CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Adrian O'Farrill, Sofía García Vargas, Jennifer Ring, McKenna Schueler, Chelsea Zukowski
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EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
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Photos by Sorcha Augustine c/o Dunedin Fine Arts Center
Last Saturday at a star-studded black tie event, supporters and donors of Dunedin Fine Art Center (DFAC) gathered at the site of the 50-year-old community staple to honor Erwin and Syd Entel, who helped bring to life the vision of the late Meta Brown. DFAC, the largest arts education center in the Southeast, is also a place where working artists, and even children, can exhibit in some of the seven gallery spaces. As DFAC moves into its next half-century, CEO Andrea Nalls told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that DFAC will continue to be a place of expression, individuality, and fun.
“The formula that the Art Center has had in place for the last 50 years is a winning formula,” Nalls said. “Remaining at our core, who we have always been while breeding some innovative ways to keep people’s interest and further their involvement with the visual arts.”
See all the photos from the DFAC’s 50th anniversary gala via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from February 20 - 26
Make history
The Black Art Gala’s third iteration this weekend comes as the country sees itself at a crossroads. The awards show was founded to preserve the achievements of Central Florida’s Black artists while honoring melanated art and activists via exhibitions and live performances. A portion of proceeds even benefit Green Book of Tampa Bay, a modern version of the guide that used to shepherd Black travelers around the country when Jim Crow ruled the day. “Attendees will leave inspired by the rich legacy of African American artistry, motivated to advocate for equity, and empowered to champion diversity in the arts,” a press release says. As the Department of Education threatens to cut funding for academic institutions that do not change policies related to race or diversity, gatherings like this one, and the venues that host them, are more important than ever.
Black Art Gala: Sunday, Feb. 23. 7 p.m. $29.75. Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Pl, Tampa. blackartgala. splashthat.com—Ray Roa
Nice view
It’s a busy weekend in Ybor City. Fiesta Day is on Saturday, and Tampa Art Week continues with many of the best exhibitions happening in the historic district. At Honey Gallery located inside Kress Contemporary, Ryan Lagasse (pictured) presents “Momentum” (Thursday, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.), a collection of poppy, almost surrealist acrylic paintings on canvas and paper all “inspired by human connection, collective consciousness, and the abstract functions of the mind.” On Saturday, a few blocks away at Hotel Haya as part of HCC’s “Now On View” presentation, the extremely-analog St. Petersburg-based FAX 727 289 3069 project has an installation that features poems from Tyler Gillespie, including “Donna Tampa,” an ekphrastic poem inspired by a cigar label. Also on view at Hotel Haya is an infinity mirror booth floral installation from Tampa artist Kali Rabaut, who seeks to explore the city’s past, present and future through a floral lens. Read more via cltampa.com/arts.
Tampa Art Week: Through Saturday, Feb. 22. Multiple venues. @artweektampa on Instagram—Ray Roa
It’s a small world
Whether you’re looking to experience traditional music and dance, sample international cuisine, or simply celebrate the world’s many cultures, St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) promises a one-of-a-kind journey around the globe— all without leaving Pinellas Park. The first two days of the festival are reserved for students, offering an immersive educational experience that introduces elementary, middle, and high schoolers to global cultures. The festival then opens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., transforming England Brothers Park into a colorful world fair with exhibits, food, and live entertainment. One of the highlights of the event is the Parade of Nations, a spectacular procession where participants proudly display traditional attire and flags from their home countries. Visitors can also enjoy an international beer garden featuring selections from around the world, as well as cultural villages representing more than 20 nationalities.
St. Petersburg International Folk Fair: Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 20-22. $7$14 (children 6-12 get in free). England Brothers Park, 5010 81st Ave N, Pinellas Park. spiffs.org—Sofía García Vargas
Razed up
It seems like the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium woes perpetually dominate headlines, but there are much deeper stories begging to be told at the site of Tropicana Field. Any self-respecting St. Pete resident knows about the Gas Plant district, and a new film will get anyone still in the dark up to date. “Razed,” produced by Andrew Lee and Tara Segall, of Roundhouse Creative, asks Carlos Lovett (pictured) and others who grew up in the Gas Plant neighborhood about the old wounds and broken promises that’ve been a part of their lives since the ‘80s when the district was a thriving Black neighborhood (viewed as blighted by many White leaders). “This story is deeply personal for so many. By sharing these voices and memories, we hope to honor the legacy of the Gas Plant Neighborhood and inspire thoughtful consideration about the future of development in St. Pete and beyond,” Gwendolyn Reese, President of the African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg, FL, Inc., and producer of the film said in a press release. Saturday’s premiere is sold-out, but there’s an encore happening on Sunday and a Tampa screening set for Friday, Feb. 28.
‘Razed: A Film About The Gas Plant Neighborhood’ premiere: Sunday, Feb. 23 (encore) . 2:30 p.m. No cover, registration required. Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. gasplantfilm.com—Ray Roa
Ball is life
There’s no way the world has not forced you to think about having a drink or seven. This event at FloridaRama stylized (“FloridaRAMA”) finds some of the Bay area’s best bartenders presenting their take on the classic, two-ingredient cocktail served on the rocks. Featured liquors at Highball 2025, according to a press release, include Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Herradura Tequila, Ford’s Gin, Diplomatico Rum, and Chambord Liqueur. More than a dozen different highball cocktails will be available for sampling, along with bites to help you soak up the booze, plus live music, tarot and other entertainment. Attendees will also vote for their favorite cocktail from each spirit category. Bartenders from American Social, Sonder Social Club, Bar Tiki, Highland House, and The Living Room are some of the first confirmed competitors. A portion of the proceeds from Highball 2025 benefit Current Initiatives of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit whose Laundry Project and Affordable Christmas efforts help families throughout the Bay area. VIP tickets ($50) include early-entry, free parking, passed appetizers, a VIP gift and more. Designated driver tickets ($20) get ticket holders in and access to all the food and non-alcoholic beverages they can stomach.
There aren’t many St. Petersburg events bigger than this one. In its 12th year, the showcase featuring hundreds of indie businesses and community organizations will once again take over Williams Park for seven jam-packed hours. Because of Localtopia’s scale—the event includes an art village, food truck row, adult drinks, bands and more—streets surrounding the park will be closed. Those who can’t walk or take advantage of of the free bike valet on 2nd and 2nd, should consider taking the Sunrunner (fare-free for the occasion) or trolley that picks up outside the Trop at 1st Avenue S and 11th Street.
Localtopia 2024: Saturday, Feb. 22. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. Williams Park, 330 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. localtopia.keepsaintpetersburglocal.org—Ray Roa
NICK CARDELLO
“There’s not a ‘banned’ section, because the books are free here.”
Gray area
Tampa firm says it paused video promoting
By Ray Roa
The works in Gwen Henderson’s Tampa bookstore are emancipated, but organizations that want to highlight the councilwoman’s shop apparently don’t enjoy the same freedom.
Last week on social media, Henderson, a retired educator, said that “a pretty prominent marketing firm” decided to take down a video showcasing her Black English Bookstore. Henderson was elected to represent Tampa’s District 5 in 2023, and operates Black English—located at 401 E Oak Ave.—independent of her job as a civil servant. She did not name the firm that produced the video, but a separate post on Henderson’s personal page says the “Black Moves” clip was created by PPK Advertising & Production.
Black bookstore.
“This decision was made entirely out of an abundance of caution based on articles like this one published last week in Bloomberg,” Garcia added.
“We felt it was in the best interest of our business and our employees to pause these initiatives until we have time to review it in greater detail and to understand the nuances of all rapidly changing policies of the DOJ and US Attorney General.”
LOCAL NEWS
Forbes has also reported that Trump’s new Attorney General, Tampa-woman Pam Bondi, “directed the Justice Department to ‘investigate, eliminate, and penalize’ private companies and universities that have ‘illegal’ diversity, equity and inclusion programs.”
everything from specific initiatives to corporate culture to their public statements.”
The two-minute clip features Henderson talking in the Tampa Heights shop where art on the walls includes a painting of the famed author and activist James Baldwin, and others. In the feature, Henderson describes her shop as a place where Black people can see themselves when they walk in. Work by Former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams, Kennedy Ryan (the first Black winner of a RITA Award for romantic fiction), and “Top Chef” finalist Gregory Gourdet are among the titles on the shelves.
“There’s not a ‘banned’ section, because the books are free here,” Henderson says in the promo.
She adds that non-Black authors aren’t segregated from the rest of the inventory. “They get to come to the cookout. They mixed in with us. They don’t get a special table, a section, they are in here.”
in December 2023, and how happy she was to work with PPK.
“This is the bullshit that’s happening in our country right now. Even a little tiny bookstore can be impacted.”
In the three weeks since the inauguration of Donald Trump, the boogeyman status of three letters—DEI, which stands for “diversity, equity, and inclusion—has been amplified.
The president himself tried to blame an aviation crash on DEI initiatives, which are meant to address and correct discriminatory policies or practices that may be found within an organization. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has also demonized DEI and signed legislation to change how colleges teach history and other subjects.
Henderson said that PPK is also angry about the development.
Garrett Garcia, President at PPK told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that his firm made the decision to pause all content on its digital channels that could be interpreted as DEI-related earlier last week.
The Bloomberg article mentioned says, “Companies and their lawyers are now looking to the DOJ memo, dispatched late Wednesday, to parse which diversity practices and what language they need to eschew as they examine
Henderson also spoke freely about her disappointment when she posted a statement to the shop’s page. The video, she said, was her most popular post to date, adding that she was shocked by the takedown.
“A little bookstore in Tampa, Florida, celebrating Black History Month,” she said, talking about how proud she is of the shop that opened
At the end of her social media video, Henderson said she thought about her late mother as she wrestles with the development, and is choosing to move on and not worry about it.
“I know that great things will continue to happen to Black English bookstore despite the federal government going after firms who are supportive of what they consider DEI initiatives,” she said.
MAKING MOVES: Gwendolyn Henderson is shaking off her recent disappointment.
FERG’S GOLF SIMULATORS
Deep issues
Indian Rocks Republican files ‘Gulf of America’ bill.
By Jim Saunders/News Service of Florida
ASenate Republican last Tuesday filed a bill that combs through state laws and would replace references to the “Gulf of Mexico” with the “Gulf of America” after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to rename the gulf.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, filed the 70-page bill (SB 608) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 4.
After Trump issued the executive order last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis jumped on the issue. In an order he issued about a winter storm, DeSantis referred to an “area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America.”
But that couldn’t change state laws, which include dozens of references to the Gulf of Mexico.
But other references in laws to the Gulf of Mexico are a little more obscure. For instance, a law about the use of tourist-development taxes refers to counties “adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.”
Other laws include references to the Gulf of Mexico in addressing coastal development issues. One such law expresses intent for the Department of Environmental Protection to “establish coastal construction control lines on a county basis along the sand beaches of the state fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Straits of Florida.”
LOCAL NEWS
DiCegilie’s bill noted that the “Gulf of Mexico spans approximately 1,700 miles along the United States coastline, of which 770 miles are located along the Florida coast.”
It said Trump’s executive order directed the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to “rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ in order to recognize the importance of the body of water to the United States.”
As an example of the changes that would be made by the bill, legal descriptions of boundaries of gulf-front counties from Escambia to Collier include references to the Gulf of Mexico, which would change to the Gulf of America. That includes the boundaries of DiCeglie’s home county, Pinellas.
Another law defines coastal barrier islands as meaning “geological features which are completely surrounded by marine waters that front upon the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Straits of Florida and are composed of quartz sands, clays, limestone, oolites, rock, coral, coquina, sediment, or other material, including spoil disposal, which features lie above the line of mean high water.”
In addition to the state laws, ordinances in gulf-front counties include references to the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump’s executive order addressed federal references to the gulf’s name, directing the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which works under the Department of the Interior, to “provide guidance to ensure all federal references to the Gulf of America, including on agency maps, contracts, and other documents and communications shall reflect its renaming.”
SIGN OF THE TIMES: In addition to the state laws, ordinances in gulf-front counties include references to the Gulf of Mexico.
Priorities
Bill banning governments and schools from flying Pride flags advances.
By McKenna Schueler
ARepublican-backed proposal to ban local governments and schools from displaying “politically partisan” flags, as well as Pride flags, advanced through a Florida Senate committee last Tuesday, ahead of the official start of Florida’s 2025 legislative session next month.
The proposed legislation (SB 100) is a repeat bill that has been filed for consideration by state lawmakers for the last two years in a row, and has failed to pass. According to Republican Florida Sen. Randy Fine, the bill sponsor, the intent of the bill is to keep “political message” flags out of government buildings.
The proposal, however, has been criticized for targeting Pride flags, as well as flags promoting racial justice movements like Black Lives Matter. Under the proposal, local government entities—including public colleges, universities and K-12 schools—would be prohibited from displaying any flag that represents a “political viewpoint,” including, “but not limited to, a politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology viewpoint.”
Fine has in recent years sponsored bills targeting access to gender-affirming care for transgender people in Florida and drag performances. In a press release announcing his refiling of the flag bill, Fine’s office declared that the bill would “ban the use of fictional country flags like ‘Palestine,’ pro-violence ‘Black Lives Matter’ flags, woke and pro-grooming ideological flags, and the flags of any political candidates in government buildings.”
During discussion of the bill Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky questioned Fine specifically on the “pro-grooming” descriptor.
STATE NEWS
When prompted by Sen. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee, Fine confirmed that this would include Pride flags flown by the city of Orlando, for instance, during any sort of event commemorating the Pulse nightclub massacre of 2016.
“The community can fly any flags they want,” Fine said. “But the government would not be in the business of political viewpoints.”
“How is a flag grooming children?” she asked, incredulously.
“The purpose of this is, the government should not be taking political positions by flying political flags,” Fine responded. “It’s not a difficult concept to understand.”
Arrington also pressed Fine on another provision of the bill that “allows an active or retired member of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard to use reasonable force to prevent the desecration, destruction, or removal of the United States flag, or to replace it to a prominent position, except when directly ordered not to do so by a law enforcement officer who is acting in the scope of his or her employment,” according to a bill analysis
“Reasonable force” is not defined in state statutes—nor in Fine’s proposal, leaving one’s interpretation of the term rather ambiguous.
“We don’t have a definition of reasonable force.
And when I Google ‘reasonable force,’ it’s a little bit scary with the opportunities or what things that can be done to individuals,” Arrington noted.
Members of the public, during the public comment portion of the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, expressed frustration over Florida lawmakers prioritizing a bill about flags over bread-and-butter issues.
“Right now we’re entertaining a bill that deals with a piece of fabric,” said Sarasota County resident Sebastian Martinez. “And that’s the No. 1 priority, when people in Sarasota County, Florida—they can’t afford health insurance. We’re devastated by the hurricanes, and are still repairing their businesses. But we’re worried about a flag, which doesn’t make sense.”
Jackson Oberlink, legislative director for the progressive Florida for All coalition, similarly questioned lawmakers’ priorities in his own testimony.
“This bill isn’t about any real issues Floridians are facing.
It’s a distraction,” he argued.
Last Tuesday afternoon, with Republicans in support. One member of the committee, Sen. Erin Grall, was absent.
“We’re working on this because of all the parents who have contacted me,” said Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, a member of the committee who supported the bill. “They expect that when their children go to school, that they’re learning reading, writing and arithmetic and not propaganda.”
Fine, who is currently campaigning for U.S. Congress, also blamed members of the public who showed up for public comment for why state legislators can’t focus on issues like high property insurance costs.
“This bill isn’t about any real issues Floridians are facing.”
“While Floridians face soaring housing costs, skyrocketing property insurance and stagnant wages, this Legislature wastes time on yet another manufactured culture war designed to divide us and turn us against each other.”
Jon Harris Maurer, public policy director for Equality Florida, also put it bluntly. “Flags are not the reason that you can’t afford eggs.
Flags are not the reason that your insurance policy is being canceled, and flags are not the reasons that Floridians cannot afford housing. And yet this is the committee’s first priority.”
The eight-member committee nonetheless advanced SB 100 in a 5-2 vote along party lines
“We spend an hour listening to public comment. Frankly, I could make the similarly specious argument that that’s time that we could have gotten back to working on insurance and all of these other things,” he said. “So it works both ways.”
Florida’s 60-day regular legislative session doesn’t officially kick off until March 4, but committees are hearing select legislation ahead of time in preparation, including Fine’s flag bill—ostensibly a priority. Lawmakers historically file hundreds of bills for consideration during the legislative session, and only a fraction actually pass and head to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
Fine’s bill needs to clear two other legislative committees, plus get approval from a majority in the Florida House and Senate during the legislative session, in order to pass.
This story was first published at our sibling paper Orlando Weekly.
TRUE COLORS: Community members could still fly Pride flags under SB100, but not governmental entities.
DAVE DECKER
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• Stretching helps to enhance mobility and range of motion, speed up recovery, and improve posture and circulation.
• Top athletes regularly incorporate stretching into their lives.
• Stretching improves your general wellbeing.
Holding hope
Despite existential challenges, Versaggi Shrimp Co. continues bringing wild-caught seafood to Bay area tables.
By Adrian O’Farrill
Tucked away behind the shadow of downtown Tampa and docked patiently on the pier of the Tampa Shrimp Docks, a handful of rusty boats await their next month-long voyage. Justin Versaggi, the fourth-generation leader of the Versaggi Shrimp Co. sits in his office, unsure if the next ship he sends out will make a profit.
The over-century-old family business which originated in Fernandina Beach has seen a gradual decline from its heyday, when its shrimping empire stretched from Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and down to South America, with ports in French Guiana and Brazil. The Tampa Tribune said that in 1969, the company had 33 boats. Today, just five boats call a single port authority dock home.
“There’s so many small coastal community families that earn a living on the water,” said
Versaggi. “And the way we’re headed right now, it’s going to be extinct. And once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.”
The docks sit at the halfway point of the Licata Bridge on Causeway Boulevard, less than a 10-minute drive from the heart of downtown. Despite its proximity to the heart of Tampa’s urban life, public awareness of the shrimp docks is nearly non-existent.
shrimp docks go away, it’s sad to say but most people didn’t notice them in the first place.”
The docks are open to the public, with Versaggi and the neighboring business Superior Seafoods Inc. both selling by the box. Yet, while foot traffic is sparse, there is a larger issue that Huse believes is ingrained in the food culture.
LOCAL NEWS
Versaggi Shrimp Co. 2633 Causeway Blvd, Tampa. @versaggishrimp on Facebook
“I don’t think I’ve ever been there. I feel bad to tell you,” Andrew Huse, Special Collections Librarian at the University of South Florida and food historian, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “It’s just something that’s not in the discourse. It’s out of sight, out of mind. If the
“People don’t value wild-caught shrimp,” said Huse.
The same cultural sentiment is shared by Jon Atanacio, Executive Chef at South Tampa’s Epicurean Hotel, who has made sure Versaggi shrimp has been on the menu since he came to the restaurant.
“No insult to anyone, but seafood has always been just part of a menu—not the whole thing.
It’s not what people completely focus on, which I think is crazy,” said Atanacio.
It’s a point that stems from the recently exposed sordid seafood culture in Tampa Bay. Using genetic sampling, SeaD Consulting, a seafood genetic testing company, found in a recent study “that a mere two out of 44 sampled restaurants serve authentic, wild-caught Gulf shrimp” across Tampa and St. Petersburg. The study was funded by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), which includes shrimp companies from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
“It’s fraud. And people need to be held accountable,” said Versaggi. “It further depresses our ability to stand up on a level playing field.” continued on page 34
SONS OF SHRIMP: (L-R) John, Justin and Fred Versaggi.
ADRIAN O’FARRILL
LOCAL NEWS
continued from page 31
His uncle, Sal Versaggi, is a founding member of the SSA.
For Versaggi, the answer to why people have a disconnect with their seafood is simple.
“They’ve never actually had wild-caught shrimp,” said Versaggi.
Texturally and flavor-wise, Chef Atanacio said there is nothing better you can get in Tampa Bay. He described the shrimp as silky, delicate, and sweeter than most other shrimp.
Derick Hodgson, who’s worked the docks for Versaggi for 15 years, called Key West Pinks, “el oro del mar,” or “the gold of the sea.”
“Hands down, the best shrimp I’ve ever had,” said Atanacio, admitting he even buys it for personal use at home. But without a central fish market in Tampa, he said it’s hard for restaurants to implement local seafood. Rather than having product flown directly to Tampa, Atanacio, like many other chefs, have to spread out and purchase from other hubs like Orlando, driving up costs.
The Epicurean is one of a few restaurants that partner with Versaggi, which includes the likes of Rocca, Shrimp & Co., The Boozy Pig, and Frenchy’s Stone Crab and Seafood Market. If there were a fresh daily fish market in Tampa, Atanacio believes more restaurants would be able to implement fresh seafood into their menu.
Before living in Tampa, Atanacio worked at a New York City seafood restaurant. It’s there that he gained an appreciation for locally sourced seafood, with places like the Fulton Fish Market bringing fresh product daily. “Here, there’s no direct supply, which is crazy because we’re surrounded by water,” he added.
That grand irony, Huse attributes to poor planning during Tampa’s growth years. He said, dating back to the ‘20s, Tampa was unplanned, sprouting as the needs came. During that economic boom, Tampa’s waterfront was an afterthought.
“Tampa has never been proud of its waterfront, and it’s never made it a priority to make it accessible,” said Huse. And sadly, the shrimp docks were hidden from any modern waterfront access.
“It’s a shame because those shrimp docks could be a little tourist destination. They’ve been here for this long. People go to the Fulton Fish Market or The Wharf in Washington,” said Huse.
Apart from how people think about their seafood, the list of obstacles the Versaggi’s have faced has grown over the years. There was a time, Versaggi said, when the cost of fuel was not a worry. Today, he said it’s the biggest line item when sending out a ship.
The ships, built by St. Augustine Trawlers, store 7,000 gallons of fuel for the one-month voyages. All in with gas and supplies for the crew - each trip starts with tens of thousands of dollars in costs by default. Whether it returns with enough shrimp to turn over those costs is not guaranteed.
continued on page 37
CHANGING TIDES: Years after its peak, Versaggi Shrimp Co. now operates just a handful of boats.
GOLD DIGGING: Crews spend a month on the water to bring precious shrimp back to Tampa Bay.
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LOCAL NEWS
continued from page 34
“There was a period of time where I was sending boats out, having absolutely no confidence that we could sell the product that we were going to source,” said Versaggi.
Unlike farmers, who receive assistance from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Versaggi said they don’t qualify for risk mitigation. When asked why shrimpers don’t get the same protection, the USDA told CL that assistance only applies to aquaculture farms. The very act of “wild-caught” excludes businesses like Versaggi.
“We’re farmers of the sea, but we don’t get the same subsidies,” said Versaggi.
However, the real enemy for shrimpers comes from an ocean far away in the form of imported shrimp, which has drastically slashed the demand for locally sourced shrimp.
“We have more shrimp being imported into our country than the consumption rate affords,” said Versaggi. “That right there is all you need to know. If we limit imports, forget the high diesel price.”
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the number one exporter of shrimp to the U.S. was India with over $2.3 billion worth of product in 2023. But it’s not just shrimp; the Food and Drug Administration says 94% of the seafood Americans consume is imported from overseas.
Last year, NOAA Fisheries acknowledged that “the low prices of shrimp make it too expensive to justify the costs of a trip; these communities are suffering as a result.”
Those low prices, Versaggi said, he realized reached a painful bottom a couple years ago when Captain Jimmy Schrader told him, “I’ve never caught more shrimp in my life and made less money.”
“And I just thought about that as the owner and as his boss. I feel like I was letting him down,” said Versaggi.
With NOAA’s recent interest in the welfare of local shrimpers, Versaggi is hopeful that there may be changes in Washington, where he believes the only way to have a future for shrimpers relies on change in legislation.
The current situation has already forced Versaggi to make a difficult decision. For the first time in its history, his fleet is uninsured. “Imagine if I go out there and three boats sink, I get nothing,” said Versaggi.
It has been the case for a while that the Versaggi’s have been relying on family and faith to get by. Faith that the uninsured boats will return with a profit. Faith as the paint chips and the metal rusts aboard the fleet, knowing that no new ships are being made to replace them. And faith that someday, someone will realize it is a culture worth saving.
As Versaggi said, the life of a shrimper is a life of solidarity.
“It’s not for everybody, but it’s for the Versaggi’s, I can tell you that.”
SEA THAT: Capt. Jimmy Schrader, and his arm tattoo.
ADRIAN O’FARRILL
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
The Band Feel, The Dirty Janes, Hibiscus Band
@ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St Tampa
$15 General Admission
https://www.crowbarybor.com/calendar/#/events
Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 • 10:00 PM - 2:45 AM
Delta Heavy • Midnight Forever Tour Part II
@ The Ritz Ybor
1503 E. 7th Ave – Tampa
Open to the public
bit.ly/deltaheavy0221
Friday, Feb. 21 - Saturday, Feb. 22
see website for showtimes
Justin Silva @ The Funny Bone
1600 E 8th Ave C-112, Tampa
Tickets start at $32
https://bit.ly/3X0ukOv
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2025
Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
Pink It Up 16!: Ska Bands Against Breast Cancer
@ Crowbar
1812 N 17th St Tampa
$7 Cover
https://www.crowbarybor.com/calendar/#/events
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Italian Club Open House & Membership Drive
@ L’Unione Italiana
1731 East 7th Avenue Tampa
Open to the Public
https://rb.gy/pi4feg
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 •10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
An Ephemeral Public Art Festival | Art & History Tour #1 @ HCC Ybor City Campus, Performing Arts Building
1411 E. 11th Ave., Tampa
Open to the public
https://bit.ly/40VeJAV
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Chicken Yoga with Yoga Loft Tampa and Ybor Misfits
@ Hotel Haya
1412 East 7th Avenue Tampa
$12 General Admission
https://bit.ly/3Ex8WtB
Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tampa Fertility Circle
@ Hotel Haya
1412 East 7th Avenue Tampa
$57 General Admission
https://bit.ly/3Ex8WtB
Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Chateau Giscours & Caiarossa Wine Tasting
@ Chateau Cellars Ybor
2009 N. 22nd St. Tampa
$75 General Admission
https://bit.ly/4gEPbxF
Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Pop Punk Emo Night TAMPA by PunkNites
@ CATACOMBS YBOR CITY
1909 N 15th St Suite A Tampa
$10 General Admission
https://bit.ly/4gFCov2
Ybor Seoul 1531 E 7th Ave, Tampa https://yborseoul.com/ King of the Coop-Ybor 1812 N 15th St, Tampa https://www.kingofthecoop.com/
Trellis at Buchman - Gastropub 1910 E 7th Ave #103, Tampa https://trellis.pub/
Ybor City Saturday Market
1901 N. 19th Street Tampa
The largest continually operating outdoor market in the Tampa Bay Area https://ybormarket.com/
Addict Pickleball
1701 E 2nd Ave, Tampa
Come visit Addict’s first-ever brand store surrounded by 12 courts and located in the heart of Tampa, Florida - Ybor City. https://addictpickleball.com/
Pop Yarn
1624 E. 7th Ave, STE 243, Tampa
Tampa’s local yarn shop for classes, sustainability & more! https://www.popyarnllc.com/
“I feel like I’m living that lifelong learner speech that I gave to my students.”
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Grow on St. Pete’s first children’s bookstore opens next month.
By Chelsea Zukowski
Megan Kotsko, owner of The Story Garden, knows what she missed most about teaching.
“I miss watching children learn how to read for the first time and being a part of that process and a part of that new identity as a reader,” she said. “What an amazing process that is.”
When Kotsko left teaching after nearly two decades to raise her son, who will be six in April, she never imagined one of her longtime dreams would come true. The Story Garden, the area’s first children’s bookstore, will open soon in Historic Uptown.
“We have always loved the idea of a children’s bookstore,” she said, reminiscing about how “dreamy” The Shop Around Corner in “You’ve Got Mail” is. “It was never something I thought was a realistic thing that I would do. We’ve seen this building for years just turning into our own neighborhood. One day a for sale sign went up.”
Kotsko, her husband and their partners bought the nearly a century-old property at 832 14th St. N in St. Petersburg a couple of years ago. The building was once a small neighborhood grocery store with an apartment upstairs. Kotsko said the building was vacant for about 30 years before The Story Garden moved in.
As the Kotskos fixed up the space, they heard from longtime residents of Bon Air, a small subneighborhood of Historic Uptown that includes homes between 5th and 9th Avenues N and 13th through 16th Streets N.
With new windows, fresh coats of paint— navy blue outside, pale peachy pink inside—and an interior space filled with fresh bookshelves, books and cozy reading spaces, The Story Garden has plans to finally open in March.
“I just took a leap of faith. I still have a lot of questions, so I feel like I’m living that lifelong learner speech that I gave to my students,” Kotsko said. “I’m trying something new, and I feel like there’s a need for it in the community.”
Owning a bookstore is a romantic dream for many book lovers, but Kotsko is just as passionate about children’s literacy and providing a safe “third space” for kids and families in the community.
“So many conversations I’ve had with parents when their child is a natural reader and it just clicks. It’s such a gift because when kids
struggle it’s heartbreaking,” she said. “(Reading) is such a joy and it’s a skill for life.”
Kotsko took the skills she had as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher—knowing how to connect with kids and presenting stories to them in an appealing way—and applied them to the mission and layout of The Story Garden. With so many young families moving to St. Pete and looking for those family-friendly “third spaces,” it was in Kotsko’s favor to keep the bookstore just for kids’ books.
The Story Garden will have books for a range of ages from babies and toddlers to middle-grade readers. With the knowledge of how
young children select books in the classroom, many books will be displayed with their covers facing outward or placed in themed baskets with puzzles or small toys. The store will have reading nooks and small cafe tables as well as space for story time and book clubs.
“It means so much to them to be able to… choose their own books, so now we’re just offering another space for families too,” Kotsko said.
for all the different holidays and cultures and families. There are books for everyone. I want it to be a safe place. I want it to be a welcoming space.”
“I think when that’s your driving mission—being inclusive and having a place for all families and all children…I don’t see any other way to do it.”
BOOKS
At a time when book bans and challenges continue to rise across the country, opening a kids’ bookstore is a brick-and-mortar leap for children’s literacy. A big part of The Story Garden’s mission is to “be a place for all children and for them to see themselves in the books that we have on display and that we’re reading to them.”
The Story Garden 832 14th St. N, St. Petersburg stpetestorygarden.com
As Kotsko and her crew put the final touches—and all the books—on The Story Garden, the bookstore hosted a sneak peek and Valentine’s Day-themed storytime on Valentine’s Day. The Story Garden will also have a booth at Localtopia, happening on Saturday in Williams Park.
“I’ve always been a champion of students, of children,” she said. “I plan on carrying books
Follow The Story Garden’s updates on Facebook or @stpetestorygarden on Instagram. Shop online through Bookshop.org.
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: The Story Garden is inside an old grocery story.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 | 6–7 PM
Long celebrated for their creativity by artists, anthropologists, and collectors, artists from New Guinea create extraordinary works of art that are deeply rooted in distinct traditions of ritual, myth, and communal history.
Join MFA Research Associate Noah Cox as he discusses the exhibition Explore the Vaults: The Art of New Guinea and situates the works on display into the broader history of art from New Guinea.
Unknown artist, possibly Asaro, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, Holosa (Mud Mask), late 20th century, Unfired clay and mammalian teeth, Gift of Bryce M. Burton
FRI., FEB. 28 KICKOFF PARTY
from 6-10 p.m. with performances from Flow Tribe and more.
SAT., MARCH 1
The Shaelyn Band
Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast
Eddie 9v
Mr. Sipp
Eric Gales
SUN., MARCH 2
Dig3 Band
Chris O’Leary Band
Ally Venable
Blood Brothers
Gates open at 2 p.m. each day
By Ray Roa
THU 20
C Jazz Ensemble 1 w/Chuck Owen/ Sara Caswell/LaRue Nickelson/more Collectively, violinist Sara Caswell, guitarist LaRue Nickelson, and trombonist Tom Brantley appear on three tracks from Within Us , the seventh album by Grammynominated big band composer Chuck Owen. For a no-cover concert by the University of South Florida’s Jazz Ensemble 1 led by Brantley, they all come back together to breathe life back into work by Owen whose orchestral jazz is complex and challenging, but melodic and intrinsically listenable (he also ran the school jazz program from 19812022) . As an added bonus, the ensemble
will also perform new work by composer Ross Strauser, who was a studio assistant on Owens’ 2022 album. (Barness Recital Hall at University of South Florida, Tampa)
FRI 21
1900Rugrat 1900Rugrat is having a moment. There’s the rising memecoin, but a different iteration of the phenomenon is in town in the form of an emergent Florida rapper that’s drawn comparisons to BossMan Dlow. Emerging from Limestone Creek in Palm Beach County, the 21-year-old, who was inspired to use the name after hearing it in songs by Texas rapper Tay-K, recently teamed up with another Sunshine State hiphop artist, Kodak Black, for a remix that’s racked up nearly 4 million views on YouTube in less than a month. (District 8, Tampa)
C Jeff Rosenstock w/Soul Glo/Bad Operation Nine times out of 10, I’ll be thinking of Jeff Rosenstock as a Long Island musician and former member of Bomb the Music Industry!—which used to play tiny shows at Tampa’s since-closed Transitions Art Gallery—and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. Alongside punk bands Soul Glo and Bad Operation, the 42-year-old supports his fifth solo album, Hellmode , and hopefully cuts he has on the soundtrack for Cartoon Network’s “Craig Before the Creek.” (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)—Grace Stoler
C Lil Weezyana: Lil Wayne & Hot Boys Of all the blockbuster concerts coming to Tampa Bay over the spring and summer, Wayne’s might be the hottest. The 42-year-old is bringing his old Cash Money labelmates— B.G., Juvenile & Turk—for a reunion of the Hot Boys that stops in just three cities (St. Louis and Charlotte are also on the agenda). The
trio’s hits (“I Need a Hot Girl,” “Neighborhood Superstar”) along with their solo bangers (“Back That Azz Up,” “Bling Bling”) are all on the agenda. And if you need more Cash Money in your life, Juvenile, who recently teamed up with the smoking brand Kush, will spend the night before the show at the Smokey Jones shop on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)
SAT 22
C Florida w/Beach Terror Effortlessly cool, Billy Summer should be St. Petersburg’s dean of rock and roll. Son of Dr. Robert Summer—former, director of choral studies at the University of South Florida, and founder of The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay—Billy is the kind of guy who sells vintage amps to The Who’s Pete Townsend, and also writes an
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C CL Recommends
entire album to Stephen Kings after the horror author unintentionally invokes his name for a book title. As a sideman (a role he plays in Black Honkeys) or frontman, Summers also rips unapologetically, something he’s done for his many bands including The Semis, Luxury Mane, Hotel Life, and now Florida. The latter plays a backyard gig in support of Metal Detector, a nine-track outing of rock and roll that thinks it’s power-pop, but is actually metal with a heavy glam polish. (Shuffle, Tampa)
C Bay of Fire Black Metal and Arts Festival: Promethean Horde w/ Saturnine/Pontifex/Voidrium/Claux/ Sacrilous/Tunnels of Set/Vorn/Nefarious Grime The venue itself looks like a church of black metal, so it makes sense to see nearly a dozen of the state’s finest purveyors of the genre coming to Deviant Libation this weekend. Promethean Horde—which features connections to another metal heavyweight, Amon—once-opened for Obituary at Brass Mug, but it gets to headline this one armed with a brand of melodic hard-rock that leans on its instruments as much as the vocals. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)
Kelsea Ballerini w/MaRynn Taylor/Ashe Yeah, boy—it’s been a pretty hectic month for the 31-year-old country singer-songwriter. After watching her fifth album Patterns (featuring “Cowboys Cry Too,” a therapeutic duet with Noah Kahan) skyrocket on the Billboard charts last fall, Ballerini joined Michael Buble, John Legend, and Adam Levine in her debut as a judge on “The Voice” a few weeks ago. She had to postpone a few dates of her current run of shows after getting sick in New York, but luckily, her first Tampa date since a 2021 opening slot for the Jonas Brothers at the ol’ Gary amphitheatre isn’t getting nixed. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)—Josh Bradley
Mxmtoon With her vulnerable lyrics and ukulele in hand, indie-pop songwriter Maia Xiao-En Moredock-Ting is known professionally as Mxmtoon (stylized all-lowercase). The 24-year-old, Oakland-born musician wrote her first song at age 13 after learning the ukulele and starting her own YouTube channel. A new cover of Chet Baker’s “I Fall In Love Too Easily” updates the 81-year-old classic from “Anchors Aweigh” for the Tumblr-era. She is joined by the Toronto-based singersongwriter Luna Li, who’s known for her viral multi-instrumental jam sessions on social media. (The Ritz, Ybor City)—GS
C Of The Trees w/Detox Unit/Saka b2b Fly/Freddy Todd Since its opening in summer 2023, downtown Clearwater’s BayCare Sound has kept its age demographic relatively vast by hosting scorching music festivals (Clearwater Jazz Holiday, 97X Next Big Thing), a Beatle, and nostalgia acts that dominate our parents’ radios. Mainstream pop has yet to grace the Sound’s stage in a massive way (ahem, Doechii), but the venue (part of a $84 million makeover at Coachman Park) hosts its first-ever EDM concert this weekend. And just like in Ybor City, which regularly hosts EDM at The Ritz, the venue’s layout won’t include a single foldable chair on the floor. “We have the flexibility to provide eight different venue seating configurations from total reserved to total general admission, and everything else in between,” Bobby Rossi, The BayCare Sound’s Executive Vice President & Chief Programming Officer
told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “That flexibility allows us to accommodate any artists’ desire—the audience standing and dancing or seated or both. That combined with the flexibility to have anywhere from 4,000 to 9,000 person capacity in this amazing setting with state-of-the-art production, video and more creates an experience for the fans and artist alike.” Saturday’s show is sure to be something fresh for the Colorado-based producer (real name Tyler Coomb), who recently blew up a two-night stint at his home state’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. (The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)—JB
C Pink It Up 16: Victims of Circumstance w/Saganaki Bomb Squad/ Chubby Tuff/Bargain Bin Heroes/Chilled Monkey Brains/Over Wait Mammal/DJ Interceder Lovers shouldn’t only be celebrated on Valentine’s Day, Pride shouldn’t only be acknowledged in June, and breast cancer awareness sure as hell shouldn’t only be a talking point in October. And our friends at this annual benefit founded by Bylli Peiper in 2010 can’t stress that enough. Every year, this megashow rounds up a smorgasbord of local ska groups for “a celebration to foster empowerment whether one is battling breast cancer or whether someone has been lost to it,” according to a press release. Local comedian, and cancer survivor, Steve Miller emcees the show, and every penny made will be donated to the Morton Plant Mease Healthcare Foundation’s Mammography Voucher Program, BayCare’s Cancer Support Services (CaPSS) and the Susan Cheek Needler Breast Center at Morton Plant Hospital. (Crowbar, Ybor City)—JB
SUN 23
C Forest Sounds Presents: Leisure Chief w/Ella Jet Derek Engstrom has a busy weekend. On Friday night, he plays a solo set at St. Pete’s Kerouac House in support music that, according to Orlando Weekly, would fit in just fine alongside the likes of “Donald Fagen, Brian Wilson, Al Kooper or Paul Simon.”Two days later, the drummer and principal songwriter for funky soul-fusion group Leisure Chief is with his band in a slightly larger living room across the Bay for another Forest Sounds session where Ella Jet brings a honeyed vocal and unique gift for melody to the support set. (The Far Forest, Tampa)
Church Sessions: DJ Spaceship In its first year of existence, Tampa Tunes unveiled a dozen pianos—tuned and painted by local artists—as part of its mission to unlock the joy of music for the public. The nonprofit has plans to unveil seven more next month, and to celebrate, organizers are going to “Church.” Crowbar’s newish Sunday night party (R.I.P. Ol’ Dirty Sundays) will feature live piano blended with improv beats mixed by WMNF Friday morning show host DJ Spaceship. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Robin Trower Last year, Trower had to put off his entire U.S. tour due to a health issue serious enough to require major surgery. That’s not usually promising news for any future tours when the artist in question is pushing 80, but the British Stratocaster legend—who hits that milestone on March
9—will shine on brightly when he finally kicks off his first U.S. post-Covid tour. The run, his first since the 2022 death of his old Procol Harum bandmate Gary Brooker, also finds Trower flying through selections from his storied career, and his latest solo album No More Worlds to Conquer. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)—JB
Pale Gold w/Floating Boy/Last Disaster/ No. 9 Pale Gold’s 2018 album, High Strung , fits neatly into the pop-punk/emo category, but that era of the Tampa band is a bit of old news now. A trio of 2024 singles finds Pale Gold much louder and doing a whole lot more shoegazing as the band unfurls sprawling walls of loud guitars. It headlines this one featuring sets by Sarasota punk outfit Floating Boy and South Florida emo band Last Disaster. (The Nest at St. Pete Brewing Co., St. Petersburg)
Wallows Wallows has been subject to a rapid uprising since its first album Nothing
Happens dropped six years ago. The boys made their Bay area debut in 2020 for one of the last local shows before Covid, and two years later, Tell Me That It’s Over brought them to the more spacious Jannus Live on the other side of the Bay. Now it’s going down at Clearwater’s BayCare Sound, where the venue capacity has grown once again for Wallows’ tour promoting last year’s Model , which sees Dylan Minnette and friends embracing their inner punk-rock with some crisp guitar riffs, and taking on a few rock ballads, too. A new EP, More , is set to drop next month, and it includes a slow-going, sax-tinted “Your New Favorite Song” which will probably be played during a “let’s wind down” moment of this set. Hell, if all goes well in this era, Tampa’s Yuengling Center could be in the cards for the Los Angeles outfit by the end of the decade. (The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)—JB
Mxmtoon
AN
MON 24
C Count Basie Orchestra The last time the Orchestra performed in St. Pete was in 1962, when the King of Swing was still alive and well. Basie passed in Hollywood, Florida in 1984, but the orchestra he formed in 1935 is still on tour, under the leadership of trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, and celebrating its 90th Anniversary this year. The ensemble returns to St. Pete for a special Black History Month celebration featuring a free hands-on workshop for aspiring musicians at 2 p.m., a 6 p.m. panel discussion on the orchestra’s role in the Chitlin’ Circuit, and 7:30 p.m. concert. (St.Petersburg College Gibbs Campus Music Center, St. Petersburg)—Jennifer Ring
TUE 25
C Alcest w/Mono/Kælan Mikla Named after Alceste from Molière’s “The Misanthrope,” French post-black metal band Alcest has a shoegaze, dreampop sound. Frontman Neige told Kerrang! last summer Neil Halstead from slowdive is his musical idol, which is evident through Alceste’s ambient yet somber vibe. Openers Mono and Kælan Mikla both offer similar postpunk sounds while remaining consistent with the same shoegaze-y concept. (Orpheum, Tampa)—GS
WED 26
C Kate Pierson Pierson will peel away from The B-52s’ ongoing Las Vegas residency to dance this mess around the country on a string of solo dates in early 2025. That includes three Florida shows in February, including one at The Cap. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)—Matthew Moyer
C Little Feat w/Jim Lauderdale It’s strange enough that keyboardist Bill Payne is the only surviving founding member of Little Feat, but with the 2019 death of Paul Barrere—whose constant guitar licks were the foundation to some of the swampy L.A. outfit’s bluesy tracks for almost half a century—it may be a little hard to imagine anything brand new coming from the folks that remain. While their eclectic touring life seemed to be the way to carry on (they played albums all the way through in 2023, and came back from COVID-19 with a “requests only” tour), Payne and friends still found some breathing room to create something new last year. Sam’s Place features a vocal contribution from Bonnie Raitt while longtime conga player Sam Clayton takes on lead vocals for the entirety of the record, appropriately. Though things have changed, the record sounds like no time has passed at all, and was even nominated for a Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy this year (Taj Mahal won). Before this seminormal stop local gig, Payne told CL about the best gig he ever saw. Read his full quote at cltampa.com/music. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)—JB
C Winter Pride: Pew Pew! Feat. Victor Rosado w/Austen van der Bleek/Jubilee
Over the last week, there’ve been flurries of extra gay activity in St. Petersburg. Winter Pride rolls on with this party where Victor
Rosado, who represents a direct connection to the famed New York City club Paradise Garage, headlines this party. Now based in Miami, Rosado joins longtime Bay area DJ Austen van der Beek and emergent dancefloor devotee Jubilee. (Suite E Studios, St. Petersburg)
C Rod Stewart At this point, an annual visit from Sir Rod Stewart is a given. It’s always going to be a good time, too. Just watch the 80-year-old’s recent FireAid concert where he effortlessly ran through a couple hits (“Forever Young,” “Maggie May”) plus a showstopping cover of The Impressions’ “People Get Ready.”
(Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa)
THU 27
C Elvis Crespo It’s been two decades since “Suavemente” brought a new element to backyard barbecues from the Bronx to Brickell, and the merengue classic’s creator is still on the road singing it. Elvis Crespo makes just one stop, in Florida on this ninestop coast-to-coast tour. The 53-year-old has enjoyed being in the same conversation as Lady Gaga lately, as fans draw comparisons between her comeback video, “Abracadabra,” which features nods to a Crespo track with the same name, according to some observers. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa)
Florida Strawberry Festival: Tommy James & the Shondells Mr. “Crimson & Clover” is stepping away from the SiriusXM mic for a day to reminisce about outselling The Beatles for a year and the criminals that ran Roulette Records—where he was signed for seven years. Expect this set to run through a retrospective of his psychedelic, oftentimes underrated career. Oh, and if he comes out into the crowd near the end of this matinee and you want to score a pic or autograph, please, for the love of all that’s holy, don’t trample the guy, OK? (Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City)—JB
See an extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.
Rod Stewart
RYAN KERN
Will Gorin’s favorite quote comes from Miles Davis’ biography: “Music is the space between the notes.”
“I approach my playing with that kind of energy, with an emphasis on filling negative space with symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns,” Gorin, drummer for Boston rock band Slothrust, wrote in a press release. Composed of the multi-talented Leah Wellbaum and Gornin, Slothrust offers an alternative/indie rock sound that features poetic lyrics and guitar solos that are simultaneously chaotic and melodic.
Slothrust was supposed to play Tampa last month to celebrate the 11-year anniversary of its breakout album Of Course You Do, but postponed the show due to the widespread effects of the California wildfires. The gig has since been rescheduled for this spring, with Maine indie-rock band Weakened Friends.
Tickets to see Slothrust play Crowbar in Ybor City on Sunday, April 27 are still available and start at $20. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Grace Stoler
Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam w/The Fabulous Thunderbirds Friday, April 4. 7 p.m. $20 & up. Chasco Fiesta at Sims Park, New Port Richey
Wyatt Flores w/Noah Rinker Sunday, April 6. 7 p.m. $48 & up (resale only). Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Billy Strings Wednesday, April 9. 7:30 p.m. $39.50 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Poppy Sunday, April 13. 7 p.m. $36.50. The Ritz, Ybor City
Annie DiRusso w/Raffaella Wednesday, April 16. 7 p.m. $18 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Slothrust w/Weakened Friends Thursday, April 17. 8 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
It turns me on when my husband fucks other men. It pisses him off when I do. His proposed “fix” is he gets to fuck other men (because I like it) but I don’t get to fuck other men (because he hates it). This hardly seems fair.
If things being unfair turned you on—if the idea of being in a one-sided open relationship made your cock hard—you might be able to make this work. But unfairness doesn’t turn you on, so you can’t make this work. I don’t mean you can’t make your marriage work; I mean your husband’s proposed “fix” won’t work because you aren’t a cuck. So, your options are a mutual agreement to close your relationship (no one gets to fuck other men) or agreeing to a one-sided DADT relationship (he doesn’t hide fucking other men from you, you hide fucking other men from him). Your husband getting the fuck over himself is also an option.
How do I get my libido back after my house burned down in the L.A. fires?
“You don’t get your libido back—at least not yet,” said Claire Perelman, a certified sex therapist who lives and works in California. “You sit in the grief, you let it wash over you. When you’re ready, you turn towards pleasure and comfort, however you find it—naked cuddling, drawing yourself a bath, sensual touch. You can even invite grief into your bedroom: a threesome with you, your partner, and despair. Acknowledging the pain is the first step in moving through it.” Follow @sexclarified on Instagram and Threads.
Tips or tricks for orgasms on SSRIs?
Throw absolutely everything you’ve got at it—genital stim, nipple stim, anal stim, brain stim (aka dirty talk) inert toys, vibrating toys— and enjoy the ride/getting ridden whether you have an orgasm or not. If you feel yourself getting close, push a little. If you don’t feel like you’re gonna get there, appreciate the pleasure you created and experienced instead of succumbing to frustration over the orgasm you didn’t have this time but might next time. (Also, talk to your doc about adjusting your medications.)
What’s the craziest sex you’ve ever had?
Bent over in an East German guard tower on Nov. 12, 1989, looking down through the orange-tinted mirrored glass windows at the delirious crowd of Berliners tearing the Wall apart with their bare hands.
How can I have sex when my 18-year-old stepdaughter is home? It makes my boyfriend uneasy! Instead of going without when your stepdaughter is around why not go and get in your car or go lock yourself in the bathroom of a sleazy bar or go climb into an abandoned East German guard
tower and have sex there? Then instead of resenting your boyfriend’s daughter for preventing you from having sex, you’ll be grateful to this kid—secretly grateful—for all the exciting, crazy, adventurous sex you’re having all over town with her dad.
What’s the best way to let a new partner know I’m inexperienced in the bedroom?
You can show ‘em or you can tell ‘em. And since there’s nothing more deflating than the look on someone’s face as they slowly realize you don’t know what you’re doing, telling is by far the better choice. Remember: low expectations are easily exceeded.
My boyfriend expressed interest in butt stuff while drunk but denied it when sober. Should I drop it?
Make sure there’s always beer in the fridge and trust that your boyfriend will bring up butt stuff when he’s ready/drunk.
Do you need to disclose that you slept with someone that used to have HPV? No.
Do guys come fast on purpose if they’re not attracted to the person they’re having sex with?
I get at least one letter a day from a woman—and it’s always a woman—who’s worried that her boyfriend isn’t attracted to her because he couldn’t get hard or he took a boner pill or he takes too long to come. Maybe instead of adding something to the long list of things women who fuck dudes feel insecure about, we should encourage women to assume that guys who wanna fuck them are attracted to them.
Help for New Partner: If you’re demanding to meet with your new partner’s wife before she’s ready, you need to drop it. If your new partner is trying to force this meeting on his wife, you need to drop him.
I’m a cishet 40-year-old single woman who dates using apps. I am overweight, and I have full-body photos on my dating app profiles that show this. However, so many people only look at the first photo, which is of my face. I had a guy come over for a hookup the other day, and two minutes into sex, he stopped because he wasn’t into it, implying my weight was an issue. This bruised my ego, and I’m hoping to prevent it from happening again. How do I smoothly ascertain whether someone knows I’m overweight on a dating app before agreeing to meet up?
“Just wanted to make sure you looked at all my pictures and not just my face pic before we meet up.”
Should doxyPEP be taken after condomless oral sex?
say this: your pleasure, your vitality, your life force matters—as does its relationship to your loneliness, so if you choose to work with a therapist to help you navigate this moment, please make sure you find someone who will validate your exploration as well as your departure from the loneliness you have felt in your marriage. Sending you love, validation, and solidarity.” Follow @RebeccaWooolf on Instagram and Threads and subscribe to The Braid, Woolf’s newsletter, at rebeccawoolf.substack.com.
Vanilla straight 25-year-old cis woman here whose boyfriend of almost six months just confessed that he’s into being peed on. I think that’s disgusting and I’m not doing it for him and I don’t want anyone else peeing on him either. He’s agreed to give this up for me. Will that work?
SAVAGE LOVE
Do we need to qualify oral sex with “condomless” since no one has ever used a condom during oral sex—except me but only that one time? Anyway, doxyPEP is a medication taken after sex that offers significant protection against chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other bacterial STIs, all of which can be spread through oral sex. So, doxyPEP is recommended—for gay and bi men—after oral. And given how things are going in this country (the CDC’s information page on doxyPEP is “being modified to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders”), gay and bi men might wanna stock up on doxyPEP while we can.
Do you think that medical professionals posting memes/photos of “foreign objects in the rectum” is kink shaming?
Your boyfriend did not confess—kinks are not sins and consensual kink is not a crime—he disclosed his kinks before things got too serious, which was the right thing to do. If you’re repulsed by his kink and require monogamy, choosing to be with you means your boyfriend won’t get to act on his kink. But if being with you means being made to feel terrible about himself—if you’re going to heap disgust and shame on him—your boyfriend is eventually gonna choose being single (and not being made to feel terrible about himself all the time) over being with you.
P.S. We don’t choose our kinks, our kinks choose us—and after a pitcher of beer, piss is just hot water.
Do cis men—gay or not—ever use a Hitachistyle “wand” vibrator on the prostate or is it too intense?
I’ve seen them do it with my very own eyes.
Wife and I have been poly for about four months now. She doesn’t want to meet my new partner. Help!
Help for Wife: You’re under no obligation to meet your husband’s new partner—and that goes double if you’re poly under duress. (I’m making assumptions here, I realize, and if this doesn’t apply in your case, please disregard.) You don’t have to make nice with your husband’s new partner to alleviate the guilt he feels about the “open or over” ultimatum he issued. When you’re ready to meet your husband’s new partner, you can. If you’re never ready to meet her, you don’t have to.
Help for Husband: If your new partner is giving you grief because she hasn’t met your wife yet, your new partner—consciously or subconsciously—is trying to sabotage your marriage.
If losing a lightbulb in your ass and winding up in the ER is your kink, the medical professionals who have to fish out that light bulb have every right to kink shame your ass.
I’m a semi-hot, well-preserved straight woman aged 70, married, and I went out and found an exquisite lover. I’ve been lonely in my marriage longer than I can remember. My lover is in a similar situation. I feel like I live between two worlds. I’ve always admired and learned from your caring common sense, and I’d like to know if you might recommend therapy to help me figure out how to live from here on.
“Like this letter writer, I came alive in the throes of an affair,” said Rebecca Woolf, the author and essayist. “So, while I think therapy might benefit her, it sounds like this affair has been more therapeutic than anything else could possibly be. So, to the letter writer I would
If my boyfriend’s husband isn’t my type, should I feel OK declining a threesome request? If your boyfriend and his husband were “we only play together” types, you would’ve had a threesome with them already. If fucking boyfriend’s husband wasn’t a requirement at the start, I don’t think you’re obligated to start fucking your boyfriend’s husband now.
What’s the best way to prepare for rimming or being rimmed?
Emotionally? Let go of anal hangups. Physically? “Let’s go and take a shower.”
Having two girlfriends really excites me. How do people without this option even cope?
Seeing as most people don’t want two girlfriends—some people don’t even want one—the cope comes easy.
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