Creative Loafing Tampa — February 16, 2023

PUBLISHER James Howard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf

MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields

STAFF WRITER Justin Garcia

FOOD and THEATER CRITIC

Jon Palmer Claridge

FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Min

Craig, Jennifer Ring, Arielle Stevenson, Chelsea Zukowski

PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker

SPRING INTERN Tyana Rodgers

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora

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ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore

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MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

Alexis Quinn Chamberlain

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Lauren Caplinger

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Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

Andrew Zelman

Week ...................................................42

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Chris Keating, Michael Wagner

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sarah Fenske

Music Week ...................................................42 Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42

VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein

The List ..........................................................46 Movie reviews

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Hollie Mahadeo

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

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Sierra Ferrell is undoubtedly part of that revolution.

A new round of concert announcements includes this rising star of country, p. 57.

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SACKS & CO.

Many other states don’t have these laws on the books. Hillsborough blocked 52% of abortion petitions for minors, p. 20.

do this

Read Out Back for its sixth consecutive year, Gulfport’s celebration of LGBTQ+ literature highlights some of the most celebrated queer authors in the country. In 2023, the free festival is back and bigger (nearly 30 featured authors are on the bill) with a new theme (“Literary Queeries”) and three days of in-person events that can call be virtually attended. Pittsburgh author Brian Broome (pictured), a Kirkus Prize winner whose debut memoir “Punch Me Up to the Gods” is a New York Times Editor’s Pick will deliver a keynote on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Gulfport Casino at 5500 Shore Blvd. S less than half-a-mile from the library. FridaySunday, Feb. 16-19, Free with registration. Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S, Gulfport. readout. lgbtqgulfport.org—Kyla Fields

Tampa Bay's best things to do from February 16-23

Emmylou Harris A lot’s happened in the world in the six years since Emmylou Harris played Tampa Theatre, and we’re guessing the living legend of country music will address it all when she returns to Tampa Bay this week. The 14-time Grammy winner’s last local set was a masterclass in songwriting where she traversed “Sin City” key changes and sprinted alongside her band on “Luxury Liner.” During the 20-song affair, Harris, 75, effortlessly showcased underrated guitar prowess and even shouted out Winter Haven’s Gram Parsons. Harris has since received the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement award and continued her activism for animal welfare. Tuesday, Feb. 21. 8 p.m. $43.25. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa

East West Dance Festival Each year, the Shruti Foundation hosts its family-friendly East West Dance festival, where talented dancers and artists from Tampa Bay and beyond “stretch hands across geographic and cultural divides” through the universal language of song and dance. Food trucks, vendors, guided yoga and other activities will take over the park’s grassy lawn while its bandshell hosts dozens of lively bands and performers. Although this festival is free to attend, donations can be made via Eventbrite. Sunday, Feb. 18 Free. Water Works Park, 1701 N Highland Ave., Tampa. shrutifoundationtampa.org —KF

Tampa Tiger Bay Club Tampa’s municipal election wraps on March 7, and eight candidates vying to be sworn into city council seats in Districts 4, 5 and 6 will be onstage in front of this nonpartisan politics club with members who’ll grill the candidates for the better part of an hour. Most interesting will be the exchange between McDonald’s heir Blake Caspers, who entered the race in the 11th hour in the hopes of defeating incumbent Bill Carlson (pictured above, left, who Casper supported in the last election.) Friday, Feb. 17, noon. $35 for non-members. Cuban Club ballroom, 2010 N Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. tigerbayclub.com —RR

Brunched Looking for the ultimate brunch experience with your besties? Brunched, a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay event, is back with an absolutely irresistible invitation: a unique opportunity to sample brunch bites by local restaurants as you sip on bubbles, enjoy spectacular downtown waterfront views and photo opportunities, and much, much more like an epic not-to-be-missed Bloody Mary Battle. Plus, a portion of proceeds benefits Laundry Project. Go to cltampa.com/slideshows to see all the local spots you’ll find at Brunched 2023. Saturday, Feb. 18 . 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $40 & up. (GA admission starts at noon). Tampa River Center at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 402 W Laurel St., Tampa. brunchedtampabay.com—CL Staff

Bert Kreischer Tampa’s Jesuit High School has had some significant alumni. None of them has headlined Amalie Arena. Comedian Bert “The Machine” Kreischer, does just that as part of the “Tops Off World Tour,” which features devastating punchlines and more than an hour of new material about his family, Bud Lights, humility, and a throwback to some of his best jokes. Friday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m. $36 & up. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa. amaliearena.com—RR

Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival

This free-to-attend food, culture and community-focused block party makes its yearly comeback with vendors, prizes and plenty of collard-based snacks.There’ll be plenty of food, activities for kids, an African drum circle, plus the collard green cookoff competition with a grand prize of $500. Saturday, Feb. 18 . 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. tbcgf.org—Min Craig

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ While we’re not exactly sure what “living life in a Southern state of mind” means, this popular festival makes its return to downtown Tampa, offering unlimited sips of craft beer and bourbon, plus a wide range of barbecued meats (including a “Swine of Shrine” featuring whole roasted pigs) and live blues and rock music. Saturday, Feb. 18 , $45 & up. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. drinkeatrelax. com—KF

Imagine Blackness

Some artists argue that AI image generators aren’t creating anything new. Others, like USF professors McArthur Freeman II and Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, enjoy enlisting AI as a collaborator. The Freemans used AI to explore Blackness and Black representation in a new set of works on display through Feb. 26. From a botanical paradise laden with richly hued figures to an otherworldly futuristic sci-fi cosmos, this exhibition invites viewers to engage in the act of collective dreaming as a social intervention, which moves beyond the reality of the present world to (re)-imagine and discover new ways of seeing and being.On display through Feb. 26. Free. Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo. creativepinellas.org—Jennifer Ring

Localtopia 2023 It’s already pretty hard to find parking in downtown St. Pete these days, but the one day a year that Localtopia returns to Williams Park, it’s nearly impossible. Although the full list of 300-plus vendors and food trucks hasn’t been released yet, a few popular businesses we can expect to return to Localtopia include Made Coffee, Fox & Crow, The Hive, Recycled Earth Pottery and AfterBurnt. The festival prides itself on accepting strictly St. Pete-based makers, steering clear of franchises and multi-level marketing businesses. Saturday, Feb. 18 , 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free, bring money to buy shit. Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. keepsaintpetersburglocal.org—KF

BEER, BOURBON & BBQ/FACEBOOK

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TODD ROSENBERG

Dark Brandon

Photos

by Dave Decker

Last Thursday, President Joe Biden stood beneath the 132-year-old rotunda of the University of Tampa’s Plant Hall to defend two programs that have collectively helped families for more than 140 years. “A lot of Republicans dream of cutting social security and medicare,” he told a room of local Democratic party power players. “If that’s your dream, I’m your nightmare.”

The quip drew big applause, much like a lot of his State Of the Union Address last Tuesday. During that address in Washington D.C., Biden more or less trolled Republicans into saying they would not even entertain cuts to Medicare and Social Security, founded in 1965 and 1935, respectively. Biden reiterated his commitment to bipartisanship during his 24-minute speech in Tampa, adding that, “Fighting for the sake of fighting gets us nowhere.” Read more and see all the photos via cltampa.com/slideshows.

—Ray Roa

United in justice

The Joseph family helps families heal and organize after police shootings.

By Justin Garcia

Andrew and Deanna Joseph can feel the spirit of their son guiding them when they leave Tampa Bay to help families who are experiencing the crushing pain of losing a cherished loved one. The memory of Andrew Joseph III is with them when they fly to other states, when they meet people wrapped in grief, when they confront police and hit the streets. No matter what obstacles they face, the couple knows their son is leading and protecting them.

Every time they meet a new family experiencing a tragedy akin to what they suffered nearly nine years ago, it returns them to that moment when they found out their first child died due to the negligence of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. “It brings me back to stage one,” says Andrew.

It took more than eight years of fighting for the state to acknowledge that HCSO was responsible for their son’s 2014 death, when deputies wrongly ejected Andrew Joseph III from the Florida State Fairgrounds and lied by telling him he had to cross the interstate to find his ride home. The 14-year-old boy was hit by a car while crossing I-4 and died that night. Last September, the family was awarded $15 million in their federal trial against the Sheriff.

Continuing the struggle for the sake of other families is a double edged sword, says Andrew. Revisiting the grief over and over again is daunting, but the act of standing for others who are hurting also acts as a form of therapy. And working repeatedly through the process of healing from loss, along with seeking justice, provides an outlet for the lifelong effect the death of their son will have on the Josephs.

Sadly, there’s no shortage of families to fight for.

Since winning at trial, the Josephs have helped families with police killing and misconduct cases in Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio and other parts of the country. In 2022, police killings reached a record high of 1,176— or about 100 per month.

Last month, the couple celebrated Deanna’s 52nd birthday by flying to Houston, where they will spend four days helping the family of Jalen Randle, who was fatally shot in the back of the neck by a police officer last year. “It’s our life now, this is what we do,” Deanna says.

The Randle family seeks answers and justice from the Houston Police Department, but many don’t know what to do when the moment strikes.

“When this type of thing happens to you, it’s a wilderness,” says Deanna. “You just don’t know where to begin, but you know that you need to begin.”

The Joseph’s fight for their son included years of rallies, launching a campaign for justice, learning how to talk to the press, educating themselves on their rights and navigating the legal system, among other efforts. Perhaps most importantly, they learned how to navigate the deep psychological trauma and shock of suddenly losing a loved one. It’s not something you can learn in a book, the Josephs say, and families in such a position need others who can really understand what they’re going through, to help

activists in just about every state that can get to a family within that timeframe and offer assistance.

When 15-year-old Jaheim McMillan was fatally shot in the head outside of a Family Dollar by police in Mississippi last October, boots were on the ground almost immediately. Police in the Mississippi City of Gulfport claimed that McMillan was armed with a gun, but video shows that several witnesses to the shooting stayed at the scene to tell responding officers that it wasn’t true.

Since then, McMillan’s family has been fighting for answers and justice, with the Joseph family and others standing alongside them. Activists want police body camera footage of the incident to be released, for the officer who shot the teenager to be arrested, and for the police chief to resign. A video from January 6 shows Andrew Joseph leading chants during a protest in front of the Family Dollar where McMillan was killed.

a ride home. He said he was being stalked by white men who wanted to kill him. He was denied twice by police, and his skeletal remains were later found on a private property. Somehow, police in Taylorsville decide there was no foul play, and the community has risen up to demand a proper investigation.

LOCAL NEWS

Andrew Joseph III Memorial Weekend

Friday-Sunday, Feb. 17-19 Various venues andrewjosephfoundation.com

For all of these families, the controversial legal doctrine known as “qualified immunity,” which protects police officers and departments from prosecution, prevents them ever seeing a day in court. HCSO tried to use qualified immunity in the Joseph case, but they fought against it and won. Now, they’re supporting Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s legislation to fully end qualified immunity.

This is just one of several police-related inci-

For every case the Josephs encounter, they’re met with appreciation from the families they support. “They’re just so grateful that there is someone who knows what they feel,” Deanna says.

But on the other hand, police and right-wingers present challenges. “Everybody’s getting their license plates taken down by the police, and they try to do things to try and deter us from marching,” Andrew says. During marches in Mississippi, they’ve had to face off with counter protestors waving confederate flags and Donald Trump flags who shouted slurs and threats at the crowd.

But the community that the Josephs are helping to build can’t be deterred by such threats. They’re growing, learning and training a younger generation to stand up for their rights. From Feb. 17-19, the family will host a weekend of events to commemorate the nineyear anniversary of Andrew Joseph III’s death. Families that they’ve bonded with from around the country will join.

them heal and to fight. “We’re on the ground delivering a blueprint to these parents on how to pursue justice,” Andrew, 51, says.

Through the Andrew Joseph Foundation, which they formed after the death of their son, they collaborate with a network of justice seekers, including Black Lives Matter Grassroots and Families United for Justice. The first 72 hours after the wrongful death of a family member are the most important, the Josephs say, so there are

dents that the Joseph family is helping with.

Last November, Eric Holmes was shot and killed by officers in Clayton County, Georgia. A medical examiner confirmed that Holmes was shot in the back by a police officer who claimed the 19-year-old was driving a stolen vehicle. The officer was forced to resign, and the family wants charges to be pressed.

Last October, Rasheem Carter went to a police station in Taylorsville, Miss. to ask for

On Friday, there’s a candlelight vigil near the fairgrounds. Saturday morning at Brandon Regional library is a kickoff for a 12-week training curriculum There, locals of all ages can learn the strategies and tactics that the Josephs and others have gained over the years. There’s also a Saturday evening fundraiser in Ybor City, followed by a Sunday breakfast and Fellowship at the Legacy Church in Temple Terrace.

The Josephs say they will continue their fight for as long as they can, but eventually, others will need to take up the mantle. “The youth have to be the change we want to see,” Deanna says. “Eventually, all of this will be in their hands.”

“It’s our life now, this is what we do.” COURTESY

FIRE INSIDE: (L-R) Deanna and Andrew Joseph are passing the torch to the next generation.

MARCH 4-5

FREE ADMISSION

The 53rd Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts – one of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows in the United States – will once again inspire and unite us in 2023. We invite you to join us at the stunning Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa to experience the power of the arts.

• More than 250 artists

• Local Artists Spotlight

• Educational and interactive activities and displays

• Children’s activities

• The Showcase, celebrating the award-winning artists

• Local food and refreshing drinks

• Live music

Wads up

The net worth of everyone in Tampa’s upcoming municipal election.

By Justin Garcia

As Tampa’s municipal election heats up, the public seeks to learn more about local candidates as constituents consider who to vote for on March 7. Documents obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay can answer at least one question: What is each candidate’s net worth?

While being rich does not necessarily equal being a good public servant, deep pockets can often affect the outcome of political races. The figures on a candidate’s required Form 6 documents collect the overall worth of their personal reported assets and income, after liabilities have been accounted for. Form 6 reports are separate from each campaign’s fundraising.

All of the candidates reported their finances at different times in January, as part of qualification for the race. But all of the finances listed are as of Dec. 31, 2022.

Mayor Jane Castor is running virtually unopposed, because her opponent, Belinda Noah, only qualified as a write-in candidate. Both of their net worths are listed here as well.

City council candidates’ net worth is divided up below by district, in alphabetical order.

Blake Casper, a republican running for District 4, claims to be worth $334,994,162, which puts him at the highest net worth in the race. CL found that he’s made big donations to Governor Ron DeSantis and Former president Donald Trump, along with other right wingers in recent years.

All of the candidates sign their Form 6 under penalty of perjury. If any net worth, liability or asset disclosure is not accurately filed by a candidate, the Florida Commission on Ethics takes and handles complaints.

Tampa mayor

Jane Castor, claimed net worth: $2,623,794.80 Mayor Castor owns a home valued at $1,100,000 and plays the stock market, giving her a comfortable cushion of assets. She currently has credit lines with two creditors, totaling about $200,000. Her sole source of income is the $176,656 she makes a year as mayor.

Dr. Belinda Noah, claimed net worth: $7,078,891Noah claims that her assets are in property located both in Florida and several locations in Ghana, Africa, adding up to millions of dollars. She has a $452,304 credit line with Bank of America and most of her income is from the federal government and social security.

Tampa city council District 1 - At Large Sonja P. Brookins, claimed net worth: $75,000 Brookins claims her residential home as her only asset and did not list any liabilities or credit lines.

Joseph Citro, claimed net worth: $250,000 A bulk of Citro’s assets are in his South Tampa condo and his watch collection. He claims two credit lines totaling $23,000. His main income is through his councilman salary and $32,000 from his personal barber business.

in income last year between his insurance business and consulting gigs.

District 3 - At large

KJ Allen, claimed net worth: -$23,000 Allen has more liabilities than assets. The candidate has a $36,000 line of credit, and the total value of household goods doesn’t come near the credit line. Allen , Claimed to make $25,931 last year from Slam Tampa Charter School.

ELECTIONS

Tampa Municipal Election

George “The Hunted” Feshev, claimed net worth: $745,000 Feshev lists several addresses in East Tampa as making up most of his income. He also claims properties in Altamonte Springs and Bulgaria. He has three credit lines totaling $80,000 and , Claimed he made $1,900 off of rent from a property last year.

Early voting begins on Feb. 27 Election Day is Tuesday, March 7 votehillsborough.gov

Alan Clendenin, Claimed net worth: $3,248,979 Clendenin claimed four properties in Florida and Georgia which are collectively worth millions of dollars. He has a line of credit worth $510,000 and makes most of his income from his private job, along with a rental property.

Chase Harrison, Claimed net worth: $23,000 Harrison’s assets rest in his bank account, stocks and an annuity fund investment portfolio. He claims no liabilities. His police pension, along with his military pension, make up most of his income.

District 2 - At Large

Michael Derewenko, claimed net worth: $140,000 A 401(k), E-trade account and bank account make up Derewenko’s assets. He didn’t list a property under his assets, but has a home loan listed under his liabilities. He , Claimed to make $125,000 last year from JAIN irrigation company.

Robin Lockett, claimed net worth: $44,600 Lockett does not own a property, but has an estimated total household goods of $50,000. She has a car lease, and her main source of income is from the nonprofit Florida Rising, where she is the regional director.

Guido Maniscalco, claimed net worth: $214,467 Most of Maniscalco’s assets lie in his jewelry business and his condo near Wellswood. He has a mortgage and a credit line that combined are near $200,000. His main income is his councilman salary. He claims to have made just $9,150 from his personal business last year.

Michael Suarez, claimed net worth: $537,177 Suarez lists his personal home and commissions from his business as his biggest assets. He has three credit lines for over $220,000. He claims to have made over $70,000

Lynn Hurtak, claimed net worth: $500,000 Her home and an investment property make up the largest chunk of Hurtak’s assets. She has three mortgage and credit lines, and her councilwoman salary is listed as her only current form of income.

Janet Cruz Rifkin, claimed net worth: $1,293,691Former State Senator Cruz has two properties in Tampa and has hundreds of thousands of dollars in Vanguard investment firm. She claims a $241,825 line of credit and collects $29,652 a year in social security.

Jose Vasquez, claimed net worth: $65,600 Vasquez claims several trucks, trailers and a jet ski as his main assets. He claims a small $4,090 line of credit. Last year, he made $2,000 total off of his personal business, he claims.

District 4

Bill Carlson, claimed net worth: $1,678,653 Carlson has a property in Tampa and another in St. Augustine. He has several stock options, with the largest amount being in his own public relations communications firm, Tucker Hall. He has a mortgage and credit line worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. He makes money off of Tucker Hall and his current councilman job.

Blake Casper, claimed net worth: $334,994,162 Casper, heir to a fortune made off of his family’s McDonald’s chains, has a wide range of assets in multiple different banks and investment groups. His liabilities come in the form of multi-million dollar credit lines from four different banks.

District 5

Orlando Gudes, claimed net worth: $267,167 Gudes claims his home and savings accounts as his main assets. He has two credit lines for over $60,000. His main incomes are from his retired police officer pension and his councilman salary.

THAT’S HOYT: Hoyt Prindle’s personal residence, IRAs and 401(k) contribute the largest amount to his assets.

Gwendolyn Henderson, claimed net worth: $978,926 Two properties in Tampa make up the largest assets that Henderson owns. She has four lines of credit totaling over $200,000 and claims to make $24,377 off of an Ybor rental property.

Evelyn Jané-Marie McBride, claimed net worth: $350 The only asset this write-in candidate listed is “funds for the campaign” to the tune of $3,000. McBride didn’t list any assets or income

District 6

David Tyler Barrett, claimed net worth: -$68,888 Barrett’s assets include household goods totaling $8,500. The candidate has over $70,000 in student loans and lists income from Southern Strategies LLC and Hilton Hotels.

Richard Lane Fifer, claimed net worth: $576,414 A business office and home totaling over $500,000 make up the largest assets in Fifer’s finances. He has two credit lines totaling over $150,000. Last year, he made $136,000 off of real estate commissions.

Charlie Miranda, claimed net worth: $2,582,500 Miranda has several assets listed in the form of properties around Tampa. He claims no credit line and also claims to make

$40,000 a year in income off of rental properties that he owns. His largest income is his salary as councilman.

Nicole Payne, claimed net worth: $110,200 Payne’s home, cars, jewelry and 401(k) are listed as her biggest assets. The candidate has the most credit lines in the entire race, with 14 different accounts totaling over $600,000. She claims to have made $270,000 in income last year from Pennymac, a home mortgage lending company.

Hoyt LeRoy Prindle III, claimed net worth: $382,429 Prindle’s personal residence, IRAs and 401(k) contribute the largest amount to his assets. He has a mortgage that’s partially paid off and a credit line from USAA. He , Claimed to make $153,999 from the law firm Freeborn and Peters LLP last year.

District 7

Luis Viera, claimed net worth: $316,500 Viera, who ran unopposed in his district, lists his home and his 401(k) as his major assets. He has a mortgage and a credit line on his 2017 BMW. Last year, he claims to have made $118,669 from Pennington Law Firm, along with his regular councilman salary.

“Deep pockets can often affect the outcome of political races.”

"Celebrating

Judge first

Hillsborough judges led state in denying abortion petitions for minors.

By Arielle Stevenson

For those under 18 seeking an abortion in Florida, it’s an uphill battle to get care.

Previously, Florida required advanced parental notification. Since that law changed in 2020, a parent or guardian must submit notarized consent to physicians ahead of any abortion. But when parental consent isn’t possible, there’s a process called judicial bypass. It’s not fast, and it’s not easy, but a minor can petition Florida courts for abortion care without parental consent.

And in 2020 and 2021, a new report found that Florida judges are blocking 12% of those petitions.

county-by-county breakdown, Hillsborough had the highest percentage of denials at 52%. Out of 21 petitions, Hillsborough denied 11.

Pinellas cleared all 11 of the petitions it received; other counties that didn’t deny a single petition include Lee, Miami-Dade, and Orange.

LOCAL NEWS

Margaret Wurth, a senior researcher with HRW’s children’s rights division, spoke with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the key takeaways and noted that Florida’s judicial bypass denial rate has quadrupled since 2007.

to a 17-year-old based on grades. Smith, who served as a judge during the same time as the spike in Hillsborough denials, received an endorsement from the Tampa Bay Times, but lost his reelection campaign.

An appellate panel overturned his decision and said Smith “abused his judicial discretion,” but last summer Gov. Ron Desantis created a new Lakeland-based Sixth District Court of Appeals, then appointed Smith as a judge on that appellate court at the end of last year.

which is that everyone should be able to make their own abortion decision. Judicial bypass is a huge barrier to that.”

Kelley says TBAF funded 614 callers with abortion care in 2021, more than doubled from 2020. While confidentiality is critical for those seeking help from TBAF, patients can volunteer their zip code. Kelley says using that data, they’ve found that 38% of calls are coming from Tampa.

The report published last week by Human Rights Watch uses court records from 2007-2022 and interviews with legal experts and abortion providers. The 15-year trend shows denials rising as reproductive laws become more stringent.

Overall, Florida judges denied one in eight petitions across Florida in 2021. In a

“Just based on a handful of cases that we were able to access, we got a window into just how arbitrary this process is,” Wurth told CL. “Judges are deciding on young people’s access to abortion care, which is time sensitive, based on grades, whether they take advanced placement courses or personality traits.”

Last year, Tampa judge Jared Smith made headlines for his decision to deny an abortion

“I think what our report shows is that this is not an outlier. This is what people are going through in court all the time in the state of Florida to try to be able to exercise their right to access abortion care,” Wurth says. “Many other states don’t have these laws on the books.”

McKenna Kelley is a board member of the abortion access nonprofit Tampa Bay Abortion Fund and said her organization offers funds for legal services like judicial bypass when young people need help.

“That’s a huge barrier, right?” Kelley told CL. “That goes back to one of our core beliefs,

With the 15-week abortion ban now in place, plus the enacted 24-hour waiting period, costs are rising, and time is running out for those needing care. Wurth says HRW is asking the Justice Department and the Biden administration to look into these denials in Florida.

“Ultimately, we believe that the only way to remedy the harm caused by this process, this arbitrary decision-making that the law grants judges, is for Florida to get rid of its forced parental consent,” Wurth says. “Young people still have support in their decision making, but they can involve whoever is best positioned to support them through the process.”

“Everyone should be able to make their own abortion decision.”

WE’RE NO. 1: Out of 21 petitions, Hillsborough denied 11.

DAVE DECKER

What the frack

Proposed pipeline expansion faces scrutiny from feds and environmentalists.

By Justin Garcia

As energy companies seek to expand a pipeline that would double the amount of fracked gas flowing through Pinellas County to Hillsborough County, a government agency is asking for more information about the project’s impact before approval. Last year, Florida Gas Transmission Company—which is actually based in Texas— and Tampa Electric Company presented a pipeline expansion proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposal, named “Tampa West Project” claims that the expansion will include, “the construction of approximately 1.26 miles of 8-inch lateral loop pipeline” and attachments to go along with the piping. The addition would run along Gandy Bridge, and link to a current pipeline to increase the flow of fracked gas from Pinellas to Hillsborough by double the current amount.

avoided by limiting the area of installation and operation,” FGT added. “FGT has eliminated and minimized potential environmental impacts to the lowest practicable extent while also avoiding direct impacts to any private landowners or residents.”

FERC is still waiting on answers from FGT about how the fracked gas will be emitted once the larger amounts are transferred to Hillsborough.

ENVIRONMENT

For decades, the process of fracking, which produces about 67% of America’s natural gas, has proven harmful to the environment due to creating large amounts of wastewater and the release of greenhouse gasses, such as methane, as well as other toxic air pollutants.

environment that such an increase in fracked gas flow will have overall.

“FERC and the transmission developer are kind of missing the forest for the trees,” Carlesco said. “They are not really looking at the kind of broad, downstream and upstream impacts of expanding gas transmission capacity.”

He pointed out that doubling the amount of gas transmission will have an impact on climate change overall and on local air quality. He added that FGT tried to pass the project by FERC with little information, behaving as if the project were simply routine maintenance, rather than a big expansion of fossil fuels.

Recently, in an effort to protect the local environment from fossil fuel emissions, both St. Pete and Tampa joined the Ready for 100 Campaign. The project aims to make several cities around the country free of fossil fuel use by 2035.

Environmental Policy Act was passed 1969 to put limitations on the Natural Gas Act’s broad allowance of polluting fuels. Carlesco wants to make sure that act is being acknowledged in the current proposed project, by both the energy companies and FERC.

“The biggest thing to take away is that federal law requires environmental reviews for significant projects such as this, and they require indirect environmental effects analysis,” Carlesco said. “This review is giving neither of those.”

As FERC considers the energy company’s responses to their questions in the coming days, the local environmentalist group plans to remain engaged with developments in the project, for the sake of public health.

Documents highlighting the communication between FERC and the energy companies show that the regulatory agency wants more information before allowing next steps in the process. FERC asked the companies to further explain some key aspects of the project, including more details on how it would affect the surrounding habitat and air quality. The original proposal lacked specifics about how exactly the project would affect those aspects of the environment.

The organization also asked the power companies to explain how the project would ensure not to negatively affect marginalized and lowincome communities that are in the area of the project. “For any identified environmental justice communities that would be affected by the project, describe outreach efforts to identify and communicate with these groups and individuals and the measures used to avoid and minimize project impacts,” FERC wrote.

It was just one of several requests for the power companies to respond to. FERC also wanted specifics on increased air pollution from the project.

“Provide a table of speciated greenhouse gas emissions (methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide) from operation and construction of the Tampa West Lateral Project in tons per year,” another request from FERC read.

Florida Gas and Transmission, (FGT) has responded that the project will “not result in any significant impact to environmental resources” with minimal impacts to the groundwater quality in the area. The company claimed that most of the construction will take place in existing right of ways where pipeline construction has already occurred.

“Impacts to environmental and socio-economic resources have been minimized and

Documents from the energy companies say the new piping could allow the peak hourly flow of fracked gas to the TECO Energy Plant at Big Bend Road to double, from 360 million thermal units of gas per hour to 667 million.

Adam Carlesco, chief attorney for the environmentalist group Food & Water Watch, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the biggest thing to look out for is the negative impact on the

“Those are significant concerns that FERC and the power companies are not really spending any time on,” he said. “They’re just looking at the environmental impacts of digging up a trench and putting in a new pipeline.”

Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act says that public health, safety, convenience and necessity must be considered when approving pipeline projects.

But Carlesco said that the act, which was passed in 1938 during a fossil fuel production free-for-all, is outdated. It doesn’t account for the “point of no return” climate chaos tipping point that humanity is inching towards. The National

In a statement, Food & Water Watch Senior Florida Organizer Brooke Ward told CL that the correct course of action is to reduce, not increase, the use of polluting fuel.

“Tampa needs less fracked gas, not more,” Ward said. “Every embrace of this dirty fuel today will mean decades of pollution, all on the public’s dime. Instead of adhering to the City of Tampa’s clear directive to move off fossil fuels, TECO is doubling down.”

She added that the proposal to double the flow of fracked gas has prompted public outrage, and is in support of more federal scrutiny. “It is imperative that FERC conduct a full environmental review of this pipeline and stop the polluting project in its tracks,” Ward said.

PIPE DREAM: TECO’s Big Bend plant is the end of the road for the proposed expansion.

Rest my soul

Things will get darker before we see a hint of sunlight—and I need a break.

By Jeffrey C. Billman

Six years, six months, and probably 300,000odd words ago, I began what was intended as a short-lived chronicle of the 2016 election. Like most political writers, I assumed Donald Trump would provide a few months of entertainment before his November humiliation. Hillary Clinton would take office as an unpopular president, probably doomed to one unproductive term consumed by endless investigations and an inevitable impeachment, and the wheel would keep spinning.

Trump’s victory—his term as an unpopular president consumed by endless investigations and, ultimately, two impeachments—broke the wheel. He didn’t need to be a successful president to alter American politics; he wasn’t. But he conquered the Republican Party, exiling its last vestiges of moderation and creating an incentive structure for even elected officials to embrace demagoguery, conspiracy theories, and in the end, insurrection.

That decline didn’t end with Trump’s ignominious exit. It accelerated, spawning anti-vax paranoia, which morphed into the critical race theory freakout, which then twisted itself into attacks on drag queens and books that mention transgender people (and, in Jacksonville, baseball player Roberto Clemente).

So this column lived on, observing yesterday’s

new lows become today’s norms. And at some point, I lost the ability to be shocked. Horrified, yes. But not shocked. You can’t be shocked when you realize that there is no bottom, that this degenerative miasma will be a generation-long nightmare instead of a footnote in American history.

When that’s the throughline of American politics, everything you write about it starts to feel the same. Which means it’s time for this column to end. (That, and I’ll soon start a magazine job that precludes me from writing a syndicated column. But for the sake of my dignified farewell, pretend that I have a higher purpose.)

drowned by mindless chants about building walls and politicians flying migrants hither and yon to own the libs. We’re about to repeat the debt ceiling debacle of the early 2010s—and maybe go over the cliff—because the Republican House speaker is too weak to tell his Insane Caucus to grow up.

We’ve experienced apocalyptic summers while subsidizing fossil fuel companies and carboncentric infrastructure. We’ve witnessed regular mass shootings while making it easier to carry guns. We’ve degraded institutions of higher learning in the name of academic freedom. We’ve let white supremacists reframe diversity as bigotry.

None of these things suggests an ascendant nation. And what we’ve called progress of late has more often felt like a dam holding back a tsunami than actual forward movement.

INFORMED DISSENT

By orders of magnitude, American politics is dumber at this column’s end than at its beginning. Revanchists have entrenched, playing on age-old fears of societal change corrupting children to foster authoritarianism. Freedoms we took for granted—the right to choose, the right to marry and/or have sex with whomever you want—have been dismantled or are imperiled by the most corrupt, radical Supreme Court in memory.

Modest steps toward long-overdue criminal justice reform have met fierce resistance steeped in fear mongering. Immigration reform, once a pillar of both parties’ platforms, has been

I’m not overwhelmed by optimism. At least, not in the short term.

Revanchist and far-right populist movements are always a reaction, a means for those losing power and privilege to try to sustain it. It’s not hard to see what sparked the Trump era—which started as the Newt Gingrich era and evolved into the Tea Party era before Trump took command. White male hegemony was slowly losing its grip on an increasingly multicultural society. The more diverse and multicultural society became, the tighter the revanchists grasped for the power they believed they were owed—and the more forcefully they demanded it be encoded in our educational and government systems.

Populism is not a movement borne of strength, however. While there are many young, loud right-wing pseudo-intellectuals online, their movement’s power resides in a generation quickly returning to the dirt. In 2020, Donald Trump won voters over the age of 50—about 52% of the electorate—by a 52-47 margin. He got crushed by voters born after The Beatles broke up.

Defense is important. There are rights and freedoms that need to be protected from those with antidemocratic aims, and winning enough elections to make incremental improvements or forestall authoritarian advances is critical.

But to move the ball forward on climate change and social and economic justice—to restore women’s rights to 1973, even—we need systemic democratic reforms: ending the filibuster; eliminating partisan gerrymandering; doing away with the Electoral College and (a boy can dream) the Senate, at least in its current structure; term-limiting or expanding the Supreme Court.

Effecting those changes will require overwhelming popular majorities, not the skinof-our-teeth ones Democrats have now. They’re (probably) coming. (Nothing is inexorable.) But things will get darker before we see a hint of sunlight. My soul needs a break.

I’ll end this always-cheery column on that cheery note. For those of you who’ve read Informed Dissent these last six and a half years, thank you. And please support independent local media. You’ll miss it if it’s gone.

Goodnight and good luck, everyone.

NO BOTTOM: This degenerative miasma will be a generation-long nightmare.

THURSDAY 09

A proposed Florida bill would allow landlords to charge tenants a monthly non-refundable fee in lieu of a security deposit. Anything but rent control or stabilization, amirite?

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Dark Brandon was at University of Tampa to troll Republicans who teased sunsetting social security as a negotiating tool. See photos of the ‘borg at work on p. 12.

RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES

Storm is brewin’

Big Storm Brewing Co.’s new Ybor City taproom, and more Tampa Bay foodie news.

By Kyla Fields

After almost two years of anticipation, Big Storm Brewing Co.’s fifth location debuted in the heart of Ybor City last weekend. Located at 1600 E 7th Ave. at Centro Ybor, the new 11,000 square-foot brewery and taproom celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 11.

In addition to its massive new taproom, Big Storm also unveiled an intimate cocktail lounge called the Storm Cellar on the side of the building that faces 8th Avenue—the first of its kind for the Clearwater-based company. While Big Storm is most known for its local brews, it also distills bourbon, gin, rum, vodka and other spirits.

Although a full menu has yet to be released for its newest location, if Ybor City’s offerings bear any resemblance to Clearwater’s, patrons can expect flatbreads, wings, tacos and sandwiches alongside a wide variety of Big Storm’s craft beers. The space was formerly home to drag queen-run Hamburger Mary’s until its closure in 2018. It remained vacant until Big Storm announced the buildout of its fifth Florida taproom in 2021.

With the addition of its newly-opened Ybor City space, Big Storm now has five taprooms throughout Florida, including locations in Clearwater, Odessa, Cape Coral and Orlando. Besides its rapid growth through Tampa Bay and beyond, Big Storm also makes headlines for its philanthropy work—like last year’s beer launch to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay— as well as its recent investment in new tech to reuse carbon emissions. For the latest information on Ybor City’s Big Storm taproom, head to its Facebook page or follow its Instagram at @ bigstormbrewing.

Loafing Tampa Bay. So when the parade came around he lowered the bar and made shitty, half-ass sandwiches to schlep for whoever came through the door. Then some regulars came in and called him out.

“They were all excited to come, and they were like, “Oh, this isn’t what you normally serve,” Roderick explained. “I was super embarrassed—it was fucked up.”

So he said fuck it, resolved to never sell garbage and just make the best food possible until the money ran out. Two weeks later, celebrity chef Alton Brown—rehearsing for a tour kickoff in Tampa—came in, ordered a breakfast sandwich, then went on social media to call the bacon, egg

and cheese the “best breakfast sandwich ever.” A day later, Brown confirmed his opinion, telling Creative Loafing Tampa Bay the sandwich was, The best I’ve had… the best ever.”

“If I had not made that mental switch, and he had come in, it could have been a whole different picture,” Roderick added. Since that day, business at Supernatural has quadrupled. The kitchen staff has doubled. “It was a lifeline,” he said of the endorsement.

So to celebrate, and to say thank you to all the customers, Supernatural will celebrate on Sunday, Feb. 18 by releasing a special edition t-shirt featuring a logo of Alton Brown in Tampa, designed by former Supernatural cook (and Now

& Then coffee founder Davy Ball). Proceeds from sales will go to Metropolitan Ministries.

“At this point all I can say is « thank you » to everyone who has been a part of the past year,” Roderick wrote on social media. “I couldn’t do it without you all and wouldn’t want to anyways.”—Ray

Roa

Tiger Woods’ new PopStroke putt-putt course will open in Lutz this week

PopStroke, a new entertainment concept from golf legend Tiger Woods, will open this week in the Tampa area. Last week, PopStoke Entertainment Group said the company’s latest continued on page 37

Alton Brown saved Tampa’s

Supernatural Food & Wine a year ago, so the shop is celebrating by raising money for charity

Last year around Gasparilla, Supernatural Food & Wine founder and chef Wesley Roderick was pretty sure his sandwich shop would be closed within eight months. The tiny restaurant— located at 305 E Polk St. in downtown Tampa behind The Hub—wasn’t making money and would stay on that path if it kept operating at the standard Roderick set for himself and his team.

“It was crazy dead. I had no enthusiasm, and I was totally undercutting all of my standards because I was desperate,” he told Creative

HOPPY HOUR: Big Storm just opened a new taproom and cocktail lounge.

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continued from page 31 location will debut at noon on Feb. 17 at 25297 Sierra Center Blvd., which is within the Cypress Creek Town Center in Lutz.

A collaboration between Woods, the TaylorMade Golf Company and founder Greg Bartoli, PopStroke centers around two 18-hole putt-putt courses, featuring synthetic turf, bunkers, rough and other obstacles normally found on a typical golf course. “The shape of this property allowed us to get very creative and build one of our most unique set of courses,” said Woods in a statement. “I am thrilled to have PopStroke join the Tampa community with recreational and professional golfers and people of all ages and interests. PopStroke offers a fun way to enjoy time with family and friends.”

Because there are no beer carts at PopStroke, guests can order cocktails, beer or wine on the course from an app, which also doubles as a digital scorecard. The complex also sports a full dining menu, covering everything from veggie burgers to Reuben egg rolls, as well as an ice cream parlor, an outdoor game area, and a playground. This will be PopStroke’s sixth location and fifth in Florida.

—Colin Wolf

Tampa Bay restaurants receive zero James Beard nominations

It’s been less than a year since Tampa Bay restaurants were snubbed out of Michelin stars during the guide’s first trip to Florida, and 2023’s James Beard nominations are no different. A few weeks ago, the prestigious culinary organization announced semifinalists for its annual awards, which are separated by region and category—and not one Bay area restaurant or chef made the cut.

Local chefs were also shut out of the Beard awards last year. In fact, last time Tampa Bay received love from the James Beard foundation was in 2019, when Edison: Food + Drink Lab’s Jeannie Pierola and The Library’s Rachel Bennett were chosen as semifinalists for “Rising Star Chef” and “Best Chef in the South.” In 2017, the foundation named Rooster & the Till’s Ferrell Alvarez, Chris Ponte and Columbia’s Richard Gonzmart among its semifinalists. Florida wasn’t completely shutout this year though. Miami’s Alpareno Restaurant Group got nominated for “Outstanding Restauranteur” and Orlando chef Henry Moso of Kabooki Sushi might be named the “Best Chef” in the South. In addition to various nominations in Miami and Orlando, restaurants in South Florida cities like Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Doral and are home to several 2023 James Beard semifinalists.

The full list of 2023’s James Beard finalists can be found at jamesbeard.org—and we can always look forward to next year when new concepts might draw more attention or accolades. Later this year, our neighbors in Orlando— Jimmy and Johnny Tung of Bento Asian Kitchen

+ Sushi, Korean restaurant Doshi and modern Vietnamese eatery Camille—are bringing their high-end Japanese restaurant Kosen to Tampa Heights later this year. Its executive chef, Wei Chen, has helmed the kitchen at NYC’s Masa, a 3-Michelin star concept, for the past six years.

Several Michelin-starred chefs have also brought their expertise and award-winning menus to Tampa Bay lately. John Fraser, who earned Michelin stars in New York, helms the kitchen at Tampa EDITION’s newly-opened restaurants, while accomplished chef and restaurateur Joe Isidori champions his Sparkman Wharf concepts JoDog and JoToro.

Three Tampa Bay restaurants make Yelp’s ‘100 Places to Eat in 2023’ list

Each year, Yelp releases a nationwide list of restaurants that local foodies fawn over—and three incredibly different Tampa Bay concepts made the cut in 2023. South Tampa’s Izakaya Tori, St. Pete’s Uptown Eats and Dunedin’s Tukro Coffee are all listed as one of Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat.” Izakaya Tori offers a full spread of Japanese fare—from yakitori and ramen to

Earlier this month, Best of the Bay-winning, permit-obsessed Instagram page Tampa Tomorrow announced that downtown Tampa’s Harness and Wagon building—located at 1007 N. Franklin St.—might be home to two different hospitality concepts. Orlando-based Team Market Group is bringing The Robinson Room—described as “part coffee and disco room, providing the best of both worlds”—and Mather’s Social, an intimate cocktail lounge with boutique spirits, to downtown Tampa.

According to Design District Review documents uploaded to Tampa’s permitting website Accela last month, both concepts will fill out the building’s whopping 16,680 square-foot, three-story space, in addition to 5,560 square-foot outdoor area.” The intended scope for the property is a fully renovated, adaptive reuse project that will bring new life to the historic Tampa Harness and Wagon building, which hasn’t had a tenant since the 1980’s,” the document reads. But since the City of Tampa is still reviewing the proposed documents, it hasn’t yet been confirmed that these two concepts will definitely open at 1007 N Franklin St.

Orlando—while The Robinson Room is a “coffee room, bar and restaurant for all times of the day.”

FOOD NEWS

The three-story Harness and Wagon building has had many iterations since its construction in 1895, although its original logo still barely legible on its North side. Thomas N. Henderson, the 43rd mayor of Tampa, started the Harness and Wagon Company in the late 1800s alongside a meat market, lumber mill and other businesses. When Mather’s Social and The Robinson Room hopefully make their eventual debut, the concepts will join the ranks of other neighboring hotspots like LIT Cigar & Martini Lounge, Haiku and The Bistro. While no social media pages for these two new concepts have been made yet, keep up with Team Market Group’s Instagram for the latest news on its upcoming Tampa businesses.

New St. Pete nautical-themed restaurant Nauti Duchess opening out of former Caddy’s space

A new nautical-themed, seafood-focused bar and restaurant is headed to one of the most bustling blocks in all of St.Pete. From the owners of downtown hotspots Yard of Ale and 260 First comes a brand new concept called Nauti Duchess, which will debut out of the former Caddy’s space at 217 Central Ave. St. Pete Rising says that Nauti Duchess will occupy the entirety of the 7,000 square-foot building, and hopes to open its doors by April 2023. Although intense renovations might delay the bar and restaurant’s complete buildout, its courtyard will be open for casual drinks during every First Friday starting on March 1, according to ILovetheBurg.

dumplings, sushi and stir fried noodles—while St. Pete cafe Uptown Eats, located next to the now-shuttered Mize Gallery, boasts a menu of brunch favorites, coffee, salads and sandwiches. Dunedin’s Tukro Coffee—located at 472 Wood St.—might have been a runner up in last year’s Best of the Bay awards, but local Yelpers must really love its nitro cold brews, teas and specialty lattes.

Other Florida institutions like Hungry Pants in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale’s Il Paesano are also included in this year’s exclusive list, which can be browsed at Top100.yelp.com. Yelp has been publishing its “Top 100 Places to Eat” list for ten years now, which is generated from its user submissions.

Two food and drink concepts look to open out of downtown Tampa’s historic Harness and Wagon building

If all goes as planned, the building will retain its original character—including some of its tabby cement walls and window fixtures— but a brand new elevator, stairs and marble stone facade alongside various other renovations will render the space unrecognizable. Renderings from the project’s architecture firm dap design llc show that both Mather’s Social and The Robinson Room have entrances on the ground floor of the building, but it’s still unsure which concept will occupy which story of the building. Team Market Group owns and operates several restaurant and nightlife concepts throughout Central Florida, including Plantees, The Acre, Taco Kat, The Wellborn and flagship locations of both The Robinson Room and Mather’s Social in Orlando. The hospitality group describes Mather’s Social as a “sophisticated, yet alluring” cocktail lounge—which is also open out of a 130 year-old building in

Although fresh seafood will certainly be a star on Nauti Duchess’ menu, the upcoming bar and restaurant will also offer tapas, rustic small plates, and charcuterie with “an array of locally and sustainably sourced meats and protein.” Alongside a seasonally rotating food menu, Nauti Duchess will also offer modern takes on classic cocktails like old fashioneds, dirty martinis, margaritas and Long Island iced teas, according to its social media pages.

Sarasota-based Segreti’s Hospitality Group, the folks behind Nauti Duchess, also own and operate St. Pete hotspots Yard of Ale and 260 First, although its upcoming concept might be its biggest yet. Downtown St. Pete’s Caddy’s closed amidst 2020’s Covid-19 pandemic and Segreti’s Hospitality Group purchased the building shortly after that. In late 2020, the group announced plans to open two different concepts called Pizza N’ Brew and The Brickyard out of the historic Central Avenue building, but has since then pivoted to Nauti Duchess instead. When Nauti Duchess opens its doors later this year, guests can expect live music in its courtyard (which former Caddy’s patrons will appreciate), locally-sourced ingredients and a multi-million dollar buildout.

FRANKLIN’S FUTURE: Tampa’s Harness & Wagon building might be getting a facelift.

Mardi on

Over 20 Fat Tuesday specials, parties and events happening in Tampa Bay

By Kyla Fields

Once again, New Orleans’ annual Mardi Gras celebration makes its journey across the Gulf Coast all the way to Tampa Bay. From crawfish boils and indulgent Fat Tuesday dinners to brass bands and Creole-inspired food and drink specials—here are over 20 celebrations, events and block parties to celebrate Mardi Gras in every corner of Tampa Bay.

Bar@548 This rum-centric celebration features a boatload of drink specials, beads, and some old fashioned, New Orleans-style partying.

Tuesday, Feb. 21. 548 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @bar548dtsp on Facebook

Bayboro Brewing’s Crawfish Boil St. Pete brewery hosts its annual crawfish party once again, and this year’s rendition is all-youcan-eat, and also comes with a free beer and access to live music. Next Saturday, Feb. 25. $25-$55. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com

Big Easy Bar Ybor City watering hole boasts New Orleans-themed drinks and decor year-round, but will celebrate Mardi Gras 2023 with jazz music, Creole food specials and burlesque performances. Tuesday, Feb. 21. 1704 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. Hebigeasybar.com

route, and will boast a ton of food and drink specials of its own, in addition to live music all day-long. Saturday, Feb. 18. 471 Main St., Dunedin. thedunedinsmokehouse.com

Fenway Hotel This hotel and accompanying rooftop bar celebrates Fat Tuesday in style, with live music from the Acme Jazz Garage and a cash bar with New Orleans-inspired specialty cocktails. Tuesday, Feb. 21. $55. 453 Edgewater Dr., Dunedin. fenwayhotel.com

The Floridian Social This “elevated circus show” features a full brass band, New Orleansstyle cocktail specials—like the frozen daiquiri, hurricane, tequila hand grenade—and beads thrown from its mezzanine. Friday, Feb. 18. $15. 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. floridiansocialclub.live

Happy’s Bayou Bites Riding off of Dunedin’s annual Mardi Gras parade, this no-frills, “Cajun Country” eatery will dish out crawfish etouffee and shrimp skewers alongside other food and drink specials. Saturday, Feb 18. 431 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin. happysbayoubites.com

DINING GUIDE

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Busch Gardens’ Mardi Gras programming runs until the beginning of next month, so there’s plenty of time to catch beads at its parades, enjoy its live entertainment, and snack on Cajun-inspired food and drink specials. Read more on p. XX. Through March 5; access included in the price of ticket. 10165 McKinley Dr., Tampa. buschgardens.com

The Castle Tampa’s hottest club hosts a LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras-themed party where attendees will democratically elect the “King of Mardi Gras,” aka whoever ends up with the most beads at the end of the night. Sunday, Feb. 19. $10. 2004 N 16th St., Ybor City. castleybor.com

Cider Press Vegan Gastropub The new and improved Cider Press typically sells New Orleans-inspired vegan fare, but it’s kicking it up a notch with food and drink specials through the 21st. 3118 3rd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. ciderpresspub.com

Dunedin Mardi Gras Parade Arguably the largest Mardi Gras celebration in all of Tampa Bay, Dunedin’s annual parade features various food and drink vendors, live music and over 50 colorful floats that will cruise through the heart of downtown. Saturday, Feb. 18. Douglas Ave. & Main St.,Dunedin. lovedowntowndunedin.com

Dunedin Smokehouse This bar and restaurant lies at the end of the Dunedin parade’s

Park & Rec DTSP This downtown bar crawl starts at Park & Rec and ends at Pour Judgement, with tons of beads, drink specials and partying in between. Your $14.99 ticket gets you a beer koozie souvenir, too. Saturday, Feb 18. 100 4th St. S, St. Petersburg. topshelfcrawls.com

Quench Lounge This Largo-based club always has exciting events— from drag shows to themed karaoke parties—but its Mardi Gras party will be chock full of bead-throwing and dancing. Friday, Feb. 24. 13284 66th St. N, Largo. quenchlounge.com

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen This party features an all-day happy hour, live music, king cake, costumes, and various specials like $20 hurricane buckets and loaded Cajun pasta platters. The NOLA-themed restaurant also hosts a family-friendly Mardi Gras party. Saturday, Feb. 18. Feb 21. 1721 West Brandon Blvd., Brandon. tibbys.com/mardigras

Twisted Tiki A huge Mardi Gras block party will take over St. Pete Beach’s Corey Avenue, as several of its bars and restaurants like Twisted Tiki, Grapes Wine Cafe, Chill Restaurant and Swigwam will be boasting their own food and drink specials. February, Feb. 21. 300-400 Blocks Corey Ave.,St. Pete Beach. twistedtikistpetebeach.com

Unrefined Brewing Music, costumes, beads, beer—what more could you want from a Mardi Gras party? If your answer was a crawfish boil, well Unrefined Brewing’s weekend-long

Zydeco Brew Werks will dish out tons of New Orleans specialties.

celebration has that, too. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 18-19. 312 E Tarpon Ave.,Tarpon Springs. unrefinedbrewing.com

VFW Post 39 Live music, cheap drink specials, raffles and a drag show round out this Mardi Gras party, which will raise money to repair the 2nd floor of St. Petersburg’s Post 39. Saturday, Feb.18. 2599 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg. @vfwpost39 on Facebook

Vista at the Top Indulge in a proper Fat Tuesday feast, complete with all-you-cancrawfish, king cake, drink specials and tasty waterfront views.

Tuesday, Feb. 21. $50. 214 Madonna Blvd.,Tierra Verde. eventbrite.com

Zyedco Brew Werks This NOLA-style brewery pays homage to its hometown with live entertainment and Creole delicacies like gumbo, muffaletta, shrimp & grits and beignets. $35 bucks gets you access to its crawfish boil

and a draft beer of your choice. Tuesday, Feb. 21. 1902 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. zydecobeer.com

260 First Beads, booze and Bacardi is the name of the game for this downtown club’s celebration. A live DJ will keep the party bumping until the wee hours of the morning. Saturday, Feb. 18. 260 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 260first.com

3 Daughters Brewing Blues musician Mitch Woods provides the tunes at this Mardi Gras party, which also features an all-you-caneat crawfish boil and various drink specials.

Tuesday, Feb. 21. $45-$50. 222 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. 3dbrewing.com

7th Annual Uptown Mardi Gras Block Party This annual block party happens near St. Pete’s Historic Round Lake Park, and will feature live music from the Bay Area Fiddlers, The Burgonauts and Jengle Slap. BYOB encouraged.

Saturday, Feb. 18. 710 5th St N, St Petersburg historicuptown.com

BEADS, BOILS AND BABIES:

ZYDECO BREW WERKS/FACEBOOK

TACO TU EsDAY

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

Five centuries of dream-inspired paintings from renowned artists, plus one imaginative dream experience.

MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE

Buggin’ out

ZooTampa’s ‘Bugtopia,’ Busch Gardens Mardi Gras and more.

By Chelsea Zukowski

Festival and fair season is in full swing in Florida, including at the theme parks. With Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day celebrations as well as early spring weather, February is the month for indulging. Here’s everything happening at the theme parks and attractions in Tampa Bay and beyond this month.

Busch

Gardens Tampa Bay

The Tampa theme park’s newest ride, Serengeti Flyer, finally has an opening date: Feb. 27. The attraction is a “Screamin’ Swing” style ride and the tallest and fastest of its kind. The ride’s dueling arms will swing riders higher and higher over the park’s Serengeti Plain, reaching speeds of 68 mph and a maximum height of 135 feet. Each swing features two back-to-back rows of 10 seats, allowing 40 riders at one time. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay pass members will get a chance to ride Serengeti Flyer early on Feb. 24 through the Passport to Thrills program.

Mardi Gras continues letting the good times roll through March 5. There’s a Mardi Gras Parade through the Bird Gardens, a “Bead Balcony,” a brass band and a whole menu of Cajun-inspired food and cocktails. Check out the Big Easy rum bundt cake and Mardi Gras themed cupcakes over at Xcursions, po-boys and dirty rice and beans at Esplanade Street Bites and Voodoo chips and muffuletta at the new Springs Taproom. There are plenty of Hurricanes to go around, of course, including the new “Throw Me Some Beads” Punch. The actual Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Real Music Series also continues through Feb. 26 at the park. Catch Steve Michaels as Elvis through Feb. 12, Direct from Sweden Feb. 14-19 and The Purple Xperience Feb. 21-26. All concerts are in the Stanleyville Theater.

Busch Gardens also recently welcomed a new tiger to its streak: “Bandar,” a critically endangered Sumatran tiger that joined Rukayah (Malayan tiger) and Zahra (Bengal tiger) in the park’s Jungala habitat. Bandar came from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash., as part of Busch Gardens’ participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Sumatran tigers. Guests can now see Bandar and the other two tigers roaming

around their habitat and at the Tiger Lodge. The park’s thrilling drop tower, Falcon’s Fury, is set to reopen in the spring. The ride has been closed for almost a year for routine maintenance, but first closed for an inspection following 14-year-old Tyre Sampson’s death after falling from the FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Orlando.

Also, mark your calendars for the March 4 reopening of Adventure Island water park across the street from Busch Gardens. Not a lot of details were released, but it sounds like the smallest guests are going to love the park’s new Shaka-Laka Shores attraction. “The newest addition will have more than two dozen playful elements, a variety of interactive aquatic

components, all within a zero-depth areaideal for smaller kids - as well as additional shaded areas,” said a press release. “The newly constructed area will also house three new private cabanas featuring convenient access to the new area.”

ZooTampa

Those with entomophobia (fear of insects), look away - ZooTampa will premiere Bugtopia at the end of the month. The new family-friendly event—runninhg Feb. 25-April 30, with member previews at select times on Feb. 25-26—will celebrate all things bugs with 13 giant animatronic bugs and chances to get up close and personal with the tiny creatures that are so vital to every ecosystem.

Featured Bugtopia insects include: black ant blue-eyed darner, bombardier beetle, devil’s flower mantis, emperor scorpion, grasshopper, Madagascar sunset moth, Mexican redknee tarantula, orb web spider/cross orb weaver,

red-tailed bumblebee, Say’s firefly, seven spotted ladybug and stag beetle.

Legoland Florida

Legoland Florida in Winter Haven continues to host Pirate Fest Weekends through Feb. 19, which is included with park admission. The event features Captain Redbeard returning to bury his treasure at Legoland and recruit a new class of pirates. Along with a parkwide scavenger hunt with pirate treasure at the end, Pirate Fest Weekends include meet and greets with Captain Redbeard and his crew and Bridbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show. And don’t forget the new Pirate River Quest ride, which opened last month. The historic Cypress Gardens got a bit of Lego makeover for this family-friend treasure hunt river ride.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal’s Mardi Gras this year is taking continued on page 46

FUR BALL: The Mexican redknee tarantula is part of ZooTampa’s ‘Bugtopia.’

ZOOTAMPA/FACEBOOK

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 | 6–7 PM

The Story of Art series focuses on the story of art history, one that is continually being retold as we discover new things and look afresh at the familiar. Join MFA curators on a journey to learn more about our collection, contextualized with other objects from around the world, as we take a grand tour through the story of art.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STORY OF ART SERIES, VISIT MFASTPETE.ORG .

ROAD

Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off March 1.

guest beyond the bayou to showcase Carnaval celebrations from around the world. Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs daily through April 16 and features a stacked concert lineup, a menu of dozens of Carnavalinspired dishes from around the world and the popular Mythical Realms of Mardi Gras parade. This year’s parade includes six new floats inspired by mythical creatures like unicorns, dragons and phoenixes alongside the park’s iconic New Orleans floats.

Guests can also be a part of the parade by signing up to ride one of the floats in the Universal Orlando app. There’s also a Mardi Gras ticket upgrade that includes a float ride and dinner. Since the celebration is all about indulging, the Mardi Gras menu is packed with offerings from Big Easy eats to dishes from Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Japan and more. Yes, there are plenty of king cakes, beignets, po’boys, jambalaya and Hurricane cocktails to go around.

Walt Disney World

Over at Disney World in Orlando, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts continues through Feb. 20. The colorful celebration features Disney on Broadway performances, live art shows and demonstrations, DIY workshops and crafting, pop-up art galleries and dozens of dishes and drinks that are almost too pretty to eat.

Then, mark your calendars for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicking off March 1 and running through July 5. This year will feature new topiaries of Encanto characters at the park’s main entrance as well as a new Princess Tiana topiary at The American Adventure.However, arguably the most exciting news out of Disney World has to do with ride closings and openings.

THEME PARKS

Last month, the park finally announced an opening date for TRON Lightcycle/Run – April 4. Then, Disney World finally closed Splash Mountain, the popular water ride themed after the racist stereotype-filled 1946 movie “Song of the South.”

Much of the Mardi Gras event is in and around the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida. That includes the Tribute Store, which has been revamped to immerse shoppers in a jazz celebration through the alleyways and streets of New Orleans and finally into a Mardi Gras-themed speakeasy.

As for concerts, the event will feature performances by the Goo Goo Dolls (Feb. 11), Maren Morris (Feb. 18), 3 Doors Down (Feb. 25), Lauren Daigle (March 5) and more to be announced. All concerts are at the Music Plaze Stage in Universal Studios Florida. Check out full menus and concert lineups and get more information about Universal’s Mardi Gras at universalorlando.com.

Splash Mountain officially closed on Jan. 23 to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which will feature characters and a storyline from the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog—in which Disney’s first Black princess debuted. Disney announced the ride change back in 2020, teasing a story that picks up after the events of The Princess and the Frog and set in 1920s New Orleans.

Last week, Disney elaborated on the story for the new attraction, saying the queue will show how Tiana built upon the success of her restaurant by creating Tiana’s Foods, an employee-owned cooperative operating in a transformed salt mine. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is expected to open in 2024 at Disney World and Disneyland Resort in California.

TRIP:

KIRKIKIS/ADOBE

continued from page 45

Best we can do

‘Pawn Stars’ in Tampa Bay, and more A&E news.

By Colin Wolf

“Pawn Stars,” a popular History Channel reality show centered around on some very large men behind a counter telling customers how cool and rare a family heirloom is, only to lowball them into an oblivion because “Hey, that’s the best best I can do,” is coming to Tampa Bay. “Rick, Corey and Chumlee are crossing the country and coming to a city near you!”says a Facebook post from the show. According to the post, “Pawn Stars Do America” will film Season 2 of the new spinoff in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and 13 other cities around the country.

“For the first time, the ‘Pawn Stars’ are hitting the road to visit some of America’s most exciting places in search of historical finds and impressive collectible objects,” says the website. No exact dates were listed, but anyone interested in pawning their stuff on the show should email PawnStarsDoAmerica@ITV.com for more information.

The production is one of the longest-running non musical plays in the world. It was voted “Best Comedy of the Year” seven times by the Boston Globe, Shear Madness has also been inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame, the first play ever to receive that accolade. The show first opened in Boston in 1980 and only closed in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Tyana Rodgers

CLEARLY Collaborative

A&E SHORTS

Tampa International Airport is now offering non-stop flights to San Diego and Puerto Rico Two popular U.S. destinations will become a little more accessible from Tampa International Airport, thanks to some recently added non-stop routes. Alaska Airlines will begin non-stop service between Tampa (TPA) and San Diego, California (SAN) on Oct, 5. San Diego is currently TPA’s largest unserved non-stop market in terms of demand, according to a statement from the airport.

Master of Glass meets Masters of Craft

Until March 11, experience original glass and multi-media sculptures created in collaboration between ten fine craft master artists and glass master Duncan McClellan

Artists: Lucrezia Bieler, Joyce Curvin, Pam Fox, Dominice Gilbert, Nneka Jones, William Kidd, John Mascoll, Duncan McClellan, Charlie Parker, and Sue Shapiro. Curated by David Ramsey. Purchase Clearly Collaborative art online at FloridaCraftArt.org.

‘Shear Madness,’ a 43-year-old interactive murder-mystery opens in Tampa this week Seen by over 13.5 million people worldwide, the hair-salon-whodunit that everybody loves, “Shear Madness” hit the stage in Tampa on Wednesday. Tickets to see “Shear Madness” inside Jaeb Theater at Tampa’s David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts from through Apr. 8 are on sale now and start at $43.50.

The show is a unique comedy that takes place in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon and is chock full of up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor.There’s a murder, and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, then solve the funniest mystery in the annals of crime. Clues change every night, according to a press release, so audiences never know who the murderer will be until the end of the show.

“Hundreds of passengers each day fly between TPA and San Diego, so this new nonstop route by Alaska Airlines offers a welcome daily option without requiring a connection,” said Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano.Alaska Airlines tickets to San Diego currently start at $259, but TPA has you covered if you need to head even further south.

Frontier Airlines is also adding a new nonstop flight to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN) starting May 4. Frontier’s flights to Aguadilla will be TPA’s first scheduled non-stop service between TPA and one of Puerto Rico’s top beach destinations. As of right now prices are not available for flights from TPA to Aguadilla. Alaska Airlines flights to San Diego will operate daily and the Frontier flights to Aguadilla will operate three times a week.—TR

Sponsored

HEIRLOOM BRAIN: Rick Harrison is coming to shit on your family keepsakes.

HISTORY CHANNEL

Nneka Jones

Pamela Fox with her original necklace and her sculpture created with Duncan McClellan.

Who’s there

By John W. Allman

Don’t ever go see an apocalyptic horror movie on the same day that you help a family fur baby cross the Rainbow Bridge. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.

I feel bad for M. Night Shyamalan. I have lifted that man up in these pages, and I have ripped him a new one for shitting all over my expectations. And now he gets to deal with sad me.

Truth be told, his new film, “Knock at the Cabin,” is absolutely one of his best. It’s masterfully crafted and shot with verve and confidence.

Some of his framing in this movie stacks up to the best shots from “The Sixth Sense” or “Signs.”

The cast is impeccable, with Tampa resident Dave Bautista and Jonathan Groff in particular leading the charge. And now I’m going to have to go read the source material, Paul Tremblay’s novel, “The Cabin at the End of the World.”

Well, maybe. I might give it some time first. As good as it is, “Knock at the Cabin” also feels about as much fun as watching the last five minutes of “The Mist” for 100 minutes straight.

It’s fucking bleak. Especially when you’re mourning.

And let me tell you—when you’re feeling extra sensitive—how enjoyable it is to watch a new pandemic explode on screen as one of the plagues unleashed by an updated and humanized version of the Four Horsemen, especially while some asshole sitting in the row immediately behind you keeps coughing. Over and over, coughing and coughing, while “Knock at the Cabin” talks about babies dying at an improbable clip from a new airborne illness.

It’s an odd irrational panic to experience, that kind of fear, as it tickles out across your chest, particularly when the thing causing the panic is something you normally champion, but damn if this wasn’t one of the best end-of-the-world flicks that I struggled to enjoy in the moment.

I’m the guy who thinks “Miracle Mile” is one of the most underrated and criminally overlooked masterpieces of 1980s cinema. And movies don’t get much more pitch-black bleak

than that. I’m the guy who has watched the unrated version of “A Serbian Film” more than once. On purpose. #IYKYK.

“Knock at the Cabin” is a movie about metaphors, and coincidences, and faith, much like “Signs,” and much like “Signs,” Shyamalan still excels 21-years-later at pulling the rug out from under us in surprising ways.

From grasshoppers to self-defense, the connective tissue slowly, subtly reveals itself, but it’s the core conundrum that prompts the deepest thought and proves to be most rewarding.

No spoilers but imagine if the fate of all human existence lay in the hands of not just people, but people who belong to a demographic that life has legitimately tried to invalidate and shit on, people who have every reason not to act how you might want them to act when it matters most.

“Knock at the Cabin” is that rare movie where viewers likely will be divided on who the heroes are and who the villains are, and both sides can lay claim to a valid argument.

Driving home, I felt conflicted and exhausted, but I also couldn’t not think about what I’d just seen, and how it felt at times like an attack while I was at my most vulnerable.

It’s not like M. Night Shyamalan knows who I am. He didn’t conceive of “Knock at the Cabin” to be a giant middle finger to me, personally, just because I wrote “Fuck you” after seeing “Glass.” Did he?

It’s not like he knew what I had been through just hours before I sat down to watch the equivalent of about two hours’ worth of Thomas Jane screaming in agony after everyone else shot themselves in front of him just seconds before help arrived and the creatures went back through the wormhole or whatever and he lost the chance to live happily.

It’s not like Shyamalan depicted the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge in “Knock at the Cabin.” That would have been too much. As it turns out, Oregon, not so much.

“Knock at the Cabin” is a painstakingly brutal assault at times that plays off and preys on our collective fear of everything going to shit in a matter of days and hours.

There’s Debbie Downer, and then there’s her mother, Diane, and Diane Downer loves “Knock at the Cabin” and will play it on repeat every time anyone happy shows up to visit.

That’s what I got, sitting here, hours removed from the screaming and crying and pleading on screen, and the coughing, constant coughing, behind me.

My heart is still heavy, and our house is too quiet, and I can’t believe I made it through “Knock at the Cabin” without bawling.

I guess what I’m saying is it’s a dark damn film, but also a damn good one, and scary, too.

Kind of like life.

Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.

BAUT IT BAUT IT: The cast, including Tampa resident Dave Bautista, is impeccable. UNIVERSAL

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C CL Recommends

THU 16

Andrea Bocelli In recent years, modern opera’s most iconic tenor has made a point to stop into Tampa Bay on or around Valentine’s Day. With a voice that Celine Dion wouldn’t roll up her car window to, Bocelli has been moving even the coldest of souls for almost 30 years now. The 64-year-old will be backed by a full symphony orchestra. To think he was going to be a lawyer, huh? (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

Bella’s Bartok w/Chaunces/Brianna Tam Bella’s Bartok describes itself as “A passionate kaleidoscope of sound, born of Americana and Folk music.” That’s putting it lightly. Hailing from the tiny Massachusetts town of Great Barrington, the septet’s set is a veritable mindfuck and melting pot of genres that goes well beyond folk and into Americana, pop and even punk. The band has always been political, and it’ll be interesting how far it goes a week after the president’s State of the Union. Cellist Brianna Tam opens the show along with St. Petersburg’s very own prince of quirky pop, Chaunces. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Rod Stewart When Sir Rod wrapped his long-awaited tour with Cheap Trick at Tampa’s Amalie Arena last year, some fans were under the impression that it was the last time he’d put on an elaborate production linked to his rock material, having recently shown interest in taking his Great American Songbook side on the road. Photos of him with Faces—with whom he supposedly is working on new music—scrolled by during “Ooh La La,” and on “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” graphics of dildos and water droplet emojis flashed in front of cheetah print. Roddy must have had a change of heart, because he’s gonna do it all over again for a far smaller crowd. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi Chicago blues guitarist Jordan has played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, but currently, his heart belongs to Jimi Hendrix. The 63-year-old describes his current run of shows as how he envisions what Hendrix would be doing onstage, had he lived much longer. Jordan does have the tapping ability down, so if he can play with his teeth, this gig is probably the closest we’re gonna get to vicariously living through one of Hendrix’s two performances at Curtis Hixon Hall in 1968. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City)

FRI 17

Arts Legacy Remix: International Women’s Celebration w/Gemma Briggs/more

International Women’s Day isn’t until March 8, but the Straz Center is getting something of a jump with this cross-cultural selection of

women—including bagpiper Gemma Briggs— working in music, dance and visual arts, all performing for free. (Riverwalk Stage at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa)

Curse Mackey w/Sine/Aeon Rings/DJ Jet After taking part in the mammoth Absolution Fest in October 2021, Austin darkwave favorite Curse Mackey is back in town, this time with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Rona Rougeheart who plays assertive EBM under the Sine moniker. Rougeheart has previously worked with legends of the genre, including members of Ministry, Slayer, Nine Inch Nails and more. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)

Lows-Only Takeover: Raaket w/Wonky

Willy/Cavern/more Tampa Karaoke VIP lounge has long been a stronghold for the wompy segment of the Bay area EDM scene, and this weekend it welcomes South Florida promotions company Lows-Only (and SoFla producer Raaket) for a concert and Okeechobee music festival giveaway (the fest happens the first weekend in March). (TK Lounge, Tampa)

Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives Classic country prodigy Marty Stuart has done a pretty damn good job helping to fill in the shoes of dearly departed country icons such as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. His latest album Way Out West was produced by Heartbreakers guitarist—and Florida boy—Mike Campbell, and in 2018, Mr. “Hillbilly Rock” partook in a Byrds reunion tour featuring Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman performing the band’s Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, and then some. There won’t be any Byrds present this time around, but the 64-year-old and his Fabulous Superlatives begin a weeklong residency at The Cap, providing a few tributes to those who have recently fallen, and a career retrospective.

(Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Matt Woods w/Sammy Kay Woods’ “Deadman’s Blues” turns 10 years old this fall, and it feels like the songwriter’s been best friends with the Bay area just as long.

The formerly Nashville-based troubadour is back in Tampa for a no-cover gig that’s part of Woods’ annual tradition of kicking off spring in the Sunshine State. This time, Woods—who’s released half a dozen albums since the “Blues”—brings along recovering Jersey ska favorite Sammy Kay who’s now the self-proclaimed “Andy Kaufman of folk punk.” (Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa)

Riverside w/The Cyberjam Duo Polish outfit Riverside has spent the last few years on the road celebrating 20 years together. But a new era shall begin for the band behind “Second Life Syndrome.” Last month, the progressive rock group released ID.Entity, its first new album since 2018, and local prog fans should be so lucky that some live debuts will most likely happen at what appears to be Riverside’s first Tampa Bay gig ever.

(Orpheum, Tampa)

The Temptations w/The Four Tops Like a good chunk of doo-wop groups around when John F. Kennedy was president, only one original member of The Temptations remains (baritone Otis Williams). A quartet of younger crooners keeps Williams’ fallen brothers’ vocals alive. The impeccably solid vocal group continues its sporadic live schtick alongside fellow nostalgic doo-wop pioneer quartet The Four Tops, with which it has co-headlined gigs with for years now. It won’t be the same hearing “My Girl” without David Ruffin’s soulful lead vocals, and we lose all hope of hearing anything from “Little Shop of Horrors” without Levi Stubbs—the singing voice of Audrey II—present, but that’s what the world is today. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

Yield To None w/Razor and the Boogiemen/Scissor Blade In December, recently-reformed Tampa hardcore band Yield To None released a six-song demo in conjunction with the outfit’s slot opening for New York-based legends of the genre, Agnostic Front (just a few weeks ago, Yield

NICOLE KIBERT/ELAWGRRL.COM

Matt Woods

THURSDAY FEBURARY 16

MUSIC HALL

THE PINE HILL HAINTS

LITTLE SHEBA AND THE SHAMANS + SWAMP PONEY

DOORS 7 | SHOW 7:30 $10 AT THE DOOR | 18+

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17

MUSIC HALL

COMMUNION AFTER DARK / ENDOXA BOOKING PRESENT

CURSE MACKEY

+ SINE / AEON RINGS / DJ JET

DOORS 7 | SHOW 8 | $15 ADV | $20 DOS | 18+

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18

MUSIC HALL

BLENDA'S 50TH BIRTHDAY BASH

DJ SHAFIQ • DEEJAY KELLAN • SLOPFUNKDUST

TRIBAL STYLE • GWAN MASSIVE AND MORE!

DOORS 7 | SHOW 8 | FREE | 18+

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19

MUSIC HALL ENDOXA BOOKING PRESENTS

BARNYARD STOMPERS + VAGABOND TWEED

DOORS 7 | SHOW 8 | $13 ADV | $15 DOS | 18+

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20 CLOSED

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21

81

BIERGARTEN

BIERGARTEN

SAM WILLIAMS

SURF NOIR / SPY-FI

7:30-9:30 | FREE

BIERGARTEN

JONAS

WOODSTOCK

SINGER-SONGWRITER

7:30-9:30 | FREE

BIERGARTEN FAITH KELLY AND CASWYN MOON SPACE FOLK 5:30-7:30 | FREE

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC W/ FRED CHANDLER 7-9:30 | FREE

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22

MUSIC HALL

BENNIGANS AFTER DARK REUNION WITH DJ TOM GOLD AND DJ MARK PARADISE

DOORS 8 | $8 DOS | 18+

THURSDAY FEBURARY 9

BIERGARTEN

RENÉ SCHLEGEL

SINGER-SONGWRITER

7:30-9:30 | FREE

LATIN DANCE

BOLD shows are in the Music Hall

BAY BREWING CO PRESENTS

To None also opened for another NYC hardcore band, Gel). For this one, Yield To None literally yields to nobody and headlines a gig where St. Pete ass kicker Razor and the Boogiemen plays support along with Tampa cybergrind duo Scissor Blade (which has a killer cover of Peaches’ “Fuck the Pain Away”). (Born Free Pub & Grill, Tampa)

SAT 18

Blenda’s 50th Birthday: Tribal Style w/The Setbacks/more When you talk about totems of the Tampa music scene, you have to mention Michael Mendolusky, aka DJ Blenda, who co-founded the Gwan Massive collective and possesses one of the deepest musical minds in the Bay area, especially when it comes to reggae and dub. For this birthday show, he’s joined by Tribal Style—a band for which Blenda has played the congas and percussion—the Gwans themselves, Tampa beat gawd Slopfunkdust and more. (New World Brewery, Tampa)

Paul Thorn By now, you’d think Tampa Bay might’ve grown demystified with Tupelo native Thorn, who’s been a staple in the Americana touring circuit for the better part of two decades. But the 58-year-old former boxer and songwriter has only become more of a legend in this neck of the woods over the years. His latest, Never Too Late To Call , took seven years to put together and has aged well since its release in 2021. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Pink It Up 14!: Ska Bands Against Breast Cancer w/Saganaki Bomb Squad/ Victims Of Circumstance/more Comedian Steve Miller is telling the jokes, and there’s no kidding about how much of an impact

“Pink It Up” has made over the last decadeand-a-half as it’s tapped local ska favorites to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research. This year, six bands are on the bill, and proceeds go to Morton Plant Mease’s mammogram voucher program. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

The Supersuckers w/The Franklin County Trucking Co. The Supersuckers formed in Tucson, Arizona, in 1988, and released a string of records on Sub Pop. Bassist and singer Eddie Spaghetti is the only consistent member of the band, which is now a trio rounded out by guitarist Marty Chandler and drummer Captain Von Streicher. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)—Lee Devito

Tinsley Ellis Georgia blues rocker Tinsley Ellis is changing things up a bit for his Ybor City debut. The 65-year-old Alligator Records artist usually rocks Skipper’s Smokehouse when he’s out on the road, but things are being scaled down for his current run of rare acoustic shows. At this intimate listening room gig, Ellis will tell stories of his career on the road, and wield acoustic guitars currently aged over 80 years. No telling if anything off of his latest album Devil May Care is on the setlist, but I guess it all depends on how good he thinks his newer material sounds acoustically. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City)

Valentine Bossa Nova: Daniela Soledade w/Nate Najar If you messed up

continued from page

and forgot about V-day, here’s your chance to pretend like you were just waiting for the weekend. This no-cover gig is romantic as all get out, and not just because of the sultry bossa nova from Brazilian songwriter Soledade and homegrown jazz guitarist Najar—but because the duo also happens to be a couple, too.

(Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa)

SUN 19

Kathleen Edwards Floridian Social’s State Theatre Sundays locals showcase took a break last week for the big game, but it gets something of a soft restart with this gig from Edwards, a part-time St. Pete resident and multiple Juno and Polaris award nominee. The Canadian songwriter moved here after visiting the area on the “Last Waltz” tour and will be backed by a full band helping bring to life not just her latest (a 2022 EP, Dogs and Alcohol ), but also select parts of a storied 21-year-old discography. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

MON 20

Deep Purple w/The Marshall Tucker Band

It’s a travesty that it took so long for Deep Purple to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but after a farewell run of shows with Alice Cooper and Edgar Winter, the band realized that it’s not quite ready to fulfill that “long goodbye” it promised in 2017. The purp rolls into St. Pete for a seemingly annual career retrospective, alongside Marshall Tucker Band, the latter of which had its piano tuner namesake pass away earlier this year at the age of 99. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

TUE 21

Emmylou Harris The 14-time Grammy winner’s last local set was a masterclass in songwriting. Read more on p. 12.(Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

Gladys Knight The 78-year-old Empress of Soul was one of last year’s Kennedy Center honorees, along with Tania León, Amy Grant, and U2. While the famed ceremony took place in December, if Knight’s debut at the Hard Rock is half as lifting as her performance at Ruth Eckerd last February, it might as well go down as the best thing that ever happens at the Hard Rock in 2023. And if you want to start the night with chicken and waffles, Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe—located on N Nebraska Ave., just off of Hillsborough Ave.—opens at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

J.I.D w/Smino We don’t get a lot of supergroup concerts in Tampa Bay, but half of Zoink Gang will be co-headlining its debut St. Petersburg show. J.I.D—whose latest album The Forever Story features guest spots from Lil Wayne and his pals in EarthGang, and was perhaps last year’s best rap LP—has never been to the Bay at all, having mainly stuck to Rolling Loud on his Florida ventures. Smino—who will most likely be focusing on his new album from last fall, Luv 4 Rent—was at Okeechobee last year, but has also torn down the since-shuttered Ybor City Orpheum as recently as 2019. We love our opening

acts, but we’re glad that the two emcees are gonna get straight to it without any warmups. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

WED 22

The Beach Boys Yes, Mike Love—the only true original member in the current iteration of The Beach Boys (sorry, Bruce Johnston)—has played trophy hunting galas and attended CPAC, but politics aside, let’s not forget the way he treated his bandmates. He once told Brian Wilson— who was in the middle of making Pet Sounds —not to “fuck with the formula,” and would later sue his way into receiving undeserved songwriting credits, earning the right to tour under the Beach Boys name after the death of Carl Wilson. He later unsuccessfully sued Brian for “shamelessly misappropriating Mike Love’s songs, likeness, and the Beach Boys trademark” upon the release of Wilson’s long-shelved tortured masterpiece Smile in 2004, which Love disapproved of during original production in the 1960s. But hey, if “Kokomo” is your bag, head down to Ruth Eckerd. Who knows, maybe John Stamos or Mark McGrath will show up. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

The Wonder Years w/Aaron West & the Roaring Twenties/Carly Cosgrove Fred Savage is in no way associated with the Pennsylvania-based band (thank God), and its latest record The Hum Goes on Forever was recorded in 2020, after members of the band—who struggled virtually working together during lockdowns—quarantined for a week to ensure complete safety. After testing the performance waters in 2021 at a

few festivals, The Wonder Years came back in full swing last year, taking on Europe and the U.S., and performing The Upsides and Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing in their own respective entireties. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

THU 23

Clem Snide For two-and-a-half decades now, Eef Barzelay has quietly made a name as a revered songwriter who can bring an audience to tears and induce big singalongs to melancholy versions of ‘80s pop hits like Journey’s “Faithfully” (he does other, more obscure covers, too). The 52-year-old who experienced a resurgence when he started to co-write with superfan Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers will work through cuts from Clem Snide’s 24-year-old discography, and hopefully do some storytelling since he’s also the brains behind the podcast, “A Life In Song with Clem Snide” where ordinary people share stories before Barzelay plays an original song inspired by the tale. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City)

KC and The Sunshine Band “Disco sucks” people are definitely glad to know that disco bands and artists have been an endangered species in the last few years, with the deaths of Donna Summer, twothirds of the Pointer Sisters, and two-thirds of the Bee Gees. That’s not the way (uhhuh, uh-huh) KC & The Sunshine Band like it, but it holds strong anyway, still featuring original “KC” Harry Wayne Casey. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

Clem Snide

IMPACT ARTIST MANAGEMENT

Monday - Friday, 4pm-7pm Saturday 3pm-6pm

$4, $5 & $6 Liquor, Beer & Wine

$8 Hand-Cra ed Cocktails

No comps: New concerts coming to Tampa Bay

Country music is enjoying a renaissance, with artists like Margo Price, Kelsey Waldon, Tyler Childers, Robert Ellis and more all elevating the genre well above the tropes trotted out on pop-country radio. Sierra Ferrell is undoubtedly part of that revolution, and she’s bringing it to Tampa Bay this summer.

Ferrell, 34, made her Grand Ole Opry debut last December, four years after selfreleasing albums, and a year after putting her 2021 album Long Time Coming out on Rounder Records. The West Virginia songwriter’s past, growing up poor, and even homeless, is well documented, but her upbringing brings so much of the magic

Mortal Sons w/Hollowhouse/Sligh/Kind

Villain/He Kindly Friday, Feb. 17. 7 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City

Jaron Jammer w/Hovercar Saturday, Feb. 18. 9 p.m. No cover. Jug & Bottle, Seminole Heights

Soul! Feat. DJ Jask/Funk Jesus/DJ Blenda/Jay Marley/Von Garden Jr.

Saturday, Feb. 25. 9 p.m. $5. Orpheum, Tampa

Emo Night: Big Sad w/My Cat Umi/ Amateur Taxidermy/Razor & the Boogiemen Saturday, March 4. 9 p.m. No cover. American Legion Post 111, Tampa

St. Petersburg Jazz Celebration: Shawn Brown w/Jeremy Carter/Simon Laskey/James Suggs/John Lamb/more

Sunday, March 5. 6 p.m. $30. The Factory, St. Petersburg

Cowboy Bebop Live Monday, March 6. 7:30 p.m. $20 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Soul Glo w/Cloudrat/Backslider

Tuesday, March 7. 7 p.m. $15. Orpheum, Tampa

Sol Wednesday, March 8. 8 p.m. $22. Crowbar, Ybor City

Nonpoint w/Blacktop Mojo/Sumo Cyco

Friday, March 10. 7 p.m. $26.50. The Ritz, Ybor City

Eddie 9V Wednesday, March 15. 8 p.m. $20 & up. The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City

BroJob Friday, March 24. 6:30 p.m. $20. Orpheum, Tampa

Priest Wednesday, March 29. 8 p.m $22. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Masked Wolf Wednesday, March 29. 7 p.m. $22. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

North Star Boys Thursday, March 30. 9 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City

Magic Giant w/Mobley Friday, March 31. 8 p.m. $22. Crowbar, Ybor City

of her home to listeners who’ve fallen in love with a sound that’s both modern and vintage, but also rooted in the Appalachian mountains and unafraid to dip into jazz and even international sounds like Latin music and calypso. Her often theatrical stage show is quickly becoming stuff of legend. This is undoubtedly a chance to see a star on the rise. Tickets to see Ferrell at Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, May 30 go on sale Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. EST and start at $24.50.

See the rest of Josh Bradley’s new concert announcement roundup below.—Ray Roa

Ricardo Montaner Sunday, April 2. 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. $69 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

The Polish Ambassador Saturday, April 8. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Skinny Puppy w/Lead into Gold Tuesday, April 11. 7 p.m. $28.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Whitechapel w/Archspire/Signs Of The Swarm/Entheos Saturday, April 15. 6 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Hovvdy w/Whitmer Thomas/girlpuppy

Monday, April 17. 6 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Tampa

Prof w/Juice Lord/Bayo/Willie Wonka

Thursday, April 20. 7 p.m. $25. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

The SteelDrivers Saturday, April 22. 8 p.m. $34.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Crywank Sunday, April 23. 5 p.m. $17. Crowbar, Tampa

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Thursday, April 27. 7:30 p.m. $53.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Harsh Symmetry w/Haunt Me/ Ortrotasce/DJ Winters Friday, April 28. 7 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City

Surf Curse Tuesday, May 9. 6 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Voivod w/Imperial Triumphant

Wednesday, May 17. 7 p.m. $25. Floridian Social Club, St. Petersburg

Pouya w/Fat Nick/moreThursday, May 25. 8 p.m. $30. The Ritz, Ybor City

Assemblage 23 w/Mari Kattman Friday, June 16. 8 p.m. $23. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Duran Duran w/Nile Rodgers & Chic/ Bastille Saturday, June 17. 7 p.m. $51 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Disturbed Saturday, Aug. 5. 6:30 p.m. $29.50 & up. Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Dom vibes

By Dan Savage

I’m away this week. Please enjoy this column from July of 2019.

I’m a woman who married young (21) and I’ve been with my husband for seven years. Within the last year, I’ve realized that my falling libido probably comes from the fact that I am not turned-on by our boring vanilla sex routine. I get so little fulfillment that I’d rather not even do it. I’ve tried talking to him, but he says he prefers sex without foreplay or a lot of “complicated stuff.” I had some great casual sex before we met but it turns out I’m into BDSM, which I found out when I recently had a short affair. I’ve kept the secret and guilt to myself, but I have told my husband I’m into BDSM. He wants to make me happy, but I can tell he isn’t turned on doing these things. He denies it, because he’s just happy to have sex at all, but a butt plug and a slap on the ass does not a Dom make. I’ve tried to ask him if we can open up our relationship so that I can live out my fantasies. I would like to go to a BDSM club and he isn’t interested at all. He was very upset and said he’s afraid of losing me if we go. He also felt like I was giving him an ultimatum. But I told him he was allowed to say no, and that I wouldn’t leave if he did.

SAVAGE LOVE

“WTHT might be surprised to hear she is just a normal woman being a normal woman,” said Wednesday Martin, New York Times bestselling author, cultural critic, and researcher. “Like a normal human woman, she is bored after seven years of monogamous sex that isn’t even her kind of sex.” You mentioned that you used to feel like there was something wrong with you, WTHT, but just in case you have any lingering “what’s wrong with me?!?” feelings, you’re gonna want to read ”Untrue: Why Nearly Everything We Believe About Women, Lust, and Infidelity Is Wrong and How the New Science Can Set Us Free,” Martin’s most recent book.

“We know from recent longitudinal studies from Germany, Finland, the US, the UK, and Canada that among women only, relationship duration and living together predict lower desire/boredom,” said Martin. “In fact, the Finnish study found that even when they had more/better orgasms, women in monogamous relationships of several years’ duration reported low desire.”

something wrong with them. In reality, nothing’s wrong. It’s not about a more equitable division of housework (always good!) or drinking more wine (sometimes good but not always), it’s about the desire for novelty, variety, and adventure. Those are things a couple can build into their monogamous relationship, WTHT, but they are not if they’re only being told that dishes are the problem and/or wine is the solution.

So, the big issue here is that you’re bored, WTHT. No foreplay? Nothing complicated? Even if you were 100% vanilla, that shit would get tedious after a few years. Or minutes. After risking your marriage to treat your boredom (with an affair), you asked your husband to shake things up—to fight sexual boredom with you—by incorporating BDSM into your sex life, by going to BDSM clubs, and by at least considering the possibility of opening up your marriage. (Ethically this time!) And while he’s made a small effort where BDSM is concerned (butt plugs, slapping your ass), your husband ruled out BDSM clubs and openness. But since he’s only going through the BDSM motions because he’s just “happy to have sex at all,” what he is doing isn’t working for you.

At bottom, WTHT, what you’re saying—to me, not your husband—is that you’re gonna need

tend to fall into place more easily. The discussion about monogamy becomes easier. The discussion about needing to be topped becomes easier. Working out a solution becomes easier.”

I’m not suggesting that an open relationship is the solution for every bored couple, and neither is Martin. There are lots of legitimate reasons why two people might prefer for their relationship to be, remain, or become monogamous. But two people who commit to being sexually exclusive for the rest of their lives and also want to maintain a satisfying sex life—and, open or closed, couples with satisfying sex lives are likelier to stay together—need to recognize boredom as their mortal enemy. And while the decision should be mutual, and while ultimatum is a scary word, bringing in reinforcements isn’t just the best way to fight boredom in some instances, there are times when it’s the only way to save a relationship.

That said, a couple of weeks back I told a frustrated husband that his cuckolding kink may have to be put on the back burner while his children are young. The same goes for you, WTHT. But at the very least your husband has to recognize the validity of your desires and could put more effort into pleasing you.

When I was younger, I thought there was something wrong with me because everyone else wanted monogamy, but it never seemed important to me. I’m not a jealous person and I wouldn’t mind if he had sex with other people. In fact, the thought of it turns me on but he says he isn’t interested. I know he loves me, and I love him. At this point my only solution has been to suppress this urge to have BDSM sex, but I don’t know if it is a good long-term solution. What should I do? Keep my fantasies to myself? Have another affair or ask him to have an open relationship again? We have a three-year-old daughter, so I have to make our relationship work.—Want

The Hard Truth

Two quick points before I bring out the big guns: First, marrying young is a bad idea. The younger two people are when they marry, according to a mountain of research, the likelier they are to divorce. It makes intuitive sense: the rational part of the brain—the prefrontal cortex—isn’t fully formed until we’re 25. We shouldn’t be picking out wallpaper in our early twenties, WTHT, much less life partners. And second, basic sexual compatibility (BSC) is crucial to the success of sexually exclusive relationships and it’s a bad idea to scramble your DNA together with someone else’s before BSC has been established.

And with that out of the way…

A straight man’s desire for his long-term, livein female partner also decreases over time, but not as dramatically as a woman’s does.

“Contrary to what we’ve been taught, monogamy kills it for women, in the aggregate, more than it does for men,” said Martin.

So, that’s what we know now—that’s what the research shows—but most advice professionals, from the lowliest advice columnist to the most exalted daytime talk show host, have chosen to ignore the research or are unaware of it. So, they continue to tell unhappily sexless couples that they’re either doing something wrong or that their relationship is broken. If he would just do his fair share of the housework or if she would just have a glass or two of wine—or pop a “female Viagra,” if big pharma could come up with one that works, which (spoiler alert) they haven’t and most likely never will—they’d be fucking like they did the night they met. This advice not only isn’t helpful, it’s harmful: he does more housework, she drinks more wine, nothing changes, and the couple feels like there’s

to do BDSM with other people if your husband doesn’t get better at it, which is something he might learn to do at those BDSM clubs he refuses to go to. Which means he has it backwards: he risks losing you if he doesn’t go.

“She once put her marriage at risk to get BDSM,” said Martin. “WTHT’s husband doesn’t need to know about the affair, in my view, and he doesn’t need to become the world’s best Dom. But he owes her acknowledgment that her desires matter. Get to that baseline, and other things

“In straight culture, people tend to define sex as intercourse, because intercourse is what gets men off, and we still privilege male pleasure,” said Martin. “But seen through a lens of parity, what WTHT wants is not ‘foreplay’ or ‘complicated stuff.’ It’s sex, and the sooner her husband lets go of this intercourse = sex fetish of his and acknowledges that her pleasure matters as much as his does, the sooner he’ll be a real partner to his wife.”

For the record: a relationship doesn’t have to be open to be exciting, BDSM doesn’t have to be complicated to be satisfying, and date night doesn’t have to mean dinner and a movie. Date night can mean a visit to a BDSM club where your husband can learn, through observation alone (at least for now), how to be a better Dom for you.

You can find Wednesday Martin on Twitter @WednesdayMartin and wednesdaymartin.com.

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

ACROSS

1 Team players

5 Home of the obi and the Gobi

9 Tech giant

12 Victories of a sort

16 English general, 1608-70 (and no, his first name wasn’t Chip)

18 Glass,

5

6

7 Since who-knowswhen

10 Big name in carpets or tea

11 Big opening

12 Roof sealant

13 It might be loaded

14 “___ I have to get rough?”