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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf STAFF WRITER Justin Garcia FOOD and THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John Allman CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Kyla Fields, Alexandria Jones, Steve Miller, Katlynn Mullyns, Stephanie Powers, Dan Savage, Chelsea Zukowski

ory

Make no mistake, I would describe myself as a Metallica super fan.

PRINCE MIDNIGHT

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

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stion ................. 5 tory

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

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A Lars Ulrich toilet isn’t even the weirdest thing you’ll see at the Prince Midnight show, p. 35.

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

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

NEWS+VIEWS �� 9 FOOD+DRINK �� 21 A&E �� 29 MUSIC �� 35

cltampa.com Savage Love ...................................................... 69 cldeals.com clspace.com

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euclidmediagroup.com 66 Puzzler ...........................................................

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DOWN WITH THE UNDERGROUND: Michael M. Sinclair’s ‘documentary’ about hot dog eating champions premieres this weekend at TBUFF.

War chest

Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival’s robust schedule among best things do this weekend. By CL Staff

he Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival (TBUFF) opens on Thursday with “A Good Morning” anthology about Floridians, but it really gets going on Friday when AMC Westshore hosts three short film blocks, plus 10 feature films during a 12-hour chunk of programming. Saturday’s itinerary is just as robust, but leans even more on short films like “Choke Point,” a real documentary about the fight to save USF Tampa’s forest preserve. The party wraps on Sunday, and we’re not saying that “Hot Dog Party A Documentary” isn’t the most entertaining 84-minute block on the (TBUFF) slate, but Michael M. Sinclair’s film (more like a mockumentary) does feature hilarious cameos and commentary from past champions and organizers of the infamous 15-year-old hot dog eating competition and concert in Ybor City. Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 3-5. $20-$30. AMC Westshore 14, 210 Westshore Plaza, Tampa. tbuff.org—Ray Roa St. Pete’s Inclusivitea shop hosts ‘Project Condom’ art show To honor World AIDS Day, celebrate queer resilience, and help destigmatize discussions about sexual health, Tampa Bay’s own Metro Inclusive Health is hosting a “Project Condom” art exhibit on Friday, Dec. 3 at its St. Petersburg’s Inclusivitea location. Inclusivitea—an adult retail shop and cafe—just opened a few months ago, and Project Condom will be one of its first art shows. The show, however, has many art-related events in its future, including the sequel to Project Condom—a fashion show slated for February of 2022. The condom couture that will be featured at this weekend’s art show was made at previous

Project Condom events and will also make its way into next year’s fashion show, alongside new threads from local designers. Project Condom is designed to “allow candid conversations about safer sex practices and enforce the importance of communication in getting tested regularly,” according to the Facebook event page. Project Condom 2021. Friday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Free, but bring money for coffee and tous. 2235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @inclusivitea.metro on Facebook— Kyla Fields Tampa Bay’s Gay Commie Skate Crew hosts warm clothing donation drive On Saturday, the Gay Commie Skate Crew— known for its radical activism and wild skate sessions—hosts a donation drive to collect warm clothes for those in need this holiday season. There will be skating during the event (of course), as well as an ugly sweater contest, so come dressed in your favorite worst gift from your well-intentioned aunt. GCSC says unisex and men’s size warm clothing are in high demand. The group is also accepting gloves, hand warmers, blankets and socks to help keep people warm as December temperatures set in. The group also encourages people to swap clothes during the gathering. Donations that are not swapped will be donated from GCSC to the Tropical Communist Party, a group that feeds and clothes people every Saturday in Tampa, and helps people organize to protect themselves from evictions. Saturday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. DeSoto SkatePark,2617 Corrine St., Tampa. @gcsc.tampabay on Instagram— Justin Garcia

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“Eviction and housing displacement are particularly threatening to individual and public health during a pandemic.” POLITICS

ISSUES

OPINION

Get out

Despite COVID State of Emergency, over 5,000 renters evicted in Hillsborough this year. By Justin Garcia The American Journal of Epidemiology found that COVID-19 incidence and mortality increased in states after eviction moratoriums expired, and expiration was associated with a COVID-19 cases doubling in cases. In March 2020, after CDC’s eviction moratorium took hold, evictions screeched to a near halt in Hillsborough, in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

LOCAL NEWS

levels, and seemingly dismissing the CDC moratorium altogether. What these numbers show is that despite the state of emergency’s language around protecting citizens from a deadly pandemic in Hillsborough, landlords have been allowed to displace thousands of people who couldn’t afford rent during one of the most dire economic crises in recent generations. This practice has been business as usual for over a year now during the pandemic—a practice that experts say

allowing some municipalities more flexibility to protect renters than others. DeSantis has drawn a hard line with municipal eviction rules in Florida. In May, he signed an executive order meant to impose the state’s COVID-19 mandates above local rules, saying, “due to the tremendous steps the State has taken to protect Florida’s most vulnerable populations and rapidly offer vaccines to every eligible Floridian who desires one, local communities lack justification in continuing to impose COVID-19

FELIX MIZIOZNIKOV

s many Hillsborough County residents prepared to celebrate the holidays, evictions continue to displace people, despite a local COVID-19 State of Emergency and ample evidence that evictions help spread the disease. Numbers from the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court shared with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay show that as of last week, 5,023 evictions had been filed at the “Writ of Possession” stage since January of this year. The Writ stage of evictions involves law enforcement showing up to a person’s door and leaving a note which usually gives the tenant 72 hours to vacate the premises under threat of removal by force. Hillsborough County is still under a local COVID-19 State of Emergency, which is extended week by week at the discretion of the county. In its Nov. 25 extension of the state of emergency, the county wrote that, “Hillsborough County must continue to take emergency action to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on the County’s citizens and visitors.” However, the county told CL that the state of emergency does not protect against the ongoing evictions. It is mainly used to help receive extra funding in order to help afford vaccination and COVID-19 treatment clinics. While the evictions never fully stopped in Hillsborough during the pandemic, they shot up when Governor Ron DeSantis ended the state’s eviction moratorium in September of last year, and when the Supreme Court ended the Center for Disease Control (CDC) national eviction moratorium in August of this year. Multiple expert sources have found that the lack of protection against evictions has threatened public health throughout the pandemic. “Eviction and housing displacement are particularly threatening to individual and public health during a pandemic,” wrote the Journal of Urban Health (JUH). According to JUH, eviction is likely to increase COVID-19 infection rates because it results in overcrowded living environments, doubling up, transiency, limited access to healthcare, and a decreased ability to comply with pandemic mitigation strategies (social distancing, self-quarantine, and hygiene practices).

AIN’T WRIT: The county says the state of emergency is mainly used to help receive funding in order to help afford vaccination and treatment clinics. From April through August of 2020, only 172 evictions were filed in the county. Then, in September, when Governor Ron DeSantis let Florida’s eviction moratorium expire, evictions took off again. October 2020 saw the county’s evictions peak during the pandemic, with 668 writs issued. Between September and December of last year, 1,461 writs were put on people’s doors, reaching pre-pandemic

contributes directly to the spread of COVID. Across the Bay, Pinellas County does not have a local state of emergency in place, and 2,870 Writs have been issued this year so far. Cities and jurisdictions across the country like New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Austin have all moved to protect renters who are behind on payments until at least January of next year. State laws differ in each state,

mandates or restrictions upon their citizens.” Over 61,000 people in Florida have died of COVID-19 in Florida that we know of due to the state’s resistance to proper record keeping, with an overall average of 61 deaths per day throughout the pandemic. Send anonymous news tips to cltampabay_ tips@protonmail.com. Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.

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Get checked

Pinellas hosts free testing and education for World AIDS Day. By Justin Garcia

orld Aids Day was Dec. 1, but the Florida In Pinellas, 2019 figures show a 53.2% rate Department of Health in Pinellas County in new diagnoses in the Black population. The (DOH) will host an event focused on testing rates among Latinx people are also high, at and education to commemorate it this weekend. 29.2%. The highest rate is in men who have sex The DOH, as part of the Pinellas Planning with men. Cases are also increased for those Partnership (PPP) has titled the event, “Access who use injectable drugs. Granted: Ending the HIV Epidemic.” It takes “We encourage anyone older than 13, place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 4, at the Enoch regardless of risk, to get tested at least once Davis Center located at 111 18th Ave. S in St. for HIV/AIDS,” said Darius Lightsey, HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator in the Petersburg. Unlike the 2020 World press release. “It will take a AIDS Day events that were community effort to reduce our virtual due to COVID-19 prerates, and it all starts with cautions, this year’s event education and testing.” Access Granted: returns to an in-person format The Pinellas Planning Ending the HIV Epidemic that includes educational sesPartnership was established in

LOCAL NEWS

sions, testing, entertainment Saturday, Dec. 4. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free 2011 to facilitate collaboration Enoch Davis Center, 111 18th Ave. S, and more. between HIV/AIDS service St. Petersburg. pinellashealth.com; organizations in Pinellas The morning portion of the 727-824-6900 program runs from 9 a.m.-1 County as a united effort. p.m. as the Ujima Men’s Collective Conference DOH-Pinellas is also part of the Pinellas focuses on “opportunities for Black same gen- County Ending the HIV Epidemic Planning der loving men to develop life skills strategies Advisory Council that develops strategies in a non-threatening environment,” DOH said to combat rising rates of HIV/AIDS in the in a press release. county. The groups invite the community to The afternoon portion of the event will focus take part in the discussions about AIDS in on community awareness, with opportunities Pinellas County. to find resources, get tested and enjoy food and For information about the event, pinelperformances. lashealth.com or call (727) 824-6900.

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IT TAKES ALL OF US: Pinellas encourages anyone older than 13 to get tested at least once, despite risk level.

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Mayor-elect Welch invites St. Pete residents to ‘community conversations.’ By Justin Garcia

t. Petersburg Mayor-elect Ken Welch is invitThe events will provide the community ing residents to meetings that he says could an opportunity to weigh in on five areas: help shape the city’s vision and future. Next Education and Youth Opportunities; Equitable week, Welch will hold a series of “Community Development and Business Opportunities; Conversations” at the University of South Florida Neighborhood Health and Safety; Environment, St. Petersburg Student Center, Infrastructure, and located at 200 6th Ave. S. One Resilience; and Housing Opportunities for All. of the three sessions will also be held virtually for those who Residents in St. cannot attend in-person. Petersburg have faced thouCommunity Conversations “Listening to our commusands of evictions despite Dec. 10 and 11 (Dec. 13 is online only) nity is my top priority and one Student Center at University of South an ongoing pandemic, and a of the most important things Florida. 200 6th Ave. S, St. Petersburg housing system that burdens we can do,” Welch said in a Find a link to register via cltampa.com/ people of color with rent more magazine press release. “This is a great than others. opportunity for our residents to come together “Listening to the lived experience of City resito share strategies and ideas to make our great dents is critical to advance the health outcomes city a better place to live for all.” for all of us,” said Randall H. Russell, President Residents are asked to sign up online for one & CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. of the three sessions, with each session able to Petersburg. “This effort illustrates a drive to lift accommodate 300 people. the voices of all residents, including those most The three available dates and times are: often not heard. The Foundation deeply believes • Friday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at USF St. listening to hear, learn, and respond is vital to an Pete involved citizenry.” • Saturday, Each session Dec. 11, 9 a.m-noon will begin with at USF St. Pete opening remarks • Monday, Dec. from Mayor-elect 13: 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Welch, and then (virtual) participants will The Community break into smaller Conversations are groups for 30-minsponsored by the ute discussions St. Petersburg on each of the five D o w n t o w n transition topPartnership and ics. The event will the Foundation close with everyone for a Healthy St. coming together to Petersburg. share key ideas. “We are thrilled P r o fe s s io n a l to help support these facilitators will community converlead the program sations,” said Jason with the World Cafe Mathis, CEO of systems-thinking the St. Petersburg model that expands D o w n t o w n the range of choices Partnership. “We available for solvknow the imporALREADY POPULAR: Ken Welch won St. Pete’s ing a problem by tance of community November election with more than 60% of the vote. broadening thinkengagement and we ing and helping are delighted, but not surprised, to see the Welch participants articulate issues. Administration start out with this important Welch served five terms on the Pinellas effort.” County Commission and won the November Mathis went on to say that the Downtown mayoral election with more than 60% of the Partnership looks forward to working with vote, becoming the first African-American to Mayor-elect Welch and supporting an incred- be elected to the city’s top elected office. He ible period of equitable and sustainable growth will become mayor when he is inaugurated on in St. Pete over the next several years. Jan. 6, 2022.

LOCAL NEWS

MERCURY

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There’s now a free, driver-less shuttle in Tampa Heights. By Justin Garcia

eople looking for a quick way to get around the north section of Downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk now have an automated option. Last week, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) launched a new route in downtown Tampa for HART SMART AV, a fully-automated electric transportation vehicle. The free shuttle, operated by HART and BEEP Inc., an Orlando-based autonomous solutions provider, is now operating along the Tampa Riverwalk Monday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. The vehicle navigates a looping route through downtown Tampa streets, starting at Armature Works in Tampa Heights, running southbound near the Tampa Riverwalk, to the Barrymore Hotel and the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. “HART is proud to be the regional leader in a new era of transportation innovation in Tampa Bay,” said Adelee Le Grand, HART Chief Executive Officer in a press release. “We are looking at HART SMART AV to provide valuable data and insight to assist decision-making in the delivery of transit service in the future.” HART says that the driverless shuttle is 100% electric and costs less than $30 per month to charge. It operates without a steering wheel and uses a pre-programmed, fixed route with a combination of localization techniques and stateof-the-art sensor technology. The shuttle uses eight sensors on the outside of the vehicle providing a 360-degree view of the environment. An on-board shuttle attendant serves as an ambassador for the riders to learn more about the technology and oversee the highquality passenger experience. The shuttle can travel up to 15 mph in autonomous mode while along the route and has varying speeds based on the environment such as

crosswalks, approaching stop signs or navigating intersections. The shuttle will pick up riders at three stops: Armature Works, Water Works Park and the Straz Center. Any potential changes to the schedule will be announced on HART’s Twitter. This route is part of a second pilot phase for the project and consists of two autonomous shuttles that will operate from now until Jan. 1, 2022. The first HART SMART AV first pilot route was along the Marion Transitway and allowed HART and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to collect baseline data for the technology which operated alongside HART fixed-route buses, over a railroad crossing, and through traffic lights. The additional route allows local and state agencies to test the technology in a different environment, which includes movement alongside the public and connecting activity centers on City of Tampa streets. HART SMART AV is funded by the FDOT and is operated in a partnership between HART and BEEP, Inc. “We are excited to expand the safe testing of autonomous shuttles within the City of Tampa’s developing Arts and Riverwalk area of downtown,” said Joe Moye, BEEP, Inc. CEO. “Providing an alternative means of connectivity seven days a week in the city will allow various members of the community to experience the future of transportation in a thriving downtown environment. Additionally, it will provide HART with the opportunity to test these technologies in a new setting as they future-ready their city with safer and sustainable mobility.” Tampa’s autonomous shuttle comes a year after St. Petersburg launched an automated shuttle that also navigated downtown traffic to transport people along Bayshore Drive.

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Aim high

A beginner’s guide to getting a job in Tampa Bay’s weed industry. By Steve Miller

“

Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” As far as empty cliches go, there are not many others that annoy me as much as that one. If I could make a living rewatching “The Wire” and indulging my sweet tooth, I would not be writing this column. However grim as trudging off to a job might be, some industries are more appealing than others. The booming cannabis industry provides a career path for heady cannabis advocates that have been evangelizing about the medicinal properties of cannabis for free for years. One look on the major employment websites shows that the cannabis industry is alive and well in the Tampa Area. A quick search for “Cannabis” on Indeed returns 119 pages of job listings, to contrast that “Law Enforcement” returns only 58 pages of results. Now, I am not saying that cannabis is twice as important for the economy, but it appears that Indeed is saying that. If your butthole tightened up at that comparison, you really should relax. At least I did a bit of research which is more than I can say about the people who are scared that the COVID vaccine is turning them magnetic. Within the cannabis industry, there is an opportunity for just about everyone. Do you have retail experience? Why not get behind the counter at a dispensary? Green Thumb? Cultivation might be your calling. Delivery drivers, packaging technicians, accountants, and on and on, the jobs available in the Bay Area are as varied as they are numerous. Suppose you are passionate about cannabis, and your current career path is proving as unfulfilling as an argument against singlepayer healthcare. In that case, you might want to consider transferring your skills into the cannabis industry. It is not often that our professional lives find us in a position to promote a product or service that can radically improve people’s quality of life, and medical marijuana does just that. I spent years working for people in industries that made me question whether or not I really needed to pay my bills. When the 2008 recession hit, I was stuck working for Bubba the Love Sponge. Unable to find other work, I contemplated simply becoming homeless. Eventually, I went back to bartending because pouring craft beer for the thirsty was way more enjoyable than serving xenophobia and misogyny as entertainment. When it comes to career advancement, I can not provide much in the way of formal advice. I have no suggestions on how to “Dress for Success.” I can not offer you the “Top 10 Things Employers Want to See On a Resume,” However, one shock jock aside, I have been pretty proud of my work

history, and I have been able to work in industries that might seem closed to outsiders. From producing adult content to performing standup all over the U.S. and in multiple countries, I have carved a path towards the life I wanted to lead, however crooked that path might be. My work history is far from traditional. It is undoubtedly not the envy of a corporate ladder climber hell-bent on being invited to this year’s leadership retreat in Sedona. Sure I would love to visit Sedona but not while having to discuss the importance of corporate synergy. The one thing I have found beneficial for getting into a new industry is to ask for advice. So I reached out to Curaleaf to get thoughts on the booming Florida cannabis industry and how to approach finding employment within it. Curaleaf is not only a leader in the cannabis industry from a retail perspective, but they are also a leader when it comes to how many people it employs. Its seven Bay Area dispensaries employ roughly 100 people, and the company has plans to add additional locations in our area. An increase of locations to better serve the needs of cannabis patients means a boost to the number of cannabis careers that they can provide. “Fine, Steve, I am convinced Curaleaf is big and getting bigger, but how can I get in with them?”

14 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

Curleaf Regional Vice-President of Retail Kate Smith was kind enough to provide us with some direction. When asked what some common traits Curaleaf looks for in prospective employees, Kate said, “Resiliency, flexibility, empathy, passion for making a personal connection, sense of urgency, and sense of humor are all great qualities that we look for in a candidate.” Additionally, she suggested that anyone interested in getting into the Florida Cannabis industry should “connect with someone that is currently employed in the market, whether it be at a dispensary, at an event, or on LinkedIn. At Curaleaf, we encourage potential employees to be themselves and to let us know why they are a rockstar.” That is the advice from high up the corporate ladder of one of the Bay Area’s leading cannabis employers, but what would a boots-on-the-ground dispensary employee advise when it comes to getting started? I reached out to my friend Kayla. She is the manager of a well know dispensary. According to Kayla, “Most MMJ dispensaries typically look for a candidate who is able to pass a level 2 background check, due to the large quantities of product & cash that we work with on a daily basis.” But it is not just about having a clean record. It comes back to having that passion for medical marijuana. Kayla continues, “Other than that, we typically look for people who have a genuine interest in the plant and all of the medicinal uses for it. I have found that our best employees tend to

be patients themselves or have at least had some experience using the plant in their personal lives.” Alright, gang, if you want to get into the cannabis industry, you need to get into it. Use your platforms to become an advocate for the benefits of medical marijuana, attend industry events, network, and meet people. Does the idea of networking give you immediate anxiety? I get it. As someone who spent years and years (and years and years) in marketing, I loathed nothing more than a “marketing meetup.” “Let’s all get together and talk about the different ways we can separate people from their money for a product they probably do not need.” Blech. In hindsight, maybe marketing wasn’t for me. Anyways, if you are having an adverse reaction to the thought of getting together with likeminded cannabis professionals, then perhaps this industry isn’t for you. Because Cannabis is, after all, an industry, you need to approach it the same way you would any other profession. The odds of you getting hired because you posted a video of yourself pulling a sick rip off of your double-bubble bong without coughing are probably low. Get involved, get engaged, and start making the industry aware of your presence. Show up, be there, and be ready when an opportunity presents itself. Not in an “Oh, shit, I need to get a restraining order kind of way.” more in the “Hey, this person is really serious about this industry way.” If I have to explain the difference to you, you probably need more help than I can provide.

CANNABIS

THE DOOR’S AJAR: Available local marijuana jobs almost double the opportunities in law enforcement.

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 15

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7512 W Hillsborough Ave • Tampa • 813-884-3495 16 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

MORE LIKE PWN-ICRON: The threat of another COVID wave sent investors into the fetal position.

Omicron is our own fault

Short-sighted avarice is biting us in the ass, and it won’t be the last time. By Jeffrey C. Billman

ast Friday, the Dow collapsed by 2.5%, its worst post-Thanksgiving performance since 1931. The culprit wasn’t inflation, but rather the uncertainty sparked by the Omicron variant—which sounds like the title of a bargain-bin sci-fi novel—a new strain of the coronavirus that produced an “exponential rise” in COVID cases in South Africa’s most populous province. It’s unclear how well the vaccines will protect against it, though the variant doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than its predecessors. Even so, with more than a quarter of U.S. adults still unvaccinated, the threat of another COVID wave sent investors into the fetal position. The news prompted the usual idiocy from the usual suspects. Fox News hosts suggested Democrats would invent a new variant every two years. Ronny Jackson, the former White House “Dr. Feelgood” turned Texas congressman, accused Democrats of manufacturing the variant “to push unsolicited nationwide mail-in ballots.” Such sewage would be best ignored had it not already led to Republicans comprising 60% of the unvaccinated, contributed to untold thousands of deaths, and turned the pandemic into a new culture-war front. After the U.K. identified two Omicron cases associated with travel from Southern Africa, the U.S. and European Union restricted flights from the region. Travel bans don’t work; the variant almost certainty made its way across the globe before we knew it existed. Moreover, the U.S.

ban exempts American citizens, as if the virus chooses victims based on their passports. It would be more productive to subject all international travelers, no matter their point of origin, to testing and quarantine requirements, and while we’re at it, to require proof of vaccination to board all flights at U.S. airports. A federal court has blocked Biden’s order compelling large businesses to require vaccinations or regular COVID tests—the administration is appealing—and several conservative states have passed laws to undermine vaccine mandates. But there are still ways to make life inconvenient for the unvaccinated. The point isn’t just that encouraging vaccinations will reduce sickness and death. It’s also that suppressing a virus’ transmission limits its ability to mutate into more transmissible and potentially deadlier variants. Of course, those options would stoke the culture war’s fires, and Biden doesn’t have much appetite for that. So in the absence of meaningful actions, a travel ban gives him something to point to, pointless—even counterproductive—gesture though it is. After all, the world knows about the variant because South African scientists quickly detected and reported it. But now the country will be punished for their good deed, which will discourage other countries from being so forthcoming. It’s no coincidence that the Omicron variant appears to have emerged in a country with a large unvaccinated population. Less than a quarter of

INFORMED DISSENT

South Africans are fully vaccinated; just 7% of people in Africa are. In many ways, the pandemic has become a plague of the poor, disproportionately infecting and killing those in the developing world. Indeed, as of last month, just 4% of people living in low-income countries had been vaccinated. This is yet another legacy of racism and colonialism—and another case of short-sighted avarice biting us in the ass. The United States has set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the world’s population by next September, but that’s unlikely. Wealthy nations have largely abandoned the global poor—or at least, made their needs secondary at best. Donations to COVAX, the international body that distributes vaccines to poorer countries, have been abysmal. According to a report released last month by The People’s Vaccine, Pfizer and Moderna sold only 1% and 3% of their respective supplies to COVAX. Moderna, meanwhile, has sold 93.5% of its supply to high-income countries, and Pfizer has sold 67%. Neither has sold anything to lowincome countries, and as of October, Moderna had yet to deliver any of the 34 million doses it promised to COVAX. It would be relatively simple to increase the global vaccine supply by billions of doses. Public health experts say that pharmaceutical manufacturers in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, Thailand, and Indonesia could quickly begin producing the vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer if those companies licensed their mRNA technology. But they’ve refused, supposedly because the vaccines are too complicated to be manufactured in foreign countries.

More likely, given the $53 billion the vaccines have generated, they don’t want to risk the profits that future mRNA vaccines might produce. If Big Pharma won’t play ball, however, there’s another way to skin the proverbial cat. For a year, India and South Africa have pushed the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property rules, which would allow generic manufacturers to manufacture low-cost vaccines they could distribute all over the world. Citing the pandemic’s “extraordinary circumstances,” the Biden administration says it supports the waiver. But in September, the United States joined the EU, U.K., and Switzerland in opposing a waiver; its reasons weren’t clear, though they seemed focused on the waiver’s language. In a statement on Friday, Biden called for WTO nations to waive the rules in a meeting this week. “This news [of the Omicron variant] is a reminder that this pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations,” Biden tweeted on Friday, boasting that the U.S. has donated “more vaccines to other countries than every other country combined.” It should be clear by now that charity won’t get the job done. In a global crisis, pharma profits—built with government incentives and/ or publicly funded research—can’t take priority over the welfare of low-income populations. Ideally, the morality of such an idea would convince the world’s wealthiest nations to act. If basic human decency isn’t sufficient, however, maybe self-interest is: The more countries there are with masses of unvaccinated people, the more chances the virus has to mutate, and the more we’ll prolong the pandemic.

“Wealthy nations have largely abandoned the global poor—or at least, made their needs secondary at best.”

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 17

Shit Happened Rep. Brad Drake (R-Eucheenana) has filed “free speech” legislation that would require the state or its licensing boards to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a health care provider’s social media posts caused harm to a current patient before revoking—or threatening to revoke—a license, certificate, or registration of a health care practitioner. Can’t wait to get a consult from Dr. My Pillow Guy.

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Of the state’s nearly 14.3 million registered voters, 5,118,357 were registered as Republicans and 5,114,039 were Democrats as of Oct. 31, according to the Division of Elections website. Another 252,492 were registered with third parties and 3,814,567 had no party affiliation. The GOP is a joke nowadays, but what sucks even more than a Republican are Democrats who still can’t figure out how to rally their constituents.

THURSDAY 25

WFLA says a Bradenton Salvation Army was forced to give out “paper turkeys” (aka four $10 gift cards) in lieu of frozen birds. The charity blamed supply chain shortages, but honestly,

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923 72nd St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 (727) 302-9600 • peskypelicanbrewpub.com 18 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

that outcome is probably better for the environment, and animals, anyway. Local grocery chains including Publix and Winn-Dixie place limits on how many Thanksgiving items— including cranberry sauce, gravy and turkey—you can bring to the register. That sucks, but the dad who likes to blame everything on socialism was caught licking his chops ahead of telling his kid why the family would be eating cold cuts and stuffing this year.

SUNDAY 28 KYLE ZEDAKER/TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

WEDNESDAY 24

The Bucs beat the Colts in Indianapolis, with Tom Brady pretty much just handing the ball off to Leonard Fournette over and over again on Tampa Bay’s game-winning drive. Even the GOAT needs a break sometimes. Shit, but on our new website, via cltampa.com/news.

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MAZZARO’S for the HOLIDAYS

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20 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

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“It’s a lovely meal from top to bottom.” RESTAURANTS

RECIPES

DINING GUIDES

Meet me at the crossroads

Service, menu and ambience make sweet harmony at Rome & Fig. By Jon Palmer Claridge ricotta, but these are hearty and substantial with well-balanced seasoning. Just know going in that the texture is compact. The entrées feature old favorites with a twist, like rum-brined duck breast or scallops with champagne lemon butter. Plus the ever popular beef filet, but this one is grass-fed. We finally settle on the lamb loin, sliced and tiled next to soft celery root mash with a crescent of elegant port wine demi-glace. The meat is tender, but cooked over our preferred temperature, which just shouldn’t happen in an experienced kitchen. The garnishes are three shades of scrumptious sweet heirloom carrots in a lovely honey-dill glaze with a pile of crispy battered shallots looking like diminutive onion rings. My choice is creamy risotto, which is always a dish to check the technique of the kitchen.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

ROMEANDFIGBISTRO/FACEBOOK

t’s always interesting to observe how neighborhoods transform. I wrote in early October about the slick metamorphosis of North Hyde Park, fondly dubbed, “NoHo.” Now, just over a month later, I’m back because the corner of Rome Avenue and Fig Street has a fine global bistro which bears the intersection’s name. We arrive at dusk, find adjacent parking, and are lucky to be seated at the splendidly designed fenced turf patio with heaters to warm the brisk fall air as the temperatures dip below 70° and Floridians feel the “chill.” Owners Eric and Kristine Zostant have created a welcoming space which includes an open kitchen and a “coastal chic” dining room with a large overhead glass door that blurs the edge of inside and out. The drinks menu features a small handful of inventive cocktails that change seasonally. The wines reflect the global bistro with some of my favorites from California, namely Ridge, J Vineyards, and Conundrum, a unique white blend that perennially is a matching chameleon. My companion has “Autumn Orchard,” a yummy seasonal concoction that’s served with a colorful fall maple leaf attached to the lip of the coupe-shaped stemware with a mini-clothespin. Initially, we have our eye on the delicious sounding Thai curry soup with Scottish salmon, green curry and a garnish of papaya-pepper relish. However, while bonding with our smiling, ever-attentive server, we decide that the heat may be too much for my dining companion. Spice is not everyone’s jam. Executive chef Rob Scott offers other enticing options to begin your meal. But, we often opt for tuna tartare or crab cakes, and while the fried green tomatoes as the base for caprese are indeed tempting—especially with a dash of truffle oil—my partner’s eye and palate lands elsewhere. The lean bison meatballs in soft polenta tinged with asiago and thyme get our vote. What surprises is the marinara which has a clever, tasty addition of smoked strawberry that adds alluring grace notes. The twin meatballs are huge and glisten under thin shreds of freshly grated parmesan and a crispy fried basil leaf garnish. The orbs themselves are indeed lean, but they’re most flavorful. The question is one of density. My personal preference is for meatballs lightened with breadcrumbs and

Rome & Fig offers chicken, salmon, or shrimp peaches), so we head for the pumpkin crème (if you also dream of protein), but I don’t want to brûlée—hey, it’s the taste of autumn even if we be distracted from the base flavors. The rice is don’t have falling leaves to “drift by the winperfectly al dente and creamy with mascarpone dow.” The round ramekin is large and sports cheese. It’s dotted with sliced, earthy cremini a perfectly torched sugar crust, which is thick mushrooms and flaand evenly distribvored with roasted uted. I love the sound garlic plus swirls of of the crunch when apricot gastrique. There your spoon breaks the surface to scoop are delightful candied Rome & Fig Global Bistro pecans scattered about, up the luscious cus★★★½ but the imbedded peach tard underneath. The Appetizers $8-$16; entrées $20-$44; desserts $11; cubes are not quite ripe pumpkin isn’t asserbeer, wine and cocktails $6-$21. 317 N Rome Ave., so they present more tive and the texture is Tampa. 813-253-3353; romeandfigbistro.com like pineapple chunks just scrumptious. My on the palate. And the green peas promised on companion prefers it unadorned, but I like the menu are a no show. Ultimately, this renders the addition of the candied pepitas which top the dish in need of the punch that the aforemen- a separate dish of cinnamon-tinged whipped tioned protein would add. cream that may be added to taste. The quartet of desserts all sound seducAll told, it’s a lovely meal from top to tive—variations on flourless chocolate cake bottom. The service could not be better, the and a warm skillet blondie. They’ve swapped environment is extremely pleasant, and despite out the peach galette that’s shown in the a few quibbles, I look forward to returning on online menu (due, I’m sure, to a lack of ripe my own dime.

NICE BALLS: Soft polenta tinged with asiago and thyme come together for these bison beauties.

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 21

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FRONK YEAH: The folks behind Black Radish Grocer, Nah Dogs, and Golden Dinosaurs are opening a new vegan restaurant.

An ambitious St. Pete vegan concept leads the latest round of local foodie news. By Kyla Fields and Stephanie Powers

hree Tampa Bay vegan powerhouses have teamed up to give St. Petersburg a dining experience specializing in modern, American cuisine that’s 100% vegan. Owners told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Good Intentions will debut at 1900 1st Ave. S in the Grand Central District sometime next year. Black Radish Grocer, Nah Dogs, and Golden Dinosaurs Deli—all winners and runner-ups of Best of the Bay awards—have been making tasty vegan cuisine accessible to Tampa Bay for years now, and Good Intentions will be their joint venture into the world of envelopepushing, plant-based food. “We know that St. Pete loves and supports vegan restaurants, and we wanted a place where we could hang out, gather and celebrate,” Jenny Howe, who co-owns Nah Dogs with her husband Jeff, told CL.

“We’ve been daydreaming about this for a few years now,” Golden Dinosaur co-owner Audrey Dingeman says. “But we’ve only set hard plans since the beginning of this year.” After original plans to open on Central Avenue fell through, the group decided to aim for the Grand Central district instead, due to its close proximity to the Pinellas Trail and Tropicana Field. The owners plan to have late night hours to accommodate nighttime baseball games and the local bar crowd, with fun things planned for their late night menu. Other all-vegan restaurants in town like Cider Press Cafe and Love Central typically close by late afternoon, so the owners of Good Intentions predict that their late night hours will be one of the many aspects setting

them apart from their competitors (although they hold good relationships with all of the vegan restaurateurs in St. Petersburg.) Don’t expect to see any Nah Dogs or Golden Dinosaur best sellers on the Good Intentions menu either as they don’t want to be in competition with their already-existing businesses. “Some of our menu items don’t exist in a vegan version in this town, so it’s mainly stuff we want to eat ourselves,” Dingeman tells CL. Although its menu is still in its early stages, the one appetizer the owners were excited to talk about was the “trash can” nachos—a tall can layered with cheesy, spicy goodness. So while elevated American fare is to be expected, the Good Intentions menu won’t be taking itself too seriously. Not only a restaurant pushing completely vegan cuisine, Good Intentions will also feature an extensive cocktail menu. Once again inspired by the sheer lack of certain plant-based options, its menu will offer vegan versions of drinks like Bloody Marys— typically made with Worcestershire sauce which contains

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

GOOD INTENTIONS

anchovies—as well as sours and fizzes, which are usually made with egg whites. “We want to fulfill your wildest dreams!,” Jenny Howe said with a laugh. “We want to go hard and have a lot of fun with it.” Its Instagram gives soon-to-be patrons an exciting sneak peek into the restaurant’s warm, vintage contemporary interior. Everyone behind Good Intentions loves second-hand wares, and that love will definitely be translated into the decor of their restaurant. The owners’ first purchase were baby pink vintage school chairs, which will provide roughly 100 seats inside the restaurant. The large U-shaped bar will seat 27 cocktail-sipping patrons. Even though this restaurant won’t debut until spring or summer of 2022, it’s already anchoring ties with other local businesses, as Indie Flea announced Good Intentions as a sponsor for its upcoming holiday market.If you’re not familiar with the tasty vegan grub that are all three businesses behind Good Intentions dish out daily, visit Golden Dinosaur in Gulfport, Black Radish Grocer in Tampa (or its St. Petersburg location which opens soon,) and the Nah Dogs continued on page 24

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 23

continued from page 23 cart, which will sling dogs at both upcoming Indie Flea markets in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Follow @goodintentions_fl on Instagram for the latest news and build out progress.

Burger at 3939 49th St. N—including its accompanying Buffy’s BBQ—will be auctioned off on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Its Facebook page says “we’ll be back,” but everything except for the building itself will be up for sale— including signs, decor, and kitchen equipment. “On behalf of the owner/principal prior to the demolition and property redevelopment, we have been commissioned to sell the entire asset inventory of this local landmark burger bar, ” the auction website states. St. Pete Catalyst says Justin Basil of Tampa-based Rockwell Investments purchased the burger spot and adjoining BBQ joint for a little over a million earlier this year, and intended to continue business as usual.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

JACK SPATAFORA

Coming soon Babushka’s Temple Terrace Russian restaurant Babushka’s is set to open its second location in South Tampa any day now. The spot’s social media encourages followers to “turn your notifications on as we are still yet to announce our official opening date which is in early December.” The new place at the former home of Hyde Park’s Boca also has an entirely different look than the original Temple Terrace spot. While that restaurant has a quaint and cozy vibe, the South Tampa space is more, well, South Tampa-y. The “Dacha-inspired interior” embodies a vacation house or “A place where relaxation is guaranteed and the concerns of daily life remain back in the city.” Dacha translates to “cottage” in Babushka’s mother tongue, but the space is more of a fancy, well-decorated cottage than Little Red Riding Hood’s Grandma’s space. There’s a “From Russia with Love” neon sign against a vine-embellished wall with plush velvet, lush ferns, and wicker accents throughout. 901 W Platt St., Tampa. @babushkas.hydepark on Instagram Central Park food hall Construction just began on St. Petersburg’s massive Central Park food hall, and it’s not expected to open for about a year, but its first two culinary concepts have already been announced. Kojo (stylized “KOJO”), a modern Asian restaurant, and Speaks Clam Bar, a seafood-forward concept are the first of many eateries that will occupy the 24,000 square-foot, multi-story food hall. Both of these restaurants are brought to St. Petersburg by Hi Hospitality—a group founded by food hall owner Natalia Levey. Both locations of Speak’s Clam Bar are in the greater Manatee area, so when Central Park debuts next year it’ll be St. Petersburg’s first taste of the brand’s fresh oysters, garlic lobster tails and crispy shrimp baskets. Head on down to Sarasota if you’d like to experience Kojo’s fusion menu that blends flavors from Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. Standouts on the menu include matcha chicken and waffles, Wagyu steak skewers, breakfast Banh Mi and its signature KOJO sushi roll stacked with spicy tuna, salmon, kabayaki, spicy mayo, cucumber and tempura bits. Levey is also a culinary nutrition educator, so expect a wide variety of healthy food options when her food hall debuts next year. New details from WFLA confirm that Central Park will also feature an additional high-end speakeasy located in the basement and an event space above Kojo—recent developments that were not a part of the food hall’s original blueprint. The first three floors at 551 Central Ave. will be chock full of different culinary experiences—with Speak’s Clam Bar on

the second floor and Kojo’s restaurant and fullservice bar on the food hall’s top level. According to permit-obsessed website TampaTomorrow, St. Pete’s Central Park food hall is a “adaptive reuse project”— a term that refers to the rehabilitation of an old building and its structures, versus tearing it down and starting anew. All-day breakfast lovers remember the Dome Grill, which was open out of the space until 2018. The building itself is a remnant of the old St. Petersburg, as retail store Woolworth’s occupied it for decades throughout the 20th century. Central Park joins On the Fly and Edge Eatery in the St. Pete food hall game. Plans for the Armature Works-style space at Sundial

LAST BIFF: The smell of grilled beef patties will soon be a fragment of your imagination in St. Pete. have been halted due to a lawsuit. 551 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. centralparkstpete.com Closing Biff Burger Since the mid-1950’s Tampa Bay’s last remaining Biff Burger has been slinging milkshakes, patty melts and iconic flame-broiled burgers out of its 5,000 square-foot building with a W-shaped roof and checkered exterior. Unfortunately, those days are history as the last Biff Burger in the U.S. is closing. All remaining assets of St. Peter’s Biff

24 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

For decades, there were only two remaining Biff Burgers in the country: one in St. Petersburg and a sibling restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina. Throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s the Clearwater-based burger chain spread like wildfire across the southeastern part of the country, as well as up the East Coast. The expansion was short-lived, as most of the locations closed by the late-’80’s due to Miami-based Burger King’s domination of Florida, and then the rest of the country.

Despite having multiple owners since its inception, the exterior of Biff Burger has remained unchanged throughout the decades. The local culture surrounding the roadside burger joint has attracted bikers, classic car fans and hot rods from from all over the Bay area. Biff Burger also started hosting a weekly flea market when its neighbor Wagon Wheel closed in early 2020. As the auction website states, the building will be demolished sometime after its equipment and decor are auctioned off next week, but the future of its historic location remains unknown. ICYMI Tampa Oyster Fest happens next weekend, and it benefits local educators If you’re into oysters, and give a schuck about helping others, then you’ll probably want to check out Frameworks’ Tampa Oyster Fest. GA tickets include all-youcan-eat oysters, unlimited drinks, BBQ and ive music from Fil Pate Trio, The Applebutter Express and Have Gun, Will Travel. VIP gets you the same access with the add-on of a private oyster bar and lounge seating. A VIP ticket includes a $350 scholarship to Teens In Action, a 10-month program aimed at giving high school students the “social and emotional skills needed to succeed in all aspects of their lives." Tickets are only available in advance (translation: there won’t be available at the door). Kids 12 and under, however, get in free. Tabellas has its own parking lot, so finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem either. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. $85 & up. Tabellas at Delaney Creek, 5818 Causeway Blvd., Tampa. tampaoysterfest.com— Katlynn Mullins Straz Center’s TASTE food festival returns to downtown Tampa in 2022 The Straz Center’s TASTE event is one of the best ways to sample the most popular restaurants, breweries and bars in town, all while getting a tasty view of downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk. After a two-year hiatus, TASTE—formerly known as Best of Tampa Bay—will return next spring. General admission tickets for next year’s TASTE at the Straz start at $90, but VIP ($165 & up) come fully equipped with exclusive tents and earlier access to the eats. If you want to ball out with nice other foodie friends, you can purchase a 10-person table for $2,000. Browse all ticket options at the Straz website here. All tickets come with unlimited samples from any participating restaurant, brewery or winery, a full open bar, and access to live music on the outdoor Riverwalk stage, as well inside of the Straz Center itself. The Straz will announce all businesses for TASTE 2022— as well as the live band lineup— when the event nears closer. Past participating Tampa Bay restaurants include Colombia Restaurant, Siam-ThaiAmerican Restaurant, Coppertail Brewery, Timpano, Made coffee, Hula Bay and Big Storm Brewery. Saturday, April 9, 1010 N Macinnes Pl., Tampa. $90 & up. strazcenter.org/taste

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Open: Weekdays 4pm-12am. Weekends 11am-12am. Closed Wednesday.

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 25

‘Rona. It’s still a thing, and you should call or contact these local breweries to learn their COVID-19 protocol. Email rroa@cltampa.com and stephanie@cltampa.com for any edits and suggestions. 3 DAUGHTERS BREWING One of downtown St. Pete’s 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 3 KEYS BREWING South-of-the-Skyway restaurant and brewery specializing in small batches. 2505 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com 5 BRANCHES BREWING Veteran-owned brewery, small batches from IPAs to stouts. Serving brews and a clear view of the Tarpon Bayou. 531 Athens St., Tarpon Springs. fivebranchesbrewing.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. 813-231-5900, 7venthsun.com 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 ANGRY CHAIR Crazy-good Seminole Heights beer, open Tuesday-Sunday. Just don’t park on Fern Street (there’s a lot behind the auto body shop). 6401 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com ARKANE ALEWORKS A wide variety of styles and flavors from the second brewery to open in Largo. 2480 E Bay Dr., No. 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 BASTET Named after the Egyptian cat-goddess, the brewery offers seasonal ales, ciders and even the occasional hard ginger beer. 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. bastetbrewing.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 BAYBORO BREWING CO. Veteran-owned kid-friendly brewery that has tons of events to go with its creative tap list. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 767-9666, bayborobrewing.com BIG STORM BREWING CO. Stop by this Pasco brewery’s Storm Room for a flight, or visit its 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 who’s moved tastings inside his brewery. 115 S Ring Ave., Tarpon Springs. 813-503-6181, saintsomewherebrewing.com BREW BUS BREWING BB’s Seminole Heights taproom is moving a few blocks up Florida Ave., but until then sip on the Bus’ offerings at the Wesley Chapel facility. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel. 813-452-6333, brewbususa.com BREW HUB Some of the area’s best beers are produced here along with suds for its own label. 3900 Frontage Rd. S, Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com BREW LIFE BREWING Ultra-small batches, and a lot of ‘em. 5765 S Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. Tarpon Springs spot specializing in music-inspired brews like the “So Fresh n’ So Clean sour” and “All the Single Belgians.” 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-2350 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 CAGE BREWING Custom brews in the Grand Central District from one of the ‘Burg’s best. 2001 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278 CALEDONIA BREWING Great in-house beers in the

historic Dunedin Times building. 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com CALUSA BREWING Family owned and operated, open Tuesday-Sunday. 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. 941-9228150, calusabrewing.com CARROLLWOOD BREWING CO. “Secret” brewing action inside the Carrollwood location of craft-bar chain The Brass Tap. 10047 N Dale Mabry Hwy Suite 23, Tampa. 813-969-2337. brasstapbeerbar.com 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 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., Ybor City. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.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 CRAFT LIFE BREWING Small-batch local brews and a sort of playground for LoL’s craft brewing guild. 4624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-575-8440. @ craftlifebrewing on Facebook CROOKED THUMB BREWERY Safety Harbor’s first brewery boasts homegrown flavor, local guest taps and a killer Tuesday songwriters session. 555 10th Ave. S, Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com CUENI BREWING CO. Located off the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727266-4102, 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. DEVIANT LIBATION Latest project from local beer god Tim Ogden housed in the upcoming immersive art collective Crab Devil. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727379-4677, devitantlibation.com 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. 727-736-0606, 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 OdessaTrinity destination. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com FLYING BOAT BREWING COMPANY St. Pete aviation history and tasty homegrown suds. It’s where Tampa fave King State brews its wares. 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-800-2999, flyingboatbrewing.com FOUR STACKS BREWING An always-changing lineup of local and regional guest suds, along with trivia, live music and more. 5469 N. U.S. Hwy-41, Apollo Beach. 813-641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.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 GREEN BENCH BREWING CO. A space worthy of the adventurous beers it produces. 1133 Baum Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. 30 taps and food (and a coffee roaster!) from a husband-and-wife duo. 4824 14th St. W, Bradenton. 941-896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com GRINDHAUS BREW LAB Small batches and no extracts. 1650 N Hercules Ave., Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab.com GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY Small batches with an artisanal food menu. 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. 727954-4109, gulfport-brewing.com

26 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

HOB BREWING CO. Rotating taps; some of the beers are brewed on-site and alongside a combination of local breweries plus local and international craft beer makers. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. hob.beer IF I BREWED THE WORLD This self-described “mixtape of breweries” offers 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 Land O’ Lakes brewery 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. Suite 103, Trinity. 727-312-4512. JDUB’S BREWING CO. You know ‘em, you love ‘em. A favorite statewide phenomenon. 1215 Mango Ave., Sarasota. 941-955-2739, jdubsbrewing.com KING STATE Named the No. 8 coffee shop in America by Food & Wine, King State 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 on-site in limited capacities. 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813221-2100, king-state.com LAGERHAUS BREWERY & GRILL A Palm Harbor bar and eatery that offers seasonal brews to complement its regulars. 3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor. 727-216-9682, lagerhausbrewery.com LATE START BREWING This 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. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING Brews, ciders, and meads by the beach. 12945 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com MAGNANIMOUS BREWING In a warehouse a half-block north of I-275, this addition to Tampa’s beer scene provides a large variety to drink in or to go–curbside pickup available. The brewery also serves Ginger Beard coffee when the tasting room is open including a peanut butter oat draft latte. 1410 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com MARKER 48 Hernando’s first production craft brewery, with its own 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 St. W, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com MR. DUNDERBAK’S The longtime restaurant, biergarten and homebrewers’ hangout is serving its own beers. 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-977-4104, 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. @overflowbrewingco on Facebook PEPPER BREWING The Angry Pepper Taphouse’s in-house label, available “on a limited basis.” 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com PESKY PELICAN BREW PUB This beachy restaurant also offers its own beers thanks to an in-house nano

system. 923 72nd. St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-302-9600, peskypelicanbrewpub.com PINELLAS ALE WORKS PAW offers a dog-friendly environment in addition to tasty brews. 1962 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970, pawbeer.com PYE ROAD MEADWORKS Located in Odessa, Pye Road focuses on mead but also keeps beer and wine in house for naysayers of the fermented honey drink. 8533 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. 813-510-3500, pyeroad.com RAPP BREWING CO. The late Greg Rapp’s awardwinning styles are carefully crafted and delicious. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER This video game-centric Grand Central District craft beer bar started brewing its own in early 2018. 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 CO. House-crafted brews, pizza, and sports out toward beautiful Siesta Key. 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota. 941-925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com SILVERKING BREWING CO. This space in Tarpon Springs complements a label that’s been around since 2012. 325 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. 727-422-7598, silverkingbrewing.com SIX TEN BREWING A wide variety and a real passion for the craft-brew community. 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-886-0610, sixtenbrewing.com SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING More Dunedin goodness, including some 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, as well as products and guidance for local homebrewers. 4500 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com ST. PETE BREWING CO. Beers crafted specifically for the climate. 544 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com STILT HOUSE BREWERY This friendly Palm Harbor joint specializes in high-ABV ales and other styles you won’t find at other breweries in the area. 625 U.S. Hwy Alt-19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com SWAN BREWING Nearly 4 decades of combined brewing experience go into the offerings at this pet-friendly joint. Two locations. 2972 Lakeland Highlands Rd./115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com TBBC Formerly Tampa Bay Brewing Co., local favorite for nearly two decades, with two locations. 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933 Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813-247-1422, tbbc.beer TIDAL BREWING COMPANY Small batches in Spring Hill. 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-7011602, tidalbrewingfl.com TWO FROGS BREWING CO. Tarpon Springs’ latest brewery and taproom focuses on American ale styles. 151 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, @twofrogsbrewing on Facebook 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 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 in Odessa is now a higher-production facility in Westchase. 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com WOODWRIGHT BREWING CO. Traditional German styles in downtown Dunedin. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-238-8717, @woodwrightbrewing on Facebook WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. Tampa Heights brewer with a focused menu often using fresh fruit as part of its beers. 456 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. 813-443-9463, wovenwaterbrew.com ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING CO. 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. 813252-4541, @zydecobrewwerks on Facebook

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Please join us for our annual tree lighting in the MFA’s Great Hall. Enjoy free admission to the MFA Collection galleries, live music, and hot chocolate & holiday cookies. Advanced timed tickets are required. Visit mfastpete.org to register.

Delight your family and friends with a unique and thoughtful gift—one that keeps giving long after the holidays have passed. Give the gift of adventure, culture, and history with an annual membership, the MFA Handbook of the Collection, or both!

Learn traditional printmaking Workshops in - Etching - Lithography - Letterpress - Silkscreen and more. Our gallery space has local and handmade gifts Drop by during normal hours Tuesday thru Friday 11-4 Saturday 11-6 • Sunday 12-4

28 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

MOVIES

THEATER

ART

CULTURE

Stay curious

Tampa Rep conquers the nearly impossible challenge of staging Haddon’s ‘Dog in the Night-Time.’ By Jon Palmer Claridge

THEATER

THE TAMPA REPERTORY THEATRE

n almost all ways, “The Curious Incident of the to him unless he can imagine them as logical Dog in the Night-Time’’ marks a step forward mathematical equations. for Tampa Repertory Theatre. Small profesThe play’s original production was directed sional theatres are nearly always challenged by Marianne Elliott (“War Horse,” “Angels in for the resources to assemble a cast that’s uni- America,” and the new, not-to-be-missed genderformly solid across the entire ensemble. Directors swapped “Company”), who is arguably the most often make up for such inequities by punching consequential director of our time. She had the up dialogue (erroneously) in budget and collaborators to an effort to balance talent. dramatize Simon Stephens’ However, particularly in the adaptation of Mark Haddon’s small houses that dominate novel in the most dazzling The Curious Incident of the our theatre scene, the late Broadway production of a Dog in the Night-Time Stephen Sondheim’s axiom straight play I’ve experiTampa Rep & Think Tank Theatre Through Dec. 19. $20-$40 that “less is more” seems eluenced from hundreds over Stageworks Theatre sive. I often remark to my the decades. I knew only too 1120 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 151, Tampa theatergoing companions well that Tampa Rep had 813-566-8737; tamparep.org that I just wish the actors given themselves an enorwould “do less.” In drama school, we defined mous, nearly impossible challenge, to put us over-acting as “emotion in excess of technique.” inside Christopher’s brain. But, Sargent and Too many actors feel compelled to “perform,” call- her team pull it off. ing attention to themselves in broad strokes or The versatile acting ensemble made up of obvious choices, when restraint through contrast Imani Alvarado, Larry Corwin, Donna Delonay, or surprise, will rivet an audience’s attention Kristina Kourkoulos, Ryan-Patrick McLaughlin, instead. and Michael Silvestri inhabits a glorious array of The key for director Emilia Sargent was quirky characters who help drive the narrative— finding JJ Humphrey, a neurodivergent actor from nosy neighbors to drunks to policemen to a self-described as “fun, quirky, energetic.” What punk girl on the street. They are helpfully difhe may lack in Juilliard training, he more than ferentiated by Mary Kraak’s costumes. Often makes up for in authenticity. This “bucket list” they also serve as observers sitting on the moverole calls upon his own life experience as he able, multi-use cubes that surround the action. embarks on the journey to tell the coming of Still, there are times when ensemble members age story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone, who italicize moments unnecessarily. But in general, is determined to solve the vicious killing of his Sargent has a tight rein on her cast and provides neighbor’s dog, Wellington, by investigating à la compelling visuals to reinforce the cacophony, his hero Sherlock Holmes. Humphrey’s journey which is life for the neurodivergent Christopher. is compelling and his joy during the surprise His maiden train voyage into London’s alien after the curtain call is palpable. Be sure to metropolis becomes a virtuoso study in senstay in your seats. sory overload. Throughout the evening, set and Christopher compares his own brain to a com- video designer Jim Sorensen, lighting designer puter that is easily overloaded by multitasking. Cody Basham, and sound designer Georgia He has a photographic memory and is capable of Mallory Guy assault our senses with lights, working out complicated math problems in his noises, street signs, and road maps that just head, but he’s so overwhelmed by any unfamiliar keep coming at you. stimuli that he shuts down regularly—holding Calle Gardner, in particular, stands out as his hands over his ears while he screams. He has Christopher’s teacher, Siobhan (shiv-AWN). She trouble processing metaphors, which he considers narrates the story from Christopher’s notebook lies. He experiences love through his connections and is the anchor of trusted advice that he needs to animals. Simple tasks, like asking for direc- to thrive. Cranston Cumberbatch and Marietions or riding an escalator, are overwhelming Claude Tremblay are also solid as Christopher’s

SPOTLIGHT: JJ Humphrey in ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.’ conflicted parents, Ed and Judy Boone, whose actions call into question profound issues of honesty and trust. The colorblind casting of the BIPOC Mr. Cumberbatch as Christopher’s father, could raise some questions since Mr. Humphrey is not bi-racial. Particularly in the charged environment following BLM-police encounters, this choice may skew several incidents to be seen with a racial lens not in the original script. It’s not a huge problem, but it does provide several scenes with new tension complicating the narrative. Dialect Coach Christopher Marshall has done a splendid job drilling the company in a range of dialects from lilting Irish to Jamaican Patois. My British companion had a few quibbles, but the actors’ speech was relaxed and didn’t call undue attention to itself. That alone

is a remarkable achievement while making the dialogue completely intelligible. One special note is that the Tampa Rep and Think Tank Theatre (creating “progressive” plays for young adults) production features “relaxed performances” curated for special needs families and their guests, who might have sensory-based issues. This means tailoring lightning and sound cues while giving easy access to the lobby by leaving the theater doors open and keeping the house lights on low. In these troubled times, when our country is so divided politically and we retreat into tribal factions, civility is a forgotten virtue. What this play reminds us is that all every living human really wants is love and acceptance. And that road is paved with kindness and, most of all, unceasing empathy.

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 29

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@ CA R ACA R A N E ST 30 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

FRENCH VIBES

BEST CHEF READER'S PICK

Sister acts

Theater, plus other artsy things to do this week and beyond. By Stephanie Powers and Alexandria Jones 8 p.m. Tickets are $28-$34.50. For more information, go to jobsitetheater.org. Comedian Jim Jefferies books ‘Moist Tour’ date in Tampa next year Australian-American comedian and TV star Jim Jefferies is bringing “The Moist Tour” to downtown Tampa this winter. Tickets to see Jefferies play Morsani Hall at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Feb. 12 are on sale now for $39.75 to $79.75. Most comedians share their life’s most intimate details on stage but Jefferies—whose last Tampa Bay show was at Tampa Theater in 2019—takes it to an uncomfortable level. Like the time he told Conan about his bloody ejaculation, or when Axl Rose reprimanded Jefferies while he was on mushrooms, or what happens to his body when he eats dairy. The “I Don’t Know About That” podcast host isn’t afraid to get political either with thoughts on gun control and, of course, Donald Trump. Current COVID-19 protocols at Straz Center include a mask requirement (regardless of vax status) and a negative test (within 72-hours) or proof of vaccination.

A&E EVENTS

Encore performances of Tampa Jobsite Theater’s ‘Shockheaded Peter’ wrap today You don’t get many second chances in life, but lucky for you, Jobsite Theater’s Best of the Baywinning production of “Shockheaded Peter” came back for an encore that wraps on Thursday, Dec. 4 (yeah, it’s the day this issue hit newsstands, but maybe you picked it up early enough to catch the show—or even read this article online before the encore performances started last week). Based on a 19th-century German children’s book, “Shockheaded Peter” was first performed in West Yorkshire, England. The play has one main story, and it’s about parents—played by Jobsite’s wonderful Amy E. Gray and Jonathan Harrison—who wish for a child and get instead a little creature puppet delivered by an amazingly garish stork puppet. Intertwined throughout the parents’ journey are musical tales of bad children and the consequences they bring to the family. The production is not a play or a musical, but more of a marvelous mixtape cabaret of morbid hilarity. Producing Artistic Director David Jenkins directs the production which sold out most performances the first time around. Due to COVID-19 precautions, Jobsite has moved up and over from the usual home base of the 99-seat Shimberg Playhouse into the bigger Jaeb Theater—still at the Straz Center, located on the Tampa Riverwalk at 1010 N Macinnes Pl. Negative COVID-19 tests or proof of vaccination is required for entry. Masks are required. “Shockheaded” wraps on Dec. 4, with a show at

Netflix’s ‘Selling Tampa’ series premieres this month Tampa gets to be in the reality TV spotlight once again this month when Netflix debuts “Selling Tampa” on Dec. 15. The show features local Allure Realty owner/broker Sharelle Rosado and her team of Black and minority women as they tackle the world of luxury real estate in Tampa Bay. “Viewers are going to see powerful minority women stepping into luxury real estate. This shows anyone as long as you work hard and no matter what, you can do it,” Rosado told CL at the time. There wasn’t any word on when the show was supposed to come out at that time but the streaming service’s Strong Black Lead vertical recently announced the premiere, writing, “Fresh market, fresh attitude. Selling Tampa premieres December 15th only on Netflix.” Fans went wild and can’t contain their excitement for the upcoming show. Juawana Colbert, Allure Realty real estate agent/office manager and lead cast member, told CL she’s most excited for everyone to see Tampa because she thinks it’s a “hidden gem”. “I think Tampa has been slept on. I’m excited to expose the city a little bit more,” she said, adding that the group feels “blessed and honored” to have the opportunity to showcase women in this

STUDIO GRAND CENTRAL & THE OFF-CENTRAL PLAYERS

t. Pete’s newest theater company Off-Central Players continues its first season with the world premiere of “The Sister-Mothers of Gulfport” by local playwright Bill Leavengood. The dramedy—opening Thursday, Dec. 2—revolves around a single mother and her daughter with themes perfect for the holidays: family and dysfunction. Off-Central, a nonprofit, performs out of Studio Grand Central at 2260 1st Ave S. The company and black box-style performance space are the products of producing artistic director, and professional actor, Ward Smith, his sister Karen Riffe, Sydney Reddish and more. “The Sister-Mothers of Gulfport” runs Thursday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 12. Tickets cost $35. Masks are requested for vaccinated guests, and required for those unvaxxed. For more information, visit studiograndcentral.com.

OFF-CENTRAL STAGE: Sydney Reddish from the cast of ‘The Sister-Mothers of Gulfport.’ light. She says viewers can see minority women being successful in the real estate world while trying to balance their personal lives. “We just feel like we’ll be super supported and we couldn’t ask for anything better,” she said. First Night St. Pete celebrates 29-year anniversary on the pier this New Year’s Eve First Night St. Pete rings in its 29th Anniversary Celebration on New Years Eve at several locations throughout St. Petersburg. A press release says the New Year’s Eve celebration kicks off at the St. Pete Pier for the First KIDS Celebration featuring science, art, magic, literature, sea creature touch tanks and crafts. Guests and children alike can enjoy family-friendly fun under

the Echelman sculpture for a Mad Science Show and magic. Walk over to the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, where ecologists welcome everyone to experience exhibits and marine life. A Sea Creature Parade ends the night marching down the pier trolley route to the beloved bubble stomp. Special buttons designed by Cecilia Lueza ($5-$12) must be purchased to get in. Button packages run through Dec. 30 and are available online; prices increase to $10-20 on New Year’s Eve. A “Friends of First Night” VIP package is $100. The event starts Dec. 31 at 4 p.m—you know, so we can all be too tired to stay up until midnight. Follow along via @1stnightstpete on Facebook for details leading up to the event.

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Peppermint Schnapps and get a kick of Jack Daniel’s in the caramel and brown butter bread pudding, which is spiked with a pipette of Winter Jack Tennessee Cider. Beyond the booze and bites, there’s a “Storytime with Mrs. Claus” show in the new menu items at restaurants around the park. The Coke Canopy near the Christmas Town Village go-to items are, of course, deep dish cookies, hot area. Shows are at various times throughout chocolate (classic, peppermint or gingerbread) the night along with chances to visit Santa at and a selection of local seasonal brews from Big the North Pole Experience in the Nairobi area Storm, 3 Daughters and Coppertail. of Busch Gardens. Many of the menus are new this year, with That same area of the park (near the elephant habitat and the the most eye-catching and Penguin Point light dismouthwatering options play) also has the Holly being a chicken and maple Jolly Express—Busch bacon doughnut sandwich, Christmastown sweet potato “totchos” Gardens’ signature train at Busch Gardens decked out in holiday with smoked brisket and Daily through Jan. 2. 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa lights and blasting clasbeer cheese and a giant Included with admission to Busch Gardens, sic Christmas tunes as it soft pretzel twisted into though food and drink items are separate the shape of the Busch Holiday dishes are $6.99-$9.99 and drinks are takes you around the dark$10.99. Sampling lanyards available ened animal habitats. Gardens coaster logo. starting at $44.99 for eight items Other returning There are also new christmastown.com favorites include the longmixes at the Jack Frosty Cocktails kiosk – from the new Christmas running Christmas on Ice skating show in the Town punch (cranberry, orange, Tito’s Vodka) Moroccan Palace Theater, the Three Kings and Mistletoe Margarita (lime sour, cranberry, Journey in the Stanleyville Theater and Elmo’s Milagro tequila) to an apple brandy hot toddy Christmas Wish at the Sunny Day Theater in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area of the park. (brandy, cinnamon, honey, lemon). Like in past years, Busch Gardens also gets You can even ask to make your hot cocoa “jolly” with Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua or appearances from the most famous reindeer

A field guide to Busch Gardens’ Christmastown. By Chelsea Zukowski

s is tradition, the holiday season starts early at the theme parks, and Busch Gardens is no exception. The Tampa park and Florida roller coaster king kicked off its annual Christmas Town event earlier than ever on Nov. 12. Besides the park’s signature millions of lights and dozens of holiday displays, there are outdoor kitchens serving up sweet and savory treats plus classics, bars with boozy beverages and three new attractions to get your jolly on. New this year is the “Holiday in the Sky” fireworks show at Festival Field around the corner from the new Iron Gwazi coaster, which is decked out for the holidays in red and green lighting (it will officially open in March 2022). Another reason to light up the sky over Tampa and blast Christmas music, the Holiday in the Sky show is still an impressive display to cap off an evening of stuffing yourself with peppermint hot chocolate and whiskey-spiked bread pudding. Speaking of indulgences, part of the draw of Christmas Town is the holiday-themed food and drink kiosks in the festival center and special

HOLIDAYS

SLEIGH, QUEENS: Christmastown has all the best lighting for your next Instagram post.

of all at Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland, which opens at 5 p.m. during Christmas Town dates. Christmas Town is included with admission to Busch Gardens, though food and drink items are separate. Holiday dishes are $6.99-$9.99 and drinks are $10.99. Sampling lanyards are available starting at $44.99 for eight items. Christmas Town runs daily through Jan. 2, 2022. For more information and tickets, visit christmastown.com Busch Gardens Tampa Bay now has its own signature Build-A-Bear Workshop Don’t tell your offspring after spending your paycheck at Christmastown, but kiddos at Busch Gardens now have the opportunity to stuff, dress and name their favorite souvenir, as a new Build-A-Bear Workshop just debuted at the Tampa Bay theme park. The new shop is located in the Moroccan Village, near Busch Gardens’ main entrance, so expect to carry your furry friend through the park for the rest of the day. Busch Gardens pass members get an additional 20% off of their first Build-A-Bear purchase. And if you love the safari uniforms of the Busch Gardens employees, you’re in luck because you can deck your new friend in the same khaki digs. More exclusive animals and accessories will be featured at this new location soon.— Kyla Fields

CHELSEA ZUKOWSKI

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REVIEWS

PROFILES

MUSIC WEEK

Divine recompense

The epic story of Tampa’s Prince Midnight comes to life on Friday. By Ray Roa

uban sandwiches, deviled crabs and strip the punk-rock frontman who totally duped the clubs. Tampa is known for a lot of things. Tampa Bay Times into thinking that two-headed But it’s also known for Seminole Heights’ gator was real—but CL emailed both Ozare and two-headed gator and a local guy—Odilon Prince Midnight along with HuffPo’s David Ozare—who has official Guinness world records Moye for comment. Only Yaago Anax replied for the longest nail extensions and the tallest for the record at the time, and only to threaten hat. An appreciation for metal is another hall- litigation and more or less say, CL was a crock mark of a true Tampeño, and the musical style of shit for even thinking someone would fabrimeets the current king of quirky local lore this cate a story about crafting a most excellent axe weekend when Prince Midnight makes his live in tribute to a fallen father figure. debut at the Brass Mug. So I bought in, and in September, Anax told It’s been nearly a year since the internet fell CL that Prince Midnight would make his live in love with the Tampa metal musician who alleg- debut before year’s end, adding that, “We’ve been edly turned his uncle’s bones rehearsing for months, it’s time.” into a “Skelecaster” guitar. He and drummer Chris Wotring Uncle Filip, according to have tapped a handful of local, Huffington Post, introduced heavy-hitting musicians to join Midnight to rock and roll in him in a band that’ll fly under Prince Midnight & the the ‘90s. Filip was 28 when a new moniker: Prince Midnight he died in a 1996 motorcycle Searing Torment w/Malice & the Searing Torment. accident in Greece. HuffPo’s Strikes/430 Steps/Vacuous Wotring famously played Depths/Wreath David Moye wrote that uncle’s in Cellgraft, whose 2010 Friday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. $7-$10 skeleton was donated to a local album External Habitation Brass Mug, 1450 Skipper Rd., Tampa college; Midnight eventuallly was named No. 27 on Decibel elevatedbooking.bigcartel.com got it back to make the guitar. Magazine’s list of the Best 50 Moye doesn’t seem like the kind of asshole who Grind/Powerviolence Albums of 2010-2019. The tells kids Santa Claus isn’t real, but some locals show will have a major grindcore feel, but also (namely the soul-less jerk with the byline on this wear many operatic elements—including an story) thought the skeleton shredder looked famil- actual opera singer, and the vibraphone, violin iar. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “As It and bass that are hallmarks of Prince Midnight’s Happens” even had me on to talk about whether self-titled debut EP released last December. or not Prince Midnight’s guitar is a hoax. Anax didn’t argue with CL when asked if it’s In September 2020 Midnight—whose real safe to call the show something of a rock opera name is reportedly Yaago Anax—was a guest on since it will include dramatic acting and dancing. locally-renowned music and talk program Grand “This will be more than a concert,” he said. National Championships (GNC), where his good Last week, the world found out that Prince humor added to the already charming and inimi- Midnight wasn’t shitting us about that. tably witty banter from show hosts. Right before Thanksgiving, he emailed to tell In February, when the legend of Yaago Anax CL about his plumbing company, Hellmouth, where started to roil the waters Reddit and pretty much Midnight says he’s the world’s first-ever figural every music magazine outlet known to humankind, toilet builder. GNC ringleader Alastair St. Hill, a magnificent “I made a Lars Ulrich toilet,” he wrote, addsound engineer and fount of wit himself, told ing that the work would be part of an immersive Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that, “Prince Midnight art experience that’s an extension of the Prince is a captivating person. He has so many areas of Midnight show at the Brass Mug. interest and expertise, and amazing stories about Midnight says he learned the technique, all of them. I’m not in the least bit surprised that which involves precisely measuring the face and he’s caught the world’s attention with his work.” its vertical and horizontal lines, “while apprenI won’t flat out say that Midnight is the ticing at Madame Tussaud’s in London.” Photos same person who says they’re Odilon Ozare, or of early Metallica are the basis of Midnight’s

LOCAL MUSIC

MONSTROUS ABOMINATION: Watching the world fall in love with Prince Midnight has been a breath of life. sculpt, all perfected in his backyard which has been a mess of fiberglass, resins and body filler. The Ulrich throne—which you can literally poop on this weekend—even has the approval of Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. An interview host surprised him with a shot of the much-shared toilet. “Oh my god! You’re kidding. This is incredible, how come I didn’t see this?” Trujillo said. “This is a work of art, I want one. Where can I buy em?... I’m sure [Lars will] hear about this when I see him.” And Midnight swears the toilet and Dec. 3 show—where there will also be roughly 10-15 hand-painted fine-art quality toilet lids—isn’t him trying to shit on Ulrich, who’s been publicly ridiculed with totems and videos created by Prince Midnight ally Wolf-Face. Instead, Midnight says this is his way to honor not just the drummer, but others who’ve inspired him, like painter Marcel Duchamp, sculptor Claes Oldenburg and performance artist Terence Koh. “I could have painted a picture or made a traditional sculpture, but no one would have even noticed, and really, that’s not the kind of art and performance I do. The first band I ever loved was Metallica,” Midnight said.

“I even went to see them a couple years ago with Lamb of God, so the passion hasn’t waned.” But the toilet and music won’t be the only fine art at the show. Tommy Breen—who acquired the famous World of Wonder sideshow out of Gibsonton after his mentor Ward Hall passed in 2018—is friends with Midnight and has made available large scale magic pieces that once traveled the U.S. Midnight is even refurbishing a Spidora illusion to incorporate in the show. A giant puppet inspired by 19th century cult rituals will also be there, topped with the head of a demon named Bael, the antagonist of the Prince Midnight show narrative. In the show, Bael meets the sword of a Greek hero, Dardanos, who is part of a mystery cult on the island of Samothrace. Prince Midnight’s album will tell you how the show ends, but facing your darkest moments, death, drama and depression is an underlying theme of the entire evening. “Everyone struggles with their own demons in one way or another,” Prince Midnight said, “and this show is a way of dealing with my own.”

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THU DECEMBER 02–WED DECEMBER 08 lovers, ecstatic musicians and free-spirits of all ages are welcome to see the booked talent, but also participate in open jams and contests. Night one is at New World Brewery in Tampa, and the party goes to St. Pete’s Cage Brewing on Saturday. Kids under 12 get in free, and bring a uke if you have one— no matter how old you are. (New World Brewery, Tampa)—Gabrielle Reeder

Kaelin Ellis

HARD 8 // WORKING GROUP

By Stephanie Powers & Ray Roa C

CL Recommends

THU 02

C Rock the Park w/Kaelin Ellis/ Songbird Shella/Kevin Earle Siebel Downtown Tampa’s free outdoor concert series has long been a first-class showcase of the Bay area’s best talent, but there are some months when the stars align and a national artist pops up on the bill. To wrap up 2021, Rock the Park gives fans a holiday present in Kaelin Ellis, an Orlando-based producer who’s one of the busiest in the game and still riding high on his 2020 House EP, which features Lupe Fiasco (and the late Virgil Abloh). Fans of TEK.LUN, Lakim, and Kaytranada will appreciate Ellis’ aesthetic, but his jazz, funk and soul-inflicted live set— driven by Ableton and a live drum kit (and maybe keys for this one, pretty please?)—is the kind of thing you should have to pay to see. Songbird Shella, who’s been putting in work at Ybor’s Five 5 Studios, opens the show backed by cellist Ryan Tatum and one of the best jazz trios in town, Katara. Holiday

lights will be in full effect, too, making this show a literal wonderland. (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)

FRI 03

The 502s w/The Occasionals It’s hard to be in a bad mood when listening to The 502s (or any band with a banjo really). The Maitland group mixes genres—indie, folk, bluegrass—with the comedic timing of Bret McKenzie to make songs like “I Keep Rolling” and “Just a Little While” which make you want to roll the windows down and sing along really loud. With indie-funk Inverness outfit The Occasionals, it’s going to be a good time Friday night at the West River venue. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa) C 6th Annual Uke it Out: AppleButter Express Duo w/Jct 27/Rebekah Pulley/ Pineapple Scruffs/Renee and The Rollers and Tom Hood & The Tropical Sons/more Hosted by WMNF host and DJ, Flee and member of Jct 27 frontwoman Rebecca Michela, Uke It Out is back from a pandemic hiatus and expanded to two days, in two venues on both sides of the Bay. Music

C 97X Next Big Thing: Twenty One Pilots w/Weezer/AJR/Glass Animals/ All Time Low/Bastille/Summer Hood/ Girl In Red/more Tampa Bay’s Next Big Thing concert is almost enough to drink, and to celebrate, organizer 97X is bringing in Twenty One Pilots and Weezer to headline the 2-day party. Twenty One Pilots will headline night one, Dec. 3, and play alongside Glass Animals and Meet Me @ The Altar. Weezer is the headliner on a more robust night two, Dec. 4, where the bill also includes AJR, All Time Low, Bastille, Girl in Red, Mod Sun, Nessa Barrett, Girlfriends, Daisy the Great and Upshal. Andrew McMahon is the guest co-host of the 97X Next Big Thing, and I’m still old enough to remember singing along to his band Something Corporate. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72-hours of the event is required; in lieu of a negative text, attendees may also prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (14 days past final vaccination shot) and present a vaccination card at the door. Parents should note that children under 12 years of age will also be required to take a COVID19 test within 72-hours before the event and will provide proof of negative result prior to entering the venue where mask wearing will be encouraged. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa) C The Drain Outs w/Glaze/House of I The Drain Outs (who you might have seen rocking Gasparilla Music Festival in October) is celebrating the release of a new album Love Like You Want—a surf and garage rocktreat with some Dinosaur Jr. sprinkled in. “This record is the reflection of us finding our footing, not only sonically, but as young men coming of age in an ever-changing world,” Blake Billington told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “Tackling themes of turbulent relationships, societal conformity, and candy coated infatuation comes second nature when it’s your reality.” St. Pete’s Green Bench Brewing hosts the free party with Glaze and House of I opening the family-friendly show. “We hope this collection of songs will help ease the listener into the scalding hot tub we call living,” Billington added. The album—which came together because COVID prevented the band’s tour—definitely eased my morning commute that’s for sure. (Green Bench Brewing Co., St. Petersburg) She Past Away w/Twin Tribes/Obsidian/ DJ Black/DJ Winters She Past Away formed in 2006, but its sound comes from a time way before that. The Turkish postpunk band nails the darkwave nostalgia vibe

with Peter Murphy-style vocals and synth that’ll make you want to storm The Castle. Check out the video to the band’s biggest hit “Kasvetli Kutlama” (meaning gloomy celebration); it could easily play on the big screen behind the dance floor. The band last played Crowbar in 2019, and this time it’s She Past Away’s only Florida show, which is fitting because Ybor City is where all the good goths roam. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

SAT 04

Jimmy Buffett The “Son Of A Son Of A Sailor Tour” was supposed to sway its way into Tampa in December 2019, but due to shoulder surgery, all three of the Florida shows on the tour were pushed a full year to December 2020. The move gave the pirate, who at the time was looking at 74, time to heal, but the gig got pushed back again last fall. Now it’s finally here and christened with a new moniker, “Slack Tide.” You can wear a mask over your Parrot beaks, right? (Amalie Arena, Tampa)—Josh Bradley C The Nervous Girls (final show and album release) w/Wolf-Face/Big Sad In September, Tampa rock band Nervous announced a new album, A Thousand Awful Thoughts, then gave its fans a different kind of awful news—the gig celebrating the record’s release would be the trio’s farewell show. “We are so grateful for the love and support the Tampa and St. Pete community has shown us over the years,” the band added.“ There have been so many high points along our journey, and so many people, bands, and venues to thank. We hope we will get to see you one last time to say goodbye and thanks.” That chance finally happens this weekend with a free show at The Bends where Wolf-Face and Big Sad play openers. Awful’s eight tracks find Nervous Girls tapping into the band’s uncanny ability to meld genres (‘90s grunge, shoegaze, punk), and the lead single “Nights” has a little Cranberries flavor to go along with the brawny ‘80s, almost Pretenders-style punch packed into album highlight and closer “Echoes.” (The Bends, St. Petersburg) Nitzer Ebb w/Fotocrime/Fools Ghost/DJ Jason Barco Nitzer Ebb was part of a formative experience in my life. It was the summer I went from listening to Poison and New Kids on the Block to, eh, better stuff. The British industrial band opened Depeche Mode’s “World Violation” tour. My young eyes experienced Douglas McCarthy belting out songs from the 1990 album Showtime—with one hand on a mic and the other down his spandex pants—and that was the exact moment my taste in music moved to the dark side. To this day, “Getting Closer” is still on every workout playlist I make. Unfortunately, Nitzer Ebb announced that McCarthy is out sick for the rest of the tour and fellow founding

continued on page 38

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Nervous Girls

member Bon Harris is filling in on vocals. Though the show might sound a little different, the freak factor should still be the same. (Orpheum, Ybor City) Tab Benoit’s Swampland Jam w/ Samantha Fish Benoit’s Swampland Jam finds the Grammy-nominated musician joined by some heavy hitters in the Louisiana roots music scene including Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and Waylon Thibodeaux. Kansas City multi-genre-butmainly-blues artist Samantha Fish and band opens the holiday-season show featuring drummer Josh Freese who’s played with Nine Inch Nails, Devo, The Replacements, and Weezer. And if you don’t have a ticket, then stay home because the show is soldout. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)

SUN 05

Backseat Lovers w/Camp Howard After postponing a late October show due to COVID, Salt Lake City’s new favorite sons, The Backseat Lovers, are headed back to Ybor City. The alt-rock quartet has only

been together since the summer of 2018, yet has already accumulated over 55 million streams on Spotify for its debut album When We Were Friends. Formed while frontman Josh Harmon and guitarist Jonas Swanson were fresh out of high school, the boys have been meaning to get on the road for a few months now, and props to them for getting a makeup show in quickly. If you’ve got tickets to the show, get there early and see Camp Howard—which was last in the area for a 2017 set at The Bends—work through its sexy new single, “Cañón.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)— Josh Bradley C Microgroove 10-year anniversary: Mrenc feat. Bump Galletta In the decade Microgroove has been open the Seminole Heights record shop—owned by New Granada label head Keith Ulrey—has been in a Buccaneers promo, hosted numerous shows including Xetas, Hand Out, Permanent Makeup, and, of course, struggled through an ongoing pandemic. The Best of the Baywinning shop celebrates its tin year with a party featuring shoegaze-grunge act Mrenc plus live art and painting with Josh “Bump” Galletta. The party won’t be as raging as past years, but better than last year because the

38 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

anniversary didn’t happen in 2020 (thanks to that on a bitch, COVID-19). Ulrey still is being extra-careful with the whole pandemic, so he said, “We’re keeping it light, a mini-party if you will, a truncated celebration.” There won’t be free beer and masks are required inside the store. But plan to do a little holiday shopping, everything is 10% off. And whatever you do, don’t park at Cappy’s. (Microgroove, Tampa)

TUES 07

Intervals w/Thank You Scientist/ Cryptodira Though Canadian progressivemetal outfit Intervals—which last played Ybor City in April 2019—tours with a full band, composer and guitarist Aaron Marshall is the only official member. Expect to hear a lot from Marshall’s latest album Circadian, released in 2020. Even more prog-rock is on the bill with New Jersey’s Thank You Scientist and Cryptodira out of Long Island opening the Tuesday night show. (Orpheum, Ybor City)

WED 08

DAVE DECKER

C Milky Chance w/Giant Rooks If you don’t have a ticket to see Milky Chance at the German band’s Ybor City stop, because the Wednesday night show is sold out. And buyers beware of people selling tickets on discussion boards (go to the Dec. 7 show at Orlando’s House of Blues instead). The indiepop trio doesn’t seem to be going anywhere though. Its chart-topping “Stolen Dance” is hard to get away from and latest single “Colorado” seems to be headed in the same direction. (The Ritz, Ybor City) Saint Jhn w/Tyla Yahew GuyaneseAmerican rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Carlos St. John Phillips, aka Saint Jhn (stylized “SAINt JHN”) has over 189 billion (with a “B”) views for the remix of his single “Roses.” Phillips also co-wrote and appears on Beyonce’s Lion King single “Brown Skin Girl,” so his St. Pete stop—a makeup after the initial gig’s October postponement—is like two degrees of separation from Queen Bey The show’s gonna be a banger, you won’t care it’s a Wednesday night. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

JANNUSLIVE.COM UPCOMING CONCERTS Round up your karaoke buddies because The Eagles have announced a Hotel California tour that’s coming to Tampa this winter. Tickets to see the surviving members of The Eagles play Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Monday. Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. go on sale Friday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. and start at $125.25.

GEORGE HOLZ

Following the 2016 death of Glenn Frey, Don Henley is the only founding member left. But the band’s been held up quite nicely by new additions including Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Deacon Frey and Vince Gill who’ll all be at the Amalie Arena show in February. The band will play its iconic two-time Grammy-winning album front-to-back at the show, accompanied by an orchestra and choir. After a brief intermission, The Eagles will play even more of their greatest hits.

WED, DEC 01

FRI, DEC 03

SAT, DEC 04

SUN, DEC 05

WED, DEC 08

SAT, DEC 11

Read more of Josh Bradley’s weekly concert announcement, postponement and cancellation roundup below.—Ray Roa

He$h w/Bommer/ZIA Friday, Dec. 3. 10 p.m. $15. The Ritz, Ybor City ARMNHMR w/Vampa Saturday, Dec. 4. 10 p.m. $20. The Ritz, Ybor City The Backseat Lovers w/Camp Howard Sunday, Dec. 5. 7 p.m. Sold out. Crowbar, Ybor City Nate Najar Friday, Dec. 10. 8 p.m. $30$40. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg Hollyglen w/Viewers Like You/In Transit/The Easy Button Thursday, Dec. 16. 9 p.m. $10. New World Brewery Music Hall, Tampa The Paper Airport w/Neverless/Riffed/ Mortal Sons Sunday, Dec. 19. 8 p.m. $10. New World Brewery Music Hall, Tampa Thoreau w/Kerry Courtney/Keep it a Secret/Lil Roo Thursday, Dec. 23. 7 p.m. $12. Orpheum, Ybor City Blunts & Blondes w/bawldi Friday, Dec. 24. 10 p.m. $20. The Ritz, Ybor City Magic City Hippies Wednesday, Dec. 29. 7 p.m $20. Orpheum, Ybor City Al Di Meola Friday, Jan. 7. 8 p.m. $29.50$49.50. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Vinny Virgo (Album Release Party) w/ Sam E Hues/Ari Chi/Pigsonvinyl/DJ Qeys Friday, Jan. 14. 8 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa The Marshall Tucker Band w/Firefall/ Bertie Higgins Friday, Jan. 21. 7:30 p.m. $28.75-$82.75. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Buckcherry w/Core Sunday, Feb. 6. 7 p.m. $10-$59. Ferg’s Sports Bar & Concert Pavilion, St. Petersburg G-Love & The Juice Saturday, Feb. 12. 8:30 p.m. $24.99. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Rockabilly Battle Royale XII feat. Amy Griffin/Bloodshot Bill/Blind Rage & Violence/Jittery Jack Friday, Feb. 18. 8 p.m. $15. New World Music Hall, Tampa

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Lucinda Williams Saturday, Mar. 5. 8 p.m. $48.50-$66. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Lyle Lovett Saturday, Mar. 12, and Sunday, Mar. 13. 8 p.m. $69.50-$99.50. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Los Pericos Saturday, Mar. 12. 7 p.m. $55$75. Orpheum, Ybor City Iron & Wine Tuesday, Mar. 29. 7:30 p.m. $34.50-$69.50. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater The Zombies w/Bruce Sudano Tuesday, Apr. 5. 8 p.m. $44.50-$89.50. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater Journey w/Toto Wednesday, Apr. 20. 7:30 p.m. $45.75-$685.25. Amalie Arena, Tampa 98ROCKFEST feat. Godsmack/ Three Days Grace/Black Veil Brides/ Motionless In White/Ice Nine Kills/ Wage War Friday, Apr. 22. 5:30 p.m. $35$400. Amalie Arena, Tampa Beth Hart Wednesday, Apr. 27. 7:30 p.m. $32.50-$60. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Maxwell w/Anthony Hamilton/Joe Saturday, May 7. 8 p.m. $70.25 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa Cancellations/reschedules Daughtry at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Dec. 16 Postponed Snail Mail at The Ritz Ybor, Dec. 1 Rescheduled to Aug. 24, 2022 Hoodoo Gurus at Floridian Social Club, May 14 Canceled

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cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 39

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

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

40 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.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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42 | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | cltampa.com

There is a light By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, I’ve recently been trying to tap into my spiritual side, getting more involved with art, and half-heartedly trying to meditate. Over the past several months, I’ve experienced a drawnout breakup (as complicated and painful as these things often are) and the unexpected loss of a close friend. I want to emerge from these events brighter and stronger than before and to use my grief as a way to access my spiritual side, but I don’t know how. I am trying to be more open to my intuition and let things fall into place as they may, but I’m not sure where else to put my attention. Any advice?—Searching for Spirituality Cards: The Hermit reversed, The Full Moon, Ten of Wands, The Star Dear Searching, in my tradition, November is the month of holy darkness. “Skotia” is the epitaph used, which means “of the dark” or “of the gloom.” The Bible uses that word ,too, though it often gets translated as a dark that lacks God’s light, a word for wickedness, or for hell. While I don’t believe in the Christian version of hell, I do believe in an underworld (metaphorically, metaphysically) and that grief is an act of skotia. Grief has the power to dim all the lights, to consume and drain, to take a piece of your soul down to the underworld and lay it to rest. While that might sound terrifying, it’s necessary. Things can fester and rot if we don’t mourn or grieve, and we can lose ourselves despite our best intentions. We all have to journey through the underworld to get to the other side at one point or another. But you, dear searcher, know this. And judging by your question, I think you know it’s possible to re-emerge from grief as a new person. But the way out of the underworld is to be reborn, screeching and wailing and violently embracing life. And I know that can sound at best cheesy and at worst dismissive, but living is the antidote. The Hermit reversed is the card guiding this spread, holding a lamp into the dark. You’ve been there for quite a long time, and to see the light, you must be present, which can mean following your unvarnished impulses for a bit. What do you want to do in the moment? What makes you feel truly alive? Fall asleep in the grass? Methodically break everything your ex gave you? Drive to the mountains? If it’s not hurting yourself or others, go for it. You mention trying to be more in touch with your intuition, and that’s great. But then you say you “let things fall into place as they may,” and I don’t think that’s working for you. The Full Moon is a card of energy and clarity. Don’t let things fall as they may. Be an active participant in sculpting the new life you want. Maybe that involves working with a therapist who specializes in grief or spirituality. Maybe

it involves taking improv classes or learning to cook, or fleeing the country to start anew on a windswept moor as a shepherd. Tap into that energy to find what sparks your light. I understand that all of this is easier said than done. Grief is not something to simply get over. This past May, a dear friend of mine, the brilliant comic Samantha Berkman, died three weeks into her 31st year. She had cancer, a brutal thing that took her in about 15 months, but Sam was tweeting jokes from the hospital two hours before she died. She aggressively embraced life, said “fuck that” to going gently into that good night. She was the bravest woman I’ve ever known, and I miss her dearly. The day after she died, her long-time boyfriend posted the motto of “Do it for those who can’t.” Apparently, it’s a skateboarder’s phrase, but I thought that was brilliant, a succinct and

true path through the dark, and a sincere way to honor such a kickass woman. It isn’t easy to live for those we lost. It’s far, far easier to lay down with them in the underworld. What is difficult is taking a part of them and living vivaciously—doing it for them. The Ten of Wands is a card of hardships, but they’re doable. You’ll feel like you’re getting crushed, that it will kill you, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. You’ll live. You’ll survive. Because when we live, when we feel truly alive, the divine can appear. That’s The Star in this spread. The image is of a woman at peace at a water’s edge, pouring water into the water and onto the land. It is a card of harmony, of integration of the subconscious and conscious, and a feeling of true peace. There is a sentiment in some faith communities that The Divine appears to you in ways you can comprehend. Perhaps at this moment, it’s in that balance when you feel both alive and at peace. Are there any times when you feel that way? Any activities that spark that?

If you aren’t opposed to organized religion, this might also be a time to read literature from different faiths or to Zoom into a meeting and see if anything clicks. The Unitarian Universalist churches host meetings for CUUP (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans), which might strike your fancy if integrating tarot and meditation are important to your spirituality. I’m also happy to provide you with a booklist if you wish. I am so sorry for your loss, dear Searching, on both accounts. It can be destabilizing, especially in a world that’s experienced its own profound grief. Nevertheless, I hope that you find some of this helpful and that you find some moments of serenity as you move through your grief. It is the season of Holy Darkness, but I do not doubt that once again, you’ll see the flame of light and be able to guide yourself out of the underworld. Send your questions for the Ybor Oracle to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram.

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cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 43

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Past tense

past, TOTITO, try talking about all the hot sex you’re going to have in the future.

By Dan Savage

So, my husband (42-year-old straight male) and I (38-year-old bi female) have had a closed relationship so far, but we have an active fantasy life. We’ve been together for about four years, and we both had our fair share of partners (casual and serious) before that. We like to talk about fantasies involving other people during sex, be they actual (past partners) or imagined (my beautiful surfing instructor on a trip). Once while he ate my pussy, I asked him about all the pussies he’s enjoyed in the past and he brought up one of his exes—a relationship that ended 10 years before we met—and he said he sometimes thought about her when he went down on and/or fucked subsequent partners, including me. This turned me on. A lot. I started bringing her up every now and then while we fucked, I asked him more about her, I fantasized about meeting her and eating the pussy he enjoyed so much. Like other past partners, she became part of the mental/verbal porn reel we sometimes enjoy during sex. Then one day, in an unrelated conversation, it came out that he’d been engaged to her, that the reason they broke up was because they couldn’t make a long-distance relationship work after he moved to the country where we live, and that it took him years to get over her. This killed it for me. Not only that, but I also now feel weird about all of the times we fantasized about her in the past. It’s not like he did anything wrong—I never specifically asked how serious the relationship was or why it ended—but I can’t shake the irrational feeling there was an omission. I sometimes think about past experiences during masturbation or sex, but never about serious partners—never about men I’ve lived with, been married to, or had a child with. Those experiences are too emotionally loaded to mix in with my current sex life in a healthy, detached way. I know my husband may process/ feel things differently, but I can’t help but equate what he was doing to me fantasizing about my ex-husband during sex, which I haven’t done and would feel weird as fuck even contemplating. I don’t see her as a threat—they’re not in touch and she lives in another hemisphere—and I believe him when he says he has no significant baggage about any of his exes, including her. But knowing she was one of the most significant relationships in his life makes fantasizing about her—out loud, with me—feel “off.” I don’t just have this feeling just about her now, but about his past overall. How do I shake this? Thoughts?—Turned On Turns Into Turn Off

fantasies with your husband—dirty talk about your previous sex partners—you’re going to need to reason with yourself. Let’s give it a whirl… So, your husband was engaged to this woman and presumably lived with her for a time, but your husband’s relationship with this woman nevertheless meets just one of your three somewhat arbitrary criteria for “pussy it’s not OK to think about during sex with a current partner.” Yes, it was a serious relationship, but they never married or had kids. And if they had wanted to be together, they would’ve found a way to make it work despite the distance. If she had wanted to be with your husband more than she wanted to remain where she was living when they broke it off, she could’ve married him and emigrated. Likewise, if your husband had wanted to be with this woman more than he wanted to remain where he was living when they broke it off, he could’ve married her and emigrated. Neither made that choice, TOTITO, and I’m guessing neither made that choice because the serious wasn’t as serious as the “engaged” thing makes it sound. Yeah, yeah: someone proposed (most likely your husband), someone said yes (most likely his ex). But words are cheap and “engaged” is just a word. It’s a promise and a serious one, TOTITO, but in the end it’s just air. And now, since I’m feeling daring, I’m going risk doing some math … You say you’ve been with your 42-yearold husband for four years. His relationship with his former fiancée ended 10 years before you two met. So, that means your husband was at most 28 years old when he broke off his engagement with his ex and assuming they’d been dating for a few years, he was what? In his mid-20s when they met? That means his prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in executive functions like decision making, long-term planning, and higher reasoning, wasn’t even fully formed when he proposed to this woman. So, you have a choice. You can attach a lot of significance to the fact that they were engaged or you can look at the other facts in evidence— that they both chose the place where they lived over the relationship, how old they were at the time they got engaged—and see the relationship as far less significant than the “engaged” label makes it sound. All that said, if hearing about the pussies in your husband’s past isn’t doing anything for your pussy right now, tell your husband you don’t want to hear about them for the moment. If you miss dirty talk during sex, instead of talking about hot sex you’ve both had in the

SAVAGE LOVE

If thinking and talking about your husband’s past doesn’t turn you on anymore, TOTITO, stop thinking and talking about your husband’s past. But if you want to get back to enjoying these

For the past few months, I’ve been hooking up a lot with my coworker (I’m a bi woman, he’s a straight man). Things are going well, we really like each other (we’ve even said “I love you” to each other), but there are a couple of problems. First, I’m 23 and he’s 40. The age difference doesn’t really bother me if I don’t think about it too much, but it matters to a lot of my loved ones. Second, I’m not looking for a serious relationship, as I haven’t been single in a while and am kind of going through my “ho phase,” but it seems like he wants to be exclusive. I’ve tried to break things off or slow things down, but he’s going through horrible shit right now and needs me. I have improved his life, and he has improved my mental state, but he’s also kind of a bad influence and has gotten

me back into bad habits. To make matters worse, the new guy at our work seems to be into me and he’s cute and way closer to my age, and we get along really well, so I might want to give that a shot. I don’t know whether to end things, or even how to end it if I wanted to. Any advice on how to get out of this gracefully?—Pretty Horrible At Something Easy When you say you want to get out of this “gracefully,” what you mean is you want the impossible from me. You want me to tell you how to end this relationship so subtly that the guy you

dumped doesn’t even notice or get upset. Sorry, PHASE, but there’s no way to end things with the coworker you’re currently fucking so you can start fucking the coworker you’d rather be fucking without the coworker you’re currently fucking finding out you dumped him so you could start fucking a different coworker. If it was just your family that objected to the relationship because of the age difference, I would urge you to stay in it. But you want out, and the relationship isn’t healthy. (You don’t mention the bad habits he’s gotten you back into, PHASE, but I’m going to assume it’s not double parking and public grooming.) You can’t stay just because he needs you. P.S. I’m supposed to tell you not to sleep with coworkers—it’s right here in my dogeared copy of the “Writing Advice Columns For Dummies”— but I’m going to set that aside, seeing as that ship has already sailed, struck an iceberg, and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. This isn’t a question, just an email to say thank you. I’m a lesbian in my mid-30s from an ethnic and religious minority living in London, and have had about a decade of being out and exploring my sexuality. It’s been mostly joyous and apart from a bit of stumbling at the start, I’ve strangely not felt much shame, just deep satisfaction at understanding and enjoying my life openly. However, coming out to my mom has been a difficult and complicated matter. Listening to your podcast has really helped me internalise being able to stand in my truth and resist allowing her or other people’s weird feelings and shame to become mine. In the last month I have also experienced for myself the reality of the advice that you give that our biggest bargaining chip in relation to our parents is our presence. I hadn’t seen my mom for 18 months due to COVID and told her I’d be coming to my hometown in Sweden to visit along with my long term partner, who she’d refused to meet for the past five years, and this time wasn’t any different. I however approached it differently and didn’t fight her, just calmly explained that if she wasn’t going to see me with my partner, then that was too bad and her decision to make, but unfortunately that also meant that she wouldn’t be seeing me at all. And it WORKED! I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t easy and I don’t think she’s about to join PFLAG exactly, but she met my partner and was respectful and even friendly and more importantly, it unlocked a new level of adult for me and has changed me profoundly making me even more confident and secure in who I am. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the work that you do.—Kamariyah Contact questions@savagelove.net, follow @ FakeDanSavage on Twitter, and get Savage Lovecast, books, merch, and more at savage.love!

cltampa.com | DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2021 | 45

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LOVE LETTERS 69 71 by Merl Reagle ACROSS 73 1 “What a pity” 76 6 Best Actress of 1987 78 10 Jinx-breaking team, in 2004 81 headlines 13 NBA nickname 82 16 Feb. 14 figure? 83 18 Half a spy 84 19 Early flood 86 insurance? 89 20 Pal of Pooh 91 21 Feb. 14 entreaty? 93 24 Flow’s partner 25 Keep ___ on 95 26 Be a bounder? 97 27 ___ dancer 98 28 Waited, perhaps 99 29 Call for assistance 100 30 “___ Day Now” 104 32 Feb. 14 plea to a 106 rival? 37 Brave moguls 38 False belief 108 39 Hoboes may ride them 109 40 Sailor’s back 112 42 Ledger doc 113 44 ___ About You 45 Delhi dough 46 Gershwin classic? 114 50 Silas Marner author 116 53 One of its letters stands for “Olds” 118 54 Outfoxing 119 55 This isn’t working 57 Starting stakes 123 59 Visceral 60 Alice in 124 Wonderland 125 party drink 126 61 Ms. Moreno 62 Falling-in-love 127 observation? 65 ___ Spumante 128 67 “No way, 129 comrade” 1

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