the problem areas until there is shared language and an established rapport.”
Instead of bringing up exactly what you saw in his browser history, Himmelfarb recommends zooming out and having a conversation that will help you figure out what your son might already know.
“He should ask his son to define—without looking them up—some key terms that you know will be coming into play: sexual identity, sexual preference, fetish, consent, LGBTQ+, etc.,” said Himmelfarb. “Over time you can pivot to some of the areas of deeper concern—those ‘niche’ interests—so you can help him understand them, catch whether this is a misguided attempt to meet a need that could be better met in a different way, or if there are safety concerns.”
You’ve seen the porn your son is looking at, RHB, and we haven’t, which means you have a better sense of whether there are safety
concerns. But it’s important to remember, as a parent, that there’s a difference between “niche” sexual interests/obsessions that don’t make sense to us but are essentially harmless—like being sexually obsessed with Pokémon—and sexual interests or obsessions that are legitimately alarming. If your son is obsessed with images of women in rubber swim caps, HDTRH, you can probably relax; a series of conversations that emphasizes the importance of boundaries and consent and acknowledges the existence of kink may be all he needs. But if your son obsessed with violent kinks and/or non-consensual scenarios, HDTRH, you’re gonna have to burst through the wall like the Kool-Aid man and speak bluntly about his kinks and the risk they might—to himself and others—if he were to ever act on them.
I am a married cis gay man living in the Midwest. I recently got a prescription from my doctor for Viagra. I’m a bottom who enjoys being fingered and fucked, but occasionally I lose my erection during sex if my dick isn’t also getting enough stimulation. This never bothered me too much—bottoms in porn are often not fully erect during an entire scene—but it causes my husband to question whether I enjoy sex with him, and he worries he isn’t “doing it right.” Do I have to tell my husband about the Viagra? —Midwest Erection Dysfunction Sufferer I would leave the bottle where my husband could find it. But if your husband rarely goes through your stuff and is unlikely to find your boner pills—and equally unlikely to Google “sildenafil” if he were to find them—you can keep this “secret” to yourself. If your dick being soft (or going soft) when he’s fucking you makes your husband feel insecure for no good reason (because you enjoy being fucked!) and his insecurities are ruining PIB for both of you (anticipatory stress about staying hard doesn’t make getting or staying hard easier!), discreetly popping a Viagra is a nice thing to do. You aren’t “keeping a secret,” MEDS, you’re doing a little behind-the-scenes prep that makes anal sex better for you both. You probably don’t announce to your husband that you douched—nor do
you announce how many squats you did at the gym this week to keep your ass in fuckable shape—and in the same spirit, MEDS, you aren’t obligated to announce that you popped a boner pill. Sometimes sparing is caring. But you asked what I would do: If finding out I’d been taking boner pills would make my husband’s insecurities worse and if he was likely to find them and if the discovery would open up a new front in this conflict (“You lied to me—with your dick!”), MEDS, I would hold on to the first bottle of pills, keep it nearly full, and leave it someplace my husband was likely to find it. So, if I had a prescription for 40 pills, I would make sure the original bottle always had 38 pills in it. (They always give you more Viagra than you need, so when I got the prescription refilled, I would top up the original bottle with new pills, toss the new bottle, and keep the rest of my boner pills someplace my husband would never find them.) And then, MEDS, when my husband found the bottle and had a meltdown about it, I would point to the date of the original prescription on the bottle and then show him the bottle was still nearly full. “Yes, I got a prescription—I was starting to worry about my dick—but I only took two pills in the year since I got them, honey, and then I forgot they were even in here.”
Just make sure your real stash—the pills you’re actually taking—are someplace your husband would never look. I’d put mine in the dishwasher. P.S. Or you could level with him: “Honey, the douching and squats and how quickly I put my ankles over your shoulder should be all evidence you need that I love it when you fuck me. And not everyone stays hard when they get fucked—when we’re fucking, it’s not about my dick, it’s about yours—but if you want me hard every time you fuck me, you can pretend I’m not taking boner pills just like you pretend that’s my pussy.”
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Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com. ending on November 14, 2025 at 10:00 am for units located at Compass Self Storage 1685 Hwy 17 N Eagle Lake Florida 33839 . Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at time of sale. All Goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 1137 April Graham Unit 2061-2083 Clemane Duvert Unit 20662077 Clemane Duvert Unit 3006 Bobby Moody Unit 3008 Shannon D’Haiti Unit 3058 Widlande Senatus Unit D303 Ricardo Carrasquillo Unit D304 Monica Scott Unit F501 Isabelino Llanot. Run dates 10/30/2025 and 11/06/2025.
Notice of Public Sale Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on November 14th, 2025 at 10:00 am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 2291 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, Florida 33563 . Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted. Unit 2039 Erika Saniago Unit 2087 Janeteria Mitchell Unit 2088 Daquon Hamilton Unit 2093 Shannon Ziegler Unit 2108-2109 Rabboni Ramesse Unit 2145 Ayanna Miller. Run dates 10/30/2025 and 11/06/2025.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to Section 715.109, notice is hereby given that the following property will be offered for public sale and will sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash: a 1988 MERI mobile home, VIN C27126261 and the contents therein, if any on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at 41 Emerald Lane, Leesburg, FL 34748. ICARD, MERRILL, CULLIS, TIMM, FUREN & GINSBURG, P.A. Alyssa M. Nohren FL Bar No. 352410 2033 Main Street Suite 600 Sarasota, Florida 34237 Telephone: (941) 366-8100 Facsimile: (941) 366-6384 anohren@ icardmerrill.com smenasco@icardmerrill.com Attorney for County Life of Ohio LLC
Spanish street
NOTE: Guide words are the two words atop a dictionary page that tell you the first and last entries on that page—but when read together they often sound like real expressions rather than two unconnected words. The nine pairs in this puzzle are from a Merriam Webster’s Collegiate, Tenth Edition (2002).
Vocal gift? 53 n. Slang social skill that one uses only on weekends
Hubbub
Stutz Bearcat contemporary
Fiber-___ cable
Big-cat hybrid
n. Slang the art of negotiating and eating at the same time
Nebraska city
Sajak’s centerpiece
In favor of, to Jethro 73 Paris dance
n. Slang a form of government in which the people only think they’re in charge
CIA progenitor
Essential viewing, e.g.
___ facto
Singer Redding
Lens holders
Family member
Dots in the ocean
n. Slang a scrappy style of court play popularized by Jimmy Connors
Refined sense
“You ___ fair and square” 32 Used a certain club
Proud folks? 38 n. Slang nickname for a person carrying a rifle 40 Org. in 007 novels
Psych finish
Certain assents
Where to hang your hat, perhaps
World of waggers
Journalist Nellie
Mass transit unit
n. Slang call screening
A Brontë sister
Andy’s fishin’ partner
It means “many”
Whodunit first
Seller’s ploy 117 n. Slang technology for the uneducated
