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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf FOOD and THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John Allman
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CONTRIBUTORS Jeffrey C. Billman, Carter Brantley, Dave Decker, Alexandria Jones, Joe Newton, Stephanie Powers, Jennifer Ring, Drew Rice, Cory Robinson, Dan Savage, McKenna Schueler
ory
INTERNS We don’t have any this semester. Apply via rroa@cltampa.com
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ART DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora
SeaWorld in February, animal rights PHOTOGRAPHER Dave Decker claiming the practice of keeping wild d dangerous. But SENIOR even though public ACCOUNT atmany SeaWorld animal rights EXECUTIVES don’t in seeFebruary, a parallel between the kind claiming the practice of keeping wildZepeda Anthony Scott k, and the practice of Carbone, displaying animals nd dangerous. evenOr though publicfor a asking for tooBut much? is it time MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND d, many don’t see a parallel between the kind t” animals? EVENTS DIRECTOR
stion ................. 5
ck and the practice of displaying animals Alexis Quinn Chamberlain s asking for too much? Or is it time for a ent” animals? MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS INTERN Claire White
GROUP 40 Music: TampaEUCLID Bay BluesMEDIA Fest...........................
Everything should begin here and now.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Andrew Zelman
Music Week ................................................... 42
St. Pete artist looks beyond hate in mural redo, p. 39.
Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest........................... Concert review: Artic Monkeys .......................... 42 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS40
Chris Keating, Michael Wagner42 Music Week ................................................... The List.......................................................... 46
VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Concert review: Artic Monkeys .......................... 42 Movie reviews..................................................... 63 TheWill List.......................................................... 46 Free Astrology......................................... 64 Jaime Monzon Movie reviews..................................................... 63 Puzzler........................................................... 66
euclidmediagroup.com
Free Will Astrology......................................... 64 Savage Love ...................................................... 69
NEWS+VIEWS ..........................13
cldeals.com Savage Love ...................................................... 69 clspace.com
FOOD+DRINK .......................... 25
cltampa.com Puzzler........................................................... 66
EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa is a weekly newspaper covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
Creative Loafing Tampa is published by Tampa Weekly, LLC, 204 E. Henderson Ave. Tampa, FL 33602. The newspaper is available free of charge at locations throughout Tampa Bay and online at cltampa.com. cltv Copyright How2020, wasTampa your Weekly, Date? LLC. The produced and printed on m/cltv newspaper cltampa.com/movies How is was your Date? Indigenous land belonging to Tampa cltampa.com/movies Bay’s Tocobaga and Seminole tribes.
CROSSWORD ...........................55
I’ll pay $50 for an interview.
Local McDonald’s bribes people to just apply to job, p. 17. ON THE COVER: Illustration by Shock G c/o Doc P. Design by Jack Spatafora.
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Keep marching Photos by Dave Decker
A
n estimated 300 people gathered at Cyrus Greene park last Saturday for a Black Lives Matter solidarity march through East Tampa. The well-organized walk was devoid of open police presence plus staffed with safety marshals, medical staff and legal observers. The action also saw just two potential agitators—plus one “deplorable” counter protester—try and walk with or engage the activists. See more via cltampa.com/magazine.—Ray Roa
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OFFICIAL
HARD SELTZER OF
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Good vibrations
Three things to whet your appetite for activity this weekend. By Ray Roa
I
t’s true, despite a rise in coronavirus cases statewide, 20% of Floridians don’t want to get vaccinated. Here are three events that might shake some sense into those folks—and we’re not just talking about the vibrator races. Heightened Senses w/Katara Trio/Ari Chi/ Sun De/more Seminole Heights’ Labyrinth Studio continues its mission to be a meeting place for kindred, creative spirits at this latest installment of Heightened Senses, where singer Sun De—who’s been hosting open mics and the newish Hot Wax cafe—joins CL favorites Ari Chi and Katara Trio on the stage. On the walls and around the old school print shop are new works from Jujmo and Ashley Cantero, and for sale at the night market are wares from local makers. You can try your hands at T-shirt printing, too. Bring a mask. Thursday, April 29. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Labyrinth Studios, 4306 N Florida Ave., Tampa. @labyrinth.tampa on Instagram Henry V In a sure sign that motherfuckers are itching to get out and about, a play about the history of Shakespeare managed to sell out three weekends since opening on April 7. Jokes aside, Jobsite Theater’s full-length Shakespeare productions have been some of the company’s best-attended gigs since 2002. Plus the quality of the production—featuring music from local savant and Florida Bjorkestra maestro Jeremy Doglass—has driven audiences to downtown Tampa’s David A. Straz Center for a bard-rockin’
time that’s recently been extended through this weekend with performances on Friday and Sunday. Jobsite, like the rest of the Straz center, is still operating at limited capacity with health screenings and contract tracing consent all baked into a ticket purchase. The show runs 125 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission. Friday, April 30 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, May 2 (4 p.m.) $35.50 & up. Jobsite Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa. strazcenter.org Vibrator Racing Championship The Tampa City Athletic Association has a legit website, so it must be real right? Whether you believe that or not, TCAA is definitely really serious about vibrators. Specifically, vibrators used in a new kind of derby day where pre-purchased dildos— decked out and decorated at home—will race on a track against each other as part of a day that features “all the trappings of a day at the track, mint juleps, big hats, and all pageantry of a triple crown race.” Pre-purchasing a vibrator covers entrance for the Saturday races—and a portion of proceeds go to the Spring of Tampa Bay—but contestants are also allowed to bring their own dildo, powered by two AA batteries. No wheels allowed. Visit TCAA to get in on the action. “We’re gonna go vibrator on vibrator all day long until there’s a champion,” referee Steve Miller said in a promo video. Turn up. Saturday, May 1. 8 p.m. $20 (includes vibrator). Hooch and Hive, 1001 W Cass St, Tampa. tampacityaa.com
THE BEACHES ARE HIRING! Drop off your resume at the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce:
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BEAT THIS: A head-to-head vibrator race is on tap in the West River this weekend.
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“I’m just concerned that we’re now redoing the scoring matrix…” POLITICS
ISSUES
OPINION
Keeping score
Developer claims city changed criteria for ‘Rome Yard’ project, hearing set for next month. By Ray Roa
A
developer has disputed the City of Tampa’s decision to award West Tampa’s “Rome Yard” development contract to a Miami-based group, and there’s a hearing about it set for May 12. The hearing was supposed to happen April 22, but Lansing Scriven, counsel for Invictus, LLC—which is disputing the City of Tampa’s preliminary selection of Related Urban Development group to redevelop the public land—asked for a continuance since there was an email address error which delayed the delivery of materials for the hearing. There were no objections to Scriven’s request, so the hearing will happen on May 12 at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of the City of Tampa Construction Services Center located at 1400 N Blvd. near Interstate 275. Afterwards, a Pascobased mediator, James B. Mathieu Jr., will have seven days to deliver a decision. On Wednesday, City Attorney Gina Grimes told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the meeting is administrative and not subject to Sunshine
Laws, so there will not be a link to watch online. The room, however, is open to anyone from the public who would like to attend. Scriven would not comment for this story. Grimes said that opening the room is an attempt at transparency over the selection of Related Group to develop the Rome Yard. Grimes did not have a clear answer when asked why documents related to Invictus LLC’s protest weren’t uploaded to the City of Tampa’s RFP portal, but did note that they are available via the public records request process. Throughout this process, no one from Invictus or Related— which also donated to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s election PAC and employs her nephew—would speak on the record citing a cone of silence gag order. City Council will eventually have to OK the final contract between Related and the city, but no one from the city outside of Grimes and city spokesperson Janelle MacGregor has been available to speak on the record.
LOCAL NEWS
The protest In part of its protest, Invictus alleges that the final selection committee for the Rome Yard project modified the selection criteria and scoring set forth in the request for proposal, calling the modification “arbitrary and capricious.” The protest details how, on March 5, the city released a scoring summary outlining the Technical Review Committee’s evaluation of the six proposals. In the March 5 scorecard, Invictus has the highest total score (92.4), followed by Related (84.6) and the eventual third finalist for the project, TRS/Onicx (83.9). The protest adds that during interviews with the three finalists on March 12 at Tampa Convention Center, committee member one—Joe Robinson, according to the Tampa Bay Times— made a motion to change the scoring criteria by eliminating scores that the city’s Equal Business Opportunity Department had assigned in regard to participation of firms with women and minorities in stakeholder positions. In the protest, committee member two is quoted as saying, “I’m just concerned that we’re now redoing the scoring matrix and taking something out that was already in an objective format and was part of the criteria.” In response, according to the protest, committee member one, who made the motion to change the scoring, said, “See, I’m here on a final selection
committee, so I don’t care what they did with the preliminary short list. That gets thrown out… “ Committee member three then says, “I don’t know that we can just make a decision to eliminate [the scores] from consideration,” before committee member four presents a rationale that Invictus has disputed in its protest, saying, in part that the Final Selection Committee exceeded its discretion by eliminating those scores. Still, the motion passed and reduced points available in that category from 105 to 85—but in recordings available in Invictus’ protest, the Times says even Carol Post, Tampa’s administrator for economic opportunity and development raised concerns about Robinson’s motion. An updated scorecard dated March 12 and issued in a city response to the protest shows scores with the new scoring criteria and finds Related jumping up in scoring and ahead of Invictus. Invictus’ protest says, in part, that no provision in the RFP permitted the final selection committee to rewrite the selection criteria or create a new scoring matrix. Invictus’ protest also alleges that Related violated a cone of silence, which says: During any solicitation period, including any protest and/or appeal, no contact with city officers or employees, other than with the individuals specifically identified in the solicitation, the director continued on page 15
WRITING ON THE WALL: Despite impending approval, signage at Rome Yard lauds the city’s selection.
RAY ROA
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continued from page 13 of the soliciting department or the legal department, is permitted from any bidder or proposer. Such communication shall result in an automatic disqualification for selection in the pending solicitation and any subsequent city solicitations for a period of six (6) months, no matter the outcome of the solicitation or any protest and/or appeal. Invictus argues that on March 18, “A member of Related, as well as members of the Tampa House Authority (Related’s co-developer)” attended a press conference where a member of city council, other city employees and the mayor were in attendance. As previously noted, city council will have to approve the city’s final contract with Related. The protest says that some of the city employees present at the press conference are “not among the City officials or employees with whom members of Related are permitted to have contact during the solicitation period.” In conclusion, Invictus’ protest asks that the city’s notice of intent to award Related the Rome Yard project should be overturned and that Related should be automatically disqualified from the solicitation due to its violation of the cone of silence. City response In response to Invictus’ protest, the City of Tampa justified its scoring changes by saying that during the final selection committee review phase, there was a suggestion that that Equal Business Opportunity Participation was already considered during a technical review process “and had been fully credited towards each proposer’s respective EBO score, that the Final Selection Committee did not need to revisit as part of the Selection Committee review process.” The city also argued that “Once a recommendation has been made by the City to award a contract, the City is perfectly within its legal rights to make an announcement regarding its decision. There was no Cone of Silence violation made by RUDG, LLC regarding the City’s announcement.” The city’s response, however, does not directly address Invictus’ claim that “The Cone of Silence unambiguously provides that if it is violated, the offending Developer shall be automatic[ally] disqualified for selection in the pending solicitation… no matter the outcome of solicitation or any protest and/or appeal.”
donation to her PAC was its largest ever as a company, and it was a rarity. The developer has only donated to one other political candidate in Florida, and that was $1,000 in January of 2020 to Miami Beach State Rep. Michael Grieco, who besides overseeing their “largest market,” had previously pleaded no contest for campaign finance violations, and was accused of bribery, among other things. Disclosure of Alex Castor’s employment was also not required on the RFP, but Darryl Paulson, a retired Professor Emeritus of Government at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, told CL that, “When you have a direct family relationship to the mayor, at the very least, it should be pointed out so decision makers can reach their own conclusion.” “Why would you not disclose such information? It may not be an issue, but the committee making the decision needs to know this, as well as the citizens of Tampa,” Paulson added. “It is like saying non-disclosure is preferable to full disclosure. It makes no sense to me.” A rep for the City of Tampa told CL that, “At no point was Mayor Castor involved in any part of this RFP selection process, which took place in a very public and transparent manner and under the close watch of concerned community members operating independent of the City.” But the bad optics don’t stop there. Two days after CL’s story on the protest published, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Ballard Partners—one of the country’s most powerful lobbying firms—was working for Related during the RFP process. Castor’s partner, Ana Cruz, works for Ballard. Todd Josko, a Ballard partner, would not say how much his company was paid, but told the Times he was hired by Related to help prepare the developers for their presentation before the selection committee in March. The Times reported that Castor said “that Ballard’s participation in the process was above board.” Josko said there was “zero conflict,” and Cruz added that, “Jane and I agreed when she decided to run for mayor that I wouldn’t profit from any business that Ballard does before the city. This has and will continue to be the case.” Invictus’ bond basically says that the firm will pay up to $20,000 if it loses its protest. So far, as of April 21, nobody in the city has been able to definitively comment on why the same documents provided to CL have not been uploaded to the city’s RFP portal. The last “Rome Yard” memo on the portal is a March 17 notice of the city’s intent to award the project to Related. As of today—despite the fact that city council must still approve a deal, and that a protest hearing is still pending—parts of the Rome Yard fencing on N Boulevard are wrapped in signage bearing Related’s name.
“Invictus’ protest also alleges that Related violated a cone of silence.”
What’s not in the protest As previously reported when the City of Tampa sent CL Invictus LLC’s Bid Protest Bond, records show that Related donated $10,000 to Mayor Jane Castor’s election PAC and currently employs her nephew, Alex Castor. While Jane Castor is not the only U.S. mayor who’s accepted money from developers, Related’s
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 15
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Unhappy meal
One Tampa McDonald’s has an interesting incentive for applicants. By Colin Wolf
F
lorida is among the lowest in the nation for paying unemployment benefits, and at the same time the local service industry is experiencing a record shortage of employees willing to work for less than the horrifically low $275 week provided by the state, and $300 from the feds. So, in an effort to attract new employees, a Tampa McDonald’s is now promising $50 to anyone who just shows up for an interview. Local McDonald’s franchise owner Blake Casper, who also owns Oxford Exchange, told Business Insider that a manager at his Dale Mabry and Chestnut location came up with the idea, but so far it hasn’t really yielded much success. “At this point, if we can’t keep our drivethrus moving, then I’ll pay $50 for an interview,” said Casper to the publication, while also mentioning that it’s ironic that he can’t find workers because business is “booming.” “The biggest challenge out there is the federal government and the state government are going to continue with this unemployment, because that is truly creating the incentive to not work right now,” said Casper, who owns 60 McDonald’s locations in the Tampa Bay area. “And, how do you blame somebody? You can make more money on unemployment — and so, we’ve got to be at least above that.” It’s worth mentioning that while it’s easy to blame the government for not having more burger flippers, experts say there’s no one particular reason on why there’s such a vast shortage of low-wage workers at the moment, and things like the very real fear of getting sick, an employee pool that was shrinking pre-COVID, and people just abandoning the service industry altogether
for non-frontline occupations, are all factors to consider. Of course, one way to attract new employees is to just pay them more, and while he hasn’t done it yet, Casper told Business Insider he’s now considering raising starting wages to $13. As of now, according to a job posting on Indeed.com for the same Dale Mabry McDonald’s location, new employees can make up to $11.50 an hour. Last year, more than 60% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2026. Florida’s Fight for $15 and Union leaders— who have been central to this victory— consider the passage of Amendment 2 not only a win for labor, but also for social and racial justice. In Tampa Bay, Black workers on average earn 20% less than white workers, regardless of education level, and are two times more likely to live in poverty, according to a 2020 Regional Equity report from Tampa Bay Partnership. An estimated 2.5 million workers—a quarter of Florida’s workforce—will see this pay increase in the next five years. According to a report from the Florida Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, this pay increase will uplift an estimated one million Florida families out of poverty, and female workers—particularly Black and Latinx workers—are estimated to gain the most, with 38% women of color in the workforce expected to see this increase. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to Casper for comment, but he could not be reached. Reporting from McKenna Schueler appeared in this story.
LOCAL NEWS
NOT LOVIN’ IT: Business is ‘booming’ but no one is applying for the job.
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Horsetown shit
Ocala sued for arresting homeless people that request help. By McKenna Schueler
T
he City of Ocala has been hit with a federal lawsuit, accusing it of violating the civil rights of six people through strict policies on panhandling and “unlawful lodging.” This is the second time in two years that the city is being sued for local laws affecting houseless people. After having its draconian, anti-homeless city ordinances declared unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court Judge in February, the city of Ocala is now facing a new federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida and the Southern Legal Counsel of Gainesville on behalf of six plaintiffs, all of whom are currently or formerly houseless. According to the ACLU, the six plaintiffs— Roger Luebke, Kimberly Burnham, William Anthony Taylor, Victor Hoyt Cox, Dustin Damico, and Patrick McArdle—are suing to challenge what the civil rights organization describes as “unconstitutional” city ordinances that are “unlawfully vague” and criminalize asking for help while homeless. “Every individual in this case has been subject to arrest based on the content of their speech,” says lead counsel of the SLC Chelsea Dunn. “They have been jailed and assessed fines for acts as harmless as asking a stranger for a cigarette.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, directly targets the city’s “trespass and unlawful lodging” and anti-panhandling ordinances, which—while not unique to Ocala—are similar to anti-homeless policies that have been struck down elsewhere across the country. These ordinances—previously reported by Orlando Weekly as draconian and notable enough to be included in the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty’s (NLCHP) ‘Hall of Shame’—prohibit trespassing or lodging on private and public property, including parks, government buildings, church buildings, or under bridges. The new suit filed by the ACLU and SLC alleges that Ocala’s ordinances have infringed on plaintiffs’ rights to free speech—specifically, asking for help in areas where and when, in other situations, it would be perfectly legal—and the right to due process. “We value free speech in this country and in Florida. Just as individuals have the right to discuss politics, religion, the weather, or education in public spaces, individuals have the right to ask for help in public spaces,” Jacqueline Azis, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida, said in a news release.
According to the NLCHP, these types of policies disproportionately hurt marginalized populations and perpetuate a cycle of homelessness and poverty. An annual report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), says about 558,000 people in the United States were houseless in a given night last year. In the same report, Florida was named as one of four states where more than half of the nation’s unhoused people resided—with 27,487 houseless residents—along with California, New York, and Texas. Even so, the Sunshine State also has a rate of homelessness that is less than the national average. From 2019-2020, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Florida also reportedly decreased 3%. This is not the first lawsuit filed by the ACLU and the SLC against the city regarding their antihomeless ordinances. In 2019, both entities filed suit against the city on behalf of 200 unhoused
FLORIDA NEWS
plaintiffs—including McArdle, also a plaintiff in the new suit—for the unconstitutionality of the same ordinances, which are enforced by Ocala police officers as part of the city’s ‘Operation Street Sweeper’ program. The Operation Street Sweeper program, first created in 2018, is a city-sponsored police patrol that, from December of 2018 to December of 2019, made over 200 “quality of life” arrests. While characterized by media and the city alike as a program to improve the atmosphere of downtown Ocala, the program involves aggressively patrolling and enforcing the city’s policies against resting in public spaces and panhandling. According to the 2019 lawsuit, three named plaintiffs had collectively spent 210 days in jail and been assessed over $9,000 in fees, fines, and costs due to the enforcement of the city’s unlawful lodging and trespass ordinance. This February, U.S. District Court Judge James Moody ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in that lawsuit, stating that the city could not cite or arrest unhoused residents for sleeping outside without first checking for available beds
at local emergency shelters. The Ocala City Council responded by adopting an amendment to the ordinance, to comply with the federal ruling. Even with this amendment, however, civil rights lawyers continue to fight Ocala’s ordinances and seek to have them declared unconstitutional. The six plaintiffs named in the new suit against Ocala have spent more than 200 days in jail, collectively, per the suit and have been assessed more than $7,750 due to the enforcement of the antihomeless ordinances. The suit calls on the federal court to declare the city’s anti-panhandling ordinances unconstitutional, enter a permanent injunction that would prevent the city from enforcing them, and award monetary and nominal damages to the plaintiffs for loss of protected First Amendment rights, loss of liberty, humiliation, emotional distress, and other damages. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to the Ocala Police Department for comment on the lawsuit, as enforcers of the city ordinances that target unhoused communities. They did not provide a response in time for publication.
“They’ve been jailed and assessed fines for acts as harmless as asking a stranger for a cigarette.”
SMELLS LIKE IT: Operation Street Sweeper is characterized as a program to improve downtown Ocala.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 19
More to love in the heart of s a fe t y h a r b o r
Monumental losers
Monday was participation trophy day in Florida. By Colin Wolf
O
n Monday, Florida officially celebrated what’s called, “Confederate Memorial Day,” a legal state holiday to reflect on the biggest sore losers in American history. Nothing major was planned and no one got a paid day off, but it’s an official state holiday nonetheless, and Florida is only one of five states that still does this every single year. Not only that, but the state also celebrates other pro-slavery dates like Robert E. Lee’s birthday on Jan. 19 and Jefferson Davis’ birthday on June 3. This year, Florida Democrats like State Sen. Lauren Book of Plantation Book and Mike Grieco of Miami Beach filed legislation to scrap the official recognition of Confederate holidays, but these proposals failed to even reach a hearing in the GOP-led legislature. Republicans, however, did have time to pass a resolution forcing schools to recognize the slippery slope of democratic socialism, and even approve another proposal inching us a little closer to statesanctioned prayer in the classroom. In fact, the Florida Legislature was so crunched for time it also didn’t have room on the schedule to condemn the mob of Trump supporters who refused to admit they lost the election and decided to storm the U.S. Capitol and kill two cops in the process. But selective amnesia about American history is really what “Confederate Memorial Day” is all about. As the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) points out, the day is best described as a nod to the Jim Crow South, a time period when most of these statues were first erected. “Since Reconstruction, Confederate symbols have been used by white supremacists as tools
of racial terror,” said SPLC chief of staff Lecia Brooks in a statement. “The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans erected hundreds of memorials to the Confederacy across the United States as part of an organized propaganda campaign, created to instill fear and ensure the ongoing oppression of formerly enslaved people.” Many conservatives argue the holiday is about “preserving history,” and respecting the deaths of Confederate soldiers. While both of those things can be true, so can the fact that the meaning and context of symbols changes over time, like when the Confederate flag was paraded through the U.S. Capitol at the insurrection, or when it was embraced by Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who killed nine African Americans at a Charleston church in 2015. Fittingly, Confederate Memorial Day falls about a week after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his “anti-riot” law, which, along with a slew of other things, makes it a felony to even be present at a rally that turns violent, and notably protects Confederate monuments and other racist memorials, statues and historic property. Of course, that bill has been widely panned by Democrats, activists, and civil rights leaders, and is currently being tested in court. Since it seems Confederate Memorial Day isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, perhaps celebrate today by losing at something, building yourself a participation trophy and then forcing everyone to stare at it in a public square for one hundred years. Or, you could even let your state reps know how dumb it is we still recognize and protect racist statues meant to intimidate.
FLORIDA NEWS
GRILL
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SUSHI
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156 4TH AVENUE NORTH, SAFET Y HARBOR, FLORIDA 34695 Ki t c h e n An dBa rAtSa f e t yHa r b o r. c o m ON HOLIDAY: Civil War boneheads celebrated by losing at something.
20 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
How to save policing from the cops
At a bare minimum, we must rethink our relationship to the people to whom we give license to exercise state-sponsored violence. By Jeffrey C. Billman rounded the corner, you didn’t have to wait long to be disabused of that notion. Put aside the tragic death of Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl shot dead by a cop in Columbus, Ohio, at about the same time the Chauvin verdict was announced, as the body-cam footage shows that Bryant was trying to stab another girl when she was shot—though cops reportedly telling neighbors that “blue lives matter” while Ma’Khia lay dead showed real class. Instead, look to the case of Andrew Brown Jr., a 42-year-old Black man who was shot in the back by North Carolina sheriff’s deputies who were serving an arrest warrant on drug charges. Witnesses say the Pasquotank County deputies fired while Brown was in his car driving away; photos from the scene and police radio indicate that’s exactly what happened. The sheriff says there is body-cam footage, but it hasn’t been released, which I can’t imagine bodes well for law enforcement. Nor does the fact that no one has even tried to offer a justification for Brown’s death. (Seven deputies are on leave, and three more have resigned, though the sheriff’s office says the resignations aren’t related to the shooting.)
INFORMED DISSENT
No less than George Floyd’s murder, this will be yet another test of whether the “justice” system applies to cops who kill Black people, this time in a small, swing county in a growing swing state. The system usually flunks these tests, of course: think of Philandro Castro, Sean Bell, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner, to name a few. The idea of defunding or abolishing the police deserves more interrogation than I have space for here, both in terms of politics and practicalities. At a bare minimum, though, we must rethink our relationship to policing and the people to whom we give license to exercise state-sponsored violence. If we must have cops—if we are paying people whom we allow to kill us—shouldn’t we have the right to demand that they be good at their jobs? And shouldn’t we, the public, have the right to know everything about them and their work— easy access to their personnel files and internal affairs records, for instance? These aren’t assistant coffee-fetchers at the local sanitation department, after all. Not all government employees deserve the same civil service protections.
If you don’t want the movement to defund police to gain traction, you should demand radical transparency and disciplinary regimes that make it easy to get rid of not just the proverbial bad apples but the not-so-bad apples that cover for the bad apples. Fully empowered citizen review boards are a start. Saving policing from itself will require changing both the nature of the profession and the people who practice it. For too long, politicians in both parties and at every level have been beholden to police unions and terrified of being labeled “soft on crime.” We built a carceral state unparalleled in the world and gave cops free rein to enforce the law however they saw fit, especially when they did so in brown and Black neighborhoods. Overpaying a consultant for a few hours of “racial equity” training won’t salve the wound. If the cops want the respect of the communities they serve, they’ll need to earn it. Rather than dressing up like G.I. Joe and playing war with Black Lives Matter protesters every time some cops guns down an unarmed Black man, maybe they should think about how to make the next protest unnecessary. Get more Informed Dissent delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe at billman.substack.com.
ASHLEY DIEUDONNE
I
t was tempting to think that Derek Chauvin’s conviction for the murder of George Floyd signaled, well, something. A long-overdue reckoning with the systemic racism and violence pervasive in policing, perhaps. At least an acknowledgment that bad cops must pay for their crimes. But that’s not really what last Tuesday’s verdict was about. Consider how the Minneapolis Police Department initially reported Floyd’s murderby-cop: “[Floyd] was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.” If a 17-year-old girl hadn’t shot video of Chauvin choking Floyd to death as he begged for his life, that would have been the official story. George Floyd would have been just another Black man who died resisting the police. His memory would never have turned into a cause. Think of how many times, before everyone carried a camera in their pocket, some poor guy— usually Black—“physically resisted officers” and then, a few minutes later, “appeared to be suffering medical distress,” and nobody thought twice about it. Here’s what I learned from reporting on the police: Cops lie. A lot. Not all of them, and not all the time. But enough that we shouldn’t treat the words “police say” like they were handed down from the mountain. And they almost always get away with lying. Short of incontrovertible evidence to the contrary—and sometimes, even when there is—police statements are taken as gospel by the courts, by the media, by the public. Understand this: Most internal affairs divisions are a joke, state laws and union contracts protect psychopaths along with decent beat cops, and district attorneys usually only prosecute law enforcement when circumstances and politics afford them no other choice. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the Chauvin verdict. The evidence was clear as day and damning as hell. Still, the very idea that a cop might be punished for even a broad-daylight murder was such a foreign concept that I’d resigned myself to skepticism until I heard “guilty.” (Guessing from the look on his face, Chauvin shared my disbelief.) I’ll retain some skepticism until his sentencing in two months. But if you believed this moment—not exactly justice, but maybe accountability—meant we’ve
HOT SHIT: Tampa police detain a protester and pepper spray others on June 4, 2020.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 21
USA TODAY 10 BEST
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TACO TU EsDAY 200 E MADISON ST • DOWNTOWN TAMPA • 813-221-TACO
22 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
Shit Happened MONDAY 26 The Tampa Bay Times says failed Bay area GOP congressional candidate Christine Quinn is suing a local Community Patriots group, claiming its leaders owe her almost $4,000 after she flew them to D.C. for the insurrection. A former Qanon candidate getting duped by Trump stans is straight up poetry.
THURSDAY 22 The reward for information on whoever wrote "Trump" on a Florida manatee now totals $28,000. We’re not saying Matt Gaetz should turn himself in…
WFLA says a beachgoer in Palm Beach Founds found $1.5 million worth of cocaine washed ashore. Take that, metal detector guy.
SATURDAY 24 Tampa Bay pharmacies teamed up with law enforcement officials to collect pills and vapes—no questions asked— as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Still don't know what to do with these half-finished bottles of Pepto Bismol though.
Using an April 1 population total, Census numbers show that Florida will gain a congressional seat. The reapportionment process won’t start until later this year, but Republicans in Tallahassee are already having gerrymandering brainstorming sessions. All the shit you need to know, in real time, via cltampa.com/news.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 23
24 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
RESTAURANT REVIEW Wild Child Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
★★★★ 2710 Central Ave., St. Petersburg 727-954-7425; @wildchild_stpete on Instagram Appetizers $6-$16; entrées $15-$32; desserts $9; beer, wine and cocktails $4-$16
RESTAURANTS
RECIPES
DINING GUIDES
Wild and free
An intoxicating menu welcomes us back to the dining room. By Jon Palmer Claridge four. The cheese is light and sweetened perfectly with honey, then topped with a generous sprinkling of herbs and pink peppercorns. The combo is just divine spread on the grilled sourdough with the slight char adding a seductive smokiness. This is a superb example of the whole being greater than the parts. Surprisingly, even better is the jerk octopus which is now a signature dish for Reinsmith; this is Best of the Bay territory. The accents of charred scallion crema, wafer-thin circles of
We chose the “tres leche cake” for dessert over the “chocolate ganache tart” and are not disappointed. In fact, it’s surprisingly good with small touches that elevate it over most versions. First of all, the cake is moist, but not soggy. The large rectangle is covered with fresh, piped whipped cream stars and surrounded by passion fruit purée to contrast beautifully in both color and flavor. Chef also adds a few fresh raspberries, a snow of lime zest, and a delightful sprinkling of edible orange petals. It’s just a wonderful end to our meal. I must say it’s intoxicating to be back. The servers are attentive and inside, while the tables aren’t crowded, there’s definitely an ongoing din, which will energize some diners and annoy others who should try to snag a table on the street. But
WILD CHILD RESTAURANT & COCKTAIL BAR
W
ild Child was originally to be a part of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s continued coverage of takeout during the pandemic. So I dropped by in the early evening one Saturday last month, only to be told that there was no takeout on weekends. The joint was jumpin.’ The outdoor tables along Central Avenue were full of animated folks sipping cocktails and nibbling on Chef Rob Reinsmith’s whipped ricotta with grilled sourdough. The adjacent covered patio area was slammed with groups of happy patrons whooping up a good time at the picnic tables. Before returning during the week, I wanted to verify that takeout was available. Despite being vaccinated, I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready to be “back in the saddle” so to speak. But Wild Child doesn’t answer its phone, it just greets you with a friendly message and an email for reservations (wildchildrestaurant@gmail.com). So, I decide it’s time for us to follow Lady Macbeth’s advice to “screw your courage to the sticking place.” After 13 months of pandemic delay, indoor dining will resume. I arrive on a beautiful April weeknight to find the same throbbing energy as on my prior unsuccessful visit. Clearly, the word is out and this is the hot place to be. Our host informs us that the waiting list is about an hour. “Oh, well,” I sigh, “at least they are into cocktails.” We peruse the cocktail list; it’s anchored by seven inventive “Wild House” concoctions, a trio of tiki drinks, and a few classics. My companion opts for the “porn star martini,” which fills an old fashioned coupe stem with vanilla vodka swirled with passion fruit liqueur and purée. It comes with a sidecar of champagne in a tall shot glass etched with a festive palm tree. You can use the bubbles as a chaser or just dump the shot into your drink to add spritz to the whole affair. I choose a classic “old fashioned,” which is perfectly crafted. Old Forester Kentucky bourbon swims around a single, large clear artisanal ice cube and a perfect rectangle of fragrant orange peel. Sadly, for me, they skip the traditional cherry—which is often the deciding factor in my choice of drink. Despite my cherry fetish, I sip with joy. The aforementioned ricotta is a sensational starter and could easily be shared by a table of
surprise. It is so delicious and juicy that it’s disarming. Add the yuzu salsa verde and it’s a celebration of flavor. Skirt steak is a tasty cut of beef. When it’s a perfect medium rare, sliced and topped with creamy bits of Spanish Valdeón bleu crafted from a goat-cow milk blend, you get nuggets of salty spice to accent the meat. Add a soft, luscious onion marmalade, Catalonian romesco (red pepper, garlic, almonds) sauce and you’re transported to the flavors of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. It’s all accompanied by charred broccolini, and another Spanish treat, patatas bravas. These are made, though, from fingerling potatoes instead of the traditional crispy wedges, with just the right touch of salt. The spicy roasted tomato aioli sauce is the per-
CHILD OF GOD: Your tastebuds will surrender to every page of the Wild Child menu. fennel, small peeled grapefruit segments, red watercress leaves, sliced rings of pickled sweet peppers, and a spritz of fresh lime juice meld beautifully on the plate. The tentacles are firm without being rubbery and have just the right amount of heat to pop without throwing the dish out of balance. I feel like I’m in Spain. The entrées also deliver. The frites are tasty but not so crisp, however, the aïoli is decadent and creamy. Plus, the brick chicken is an amazing
fect complement along with finely minced chives, which blanket the entire plate. And some more fresh lime to squeeze just adds a livening pop of acidity. Chef Reinsmith’s entire seasonal menu has a Spanish tilt. I can’t wait to return for the “snapper a la plancha” with chorizo and crab saffron rice or the “whole grilled crispy fish.” Just to be safe, they also offer veggie and cheeseburgers and a Korean fried chicken sandwich.
the food made me long to travel. In the meantime, Wild Child gives you another reason to visit the Grand Central District, but still wear your masks and be safe. And please, get in line for your vaccination if you haven’t already. We must all do our part to return to normal. Great food beckons. CL’s Jon Palmer Claridge, Tampa Bay’s longest running food critic, dines anonymously. Visit cltampa.com/magazine to find a link that explains his five-star rating system.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 25
en p O ow
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26 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
DINE IN • PICK UP • CURBSIDE
HAPPY HOUR IN THE BAR AREA TUESDAY-SUNDAY 5-7 WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY HALF OFF SELECT BOTTLES • DAILY HANDMADE PASTA AND BREAD • FRESH LOCALLY-SOURCED PRODUCE AND SEAFOOD • VEGAN CHICKEN PARM AND VEGAN PIZZAS WE ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
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A different beast
This S.O.G. restaurant is not MrBeast Burgers’ first brick and mortar. By Ray Roa and Alexandria Jones The origins of a MrBeast Burger restaurant go back to last year when the YouTube star—22year-old James Stephen “Jimmy” Donaldson, aka MrBeast (pictured above)—literally paid people to eat at his new restaurant, which took over a vacant storefront in his hometown of Wilson, North Carolina. His ghost kitchen, delivery-only concept launched shortly thereafter with the help of Virtual Dining Concepts, which also has partnerships with Mario Lopez, “Jersey Shore” star Pauly D and rapper Tyga. Hospitality magazine QSR wrote that when Virtual Dining Teams up with a celebrity, it takes charge of market research including what foods are popular in certain areas. “But influencers play a big part in creating the menu and branding. For both Virtual Dining Concepts and its partners, these brands are a prolonged relationship rather than a one-off deal,” the magazine added. There’s currently a portal and sales pitch explaining how folks can use their kitchen facilities to bring MrBeast Burger product in. On it, MrBeast Burger says anyone who brings MrBeast Burger into their kitchens can “reach 46M+ MrBeast fans” with “simple setup, zero upfront fees, and no lengthy contracts.” The In Tampa Bay, kitchens in Brandon, Clearwater, Lithia, Riverview, Sarasota and Tampa have all bought in and started delivering MrBeast Burger product not just through the proprietary app, but also through DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub, Postmates and others. The pitch portal offers “30% profit” with “no up-front fees, no long-term commitment” with the ability to cancel anytime. “With MrBeast Burger, you’re not just providing a burger option from you existing restaurant’s kitchen. You’re tapping into the infamous YouTube philanthropist’s 46M+ following and providing delivery-only foods that customers in your area are searching for right now,” the portal adds. Some restaurateurs have quipped that the sound of an Uber Eats order coming into the kitchen is the “sound of breaking even,” and some groups have gone as far to warn that delivery app companies are predatory entities that could eventually use all of the data they gather against small mom-and-pops, so it would be interesting to see how the MrBeast concept is different. Virtual Dining Concepts would not provide specific information on how MrBeast Burger works with local proprietors and the financials of the deals it makes.
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS
MRBEAST BURGER
Y
ouTube superstar MrBeast is known for his gaming, elaborate stunts and philanthropic endeavors like raising $20 million to plant trees or car donations. He added restaurant entrepreneur to his resume last year when he partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts to start a ghost kitchen concept—and it looked like he was bringing a MrBeast Burger brick and mortar to Tampa. Located at 5229 S MacDill Ave. in the Interbay neighborhood south of Gandy (S.O.G.), the location appeared to be the first brick and mortar for a delivery-only concept operating in hundreds of U.S. cities via an app available on iOS and Android. There are social media profiles for MrBeast Burger concepts in Illinois, Nevada and New Jersey, but none of them—save for a food truck in El Paso—appear to have the kind of brick and mortar setup initially advertised by a Facebook page called “MrBeastBurgerTampa.” “We are so excited! Getting ready to set up our first Tampa location with pick up and outdoor seating! Stay tuned!,” it said on the Tampa concept’s Facebook page. But in an email to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a rep for Virtual Dining Concepts said that the Tampa location is not MrBeast Burger’s first brick and mortar because the concept is delivery only. “We are in touch with the restaurant in Tampa that has created the Facebook page as well to ensure we’re not confusing any diners and consumers,” the rep wrote. Last week, the local owner of the property told CL that the parcel is being rented to someone opening a popular burger chain. The owner was unable to share information on the restaurant, but said he’d provide more information tomorrow. A contractor who did hood work in the kitchen also said they’d share the Tampa concept owner’s information. Before the weekend was up, the Tampa MrBeast Burger page had changed its name to Revolve Kitchen South Tampa. “We changed the name because we will be offering our own menu as well as our MrBeast Burger menu. We want to give people the option to get some other creative takes on american cuisine beside burgers, and the MrBeast Burger menu limited us there,” the page wrote. “So now we will have some really great alternatives to just burgers.” Still, the updated page said, “Soon you’ll be able to enjoy MrBeast Burger in person on our outdoor Beast size patio!”
EAT ME: MrBeast Burger originated when the YouTube star literally paid people to eat at his new restaurant. MrBeast Burger’s limited menu has several patties on deck like the “Beast Style” burger, available in a double or triple. Other items up for grabs include chicken sandwiches, fries, and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Pricing
starts at $1.99 for drinks up to $10.99+ for combos. Follow MrBeast Burger’s Tampa concept on Facebook and Instagram to find out when it officially opens.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 27
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28 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
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32 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
Recently Reviewed: Takeout in Tampa Bay For now, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s Jon Palmer Claridge—the Bay area’s longest-running food critic—is reviewing local takeout. Until it’s 100% safe to be shoulder-to-shoulder with each other in restaurants, I don’t see CL moving back to restaurant ratings. If you think there’s an out-of-this-world takeout experience he needs to try, please shoot me an email (rroa@cltampa. com). Oh, wear a mask and wash your hands, too. —Ray Roa Anju Chef Wolney has two “signature dishes,” K.F.C. (Korean fried chicken) and the Bap Bowl (bibimbap). Combined with the tots—K-town style with beef bulgogi, grilled kimchi, melted mozzarella and provolone cheeses, thinly sliced fresh scallions, crushed peanut or with Osaka, Japanese inspired crispy taters seasoned with Japanese mayo and sweet BBQ sauce, aonori (seaweed), bonito (tuna flakes), bacon, scallions and pickled red ginger—the menu is a menagerie of outof-this-world comfort food. $3-$14. 2827 16th St., N., St. Petersburg; 727-289-8568, anju-st-pete.square.site “Q” Southern Barbecue Chef Cameron Capri cooks up a perfect storm of the best American barbecue. Thinly sliced beef brisket is moist and not overly smoky, pulled pork butt is cooked low and slow to melt in your mouth, Lexington, North Carolina (western) style and meaty St. Louis style ribs are slow smoked until tender. Sauces are all made in house and represent a quintessential overview of popular barbecue styles, and the mac-n-cheese is a full on knockout. $3-$12. 664 Main St., Dunedin 727-734-7227; qbycapri.com Doormét With two locations—one on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, another off S Dale Mabry in Tampa—both sides of the Bay can get in on the well-oiled takeout operation featuring burgers, salads and fitness bowls and a strong Italian influence with hand-tossed pizzas, pastas, and classics chicken dishes. Saltimbocca is just marvelous, but I’m a sucker for the prosciutto and melted provolone that turns plain hand-breaded chicken medallions into a culinary supermodel. doormet.com
Jack’s London Grill This St. Petersburg takeout oasis delivers food that Brits crave. Jack’s fish and chips have crispy ale batter that coats the flaky white fish to perfection. Sausage rolls wrap a hot dog-sized link in puff pastry and bake it until perfectly crispy and seductive. The shepherd’s pie evokes fond memories and pushes all the comfort food buttons while the Bombay chicken curry and lentil pie balances the spices that swathe the tender chicken and legumes in a scrumptious mild coconut curry sauce. $5-$13. 1050 62nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-289-7170; jackslondongrill.com Taqueria Margarita Elia Maldonado proudly shares Abuela’s recipes homemade with the freshest ingredients, which instantly recall the pure flavors and aromas of food stalls in the Mercado de Coyoacán (abuela comes from México, Mexico). The array is mostly a familiar list: asada, pollo, el pastor, carnitas, campechano, and chorizo. On some days, there’s decadent and juicy quesabirria served traditionally, as a twice-cooked taco, or Instagram-ready as a tortilla “pizza” with the carne spread between two browned tortillas—and, yes, with a drool worthy consommé for dipping. $2.25-$11. 4001 W Dr. Martin Luter King Jr. Blvd., Tampa. 813-466-2484; @taqueriamargaritatpa on Instagram and Facebook Bodega on Central Designed to thrive in the face of today's challenge, Cubans and pork sandwiches are favorites, and the chicken version is a flavor explosion with contrasting textures. The flattened breast meat is balanced with smooth avocado and mango against crunchy jicama and fiery pickled chilies with some mango mayo. It’s a memorable mouthful for fans of spice. $0.50-$9. 1120 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-623-0942; eatatbodega.com
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cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 33
Because of coronavirus, it’s best to call or visit brewery websites to check on offerings and policy. 3 DAUGHTERS BREWING One of the Warehouse Arts District’s most popular hangouts, and a beautiful facility in which to drink some great brews. 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-495-6002, 3dbrewing.com
CLEARWATER BREWING CO. Community-oriented and socially and environmentally conscious. 1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. clearwaterbrewingcompany.com COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. Some of Tampa’s best beer, in one of its best tasting rooms. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com
3 KEYS BREWING South-of-the-Skyway restaurant and brewery specializing in small batches. 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com
COTEE RIVER BREWING Craft beer in the heart of historic downtown New Port Richey. 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-807-6806, coteeriverbrewing.com
7VENTH SUN BREWING Some of the best sours, IPAs and collabs going. Two locations. 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013/6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-2315900, 7venthsun.com
CRAFT LIFE BREWING Small-batch local brews and a sort of playground or LoL’s craft brewing guild. 4624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-575-8440. facebook. com/CraftLifeBrewing
81BAY BREWING CO. South Tampa’s first craft brewery boasts a wide variety of styles. 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 813-837-BREW, 81baybrewco.com
CROOKED THUMB BREWERY Safety Harbor’s first brewery boasts homegrown flavor and local guest taps. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com
ANGRY CHAIR Crazy-good Tampa beer, open Tuesday-Sunday. 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com ANTIBREWERY Dunedin’s secret Sundays-only nano. 1367 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Dunedin ARKANE ALEWORKS A wide variety of styles and flavors from the second brewery to open in Largo. 2480 E. Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com AVID BREWING This Grand Central brewing supply shop added a taproom for its beers crafted in-house. 1745 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-388-6756, avidbrew.com BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. Lager-specific brewery, carrying on an over 150 year brewing legacy. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com BAY CANNON BEER CO. West Tampa's first craft brewery, offering a variety of ever evolving beers, beer slushies and wine that pair perfectly with appetizers and entrées from the kitchen. 813-442-5615, baycannon.com BIG STORM BREWING CO. Stop by this Pasco brewery’s Storm Room for a flight, or visit their taproom on 49th Street in Clearwater, too. 2330 Success Dr., Odessa. 727-807-7998, bigstormbrewery.com BIG TOP BREWING Perhaps Sarasota’s premier purveyor of locally crafted beer, Big Top’s reputation has spread far beyond the region. 6111 Porter Way, Sarasota. 941-371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. This Brandon taproom from Bootleggers Beer & Wine Home Brewing Supplies offers house-made suds and guest beers. 652 Oakfield Dr., Brandon. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com BRASSERIE ST. SOMEWHERE Award-winning Belgian farmhouse ales from veteran Bay area brewer Bob Sylvester. 115 S Ring Ave., Tarpon Springs. 813-503-6181, saintsomewherebrewing.com BREW BUS BREWING BB brews its own suds, boasts 20 taps and offers food at its Eatery, too. 4101 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-990-7310, brewbususa.com BREW HUB Some of the area’s best beers are produced here along with suds for their own label. 3900 Frontage Rd. S., Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com
CUENI BREWING CO. Located off the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing.com CYCLE BREWING One of St. Pete’s favorites. 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. cyclebrewing.com DARWIN BREWING CO. Unique beers crafted with South American influence. 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. 941-747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com DE BINE BREWING CO. This addition bolsters the Northern Pinellas craft beer scene. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964. DISSENT BREWING CO. Unique flavors and adventurous style outside downtown St. Pete. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-342-0255. DUNEDIN BREWERY Florida’s oldest. Beer, eats and live music. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER This beer stop brews its own, and also has 40 guest taps. 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 216-6318, dunedinhob.com ESCAPE BREWING CO. Another very worthy Odessa/Trinity destination. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com FIVE BRANCHES Veteran-owned brewery, small batches from IPAs to stouts. Serving up brews and a clear view of the Tarpon Bayou. 531 Athens St., Tarpon Springs. fivebranchesbrewing.com FLYING BOAT BREWING COMPANY St. Pete aviation history and tasty homegrown suds. 1776 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-2999, flyingboatbrewing.com
BREW LIFE BREWING Ultra-small batches, and a lot of ‘em. 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com
FOUR STACKS BREWING An always-changing lineup of local and regional guest suds, along with trivia, live music and more. 5469 N. US HWY 41, Apollo Beach. 813641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.com
BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. A multitude of styles from former garage brewers is on tap in Valrico. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com
GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE 10,270 square-foot brewery, taproom, beer garden, and event venue with a lager-focused tap list. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-202-6071, grandcentralbrew.com
CAGE BREWING Custom brews in the Grand Central District from one of the ‘Burg’s newest. 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278
GREEN BENCH BREWING COMPANY A space worthy of the adventurous beers it produces. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com
CALEDONIA BREWING Great in-house beers in the historic Dunedin Times building. 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com
GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. Thirty taps and food (and a coffee roaster!) from a husband-and-wife duo. 4824 14th St. W., Bradenton. 941-896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com
CALUSA BREWING Family owned and operated, opened Tuesday to Sunday. 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. 941-922-8150, calusabrewing.com
GRINDHAUS BREW LAB Small batches and no extracts. 1650 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater. 727-2400804, grindhausbrewlab.com
CARROLLWOOD BREWING CO. “Secret” brewing action inside the Carrollwood location of craft-bar chain The Brass Tap. 10047 N. Dale Mabry HWY, STE 23, Tampa. 813-969-2337
GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY Small batches with an artisanal food menu. 3007 Beach Blvd., Tampa. facebook.com/GulfportBrewery
CIGAR CITY BREWING Tampa’s most famous craft brewery. There’s also a taproom at Amalie Arena. 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-348-6363, cigarcitybrewing.com
HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS This Tampa Heights brewery features a rotating tap selection. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks.com
34 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
HOB BREWING CO. Rotating taps, with some brewed on-site and alongside a combination of local breweries plus local and international craft beer makers. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. hob.beer
PESKY PELICAN BREW PUB This beachy restaurant also offers up its own beers thanks to an in-house nano system. 923 72nd. St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-302-9600, peskypelicanbrewpub.com
KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER Tasty brews from the folks behind Keel & Curley winery. 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-752-9100, keelandcurleywinery.com
PINELLAS ALE WORKS Dog-friendly environment in addition to tasty brews. 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970, pawbeer.com
IF I BREWED THE WORLD A self-described “mixtape of breweries” with a bit of everything from the classic to the fun and outrageous. 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4484, ifibrewedtheworld.com IN THE LOOP BREWING Family-friendly with a lot of community support and plenty of events. 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com INFUSION BREWING CO. Another great location in the good-beer-packed Trinity/New Port Richey area. 7813 Mitchell Blvd. Ste 103, Trinity. 727-312-4512. INOCULUM ALE WORKS These folks are crazy for sours, and know how to craft ‘em. 554 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. inoculumaleworks.com JDUB’S BREWING COMPANY You know ‘em, you love ‘em. A statewide phenomenon. 1215 Mango Ave., Sarasota. 941-955-2739, jdubsbrewing.com KING STATE Food & Wine's No. 8 coffee shop in the U.S. is also home to brewer and Flying Boat Brewing Co. alum Aric Parker, who’s making some of the cleanest core beers plus a dynamic offering of rotating taps and bomber options available onsite in limited capacities. 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813-2212100, king-state.com LAGERHAUS BREWERY & GRILL A Palm Harbor bar and eatery that offers seasonal brews to complement their regulars. 3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor. 727-216-9682, lagerhausbrewery.com LATE START BREWING Beloved Tampa label does its thing inside the Pour House. 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. #112, Tampa. 813-402-2923, latestartbrewing.com LEAVEN BREWING Riverview’s first brewery is run by folks who’ve got experience brewing big and small. 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-6777023, leavenbrewing.com MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING Brews, ciders, and meads by the beach. 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com MARKER 48 Hernando production craft brewery with tasting room and beer garden 12147 Cortez Blvd, Weeki Wachee. 352-606-2509, marker48.com MASTRY’S BREWING CO. From CD Roma’s restaurant to sweet new digs on St. Pete Beach. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727-202-8045 mastrysbrewingco.com MOTORWORKS BREWING A taproom and beer garden featuring full liquor and wine as well as 30 taps. 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com MR. DUNDERBAK’S The longtime restaurant, biergarten and homebrewers’ hangout is serving up its own beers. 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-9774104, dunderbaks.com NAUGHTY MONK BREWERY Naughty Monk brings a love of Belgian styles to Manatee County. 2507 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton. 941-708-2966, naughtymonkbrewery.com OVERFLOW BREWING St. Pete’s newest, courtesy of local Rapp head brewer Troy Bledsoe and company. 770 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-0665, facebook.com/overflowbrewingco PEPPER BREWING The Angry Pepper Taphouse’s in-house label, available “on a limited basis.” 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com
RAPP BREWING COMPANY The late Greg Rapp’s award-winning styles carefully crafted. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER Video game-centric Grand Central District craft beer spot. 2244 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-360-0766, stpetearcadebar.com ROCK BROTHERS BREWING Brews named for national and local bands have a home in Ybor City. 1901 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-241-0110, rockbrothersbrewing.com SARASOTA BREWING COMPANY House-crafted brews, pizza, and sports out toward beautiful Siesta Key. 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota. 941-925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com SILVERKING BREWING CO. This spacevcomplements a label that’s been around since 2012. 325 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. 727-422-7598, silverkingbrewing.com SIX TEN BREWING Wide variety and a real passion for the craft-brew community. 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-886-0610, sixtenbrewing.com SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING Truly original flavors and inventive brews. 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-601-1698, soggybottombrewing.com SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING Multiple brews only available in its tasting room, plus products and guidance for homebrewers. 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY Beers crafted specifically for the climate. 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com STILT HOUSE BREWERY Friendly joint specializes in high-ABV ales and other styles you won’t find elsewhere. 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com SWAN BREWING Nearly four decades of combined brewing experience go into the offerings at this petfriendly joint. 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com TBBC Formerly Tampa Bay Brewing Co., local favorite for nearly two decades. 1600 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933 Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813247-1422, tbbc.beer TAMPA BEER WORKS At the former site of ESB Brewing, TBW focuses on American craft styles. 333 N. Falkenburg Rd., Suite D407 Tampa. 813-685-1909, tampabeerworks.com TIDAL BREWING COMPANY Small batches in Spring Hill. 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-7011602, tidalbrewingfl.com TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY Tarpon Springs’ latest focuses on American ale styles. 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, facebook.com/ twofrogsbrewing TWO LIONS WINERY & PALM HARBOR BREWERY Wine and beer brewed in-house. 1022 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-786-8039, twolionswinery.com ULELE SPRING BREWERY Beer crafted in accordance with traditional Bavarian purity laws. 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com THE WILD ROVER BREWERY What started as an English pub is now a higher-production facility. 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY Traditional German styles. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-2388717, facebook.com/woodwrightbrewing ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY East Paco’s first microbrewery. 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813-715-2683, zbcbeer.com ZYDECO BREW WERKS Craft brews in Ybor thanks to an award-winning brewmaster, as well as full bars and NOLA-influenced cuisine. 1902 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. 813-252-4541, facebook.com/Zydecobrewwerks
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36 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
VISUAL ART
The Valspar Championship Through May 2 Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club 36750 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, $60 & up valsparchampionship.com
MOVIES
THEATER
ART
CULTURE
Bright idea
Clearwater rec center gets a new Zulu Painter mural. By Jennifer Ring “It brought us closer,” said Young. On March 11, Valspar announced that North Greenwood Recreation Center would be the site for a new mural by St. Pete muralist Zulu Painter. “We could not go wrong with any of the proposed sites for Valspar’s #BacktoBright mural,” said celebrity selection committee member Ronde Barber.
COURTESY
I
f you live in Palm Harbor like me, sometimes the name Valspar makes you think of golf more than it makes you think of paint. My hometown has been hosting the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course since 2014. (Between 2000 and 2013, before Valspar started sponsoring the championship, the tournament was still held at Innisbrook, but it was called the Tampa Bay Classic and sponsored by Pods and Transitions) Eight years later, I’d somehow forgotten that the two centuries old corporation is the fifth largest paint maker in North America—until Valspar told us about its new Back to Bright initiative. “After a long and stressful 2020, everyone could use a little brightening up,” Valspar announced last month. “That’s why Valspar has created the Back to Bright initiative! Valspar wants to empower communities to be bright again, and that starts this week in the Tampa Bay area—the home of the Valspar Championship.” That same day, the company announced its intention to sponsor a new community mural in Tampa Bay. “Local #TampaBay fans. This is your chance to nominate a space in your community in need of some brightening up!” the company posted on social media. “The chosen space will win a community mural.” Clearwater Recreation Coordinator Johnareus Young spotted the announcement and submitted a short video explaining why he thought North Greenwood Recreation Center in Clearwater would be a great location for the new mural. Like most communities in America, North Greenwood had a rough 2020. Due to restrictions on the number of people that can be in one place at one time, the community center temporarily paused several of its usual activities, like basketball and volleyball games. But it found new ways to serve the community. He told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that “For about two to three months, the staff between North Greenwood and Ross Norton were at both recreation centers handing out food to the people in our communities, walking the community and “[Asking people to] come out to North Greenwood, come out to Ross Norton.” And people came.
Splashes of color stood out from the road as I arrived at North Greenwood Recreation Center on the third of painting. Zulu, real name Carlos Culbertson, stood on a lift, surrounded by fresh cans of Valspar paint, while his friend and fellow muralist Aurailieus Artist assisted, using tape to transfer Zulu’s design to a section of the massive wall before them. Zulu’s penchant for bright colors was already on display—it’s one of the reasons the selection committee chose him for this project. “We researched several local artists in the Tampa Bay area, and we really felt that Zulu Painter was the perfect fit for this project,” Valspar Brand Manager Sarah Hackney told CL. “Not only is his work vibrant and colorful,
VALSPAR FOR THE COURSE: Golf and paint combine forces at North Greenwood Recreation Center. “It is very exciting to award the distinction to the Greenwood Rec Center. This shared space is a great venue for its community and has provided a sense of togetherness during a tough time. I believe Zulu’s art will enhance them even further and provide a continuing sense of pride in their neighborhood.”
like the Valspar paint brand, but he connects with the community he is working in and that connection comes out in his art. He takes his time to get to know the community he is working in and his work very much represents that. We felt that Zulu could really show this community’s sense of pride through his work.”
Painting the outside of North Greenwood Recreation Center carries special meaning for Zulu, who grew up with Boys and Girls Clubs. “The staff at these places has always been an inspiration,” Zulu told CL. “Boys and Girls Clubs and general recreation centers are places where kids who don’t have access to money, which is what I was, get to thrive.” Zulu spoke of his plans to place a little girl modeled after his daughter at the center of the North Greenwood mural. He stood in a thinking pose to show how she would appear, thinking of all the things she’ll be able to do once this whole COVID mess is over. “And they’re not just her thoughts,” Zulu told CL. “Some of the imagery will reflect things in general that people want to do like go out and play, attend family functions and get to hug somebody. The idea is to get people to imagine how great it will be when we can all get back to the people and the things we love. “Art has a way of bringing people together, whether it’s poetry, music, dance, or painting and drawing,” Young told CL. “[Zulu’s mural] will give people a sense of pride and hope, especially with the theme Back to Bright. We’re coming out of something that a lot of people didn’t come out of. And to have that on our building, to have Valspar pick us out of all the communities in this area to receive that honor, it will be something we can be prideful of.” Valspar representatives unveiled Zulu Painter’s finished Back to Bright mural at the rec center—located at 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Clearwater—with appearances from Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, Zulu Painter, Clearwater’s recreation coordinator Johnareus Young, Hackney, Valspar Championship Tournament Director Tracy West, and mural location selection committee members Jim Eisch and Barber. Valspar representatives reminded those gathered at the mural that this is just the beginning. Next, a Valspar-designated PGA golfer—named on social media channels (@ ValsparChamp)—gets to select a location in their hometown for a second Valspar-sponsored Back to Bright mural. The Valspar Championship returned to Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor at 20-30% spectator capacity this week and wraps this Sunday, May 2. Players include Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, and Paul Casey. Tickets, full list of players and events at valsparchampionship.com.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 37
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38 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
Ya dig
After Grand Prix weekend, St. Pete artist eyes mural redo. By Alexandria Jones and Ray Roa “The space can be a living breathing tunnel. Redefining what defines the nature of an object. How do we as the object move through our climate? Could you be fertilized? As a person we undergo all sorts of weather. Sun brings light or shadow,” she added. “The tunnel is a space to re-examine space, and how we examine and investigate and redefine humanity.” “This tunnel represents connection and we feel it should embrace St. Pete’s rich history of diversity and our inclusive welcoming community,” a rep for Smith & Associates told CL. The company was the initial sponsor for the first blue tunnel and is funding the restoration at La’ford’s discretion. “Ya is a leader in bridging communities and we love that she involves local kids in her artwork. She not only paints our walls with meaningful art but she gets the kids engaged and interested in art. We are excited to see what she will do in the next transformation of this space,” the company added. Details on the re-painting are coming soon, but over last weekend, La’ford literally made her mark on the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. A large-format canvas inspired by St. Pete and racing culture features a design that mimics the history of the racing map through downtown and incorporates recycled Arrow McLaren SP race car materials. The final product was on display at the Tampa Convention Center leading into the weekend. Now it’ll be donated to the St. Pete Arts Alliance and moved to the St. Petersburg Museum of History. “Within the painting, I plan to arrange an abstract collage of colors to represent the Sun’s thermal gaze on the city, coupled with hints of blue to highlight the ocean adjacent to the track. Metal pieces from the car will be molten into the paint and rubber merged to demonstrate the high-speed ingenuity experienced on our city track,” said La’ford in a press release. A second project involved her live painting an Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar trackside Saturday and Sunday. The design replicates the vibrations during each race. And if you can’t make it to the race, see La’ford’s art at Toronto Blue Jays’ Dunedin complex, at St. Pete’s Historic Manhattan Casino, and or see photos from the immersive art exhibition earlier she had year at HCC. Reporting from Colin Wolf appears in this story.
VISUAL ART
PLAYBOOK PR
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ast month, a swastika, and other Nazi symbols were spray-painted over Ya La’ford’s SHINE mural at the tunnel between Tropicana Field and Ferg’s in St. Petersburg. According to the police report from the St. Petersburg Police Department, investigators believe the incident happened sometime between March 20 and when the graffiti was first discovered on March 21. The graffiti has since been removed, and investigators say there are no suspects. Yolanda Fernandez, a spokesperson for SPPD, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that while the graffiti is certainly hateful, it doesn’t yet qualify as a hate crime. “We can’t call it a hate crime because there isn’t a direct victim, even though it’s something we’ll keep on our radar,” said Fernandez. “As of now, it’s being investigated as criminal mischief, unless we receive more information.” Created in 2015 as part of the first iteration of the annual SHINE Mural Festival the “Blue Sunnel” mural (stylized “Blue SUNnel”) was produced by La’ford, who is Jewish and Black. The artwork covers the entire 85-foot underground space under Central Avenue, and features fragmented geometric lines that are meant to mimic the sun’s rays. And while police can’t investigate the vandalism as a hate crime, La’ford never let the graffiti get to her. “I feel deep love for St. Pete and know that the reigning spirit here is one of inclusiveness and love,” she told CL. And now, with the help of the Rays and local real estate firm Smith & Associates, La’ford said that she’s repainting the “Blue Sunnel” mural (stylized “Blue SUNnel”) as part of the 2021 SHINE mural festival happening Oct. 15-24. In a text message La’ford said the “Sunnel” reboot won’t be an exact recreation of the work first painted five years ago. Instead, it will be less blue and will speak to the community’s connection to the sky and surrounding water. “[I’m] thinking of getting a mirror so that we can reflect, look up and discover yourself your reflection and meditate in the space,” La’ford said of “SUNnel part 2.” She hopes the work ends up being a collaborative storytelling opportunity with the local community which speaks to the idea that “everything should begin here and now and [bridge] a dialogue with the universe at large.” Citing Eastern philosophy and the constant state of shifting and adjusting to the world, La’ford wants the work to feel alive.
“The tunnel is a space to examine and investigate and redefine humanity.”
HEY YO, YA! It’s tough to keep pace with St. Pete’s Ya La’ford.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 39
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Goat get ‘em
TB12 is big mad about this NFL rule change. By Carter Brantley Oh, well. Guess the Bucs aren’t repeating as Super Bowl champs after all. Welcome to Tampa Bay, Giovani Bernard But TB12 does have something to be happy about because on April 12, the Bucs gave the GOAT another weapon for one of the best offenses in the NFL. For those wondering what the Bucs are going to do with their first-round draft pick this week, I think it’s safe to say you can scratch running back off the list of possibilities. The Bucs signed former Bengal Giovani Bernard to a one-year deal, according to a Twitter post by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Bernard has played in Cincinnati since the Bengals drafted him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. While the 29-year-old hasn’t posted any ridiculous numbers or earned any huge accolades, the former Tar Heel has a
“He needs to know what defenses are throwing at him.”
SPORTS
KYLE ZEDAKER/TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
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o the NFL released its annual rule changes report, and it tweaks which positions can wear certain jersey numbers. This may sound like a fun and ultimately meaningless rule change that won’t really impact the game that much (because in all honesty it is), but it can make things complicated for blocking schemes, reading coverages, and many other nuanced things that we, as fans, probably don’t think about. Naturally, Tom Brady doesn’t like it. He recently went on a rant on his Instagram stories discussing how the rule is going to produce some “bad football,” and with the word “DUMB” plastered multiple places on another story discussing the rule. These posts certainly had a different tone than the usual happy-golucky stuff Brady posts on his social media, but these rule changes have a huge impact on his game as a player. There might not be a quarterback in the history of the league that is better, during presnap reads, at identifying coverages, blitzes, and anything else a defense might try to throw at the GOAT. Now, with defenders able to change numbers and have all these weird combinations that haven’t happened before, it’s going to be an adjustment period. Teams will have to really and truly read a team’s scouting report before the game to know who wears what. I mean, God forbid Brady calls out “Mike 9” against the Saints and instead of 42-year-old Drew Brees coming at an offensive lineman like they might expect in the past, they’ll get one of those pesky New Orleans Saint linebackers. As much as it might be easy to dismiss this as Brady being an old grouchy man for complaining about something as minute as a rule allowing guys to wear the numbers they wore in college (to quote Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems”), this is how Brady wins. Especially at 43, the GOAT needs to know what defenses are throwing at him, and who is lined up where. Nobody wants to drop back and have Saints safety CJ GardnerJohnson come in untouched and be able to spit in Brady’s face. Especially if TB12 gets sacked because he didn’t realize Gardner-Johnson was wearing Jameis Winston’s old no. 3 instead of the former Gator’s original no. 22. I mean, think of how many blitz packages of the past have included quarterbacks, punters, and kickers (Ryan Succop was a menace last year getting after the QB). Now how is Brady supposed to differentiate between them and linebackers or safeties?
reputation as one of the most productive and Gordon is a question mark himself, as off-thesolid receiving backs in the league—even with field problems with substance abuse have plagued his turning 30 years old in November—and what could have been a great career. But, he does with Tom Brady’s previous success with pass have prior experience with Brady, as he caught the catching backs such as James White, it could GOAT’s 500th career TD pass in New England be a sign that Bernard’s production is about to when Gordon was on the Patriots for the 2019 take a huge jump with the Bucs. season. He is currently playing for the Zappers The deal is one of many huge offseason moves in the new Fan Controlled Football (FCF) league, by the Bucs in their pursuit for a second straight but given the opportunity to break back into the Super Bowl, and allows the NFL and win a ring with the Bucs to fill out the rest of Bucs should entice the former their roster in the draft. Cleveland Brown to take his Tampa Bay may have talents to Tampa Bay. 2021 NFL Draft brought back all 22 startBryant seems to have Thursday, April 29 (8 p.m. EST)Saturday, May 1. ESPN, ABC and NFL ers from the Super Bowl, but the least amount of baggage, Network. ESPN app, NFL Mobile app or it was also incredibly fortubut the former Cowboy had streaming services like Sling TV, fuboTV nate to not have any major an incredibly quiet 2020 and YouTube TV players miss significant season in Baltimore, where time last season. That’s unlikely this season. he only racked up six catches in as many games. As for any future signings for the Bucs, look While he doesn’t have any off-the-field problems out for the receiver position, as Antonio Brown is that could prevent him from playing, he’s 32 and unsigned along with free agents like Dez Bryant is coming off an Achilles injury that seems to be and Josh Gordon. While TB12 has chemistry and a lingering problem. He’d certainly be a downhistory with Brown, his legal situation with a grade from Brown or even Gordon. sexual assault case scheduled to go to trial in However, the big news was the signing of December makes signing him risky. Brown is Bernard. Bucs fans can celebrate, as Brady also reportedly seeking more money than the continues to have more weapons than anyone Bucs are willing (or able) to offer with their sal- else in the league, with an offensive line that ary cap restrictions. is still one of the best in football.
IF YOU CAN’T BLEAT HIM: A new NFL rule will affect the GOAT’s pre-snap reads.
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Bay Area Renaissance Festival New Location!
42 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
IN MEMORIAM REVIEWS
PROFILES
MUSIC WEEK
Humpty was here
was incubated in a Carrollwood bedroom where he, Shock G, Kenny K and others would listen to records and rhyme while Shock would sketch out his ideas literally in black art books and on tape. “He was a genius in every sense of the word,” By Ray Roa Doc-P, who’d recently shared beats with Shock ast Thursday afternoon, according to an ini- [Gregory, of TNT Management, which signed Pac’s G, said. “Musically and otherwise.” tial case summary sent to Creative Loafing group, Strictly Dope] like, ‘He’s good, he’s good.’” Cold Crush Brothers’ DJ Charlie Chase told Tampa Bay by the Hillsborough County 2Pac went on to become the best roadie Digital CL that Shock G—who sought Chase out for a documentary he was working on at the time of Medical Examiner, hip-hop pioneer and Digital Underground ever had, one of the group’s most Underground founder Shock G was found unre- charismatic background dancers and a highlight his death—could have easily been a member sponsive in a hotel room by an on duty manager of the “Same Song” video from the soundtrack for of his pioneering Bronx hip-hop crew. “He was at the Vista Inn & Suites near Bearss Avenue and “Nothing But Trouble” before establishing himself eclectic, flamboyant, eccentric,” Chase said. I-275, just 7.6 miles south of the rapper and compos- as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Chase recalled a time when he and Shock G And while it was the Brooklyn-born Shock went to see Tyler, the Creator at the Yuengling er’s home in Lutz. Hillsborough County medics and sheriffs who responded to the 911 call pronounced G that opened the door for 2Pac, it was another Center. Beforehand, at a hotel where they were him dead at 2:20 p.m. The brief and rudimentary young G, late Tampa DJ Kenny K, that helped meeting his sister, Shock G stepped past some velvet rope surrounding a piano and started to intake report is a precursor to an autopsy that usher the Digital Underground out from inside play. Once he started playing, bystanders, includwill eventually determine the cause of death. The Shock G’s restless mind and into the real world. ing security, stopped what they were medical examiner anticipates that it may take approximately four months doing and ended up giving him a standto complete the investigation, but the ing ovation. news immediately sent a wave of grief “He fucking played that thing. throughout a rap scene that spent the I mean this guy with this long afro with the shock of white hair just had '80s watching the 57-year-old, whose real name is Gregory Jacobs, change the whole room stopped, and I am hip-hop and pop music forever. just watching this guy in admiration thinking, ‘Man, I wish I could As Concept, co-host of “Saturday play the piano like that,’” Chase said. Night Shutdown” on community radio And that’s an enduring truth station WMNF 88.5-FM said over the weekend, Shock G—who’s surabout Greg. Once your ears and eyes vived by his dad, Edward Racker, were open to his talent—be it with “Underwater Rimes,” the Master mom Shirley Kraft, stepmom Sonja Racker plus siblings Elizabeth Blasters, the bass on “The Humpty Dance” or via any of the other personas and Kent Racker—was the bridge be brought to the microphone—you between P-funk and G-funk. Concept was referring to Shock G’s reverence MR. G’S BLUES: Before the world met his many personas, Gregory Jacobs was a piano student at HCC. could not forget Gregory Jacobs. On Monday, Shock G’s best friend for the psychedelic vibes of George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, which he later Kenny K, a disciple of hip-hop who was younger called him out, handed him his headphones and Ronald Omar Everett recalled the generosity and translated into his own trunk-rattling, deeply than Shock G, recognized him from his time turned him onto EPMD and other modern rap. deep-feeling side of his “little brother” and told melodic and ultra-potent production which pro- with Master Blasters, a group of DJs and MCs Kenny K never forgot his own childhood spent CL that details are still-being worked-out for a pelled West Coast classics like Tupac Shakur’s that used to rock to large Sunday crowds at watching Shock G and the Master Blasters and more-or-less public celebration of life in Ybor City never left Shock G alone. this weekend and a separate, more-than-likely 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. Tampa’s old Riverfront In fact, it was Shock G, a Chamberlain High Park. Shock G’s time with “Kenny K kept hip-hop private, burial on a family plot in Clearwater. And whether or not Tampa Bay gets to celon my mind by running up School dropout, that introduced 2Pac—the first the group landed him a to me every day,” Shock G ebrate a career and life that changed music solo rapper to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of slot DJ-ing on the legendFame—to the world. When Digital Underground ary WTMP-FM (1150 on the AM dial), but said, recalling the countless moments Kenny K forever in real life at the memorial, Shock G’s was mixing its groundbreaking 1990 album Sex after moving to California for a while, Shock G would spend drumming beats on his desk and compositions and pioneering spirit will always Packets, Pac, who was in the studio at the sug- soured on hip-hop as his sole musical identity. introducing him to Tampa’s MC Skoobie-D and bring joy to dancefloors, inspiration to recording gestion of his manager and Underground pal So he came home and studied musical theory the MD Dazzlin Doc-P with whom he’d form a studios and ideas into the bedrooms of young hip-hop fans across the globe. Leila Steinberg, looked him in the eye, then under professor Patricia Trice at Hillsborough local group called the Four Horsemen. worked on a goofy song called “The Case of the Community College. On Monday, Doc-P spent 30 minutes with “That’s what Shock G did, he always brought Misplaced Mic.” “I started learning piano, I started learning CL recalling how Kenny K—a founding mem- people together,” Doc-P said. In the words Shock G illustrated in one of “He busted something like that and then jazz, blues, all the things that came before hip- ber of Digital Underground—ended up creating he busted something that was more political,” hop, backwards,” Shock G—on camera as MC WMNF’s groundbreaking “Wax Attack” program. Doc-P’s black art books, “The Underground is Shock G told Rolling Stone in 2017. “I hit Atron Butterfly, “because I’m butter, and I’m fly”—told Doc-P talked about how Digital Underground everywhere, boyee!”
Remembering the Carrollwood kid who changed hip-hop forever.
TOMMY BOY
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local hip-hop historian Michael Lortz in 2011. “Hip-hop, funk, disco, R&B, rock, rock and roll, swing, jazz, blues— that’s the tree. At the bottom of the tree is blues, then branches spread… [but] it all goes back to blues. So to build a good house, you’ve got to be able to build a good foundation. I felt like it would improve our records.” Kenny K was a student at HCC while Shock G—who’d already been immersed in groups like the Cold Crush Brothers from the first wave of rap in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s—was learning jazz. Kenny used to roam the school with Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid In Full and Afrika Bambaataa in his headphones. But at this point in rap, LL Cool J was already a thing along with groups like Sugarhill Gang, so Shock G was listening to Ray Charles and Thelonious Monk trying to go past sampling music and into making it. But Kenny K recognized Shock G from the Master Blaster days,
“He always brought people together.”
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4/14/21 9:20 AM
Over the moon
Damon Fowler’s latest album hits no. 1 on Billboard blues chart. By Drew Rice
LOCAL MUSIC
DAN SCHUMAN/GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
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ast month renowned Bay area and Florida “When I was 14 [years-old] I entered into this artist Damon Fowler released his eighth guitar contest called ‘The Best of the Bay.’ It was solo album, Alafia Moon. But what sets this held at the Kapok Tree Pavilion in Clearwater, album apart from the rest? It reached no. 1 back then it was Thoroughbred Music. It excited me so much. At that point in my life I have on the Billboard Blues charts. Alafia Moon was recorded in Largo, and is asthma, I was an only child, and was not very Fowler’s first release on the Landslide Records athletic,” Fowler said while laughing. “So, I imprint, a label based out of Fernandina Beach. really found something I felt I was kind of good The album has received positive reviews for at, and it inspired me to play harder and learn, its mixture and influence of blues, rock, coun- and to try and work on it.” When he was 18 years old, Fowler put out try, gospel, folk, and soul music. Not only did Alafia Moon receive positive reviews and his first album, a self-release titled Riverview reach the top of the Billboard Blues chart, Drive that was released in 1999. The album was but it also had six songs in the Top 50. The co-produced by Rick Derringer, who also played most played of those is album opener “Leave rhythm guitar and sand. Fowler met Derringer It Alone,” which sets the tone for Fowler’s when Fowler and his band were booked to play adventurous and refreshing melodic blend of in the middle of Derringer’s two sets at a club the blues-rock genre. in Ocala. Derringer was so impressed with their Fowler told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay performance that he later invited Fowler on to that it was an honor and awesome surprise to the stage for the encore. be no. 1. He attributed the success of the album “After I graduated [high school] I was like, to his team as well the other musicians and ‘Man, I’m gonna make a CD so I can sell it at producers that worked my gigs.’ Y’know?” said a on the record, as well as smiling Fowler. “And I was Landslide Records. That talking to Rick about it, credit is well-deserved, and he agreed. So he proas a prominent list of duced it.” Damon Fowler w/Eddie Wright musicians worked on the Throughout the Thursday, April 29. 7 p.m. No cover. pandemic, Fowler also album. Those musicians Red Star Live. 9841 E Adamo Dr., Tampa. managed to stay busy include bassist Chuck redstarlive.com Riley, drummer Justin by giving guitar lessons, Headley, organ and keyboard player Mike doing livestream jams with himself and friends Kach, renowned harmonica player T.C. Carr, called Fowler’s Garage, and he started intersinger Betty Fox of the Betty Fox Band, and viewing other musicians for “Gig Stories.” Josh Nelms, who Fowler said “makes the bot“[At the beginning] of the lockdown and pantle noises and all the hootin’ and hollerin’ on demic I started immediately doing a livestream the story [track].” Fowler also expressed a lot on the first day. I don’t know why, I just started of gratitude to his engineer and co-producer doing it. And we had a ton of views, man. We had George Harris, who Fowler said is one of his sponsorships, and all kinds of other stuff that favorite engineers. really helped get us through. But I also think Fowler wraps his residency at the new that we actually made new fans from doing that. Red Star Live in Brandon on April 29 with . . I’m really glad I did that," he added. "I get people coming up all the time saying Eddie Wright before touring behind Alafia Moon throughout Florida and in Georgia. On ‘I used to watch "Fowler’s Garage,"’ and I’m just May 1 he plays in Bradenton at Cottonmouth like ‘Cool man!,'” said Fowler. Southern Soul Food then heads to St. Fowler is now a ripe 42 years of age, with 22 Petersburg on May 7 for a gig at 3 Daughters years of guitar playing and songwriting under Brewing. Fowler will also be in the Key West, his belt. When asked to walk back through his performing at the Green Parrot from May success, accomplishments, and all the experi28-30. ences from a lifetime in music, he says it all Fowler started playing music when he was comes down to one thing. 10 years old, along with his cousin, who was 9 “I give credit to the power of music. Like I years old at the time. They both started play- said earlier, when I was a kid I wasn’t athletic ing with their uncle, who was in a country or anything and [music] was just something band that played all over east Tampa in the that worked for me and it called to me. And it late ‘80s and early ‘90s. But there is one spe- has always treated me good,” he said. cific event from the very early part of Fowler’s “You just respect the music and try to do good career in music that really sticks out to him. by it. It has seemed to always look out for me.”
MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR TIME: Damon Fowler playing downtown Tampa in 2016.
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F 5.14 Richard Smith Sa 5.15 Have Gun Will Travel feat. Garrett Klahn w/ Deb Ruby Sa 5.15 A Musical Tribute to Kaleb Stewart Su 5.16 Applebutter Express Duo
Th 5.20 JC Gatlin book signing F 5.21 Emily Turnage Sa 5.22 Deb Ruby
Sa 5.22 Shaun Hopper & Chris Barbosa w/Sam Williams 7:30-9:30 | Biergarten | FREE
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Worn in
Tampa Bay musicians remember a Florida punk legend. By Dave Decker Other bands Kaleb played in include Grey Goose and The Crows, (formerly The Sheryl Cro(w) Mags), a band formed with Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music) and Bill Clower (Radon). Recently, Grey Goose had been the moniker Kaleb was playing solo sets under. I’ll never forget meeting up with him downtown Tampa after a mid-week set in 2017. He put all his gear away, reached into his merch bag and handed me a brand new Grey Goose shirt which is titled “Tropical Depression.’’ I remember staring at that shirt, detailing the melancholy moniker of a shared existence and thinking to myself, “No shit, ‘Tropical Depression’ Wow. This is Florida.’’
IN MEMORIAM
DAVE DECKER
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ome folks might say that Kaleb Stewart played strings that were worn out, but he would tell you that he played strings that were worn in. He told me this once. It was when we played one of three acoustic sets together over the last few years. The shows happened in between 2017 and 2019 in towns like Tampa, Gainesville and St. Augustine where our bands shared the small stages at the original New World Brewery, The Boxcar at Depot Park and the iconic Sarbez. Our sets at Sarbez were part of a showcase for the Sing Out Loud Fest (SOL). At Sarbez, Kaleb was accompanied by Deadaires guitarist, Alan Mills. It ended up being the last time I would actually see or visit with Stewart and it was one of those moments filled with good energy and friends that stuck with me for a long time. As with most friends you get to know in the overlapping circles of friends, artists and musicians, it was always pleasant to hang, compare notes and talk about the old days of Gainesville life. Kaleb passed away Thursday, March 25, reportedly as the result of health complications. He was just a few months away from his 46th birthday. He leaves behind his wife, Lila, their son Ocean, and an army of friends and family all over the world. In March, friends gathered at the veranda next to the lake at Gainesville’s Depot Park and continued the celebration of his life at the Train Station. Next month, on Saturday, May 15, some of Kaleb’s Tampa friends—including Jeff Brawer, Lou Collazo, Marc Ganancias, David Kibby, Anson Mitchell, John Nowicki, Peter Nuffer, Dan Padilla, Buck Sands and myself —will play a biergarten show in his honor at New World Brewery’s new location in Sulphur Springs. Proceeds from a $10 suggested donation will go to Lila and Ocean. Opinions on music and musicians are tricky when describing the “sound” of a player or group of players, but Kalebs’ acoustic work and vocal rasp always gave me that vibe and mood I felt when I breathed in tunes by such international treasures like Frankie Stubbs and Vic Chestnut. Like his contemporary Brawer, with whom he played a number of one-off shows over the last few years, Kaleb always knew how to manage space and silence in-between the notes sung and chords struck. I’m sure a good measure of this skill can be attributed to his years of bass playing in the power house Equal Vision Records band, As Friends Rust.
A rainy week passed after that interac- and lyrics showered with noble truths like, tion, and I got an invitation from Kaleb: “Hey “Next time I’ll try and savor these days/ My Decker, let’s go to Europe, bring guitars, back instincts are never right.” pack, take trains and book shows.” But to clarify the declaration of the aforeI reluctantly declined because it wasn’t pos- mentioned he continues, “When I think too sible for me to leave, but much/ I know I think that did nothing to slow too much” then the Kaleb’s fervor or add less subsequent lines “In fuel to the fire of a man my hotel thoughts/Life continuing to live out is just too much/ Then his dreams of exploradown to thoughts of A Musical Tribute to Kaleb Stewart tion and discovery. He w/Jeff Brawer/Lou Collazo/Marc Ganancias/David Kibby/ you/ I know I’ll make ended up touring Europe Anson Mitchell/John Nowicki/Peter Nuffer/Dan Padilla/ it through.” The lyrBuck Sands/Dave Decker/more. Saturday, May 15 4:30 twice. ics conjure up anxious p.m. $10 suggested donation. Sometime, before memories of life on the newworldtampa.com or after one of his road and living in a European expeditions he wrote and recorded state of hope, looking for the beauty life has “I Am Light” which, according to Lila, “was one to offer followed by the optimism seeded in the of the last songs he wrote and he played a slower power of faith in true love. acoustic version of it live that was amazing.” That’s the power of “worn in” strings when I have a personal reverence for this song they’re the vehicle for a great song. In the words and it touches the soul with deep admissions of Lila, “It’s one of my favorites.”
TROPICAL EXPRESSION: Kaleb Stewart captured the climes of his mind and homestate in his catalog.
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 47
THU APRIL 29 –WED MAY 05 By Stephanie Powers C
Designated Safe And Sound Venue
State data from Tuesday showed that 8.6 million Floridians have at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine (other reports say 1 in 5 of your neighbors won’t get one). Locally, the Bay area added 1,135 cases and five deaths on Tuesday—with Pinellas and Hillsborough reported zero deaths. Local positivity rates (9% in Hillsborough, 6% in Pinellas) are above recommendations from the World Health Organization. Still, the local concert scene is finding ways to try and stay on its feet, we’ve marked the gigs at venues that have joined a Tampabased and city-recognized “Safe & Sound” initiative that pledges to strictly enforce limited capacity, mask wearing and social
distancing—and tried our best to explain COVID-19 protocols at venues that not able to join Tampa’s “Safe & Sound” program.
FRI 30
The Best of Both Worlds Florida: Van Halen Sammy Hagar Tribute w/The Ultimate Motley Crue Tribute Jannus Live is getting through the tail end of this pandemic by booking some pretty entertaining tribute acts, and this weekend you don’t have to choose between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar thanks to a free show from what might be the longest-named band: The Best of Both Worlds Florida: Van Halen Sammy Hagar Tribute. So, you can hear both “Jump” and “Right Now” plus Hagar solo stuff like “I Can’t Drive 65.” Sadly, no solo Roth stuff is on the song list—you’ll have to bump “Just Like
Paradise” on a bar’s Touchtunes after. You will, though, get to see Vince Neil and the boys replicated with The Ultimate Motley Crue Tribute. Get your lighters ready and clear your throat for a sing “I’m on my way, I’m on my wayyy. Home sweet home.” Attendance is first come first serve, so don’t extend your pregame too long, and remember that at Jannus, "Face coverings and/or masks are strongly encouraged when indoors or social distancing is difficult!” (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) C Leon Majcen w/Taylor Raynor/Liam Bauman Clearwater singer-songwriter Leon Majcen’s music makes him sound much older and wiser than his youthful appearance reflects. Maybe it’s because he’s already had some tastes with fame. Majcen got to Hollywood week on Season 18 of “American Idol” and his 2016 song “Love and Misery” was in heavy rotation on SiriusXM. Before
heading to the Big Apple in 2018 to study music at NewYork University, Majcen toured the country in a van, which gave him even more experiences to keep the inspiration flowing. His most recent single “World Gone By” released a year to the date of John Prine’s death is a beautiful tribute to the country-folk singer, and has the same bright yet road-weary timeless Americana sound. Majcen is back in town and playing a free show with buddies Taylor Raynor and Liam Bauman at this Safe and Sound venue where masks are required. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) Mansion Music Album Release Party: Psych Montano and Albert J. w/Mike Mass/Dennis Amadeus/Shevonne & the Force/Katara Trio/Bangarang Two local MCs—Psych Montano and Albert J.—celebrate the release of their collaborative album Mansion Music with a prohibition-style party
Psych Montano and Albert J
JACK CYMBRYLA
48 | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | cltampa.com
at the Vault in Downtown Tampa. The dress code calls for fancy 1920s attire, and why wouldn’t you buy in? There’s a red carpet with paparazzi, masks provided on arrival plus a sold-out VIP section on the second floor complete with a private bar, food service, dessert bar and raffles. You can get a sense of the killer hip-hop both musicians offer by finding Montano’s October y ‘20 release Psych 101. I’ve got Albert J.’s ured head-nodding single “Problem” currently on en repeat. Sheesh. Mike Mass takes on the role n of host with support from slam poet Dennis Gone Amadeus, jazz trio Katara Trio, experimental hip hop-fusion band Bangarang, and Shevonne and The Force. (The Vault, Tampa) ight nd. e am here mpa)
y: e the al ebum party
SAT 01
Golf Clap w/Kyle Kinch You’ll have to get on the guestlist at the Ritz (spoiler: it’s free, just sign up) if you want to check out Detroit DJ Golf Clap. Golf Clap’s lone member, Hugh Cleal, said goodbye to his 10-year partner in Golf Calp, Bryan Jones, recently, but hasn’t skipped a beat—just listen to his new, ballin, high-energy single “That Life.” Besides extra cleaning, The Ritz is operating at half-capacity with temperature checks and a mask requirement. (The Ritz, Ybor City)
May Day Meltdown: Low Season w/ Pretty Voices/The Inhalers/Human Error/ Du Nuthings Though Labor Day takes precedence over May Day in the U.S., there are pockets of people who celebrate the holiday also known as International Workers’ Day (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and International Workers of the World (IWW) have been a part of local marches in the past). This year the only local event associated with the holiday is the May Day Meltdown at St. Pete recording studio Groovehaven, with five bands performing in the space’s “rock yard.” St. Pete’s Low Season headlines the show with really tight punk rock. Also performing
is the power garage-pop foursome Pretty Voices, which has been playing garage-rock revival for fans of The Hives, complete with giggly Jello Biafra vocals, since 2009. The heaviest of the night comes from punk-band Human Error—I had to catch my breath after a listen. The Inhalers are the most straight up rock ‘n’ roll act on the bill, and rounding out the lineup is the proud-to-be-middle-aged Du Nuthings which plays mix of punk covers and originals. Masks are required. (Groovehaven Music, St. Petersburg) Shawn Mullins I had completely forgotten about Shawn Mullins’ late-’90s hit “Lullaby,” but as soon as I listened to it, I remembered every single word. If you were born before ‘95 you’ll probably have the same pop culture memory deep in a brain fold. If you’re younger, know that Mullins has a pre-9/11 singer-songwriter vibe very similar to Train (or a less Droopy Dog-version of the Counting Crows). Though Mullins might seem like a one-hit-wonder he has been pushing out music long after the Hollywood-story song was nominated for a Grammy. He continued to write songs that were featured in television shows like “Scrubs” and “Dawson’s Creek” and consistently releases albums in the popfolk-storytelling vein. Mullins latest tour brings him to Safety Harbor for two shows at this covered, outside stage. If you want to start your weekend at SHAMc, guitarist Shaun Hopper and violinist Chris Barbosa are playing a Friday night show. Masks are required and the shows are rain or shine, i.e. no refunds. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)
SUN 02
Acme Jazz Garage With the future of Hyde Park’s Timpano on hold, it’s tough to find a place to regularly see one of Tampa’s longest-running groups, Acme Jazz Garage. But for now, Ella’s has stepped in to fill the void. “Acme Jazz Garage returns to one of its favorite haunts, after a long break because of the thing,” the band wrote in an event description. “Come on out for an afternoon of jazz, blues, funky stuff, bossas, and more.” This show is free, early (3 p.m.) and socially distanced because the Seminole Heights restaurant is still operating with limited capacity and mask rules in place. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa)—Ray Roa
WED 05
Florida Orchestra Coffee Concert: Classics Go Retro Your lunchtime routine gets a classical makeover when The Florida Orchestra (TFO) performs at the Mahaffey Theater at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The Classics Go Retro shows go way, way back, past Ludacris, AC/DC. In fact, the selections for this week go back 300 years all the way to Prokofiev whose “Symphony No. 1” is on the docket along with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite” and Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin.” Stuart Malina conducts both days, and the show’s capacity is at 25%, with a whole bunch of other COVID19 protocols listed at floridaorchestra.org. Don’t forget your mask. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)
cltampa.com | APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2021 | 49
Where the vinyl is: a list of Bay area record stores
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) mid-2019 revenue report said streaming music accounted for 80% of total industry revenues, which rose 18% to $5.4 billion. Vinyl album revenue grew 13% to $224 million, but the RIAA also pointed out that sales of wax still only accounted for 4% of total revenues. Rough translation: Yeah, people are buying more records, but your local shop still needs you more than ever. If you’re reading this page, then you probably already know this, but you need your local shop, too. So many of the spaces listed to the right are so much more than stores. They’re community centers for ArtPool Records (2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-433-5195, artpoolrules.com Asylum Sights and Sounds (6566 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-384-1221 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 Blue Moon Antiques, Books & Music (1413 Cleveland St., Clearwater) 727-443-7444 The Clearwater Record Shop (1610 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater) 727-755-1201, clearwaterrecordshow.com
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music lovers. Some of them are venues for local bands. The staff at most of these shops have more musical knowledge in their left ear than you’ll ever have in your entire life; they’re willing to share it with a smile on their face, too. Patronize these brick and mortars… frequently. Make friends with your neighbor behind the counter. Your wallet might be a little lighter, but your mind will be happy in return. You don’t have to stop streaming — let’s face it, no one will — but opening an app will never live up to the feeling of opening the door at your local record store. —Ray Roa
Daddy Kool Records (2430 Terminal Dr. S., Side B, St. Petersburg) 727-822-5665, daddykool.com
Kingfish Records (Main Store) (26024-B US Highway 19 N., Clearwater) 727-351-5177, kingfishrecords.com
Sound Exchange Tampa (14246 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa) 813-978-9316, soundexchangetampabay.com
Disc Exchange (6712 Central Ave., aSt. Petersburg) 727-343-5845, thediscexchange.com
Kingfish Records (Flea Market) (180 Race Track Rd., Tampa) 727-455-9923, kingfishrecords.com
Dunedin Records & Audio (757 Main St., Dunedin) 727-423-4108, dunedinrecords.com
Microgroove (906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa) 813-667-7089, microgroovetampa.co
Sound Exchange Pinellas Park (66th Street N and 86th Avenue N., Pinellas Park) 727-545-0042, soundexchangetampabay.com
Dustin’s Vinyl Shop (180 Race Track Rd., Booth F25 W, Oldsmar) 727-678-6829, facebook.com/pg/dustinsvinylshop
Mojo Books & Records (2540 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa) 813-971-9717, mojotampa.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
Patrick’s Book and Record Store (15215 US Hwy.19 C, Hudson) 727-868-3168, patricksbooksandre.wixsite.com/patricks Planet Retro Records (226 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg) 727-218-7434, planetretrorecords.com
St. Pete Records (6648 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) 727-490-8861, stpeterecords.com Steelworker Records (708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa) 813-666-4933, steelworkerrecords.com Unique Music & Collectables (123 Main St., Dunedin) 727-240-0757 Vintage Vinyl (38874 U.S. 19 N., Tarpon Springs) 727-940-8301, vintagevinyl.biz
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Quickies
before—it doesn’t have the power to do the same damage. So go ahead and recommend the film to your son, FOW, with the appropriate qualifiers and apologies.
By Dan Savage
be seen as funny or alarming or a cultural reference point. I think it’s all three. My son is gay, and with some introductory apologizes, I want to tell him to watch the film. Apologies for “trial ballooning” something like this with you, Mr. Savage, and I know you are not the standard-issue gay, as if such a thing exists. But have you seen the film? And if so, your thoughts?—Friend Of Withnail
I think you’re fine, NADS, so long as you’ve taken a moment to think about why you burdened with this “preference.” Our sexual attractions, orientations, and preferences are easily distorted and limited by prejudice. If you reflect on what might be at the root of your “preference” for men who are straight (or for men who’ll tell you they are), NADS, you might be able to open yourself up to more partners. But a person can reflect day and night for decades and still feel the same way. At the very least, thought, we can all be thoughtful about our erotic and/or sexual biases, take responsibility for them, be considerate about how we express them, and—perhaps most importantly—do our best not to transit them. I’m not into shame but not finding a particular group of people attractive for whatever reason is something we can keep to ourselves—not just to avoid doing harm to people we aren’t attracted to, but to avoid passing our erotic biases and limitations on to the next generation.
I’ve never seen the film but a quick Google search of “Withnail and I” and “homophobic” brings up nearly 100,000 results. Apparently one of the film’s main characters (Uncle Monty) is a “predatory homosexual” who makes unwelcome a series of advances on one of the male leads. “Is the film homophobic? Yes, undoubtedly,” Philip Caveney writes at Bouquets & Brickbats. Richard Griffiths, the actor who plays Monty, “somehow manages to
My wife and I (lesbian moms together) have been invited to her cousin’s wedding. And she’s marrying the son of a former Republican statewide official who, in the early 2000s, turned the power of his state against gays, especially gay parents. His son hasn’t renounced his views—in fact, he’s converted his fiancée, my cousin-in-law, to Trumpism. If it’s relevant, they’re more country-club homophobes than rednecks, they want to be seen as mainstream and pleasant, and they now live in a very liberal city and hide their views so they’re not pariahs. Not sure how to handle—simply not responding? Citing his father’s views in the RSVP? Never going to any family function where they will be, ever? I really don’t want my kid around these people, but also, I feel like maybe I should go to set an example. But then, wearing my best suit and tie to a Trump wedding deep in a red state makes me worried for my physical safety. What would you do?—Trump Or A Shitty Toaster I would send my regrets along with a broken toaster and the wrong receipt. I have a cult fascination with the film “Withnail and I.” OK, I love this film. But I am troubled by the perspective this film offers on homosexuality. It’s not what one would call a “modern perspective.” I believe the film’s portrayal of homosexuality can
I just got dumped in a pretty brutal and inconsiderate way by a guy I really liked. He didn’t want to tell me it was over; he just pulled away and left me to figure it out on my own. We were dating for a year and he even started dating someone else and didn’t bother to inform me but didn’t hide it from me either. I feel depressed and really sad because I still like him and I miss him and I don’t know what to do.—Sad And Depressed Over New Ending
evoke genuine sympathy for a tragic character who is, more than anything else, lonely—but all the talk about buggery by force does make you feel rather uncomfortable.” The film was released in 1987—which in no way excuses the homophobia, of course, but you’d be hard pressed to find a popular film released in 1987 that wasn’t deeply homophobic either by commission (the hateful portrayal of gay characters) or by omission (the complete absence of gay characters). Still, the film doesn’t portray homosexuality, FOW, it portrays an individual homosexual. It was doubtless a damaging portrayal at the time, as there were so few other representations of gay characters on TV or in film back then. But viewed now—viewed at a time when there are more representations of gay people in film and television than ever
It’s good advice for men who suffer from premature ejaculation (PE)—don’t try to stop that first orgasm and you’re likely to last longer as you build to a second—but that advice works better for younger men with shorter refractory periods. The older a man gets, the longer his refractory period becomes; if your partner’s second orgasm took 12-24 hours to arrive, well, that’s a long time to wait, no condom or no new condom. Older guys with premature ejaculation might want to try low-dose SSRIs, i.e. antidepressants; one of the side effects of SSRIs is delayed ejaculation and studies have shown that they are a pretty effective treatment for PE.
SAVAGE LOVE
If he did that… if he broke up with you like that… you didn’t like him. Not really. You liked the idea of him you formed in your head. He gave you the outline of a decent guy and you filled that
JOE NEWTON
I have a quick question about bisexuality. What if one has a preference for dating straight individuals? As a straight woman, I am only interested in dating straight men. Is that some kind of phobia? Or is it OK for that to be a preference? I’ve always wanted to ask someone this but I’m afraid of being thought of as having a phobia.—Nervously Asking Dan Something
go for much longer the second time! Own it, guys! No need for shame about your body’s functionality.—Come And Come Again
outline in with everything you hoped he was, i.e. a kind, loving, decent guy who was as into you as you were into him. Or at the very least, SADONE, a guy who cared enough about your feelings to end things in a kind and considerate manner if it came to that. You can and should feel sad about losing the guy you hoped he was but don’t feel sad about losing the guy he turned out to be. Because that guy was an asshole. I was just listening to the Savage Lovecast (Episode 750) and you were responding to a fella who was ejaculating sooner than he would like. I wanted to say that I, a female, had a male partner who always came twice. Once was quick and he played it cool, and just owned that that was how he operated. We switched to a new condom and could
I saw your response to DTFOMBNB, the gay man who wanted an emotionally intimate, sexless relationship and the freedom to seek casual sex elsewhere. You mentioned asexuals and cucks as potential partners for the intimate-but-sexlessrelationship part, Dan, but I wanted to mention another possibility: I’m a gay guy in my 50s and I learned relatively late in life that I’m on the autism spectrum. Specifically, I have Asperger’s syndrome. That diagnosis was part of what resulted from my first long-term, cohabiting relationship, during which I found that I couldn’t manage intense emotional intimacy and physical intimacy at the same time. I loved my boyfriend and cherished a lot of what we shared. I loved conversations, cuddling, traveling, etc. But adding sexual intimacy on top of all that just felt overwhelming. I can’t say that my experience reflects those of all people with autism, but to me, what DTFOMBNB describes is similar to how I’ve envisioned any future relationship I might enter into. The bad news is that pretty much all of the relationship-oriented guys I’ve encountered on dating sites are looking for a relationship that combines emotional and sexual intimacy, so it’s not an easy ask. But there are definitely men like me out there looking for what DTFOMBNB wants.—A Sexual Partnership Isn’t Essential Considering how many people wind up in sexless relationships, ASPIE, it stands to reason that some non-insignificant percentage of the population wants a sexless relationship. But so long as people who want intimate-but-sexless relationships don’t feel comfortable asking for it—so long as guys like you and DTFOMBNB assume no one else could possibly want what you’re offering and so you don’t offer, e.g. you don’t put it out there on the dating apps—you’re going to have a hard time finding each other. Contact mail@savagelove.net, follow @ FakeDanSavage on Twitter and bookmark savagelovecast.com.
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YOU MAY ALREADY BE A WEINER by Merl Reagle ACROSS 1 Netanyahu’s spondulix 8 Hard takedown 12 “Save me ___” (theater request) 17 Frat event 19 Weenie Award category? 21 Rendezvous remark at the Weenie Awards? 23 Funf minus 2 24 Scant pants 25 Rivera’s rivers 26 Benevolent and Protective one 28 Bone/muscle connectors 31 It’s a little mixed up? 32 New Eng. state 33 Stage award 34 The mark ___ pro 35 “... ___ the brave” 38 Hunger reminder 39 Young Jetson 40 Ride in space 41 Munich’s river 43 Angry with 44 Weeniest excuse to leave the awards? 50 Counter to the rules 51 Backed (out of), as an obligation 52 Dianetics name 56 Punch varieties? 57 Greek H 59 Newspaper covering the Weenie Awards? 61 “Try ___ might ...” 62 On the subject of 64 ___ Moines 1
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