Creative Loafing Tampa — January 12, 2023

FOOD and THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Gabe Echazabal, Chloe Greenberg, Jennifer Ring

PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker, Phil DeSimone

question

5 Story

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel

ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda

MARKETING,

PROMOTIONS

SeaWorld in February, animal rights claiming the practice of keeping wild dangerous. But even though public many don’t see a parallel between the kind and the practice of displaying animals asking for too much? Or is it time for a “entertainment” animals?

AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

Alexis Quinn Chamberlain

at SeaWorld in February, animal rights claiming the practice of keeping wild and dangerous. But even though public widespread, many don’t see a parallel between the kind Vick and the practice of displaying animals activists asking for too much? Or is it time for a “entertainment” animals?

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Lauren Caplinger

EUCLID MEDIA GROUP

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Andrew Zelman

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS Chris Keating, Michael Wagner

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

Music Week ...................................................42

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40 Music Week ...................................................42 Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42 The List ..........................................................46

Movie reviews 63

Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42 The List

Free Will Astrology.........................................64 Puzzler ...........................................................66

Movie reviews 63 Free Will Astrology.........................................64 Puzzler

Savage Love 69

Savage Love 69

tampa.creativeloafing.com/cltv

tampa.creativeloafing.com/cltv

How was your Date? cltampa.com/movies cltampa.com/PartyPics Ybor Festival of the Moving Image cltampa.com/arts

How was your Date? cltampa.com/movies on cltampa.com/PartyPics Ybor Festival of the Moving Image cltampa.com/arts

twitter.com/cl_tampa facebook.com/cltampa editors Connects,

twitter.com/cl_tampa facebook.com/cltampa editors Connects,

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thoughtfully-sourced salads, bowls, plates and sides. No matter what you’re craving, we’ve got lunch and dinner covered with healthy and customizable meals for everyone.

These are the times

Black Heritage Festival among best things to do this weekend.

By Ray Roa

The 22-year old Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is tapping a ‘90s R&B mainstay to headline its party happening this weekend in downtown Tampa. Dru Hill, famous for its 1996 self-titled debut, headlines Saturday, after sets from genre-bending Bay area songwriter Siobhan Monique and Whodini’s DJ Grandmaster Dee.

Headliners for Sunday include Jazz Funk Soul, a smooth jazz supergroup featuring Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, and Paul Jackson, Jr., plus Best of the Bay-winning vocalist Nathan Mitchell, and WMNF’s DJ Spaceship.

The two-day music festival is just part of Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival’s 10-day celebration featuring music, speakers, artists, poets and more.

Also happening on Saturday at the festival is the 10 a.m. departure of Candy Lowe’s Black Business Bus Tour, which will take participants to four local businesses and come back to the festival by 2 p.m. Staging happens outside Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival on Ashley Drive, and it costs $20 to get on the bus.

“We’ll be at each business for about 45 minutes,” tour founder Candy Lowe told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “People can sign up online, and we always take walk ups.” 2023 Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 14-15, $12 & up. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 400 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. tampablackheritage.org

Walk it out

Tampa Bay gets sweater weather this weekend, and St. Petersburg has the perfect opportunity

for the community to get outside for a few hours. From 5 p.m.-9 p.m., the St. Pete Arts Alliance has coordinated a trolley that will connect riders to 40 different venues in a handful of districts as part of its monthly Second Saturday Artwalk.

Studios on the tour include Zen Glass, Heiress, Soft Water, ArtsXchange, Morean Center for Clay, Carter Woodson African American Museum and more. The trolley is free to ride and will operate on an hourly loop, with a separate downtown looper available to connect Art Walk-ers with galleries in the waterfront district (and yes, that Sunrunner stops near the trolley route). Second Saturday Art Walk, Saturday, Jan. 14, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Free. Several stops, but service starts at stop No. 1 located at 2955 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. stpeteartsalliance.org

The rest is silence

Previews kicked off this week, and Jobsite is in full swing now when it comes to its production of this Shakespeare classic adapted and directed by David M. Jenkins and scored by the company’s award-winning resident composer Jeremy Douglass. Its cast includes Giles Davies (Hamlet), Carla Corvo (Horatio), Roxanne Fay (Gertrude/Gravedigger) and more. “A ghost story, detective adventure, and revenge tale all at once, Hamlet is often regarded as the best-written play of all time,” Jobsite Theater'swebsite reads. Hamlet at Jobsite Theater. Thursday-Sunday through Feb. 5. $39.50 & up. Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. jobsitetheater.org.—Chloe Greenberg

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE: Dru Hill is in Tampa again this weekend.

Every day, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers submit events to the CL event calendar. We’ve pulled out some of the best local events happening this week. So have a look, put this paper down, call a friend, and get out there. To be considered for this listing, please submit your event at cltampa.com.

Douglas

Land

sketch instruction

(True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism) Once a month, artist Douglas Land will demonstrate sketching from artwork on display in “True Nature Rodin: And The Age Of Impressionism,” which was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Instruction on creating fast and realistic images using pencils and paper, along with helping guests with their own sketching, will be included during the scheduled sketch demo time. Recipients of Museums for All through EBT, or those wanting to use a PPLC pass, please come to the Visitor Experience desk to attend this event. Sunday, Jan. 15, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. $10. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org

National Geographic Live: Diva Amon

The 2023 National Geographic Live threeshow series features an all-female lineup for the first time ever. Amon’s research on unusual deep-sea habitats and species has taken her to extraordinary depths in some of the remotest parts of the planet. Dive in with Amon (pictured above) to get to know the fascinating creatures in each unique layer of Earth’s massive underwater habitat—from

the familiar sea creatures near the surface to their otherworldly, alien-like cousins that wander the ocean floor. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. $35.50. Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N WC MacInnes Pl., Tampa. strazcenter.org

Florida Conversations: José Martí in Tampa In an online lecture series, you’ll hear about the son of poor Spanish immigrants who grew up in Havana during Cuba’s first struggle for independence. By 1869, José Martí had published his first newspaper before quickly being arrested. Fast forward to 1891, when he started the Cuban Revolutionary Party, and we meet the man who rallied Cuban cigar-makers in Ybor City to support Cuban independence. Retired Second District Court of Appeal Judge Emiliano Jose “E.J.” Salcines, Jr. looks at how Martí made Tampa the cradle of Cuban independence from Spain. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. Free. tampabayhistorycenter.org

LAB Laughs 2023 LAB Laughs is a night of comedic shorts with original works by Jeff Dunne, Ricardo Fernandez, Adam Szudrich, Rex McGregor, Michael Gioia, James McLindon. This fundraising event runs for only one weekend at the LAB Theater Project’s intimate black box theater in Historic Ybor City. Come for a night of laughter and special activities. Next Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 19-22. $31, Lab Theater Project, 812 E Henderson Ave., Tampa. labtheaterproject.com

POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

Under inquiry

Tampa PBA faces scrutiny after controversial candidate survey.

By Justin Garcia

Last Thursday at a Tampa City Council meeting, a councilman requested that the local police union make a public apology for a survey that asked if candidates have ever supported Black Lives Matter or have been critical of police. Orlando Gudes, who represents District 5 and spent 26 years as a Tampa Police officer was compelled to speak after several community members stood in front of council and denounced the survey, which was created by the Tampa Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

“You know, I filled out the questionnaire and I returned it back to the PBA,” Gudes said. “But some of the questions on there I thought were offensive.”

Gudes said that in his written responses to the survey, he let the PBA know that he was offended.

“So I’m hopeful that the PBA will evaluate the survey and come out and maybe apologize to the community and the candidates who are running for office, because some of the candidates were wary to fill it out because they were afraid they might not get an endorsement,” Gudes said. He added that several TPD officers reached out to him yesterday to express concerns about the survey, including high-ranking TPD officers.

Gudes’ comments came after longtime activist Connie Burton of the Hillsborough NAACP decried the survey to council, saying, “That questionnaire that was sent out by the PBA should be denounced by all of you.”

She pointed out that the survey didn’t ask if a candidate was a member of the right-wing group the Proud Boys. And it didn’t ask if the candidate supports the KKK or not, despite the fact that violent white supremacist groups are on the rise in Florida. Burton also added that most TPD officers don’t live in City of Tampa limits, yet, the PBA is trying to force its agenda on leaders of the city.

“It’s racist,” Burton said. “And they [PBA] should be denounced.”

In the survey, shared by a candidate with CL, the Tampa Police Benevolent Association asks 28 questions of local candidates to decide if the group will give an endorsement. Some are general questions about the background of the candidate, but others are more focused on if the candidate has ever spoken up about police misconduct.

“Have you ever participated in a protest, whether physical, virtual, digital or online or advocated against, publicly or privately, police brutality?” one question asks. The survey also asks if the candidate has ever been critical of police in general, whether on social media, in public, or in private.

“Have you ever been a member of, donated to, or supported Black Lives Matters whether financially, verbally, online or through social media?” another says. The PBA didn’t specify if it was referring to the BLM movement in general, or BLM as an organization, which are two very different things.

The PBA has been sending out surveys for years, making it a common practice. But this year’s survey is much longer and more focused on social justice than previous years. In 2019, for example, the survey was five questions long and asked questions about cost of living adjustments, pensions and take home cars. The survey also asks for thoughts on the Second Amendment, if the candidate owns a gun, and if the candidate believes the Constitution is “a living document.”

focuses on BLM and if the union supports candidates who advocate against police brutality.

ELECTIONS

One candidate the PBA already announced support for is Janet Cruz, the mother of Mayor Jane Castor’s partner, Ana Cruz. A spokesperson for Janet Cruz said that she has completed the survey, and did not release her responses to CL.

The PBA claims in the survey that morale at police departments is at an “all-time low”

The endorsement of Cruz is a flip by the PBA. Last November, the union endorsed her opponent, Republican Jay Collins who handily beat Cruz in the Senate race for District 14. On the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death, Cruz said that the work towards a more equitable justice system for all Black Americans is not over. She signed the message, “#BLM.”

It’s unclear why the PBA now supports Cruz, but after losing her senate seat, she told the Tampa Bay Times that increasing the power of the Citizen Review Board (CRB) in oversight of police actions, which Castor opposes, is “a solution in search of a problem.”

Cruz’s opponent in the city council race, incumbent Lynn Hurtak, did vote to give the CRB more tools to provide oversight of the police.

A spokesperson for Mayor Castor, who is a former police chief, was endorsed by the PBA in her 2019 mayoral run, though her campaign said she has not yet received the latest PBA questionnaire.

Other 2022 endorsements from the PBA include Republican Congresswoman Laurel Lee, Republican County Commissioner Ken Hagan, plus Republican James Judge, who lost his election to Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

and asks candidates what can be done to improve the morale. The union also asked for all of the candidates’ social media account handles.

Officials at the Tampa PBA have not yet responded to questions about why the survey

Since the George Floyd uprising in 2020, TPD experienced a wave of criticism from the community for its handling of protesters. The department, which is made up of officers represented by the PBA, has been caught in multiple scandals over the last two years. Last November, Tampa PBA President and TPD officer Brandon Barclay publicly admitted that he surveilled a local activist who has pushed for police transparency and accountability. This led Tampa City Council to suggest that TPD launch an internal affairs investigation into Barclay, but TPD has not yet answered if that investigation took place.

Barclay and other representatives of the PBA have not responded to questions about the candidate survey. Tampa municipal elections take place on March 7, and the deadline to register to vote is Feb. 6.

“That questionnaire that was sent out by the PBA should be denounced by all of you.”

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY BOB WHITMORE

Check, please

Tampa councilman’s wages are being garnished for unpaid business debt.

By Justin Garcia

Court documents show that a bank is garnishing the wage of Tampa’s city council chairman for unpaid loans used for his personal business. As of August 2022, Councilman Joe Citro owed $20,035 to Bank of America, Hillsborough County court documents show. The lawsuit says that Citro took out loans for his hairdresser business and didn’t pay them back.

A bank statement from 2018, which was included in the documents, shows that the bank was trying to collect the past owed debt from Citro before taking legal action. But when none of it was paid, the bank filed a lawsuit against him in 2019. Now, the bank is garnishing his city councilman wage—which is paid for by Tampa taxpayers—and the City of Tampa is named as a garnishee in the case.

I did not get any relief from any type of state, federal, county or city programs. This is not something that I’m proud of, but it’s something that I’m getting through.”

creditor, Bank of America, that chose to garnish his city wages. “Neither Citro nor the city had any control over that,” Tampa’s Communications Director Adam Smith wrote in an email.

Last year, when city council voted on a potential pay raise for themselves, Citro argued against a raise and said, “Heck no!” during a vote on the issue. The motion failed.

important, than national ones. So, Tampeños, it’s time to make sure that you’re registered to vote before Feb. 6, so you can participate in the local democratic process. A lot is at stake. Local leaders decide on how city funds are spent, zoning, public safety issues and more.

ELECTIONS

Citro said that he’s almost paid off his debt through his councilman paycheck and that he was going to call the collections company to see if he could pay off the rest of it on Jan. 9 But court documents show that as of last August, Citro had paid none of the sum that he owed. He said that since then, he’s paid off nearly all of the owed amount.

Citro was appointed to council chair last year, after allegations from a former employee of councilman Orlando Gudes surfaced, and the position of chair was passed from Gudes to Citro. The lawsuit against Gudes was later dismissed in Hillsborough County court, but not before the City paid the former employee $200,000.

According to the city charter, if Mayor Jane Castor were ever unable to serve in her position, Citro, the council chair, would step in to fulfill mayoral duties.

Early voting begins on Feb. 27 and ends on March 5. Election day is Tuesday, March 7, with the polls closing at 7 p.m. If you need to register to vote, you can do so through the Hillsborough County website. Also, keep an eye out for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s endorsement guide coming out later this month. Just two people are running for mayor, Jane Castor, the incumbent, and Dr. Belinda Noah.

Here are the local candidates who are currently qualified to run for Tampa City Council:

District 1 Sonja P Brookins, Joseph Citro (incumbent), Alan Clendenin, Chase Harrison

Citro, who is running for District 1 reelection in March, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay he would’ve paid the loans sooner and using the income from his personal business if it wasn’t for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID hit me and my business very hard,” Citro said. “I had to shut down for months. And

When asked if he thought if it was proper that his councilman wage should be used to pay off loans taken out for his private business, Citro said that he wasn’t the one who decided on that. He said that the plaintiff and the judge decided where the funds would be garnished from. CL has asked Lavin & Solis, PLLC, the firm representing Bank of America, to confirm this. CL also asked for confirmation on how much money Citro still owes.

Tampa’s city attorney’s office said that Citro didn’t decide on where the garnished wages would come from. The legal team said it was the

So far, Citro has three opponents running against him for his council seat: Sonja P Brooking, Alan Clendenin and Chase Harrsion.

When asked for any other thoughts on his wages being garnished, Citro said that this kind of thing can happen to anyone. “Nobody’s life is perfect,” Citro said. “We’re all human.”

The voter registration deadline for Tampa’s 2023 municipal election is Feb. 6

Time and again, it’s been argued that local elections are just as important, if not more

District 2 Michael Derewenko, Guido Maniscalco, Gary Pruitt

District 3 Lynn Hurtak (incumbent), Janet Cruz Rifkin, George “Thehunted” Feshev, Gwendolyn Henderson, Jose N. Vázquez

District 4 Bill Carlson

District 5 Orlando L. Gudes (incumbent), Cornelius Hamilton, Evelyn Jané-Marie McBride, Jeffrey L. Rhodes

District 6 Hoyt L. Prindle III, Rick Fifer, Tyler Barrett

District 7 Luis E. Viera (incumbent)

SHOP TALK: Councilchair Joe Citro explained that Covid hit his business very hard.

Another look

After confusion, Tampa police now say body camera mute function can be tracked.

By Justin Garcia

After Tampa’s former police chief and a body camera provider found themselves at odds over tracking the mute function on police cameras, it was made clear last week that the function can be tracked. A more efficient way of tracking the cameras is on the way, too. At the Jan. 5 Tampa City Council meeting, Captain Patrick Messmer of TPD’s Professional Standards Bureau answered questions alongside Andrew Grayson, a sales representative of Axon, which is contracted to provide body cameras to the department.

Confusion about the mute function arose last November after former TPD Chief Mary O’Connor said that it couldn’t be tracked by Axon’s software, while the company said that it could be tracked. O’Connor was not at today’s meeting since she was forced to resign after being caught using her badge to get out of a traffic stop.

Last week, Councilman Orlando Gudes said that representatives at Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office told him that their Axon body camera mute functions are definitely trackable, and that they track them often.

“I did talk to some high level Sheriff office officials in reference to this mute situation, and

from what they tell me, that system can do any and everything,” Gudes said before addressing Messmer directly. “With this mute function, you said it can’t be done...They’re [HCSO] saying that that’s kind of inaccurate.”

Messmer told council that the mute function can actually be tracked, albeit manually.

“So the initial question that I got was, is there any data about how often it’s used?” Messmer said. “So that is correct. We have an audit log. Each camera has an audit log, every single thing that’s done on that individual camera can be tracked and we can look at that audit log manually and see.”

Messmer said that TPD recently had an internal affairs case where it pulled the audit log from an officer’s camera, and went through it manually to see when the officer used the mute function. But Messmer’s story is different from what O’Connor told council.

In April of last year, when TPD announced plans to start using the mute function, council members asked O’Connor if there was any way that its use could be monitored. The function has caused controversy around the country in

highly sensitive scenarios such as police shootings and police abuse cases, which is why St. Pete Police opted not to use the function.

In December, O’Connor sent a memo to council, which read, “Since August, TPD has been working with Axon regarding the tracking of a body-worn camera’s mute feature. Currently Axon’s software does not have this functionality.” Toward the end of her memo, she mentioned that TPD and Axon were working on an automated way to track the function. But council had asked if there was any way at all to track it, not specifically an automated way.

At last week’s meeting, Axon representative Grayson backed up Messmer’s statement on the trackability of the mute function.

“The captain is correct,” Grayson said. “So the same system that Hillsborough County [HCSO] uses, Tampa Police Department also utilizes and can be tracked but it’s a very manual process, as the captain alluded to.”

He added that Axon is working rigorously to make the process of tracking the function automatic with their software, and that Axon

expects that to be available in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023.

Councilman Bill Carlson called on TPD to be more transparent in its future communications.

“The simple way to resolve this would have been to say, ‘Look, we misunderstood the question, we thought you meant an easy way to do it. There is a difficult way to do it, but there’s not an easy way to do it,’” Carlson said. “And instead, we went through all these machinations of different kinds of communication, and my point is we just need to be honest and direct with the public.”

Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak, who first asked TPD to report on the use of the mute function, said that she looks forward to the introduction of the automated tracking system from Axon. The tracking, she added, could be useful for both police officers and the community at large.

Once there’s more data, Hurtak said, there can be a broader discussion about the mute function.

“Then we can have the community conversation about whether a mute feature is really good or bad for the community,” Hurtak said. “But it’s really all about transparency.”

WHERE’S THE MANUAL? Tampa’s last police chief was confused about what her cameras could do.

“It’s really all about transparency.”

Bogart blues

New Port Richey police chief Kim Bogart retires after defending cops who made Holocaust jokes

By Justin Garcia

New Port Richey Police Department saw big scandals over the past two years, and now its chief will leave the department this month.

At the end of a council meeting last week, City Manager Debbie Manns announced that Chief Kim Bogart is retiring, and Jan. 27 is his last day.

Manns said that Bogart submitted his resignation letter on Dec. 30. She thanked and congratulated him on 10 years of service, and said that she still expected him to be active in the city during his retirement. “His inspiration to the people will certainly cause a sense of loss among all of us,” Manns said.

Bogart was at the meeting, but did not speak. When called by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Bogart answered but hung up when asked for comment on why exactly he’s retiring. Manns also didn't respond to requests for additional comment.

Since 2020, several of the officers at NPRPD have come under scrutiny for participating in racist and anti-Semitic behavior. As CL previously reported, NPRPD cops have prayed with Proud Boys, posed in front of a Confederate flag, leaked department intel to an armed rightwing vigilante and falsely accused a Black man of a felony, among other incidents. Last month, just 14 days before he submitted his resignation letter, CL reported that Bogart stood before council, read out the laundry list of problem officers who had made headlines, and defended all of them. He also stood up for officer Todd Gee, who broke into a Jewish woman’s home over alleged code enforcement issues and made jokes about Holocaust victim Anne Frank as another officer laughed. Bogart said that the officers, whose

behavior was caught on body camera, “were not intending to have any anti-Semitism related to that incident.”

can’t believe he just said that. The officers themselves seem to know that it was an improper comment.”

LOCAL NEWS

He did add, however, that the officers would go through extra cultural sensitivity training, and provided documents to CL, which seem to show that they completed the training.“It’s very regrettable that it ever occurred,” City Manager Manns told CL at the time. “I think the comments were inappropriate and I believe discipline was necessary for the officers, and I stand by that decision.”But those officers never actually received official discipline for the behavior, and instead just went through extra training. To that point, Manns said, “we’re going to stand by the decision that was made at the time.”

Jonathan Ellis, Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, told CL that NPRPD failed to address the incident properly. “Even the officer who makes the comment knows he probably shouldn’t make it because he starts whispering it,” Ellis said. “And the other officer puts her hands over her face indicating that she

Ellis said that Bogart’s defense of the officers was “a failure to recognize” the real problems in the department. “Sometimes these things are isolated incidents,” Ellis added. “But when you start to look at the other problems that have been reported, it seems to be that it’s a situation that the police department keeps dealing with.”

Ellis said that when you get enough of these problems in a small police department such as New Port Richey, which only has 44-full time officers, then you have to look at it and wonder if there is a cultural problem going on. “You seem to have a chief that, rather than saying, ‘Look, we’ve got a problem’, instead jumps in to defend these officers,” Ellis said. “When in reality, you should be looking at the problems in the organization, asking, ‘What do I need to do?’ If it’s not being addressed from the top, it’s never going to get better.”

Manns has yet to announce how New Port Richey will conduct a search for its next police chief.

DETHRONED: Led by Kim Bogart (R), NPRPD has come under scrutiny for controversial behavior.

DAVE DECKER

Shit Happened

A New Port Richey man was arrested after police said he intentionally set his house on fire while several animals were inside. That town really is something.

MONDAY 09

In his resignation letter, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz denies that Florida is now a red state. I’ll take what he’s having.

WVTV reports on a man retiring after cleaning Treasure Island beaches for more than 20 years. We’re going to need five litterbugs to stop going to the beach in reciprocity.

TUESDAY 10

Tampa police publicize plans about training first responders ahead of Gasparilla. Basically, the instructions say don’t take the shots everyone offers you.

MONDAY 16

The Bucs kick off the postseason with a rematch against the Dallas Cowboys. If Brady makes it to the Super Bowl, Gisele is going to take him back.

More shit, practicing for Gasparilla by playing more beer pong, via cltampa.com/news.

RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING

GUIDES

Love language

Common Dialect owners preview their new Seminole Heights brewery.

By Kyla Fields

Mike and Kendra Conze were part of Seminole Heights long before award-winning restaurants, hip shops and swanky bars started popping up. After a decade or so of living in the cozy Tampa neighborhood—and at the start of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic—they took a chance by purchasing a notoriously-vacant warehouse space at 5023 N Florida Ave.

Kendra already knew she would move her Health Mutt pet store there, but while sitting at home with a newborn and toddler, her head filled with even more grandiose ideas and designs for their then-empty warehouse.

an emotion from the customers,” Kendra—who brings her retail experience to the craft brew world—explains. “Of course, we’ll have really good beer, but bigger than that, we wanted to create a space where people feel like they belong.”

OPENING

Two years after their purchase—following months of construction-related delays, total renovations and DIY decor—her lofty ideas have finally come into fruition, as Common Dialect brewery and taproom is finally ready to open its doors. “Although we thought we were going to be open about eight months ago, everything really came together the way we originally envisioned it,” head brewer Mike tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

Seminole Heights’ new family and dog friendly brewery—located right across the street from Tampa’s Independent Bar and Cafe—celebrates its grand opening from noon-10 p.m. on Friday-Saturday, Jan. 13- Jan.14. In addition to fresh craft brews, its grand opening weekend will boast live music from singer-songwriter Sam Williams and Deejay Kellen and grub from food trucks Te Invito and Sous, LLC. After next weekend’s debut, the brewery will continue to host different food trucks throughout the week, but will keep live music reserved for special occasions.

Adorned with a colorful and massive, floorto-ceiling mural by Tampa artist Conrad Garner, tabletops made out of vintage bowling alley lanes, homemade decorations and tons of natural lighting, Common Dialect has a familial and welcoming feel for all walks of life. “Whenever I was trying to plan what the space was going to look like, I thought a lot about how I wanted to feel when I stepped inside. The goal was to invoke

Far from the minimalist and industrialfeeling breweries that Tampa Bay is certainly familiar with, this new Seminole Heights taproom is somewhere you’d want to bring your family, friends, and most importantly—dogs. Since it’s right next to Health Mutt, Common Dialect will absolutely be pet friendly, complete with a turf-lined outdoor patio. She tells CL that dogcentric events, like breed specific meetups, might be on the horizon for Common Dialect as well. Another aspect that makes Common Dialect stand out amongst the rest is the big ass parking lot it shares with Health Mutt (besides Angry Chair and the in-progress Florida Avenue Brewing Co., a rare sight in Seminole Heights).

Last summer, Health Mutt re-opened next to the brewery, just a few months behind schedule. Common Dialect however, will debut almost a full year after it was originally slated to. Due to complications surrounding its “change of use” permits and Seminole Heights historic district’s high standards, Kendra and Mike encountered several unexpected delays.

The brand new stormwater system alone impeded the brewery’s opening by several months. But after almost a year of meetings, inspections and reviews with the City of Tampa, the Florida Avenue brewery is finally ready to build its reputation as one of Seminole Heights’ friendliest breweries.

Out of its roughly 2,000 square-foot production space, co-owner and head brewer Mike plans to pump out a well-rounded selection of popular beers. After quietly shuddering at the loaded question “What’s your favorite beer?,” he tells CL that he wants his community to dictate the beers that Common Dialect specializes in. “Our goal is to be the neighborhood brewery,

very focused on the community and what they want to drink,” he says. “ I want the opportunity for everybody to try something different and feel good about it…I don’t want to pigeonhole myself.” Gaining a bulk of his experience from Lakeland-based production facility Brew Hub—where he started out in packaging and left as a head brewer—Mike will dish out a variety of pilsners, stouts, barrel-aged brews, fruited sours and whatever else his regulars want to pour down their throats. There’s also a possibility that the brewery will produce and sell its own coffee sometime in the future. Until its production is fully up and running, he says that Common Dialect’s 18 taps will be filled with beers from other breweries as well, including a recent collaboration he did with St. Pete’s Grand Central Brewhouse.

Finding a location for Health Mutt and Common Dialect that was in their own

neighborhood was absolutely paramount, as the two can now walk a few blocks from their house to both businesses. But as Kendra says, the duo didn’t necessarily choose the cheapest real estate. With taproom chairs painted by their parents and floors that their two young children have grown up playing on, this Seminole Heights brewery has proven to be a true labor of love.“ Our decision to open Common Dialect wasn’t motivated by it being a good business decision, we did it because we wanted to invest in the neighborhood that’s given us our livelihood,” Kendra tells CL.

After its grand opening, Common Dialect will be open from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon-8 p.m. on Sundays. For the latest information on this new Tampa brewery and taproom, head to its website commondialectbeer.com or follow its Instagram at @commondialectbeerworks.

Common Dialect Beerworks

Grand opening Friday-Saturday, Jan. 13-14, noon-10 p.m. 5023 N Florida Ave.,Tampa. commondialectbeer.com

“We wanted to invest in the neighborhood that’s given us our livelihood.”

COMMON GROUND: Seminole Heights’ newest brewery officially opens this weekend.

Mill-ion dollar question

St. Pete restaurant The Mill closes, and more Tampa Bay foodie news

By Kyla Fields

If you think the incessant construction happening throughout downtown St. Pete is annoying, the folks behind a popular and longstanding restaurant will certainly agree with you. New American eatery The Mill has been located at 200 Central Ave. #100 for eight years now— but due to neighboring construction, its almost decade-long run has come to an end.

“We are heartbroken to write this, but after almost a decade The Mill restaurant is closing,” owners wrote on Facebook last week. The post goes on to explain that the massive and ongoing construction happening next door has forced its owners to close the downtown restaurant. “It has become so invasive to our space that we feel we can no longer ensure the safety of our staff and patrons alike. It is because of this we have been forced into the heartbreaking decision of closure at this location.”

However, The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently reported that the restaurant currently owes over $100,000 due to unresolved tax liabilities, in addition to being behind on its rent. An exact closure date was not included in its

farewell post, and it is currently unclear if the restaurant has already shut its doors for good. Calls from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay made to the restaurant were not answered.

The Mill’s Managing Partners, Jason Griffin and Chef Ted Dorsey, promise their customers that this isn’t the end of the restaurant, stating on social media that they’re currently searching for a new location in The Burg’. The Mill is known for its sprawling sidewalk dining area, unique craft cocktails and rotating menu of innovative New American dishes, cementing its reputation as one of the 200 Block’s most popular restaurants.

duck breast bacon and a gold leaf-wrapped bun. Make sure to follow The Mill’s Facebook and Instagram at @themillrestaurants to keep up with its search for a new St. Pete location.

Florida State Fair’s Tampa Cuban funnel cake sandwich among new, weird food offerings coming next month

The Florida State Fair happens Feb. 9-20 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Gates open at 11 a.m., and tickets are $6-$10 with ride and fast pass options starting at $20.—Ray Roa

La Cabana, a new open air waterfront bar, is now open in St. Pete

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

The only other Tampa Bay location of The Mill resides at 2500 W Azeele St. in South Tampa, which debuted in 2019. It boasts an identical food and drink menu to that of its now-closed sibling across the bridge, including The Mill’s iconic $100 Wagyu burger—complete with aged gruyere, seared foie gras, fresh summer truffles,

Well, there won’t be a pickle pizza controversy this year, but the food lineup for the 2023 Florida State Fair is here and there’s at least one controversial item to debate. It’s unclear why it took so long to come up with, but the classic Tampa Cuban is getting a remix when the fair puts its insides— ham, roast pork, salami, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard—between two funnel cakes topped with doughnut glaze. Another very-Florida food, Key lime pie, gets some attention thanks to a fried version featuring Key lime pie filling, graham crackers and buttercream frosting atop mini donuts—but the rest of the new additions are pretty familiar.

The “Walkin’ Nacho Dog” combines a classic hotdog with nacho toppings to satisfy all salty and savory cravings, while the “Mexican Street Corn Sundae” tops fresh cut fries with chile con queso, sweet corn, cilantro lime crema, crushed corn chips and cheese.

If you love specialty coffee, cigars and craft cocktails, then you might end up spending all day at this new open air lounge. La Cabana, Patrona Coastal Cafe’s new nighttime counterpart, celebrated its grand opening on Friday, Jan. 6. Located at 13090 Gandy Blvd. N in St. Petersburg right next to popular beachside spot The Getaway, La Cabana is an outdoor bar and lounge that will boast premium cigars, whiskeys, rum, beer, wine and desserts. If mojitos, espresso martinis and daiquiris aren’t your thing, then maybe you can snack on La Cabana’s coconut affogatos, key lime pies and coconut cloud cakes instead. The waterfront bar’s full menu can be browsed on its website.

After this last weekend’s debut, La Cabana is now open from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. La Cabana is the nighttime counterpart of Patrona Coffee, a relaxed outdoor cafe during the day. Both kid and dog-friendly, this open air concept offers some of the best waterfront views in The Burg.’ Until 1:30 p.m. during the week and 3

KILL MILL: New American restaurant The Mill closes its St. Pete location.

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p.m. on weekends, Patrona Coastal Cafe offers acai bowls, cinnamon rolls and avocado toasts in addition to its coffee, espresso, teas and locally-roasted beans. For more information on the upcoming La Cabana bar and lounge, follow its Instagram at @ patronalacabana and Facebook page.

New bar Springs Taproom debuts at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

There’s a new place to grab a drink at a familiar spot inside Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The Bird Gardens area of the theme park now hosts the newly-opened Springs Taproom, located within the iconic Hospitality House. According to the park, the new concept features “modern decoration and classic photos, taking guests on a journey down memory lane,” as well a full bar with a 12 tap rotating beer list, frozen cocktails and small bites. Opening in 1959, the Hospitality House is one of the more unique original structures inside the park. The building is surrounded by an outdoor spring and waterfall, and was designed by architectural firm Harvard Jolly, which was also responsible for quite a few Tampa Bay landmarks, including the old Inverted Pyramid St. Petersburg Pier, the Williams Park Band Shell and others.

Florida’s first Torchy’s Tacos opens in St. Petersburg next month

Self-acclaimed “damn good tacos” are finally landing in Tampa Bay, all the way from Austin, Texas. Located at 2314 Tyrone Blvd. N—next to St. Pete’s newly-opened Portillos—The Sunshine State’s very first Torchy’s Tacos is set to grand open on Wednesday, Feb. 1. From breakfast tacos loaded with bacon, egg and cheese to its infamous “Trailer Park tacos”—complete with fried chicken, green chilies, lettuce, pico de gallo and poblano sauce—Torchy’s offers a wide range of unique Tex-Mex fare. Other heavy hitters on its menu include chips and queso, burritos, bowls and vegetarian options like its fried avocado tacos. According to torchystacos.com, its upcoming location will also boast a full-service bar, set to sling margaritas, sangria, mules, beer and more.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Of course, the space is mostly known as the spot where guests could grab complimentary free beers. It’s unclear if the park will continue that perk from this same space in the future.—Colin Wolf

After 19 years, South Tampa’s Elmer’s Sports Cafe will close Known for stiff drinks, good grub and classic dive bar feel, South Tampa’s Elmer’s Sports Cafe will permanently shut its doors later this month. “To all Elmer’s customers, friends and family that you’ve become after 19 years of drinking together, laughing together and crying together, I’m sad to announce that on January 29, 2023, Elmer’s South Tampa will close,” owner Randy Levin wrote on his sports cafe’s Facebook.

Below the closure announcement, regular customers and sports fans alike mourned the loss of their local watering hole—although there’s still a few weeks to experience “South Tampa’s original sports cafe.” While beer and cocktails are the mainstays, Elmer’s—which is located at 5206 S MacDill Ave.—also offers a straightforward menu of wings, burgers, stacked sandwiches, classic bar snacks and salads.

The only other Tampa Bay location of Elmer’s Sports Cafe resides in the heart of Ybor City at 2003 E 7th Ave. and is open from 11 a.m.-3 a.m. daily. Until its eventual closure later this month, South Tampa’s Elmer’s is open from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Wednesday and 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Sunday. Keep an eye on its Facebook for the possible announcement of any farewell celebrations.

The night before its grand opening—on Monday, Jan. 30 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.—St. Pete’s Torchy’s will host a free community party, a tradition within the company. ILovetheBurg says the event will feature giveaways, live music and a taste of its “damn good” tacos. Although St. Pete is home to Florida’s first location, the Austin-based chain has plans to open many more—including another soon-to-open storefront in Altamonte Springs, just outside of Orlando. When Torchy’s debuts next month, its loaded Tex-Mex menu will be available for delivery via Uber Eats, Grub Hub and more.

For the latest information on St. Pete’s upcoming Torchy’s Tacos, head to its newlyformed Facebook page, where you can also find photos of its devilish mascot hitting up tourist spots across The Burg.’ Currently, there are no operating hours listed for Tampa Bay’s debut Torchy’s.

New Seminole Heights brewery Common Dialect grand opens this weekend

At 5023 N Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights— next to pet boutique Health Mutt and across the street from Independent Bar and Cafe—lies Tampa’s newest brewery and watering hole. After months of construction-related delays, craft brewery Common Dialect is finally ready to open its doors. From noon-10 p.m. on FridaySaturday, Jan. 13- Jan.14, Seminole Heights’ newest brewery will celebrate its grand opening.

Chock full of craft beer, music, and food trucks, Common Dialect’s debut weekend is family and pet-friendly—an important aspect of the local business.Friday’s festivities include musician Sam Williams and traveling taqueria Te Invito, while Deejay Kellen provides the tunes on Saturday, alongside popular food truck Sous, LLC. For more information on Common Dialect’s grand opening, head to commondialectbeer.com or follow its Instagram at @commondialectbeerworks. Read more on p. 21.

DEVILISHLY GOOD: Florida’s first Torchy’s Tacos opens in St. Pete next month.

Help CL with this evolvinglisting. Did we miss a brewery or leave out an important detail? Email rroa@cltampa.com. Include brewery name, address, phone number and website, plus a short description of the unique offerings.

3 CAR GARAGE 8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton. 941-741-8877, 3cargaragebrewing.com

3 DAUGHTERS BREWING 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-495-6002, 3dbrewing.com

3 KEYS BREWING 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com

5 BRANCHES BREWING 531 Athens St., Tarpon Springs. fivebranchesbrewing.com

7VENTH SUN BREWING 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013/6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-231-5900, 7venthsun.com

81BAY BREWING CO. 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 813-837-BREW, 81baybrewco.com

ANECDOTE BREWING CO. 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. anecdotebrewing.com

ANGRY CHAIR 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com

ARKANE ALEWORKS 2480 E. Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com

AVID BREWING 1745 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-388-6756, avidbrew.com

BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com

BASTET 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. bastetbrewing.com

BAY CANNON BEER CO. 2106 W Main St., Tampa. 813-442-5615, baycannon.com

BAYBORO BREWING CO. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-767-9666, bayborobrewing.com

BEACH ISLAND BREWERY 2058 Bayshore Blvd. Suite 5, Dunedin. 352-541-0616

BIG STORM BREWING CO. Multiple locations, bigstormbrewery.com

BIG TOP BREWING 6111 Porter Way, Sarasota. 941-371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com

BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. 652 Oakfield Dr., Brandon. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com

BREW HUB 3900 Frontage Rd. S., Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com

BREW LIFE BREWING 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com

BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 7272-940-2350

BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com

CAGE BREWING 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278

CALEDONIA BREWING 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727-351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com

CALUSA BREWING 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. 941-922-8150, calusabrewing.com

CARROLLWOOD BREWING CO. 10047 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 23, Tampa. 813-969-2337

CIGAR CITY BREWING 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-348-6363, cigarcitybrewing.com

CLEARWATER BREWING CO. 1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. clearwaterbrewingcompany.com

COMMERCE BREWING 521 Commerce Drive S, Largo. commercebrewing@gmail.com

COPP WINERY & BREWERY 7855 W Gulf Lake Highway, Crystal River. 352-228-8103, coppbrewery.com

COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813-247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com

CORPORATE LADDER BREWING COMPANY 4935 96th St. E, Palmetto. 941-4794799, corporateladderbrewing.square.site

COTEE RIVER BREWING 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-807-6806, coteeriverbrewing.com

CRAFT LIFE BREWING 4624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-575-8440. facebook. com/CraftLifeBrewing

CROOKED THUMB BREWERY 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com

CUENI BREWING CO. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing.com

CYCLE BREWING 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. cyclebrewing.com

DADE CITY BREW HOUSE 14323 7th St., Dade City. 352-218-3122, dadecitybrewhouse.com

DARWIN BREWING CO. 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. 941-747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com

DE BINE BREWING CO. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964.

DENTED KEG ALE WORKS 5500 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-232-2582, dentedkegaleworks.com

DEVIANT LIBATION 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727-379-4677, deviantlibation.com

DISSENT CRAFT BREWING CO. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-3420255. facebook.com/ dissentcraftbrewing

DUNEDIN BREWERY 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com

DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 216-6318, dunedinhob.com

EIGHT-FOOT BREWING 4417 SE 16th Place, Cape Coral. 239-984-2655, eightfootbrewing.com

ESCAPE BREWING CO. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com

FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel. 813-452-6333, floridaavebrewing.com

FLORIDA BREWERY 202 Gandy Rd., Auburndale. 863-965-1825

FOUR STACKS BREWING 5469 N. US HWY 41, Apollo Beach. 813-641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.com

FRONT PAGE BREWING CO. 190 S Florida Ave., Bartow. 863-537-7249, frontpagebrewing.com

GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-202-6071, grandcentralbrew.com

GREEN BENCH BREWING COMPANY 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com

GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. 4824 14th St. W., Bradenton. 941-896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com

GRINDHAUS BREW LAB 1650 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab.com

GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY 3007 Beach Blvd., Tampa. facebook.com/GulfportBrewery

HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks.com

HOB BREWING CO. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. hob.beer

IF I BREWED THE WORLD 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4484, ifibrewedtheworld.com

IN THE LOOP BREWING 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com

INFUSION BREWING CO. 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. 7272-484-4757

KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-7529100, keelandcurleywinery.com

KING STATE 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813-221-2100, king-state.com

LAGERHAUS BREWERY & GRILL 3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor. 727-216-9682, lagerhausbrewery.com

LATE START BREWING 1018 E Cass St., Tampa, latestartbrewing.com

LEAVEN BREWING 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com

LIQUID GARAGE CO. 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey. 727-645-5885. theliquidgarage.com

MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-362-0008, madbeachbrewing.com

MAGNANIMOUS BREWING 1410 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com

MARKER 48 12147 Cortez Blvd, Weeki Wachee. 352-606-2509, marker48.com

MASTRY’S BREWING CO. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727-202-8045, mastrysbrewingco.com

MOTORWORKS

BREWING 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com

MR. DUNDERBAK’S 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-9774104, dunderbaks.com

OFF THE WAGON BREWERY 2107 S Tamiami Trail, Venice. 941-497-2048, otwbar.com

OLDE FLORIDA BREWING 1158 7th St. NW, Largo. 727-2298010, facebook.com/oldefloridabrew

OVERFLOW BREWING 70 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-0665, facebook.com/ overflowbrewingco

OZONA BREWING COMPANY 315 Orange St., Palm Harbor. 920-392-9390, ozonabrewing.com

PEPPER BREWING 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com

PESKY PELICAN BREW PUB 923 72nd. St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-302-9600, peskypelicanbrewpub.com

PINELLAS ALE WORKS 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970, pawbeer.com

POUR HOUSE 1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com

PYE ROAD MEADWORKS 8533 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. 813-510-3500, pyeroad.com

RAPP BREWING COMPANY 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER 2244 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-360-0766, stpetearcadebar.com

ROCK BROTHERS BREWING 1901 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-241-0110, rockbrothersbrewing.com

SARASOTA BREWING COMPANY 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota. 941-925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com

SCOTTY’S BIERWORKS 901 East Industrial Circle, Cape Coral. 239-888-5482, scottysbierworks.net

SEA DOG BREWING 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island/ 26200 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater. 727-954-7805, seadogbrewing.com

SILVERKING BREWING CO. 325 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. 727-422-7598, silverkingbrewing.com

SIX TEN BREWING 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-886-0610, sixtenbrewing.com

SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-601-1698, soggybottombrewing.com

SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com

SOUTHERN LIGHTS BREWING CO. 2075 Sunnydale Blvd., Clearwater. 727-648-4314, southernlightsbrewing.com

ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany.com

STILT HOUSE BREWERY 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com

SWAN BREWING 15 W Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com

TAP THIS! BAR AND BREWING CO. 10730 US-19, Port Richey. 727-378-4358, tapthisbar.com

TBBC 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933

Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813-2471422, tbbc.beer

TEMPLE OF BEER 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-350-3055, templeofbeer.com

THREE BULLS TAVERN & BREWERY 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. 813-381-3853, threebullstavern.com

TIDAL BREWING COMPANY 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-701-1602, tidalbrewingfl.com

TROUBLED WATERS BREWING 670 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-221-9973, troubledwatersbeer.com

TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, facebook.com/twofrogsbrewing

TWO LIONS WINERY & PALM HARBOR BREWERY 1022 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-786-8039, twolionswinery.com

ULELE SPRING BREWERY 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com

UNREFINED BREWING 312 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-4822, unrefinedbrewing.com

WELTON BREWING CO. 2624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’Lakes. 813-820-0050, thebrewcraftery.com

THE WILD ROVER BREWERY 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com

WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-238-8717, facebook.com/woodwrightbrewing

WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. 456 W Columbus Drive, Tampa. 813-443-9463, wovenwaterbrew.com

YUENGLING BREWING CO. 11111 N 30th St., Tampa. 813-972-8529, yuengling.com

ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813-715-2683, zbcbeer.com

ZYDECO BREW WERKS 902 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. 813-252-4541, facebook.com/ zydecobrewwerks

The eyes have it

New Morean shows, and a move for FMoPA lead fresh round of A&E news.

By Jennifer Ring

If you’re looking to explore photography in 2023, head to the Morean Arts Center this spring. It’s ringing in the New Year with three new photography shows—Águeda Sanfiz’s “The Other Pandemic,” Tom Kramer’s “Forever Changed” and “Wonder in the Wild” featuring photographic works by Curtis Anderson, Jr. and Stefan Jennings Batista— which highlight work of three Tampa Bay area photographers (Batista is based in based in Albuquerque).

An opening for all three photography shows happens at St. Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. In addition to sharing the medium of photography, the three shows have something else in common. They each address either mental health issues and/or the lack of connection many of us experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So many of us snap shots of life’s happy moments with our cell phones to share on Instagram. But what do we do when times get tough? The real photographers just keep on shooting. They know that the true art of photography lies in being able to take a difficult or sad subject and create beauty from it.

Next Thursday, Jan. 19, Sanfiz and Morean’s Chief Curator, Amanda Cooper will discuss the use of lens-based arts as tools to cope with traumatic experiences. Jazz musician Ona Kirei will close the event with a brief concert.

Late photographer Tom Kramer documented these feelings of pain and loneliness in his final collection of photographs, “Forever Changed.” Kramer, known for his masterful dance photography, passed away in late 2022 at the age of 87. He shot “Forever Changed” at St. Pete’s Palladium Theater during a time when the art community was hit particularly hard by the COVID pandemic.

Photoshop, portraiture, and the business of photography starting Jan. 10 (Winter Session 1) and Feb. 28 (Winter Session 2).

Downtown Tampa’s Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is moving to Ybor City

It’s been less than four months since we published an article on all the exciting art coming to Ybor City, but there’s more. The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts joins Tempus Projects, Parachute Gallery, the Department of Contemporary Art, Quaid, Screen Door Microcinema, Dave Decker Photography and others in the historic Kress Building on 7th Avenue in Ybor City this year. It announced the move on Instagram last week.

photographs curated from its permanent collection. “I don’t want to say any more because it’s still being curated, but It’s going to be incredible,” FMoPA Interim Executive Director Dierdre Powell told CL in a phone interview.

For now, the future exhibitions space of the FMoPA website is blank, as it raises the funds to relocate the 1,300 images in their permanent collection and renovate their new space in the Kress building. Its current location in downtown Tampa is open until Jan. 19.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Águeda Sanfiz: The Other Pandemic

Opens Jan. 14, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Free to attend Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg moreanartscenter.org

Unlike Kramer’s past work, photos in his “Forever Changed” series have an “austerity and a kind of sadness to them,” Cooper, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. They’re mostly in black and white, and there’s an implied nudity to them. Their stripped-down nature expresses the vulnerability many of us felt during the pandemic. In many cases, “the bodies are contorted as though they could be in pain,” says Cooper, who sees both pain and joy in the photos. “The pain of being apart, and then the joy of coming back together,” Cooper added.

“Everyone at Tempus Projects is so pleased to have FMoPA as our ground-floor neighbor. We’ve never been happier than we are at The Historic Ybor City Kress,” Tempus Projects said in response to the announcement. The Tampa

Although it will soon be in between spaces, Powell assures us that the International Photography Competition that FMoPA usually hosts is still happening this summer. The only difference is that this year it will be at Tampa International Airport. For now, you can still visit FMoPA, located in the big cube building at 400 N Ashley Dr., from noon-5 p.m. six days a week (and until 7 p.m. on Fridays). Admission is free for members and $8-$10 for everyone else.

Tampa-based family documentary photographer Sanfiz has always ascribes to the idea that when it comes to family life, one should document everything, not just the good moments. In early 2020, Sanfiz’s sister, Ana Sanfiz Sancho, took her life at 44 years old in Tarragona, Spain. It happened 11 days after the Spanish government announced a nationwide lockdown to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Sanfiz kept shooting. Photography became a way for her to process the loss and trauma she and her family experienced in 2020.

“Documenting and telling my story, despite being uncomfortable and intimidating, is also cathartic,” Sanfiz said in a press release. “It helps me connect with countless people who had similar experiences during the pandemic. [It’s] a way to remind people, ‘You felt alone, but you were not alone.’”

“Wonder in the Wild,” combines photographs taken by Sarasota-based photographer Anderson Jr. with those of New Mexico-based photographer Batista. Both express their own unique versions of spirituality through their photos. Anderson Jr.’s photographs document his conversion to evangelical Christianity during a time when he was contemplating suicide. Batista’s photos express a version of spirituality obtained from nature.

Together, these three shows demonstrate the power of photography to help one process pain and trauma. But they also illustrate the human experience. “Really, I think it’s about journeys and how we as humans show resilience,” says Cooper.

In addition to hosting three photo shows this spring, the Morean offers workshops and classes in iPhone photography, digital photography,

City Ballet, which moved into the Kress building in late 2022, welcomed FMoPA to the shared space with the following message: “Amazing news!! We are so excited by the great energy, incredible art community and creative force at the Kress Building! Welcome!!”

FMoPA is currently raising funds to cover the costs of the move, estimated at $150,000. If all goes well, it hopes to re-open in their new space around April-May with a show of

Before we hung up, Powell mentioned that she’s grateful to Tampa developer Darryl Shaw, who helped make this move possible, and she looks forward to bringing FMoPA to this exciting, new, easier-to-find location.

FMoPA is just the latest in a series of art moves to Ybor City’s seventh avenue, which is rapidly becoming an exciting arts destination. We can’t wait to see how it all looks once everyone is in place.

MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE

“You felt alone, but you were not alone.”

UNCOMFORTABLE LOOK: Águeda Sanfiz new works explores the time after her sister took her life.

By John W. Allman

Coming off a holiday season spent with family, where I had the opportunity to watch my 11-year-old niece wax poetic on fashion, makeup and other topics of paramount prepubescent concern, I realize now that I’m equally afraid of being steamrolled by a pint-sized know-it-all as I am of being slaughtered by a sentient robot designed to look, act and talk like an almost-teenaged girl.

Welcome to “M3gan,” a blast of AI God complex run amok that’s sure to delight horror fans and terrify parents around the globe.

That this PG-13 film is so good, so smartly written and so packed with moments of WTF nuh-uh-ness , despite not being very bloody and really not having all that many kills, is fantastic

news because it means that 2022 wasn’t a fluke as far as horror now being the predominant movie genre.

The film’s not-so-secret weapon, however, is the one-two punch of physical actor Amie Donald and voice actor Jenna Davis, who combine to bring M3gan to unnerving and often hysterical life. Truth be told, there hasn’t been a more perfect pairing of visual effects and voice acting since Brad Dourif first said, “Hi, I’m Chucky,” way back in 1988.

It’s no surprise that “M3gan” hits so many high notes given director Gerard Johnstone’s involvement behind the camera. If you’ve never seen his 2014 feature debut, “Housebound,” go seek it out immediately.

“M3gan” works so well because it takes its time to establish its core characters, from orphaned Cady (Violet McGraw) to her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), who is thrust into guardianship following a family tragedy. Gemma is a brilliant engineer who builds next-gen toys for Funki, the company behind PurrPetual Pets (think Furby, only a more annoying forever version).

Gemma’s latest invention, an adaptive, evolving robot companion for children, priced to sell at $10,000, represents “the moment we kicked Hasbro in the dick,” according to her boss David (Ronny Chieng).

“M3gan” also works so well because it’s slyly subversive and reveals its true agenda with some solid strikes.

An opening advertisement for why children have to own a PurrPetual Pet nails today’s cutthroat marketing: The spot opens with a child lamenting, “I had a dog and she was my best friend and she got old and died and I was alone and sad,” before showing the child with their new interactive toy pet that will never age or die.

Later, one of Gemma’s design partners drops some truth bombs on her by pointing

out that Gemma should be designing toys, not a replacement for a flesh-and-blood parent. And then a child psychiatrist evaluating Cady tells Gemma that M3gan might actually be a dangerous creation, not because it’s secretly a killer cyborg but because it is capable of forming such an attachment with its child owner that they may never be able to be without their doll, even once grown.

Obviously, the parallels between M3gan and say, I don’t know, the Internet, handheld electronic devices, cell phones, you name it, is pretty clear and spot-on.

If there’s a fault to be nitpicked, it’s simply that “M3gan,” for all its intelligent choices, wholly telegraphs several key plot developments well before those moments arrive. In fact, I knew how the movie would end within the first 15 minutes, as soon as Gemma introduced Cady to her at-home laboratory. That didn’t spoil the experience, but it would have been nice to not be right.

Regardless, something tells me that when (not if) “M3gan” dominates the box office its opening weekend, we’ll be getting a 2.0 upgrade of this killer doll in the near future.

AI GOD COMPLEX: Be ready for buku moments of WTF nuh-uh-ness.

The Mavericks

Friday, Jan. 13, 8 p.m. $43.25-$93.25

Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com

Ride with Me

Eddie Perez details the enduring joy of The Mavericks.

By Gabe Echazabal

Referring to The Mavericks as just a country music band is a grave injustice; the band, which originated in Miami in the late 1980s, is known for its versatility and its ability to tackle rockabilly, rock and roll, swing, pop, and Latin music with the greatest of ease.

Led by its crooner and chief songwriter, Cuban-American Raul Malo, the group—headed to Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on Friday, Jan. 13—is known for its dynamic live concerts which, more often than not, turn into spontaneous parties that find the band plowing through colorful and spontaneous setlists that inspire audiences to sing along, dance and lose all their inhibitions. The band boasts superb musicians and its guitarist, the sturdy, entertaining, and flashy axeman Eddie Perez is a huge part of what makes this group special.

The Mexican-American veteran guitarist grew up listening to and admiring rock guitarists like Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Beck and later found his way into country heavyweight Dwight Yoakam’s band. A fiery and essential member of The Mavericks’ lineup since 2003, Perez recently took some time away from the band’s rigorous touring schedule to chat with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay ahead of its return to Clearwater’. As energetic and lively during the conversation as he is onstage, Perez promises to make the group’s return to the area a whole lot of fun. Read an abridged version of our Q&A below and see the full chat via cltampa. com/music.

I have to imagine your band’s energy is a big reason why a lot of people gravitate towards this band and go see you play repeatedly. I think it is. I think that whole question that we’ve all been asked several times over again, ‘How would you classify your music?’ I always say I think The Mavericks make joyous music and that it’s that joyous thing because I really feel like a lot of that is wrapped up in a very genuine thing for us. A lot of that feeling is very genuine and wrapped up in all of our efforts collectively. I think that’s a big thing that transfers, not only from record, but from record to the stage and to the performances. And then in turn, I think that’s what the audiences pick up on.

DAVID MCCLISTER

Different venues have different sets of rules and whatnot, but what ends up happening usually is, when people usually figure it out, and when they’re aware of what it is that we do, then they know that dancing can erupt at any moment so we always tell people to choose their tickets accordingly. If you’re not gonna wanna sit somewhere where somebody’s gonna get up, be dancing, but then you might have to choose a different seat but it always ends up hap-

of ‘50s and ‘40s music. We, me and Raul, our approach and role, is as the primary guitar players in the band. His style is very different and very unique and mine is a very different thing too, but somehow we kind of, when it comes together, it creates this very unique thing together. That’s something that is, you know, like when you’re cooking a really great meal, the most important thing in that is a lot of the ingredients, the flavors and spices. And I think that just growing up in the midst of Southern California, I grew up in the late-‘70s. I got the tail end of a lot of that rock and roll stuff, especially on FM radio in the late-‘70s and early ‘80s in California, and I think I have soaked up a lot of that rock and roll influence and I think when I first joined the band, it was in a moment of transition. We were searching for a

of your life, so you better really make sure you’re loving what you’re doing and if you’re gonna do it, give your all to it. That’s something my father told me and taught me a long time ago and so I’ve never forgotten it. We work hard at it and I’m very proud to say that we’re all the same when it comes to that.

I’ve heard Raul Malo sing in Spanish plenty of times and I know his heritage is that of a Cuban-America, s how does that play into the set list? Will songs from EnEspañol weave their way into the set list?

Before the performance, we’ll get a set list and it’ll be a rough sketch of what Raul is feeling like but every now and then, on stage, he’ll call a different song or he’ll say this or he’ll say that. But uh but for the past uh you know, since we’ve

pening. And the audiences are really smart. They don’t usually really need instructions. There’s a lot of really great people who come to see us and I think that everybody’s feeding off of the same energy. It’s a bunch of guys doing something they absolutely love to do in the fashion that we love to do it. And there’s a freedom in that.

From your perspective, when you joined the band in 2003, what did you feel you brought to this band when you came on board?

Well, I felt that I brought my Southern California roots. Growing up in Los Angeles and in the Hollywood area, I was exposed to a lot of different things, from rock and roll music to some country, to a lot of jazz, to a lot of soul and a lot

different sound, searching for something unique and I think what I brought to it was a little bit of southern California influence into it.

I have watched you feed off the audience and the audience kind of get off on what you do on the stage. That interplay is just simply fantastic to watch because I’ve seen how you feed off the crowd and what they’re giving you. I do enjoy it, man. You know, why travel all the miles and why put yourself through all of it? When you consider that, you know, this year alone we spent over 240 days on the road. For a band that’s been around 30 plus years, luckily we still have the opportunity to do what we love to do. But when you think about that, that’s quite an investment

been back, after the pandemic loosened up, we have been out there playing a lot of the Spanish record actually. We just got done this past year doing, you know four weeks in Europe, you know four weeks in Canada. We’ve been everywhere this year and it seems that no matter where we go, even to a crowd that you would think could care less about the Spanish music, somehow, and I think it’s because it’s The Mavericks and it’s the way we deliver it, but they don’t really seem to care even if they don’t speak Spanish, even if they have not a trace of Latin anything in them for some reason, with this album and this this collections of songs, they really have responded to it. So we’ve been playing a big chunk of the record quite honestly.

Is that something that is just kind of organic or is that something that you guys specifically try to nurture?

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: Eddie Prez (right) says his band never plans to start a dance party—it just happens.

On the move

Gasparilla Music Festival won’t be able to use Kiley Garden in 2023.

By Ray Roa

Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) will have one less green space to utilize for its 2023 edition.

Last week, Axios said that Kiley Gardens is unavailable due to structural issues. A spokesperson for the City of Tampa told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Kiley—which has played host to three GMF stages in recent years—is unavailable because of “water intrusion issues that have been identified through an exploratory evaluation.”

“As a precautionary measure, the City is not allowing any events in the space until we receive full approval from an engineer to put loads on the top surface of the structure,” Spokesperson Lauren Rozyla added. “Tampa Parks & Recreation is actively working with the organization to find a suitable alternative location for the event.”

exciting new changes, and we look forward to being able to announce those details soon.”

Axios added that GMF organizers have eyes on Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, the next greenspace up the Hillsborough River.

FESTIVALS

At Julian B. Lane, the festival’s background would presumably be the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, with UT’s minarets to the south. It’s unclear where GMF—which usually programs four stages, plus ambient entertainment as part of its festival—would put a second big stage that usually occupies Kiley, but the park does have a large football field on its northwest corner.

GMF was founded in 2012 and has remained grassroots in presenting a festival in both Kiley Garden and Curtis Hixon Park every year, including three in the span of two years during the pandemic. It’s never been held anywhere but across the Hillsborough River from the University of Tampa’s iconic minarets, which have been a stunning backdrop for the last 11 years.

David Cox, Executive Director for GMF, told CL that the festival has been working on an alternative plan to “create an amazing festival experience for 2023 in downtown Tampa” ever since learning about waterproofing issues underneath Kiley and the fact that the city won’t issue a permit for GMF to use that park.

“Unfortunately, we still have some issues that haven’t been resolved and are working through those now,” Cox added. “We remain optimistic there will be a GMF 2023 with some

Water Works park would also be a short walk away from Julian B. Lane, but GMF has not included a stage festival goers would have to walk to, except in 2016 when it invited music fans to walk from Curtis Hixon to MacDill Park.

As this went to press, the City of Tampa sent CL copies of exploratory evaluations related to Kiley Gardens as well as permits related to GMF 2023.

GMF has yet to announce dates for the 2023 edition of its festival, which usually happens as part of Gasparilla Arts Month kicking off in just a few weeks. Last year, GMF ran three-days from Feb. 25-27. In past years, GMF has launched ticket sales and announced primary and secondary lineup announcements by this time of year.

Cox added that 2022 was the best year for GMF’s nonprofit foundation, which, in part, places instruments in local schools. “Our festival had its best year in ticket sales, sponsorships, and memberships, and we are excited to keep that momentum growing, and growing our festival in 2023 and beyond,” he said.

GREENER PASTURES: For 11 years, GMF has hosted three stages inside Kiley Gardens.

YSANNE TAYLOR C/O GASPARILLA MUSIC

“We remain optimistic there will be a GMF 2023.”

Oates to sow

John Oates wants to be remembered for more than his ‘80s hits.

By Josh Bradley

There’s a special place in John Oates’ heart for the pop-rock hits he wrote with Daryl Hall, which defined the 1980s. But he doesn’t want to only be remembered for that side of his storied career. “I’ve always been a roots musician, but people don’t realize it because the success of the big hits has always overshadowed everything that I’ve done individually,” Oates recently told Creative Loafing Tampa over the phone.

The 74-year-old isn’t lying, either. One of his earliest musical experiences was going to see Bill Haley & His Comets perform live at a Pennsylvania amusement park as a preschooler. Oates’ most vivid memory of that gig includes bassist Al Rex pretending his standup bass was a horse while playing it. “It was the first time I ever heard live music in my life,” he recalled.

INTERVIEW

recently got off a co-headlining tour with Todd Rundgren—also a mostly acoustic affair—Oates has been bringing guitar maestro Guthrie Trapp on the road with him for backup. While a far less unicorn-esque figure than Rundgren, Oates admitted that he was so taken aback by Trapp’s performance at an installment of Telluride Bluegrass Festival, he offered to just give him his guitar. “I said, ‘Hey, man, you play this thing better than I ever will. Here, take it,’ and he kinda laughed. He didn’t want to take it,” Oates chuckled.

Next Thursday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m. $53 & up Mahaffey Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Arts 400 1st St. S, St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com

Ever since a move to Nashville just over a decade ago, the 74-year-old has been taking advantage of his legend status by splitting time between touring—and possibly recording—with his best friend of over 50 years, and getting down and dirty with roots music he grew up with. The acoustic vibes he blends into his recent work even goes back to 2004, on Daryl Hall and John Oates’ most recent non-Christmas album, Our Kind of Soul, loaded with soul and R&B covers that were around in their own days of youth.

But despite Hall’s absence, Oates is far from alone in his Americana excursions. While Hall

The duo will play their first gig of the year—out of four currently booked U.S. dates—at the Mahaffey Theater inside St. Petersburg’s Duke Energy Center for the Arts next Thursday. If you think that’s an historic feat, his most recent gig at the Mahaffey— strangely enough—was even more of an essential evening in Oates’ more recent performing life. Last year, he opened for Beth Hart at the theater, doing so only once on the U.S. leg of Beth’s Thankful tour last year. “We went down there and did it, and everyone loved it. That started the ball rolling,” Oates recalled. This led to a smallish European tour that launched last fall, and another one currently being planned for this summer.

Get our full Q&A with John Oates at cltampa.com/music.

THIRST TRAPP: John Oates (R) has been bringing Guthrie Trapp on the road for backup.

John Oates & Guthrie Trapp

By

Bradley & Ray Roa

CL Recommends

THU 12

Jeremy

-

For his annual birthday show, former Reax Magazine advice columnist, and Tampa’s most prolific pop songwriter had assembled a new band, The Power Bottoms, which is part of a lineup of local outfits that’ve learned songs from Gloff’s sprawling 30-year-old discography so that everyone can sing along. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

FRI 13

Antagonizers w/Switchblade Villain/ more Get your Oi!s in line, punks. Working class Atlanta band Antagonizers is warming up for its headlining set at Sanford Punk Fest with this Sulphur Springs gig at 2022’s best biker-bar-concert-venue hybrid. Sporting a from-the-heart, street-ready sound, Antagonizers arrives supporting its 2021 album, Kings , where the band not only moved bassist Billy Fields to keyboards, but looked inward to sing melodic tunes about personal struggles and our individual places in this collective struggle. (Born Free Pub & Grill, Tampa)

Arts Legacy Remix: Let Freedom Ring w/Alumni Singers of St. Petersburg Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 93 years old this weekend, and as the nation celebrates his legacy, three Gibbs High School grads (class of 1957) and members of the school’s St. Cecelia Choir turn the late civil rights leader’s words into gospel. Performances from Straz Center’s Arts Legacy Series are always free, and this one brings the performance inside as opposed to the venue’s Riverwalk stage. (Teco Theater at David A. Straz Center for the performing Arts, Tampa)

Geoff Tate w/Mark Daly Queensryche— which hasn’t featured longtime lead singer Geoff Tate since 2012—is swinging over to Jannus Live in April, but for those that feel that a group is nothing without its OG frontman, you better head to The Cap. Tate managed to reopen the much more spacious Ruth Eckerd Hall in December 2020, when he performed Queensryche masterpieces Rage for Order and Empire in their respective entireties to a socially-distanced crowd. These days, the 63-year-old has returned to reminding fans of the Queensryche hits across all eras that put him on the map in the first place. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

a goddamn utility knife in the Tampa music scene toolbox, and after 20 years in the field of art and design, the musician, professor and manager of University of Tampa’s 3D Fabrication Studio is finally starting his own company that designs and builds bespoke guitars for discerning musicians. To get Ingold Audio out of the woodshed, he’s tapped a dynamic cross section of the local rock scene—glam favorite Roxx Revolt & the Velvets, post-rock instrumental outfit Gullwing, and blue collar Americana band Former Contenders—to play a free show where Ingold’s guitars will also be on display. “These guitars know exactly what they are. They are an exercise in minimalist design and built to last through the next world war,” Bay area songwriter and talent buyer at St. Pete’s Floridian Social said. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Marcia Ball w/Reverend Billy C Wirtz

legend Reverend Billy C. Wirtz is not one to skip. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

The Mavericks Referring to The Mavericks as just a country music band is a grave injustice; the band, which originated in Miami in the late 1980s, is known for its versatility and its ability to tackle rockabilly, rock and roll, swing, pop, and Latin music with the greatest of ease. Read our interview with guitarist Eddie Perez on p. 35. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)—Gabe Echazabal

Nellie McKay London-born singer and Broadway veteran McKay is on the same list as McCartney, Lizzo, and Stevie Wonder, in that they’re all musicians who openly advocate for veganism and human rights in general. She’s even been given awards by PETA and the Humane Society for her advocacy. The 40-year-old singer was majorly influenced by music of the 1960s—especially the late Doris Day—and she’ll blend songs from that era, as well as some of her original material into the setlist for what appears to be her Tampa Bay debut. (Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Ingold Audio Launch Party:

Roxx Revolt

& the

Velvets

w/Gullwing/Former Contenders/Lauris Vidal Mike Ingold is

I don’t think many musicians can say that they managed to share a gumbo recipe with the world during lockdown. In blues pianist Ball’s case—having spent much of her life in the South, specifically Louisiana—it was inevitable. Oddly enough, it’s been a hot minute since Ball—an Alligator Records artist who cites Fats Domino as an influence—has rolled into Tampa Bay, her last stop here appears to be a 2014 slot at Clearwater Jazz Holiday with the late Dr. John, so her stop at Skipper’s with local

Gloff and the Power Bot

toms w/Navin Ave/Direwood/Jeff Brawer/Melissa Grady/Christopher Knolton/Deb Ruby/$tephmoney

Winter Jam 2023: We The Kingdom w/ Jeremy Camp/Andy Mineo/Anne Wilson/ Disciple/Austin French/more If contemporary Christian music is your bag, an annual

Josh

tour featuring some of the genre’s currently most overplayed bands and artists kicks off in Tampa Bay. Headlining is We The Kingdom—a Tennessee band that first made airwaves with “Holy Water” in late 2019—as well as Anne Wilson (no, not the one from Heart. Relax for Christ’s sake.), and longtime radio favorite Jeremy Camp. There are no stops in New York or California specifically (surprise, surprise), but no matter who or what you pray to, a $15 donation at the door ain’t bad for such a large lineup. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

SAT 14

Barry Manilow Next July, the 79-yearold “Mandy” singer celebrates 50 years since the release of his eponymous debut album, and despite having already conducted a yearlong farewell tour, which rolled into Tampa in 2016, Manilow remains relatively active. He released a sequel to his 2014 album of Great American Songbook pieces right before COVID-19 lockdowns commenced, and still holds down hit-drenched residencies in Las Vegas. Tell your mom, because gigantic, fullscale tours are no longer in the cards for Mr. “Copacabana.” (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

The Manhattan Transfer w/The Diva Jazz Orchestra It’s fairly safe to say that since its formation well over 50 years ago, jazz vocal band The Manhattan Transfer has not really been concerned with personnel. Founding member Tim Hauser died in 2014, and though his presence is felt at every gig since, there haven’t been many issues going forward without him. But time has caught up with

the remaining band members, and a farewell tour coincides with the release of the group’s latest record Fifty, which closes with a cover of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” featuring layered harmonies in a key that makes it sound like one of the most bittersweet goodbyes ever to happen. It hasn’t been said if Fifty will be the Manhattan Transfer’s final record, but for now, it’s best to act like it is.

(Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Palomino Blond w/Smelter/Háros After landing in the same room last October, Miami indie-rock band Palomino Blond is back in Tampa’s West River district. Supporting this time, however, is South Florida rock band Smelter, which plays shoegaze-y stoner-rock that teeters on emo, plus Háros. Led by Philip Charos, the new St. Petersburg band made its live debut late last month playing sprawling, moody rock. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Sunroom Sessions Something really special is happening in the south side of Ybor City, and Sundé is at the helm. The soul and pop songwriter is a performer and curator of the vibe in the backyard of Nana’s during “Sunroom Sessions,” a DIY concert and hang featuring some of the brightest and best young musicians in Tampa Bay. This weekend, a supergroup of sorts—Rejuvenation featuring bassist Giancarlo Yanes-Martinez, guitarist Peter Mongaya Hogsholm, drummer E.J Mitchell, saxophonist-producer Nick Bredal and others—plays and opens up the mic ahead of a women’s song circle and improv from vocalists, poets and soloists. A market with vegan soul food kicks off at 5 p.m., with music starting an hour later. (Nana’s, Ybor City)

SUN 15

Dirty Janes w/Osceola Brothers/ Johnny Mile & the Kilometers/489XY Floridian Social’s new “State Theatre Sundays” series rolls on and goes full-on rock and roll with a headlining set from Dirty Janes, which last played the venue when the band had a different name (Sick Hot). The outfit still struts as hard as it did back then, and it’ll get plenty of help when South Florida’s Osceola Brothers (FFO: Black Sabbath, flannel) and Pinellas’ hardest rocking trio Johnny Mile & the Kilometers opens the no-cover affair. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

Jack Wilkins: A Centennial Tribute to Dexter Gordon Jazz composer Chuck Owen was busy last weekend, and this Sunday one of Owen’s Jazz Surge soloists, Jack Wilkins, spends an afternoon paying tribute to late saxophonist (and actor) Dexter Gordon. “Cheesecake” and “Fried Bananas”—highlights from Gordon’s catalog marked by a big, broad sound and conversational solos—are on the menu for this homage to Long Tall Dexter who helped revitalize interest in straight-ahead jazz in the U.S. La Lucha and trumpeter James Suggs are part of the ensemble for this matinee. (Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City)

Shelly Berg and Laurence Hobgood Chick Corea has been gone for almost two years at this point, so it’s much harder to take the jazz pianists we still have for granted. Berg—who once sat in for the Woody Herman Band—is the dean of the Patricia Frost School of Music

at the University of Miami, and a Steinway pianist. Laurence Hobgood—a 2010 Grammy winner from New York— has maintained a long partnership with Chicago jazzman Kurt Elling, and while the latter won’t be present, we won’t be too shocked if he throws a few pieces he has done with Elling into his gig with Mr. Berg at the Side Door. Bassist Joe Porter and drummer Jean Bolduc back the pianists up. (Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

THU 19

Bobby Rush w/Selwyn Birchwood

Guitar legend Bobby Rush celebrates his 90th birthday this fall, and as you can probably imagine, a live show from him is no common feat. Rush was recently featured on his dear friend, Buddy Guy’s latest album The Blues Don’t Lie , via a tune called “What’s Wrong With That,” which is basically the two blues shredders asking why they should be ashamed of their preferences in life, like how they want their steaks cooked, or just liking what they like in general. Hopefully, Rush will open for Guy on his farewell tour this year, but in the meantime, local legend Selwyn Birchwood opens for this seemingly oncein-a-lifetime gig in Safety Harbor. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)

John Oates w/Guthrie Trapp Despite Daryl Hall’s absence, Oates is far from alone in his somewhat new Americana excursions. He’s been bringing guitar maestro Guthrie Trapp on the road with him for backup. Read our interview with Oates on p. 37. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

Bobby Rush

ROUNDER RECORDS

When The Eagles closed out their show in Tampa last February, Don Henley looked out at the crowd and said, “In case we don’t pass this way again, I want to thank all of you for a wonderful ride, for a wonderful 50 years.”

We all knew the iconic classic-rock group would be back, and on Monday we got news that Henley & co. are playing Tampa in just a few weeks. The show features Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, with Vince

Jack Wilkins: A Centennial Tribute to Dexter Gordon Sunday, Jan. 15. 3 p.m. $10-$20, free for HCC students with ID. HCC Ybor Mainstage Theatre, Ybor City

Rusty Wright Blues Band w/Kyle Ingram Trio Thursday, Jan. 19. 7 p.m. $10. Floridian Social Club, St. Petersburg

Trailer Park Mark and the Crystaldeth Band w/Little Sheba and the Shamans/ Our Escape (opening for The Delta Bombers) Friday, Jan. 20. 7 p.m. $15. Orpheum, Tampa

Big Backyard Block Party feat. The Living Arches (EP Release)/Mes/Eyelid Cinema/ Sintell Terry/Turkey Boy Saturday, Jan. 21. 12 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Tampa

Red Wanting Blue Saturday, Jan. 21. 8 p.m. $22. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa Southern Avenue w/Zach Person Saturday, Jan. 21. 8 p.m. $14.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo Notsew w/Landon Wordswell/ Perception/Reasy/Sintell Terry/more TBA Sunday, Jan. 22. 7 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

GA-20 Thursday, Jan. 26. 8 p.m. $12-$15. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials F riday, Jan. 27. 7:30 p.m. $20. Safety Harbor Art & Music Center, Safety Harbor

Ajeva w/The Fritz/MiniM/DJ Captain Hogie Friday, Feb. 24. 7 p.m. $15. Floridian Social Club, St. Petersburg

Murder the Crow w/Mobius Loop/Growler Friday, Feb. 24. 8 p.m. $10 at the door. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Gill in a lineup that will play The Eagles’ classic album front-to-back, accompanied by an orchestra and choir. There’ll be an intermission, naturally, before a second set featuring the band’s greatest hits.

Tickets to see The Eagles’ “Hotel California” Tour encore at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on Tuesday, March 28 go on sale Friday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. and start at $129. See Josh Bradley’s weekly new concert roundup below.—Ray Roa

Trapt Friday, Feb. 24. 6:30 p.m. $20. Brass Mug, Tampa

The Concepts of Fear Tour: Bottomfeeders w/Snake Father/ Yosemite Saturday, March 4. 7 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City

Vision Video w/Secret Shame/Carrelle Saturday, March 4. 7 p.m. $17. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Cheap Trick Tuesday, March 7. 8 p.m. $80. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Nonpoint w/Blacktop Mojo/Sumo Cyco Friday, March 10. 7 p.m. $26.50. The Ritz, Ybor City

Gemini Syndrome Thursday, March 16. 6:30 p.m. $15. Brass Mug, Tampa

Leo Sayer Tuesday, March 21. 7:30 p.m. $44.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Bret Michaels’ Parti-Gras: Night Ranger w/Jefferson Starship/more Friday, Aug. 4. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Ne Obliviscaris w/Beyond Creation/ Persefone Tuesday, Oct. 10. 6:30 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Zac Brown Band w/King Calloway/ TBA Friday, Nov. 3. 6:30 p.m. $40.50 & up. Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Cancellations/reschedules

Keb’ Mo’ at Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Feb. 6 Rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 9.

EBRU YILDIZ

Welcome back

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, I’m wondering if I’ll change jobs next year. I might be forced out of my current job. Should I jump ship first and go for a corporate job to make more money, or should I stay the course?—New Horizons?

Cards: The Sun, Eights of Pentacles (reversed), Nine of Wands, Five of Swords (reversed) Dear New Horizons, to paraphrase Emmylou Harris, I think you’re looking for water from a deeper well. I don’t think you’re looking for a better job so much as you’re looking for both joy and recognition in your life.

The Sun is the first card of this spread and the only Major Arcana. The image is of a happy baby, riding a fat little pony as the sun beams down all beatific upon him. We want to be that happy baby, having a joyous romp, but part of that happiness comes from being watched by the sun. It’s a card of joy and feeling seen and recognized for our accomplishments.

It wouldn’t surprise me if you don’t feel valued at your current job. You mention that you might be “forced out,” which doesn’t happen to people held in high esteem and that cards show a frustrating pattern.

With the Eight of Pentacles reversed, I’m guessing that you’ve worked hard at your job for years. You’ve given a lot to it and are particularly good at what you do. You’re a master of your craft. And what do you get in return?

Five of Swords reversed. Competition and pettiness, with cutthroat co-workers who try to undermine you—and, possibly, some less-thanideal coping mechanisms and communication on your end. (Are you perhaps a bit more judgmental of others and more critical of yourself than you’d like to be?)

Feeling like you have to fight for your seat at the table is hardly a positive work environment, and that can affect the rest of our lives outside of work. Something has to change.

The good news is, it will. The Nine of Wands is a card of breakthroughs, positive change, and hope. (It’s also a card of exhaustion, so this probably won’t be the smoothest of transitions.) It comes under The Sun, meaning you’ll have to make those changes to get that joy and recognition. Does it mean jumping ship? Possibly. If the current job feels too toxic to save, it’s probably the best option.

But I also encourage you to think about what changes you could make outside of work that would help you feel seen and joyful. A good job can only be so fulfilling—and jobs end. You’ll need something to carry you through your next job, weekend, and retirement. It might be worth seeing a therapist if that’s an option or perhaps starting a mindfulness practice that lets you dig deep and see what you’re truly looking for.

Whatever it is, I hope you find it. Best of luck, my dear.

Dear Oracle, I’ve been a teacher for 32 years, and the past few years have been incredibly stressful. Between unsupportive parents to administration, I’m not sure how much more I can handle. Can I make it through the next two years to retirement?—Teacher in Tampa

Cards: The Moon (reversed), Seven of Wands (reversed), Queen of Swords (reversed), Eight of Cups

Dear Teach, thank you so much for your service over the past 32 years and especially for your work over this pandemic. To say, “this hasn’t been easy” is such an understatement, it’s comical.

These past years have been profoundly wounding, both for the mind and the spirit, which we can see with The Moon reversed. You have given so much of yourself to this job, and

that effort has not been matched or appreciated by parents or admin. That’s a betrayal, and I’m so sorry for that.

Will you be able to survive the next two years? Of course. You’re the Queen of Swords— you have courage, smarts, and a spine of steel. But plenty of Prisoners of War survive their internment only to lose it when they get home, so the goal is not just for you to drag yourself across the finish line in two years but to finish as a healthy, whole human being.

Things do have to change. With the Seven of Wands, you are rightfully at a turning point, and what has been “working” isn’t cutting it anymore. If you keep going on as you have been, you’ll fall off the edge.

family and friends in your life outside of school. You need support right now across spectrums.

If it feels selfish, try tricking yourself into it by reminding yourself that if you’re burnt out, you can’t take care of others.

It also might be worth examining expectations and meeting the world where it’s at. It’s not that you should expect the worst, but if you know that no matter what you do, you can’t make these shitty parents happy, then perhaps you can reserve some of that energy.

ORACLE OF YBOR

The Eight of Cups is a card of taking a new path and having new options. Since the cups are also a suit of relationships, this could mean asking for help to see or access those options.

Being the Queen of Swords, asking for help may not come naturally to you, but it’s necessary. This could be in the form of a therapist or some sort of administrative support or support of

Also, be mindful of how you talk to yourself. You’re allowed to be disappointed with how things are ending or feel angry or defeated. Again, I strongly recommend therapy if at all possible because you could be dealing with PTSD from the past few years— and that might not fully bloom until you’re in retirement, so it’s good to nip it in the bud.

You have done so much and I hope people are able to show you the kindness you have shown others over the years.

Be kind to yourself, my dear.

Send your questions to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram.

UPSIDEDOWNCAKE/ADOBE

Runners

By Dan Savage

Very long story short, I’m a woman in the process of getting out of a long and abusive marriage. I’m getting therapy. One factor of that abuse: I’m still a virgin, at least as far as penetration is concerned. (That’s another long story.) If I can even find anybody interested in me, how do I tell them the only stuff I know about consensual sex is what I’ve read about it? The few people I’ve told the full story didn’t believe me at first. All I can imagine is a new person running away. Various Insecurities Rock Genuinely Inexperienced Newbie

VIRGIN, not during or after. It may be a favor in a shitty disguise, VIRGIN, but it’s still a favor.

hell do I do? Just sit here and yearn forever? Cause I’ve been doing that for about three years now and it’s getting old.—What Happens After This?

You’re definitely missing something.

You’ve already done what a lot of people around here—around here in the comments thread, around here at this particular cultural moment—would’ve strongly urged you not to do: You hit on a coworker! A coworker in a relationship that probably isn’t open! Most opposite-sex relationships aren’t.

Ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and polyamory don’t mean the same thing—indeed, a few years ago polyamorous folks were complaining about people who just wanted to fuck describing themselves as polyamorous, which is probably why someone came up with the term ENM. To clarify, not confuse.

NEW AFRICA/ADOBE

You shouldn’t hesitate to tell someone— particularly a new person you want to have sex with—that you’ve never had penetrative sex before. And while you don’t owe that new person the full story, VIRGIN, you might wanna tell them what you told me. Give them the outline: You want to fuck but you recently got out of an abusive marriage and you’re getting professional help to deal with the emotional fallout—so you’re not asking them to be your therapist—but you are understandably nervous and more than a little scared about the fucking you’d like to do. When we tell someone, “I’ve never done this before,” whatever the “this” we’re talking about might be, we’re letting that person know they’ll need to take things a little slower with us than they might with someone who’s had more experience— with penetrative sex or threesomes or being fisted or, again, whatever the “this” we’re talking about might be. And if we’re in a delicate place emotionally, letting the other person know we might be overwhelmed by big feelings—and big feelings aren’t always bad feelings—shows them we’re taking their comfort into consideration too, VIRGIN, because what we’re saying is, “I don’t want you to feel blindsided if I’m suddenly overwhelmed.”

And if the new person you share these things with responds by running away—if your worst fears are realized—tell yourself that person did you a favor. Because if they run away… they weren’t the right person, they weren’t the person you hoped they were, and you’re far better off finding all that out before you have sex,

Because the first time you have penetrative sex you want it to be with someone who feels honored that you chose them, not burdened, and who understands they have a special responsibility to make sure you feel safe before, during, and after. You are a gift. It’s a privilege to get to have sex with you—it’s a privilege to get to have sex with anyone—and being someone’s first, whatever first we’re talking about, carries a special responsibility. If someone doesn’t want that responsibility, VIRGIN, or if they can’t handle that responsibility, they don’t deserve you. The wrong ones will run away. The right one will stick around.

I’m married and it’s... OK. We’re more like friends raising our son together than anything else. There’s no sex, but I’m whatever about that. But I’ve had on and off feelings for a coworker and friend for a few years now. I don’t know if it’s love or lust or whatever. I thought if I admitted my feelings to my

If you hit on your coworker and he responded with “no worries” and he hasn’t treated you any differently since… what the hell is happening? One of two things happened. You either hit on him so subtly he didn’t realize you were hitting on him, WHAT, or he decided to pretend you didn’t hit on him because he isn’t interested in cheating on his girlfriend with a married coworker and/or you aren’t the coworker he would cheat with and he doesn’t want you to feel bad about the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad thing you did that day, WHAT, so he’s pretending you didn’t do that thing.

SAVAGE LOVE

crush, it would help me figure things out. It didn’t. I thought it would go one of two ways. Either he would say he didn’t feel the same, avoid me, and I would move on and get over it, or he would lean into it—he would let me know he was interested—and I would talk things over with my husband and we would go from there. But nothing changed. When I told him he basically replied, “Oh, no worries,” and acted the same. We’re still friends, but that’s it. My husband would be down to open things up, I think, as we’ve talked about having a threesome before. But I don’t have any interest in doing that if my crush isn’t into me, because I’m really not interested in anyone else. And to add to the complications, my crush has a girlfriend. What the

If you want absolute clarity from him, WHAT, you’ll have to risk the dreaded direct question: “I hit on you the other day—because I have a crush on you— and ever since I’ve been wondering if that registered and, if it did, what you think.” (Good luck with HR if he got it the first time, wasn’t interested, and “no worries” was his way of saying “no thanks.”) Whatever you decide to do, whatever does or doesn’t happen with your coworker, don’t wait any longer to talk things over with your husband. It’s better to have that conversation about opening up your marriage without the added pressure of a DTF crush waiting for you back at the office.

Polyamory seems like a beautiful concept to me. People have such an amazing capacity for love. However, where I used to see the word “polyamory,” I now frequently see the term “ethical non-monogamy” used instead. What is the difference between the two if any at all? Is the latter just another symptom of American culture’s emotionphobia or am I missing something? I don’t just want to fuck; I want to love the people I fuck. Am I alone in this poly ideal?—Pondering Over Linguistical Yens And Meanings

Think of it like this: Bob and Carol decide to open their relationship on the condition that sex with other people be kept strictly casual—no repeats, no regulars, no feelings. So long as Bob and Carol honor the agreement they made with each other when they opened the relationship, POLYAM, and so long as Bob and Carol don’t mislead their casual sex partners—so long as they don’t encourage outside sex partners to think a relationship is possible when all they wanna do is fuck—Bob and Carol are practicing non-monogamy in an ethical fashion. So, Bob and Carol are ENM, but they’re not poly. (Bob and Carol, please note: It’s just as important you don’t allow your outside sex partners to assume a relationship is possible; if someone might reasonably assume you’re single and open to dating, you two, you have to proactively inform them you are not.)

Ted and Alice, on the other hand, have a different agreement. They’re in love and committed to each other, but they’re dating other people and open to forming committed and concurrent romantic relationships with their other partners. So long as Ted and Alice are honoring the rules and conditions they set for themselves, they’re practicing non-monogamy in an ethical fashion. So, Ted and Alice, like Bob and Carol, are ENM, but they’re also poly.

And just to make things a little more complicated, POLYAM, while all healthy and functional polyamorous relationships are ENM, not all poly relationships are open relationships. Some triads, some quads, some quints, etc., are very much closed—they’re polyamorous and ENM, but no one else is going to be invited to the join the shared Google calendar.

With my 53-year-old pop culture reference out of the way (Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, which was released in 1969, is streaming now on Apple TV), POLYAM, you are not alone in wanting to love the people you fuck and fuck the people you love—the people you love romantically, of course, not your parents or siblings and other family members. But you shouldn’t assume that people who are ENM without being poly aren’t interested in love or fear intimacy. Two people can be very much in love, POLYAM, while having strict rules about keeping things casual with outside partners.

Send your burning questions to mailbox@ savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at savage.love!

Pompadour, for example: abbr.