Creative Loafing Tampa — March 10, 2022 by Chava Communications

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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf STAFF WRITER Justin Garcia FOOD and THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John Allman JUSTIN GARCIA

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Kyla Fields, Dan Savage

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Kimberly DeFalco, Marlo Miller, Michael M. Sinclair, Rod Millington

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EDITORIAL INTERNS Brandalynn Nuñez

García Vargas SeaWorld in Cepeda, February,Sofia animal rights Apply for summer via rroa@cltampa.com claiming the practice of keeping wild CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora d dangerous. But even though public atmany SeaWorld animal rights don’t in seeFebruary, a parallel kind ILLUSTRATORS Joebetween Newton,the Dan Perkins, claiming the practice of keeping wild k, and the practice ofCory displaying animals Robinson nd dangerous. But even though public asking for too much? Or is it time for a SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES d, many don’t see a parallel between the kind t” animals?Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda

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ck and the practice of displaying animals s asking for too much? OrPROMOTIONS is it time for a AND MARKETING, ent” animals? EVENTS DIRECTOR

Council approved the extra $102 million to DPR to construct the full-blown city center project, without a public RFP process. City of Tampa backs out of public ‘City Center’ talks, p. 11.

Alexis Quinn Chamberlain

Free Will Astrology......................................... 64 Savage Love ...................................................... 69

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

MUSIC WEEK �� 41

SAVAGE LOVE �� 53

Utilizing shared resources, our network will have greater impact and further reach to engage fans.

Tampa venue will play a role in new independent touring model, p. 47.

CROSSWORD �� 55

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MICHAEL M. SINCLAIR

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Lauren Caplinger Music Week ................................................... 42 EUCLID MEDIA GROUP Music: Tampa Fest ........................... Concert review:Bay ArticBlues Monkeys ..........................40 42 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Andrew Zelman Music ................................................... The ListWeek .......................................................... 46 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS42 Concert review: Artic Monkeys .......................... Chris Keating, Michael Wagner42 Movie reviews ..................................................... 63 VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein The List .......................................................... Free Will Astrology .........................................46 64 DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Movie ........................................................... reviews..................................................... 63 Puzzler 66 Jaime Monzon Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest ........................... 40

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cltampa.com/slideshows Restaurants for out of towners

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Gasparilla International Film Festival returns this weekend. By Ray Roa

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ou’ve checked off the parades, distance classic, music festival and arts festival, so now it’s time to take a seat and enjoy the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF). In its 15th year, GIFF opens on Thursday with a VIP reception at the Franklin Exchange Building courtyard, followed by an early screening of period crime drama “Boon,” which actually won’t see widespread release until April 1. In the days leading up to a wrap party at The Vault in downtown Tampa, GIFF will take over University of Tampa’a Charlene A. Gordon Theater, AMC WestShore and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park as it stages screenings of more feature-length films as well as shorts, documentaries, student films and film workshops, too. Individual tickets are available, and passes start at $120. gasparillafilmfestival.com Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop For the last 10 years, the Ybor City Museum Society has showcased historic buildings as part of its “Buildings Alive!” tour, and on Thursday there’s a cool chance to get a guided tour of 10 of the district’s iconic structures (including Centuro Astruriano, The Italian Club and J.C. Newman Cigar Company), plus get admission to a pre-party complete with food, drinks and music. Thursday, March 10, 5 p.m. $65. Ybor City Museum, 1818 E 9th Ave., Ybor City. ybormuseum.org

Jo Koy Koy’s earliest fans remember the days when he’d play Tampa Improv, but the Filipino-American comedian worked his way up to larger venues like Mahaffey Theater and Tampa Theatre and is now headlining Yuengling Center on Saturday— his biggest Bay area show to date. Koy’s comedy has been a window into the lives of the Fil-Am community across the U.S., and in March, the 50-year-old released his first autobiography, “Mixed Plate,” and he just wrapped production on a feature film, “Easter Sunday.” Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m. $45 & up. yuenglingcenter.com Voices of Truth Festival Coming back after its inaugural run last year, Powerstories Theatre’s Voices of Truth festiva kicks off Tuesday and showcases a series of theatrical performances and entertainment offered via both live in theater and virtually. The event will feature eight local and national playwrights joining audiences from around the world to answer questions and talk about their original productions. The festival starts with “‘The Merchant of Venice’” by Shakespeare (or at least our best approximation)” by Atlanta-based playwright D.A. Mindell. March 16 will see New Jersey-based Edgar Chisholm’s “WithOut Love,” a tale of a young girl’s journey to realizing self love through others. March 15-20. $15. 2105 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. powerstories. com—Chloe Greenberg

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GOOD GIFF: ‘Framing Agnes’ screens at UT’s Charlene A. Gordon Theater on March 11.

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Fair weather Photos by Kimberly DeFalco

elebrating its 44th anniversary, the Renaissance Festival runs every weekend through April 3 and transports festivalgoers from Pasco’s Withlacoochee River Park to a magical 16th century European village thanks to over 100 artisans displaying and

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selling goods, characters dressed in medieval costumes interacting with guests around the fair and 15 stages of entertainment including musicians, magicians, jugglers and more. See more photos and get more info via cltampa.com/ slideshows.—Sofía García Vargas

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“I believe all discussion, except involving litigation, must be discussed in the sunshine for the benefit of the public.” POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Dodgy days

Union reps, construction experts speak out over Tampa city staff avoiding ‘City Center’ talks. By Justin Garcia item be pushed to March 17, writing, “I believe all discussion, except involving litigation, must be discussed in the sunshine for the benefit of the public.” At several council meetings and through documents sent to council, experts have claimed the city may have violated Florida law with the city center , which requires public competitive selection of contractors for large construction projects, CL reported in January. DPR was first hired by the city in 2015 for a much smaller project costing roughly $6.2 million. Last year, council approved the extra $102 million to DPR to construct the full-blown city center project, without a pub-

apprenticeship program, which is required by local law, via an ordinance passed unanimously by council last November. “A contract was awarded to a steel erector that did not have state certified apprenticeship program over a contract that did have a state certified apprenticeship program,” McDonnell said. “And we also had nine questions that we would like to have answered.” The union submitted a document back in February, expressing its concerns with DPR and the Hanna Avenue Project. Only one of the union’s nine questions was answered by the

HANNA-D OUT? The bidding process over city center has come under scrutiny. lic Requests for Proposals (RFP) process. The Tampa Bay Times reported that city council was “persuaded by Mayor Jane Castor’s administration” that the cost of the project was worth it at last year’s meeting, and voted unanimously to approve it. Despite the city attorneys bailing on discussion, McDonnell and the families he represents wanted to talk about the project. The union has several questions that have yet to be addressed by the city. Mainly, they are concerned that the city skirted hiring contractors with an

they believe the city is avoiding following the ordinance. After McDonnell spoke, city council members took a moment to address the union’s concerns, but were advised to be careful of how they talk about the city center project publicly, because city attorney Gina Grimes had warned them against that. In response, Gudes became visibly irritated, saying, “This house is responsible for the people’s money. We’re responsible for answers to the people, and I get upset time and time again when we just go on eggshells, or try to put things under the rug.” Gudes said that council “should not be afraid of what the political fallout is” for council doing its job. Councilman Bill Carlson offered a similar sentiment, saying, “We’re not elected to make anybody politically happy. Our job is to protect the public and to represent the public.” Joe Robinson, a local expert on construction who was named in Tampa’s controversial Rome Yard project, also spoke during public comment. He said that a new design-build criteria package should have been put together by the city before awarding DPR Construction the extra $102 million to complete the entire construction project. He also claimed the project’s initial contract documents from 2015 were “fraudulent” and suggested an advisory legal opinion from the Florida Attorney General on the situation. Several other speakers during public comment highlighted similar concerns to Robinson and McDonnell, consistently mentioning the need for transparency in the Hanna Avenue project. Stanley Gray of the Urban League was not at council today, but told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that his questions about the project have largely gone unanswered by the city. Councilman Guido Maniscalco was the only person from the city who met with Gray to address his concerns. “I think the city attorneys are still looking for a solution, probably trying to find out answers to some of the questions that myself and others still have,” he said. CL contacted the city’s communications director for input on the union and construction experts’ claims but has not yet received a response.

LOCAL NEWS

JUSTIN GARCIA

hawn McDonnell, President of the West Central Florida Labor Council, spoke at city council on March 3 to address the union’s concerns with Tampa’s controversial “City Center at Hanna Avenue” project. McDonnell, who was backed by six other union members as he spoke during public comment, said that the union represents over 100,000 working families in the area, and that the leadership of the union questions the legality of the city’s project. Mayor Jane Castor’s city attorneys were requested by council to address the concerns publicly today at the council meeting, but then advised that they would not attend via a memo sent to city council on Tuesday. The memo said that no laws were violated when the city pursued the project. (See a copy of the memo, plus response from Councilchair Orlando Gudes via cltampa.com/news.) But McDonnell, along with other leaders and experts in the community, claim that the process behind the 11-acre project in East Seminole Heights—which will house hundreds of city employees—is riddled with problems that haven’t been answered by the city. “It seems like we’re just going to kick the can down the road until this job’s finished,” McDonnnell said. “I’ve been down this road before seen it happen across the bay, I’m just confused as to where this is going.” When the city attorneys refused to speak at council in the memo, they also told council members that they should not speak about rescinding their vote to approve the $108 million dollar project—which was handed to DPR Construction last year in a no bid contract—citing legal concerns. “The Consultant’s Competitive Negotiation Act was followed and there is no legal basis to terminate or rescind the award of the contract for the Hanna Avenue project,” city attorneys wrote in a memo. “In addition, the city’s new apprenticeship ordinance does apply to this contract, and DPR will comply with that ordinance in connection with the construction of the project.” The memo said that the statement should serve in place of the administration’s legal team making an appearance at council to discuss the issue. Councilchair Orlando Gudes then wrote a response requesting that the agenda

city, which McDonnell read out loud to council. “It stated the city and DPR both affirm that the Hanna Avenue Project is subjected to the city’s newly enacted apprenticeship ordinance and requirements,” he said. “The apprenticeship program is currently being reviewed by the city staff to ensure that it complies with the city’s requirements, and that it’ll be consistent with the intent of the city’s apprenticeship ordinance prior to commencement of the construction project.” But the construction on the site has already begun, and McDonnell and his union said that

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CITY OF TAMPA/TWITTER

METERED RESPONSE: Changes to free parking concern some Ybor City workers.

Spot check

City of Tampa to reduce free parking in Ybor City by 26%. By Justin Garcia

n Feb. 28, the City of Tampa announced that the free two hour street parking will be removed in Ybor, and that city parking lots can be used instead of the street spots. Starting March 14, Ybor City parking lots 3, 5 and 6 will instead offer two hours of free parking (it’ll be $1 an hour after the first two hours). Street parking, meanwhile, will change to $1.50 an hour. The city will also create an additional 100 new street parking spaces in the Ybor, all of which will require payment. The city confirmed to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the changes mean a drop in the overall number of free parking spaces in the historic district. According to numbers from the city’s parking division, 279 free two hour street parking spaces are currently available now; after the changes, lots 3, 5 and 6 will hold just 205 free parking spaces—a 26% difference. In a press release, the city said that the change will make it easier to find a parking space, reduce traffic congestion and create additional parking spaces in the business corridor of Ybor City.

“This is going to be instrumental in stopping the constant traffic congestion Ybor City drivers are facing as drivers scan the streets for free parking,” wrote Fed Revolte, Parking Manager for the City of Tampa. “We know this will make it easier to find a parking spot and also provide additional free parking in our cityowned parking lots.” Revolte estimated the project could reduce traffic congestion in the Ybor Business District by as much as 30%, but the new parking plan has raised concerns from workers and businesspeople in the area. Emilie Schiller works as a bartender in Ybor. She and her co-workers often move their cars to different free street parking spots to save money. If they go the traditional route of paying for parking, it cuts into their paycheck. Schiller says that when she and fellow co-workers pull a 13-hour shift, the price of parking can add up. “We’re talking over $100 a week or more,” Schiller told CL On top of personal costs, she thinks the removal of free street parking will only deter people who want

LOCAL NEWS

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to come to Ybor for lunch and other quick visits, potentially affecting business in the area. Schiller considers herself lucky because she can walk to work from her house, but it’s often safer for her to drive. She feels that she might have to start choosing between her safety and paying for parking more often. “At three or four o’clock in the morning whenever all the clubs are getting out, it’s been an unsafe situation several times, and I’d rather just drive home,” she said. In response to concerns of employees affording parking in Ybor, City of Tampa Marketing and Communications Media Relations Manager Lauren Rozyla told CL that there’s parking available for employees in Ybor’s parking garages for $31.19 a month. But business owners have to reach out to the city’s parking division to get their employees involved. According to the city’s numbers, there are just 33 spaces left at the discounted rate during the 4:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m. hours. The city said that it has been presenting to Ybor business owners in the district with community listening sessions and made two presentations to the Ybor City Community Advisory Committee.

“We know these changes will help increase parking turnover in the business district of Ybor City,” said Vik Bhide, Mobility Director for the City of Tampa. “This will especially help with the lack of freight and loading and unloading spots for businesses.” Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar and spokesperson for the Ybor Merchant’s Association, doesn’t agree that the changes are being made to help the business owners there. “There were a lot of people who were saying, ‘Please do not put these meters in here’,” DeGeorge said. “But they’re doing it anyway.” DeGeorge said that he doesn’t think the city is taking into consideration how the changes affect himself and other business owners in Ybor. He pointed out that the reduction in free parking comes off the heels of the city’s controversial noise ordinance, and that it creates an unfair advantage to other areas, where many businesses have their own parking lots. “Ybor wasn’t designed like other parts of the city, we’re an entertainment district,” he said. “And now, they’re taking away a significant amount of our free parking, which will only push more people away.”

“This is going to be instrumental in stopping the constant traffic congestion Ybor City drivers are facing as drivers scan the streets for free parking.”

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Temp help

Renters in Tampa and Hillsborough offered $28 million in assistance. By Justin Garcia and Sofía García Vargas

illsborough County and the City of Tampa have received an additional $28 million in federal funding to assist renters during the housing crisis, and are calling on those in need to apply for help. As of March 1 tenants seeking financial assistance can once again apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The ERAP program began in 2020, when the pandemic tanked the economy and tenants found themselves struggling to pay rent. The program was put on hold after the initial $53.8 million in federal funding was used to help pay rents and utilities. “The ERAP program aims to prevent residents from experiencing further financial hardship or additional consequences to living conditions by providing eligible and approved households financial assistance for rent and TECO electric bills,” Hillsborough County said in a press release. “Prospective rental payments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.” The county said currently due rents will be paid, along with past-due rent payments for renters who are unable or who will be unable to stay current on payments. up to three months, and that “Assistance provided can be up to 12 months of past-due rent from March 13, 2020 or later, per household.” The assistance also aims to help those who are at risk of eviction. Additional fees, such as late rent fees, will also be considered for payment through the program. The county said that landlords play an essential role in ERAP and are, “encouraged to actively participate to be eligible for funding.”

“Registration is required for landlords to participate as a vendor in the program and receive funds directly on behalf of their approved tenants,” the county wrote. Tenants and landlords can register for the ERAP program at Hillsborough County’s website, hillsboroughcounty.org (visit this story on cltampa.com/news to find more links). Over the past year, rents have skyrocketed as landlords in Tampa Bay have increased the cost of rent by an average of 24%. The effects of the housing crisis during an ongoing pandemic and rapidly increasing rents have had widespread negative effects on renters in Tampa Bay. According to Hillsborough and Pinellas Clerk of Court records, over 8,400 Writs of Possession—the final stage in the eviction process—were issued in 2021. Thousands more evictions were filed with the courts and are being processed. Last month, a Online Mortgage Advisor study found that Tampa is the fourth worst city in the U.S. when it comes to changes in renting affordability. The “2022 Priced Out Property” report analyzed purchase data in 218 cities around the world and rental data in 345 cities. The study compared each city’s average monthly net salary to the average rental cost of a onebedroom apartment in a city center between 2017 and 2021. The report found that in that time period, Tampa’s rental affordability worsened by 5.2%, growing from 36% to 42%. The findings display the severity of being rent burdened, which according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, happens when over 30% of income is spent on rent.

HOUSING

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COBBLE IT TOGETHER: The ERAP program began in 2020.

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spotcrime.com

Blood and oil, the remix

I’m not sure there is a good solution for Russia, let alone a quick one. By Jeffrey C. Billman as Putin’s propagandist: lobbying for Russia to rejoin the G-8, defending Putin’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, and praising him as strong. Trump’s supporters likewise found a fellow traveler in the exKGB man. “Christian” leader Franklin Graham applauded Putin’s crackdown on the LGBTQ community, and Tucker Carlson accused Ukraine of being a “pure client state of the United States State Department.” But Trump is now reduced to discussing global affairs with an aging golf pro and

INFORMED DISSENT

The price of oil, which has been spiking since the Ukraine crisis began, would soar, raising prices at the pump. The Biden administration, which has been trying to tamp down concerns about inflation, would suddenly have to contend with $4.50/gallon gas until production elsewhere kicked in. And, of course, the most hawkish Republican today will blame Biden for his F-450’s gas bill tomorrow. A real embargo would also require the European Union to play ball, and the EU is very dependent on Russian natural gas. There are ways to accomplish this goal, especially in the short term. But they won’t be easy or cheap, and sacrifice in the name of far-away humanitarianism isn’t an easy political sell, no matter the cause. Were we—as a country, as a civilization— able to take the longer view, this would be yet another lesson in the dire need to abandon fos-

“Were we able to take the longer view, this would be yet another lesson in the dire need to abandon fossil fuels.”

REMY STEINEGGER/CC BY-SA 2.0

aving spent the last week earning my Ph.D. in Kremlinology from the University of Google, I’ll now explain how to quickly remove Russia from Ukraine without escalating the war into a continental or global or nuclear fight. — OK, I won’t. I’m not sure there is a good solution, let alone a quick one. If Russia didn’t have a nuclear arsenal that could wipe out life on Earth, Vladimir Putin wouldn’t have dared thumb his nose at NATO. If the West hadn’t pressured Ukraine into giving up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s, Russian forces wouldn’t be (slowly) trudging their way toward Kyiv. Then again, if an unstable, often corrupt breakaway Soviet republic had kept its nukes back then, who knows what might have happened? The experts I read and follow seem to think that Putin has already lost, at least in terms of long-term geopolitical goals. The economic sanctions—which this weekend he likened to an act of war—will devastate Russia’s economy. The Russian military has proven to be both inept—bogging down before reaching Kyiv, its supply lines running thin—and brutal, committing war crimes streamed live on the internet. “Winning” Ukraine will commit the Russians to fighting a years-long insurgency backed by Western money and guns (and covert operatives) while leaving the country isolated—except, perhaps, from China. To understand how badly things are going for the Kremlin, you need only see the country’s devolution from authoritarianism to totalitarianism in a week, with dissent made illegal, protesters arrested and subjected to lengthy prison terms, and independent media banned. That’s not the sort of thing countries waging righteous, victorious campaigns do. For the first time since Sept. 12, 2001, the West is unified against a common foe in a conflict with little moral gray area. This wasn’t the plan. Putin’s investment in Donald Trump was designed to weaken NATO, softening the ground for an expansion of Russian power into Ukraine. Had Trump been reelected, according to former national security adviser John Bolton, he would have abandoned the alliance. And it’s worth noting that Trump was first impeached for threatening to withhold defensive weapons from Ukraine unless Ukraine’s president ginned up dirt on Trump’s political adversary. Trump didn’t just spend his presidency disrupting Western alliances. He also acted

enemy might not end well—the two other requests he made to Congress in a Zoom call last week have merit. First: Give them jets—surplus Russian-made Warsaw Pact jets, precisely. There’s no reason not to. Second: Embargo Russian oil and gas. That, as Oleg Ustenko explains in Project Syndicate, would doom Putin’s military adventurism, and quite possibly the regime itself. Ustenko writes: “Russia continues to export oil and gas. Indeed, the war has boosted the price for these products, benefiting the most important sector of the Russian economy. So, a week after it began, Western energy consumption is still financing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian elite is doing better than ever. There is no way around it: The only way to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression is to impose a comprehensive boycott on all Russian energy products.”

PUTIN IN MY MOUTH: Shut down Putin’s oil, and the war ends. musing about framing China for attacks on Russia—which is, to be fair, the kind of strategy I might have conceived in sixth grade. While the West has good reasons not to give Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy the no-fly zone he wants—an actual act of war against an increasingly desperate nuclear

In January, oil and gas tariffs accounted for nearly half of Russia’s budget. If they go away, the government will collapse. That seems like a no-brainer. The U.S. could impose a sanctions scheme that, if fully enforced, would prevent Russian oil producers from profiting off of supply shortages. The problem: price.

sil fuels. Beyond the fact that burning them is literally killing our planet, their production tends to enrich and empower the worst people. (It’s hard to imagine a war for solar panels.) So long as there is oil, blood will be spilled to keep it flowing, whether in the Middle East or Eastern Europe.

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22 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

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Shit Happened MONDAY 07

FULL LIQUOR BAR - HAPPY HOUR - OUTDOOR DINING

Florida’s Coke can of a governor huffs and puffs at Tampa high school students wearing masks behind him in a press conference at USF—just like an old man stumbling into a Hot Topic and yelling at a group of teens for wearing something he doesn’t like, except this time with health consequences.

State Rep. Jackie Toledo, a Republican from Tampa, says she’ll run for Congress this year instead of seeking another term in the Florida House. Naturally, her announcement video includes a cloud of conservative buzzwords like “wokeism,” “capitalism,” “individual freedom,” gas prices and more. Pretty miraculous that she didn’t say “Let’s Go Brandon” at the end. TOLEDOFORTAMPA/TWITTER

EVANDONOVAN/TWITTER

cozy, modern, Italian-American eatery thin-crust pizza & Italian classics

WEDNESDAY 02

Tim Burton’s 1990 goth classic “Edward Scissorhands” was filmed all around Tampa Bay, and now the famous Lutz house from the movie is once again for sale, complete with the movie props from the owner who turned the house into a museum about the movie. At just under $700K, it would be a shame if the new owner did just tear it down.

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An annual report from Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism says Florida witnessed a 70% jump in white supremacist incidents in 2021. But, uh, “let us alone,” right, Ronnie?

PETA/TWITTER

FRIDAY 04

After a lengthy PETA campaign Publix drops controversial coconut milk brand Chaokoh, which has been accused of using monkey slave labor. Don’t worry though, you can still get that shit at Walmart. More shit, right at the end of Florida’s legislative session, via cltampa.com/news.

Celebrating 23 years in Downtown Dunedin. ~ Asi es la Vida! ~

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Smoked for hours. Served in minutes. Willie Jewell’s is the Fast Casual sister concept of the 71-year-old Southern Pit Bar-B-Q legend Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q, and like Bono’s, Willie Jewell’s smokes all their BBQ the oldfashioned way, the low and slow method. Largo: 9040 Ulmerton ROAd • Largo, FL • 33771 Seminole: 7724 113th StREET NO. • Seminole, FL • 33772 Riverview: 10787 Big Bend ROAD • Riverview, FL • 33579 Carrollwood: 12004 Anderson ROAD • Tampa, FL • 33624

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DINING GUIDE Women-Owned

RESTAURANTS

RECIPES

DINING GUIDES

What’s cookin’

Tampa Bay’s essential women-owned restaurants of 2022. By Sofía García Vargas and Brandalynn Nuñez Cepeda

t’s easy to see why Tampa Bay’s womenowned restaurants are making a huge mark on an otherwise male-dominated history. Since March is Women’s History Month, we thought we’d take a look at how these local spots, and there’s a lot, are serving up some of the area’s best eats. Keep this guide to patronize these spots all year long. 2D Cafe Maria Merello The 2D Cafe will offer coffee, espresso, tea, pastries and light bites in the two-dimensional

illusion setting. 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @the2Dcafe on Instagram 7th and Grove Vondalyn Crawford and Khalilaa McDuffie This “adult-friendly” space brings a southern menu, warm ambiance and craft cocktails to Ybor City where Crawford and McDuffie are two-thirds of an ownership group that’s changed the corner of 7th and 21st. 1930 E 7th Ave, Ybor City, 813-649-8422. 7thandgrove.com

Bake’n Babes Julie Curry Curry’s salted chocolate chip cookie has been voted Best of the Bay and other colorful baked goods don’t fall behind. Bake’n Babes also offers CBD creations such as their CBD chocolate chip cookie and CBD gummy worms at its locations in Armature Works and on Davis Islands. Multiple locations. bakenbabes.com Baba and Bodega Debbie Sayegh Owned by New York natives Debbie and George Sayegh, Bodega and Baba bring a culinary twist to St. Pete’s food scene with two unique themes based around Latin street food and Greek and Lebanese cuisine. Bodega, and its Cuban sandwich, have built a loyal following, allowing the restaurant to expand to a second location in

Seminole Heights. Bodega 1180 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-623-0942. eatatbodega.com. Baba 2701 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-9543406. eatatbaba.com The Battery and The C House Danna Hayder Champagne, charcuterie, and cheesecake–try to say that three times fast. Dana Hayder came up with the kooky idea for C House after realizing all the foods she wished to add to her dessert lounge concept started with the letter ‘C’. Cheesy mac, ceviche, and candied lamb pops are some of the few alphabetical items on this niche concept menu. The menu at her Sparkman Wharf sitdown concept The Battery uses all the letters of the alphabet, and has been dazzling denizens of downtown since opening late last year. The continued on page 30

CIGAR CITY SECRET: Fresh off a Cooking Channel appearance, 7th + Grove has changed Ybor’s corner of 7th and 21st.

C/O 7TH+GROVE

cltampa.com | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | 27

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28 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

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Battery 615 Channelside Dr., Tampa, 813-4980008. thebatterytpa.com. C House 6005 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-488-4813. thechouse.com Beans & Barlour Story Stuart In the heart of downtown St. Petersburg you can find the bagel and boozy dessert cafe. With a history in the Disney sector of hospitality, it’s no surprise Stuart found a way to emulate that kind of magic in her shop’s “epic” milkshakes. 407 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 727-440-4540. beansandbarlour.com Book + Bottle Terra Dunham In Book + Bottle’s “thought-provoking” environment you’ll be inspired to get stuff done while enjoying a glass of its wide selection of wine. Get inspired by the knowledge oozing from its books and participate in its book and wine club and other special events celebrated throughout the year. 17 6th St N, St. Petersburg, 727-240-7448. bookandbottlestpete.com Cassis Erica Benstock French refinement with a modern American style. Erica Benstock, co-owner of the restaurant/bakery and neighboring space Il Ritorno, intends to elevate the dining expectations for all foodies that step foot into her establishment. 170 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, 727-827-2927. cassisstpete.com

current and modern cuisine with fine ingredients, precise execution and creativity. Just as inventive is Pierola’s Edison long-running concept only two-and-a-half miles away. Counter Culture 2909 W Bay to Bay Blvd. Suite 100, Tampa, 813-570-8660. cc-tampa.com. Edison: Food+Drink Lab 912 W Kennedy Dr., Tampa, 813-254-7111. edison-tampa.com Curious Cat Bakery Natalia Lima Inspired by her struggle to find vegan-friendly desserts, Natalia Lima created a menu that is 100% free of dairy, eggs and animal products. 7097 30th Ave N, St. Petersburg, 201-679-7088. curiouscatbakery.com CW’s Gin Joint Carolyn Wilson Carolyn Wilson–or C.W. for short–has crafted a sophisticated bar experience without the pretentiousness. Enjoy a house-classic old fashioned or gin and tonic and disappear into the ambience. 633 N Franklin St, Tampa, 813-816-1446. cwginjoint.com

GOLDDINOS/FACEBOOK

continued from page 27

Datz Suzanne Perry Setting off a domino effect of innovation in the local food scene, Suzanne Perry has turned her “foodie wonderland” into a multi-location chain. Commuters of Tampa may not need to drive too far to grab an Insta-worthy “Cinny bunny” mocktail or “Datzshuka” with their St. Pete and Riverview locations popping up due to demand at the Macdill Ave location. Multiple locations. datztampa.com

DINING GUIDE Women-Owned

Catrinas Tacos and Tequila Bar Karol Ortiz and Tisbeth Mejia With family recipes from Guadalajara, Mexico, chef Tisbeth Mejia creates renown hand-crafted tacos, homemade moles and salsas, enchiladas and tamales with fresh ingredients and imported spices. The “folk and eclectic” theme of the restaurant emphasizes the culture’s famous holiday “Día de los Muertos” in a casual environment. 1611 N Howard Ave., Tampa, 813898-8628. catrinasgroup.com Chief’s Creole Cafe Carolyn Brayboy Keeping her late mother-in-law’s recipes alive, Brayboy offers Southern staples like Jambo—a Jambalaya and Gumbo hybrid—and beignets. 901 22nd St S, St. Petersburg, 727-498-8979. chiefscreole.com Counter Culture and Edison: Food + Drink Lab Jeannie Pierola Counter Culture, an upscale eatery on Bay to Bay features dishes from five-time James Beard Awards finalist, Jeannie Pierola, who creates

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Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe Melissa Deming With a menu inspired by road trip pit stops and decor to honor the musically inclined, this southern cafe harbors a creative space for local artists. Shrimp-topped cheese grits and chicken and waffle “sammys” can be had alongside the live music often hosted at the eatery. Do yourself a favor and do a bloody mary at the Sunday brunch, too. 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, 813234-1000. ellasfolkartcafe.com Fly Bar and Hotel Bar Leslie Shirah Culbreath The drink collection of Hotel Bar extends from Chile to the Port of Spain in Trinidad, but it’s also not afraid to get super classy with its Sunday late night happy hour which includes Hot Pockets and Slim Jims. Cocktails, wines and beer elevate the experience to a tipsy point, and if you want to check in with Culbreath’s original venture, see the recently relocated Fly bar near the University of Tampa. Fly Bar 442

NOT-CHO CHEESE: Vegan buffalo jackfruit nachos at Golden Dinosaurs. W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-803-8550. flyrestauranttampa.com. Hotel Bar 200 N Tampa St., Tampa, 813-999-4080. hotelbartampa.com Girl And A Grill April Page Page’s breakfast spot offers specialty breakfast plates, homemade pancakes and made-to-order omelets and other breakfast bites like biscuits, grits, croissants and hash browns. 4330 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-693-9181. @girlandagrill813 on Facebook Golden Dinosaurs Audrey Dingeman Created by Audrey Dingeman and husband Brian, Golden Dinos is a vegan restaurant fit for anyone down to try a vegan twist to traditional food, like their house marinated tempeh bacon, tempeh reuben, seitan steak and more. 2930 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 727-873-6901. goldendinosaurs.com

Graze 1910 Lauren Menendez Tampa’s highly regarded Armature Works food hall is one of two homes to the brunch joint. Whether you find yourself in the Heights hall or in the South Tampa storefront, the quality menu Menendez has crafted is present in both locations. A prosecco-soaked artisan popsicle from The Hyppo is a must-have from the restaurant. Multiple locations. graze1910.com HaleLife Bakery Laura McCutcheon Three locations across Tampa Bay focus on those living with food restrictions, as McCutcheon and her son experience this on the daily as they both suffer from Celiac disease. HaleLife’s focus on safe ingredients and phenomenal taste and texture has earned them national recognition by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals with continued on page 33

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32 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

ON HER OWN: Veronica Danko’s team has made Independent a Seminole Heights destination. continued from page 30 their Tiramisu Trifle. A St. Pete bistro should open this year. 2425 S Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 727-265-3372. halelifebakery.com Harvest Bowl Eatery and Market Atheer and Athar Neif Established by sisters Atheer and Athar Neif, Harvest Bowl bases around fresh eats with signature build your own and acai bowls. On its market side, guests can enjoy specialty foods, produce and juices. 6109 N Florida Ave, Tampa, 813-512-8306. theharvestbowl.com Independent Bar & Cafe Veronica Danko With a fun indoor-outdoor environment and wide selection of drinks and bites, this neighborhood staple European-inspired bar and cafe offers

wine, beer, coffee and pastries with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options fit for everyone. 5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-341-4883. independentbartampa.com Island Flavors and Tings Helena Josephs Helena Josephs brings the cultural richness of the Caribbean Islands and translates them into exotic and unique flavors. 1411 49th St S, Gulfport, 727-804-1849. islandflavorsandtings.com

she brought an aesthetic and Instagramable location to Tampa. Lady and The Mug offers espresso, coffee and non-coffee drinks as well as vegan and gluten-free food fit for everyone. 510 W Grand Central Ave., Tampa, 813-374-4871. ladyandthemug.com Lolita’s Wine Market and Sammy + Paco’s Kelly RodriguezLaureano Pet lover Kelly Rodriguez-Laureano along with husband and chef Alex Rodriguez created Lolita’s Wine Market and Sophia’s Cucina + Enoteca inspired by their two dogs. They also own a kitschy bakery concept in honor of their cats, Sammy + Paco’s. Lolita’s 16 18th St S, St. Petersburg, 727-5050503. lolitaswinemarket.com. Sammy + Paco’s

DINING GUIDE Women-Owned

Lady and The Mug Aimee Tarte Tarte followed her dream of creating a specialty coffee shop and when it became a reality,

MARLO MILLER

2735 5th Ave N no. 100, St. Petersburg. @sammyandpacos on Facebook Main Course Ashley Suttle Suttle is the badass veteran behind this favorite haunt of the “Selling Tampa” realtors. Boujee bites such as lobster waffles with champagne syrup or “fire and ice” sweet potato fries can be found on its menu. 4205 S MacDill Ave. Unit H, Tampa, 813-898-2106. maincourserestaurants.net Michelle Faedo’s Tampeño Cuisine Michelle Faedo The restaurant location in downtown Tampa at the County Center offers made-to-order bites like tostones, plantains, deviled crab, crab cakes and continued on page 36

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34 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

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Co-owner Allison Casper Adams mastered the art of turning historic spaces into a curation of hospitality and class. The regal afternoon tea service and now open Champagne Bar are some of Oxford’s can’t-miss details. 420 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, 813-253-0222. oxfordexchange.com Pop Goes the Waffle Sara Fludd Fludd is a powerhouse in the Bay area after the grand success of her “liege waffle” franchise. Her brick and mortar storefront is now open and, first-timers should stop by and try a flavor from the diverse menu of flavors which includes strawberry and peach cobbler topped waffles. 5004 Tangerine Ave. S, Gulfport. popgoesthewaffle.com Psomi Christina Theofilos Psomi aims to keep up with tradition by offering recipes coming directly from Christina Theofilos’ mother and grandmother, while others are inspired by the greater Mediterranean region. Enjoy dishes that are too hard to pronounce and other classics like gyros, dips and salads. 701 N Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-841-5555. eatpsomi.com

Stella’s Barbara Banno Inspired by her aunt Stella’s dedication to others, Banno created Stella’s for guests to feel “like family, and the food would remind them of home.” 2914 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 727-4988950. stellasingulfport.com Sucré Table Brenda Villacorta Started by her mother Giovanna Smith after immigrating from Peru, Villacorta continued Sucré Table and offers baked goods, pastries, cakes and others inspired by her extensive experience in the industry. 4048 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-374-5643. sucretable.com Sunshine Kitty Catfe Amanda Jones The Sunshine Kitty Catfe provides a welcoming and relaxed space that combines cats, coffee and community. Amanda Jones’ concept revolves around the primary goal of promoting rescue animal adoption by “providing adoptable cats socialization and exposure to potential adopters in a stimulating, cage-free foster home.” Interaction with cats also brings scientifically-proven benefits to humans, promoting health, wellness and joy. 1669 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg. sunshinekittycatfe.com

DINING GUIDE Women-Owned

SUCRETABLE/FACEBOOK

Queen of Sheba Seble Gizaw Ethiopian fragrances, seasonings and warmth fill up the air to immerse guests in the exotic world of Queen of Sheba. The restaurant offers staples such as Queen’s Lamb Tibs and Shrimp Wot. 11001 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, 813-8726000. ethiopianrestauranttampa.com Restaurant BT BT Nguyen The Vietnamese-French fusion spot showcases its flare through its black truffle burrata and crispy beef dumplings. And behind the magic is Vietnamese chef and former fashion designer B.T. Nguyen’s whose venture into restauranteering has brought stellar results. 2507 S MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-258-1916. restaurantbt.com

TABLE TALK: At Sucré Table Brenda Villacorta carries on tradition from her Peruvian mother Giovanna Smith. continued from page 33 its famous Cuban sandwiches. 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-284-5756. michelle-faedos. business.site Mise en Place Maryann Ferenc Ferenc brought New American cuisine and Chef Marty Blitz to Tampa in 1992. The concoctions of

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food and drinks are deserving for the celebration of a special occasion with a hand-crafted meal and high-end wine. A true pioneer of the Tampa Bay culinary scene. 442 W Grand Central Ave., Tampa, 813-254-5373. miseonline.com Oxford Exchange Allison Casper Adams Afternoon tea in the greenhouse anyone?

Shuffle Danielle O’Connor and Jennifer Evanchyk Founded by two of the most badass women and moms in the 813, Shuffle is a shuffleboard bar, of course, but also a neighborhood staple that’s home for various local musicians including a Tuesday night open mic that’s one of the best in Tampa Bay. The kitchen, run by a worthy man, Anson Mitchell, serves what the Shuffle calls “glorified concession food” like spaghetti sandwiches and a loaded grilled cheese—and yes, it’s glorious, indeed. 2612 N Tampa St, Tampa, 813-450-3797. shuffletampa.com

Tara’s Roti Shop Sara Maraj Sara Maraj is carrying the legacy her mother built upon serving Caribbean eats with a warm and motherly cadence. Curry shrimp and stewed oxtail roti keep loyal customers coming back for more. 10006 N 30th St, Tampa, 813-866-8272. @tarasrotishop on Facebook This Momma Cooks & Co. Anastasia Thompson This Momma Cooks & Co offers custom cakes, cupcakes and treats perfect for those with an uncontrollable sweet tooth. 12081 Seminole Blvd., Largo, 727-417-8482. @thismommacooksandco on Facebook Three Generation’s Food Truck Melissa Gardner Chef Mel offers mouth watering dishes at the Three Generation’s Food Truck, from bacon, egg and grits to fried lobster shrimp fries. 2830 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, 727-254-8104. @threegenerationsfoodtruck on Facebook Valhalla Bakery Celine Duvoisin Valhalla Bakery specializes in vegan doughnuts, cupcakes and “decadent” desserts. 2462 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 727-954-4792. valhallabakery.com

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“I also think that writing the song is never something that’s just going to fix problems in my life.” REVIEWS

PROFILES

MUSIC WEEK

Choking on truths

Soccer Mommy brings devastatingly emotional 2020 album to Tampa. By Ray Roa

What’s your relationship with color theory right now as you take it on this next leg? Honestly, when we were first about to start touring again I was kind of wondering if I was about to be sick of this shit a little bit. Just because usually by the time that we’re about to start a new album, I’m tired of playing the songs—and I had been playing them solo through the pandemic a little bit on lives and stuff like that—but honestly, just getting to actually work them out with the band and start playing shows again has been really fun. I’m definitely gonna keep playing a lot of other color theory stuff and keep

playing some clean stuff as well. There’s songs we brought back that we haven’t played in a while. Tour is a weird thing because all of a sudden you’re on a lot of other people’s time, sharing space and stuff. Is it still possible to take care of yourself properly on the road? Have you figured out that routine?

come to realizations. I spend a lot of time just kind of running through a lot in my brain. It definitely gives me inspiration to put that down and try to basically take all these thoughts and weave them together and find a conclusion, so Soccer Mommy Your writing fulfills this that I can stop wonderw/Peel Dream Magazine deep-seated need for ing, and trying to find out Tuesday, March 15. 6 p.m. $22-$25 self-reflection, to be how I feel on things and Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City foryourfriends.net harsh and honest about get to my destination. It’s “flaws” so you can better definitely something that them—but at the same time, outside of some comes a lot from myself and things I deal with, of color theory, usually, writing doesn’t actu- but I also think that writing the song is never

INTERVIEW

ROD MILLINGTON

he sound of Tibetan bowls and the glow of a phone might emanate from a few Florida hotel rooms this week, and you’ll have Sophie Allison to thank for that. At her increasingly goth Nashville home, the 25-year-old principal of Soccer Mommy uses the bowls to relax and get sleep. But they won’t be on the gear list or rider for a six-date run through the Sunshine State that starts this weekend and stops in Ybor City on Tuesday. Instead, Allison has to listen to the sound on YouTube. “But you can’t lock your phone,” Allison laughed as she told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about her routine on tour. “So if I listen to it at night, I can’t shut my phone, which is terrible for the battery, but the video is called ‘Rain in Woods + Tibetan bowls’—that’s the best one.” Allison’s fans have undoubtedly spent many of their own evenings with Soccer Mommy’s 2020 album, color theory, a devastatingly piercing and personal album with even more of the emotional weight of the band’s breakthrough effort (Clean, 2018) juxtaposed with a more experimental—and bright—approach to composition. When she hits Florida stages after an opening set from Los Angeles band Peel Dream Magazine, it’ll be the first time many of her fans will be seeing the songs performed outside of a livestream. Over the course of 20 minutes, Allison talked about how she keeps her body’s battery charged on the road, how color theory songs have aged and revealed that Soccer Mommy already has a new album in the bag. Read abridged highlights from our chat below and see the full Q&A via cltampa.com/music.

day. That stuff just kind of doesn’t only weigh on you. When people are in a bad mood, and you’re all stuck in like a band together for six hours driving somewhere, and everybody’s grumpy, it’s not fun for anybody.

I WANNA BE CALM: Sophie Allison with Soccer Mommy during a 2018 set in St. Augustine. I think I have. I didn’t always. I think that something that’s extremely important on tour is getting sleep when you can and not eating a bunch of junk food and stuff—like trying to get nutrients and vitamins. And not drinking a ton; if you drink a bunch every night, you’re gonna have trouble sleeping, probably, and then you’re gonna be tired the whole next

ally change anything for you. Does that still hold true? If so, what have your new songs done for you lately? I guess it’s not like I sit down and I start writing and suddenly I’m realizing all these things. It’s more like, I get inspiration from writing my reflective thoughts. I think about things and come to conclusions about life and

something that’s just going to fix problems in my life—I’m sure it’s not like that for anyone else, either. Just coming to an end or getting all your thoughts down on a page doesn’t fix whatever you’ve been thinking about or fix your anxieties or any of that stuff. Having self reflection lets you be mindful and aware of what’s going on in your head, basically.

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THU MARCH 10–WED MARCH 16 By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C

CL Recommends

THU 10

C The 502s w/Of Good Nature Maitlandbased quintet The 502s is no stranger to Tampa Bay, having headlined numerous WMNF-sponsored events and nearly selling out Hooch and Hive just a few months ago. The band released a new album in October, Could It Get Better Than This, which may be a bit of a controversial question to ask in 2022, but that aside, you can catch the band’s feelgood indie-pop after an opening set by North Carolina funk-soul-reggae set Of Good Nature. (Crowbar, Ybor City) Steel Panther Face it: Bassist Lexxi Foxx is never coming back to Steel Panther. He’s been replaced by two guys with just as ridiculous names, Rikki Dazzle and Rikki Thrash. Sometimes it does take two to replace one (ask Fleetwood Mac), but to be honest, when you release a guitar tone called the “Pussy Melter,” maybe it’s time to drop the ego. If that’s something you’re into, the comedic glam stars are back in St. Pete for the

second time in COVID-era America. Right before the celebratory end of 2020, the band rocked Jannus with a special guest spot from wrestler Chris Jericho present to help out on covers of Van Halen and Judas Priest. Maybe it’ll be Hulk Hogan this time around. You all know damn well that anything can happen in Florida. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

FRI 11

C Graham Nash In the last 365 days, both David Crosby and Graham Nash celebrated their respective 80th birthdays. They didn’t celebrate together—and not because of COVID. Nash, along with Stephen Stills and Neil Young, hate Crosby’s guts, and will most likely never sing another note together. The guys—with the possible exception of Young—all keep the music of Crosby, Stills, and Nash alive on their own while onstage, but no one does it better than Nash. The guy who wrote so many CSN classics you know and love (“Teach Your Children,” “Marrakesh Express”) is in Tampa Bay for the first time since celebrating his 74th birthday in downtown Clearwater back in 2016. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

C K.III w/Chael Blinya/Brianna Tam/ Intelle’Q/Sponatola/more After a critically acclaimed performance at Gasparilla Music Festival just a few weeks ago, Tampa-born Kenneth Lighon III—a.k.a. K.III—is hitting streaming services for the first time this week. A Wave Theory artist, he’s been playing live around Tampa Bay since being a poet in high school, but finally got into Dap Lyfe Studios to create his debut album with producer Mike Mass. After what feels like forever, K.III is finally hosting a release party for Chillin’ & Maintainin’ Friday night at Crowbar. Joining him will be Ghanian-American rapper Chael Blinya, classical cellist and composer Brianna Tam, and Intelle’q. Way to mix it up, Ken. (Crowbar, Ybor City) Tribal Style A good chunk of the local musicians around here are alternative rock, hip-hop, or death metal. Unfortunately, it’s easy to forget that there are some reggae names in Tampa Bay that need as much light as the rockers around here. As part of WTR Pool’s month-long Reggae on the WTR series, Tribal Style will be headline a free show just off the Courtney Campbell Causeway this Friday, a week after The Intracoastals did the same thing. (WTR Pool, Tampa)

SAT 12

C ADJY w/House of I/Meare If you’re looking for a band that cares not for its origin story and more for the music it makes, look no further than ADJY. The Appalachia chamber-pop band has the kind of bio that would confuse James Joyce, and a sound that’s as complicated as principal Christopher Noyes’ lyrics. ADJY’s 2021 album The Idyll Opus (I -VI) features a 17-minute closer (“Eve Beneath the Maple Tree”) and a six-minute canon version of older music (“In Media Res (Between Longing and Mystery)”) all driven by a mountain-born ensemble featuring contrabass, fiddle, cello, harp, various woodwinds and horns, and even a sawblade. If Joni Mitchell was born in the Pitchfork era and liked to do mushrooms responsibly, she’d probably be in the ADJY lineup, and I definitely wouldn’t blame her. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) JASON RYAN / GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL

K.III

C Tampa Bay Beer Week Night of Metal: Trivium w/Mutilated Grist/The Path of Increased Indifference/Quasi Mojo It’s time to get off Twitch and go see Matt Heafy in real life. The 36-year-old hardrocker was able to turn his everyday life (think: getting the kids out of bed, fucking around with gear and playing first-person shooter games) into revenue during the pandemic (Loudwire put Heafy’s haul at $10,000 a month, just $1,000 less than his band brings in on streaming services). The Orlando band plays one hell of a non-traditional venue this weekend as part of Tampa Bay Beer Week. Opening is an outfit with Deviant Libation Brewer Tim Ogden in the lineup (The Path of Increased Indifference), plus Mutilated Grist, a heavy metal cover band featuring Coppertail founder Kent Bailey on drums. (Coppertail Brewing Co., Ybor City)

Della Mae All-female quintet Della Mae is everything you could want in a roots band: a fiddler, impeccable harmonies, and a cult following unlike any other. Think Brandi Carlile, but with female backing vocalists that aren’t Phillip John and Timothy Jay Hanseroth. Della Mae brings its new album Family Reunion for this show which appears to be its Tampa Bay debut. Just know that per the band’s request, masks are required unless eating or drinking, so suck it up and bring one. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City) Jason D. Williams No matter what you think of the resemblance, Jason D. Williams is not Jerry Lee Lewis’ illegitimate son. Though he was adopted, and the Killer did have kind of a questionable lifestyle… The 63-year-old piano showman is good friends with Jerry Lee, even having appeared in his biopic, “Great Balls Of Fire.” Williams brings his fiery showmanship to Skipper’s in his first appearance there since 2019. If piano-based

continued on page 42

cltampa.com | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | 41

continued from page 41 rockabilly isn’t your bag, another piano beast, Billy Joel, is playing at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on the same night. What are ya gonna do? (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Todd Rundgren

C Lyle Lovett Julia Roberts’ ex happens to be one of country music’s most poignant singer-songwriters and while he hasn’t released a new album in a decade, Lovett does have 11 records under his belt already, so why force him? We’re secretly hoping he’ll make number 12 very soon, but in the meantime, the Texan and his acoustic group play a two-night stint that’s at The Cap on Saturday and Sunday. If these shows are anything like his 2020 residency at the same place, it’s bound to be just as unforgettable. And while pants are overrated, please bring a pai. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

SUN 13

Heart Attack Man w/Covey/Arm’s Length/ Blood Root There’s a pretty good chance that if not for Meet Me @ The Altar and Hot Mulligan joining the bill, Heart Attack Man would have been in town supporting Chicago rock band Knuckle Puck at Orpheum this weekend. That tour was announced in December 2019, slated for spring 2020 before the world fell apart. The band that controversially gave us “Notes App Apology” has pieced together its own tour, which drops into Ybor City this weekend. There’s no Knuckle Puck on the bill; instead, we get Tom Freeman’s emo folk-rock project Covey, Canadian skate-punk band Arm’s Length, and Nashville indie project BloodRoot. (Crowbar, Ybor City) Marcelito Pomoy If there were a fifth member of Il Divo, it would be Marcelito Pomoy. The “Pilipinas Got Talent” winner has the vocal range that countless singers wish they could have, being able to take on soprano parts, going as low as tenor. OK, so he can’t quite nail being a baritone, but cut the guy some slack, alright? The 37-year-old singer is set to perform at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center, for a benefit concert set up by Friends Who Care LLC, and organization that helps provide free healthcare and surgeries to indigent patients in the Philippines. How could one pass? (Bayanihan Arts and Events Center, Tampa) Pool Party Sundays: DJ Diesel From joining the sheriff’s department to selling car insurance, there’s seemingly nothing 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal can’t do, including EDM. DJ Diesel’s influence in the world of dance music is growing to be as outsized as his physical body, and DJ Diesel is coming back to Tampa after playing WTR Pool on the Courtney Campbell Causeway last summer. (WTR, Tampa) Project Mayhem Beach Bash: Waka Flocka Flame w/Brianna Chickenfry Spring break is upon us, and PCI is bringing together two entities seemingly made for each other. Hosting the party will be immensely popular TikTok star Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia who’s famous last words will probably be “Sleep when you’re dead.” Chickenfry is also famous for her podcast at the Barstool Sports franchise

42 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

CAESAR CARBAJAL

driven by its controversial founder Dave Portnoy whose been the subject of very serious allegations this year. Mr. Flame, for his part, found himself in the center of a heated conversation when he brought up gun violence within the Black community during the summer of 2020; he also got pushback after telling Sway Calloway that he was not African-American, but Native American. Both know how to throw a party and ruffle feathers so this should be interesting. (Postcard Inn, St. Pete Beach)

MON 14

C American Aquarium w/Margo Cilker American Aquarium co-founder BJ Barham recently tweeted his love of enby icon Adeem The Artist’s next record, which isn’t out until later this year. “Prepare yourself for the ultimate fuckening,” he said. I’d advise you to do the same, when BJ and his band play their first Tampa Bay show in over four years. While the alternative-country group celebrates the release of Slappers, Bangers & Certified Twangers, Vol. 1 and 2, supporting it will be singer-songwriter Margo Cilker, touring behind a new album, Pohorylle. (Crowbar, Ybor City) Foreigner In terms of 1981’s 4 album, only one member of the original Foreigner still plays with the band, albeit on and off. While we don’t know for sure whether or not Mick Jones will be in Clearwater on Monday, current lead singer Kelly Hansen told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay last year that lineup really doesn’t matter to him, adding “This is not some band that’s disassociated with the Foreigner name that decided to go out and play Foreigner songs.” Whether you agree with him or not,

tickets are still available, and like two of the band’s recent Tampa Bay shows, you might just get a guest spot from an original member. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

TUE 15

Chelsea Cutler w/Adam Melchor/Rosie Connecticut-born Cutler made it big pretty quickly. The 25-year-old released her major label debut album only two years ago, and was even slated to play Coachella that year. One pandemic later, she’s got more new material on When I Close My Eyes, and wouldn’t cha know it, she’s playing the last week of Coachella next month. Before that, Cutler has a run of shows to take care of, one of which stops at St. Petersburg’s Jannus Live next week. Supporting will be singer-songwriters Adam Melchor and Rosie (stylized, “ROSIE”). (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) C Soccer Mommy w/Peel Drean Magazine No, Swiss-born Sophia Allison is not an actual soccer mom at the moment. But the Nashville-native has toured with Liz Phair, Phoebe Bridgers, and Vampire Weekend, just to name a few. The 24-year-old singersongwriter has not been to Tampa Bay since getting her start at the age of 18, but Peel Dream Magazine–featuring Brooklyn musician Joe Stevens–opens for Soccer Mommy’s Tampa debut. Read more in our interview on p. 39. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

WED 16

C Baroness Rescheduled from earlier this year, this “intimate evening with” finds

the Savannah metal outfit taking requests from ticket holders who can cast votes for songs after purchase. The top 10 requests get played, and you know one of them will be the shanty-esque “March to the Sea.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)—Stephanie Powers Grandson w/Royal & The Serpent/ Oxymorrons It’s been a couple years since Tnsn Dvsn, a design company with ties to Tampa, lent its talent to defining the look for grandson’s 2019 album, a modern tragedy vol. 2. Next week gives local fans a chance to see how far the Canadian singer-songwriter Jordan Edward Benjamin has come since then, and fans of his EDMinfluenced hard-rock trap are going to want to get there early to catch Oxymorrons, which definitely rides that, “is it hip-hop or rock” line hard. (Orpheum, Ybor City) C It Was 50 Years Ago Today feat. Todd Rundgren/Christopher Cross/ Denny Laine/Jay DeMarcus/Badfinger/ Jason Scheff If you live in Tampa Bay and you haven’t seen Rundgren live at least once, have you even lived? The ex-Utopia frontman comes around here on an annual basis, and this time around, he’s bringing a supergroup to perform songs that don’t belong to them. Todd’s a massive Beatles fan (and alum of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band), and after the success of 2019’s “It Was 50 Years Ago Today” tour celebrating “The White Album,” Todd is bringing Cross, along with Badfinger sole survivor Joey Molland, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, Chicago’s Jason Scheff, and—get ready for this—Wings’ Denny Laine, to perform solo hits and songs from The Beatles’ Revolver and Rubber Soul. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

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The War On Drugs is coming to St. Pete this fall

OneRepublic and NEEDTOBREATHE are playing a Tampa concert this fall

After playing The Ritz in 2015, Philadelphiabased indie-rock favorite The War On Drugs is finally coming back to Tampa Bay this fall.

Hopeyourereadytoditchyourspacebar. Grammy-nominated pop band OneRepublic is coming to Tampa this fall with fellow genre heavyweight Needtobreathe (stylized “NEEDTOBREATHE”) in tow.

Tickets to see The War On Drugs at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct. 5 are on sale now and start at $45.50. The announcement finds War On Drugs frontman and principal Adam Ganducier in the midst of a high point for the heartland-rock band after the release of its criticallyacclaimed 2021 album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, and a Grammy-winning 2017 effort, A Deeper Understanding. The Afghan Whigs are coming to Ybor City this summer Greg Dulli, frontman for The Afghan Whigs, has stayed busy with solo material, but his band hasn’t released new music in about five years. That changed last week with the arrival of “I’ll Make You See God,” but the best news for fans of the Cincinnati indie-rock forefather is a tour that kicks off in Florida and includes a summertime date in Tampa Bay. Tickets to see The Afghan Whigs play Orpheum in Ybor City on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 8 p.m. are on sale now for $30. A rep for promoter No Clubs Presents told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the show will indeed take place at the current location of the venue, which recently announced plans to move after two decades in the historic and entertainment district. In a statement, Dulli said the cut, where you can barely understand what the hell he’s talking about was one of the hardest rock songs the band has done. “It was written and performed on sheer adrenalin,” he added. There’s no word on a new album from The Afghan Whigs, which means you’ll have to keep spinning 2017’s In Spades for now.

Tickets to see OneRepublic and Needtobreathe play Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Friday, Sept. 2 are on sale now, and start at $22. Other Florida stops include West Palm Beach (Sept. 3) and Jacksonville (Sept. 4). In 2009, OneRepublic’s “Apologize” was nominated for a “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Grammy, and while the Colorado band has never won a golden gramophone, its frontman Ryan Tedder has taken home Grammys for songwriting he did with Adele and Taylor Swift. The band just released a new single, “West Coast,” last week. Needtobreathe is in the same onlybeen-Grammy-nominated-but-never-won bucket as their tourmate, but the band is a perennial favorite at the GMF Dove Awards where Christian rock fans and critics have dished the outfit more than a dozen wins. See a shortened version of Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts below. Come back next week for more.—Ray Roa Adult. w/Kontravoid/Spike Hellis Monday, April 25. 8 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City

TIME FOR THREE Where Americana, pop & classical intersect Daniel Black conducts Plus: Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

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Michael Francis, Music Director

Amythyst Kiah Friday, May 27. 7:30 p.m. $29.50-$39.50. Straz Center, Tampa The Weeknd w/Doja Cat Thursday, Aug. 4. 6:30 p.m. Prices TBA. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Greta Van Fleet w/Durand Jones & The Indications/Crown Lands Wednesday, Oct. 26. $45.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

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3.11

By Ray Roa

efore the internet, bands and artists booked tours using phone books and DIY handbooks like “Book Your Own Fuckin’ Life.” While being online has changed some of the work, booking a run through the country, or even just a region of the U.S., is still a daunting task for any independent artist. D Tour is looking to help with that, and one Tampa venue will play a role in a new model that seeks to revamp the independent concert industry. On Monday, Crowbar in Ybor City was one of a dozen entities listed in an interdependent collective of promoters and venues using their energy and abilities to “offer an ethical and efficient process of developing artists across their network and in their respective states.” A press release says the partners will do that by ensuring “that the right artists reach the right audiences in the best spaces suited to them.” “Our intention is to create more opportunities for independent venues and promoters of all sizes, with a focus on secondary and tertiary markets,” Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. He added that artists working with D Tour will eventually be able to book regional runs, coast-to-coast U.S. tours or even one-off and weekend stints. National artist Elise Trouw—a budding multi-instrumentalist and singer who’s performed on “Kimmel,” toured with Moon Taxi and even filled in on drums for Seal—has already booked a U.S. run with D Tour, with dates to

be announced soon. Because of D Tour, Trouw’s team dealt with just one point of contact for the entire D Tour network. The bottom line is that the right artist gets booked in the best possible room in every city, every time, in the most streamlined fashion possible. Other entities included in the founding D Tour partnership operate in states like Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico and Tennessee. And as Jessie and Adam Hartke of Wichita’s Hartke Presents/Wave told KMUW, “We’re trying to make it a less competitive environment and a more compassionate environment.” DeGeorge reiterated that D Tour members and affiliates have strong local knowledge of their respective markets, which creates an ideal situation for artist development, promotion, and ensuring artists are put in the correct rooms. “Collaboration is our core mission. This includes indie venues and promoters, artist representatives, and artists themselves. Utilizing shared resources, our network will have greater impact and further reach to engage fans,” he added. And as an added bonus, music fans in each local market can know that by attending a D Tour show, they’re supporting the independent artists, venues and promoters that are the very backbone of the live music industry. More information on D Tour is available via on @dtourlive1 pm Facebook, @dtour_live on Twitter and @dtourlive on Instagram.

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cltampa.com | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | 47

Where the vinyl is: a list of Bay area record stores

It’s no secret that locally-owned and operated businesses are taking a hit from coronavirus closures and curfews. Some Tampa Bay record stores have adapted by offering curbside pickup, free shipping and private shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stock up on some vinyl, and spend money like all your favorite concerts are getting canceled. Just make sure to call ahead of time to see what’s up at the shop. Big shouts to CL reader Chuck who updated us on these listings.—Kyla Fields

ArtPool Records (2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-433-5195, artpoolrules.com

Blue Moon Antiques, Books & Music (1413 Cleveland St., Clearwater) 727-443-7444

Asylum Sights and Sounds (6566 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-384-1221

The Clearwater Record Shop (1610 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater) 727-755-1201, clearwaterrecordshow.com

Bananas Records (2887 22nd Ave N., St. Petersburg) 727-327-4616 ext. 1, bananasrecords.com Bananas Records Warehouse (2226 16th Ave. N., St. Petersburg) 727 327-4616 ext. 2, bananasrecords.com

48 | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | cltampa.com

Daddy Kool Records (The Factory, 800 28th St. S, St. Petersburg) 727-822-5665, daddykool.com Disc Exchange (6712 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-343-5845, thediscexchange.com

Dunedin Records & Audio (757 Main St., Dunedin) 727-423-4108, dunedinrecords.com Green Shift Music & Comics (5713 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa) 813-238-4177, greenshiftmusicandcomics.com Hello Darlin’ Records (Roving VW Camper) 727-479-6783, hellodarlinrecords.com Kingfish Records (Main Store) (26024-B US Highway 19 N., Clearwater) 727-3515177, kingfishrecords.com

Planet Retro Records (226 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg) 727218-7434, planetretrorecords.com Sound Exchange Tampa (14246 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa) 813-978-9316, soundexchangetampabay.com Sound Exchange Pinellas Park (66th Street N and 86th Avenue N., Pinellas Park) 727-545-0042, soundexchangetampabay. com

Microgroove (906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa) 813-667-7089, microgroovetampa.co

Steelworker Records (708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa) 813-666-4933, steelworkerrecords.com

Mojo Books & Records (2540 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa) 813-971-9717, mojotampa.com

Unique Music & Collectables (123 Main St., Dunedin) 727-240-0757

Patrick’s Book and Record Store (6629 U.S.-19,New Port Richey) 727-203-3284, patricksbooksandmusic.com

Vintage Vinyl (201 Douglas Road E, Suite 8, Oldsmar) 727-491-3800, vintagevinyl.biz

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doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be able to carve your own path in the future. I’m so proud of you, Nursing. Please write back and let me know how things go.

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, after two years of being an ER nurse during the pandemic, I hit a point where I couldn’t take it anymore and last week quit my ER job. I was beyond burned out, and after working in some toxic nursing units, I just couldn’t keep going. I was able to transfer part-time to the cath unit, and while it’s a $4 an hour pay decrease, I don’t have to work nights or weekends. I do feel guilty about leaving the ER. I could potentially go back part-time, but I’m so tired of fighting with people about vaccines, so tired of fighting with families who think I’m not doing enough when I’m doing everything I possibly can. I’m tired of working with other nurses who are cold and cruel to patients. Do the cards have any advice about moving on from the ER?—Nursing for New Horizons

But first, we have to deal with The Devil. After what you’ve experienced working in an ER for two years during the worst pandemic this country has ever seen, it would not surprise me that instead of “burnout,” you are actually experiencing PTSD. If you’re able to, I’d highly encourage you to speak with a therapist. If you are diagnosed with PTSD, there are many types of therapy that can treat it, so if you don’t click with a “traditional” CBT therapist or treatment, perhaps try another approach. Art therapy might be beneficial, or nature therapy or even hypnosis. See what your insurance covers (you’d be surprised)

ORACLE OF YBOR

Cards: Ten of Pentacles, The Tower (reversed), Waxing Gibbous, Three of Pentacles (reversed) Dear Merrier, congrats on getting out there! With the Waxing gibbous, it’s an excellent time to gather and start new things, friendship included. With two Pentacle cards in a spread, I am tempted to suggest that you see about expanding your social network with people who

Send your questions for the Oracle of Ybor to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram.

D 1/A 04

and look for a therapist you vibe with. Even if you don’t have PTSD, I would still highly encourage you to seek out either a therapist or a support group for medical workers. The Devil can be emotions that we are slaves to, and talking to a trained counselor, or others who’ve been through the same thing can help you feel grounded. It might take time to process everything that you went through, but just because you’re dealing with this right now 4 SF

Cards: First Quarter, The Empress (reversed), The Devil, The Seeker (reversed) Dear Nursing, first, I want to say that I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you for everything you’ve done for countless people during this pandemic, how you were able to care for strangers, and I’m proud of you for taking this step to care for yourself. In lifeguarding, one of the things they tell you is that the only thing worse than one person drowning is two. If you’re not able to save someone for whatever reason, don’t kill yourself trying. If you knew that you were at a point where you weren’t able to provide the level of care you wanted to due to exhaustion, it’s incredibly brave to step aside. It couldn’t have been easy. The First Quarter card in my deck means decisions, action, and change. I think this change to a different unit was a good move on your part. It’s not as much money, but it’s something completely different, which can help you recalibrate. You have three major arcana cards here. The Empress and The Seeker are both reversed, meaning it might take some time to figure out your next steps, but you’ll get there. The Seeker in my deck is both a talisman for “you,” the question-asker, but also the person searching for a new truth. The Empress is a woman who knows what she wants, who’s fiercely loving, and who you do not fuck with. Paired together, I would say that you’ll be able to carve your own path. It might be with this unit, it might be something else, but I do not doubt that you’ll get there.

Dear Oracle, as the pandemic is waning, I’d like to expand my friend group and meet some new people. Any advice on how I should start?— More the Merrier

either work in your field or co-workers, but it might not be in the way that you imagine. While it wouldn’t be surprising for the Ten of Pentacles to be your boss and the Three of Pentacles to be your co-workers, they might not be. The Three of Pentacles is also a creative card, which would mean thinking outside of the box about it. It might be people you work with on a different project like a club or volunteering. A “co-worker” doesn’t necessarily have to be someone at your day job. However you meet people, though, don’t force it. The Tower is a chaotic card, the big shake-up, and it can pop up when we are trying to control something that is just not in our power to control. Finding friends can be like dating. Some people need a lot of time to warm up, and some people want to jump right in. If you hang out with someone a couple of times and things don’t click, or you feel drained afterward, move along. But if you do find someone you like, remember that friendships need effort to grow. Don’t flake on plans, especially in the beginning, and try to do outings that you could both enjoy. But other than that, go out and pitch that friendship-woo however you want! I hope it works out for you and you’re able to make some new friends while keeping the old. Best of luck, my dear!

cltampa.com | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | 51

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Lay misérables By Dan Savage

I lost my lover unexpectedly last weekend. I don’t know what to do with my desire for him, because that certainly didn’t die with him. He’s the only person I’ve been with in the past year and a half and re-reading our old sexts and thinking about the last time we were together has been turning me on. But I feel all sorts of torn up about masturbating to the thought of him. I want to do it, but I haven’t. We had a trip planned at the end of March that I am still planning on taking where he was telling me we were going to fall in love. We had been talking and video sexting about all the things we were going to do to each other, and I was looking forward to having the best sex of my life with him while on a tropical island. Now I will be going alone. Is it healthy for me to masturbate about him? I mean, I know he’d love the thought, but it also makes me feel so devastatingly sad. Thoughts?—Too Heartbroken For Witty Acronyms

you—you should do it. But brace yourself for the very real possibility that you’ll be overwhelmed by feelings of loss after you climax. While fantasies have the power to lift us out of the moment, our refractory periods have a way of throwing us back down to Earth. You’ll rub one out, then you’ll cry it out. And if that’s what you need, if that makes you feel better, if that helps you feel his presence and not just his loss… there’s more than one way someone’s memory can be a blessing.

SAVAGE LOVE

Even the hottest people—and by, “the hottest people,” I mean, “the most conventionally-attractive people,” and it needs to be said that not all conventionally-attractive people are hot and not all hot people are conventionally attractive— don’t get everything they want. Some don’t know how to ask for what they want, some are too paralyzed by shame to ask for it, and some are so out of touch with their own desires that they don’t even know what they want. To be honest, your sex life sounds pretty good. Instead of dumping the girlfriend you’ve got because she doesn’t want to open your relationship, I would encourage you to live in hope. She may not be interested in opening the relationship now, but most couples in open relationships

JOE NEWTON

First and most importantly, THFWA, I’m so sorry for your loss—the loss of your friend and lover, and the loss of the future you might have had with him. My heart goes out to you. As for your specific question… Back in my younger days, when I first started writing this column, I advised people against masturbating about the dead. Being a gay man who came out just as the AIDS Crisis was starting, I would go on to lose friends and boyfriends during that pandemic, including the first man I ever truly loved. Looking back, I gave the advice I did— don’t masturbate about the dead—not because it was good advice for everyone, THFWA, but because sex was so closely associated with death for me that I personally couldn’t bear the thought of doing anything that would make that association any stronger. When I was in my 20s and earl-30s, I could only masturbate about things that were still possible in the future I hoped to have, and not about the people and possibilities I’d already lost. So, as alive as my desire still was for my first true love, I couldn’t fantasize about my time with him. It made me feel his loss too deeply at a time when I knew more loss was coming my way, and soon. And maybe it was easier for me to avoid masturbating about him, seeing as I only had my memories of him, and not a smartphone full of sext messages and dirty videos. Anyway, THFWA, what I wanted to say… and what I can see now… is that we all grieve in our own ways. If the thought of masturbating about your lover gives you a feeling of peace or pleasure or makes you feel connected to him— if reading those sexts messages and watching those videos comfort you more than they grieve

I’m a 22-year-old straight man. How do I cope with intense sexual desires that cannot be satisfied? I’ve been dealing with this problem since I developed a libido. I have a lot of sexual

but they all need medical prescriptions. Would physical activity or certain behavioral therapies help? I don’t want this to be a problem for my girlfriend or for me.—Libido Is Brimming, Intense Desires Obsess

fantasies that I cannot satisfy for two reasons. First, because I’m not considered attractive by the people I’m attracted to. Secondly, I am now in a long-distance monogamous relationship. The relationship is perfect. We have a lot of great sex when we are together, but I cannot try other things I’d like to explore. My girlfriend doesn’t want to open the relationship and I respect that. I honestly love her more than my need to have other sexual experiences. Also, I believe that even if we opened the relationship, I wouldn’t have much opportunity to try other things anyway. Seeing as I can’t have all the experiences I’d like to—and I feel like a whiny cis-het babyman typing that—what is the best way to cope with frustration? Can I reduce my sexual desire? I have looked at pharmaceuticals,

were monogamous to start, sometimes for many years. A time may come when your girlfriend is not just willing to open your relationship (fully or just enough to let you explore some of your kinks with others), but excited about the idea herself. In the meantime, enjoy the sex you’re having, masturbate about the sex you’d like to have, and stop contemplating chemical castration. I’m a 35-year-old gay man who spent most of his life in the closet. I’ve been with very few men, and they were all bad hookups. I’ve grown frustrated and lately feel like I need to just be with someone. But I feel like I can’t trust myself meeting people on apps anymore, partly due to fear of STIs, partly due to bad experiences, and partly

due to my fear of meeting someone who is scary or possessive. It’s gotten to the point where my desire to be with a guy is causing me real suffering. All because I can’t figure out a way to meet someone without risk. I started talking to one guy on this gay app and our kinks are fairly aligned and everything he’s saying sounds good, but he also seems like maybe he does this a lot. He kept referring to himself as a “pig,” which I found kind of hot but I’m not sure what it implies. When told that I’d like to have a brief chat before jumping into play, he basically said that he prefers to just “jump right in.” When I brought up my boundaries he seemed to respect them but again emphasized that he likes to play with a new partner right away. He lives in another town but is willing to drive to where I live to meet me. That’s the reason I’m writing you. I need to make a decision here and I can’t. Is it a bad idea to play with a total stranger even if I find the idea hot?—Suffering Newly Out Guy The world is on fire. Let this pig come see you. Meet in a public place. If the pig gives you a bad feeling—not the bad feeling you arrived with, but some other bad feeling—you don’t have to go through with anything. But if he seems nice and you have a good feeling, SNOG, then you can invite him back to your place and have some of that kinky sex you wanna have. (And all “pig” means in this context is, “This dude likes sex and with the right guy or guys he’ll fucking wallow in it.”) Why is this pig rushing things? Maybe he’s been watching CNN and knows the world is on fire—along with at least one of the nuclear power plants in it—and wants to experience the joy and connection of sex with a man he’s attracted to while he still can. And he’s accepted something you’re gonna need to accept if you ever wanna have the sex you fantasize about: There’s no such thing as risk-free sex. You can minimize your risk for acquiring an STI by getting on PrEP and using condoms or by avoiding penetration and sticking to kink play and mutual masturbation; you can minimize the risk of meeting someone scary or dangerous by watching out for red flags and trusting your judgment. But at the end of the day… you gotta take a chance. And this guy’s willingness to take a chance on you isn’t by itself a red flag, SNOG, as it’s not uncommon for gay men to wanna fuck right away, aka, establishing sexual compatibility before making a huge emotional investment in a potential new sex and/or romantic partner. I can’t promise you this experience will go any better than your past experiences. I can promise you that you’ll never have a good experience if you aren’t willing to take reasonable risks, SNOG, and this guy seems like a reasonable risk to me. Send letters to questions@savagelove.net, follow @fakedansavage on Twitter and get columns, podcasts, books, merch, and more at savage. love!

cltampa.com | MARCH 10 - 16, 2022 | 53

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creative loafing puzzler 59 1975 Doc Savage 119 portrayer 120 60 Deal with 121 deadbeats, à la 122 NOTE: San Francisco’s Mike Hammer beloved columnist Herb 62 Milk, to Mimi Caen died in 1997, but 63 Salad fish so did two other San 66 Scene of noise and 1 Francisco giants — confusion 2 of the literary scene. 68 Fax forerunner 3 This puzzle, which 70 Behold, to Brutus 4 appeared later that 71 Grist for a Caen year in the San column 5 Francisco Examiner, 72 Filmmaker Jacques 6 commemorated their 73 “The result 7 heyday. being ...?” 8 74 Millisecond’s 9 ACROSS antithesis 1 Tomato impact 76 Swedish auto of 10 6 Hamlet and Laertes’ old 11 arbiter 77 Jr. or Sr. of 12 11 ___ d’art moviedom 16 Novel by 13 Down 78 Howl 20 Flintstone’s boss 84 Doing a mechanic’s 13 21 The Beats’ beat job 23 Vanzetti’s co-victim 86 Prizzi portrayer 14 24 Strong-scented, William weedy herb 87 Abbr. after Gary 15 25 Head over there? Hart’s name, once 26 Behind ___ 88 Hide 17 (furtively) 90 Confused 18 28 Wonder 91 Bible book 29 Frequent Ali 93 Ark’s landing place interviewer 94 “___ pleasure” 19 31 “Now ___ me 95 Oh preceders 21 down to ...” 96 In Mexico, it’s a 32 Old notation for a small price to pay 22 chess piece 97 “The ___ 35 Mute trumpet’s Generation” 27 sound 99 Deep-drilling 29 37 Russian river project of the 30 39 “I ___ !” (“Yuck!”) 1950s 33 41 Sugar processor 104 Spanish queen 34 45 Peaks 107 Siegel and 35 47 Space-age cars, Shuster’s creation once? 110 Wedding need 48 Elevate, in a way 111 Flying tests 49 Catches sight of 113 Insect stage 51 El ___, Calif. 115 What 52 Across 36 52 He wrote A Coney said he could get in 38 Island of the Mind San Francisco and 40 54 Off-the-wall nowhere else 41 55 Ballet outfit 118 Letter after pe, in 58 Complete, as a deal Hebrew 42

SAN FRANCISCO BEAT by Merl Reagle

35 Down opus Rendezvous Counsels, old-style Drinking glass embarrassments DOWN Bedding in the barn Give a ring Dancing Diamond Not ___ eye in the house Everyday article Cockney steeds Whack Bolero composer “How can ___ certain?” King pooch Bones S.F. coffeehouse garb, circa 1960 “Beat Generation” coiner Plus other stuff, briefly Race car driver Fabi Concerning Cabbage Patch Dolls and their ilk Conductor Georg Jeannie C. Riley topic 50 per cent of a Gabor Manually Evita character Director Sidney Star material? Scoring nos. Beat author whose grandfather founded a famous adding machine company Playful The forte of rebels Try: abbr. Clean-fight watchdog River in Devon 9

43 Quite a ways 44 Not special: abbr. 45 King Kong, in the beginning 46 Book shop founded by 52 Across 47 Swamp plant 50 The whole ___ 51 “It’s possible” 53 Bird’s beak 56 Nervous twitch 57 Athlete in Salt Lake City 61 Actress Rula 63 Christmas contraction 64 Actress Hagen 65 Nick Nolte in Heart Beat 67 Make up (for) 69 Gen-___ (baby boomer’s kid) 75 City near Salt Lake City 77 Chicken follower of fiction 79 Bible book: abbr. 80 Give the once-over 81 Luau staple 82 Paris’s Notre Dame is on one 83 Mil. rank 85 Arthur the actress 88 He’s the last to know

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