Creative Loafing Tampa — April 18, 2024

‘An

Still standing

Photos by Dave Decker

Last year, I asked prolific Tampa Bay photojournalist Dave Decker to criss-cross the area in search of what readers told us were their favorite trees. I’d hoped to get a photo essay out of it and even explore the state of our local tree canopy, but unlike the beautiful trees Decker captured, my end of the bargain never really got off the ground. This issue seemed like a nice place to get some of Dave’s work out there, so here are some shots of the floss silk at the University of South Florida, oaks at Medard Park, St. Pete’s banyans, Clearwater’s famed kapok tree, and a beloved camphor, too. See more photos via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa

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Tampa Bay's best things to do from April 18 - 24

Grass is greener

Sweetwater Organic Farm celebrates a different type of herb—basil, that is—at its annual springtime fundraiser this month, which just so happens to fall on 4/20 this year. In addition to flowing drinks and good eats like pesto pasta, zoodles and pesto pizza, Pesto Festo 2024 also features live music, kids activities, a dessert bar, silent auction, raffles, drum circle and other basil-themed festivities. Locally-brewed kombucha, beer and wine will be on tap, too. Funds raised help continue the community-ran organic farm’s mission of “exploring ecological interconnections, practicing appropriate land stewardship and mastering sustainable agriculture techniques.” Just a handful of sponsors for the 30th annual Pesto Festo this weekend include Mother Kombucha, Keel & Curley Winery, Squeeze Juice Works, Vigo and Kahuna’s Bar and Grill. For a big list of 4/20-themed events happening throughout Tampa Bay—from music festivals and warehouse parties to cookouts and burrito eating contests—head to p. 48 and cltampa.com.

30th Annual Pesto Festo: Saturday, April 20. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. $50-$60.Sweetwater Organic Farm, 6942 W Comanche Ave.,Tampa. sweetwater-organic.org

Kyla Fields

Follow their lead

Despite only getting the right to vote 104 years ago, women have long led civic discourse and had a tremendous impact on elections. A pair of events this weekend celebrates ladies in two different ways. On Sunday at Tampa’s Sulphur Springs Museum and Heritage Center this weekend, University of Central Florida journalism professor and author Dr. Kimberly Voss will discuss six more-or-less unknown women—including political operatives and journalists—who laid the foundation for improving women’s equality in the U.S. with the museum’s “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” as the background.

Across the bridge in Clearwater on Friday, Eckerd College’s Miller Auditorium hosts the “Cinema’s First Nasty Women” which will present new scores for silent films performed live by Eckerd students. “In this set of rarely-seen silent films about feminist protest, slapstick rebellion, and suggestive gender play, women organize labor strikes, bake (and weaponize) inedible desserts, explode out of chimneys, electrocute the police force, and assume a range of identities that gleefully dismantle traditional gender norms and sexual constraints,” organizers wrote, adding that Laura Horak, Associate Professor of Film Studies at Carleton University (pictured), will sit for a post-screening discussion.

Get more information on both of these events via Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s event calendar. —Ray Roa

Catch a tan

The Sunscreen Film Festival has been bringing both local and nationally-recognized actors, filmmakers, writers and aspiring creatives together for almost two decades, and its 19th installment is here. In addition to hosting nearly 200 screenings over four days—from Florida-based shorts, documentaries and dramas to comedies, foreign films and student-produced works—a variety of movie-related workshops and panels will also take place throughout the festival. Organizers say Sunscreen, which is described as “the epicenter of indie cinema since 2005,” draws up to 10,000 attendees to downtown St. Petersburg each spring with a projected economic impact of about $20 million dollars. Tickets to individual films—like the “Food Roots” documentary from actor and restaurateur Billy Dec (pictured), who has a restaurant in Tampa—or blocks of shorts run for $12 while passes for an entire day of screenings cost $65.

19th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival: Thursday-Sunday, April 25-28. Various times. $12 & up. Sundial AMC 12, 153 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. sunscreenfilmfestival.com —Kyla Fields

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

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Time for a spin

Vinyl has long been back in vogue. Big box stores like Target carry it, and even Taylor Swift is releasing four different versions of her new album on the medium. Still, the local record store remains something of an endangered species despite being the personification of all that is good about music discovery. This weekend, shops across the Bay area host concerts as part of Record Store Day (RSD), with Daddy Kool throwing down a humdinger of a day that features some of the best bands in the Bay area— including soulful pop-rock crooner Kristopher James, harp-drum based jazz trio Katara, and Billy Summer’s latest rock and roll extravaganza, Florida—plus a homecoming set from Colemine Records’ signee, songwriter Kendra Morris (pictured). DK also has coffee from Bandit for the earlyrisers looking for RSD exclusives, plus food from Latin Lunchbox, cannabis pop ups, vendors, a sidewalk sale, and DJ showcase curated by Austen Van Der Bleek. See more record shop action on p. 54.

Record Store Day: Saturday, April 20. 8 a.m-9 p.m. No cover. Daddy Kool Records, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S, St. Petersburg. @Daddykoolrecords on Facebook —Ray Roa

Ball is life

Rick Vaugn knows baseball up and down, inside out. He was a pitcher at George Mason University and on the ground floor leading the Tampa Bay Rays’ communications department before the team’s first game ever. He most recently skippered former Rays Manager Joe Maddon’s Respect 90 Foundation as Executive Director and in 2022 released the book “100 Years of Baseball on St. Petersburg’s Waterfront – How the Game Helped Shape a City.” This weekend, he’s at the Tampa Baseball Museum (pictured) to sign copies of his latest work, “Tampa Spring Training Tales: Major League Memories” (his connections to the Grapefruit League go back to ‘85 when he landed at Al Lang while working for the Orioles). The book includes stories about the 1913 Chicago Cubs and is perfect for baseball nerds who love digesting nuggets of insider information about the game.

‘Tampa Spring Training Tales: Major League Memories’ book signing: Saturday, April 20. Noon-2 p.m. No cover. Tampa Baseball Museum, 2003 N 19th St., Ybor City. tampabaseballmuseum.org —Ray Roa

Wing it

Get outside for Earth Day this year and take a leisurely stroll and guided tour through a handful of wildlife-rich South Tampa homes, where folks can learn how to incorporate native plants in their own properties to help attract pollinators, birds, and butterflies. This “no lawn” tour will feature a variety of living, chemicalfree landscapes that foster a wide variety of native wildlife, as well as dish out advice for any hopeful green thumbs who’d like to grow their own garden habitats. After the garden tour, a “nectar” party with refreshments happens at the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation Gallery next door. And when it’s not hosting home tours throughout South Tampa, the Butterfly Center—an educational exhibit inside Little Red Wagon Native Nursery— supports “research, habitat restoration and conservation for butterflies and native plants in our area,” encouraging Tampa residents to start their own organic gardens.

Native Butterfly Garden Tour: Sunday, April 21. 10 a.m.-4 pm. $15. Little Red Wagon Native Nursery, 4113 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. butterflytampa. com —Kyla Fields

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Take cover

What’s green and grows in value as it matures?

By Linda Saul-Sena

Tampa’s growing, but its tree canopy is not— and that’s a problem.

More than 3,500 people move to just the city every year, drawn to our dynamism, jobs and yes, the beauty of our neighborhoods, shaded and enriched by trees. This city’s hot, but if it doesn’t start seriously protecting its diminishing tree canopy, parts of Tampa are only going to get hotter and less livable.

Last year was Tampa’s hottest year ever. All of our building and development has resulted in the creation of heat islands which are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. In the City of Tampa’s 2021 Tree Canopy and Urban Forest Analysis, median land surface temperatures are higher where there is less tree canopy.

The urban heat island effect is well-documented. Concrete boosts the potency of heat waves. Urban heat islands increase energy costs (for air conditioning), air pollution levels and heat-related illnesses. Buildings and roads absorb the sun’s heat during the day and release it at night.

The solution to heat islands is trees, green roofs and vegetation—a fact undisputed across party lines. Trees reflect the heat that the roads absorb. Widely planting street level trees across the city along sidewalks is the most effective solution to reduce temperature.

But as Tampa has grown, so has its concrete surface area. A byproduct of that is the city’s 3% loss in tree canopy from 2016-2021. This very disturbing trend is even more prevalent in South Tampa, which lost 6% of its canopy in the same timeframe.

The State of the Forest 2023 report prepared by city staff is very clear in its recommendations. We need to do more of everything. For starters, we need a tree inventory to give us baseline information which will then allow us to be more strategic in our management.

Tampa’s 17-member Forestry Division staff works tremendously hard, but the task is overwhelming. The team is responsible for pruning and managing 1,400 miles of trees and medians, plus 194 parks, greenways and cemeteries and dealing with emergencies, mostly caused by storms. The lack of maintenance results in more tree removals which cost, on average, $952/tree.

Currently, our entire urban forestry budget is $2.3 million but it needs to be $4.5-$9.9 million according to the report. It’s unclear if that will change in Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s 2025 budget.

Adam Smith, Communications Director for the city, passed the buck when asked about money for trees. “City Council last year rejected her request for more funding for parks and rec funding that would have enhanced forestry services. Too early to know what the next budget will look like, but we are actively pursuing grants,” Smith told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

grandchildren,” he told CL, adding that council was not asked to fund trees in the last budget cycle.

“But we can try to get the mayor to support trees this year,” Carlson noted, pointing to preemption in Tallahassee that took away a city’s ability to regulate trees on private property. “I encourage everyone to ask their legislative representative to help us protect the tree canopy that makes Tampa unique among the great cities of the world.”

But it’s increasingly tough to find the right places for the trees to thrive and spread and provide shade. Public land could potentially contain more trees if we spent the money to install and maintain them.

“We all have a responsibility to plant for our children and grandchildren.”

Del Acosta, a historic preservationist, sees trees as infrastructure that must be budgeted for support in the same way that we invest in maintenance for our water systems and roadways.

Last year, council locked horns with Mayor Castor who proposed a 16% property tax increase as part of her 2024 budget. Residents pushed back on the millage change, some asking why other fees weren’t raised first.

Tampa City Councilman Bill Carlson sees trees as part of the fabric that makes our neighborhoods unique.

“Just as we are benefitting from the trees planted by our predecessors, we all have a responsibility to plant for our children and

In a dollar-for-dollar comparison, the net benefit of a tree canopy that is well-managed compares favorably with the savings from the impact of climate change. The USF study on trees quantified the benefits of a campus tree planting program as over $400,000 in energy conserved, $1 million in storm water filtered and $380,000 for carbon dioxide removed—and that’s just for the USF Tampa campus.

Studies have a somewhat simple solution for dwindling tree canopies: plant more shade trees.

For example, fire departments usually are surrounded by barren land which could contain a number of shade trees, as could school grounds, libraries and roadways. While palm trees have interesting silhouettes, compared to live oaks and maple trees, they are relatively worthless when it comes to helping our environment.

Still, over 95% of the land in Tampa is in private hands so it is critical that everyone understands the civic value in contributing to the quality of life here by planting shade trees on their property.

The City of Tampa has a lot of shade trees to give away, but people need to plant them. Last year, The Forestry Division’s “Tree-Mendous Tampa tree-planting program provided 408 trees to residents who were willing to provide watering for one (1) year.” But only 10% of those free trees given away by the city are oaks.

Sherri Mullis, the Tree-Mendous Tree program coordinator told CL folks prefer “smaller, more ornamental trees like crape myrtles, bottle brush and tabebuia because they’re easier to care for.”

But live oaks are a better long-term investment; sure, pollen and leaves are a hassle, but the positive impact on climate and homeowners’ electric bills is significant. Mullis said we aren’t doing anything to educate and encourage residents to pick up oaks instead of crape myrtles.

This weekend, the City of Tampa is once again giving away trees during Saturday’s Eco-Fest at the Museum of Science and Industry. The giveaway comes a year after Mayor Castor announced plans to plant 30,000 new trees by 2030.

“We’re working on it,” Whit Remer, Sustainability & Resilience Officer for the City of Tampa, told CL about that promise. He said the city is implementing new programs and bolstering others to make progress towards that goal. Remer said the city is about 2,454 trees into the mayor’s goal.

“If we’re going to 30,000 by 2030. That’s about 5,000 trees per year,” Remer added. continued on page 17

DAVE DECKER

“Year-to-date we’re doing about half of what we need to do, and that’s because planting trees and in an urban context is really difficult, and that’s why we wanted to make a big goal.”

But it’ll take more than the mayor to solve the city’s tree canopy problem.

First, funding must be there to maintain our existing canopy. Then, we must ramp up tree giveaways, support more neighborhood tree planting initiatives, and identify more planting locations. Finally, we must enforce existing laws and maximize fines for illegal tree destruction.

One group may be able to help, if it can get off the ground.

Tampa’s Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) is a group created to oversee and monitor our tree canopy, but it is stuck in a bureaucratic cul-de-sac and will hopefully emerge by summer.

“Our legal team had to research some things related to why that committee needed to be formed as an official city committee,” Remer said. “It’s in this weird space between existing on one set of papers but not being formally recognized as an official city committee, which needs to be done through their city council.”

Senior Forester Examiner, Brian Knox, at 813 274-3187.

More than anything, we need to remember that how we handle tree canopies is a reflection of how we view our citizens. Looking at tree density, as in so many aspects of public life, social inequities are magnified through the lens of the canopy.

In Feb. 14 testimony to the Transportation Planning Organization Board, Alex Whitacre, a contributor to the City of Tampa Tree Study and USF masters degree student in urban anthropology, cited the unfortunate relationship between Tampa’s history of segregation and redlining that led us to disproportionate environmental impacts in poor neighborhoods due to highways slashing through them. More generous public funding and education can begin to level this imbalance.

Nature gives away a lot without requiring any effort on behalf of people—sunrises and sunsets, the sun and the moon, tides rhythm and rivers flow. One of her greatest gifts is trees, but in an urban situation they require maintenance. And that’s where we step in.

“How we handle tree canopies is a reflection of how we view our citizens.”

The NRAC members will be appointed with the Mayor filling five slots while Tampa City Council selects four members. Professions such as an arborist, developer, landscape architect, builder, certified engineer, real estate attorney and neighborhood leaders are represented. It is not too early to apply for a position on this important committee by contacting Tampa’s

Trees are generous in their bounty, sharing shade, absorbing noise and pollution, providing habitat for animals and being beautiful. In our neighborhoods, they create a sense of scale for our houses and shops and a feeling of protection for our lives. The glory of trees has been celebrated in all cultures throughout time and we humans have a marked tendency to take them for granted.

We can do better!

GROW, JOE: Joe Chillura had a dream to plant an oak tree at every fire station.

Magic number

Will voters make Florida the fourth state to pass recreational weed by more than 60%?

By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix

As the campaign to get recreational cannabis legalized in Florida moves into its next phase, opponents and advocates of the proposal are operating under the same premise: The measure is likely to receive at least majority support by the voters in November. But that’s not good enough in the Sunshine State, which requires more than 60% to pass a constitutional ballot measure.

Only three states in the country have passed ballot measures on recreational cannabis by that margin—a potential harbinger as Florida advocacy groups prepare to crank up their cannabis campaigns in the upcoming months.

New Jersey voters in 2020 and Maryland voters in 2022 both supported legalizing cannabis for adults by more than 67%, while Arizona voters passed their measure by 60.03% in 2020. (The District of Columbia approved a weed ballot measure by 70% in 2014.)

when they made their pitch to voters after the state voted for medical marijuana in 2016.

“You still have a large group that still looks at cannabis as the gateway drug where there’s no medicinal benefits,” he said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has already let it be known that he’s not a fan of the proposed cannabis amendment. Speaking in Broward County recently, the governor said passage of the measure will make Florida “start to smell like marijuana in our cities and counties. It will reduce the quality of life.”

David and Goliath

One significant factor in favor of the amendment’s success is money.

FLORIDA NEWS

General Election

While adult recreational cannabis is now legal in 24 states, not all of those measures were passed by voters via the ballot box.

Tuesday, Nov. 5. myfloridaelections.com

In nine states, legislators voted to approve the recreational use of cannabis among adults. In the 15 remaining states, voters approved the measures. But what stood out was the three states who had approved the measures by more than 60%.

Ohio, Montana and California voters passed the measure by 57%; in Washington state, Michigan and Oregon the figure was 56%; in Colorado it was 55%; in Nevada and Massachusetts it was 54%; Missouri and Alaska were at 53% and Maine voters passed the proposal at 50.2%.

Red states and weed

Smart & Safe Florida, the political committee advocating for the cannabis proposal, is expecting to have considerable financial resources. After spending more than $40 million—nearly all of it from Trulieve, the state’s biggest marijuana operator—to get the required number of verified signatures to qualify to get on the ballot, the group announced this month that they’ve received an influx of $15 million in new funding for the next phase of the campaign.

“Florida has a chance to make history.”

Major players in Florida’s medical marijuana market include Verano Holdings, Curaleaf Holdings, AYR Wellness, Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries and INSA. “We thought now was the appropriate time to join and throw our support,” said Robert Vanisko, the vice president of public engagement at AYR Wellness, which operators 64 dispensaries in the state.

In the past two years, voters in six red states have voted on recreational weed. Those measures passed in Ohio and Missouri, but were rejected by voters in Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota. In Arkansas, the measure received only 44% support in November 2022.

“We were expecting something too quickly when we didn’t do the work,” says John Kelly Roberts, the executive director with Arkansas NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). He says that advocates failed to show “the medical value of the plant”

Verano founder and CEO George Archos said in a statement posted on Verano’s X page: “Florida has a chance to make history, and we’re thrilled to join Smart and Safe to drive positive change in the Sunshine State.”

Luke Niforatos is the executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), which opposes the legalization measure. He says while it will “definitely be a David and Goliath thing” in terms of the fundraising arms race between the two camps, he promises that there will be an organized effort to oppose the measure.

“There are multiple different coalitions that are coming together…they’re going to have some heavy hitters that are going to be involved—no

way we’ll be able to match the $40 million plus that the industry has already managed to put in, but I think that our coalition can raise enough money and do enough to educate the public to win this ballot measure,” he says. “I don’t know what that final number looks like, but it will definitely be under 60 percent. But I do think that given there are some very influential people in Florida who will be speaking up. So, I think this will be quite a good fight, but we will be outspent.”

Niforatos didn’t name any of those groups, but he says that they will be coming forward publicly in the next few weeks.

Who else is involved and what about polls?

The Florida Sheriffs Association has not stated yet if they will oppose the amendment. The group did pass a resolution opposing the medical marijuana ballot measure when that first came before the voters in 2014. Nanette Schimpf, a spokesperson for that organization, said this week that the sheriffs hadn’t had the opportunity to meet as a group yet to discuss the November amendment.

Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power said this week that while committees in the state party have passed a resolution opposing the abortion rights constitutional amendment that will be on the November ballot, “we have not taken action on weed yet.”

As far as the outlook in Florida, the most recently conducted polls show contrasting results. The survey from the Florida Chamber of Commerce (who filed a legal brief opposing the measure with the Florida Supreme Court), shows the measure with 57% support, shy of the required 60%. Another survey from the University of North Florida from last fall shows the measure easily passing with 67% support.

A national Pew Research Center poll published last week of 5,140 adults showed that 57% of Americans think that cannabis should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes, while 33% think it should only be legal for medical use. (But in Florida, the 57% wouldn’t work. The state needs more than 60%.) Also, the Pew poll shows a partisan divide: 42% of Republicans favor legalizing cannabis for both purposes, compared with 72% of Democrats.

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Night and day

Water Street Tampa’s newest concepts Ash and Alter Ego debut, plus more local food news

By CL Staff

Proper House Group’s two latest ventures made their highly-anticipated debut at Water Street Tampa last weekend. Listening room and cocktail lounge Alter Ego offers “energetic vibes and soulful hospitality,” while its daytime counterpart Ash specializes in modern Italianinspired fare in an upscale setting, which includes an “effortlessly chic” blush-colored dining room, accompanying patio space and open kitchen.

Proper House Group insists that its cocktail lounge, Alter Ego, is not an actual listening room experience, adding that the concept will “feature live DJ sets in an intimate and inviting setting.” Both locally-owned concepts are located on the bottom floor of the Asher building at 420 S Nebraska Ave. in the heart of downtown’s bustling Water Street district. Both Ash and Alter Ego’s official debut are slated for Friday, April 19, but both businesses are soft opening this Saturday, April 13. Reservations for both concepts are now available and can be booked on tock.com.

A few dishes that folks can expect from Ash’s menu include a housemade Malfade pasta with toasted garlic, ramp top oil, pickled ramp bulbs, Dungeness crab and crab roe butter or its pan fried 22-ounce pork chop served with a date and spicy dijon mostarda and a radicchio and charred chicory salad.

Its moody sibling Alter Ego may also offer curated light bites in the future from Ash Executive Chef Andrew Duncan, who formerly helmed the kitchen at St. Pete restaurant Baba. The music-forward hotspot will feature a vast beverage menu of traditional cocktails with modern twists, utilizing top shelf spirits and seasonal ingredients.

Proper House Group—led by Chef Ferrell Alvarez, restaurateur Ty Rodriguez and entrepreneur Chon Nguyen—operates various restaurants and fast casual concepts in Tampa including Bib Gourmand recipient Rooster & the Till in Seminole Heights, Nebraska Mini-Mart and Sparkman Wharf’s Gorditos, Dang Dude and Gallito Taqueria

For the latest news on PHG’s newest restaurant and cocktail lounge, head to their respective social media pages at @alteregotampa and @ ashtampa. Ash is now be open from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with its operating hours slated to expand this summer. Alter Ego will be open

from 5 p.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesday and 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday for the time being.

New Japanese restaurant Minano Ramen debuts in Westchase

Clearly the ramen craze has yet to chill in Tampa, because the unsolicited noods just keep coming. New Japanese concept, Minano Ramen, soft-opened last month 11909 Sheldon Rd. in the Westchase/Citrus Park area.

“Founded by a group of friends with a shared devotion to bringing the true flavors of Japan to your table, Minano Ramen is more than just an Izakaya – it’s a celebration of culinary artistry and cultural richness,” reads the website.

ever star ceremony, but the inspectors gave the food scene an amuse bouche last week. Michelin (stylized “MICHELIN”) says four restaurants earned their first Bib Gourmand in the 2024 Florida Guide, including South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco. Located at 4004 Henderson Blvd., Streetlight finds Executive Chef Michael Brannock tapping into his travels throughout Mexico in presenting a menu that leans on traditional cooking techniques found in restaurants, homes and street food stalls throughout Mexico.

The guide had this to say about Streetlight Taco: "This South Tampa taqueria certainly ups the style quotient on the typical taqueria. From the black-painted, exposed ductwork to

Ramen is the main event here, but the menu also features yakitori skewers, baos and buns, rice bowls, mochi ice cream, and more.

The new ramen spot offers lunch specials, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. -6 p.m. and from 8:30 p.m.-close. Follow @minanoraman on Facebook for more updates.

South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco earns Bib Gourmand in 2024 Michelin Guide

The 2024 Florida Michelin Guide is set for Thursday, April 18, when Tampa hosts its first

the tables lacquered with Mexican comics to the open kitchen, this fast casual spot delivers on contemporary flair, and Chef Michael Brannock’s food isn’t pulling any punches, either. Heirloom corn is nixtamalized in house for a menu featuring tacos, tostadas, salsas, sides and more. Don’t skip the Sunday snack tostada, an equal parts sweet-and-savory delight with two blue corn tostadas layered with cream cheese with lump crab, diced sweet mango and a mango habanero sauce.”

As previously reported, Streetlight Taco’s partners include Jack Murray and Nick Reader,

who are also the managing partners of Michelinstarred Italian restaurant Rocca. And this isn’t the only pre-ceremony snack Michelin’s offered the Bay area food scene this year. In February, the guide updated the Florida addition with 19 more recommended restaurants—including Tampa concepts Supernatural Food & Wine, Predalina, Streetlight Taco, The Pearl, Ebbe, and K ō sen.

In all, Tampa is home to three Michelinstarred restaurants (Roca, Lilac at Tampa Edition, Koya omakase), and three concepts with Bib Gourmands (Rooster & the Till, Psomi, and Gorkhali Kitchen. Other Florida restaurants that earned their first Bib Gourmands in the 2024 Florida Michelin guide include Orlando’s Sushi Saint and Zaru, plus Tam Tam in Miami.

New restaurant Juno & The Peacock and cocktail lounge Pluma opening in downtown St Pete this summer

Last summer, 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House closed for “renovations.” Now it appears that two new concepts will debut from the downtown St. Petersburg location. The space at 400 Beach Dr. NE is now home to a new cocktail lounge called Pluma, and a new full service restaurant called Juno & The Peacock, which will offer a “new American coastal cuisine” for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Collectively, the two spaces will be able to accommodate up to 268 guests with both indoor and outdoor seating.

There’s currently no exact opening date, but co-owners Shawn and Jeanna Damkoehler—who are also behind the nearby Mediterranean-Aegean restaurant Allelo—plan to open both the restaurant and the cocktail lounge by late summer 2024. “Having lived here all my life, I am incredibly proud to contribute to the growth of St. Pete and bring new dining experiences to my hometown,” said co-owner Jeanna Damkoehler in a statement. “It has been a labor of love, bringing together experts in every field, from the design firm to the culinary and beverage teams, to create an entirely new culinary destination in the Tampa Bay area. We can’t wait to unveil the concepts in a few short months and are confident our vision and attention to detail will impress.”

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LISTEN UP: Alter Ego is a music-forward cocktail lounge, while Ash offers upscale Italian-inspired fare.

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Munchies: The Tampa Bay restaurants you must visit when you’re

Stoner Christmas is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by toking it up with your buds and indulging in your favorite munchie meal. From unique combinations like jelly doughnut burgers to late-night eats and affordable meals—Tampa Bay is ripe with eateries that will satisfy anyone’s late-night, munchie-induced cravings. Here are some of our favorite local bars, restaurants and food trucks to frequent when you’re high AF.

Kyla Fields

ABC Seafood This traditional Cantonese eatery is packed pretty much every night of the week, stuffed with happy customers tackling mounds of fried rice, Hong Kong-style crabs, pan-fried dumplings and honey walnut shrimp. Plus, it’s open until 11:30 p.m. almost every night. 2705 54th Ave. N No. 3, St. Petersburg. @ abcseafoodreataurant on Facebook

Bella’s Italian Cafe There’s nothing more satisfying than decadent pasta, thick calzones and fresh pizza made for one—and this South Tampa favorite specializes in those dishes alongside a spread of other hearty Italian favorites. Bella’s offers late-night eats on Friday and Saturday nights, and the off-menu move is to order a side of meatballs, a ramekin of the restaurant’s homemade bleu cheese dressing, then stuff it all inside of a hollowed-out bread roll straight from the server station steamer. 1413 S Howard Ave. No. 100, Tampa. bellasitaliancafe.com

The Burg Bar & Grill This Central Avenue underdog is known for its cheap drinks and daily specials, but its munchie-friendly menu deserves some praise, too. The bar’s chicken and waffle sandwich and housemade potato chips loaded with cheese sauce and jalapenos stand out. 1752 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.theburgbar.com

Cappy’s This pizzeria’s menu is short and sweet, and its cheesy, saucy goodness fulfills that nighttime craving every time. Can’t go wrong with a Chicago deep dish “Cappy,” loaded with sausage, ham, pepperoni, green onion and mushrooms. Just order ahead of closing if you’re trying to eat after a late night smoke session. Multiple locations through Tampa Bay. cappyspizzaonline.com

Chanko Seminole Heights’ homestyle Japanese restaurant has self-serve screens instead of front of house employees, so at least your stoned self doesn’t have to interact with any humans to order a mountain of okonomiyaki, stacked curry platters or loaded rice plates. The former Chop Chop Shop dishes out hearty Japanese food and hard-to-beat portions. 4603 N Florida Ave., Tampa. chankoichiban.com

Chile Verde The ‘Burg’s go-to spot for street tacos, Chile Verde is a gas station-turnedtaqueria that offers a variety of comforting Mexican eats, from chimichangas to enchiladas. Smother whatever you order in its housemade green and red salsas, but you might feel it later. 2801 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. chileverde22nd.com

Dead Bob’s This St. Pete Beach-adjacent watering hole is a dive bar with a hidden gem of a menu. Locals love its cheap burger specials, chicken wings and fried shrimp, which are offered until 3 a.m. daily. 6717 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg. deadbobsstpete.com

Due Amici Everyone’s had a late-night, drunken slice of ‘za from this Ybor City favorite, but Due Amici welcomes customers under all types of influences. Although its variety of fresh slices entice the eye, don’t sleep on the pizzeria’s salads, chicken parmesan sammies or pastas either. 1724 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. dueamiciybor.com

Engine No. 9 Take it from Engine No. 9’s loyal, but drunk, customer base—this restaurant’s unique burgers, sriracha-crusted wings and fried pickle spears make it one of the best nightcaps in all of ‘The Burg. Plus, there’s a solid cocktail, beer and seltzer selection if you’d like to keep your buzz going. 56 Dr M.L.K. Jr St. N, St. Petersburg. no9burgers.com

Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz Dishing out ridiculously-loaded grilled cheeses—stuffed with anything from Korean-style short rib and crispy pork belly to fried chicken and tater tots—Fo’Cheezy’s menu is a munchie paradise. It gets extra stoner points for its “Half Baked” cookies and cream milkshake. 111 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg. focheezy.com

Gangchu This Seminole Heights hotspot offers late night Korean eats on Friday and Saturday, specializing in twice-fried chicken wings and shareable platters. There’s also a variety of beer and cocktails for your cottonmouth, but don’t get too crossfaded and embarrass yourself in the karaoke room. 6618 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. eatgangchu.com

The Galley This downtown gem is a small, unassuming bar that dishes out a menu full of comforting Florida favorites. Its late night fare includes Cuban sandwiches, fried shrimp and smoked fish spread, which are all offered until 3 a.m. daily. 27 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. thegalleystpete.com

Jubao Palace Noodle Bar You’re stoned, slurping piping hot noodles, and watching Jubao’s staff slice pork belly and stir fry rice in picturesque synchronization. There’s nowhere else in Tampa you can gamble and then enjoy high quality Asian cuisine at 3 a.m. on any given day of the week—and yes, it’s always worth the 30-minute wait. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa. seminolehardrocktampa.com

King of the Coop This is the go-to spot to satisfy cravings for intense spice, crispy chicken and that type of run-down-your-arms sauciness. Order the “The King Mac” for mac and cheese-topped chicken tenders smothered between two potato buns and slaw. 1812 N 15th St., Ybor City. kingofthecoop.com

Kristina’s Cafe We miss when this St. Pete diner was open 24 hours a day pre-2020, but its comforting American dishes still hit the spot at all times. All-day breakfast is a must, but you can’t go wrong with the sandwiches or burgers either. 3590 34th St. N, St. Petersburg. kristinascafestpete.com

La Teresita This Tampa institution was a true munchie paradise when it was open round the clock on the weekends, but its Anthony Bourdain-approved, cafeteria-style Cuban platters, sandwiches and pastries still hit the spot even if it’s not 2 a.m. 3248 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. lateresitarestaurant.com

The Lure This is the type of restaurant you take your indecisive friend to, because the menu covers pretty much every type of cuisine. From loaded mac and cheese bowls and sushi to tapas-style small plates and tacos, The Lure’s eclectic offerings can satisfy any type of craving. 661 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg. thelurestpete.com

Madison Avenue Pizza From comicallysized slices that not even Cheech & Chong could conquer to unique specialty pies like its crab rangoon or Chick-fil-A pizzas, this Dunedin favorite has an ultra-loyal fan base for a reason. We’re just hoping the pickle pizza makes its way to Madison Avenue’s menu once again. 2660 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. madisonavepizza.com

high

Nico’s Arepas Grill This North Tampa Venezuelan spot dishes out fat arepas loaded with meat and cheese, empanadas, South American-style burgers and traditional dinner platters. Bonus munchie points for Nico’s late-night eats that are more than a few steps above fast food. 8303 N Armenia Ave, Suite no. 2, Tampa. nicosarepasgrill.com

Nine Spices Hot Pot & Korean BBQ This Pinellas Park hot pot and Korean BBQ restaurant is all-you-can-eat and open until 1 a.m. daily—you’re just responsible for making your food taste good. Take ingredients for your soup from its rotating conveyor belt, or order as many servings of beef bulgogi or spare ribs as you’d like. Just make sure you eat it all or Nine Spices will most definitely charge you an additional fee for not cleaning your plate. 6851 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. ninespiceshotpotfl.com

Rene’s Mexican Kitchen The tiny food truck (4414 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa) dishes out mighty Mexican eats of fat burritos, tacos and “house speciality.” The V.M. Ybor brickand-mortar is the HQ (2802 N 16th St). @ renesmexicankitchenofficial on Facebook Santoro’s Pizzeria This casual North Hyde Park eatery dishes out real deal Jerseystyle pizza that will impress any of Tampa’s many Northeastern transplants. From single slices and cheesesteaks loaded with cheese whiz, to breakfast sandwiches with Jersey’s beloved pork roll—Santoro’s and its quick service will have those munchie cravings fulfilled in no time. Bonus points if you can resist and save room for the zeppoles. 1329 W Cass St., Tampa. santorospizzeria.com

Sesh The folks over at Mad Beach Brewing Co. debuted their new St. Petersburg brewpub last year, and its menu is stacked with hearty dishes like grouper sandwiches, burgers and bowls. Its beloved jelly doughnut burger—two smash burgers, berry jam, bacon and cheese smothered between two doughnut buns—certainly gets the stoner stamp of approval. 2221 4th St. N, St Petersburg. seshstpete.com

Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Some folks come for the craft beer, others come for the tasty brew pub fare. TBBC’s munchie-friendly eats include wings, fried pickles, pizzas, calzones, seafood baskets and thick burgers. Its Westchase location offers the same food menu, too. 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City. tbbc.beer

Three Coins Diner Any local diner that’s open 24 hours a day deserves to be on this list, and Three Coins’ round-the-clock breakfast dishes, sandwiches and burgers will satisfy any late-night munchie craving. 7410 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. Three Coins Diner on Facebook

The Wheelhouse Far from the bustle of downtown, this west St. Pete gem offers a no nonsense menu of well-executed bar food and a variety of local and domestic beer to match. No one at this fast-paced bar will judge you for your red eyes, or for ordering a spread of nachos, tacos, chicken wings and patty melts. There are also lots of vegan and vegetarian options too, like fried mushrooms and zucchini, veggie tacos and loaded tater tots. 7220 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. thewheelhousestpete.com

Xtreme Tacos This taqueria’s 18 inch-long “stoner burrito” is loaded with your choice of protein, french fries, rice, beans, pico and cheese—but there’s a slew of other Mexican favorites like tacos and quesadillas you can also indulge in. Xtreme Tacos gets a few extra points for being accommodating to vegan and vegetarian stoners, too. 5609 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. xtremetacos.com

Zeko’s Mediterranean Grill Fast-casual spot perfect for when you need a meal that’s a step or two up from Salem’s (plus, its Busch Boulevard location stays open until 4 a.m. daily.) Zeko’s dishes out anything from gyros and shawarma to fried seafood and falafel platters. You’ll have to wait in the drive-thru as the food gets made-to-order, but that just means more time to hotbox the whip. Multiple locations throughout Tampa Bay. zekosgrill.com

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MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE

Fire inside

Tampa Bay poets reflect on trees for National Poetry Month.

By Ray Roa

Trees are at the heart of this entire issue. Whether they’re literal trees (p. 8, 15) or that other kind that takes the edge off (p. 18).

POET’S NOTEBOOK

It’s also National Poetry Month, so Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked Dennis Amadeus, who leads The GrowHouse Collective based in Ybor City, to help us reach unsung

Kindling

By Stephanie Jackson (GeminiFox)

Did you hear the news today?

They say that another black man was killed

Isn’t that something?

Another branch separated from its trunk

Another tree decimated

But what is another kindling for the fire?

Just a little Kindle to make this thing move forward

Don’t worry,

He will not turn into ash soon

What is a tree but not charcoal for the barbecue?

It will burn,

The embers will burn

Social media will be hot!

We will be popular for a moment 15 minutes for a life

5 minutes to turn it into a poem

Turn it into a meme, don’t worry

We will immortalize him in the worst way.

But as we speak

The fire still grows

There is still Forest to consume

I have a young tree that I’m growing

I want him to be a cedar

I want him to be an oak

I wanted to place him in the middle of the Amazon where the cutters have not yet arrived I want to build a tribe around him not just with spears and stones

But with battalions to protect him.

I want his roots to be buried deep

I want him to sprout a new Forest

But we are here

At the edge of a forest that is dying

poets. We asked them to write about trees— any trees—and they responded. Here are some of the best submissions, along with poem explainers, from the Growhouse family, plus a couple from Thomas Hallock and Tyler Gillespie whose work previously appeared in CL.

At the edge of an industrial nation that is burning

And we are kindling for the fire

So tell me,

How much dying will be enough?

Should I wait till mine is kindling for the fire?

Before I speak passionately concerning injustice?

Should I wait?!

Will you be compassionate then?

Will you name my tree?

What will you say to me, they try to strip off my branch?

When they try to chop down my tree?

When they try to throw us into the flames?

What Will You Say Then!

I am tired of being kindling for the fire

Every nation burns us like coal

I’m tired of being kindling for the fire

I am tired of being the one fueling the barbecue

While you toast, and you eat and you feast!

I Am Tired.

What if the trees sprung up?

What if they fought back and suffocated the fire?

What would you do then?

You want to know why the trees have not sprung up and strangled everything?

I will tell you,

The world will not be ended by water next time around,

It will be ended by fire.

Make us Kindling if you wish.

Trees are the only things that will survive this.

- Words can be used to express emotion or to amplify it. Art and music have been instrumental in expressing the thoughts and feelings of a culture. Poetry has been used as the voice of many. Likewise, Spoken Word has been instrumental in expressing our joys, our fears and our frustrations when we were unable to affect the world around us. During the pandemic, creatives like myself took inventory of our lives and of the world around us. The uncertainty, panic and paranoia had most of us focusing on all the things that we had left undone. My poem, Kindling, expressed the frustration and helplessness that I felt in our racial climate that seemed to become more volatile during COVID. In May of 2020 a shockwave was sent from Minneapolis throughout the globe. For the first time, many witnessed what had become commonplace for one demographic within the United States. It took me a while to form the words to this poem. I chose to imagine the killing of that one man and many others as the chopping down of trees. How callously are trees chopped down? To some, taking a life is no more eventful than chopping down a tree. Unlike most who expressed their shock and frustration in poetry, I have chosen not to use the name of the gentleman murdered. After all, we do not name the trees we chop down. Do we?

Born Stephanie Jackson, GeminiFox is from the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia and currently resides in Tampa, Florida. Her goal as an artist is to be a voice for the voiceless. She uses her poems to foster healing, understanding and create connections. She is the host/curator of Painting with Words Open Mic, a finalist for Best Spoken Word Artist (Best of the Bay 2023) and a member of Growhouse Tampa poetry collective. She enjoys designing and sewing clothing, is pursuing her associate degree in human services and plans to eventually utilize poetry in her therapeutic practice. (@geminifoxpoetry)

A Tree You Shouldn’t Love

By Saoirse Ibargüen

After the storm, I looked out the window

Squinting, sort of trying to sneak up on what I might see

If I took it by surprise, the damage couldn’t be too bad

But my eyes widened at the violent wreckage of branches

The view from my window transformed into a sea of green leaves

Nothing visible but the death of this once proud tree,

The carnage narrowly missing my roof

Arborists must make the most money after a hurricane

Nervous homeowners making calls, fearing for their property

When the arborist came to my house, He signed the death certificate for two trees, The wrecked one out back, and the one with the dangerous lean in the front

They needed a crane to lift someone up to that one To slice it into pieces from the top down

Sections of trunk disappearing one by one until it was gone

While I mourned these trees, the arborist took a look around the side of the house

His eyes fastened on my pride and joy: a stately oak

Towering over the neighborhood,

Shooting branches off in every direction

Shading my house from the predatory sun

The arborist inspected it and said it had to go Said it would fall on my house one day

I held foolish tears in my eyes and said,

“But I love that tree.”

He said, “That’s not a tree you should love.”

I didn’t tell him that I love all trees and especially this one,

That all trees should be loved even if they could kill us

continued on page 37

Stephanie Jackson COURTESY

CLOSES APR 28

AT THE DALÍ

Explore renowned French Impressionist paintings from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, alongside the early Salvador Dalí works they inspired.

continued from page 35

Was I testing fate when I sent the man home, Knowing his prediction could come true?

Eighteen months later, am I still testing it, Loving this tree even as it creaks toward the day of my demise?

It would be a fitting end,

To be destroyed by the very thing my species is so intent on annihilating

While capitalism clear-cuts forests, would it make a difference

To let this one old tree slash through my house and take me down with it?

There are worse ways to go, and I love this tree too much

To give it an early end

- This poem is a true story about the fate of my trees after Hurricane Ian in 2022. The oak in question is likely as old as my house and its canopy extends over my entire roof. Every time I look at it, I’m torn between admiration and fear.

Saoirse Ibargüen is a writer and performer from Florida’s Gulf Coast. She holds a BA in literature from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and an MSc in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. As a thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail, Saoirse’s love of nature inspires her writing. She has been published by Epoch Press, The Trek, and Neptune. (@saoirsesshelf on Instagram)

Childhood Trees Are Taller

By Alex Rivera

I don’t climb trees anymore now that I wake up at dawn and ignore the sun. My mornings filled with keystrokes and coffee teeth. The blinds are closed but I’m drowning in a flood of emails and unread messages.

There used to be a tree next to a house of bees. Don’t ask me what kind of tree this was. In my memory, it was sharp, naked branches scraping against a ceiling of sky.

After school, I’d sit in the dirt with my best friend looking for lizards before dinner. He’d leap into cracked branches when I wasn’t watching, his hands reaching for the unseen then falling to the buzz of bees.

Face covered in earth, a gap in his teeth, he’d turn to me, point to the tree, and I would commune with the sky for seconds before the sun left and the flashing red radio tower told me to go home.

I don’t climb trees anymore. I’m so scared of falling.

- This was a fascinating prompt, and it made me think about all the trees in my life. But one tree stood out the most despite it being so far back in my childhood. Maybe it’s because it was the first tree I got to know. But I remember my friend and I would hang under this tree in his backyard after school every day. He loved catching lizards and climbing the tree. I eventually would climb the tree too after seeing him climb and fall and climb and fall over and over. Part of me wishes I could go back and climb this tree again. I yearn for a simpler time with less bills and more tree climbing.

Alex Rivera is a first-year MFA student studying poetry at the University of South Florida. He incorporates different perspectives in his poems and explores themes related to love, grief, nostalgia, and nature. When he’s not writing sad poems, you can usually find him hunched over in a coffee shop, blaring music to stave off the existential dread. (@ariverastone on Instagram)

This Tree

By Victoria Dym

This tree reaches out to me, briny bark branch wants to shake my hand, perhaps, or like a homeless man, is begging for money, palms up or, maybe the outreach is an invitation for a hug wants to give me a mother-tree hug, mother me love me, like the mother I’ve never known.

This tree, a giant, fifteen feet, at least, to the crown looking up, makes me want to kneel, to curtsey to bow in respect of its sheer majesty.

This tree, wise tree, long-lived tree, spreads peace tranquility, shade, bark beetles.

This tree, in Lowry Park, historic, classic, Southern Live Oak

whispers to me from the underground, the other world fungus and roots, the language of carbon and water a lively conversation, this tree, laughing the way trees do shaking leaves, and jiggling cascades of Spanish moss in jolly kinship.

- “This Tree” is dedicated to my friend M.A., who like myself, is a tree lover and a tree hugger, and also, like myself, moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa. I am allergic to Live Oak but that does not deter me from being awestruck by them, especially this one in Lowry Park. It was almost as if this tree had made an impression on me, was trying to communicate with me, “love me”. After our first meeting on a walk with friends, I couldn’t stop thinking about this tree. It’s obvious how vital trees are to humans. They change our exhalations into oxygen, improve our mental health and keep us cool especially, here in Florida. Trees are our natural allies when it comes to climate change. But, to me, they are magical and poem worthy. I invite you to go to Lowry Park and see if you can find this tree.

Victoria Dym’s two poetry chapbooks, “Class Clown,” and “When the Walls Cave In” were published by Finishing Line Press in 2015 and 2018. Victoria’s chapbook, “Spontaneous,” was selected by Northwest Poet Laureate Katherine Nelson-Born as the winner of the 2021 Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Contest, won a cash prize and subsequently was published by the West Florida Literary Federation in 2022. Ms. Dym’s fulllength manuscript, “The Hatchet Sun,” was published by Finishing Line Press in August 2023. She hosts the Annual October Haiku Challenge, and facilitates Laughter Yoga workshops in Tampa. She hosts “Poetry: On the Lighter Side” on Thursday, April 25 at the Commodore in Ybor City.

Blossoming Branches

By Unspoken

Orchids blossom in the spring.

They’re picked out as seeds and meticulously cared for; they need that care from the moment they’re planted, so that when they blossom they’re delicate, and untouched by the harsh world around them.

If they don’t get just the right amount of water, they die. If they don’t get just the right amount of sunlight, they die.

If they don’t get just the right amount of love, they die.

But if they’re cared for juuuuust right, orchids bloom and brighten the world for a little while, until they start to fade and wither.

continued on page 39

Saoirse Ibargüen COURTESY

Alex Rivera COURTESY

Unspoken

COURTESY

Victoria Dym

COURTESY

continued from page 37

Soon the beautiful orchid that demanded all that care is gone, leaving behind only the memory of the beauty it used to have.

I am not an orchid. I’m not much to look at because my seed wasn’t planted. I was thrown onto the ground and pounded into the dirt until I cracked and bruised, surviving off of the smallest streaks of sunlight and dew drops.

Still, I grew.

I stood my ground and grew my roots until they stretched out around me; until I stood tall above the flowers; until my branches reached up towards the sun.

Still, I grew.

Ripping rock and crushing concrete, I forced myself through every crack in my way, taking root and taking a stand to say

“I AM HERE!”

I am an apple tree. Beneath burlwood scars and breakaway branches, I stand strong; and when those branches blossom, it will be with the fruits of my labor; apples grown and full of knowledge for those who come next.

I am an apple tree, plain and ugly and gnarled, yet I grow taller and taller still; keeping safe the orchids that grow at my roots, blossoming in my shade.

- “Blossoming Branches” juxtaposes orchids and apple trees, showcasing how the “ugly and gnarled” apple tree is stronger than the more beautiful orchid, forcing its way through the obstacles in its way so that it can grow to take root and bear fruit. It’s a story of perseverance, using the apple tree as a metaphor for how we can grow past suffering, becoming stronger and providing wisdom and support for those who come after us. It’s meant to illustrate that while we may not be as appreciated as the delicate orchid, our scars have a proud beauty all their own, showing the world that despite all it had to throw at us, we stand tall, protecting those in our shade. Unspoken is a Tampa poet, actor, host, workshop facilitator and member of the Growhouse Collective who has performed throughout the country and internationally both professionally and competitively. A 2nd Generation American, much of Unspoken’s writing deals with being Latino in the U.S. and the nature of identity. Unspoken also writes about mental health through the lens of his own experiences in the hopes that people with both internal and external struggles can relate to what he went through and feel someone can understand whatever they’re going through. Unspoken is also working on his debut poetry collection, “Unspoken Perspectives,” out soon. (@anunspokenpoet on Instagram)

Willow

By Iris Agustina Morales (IAM)

I summoned Hecate goddess of the underworld moon and your heart. You’ve blessed Orpheus with the gift of music and poetry in Persephone’s sacred grove.

I, mortal long for your tendrils and my heart strings to Intertwine.

Sprout inspiration, withstand the chaos of this lifetime.

My friends asks where I’ve gone I have no words… silence is my new song I seek refuge under your bent spine.

My beloved Willow, your ability to adapt Is the sweetest lullaby.

- Since I was a child I was fascinated by the willow tree. I imagined her leaves enveloping me, cradling me to sleep. Somehow I always felt there was a portal in the thickness of her trunk, where I can find solace, protection and peace. As I got older I took interest in Celtic Lore and Greek mythology. In my discovery, the Willow tree was popular and important in their traditions which made it all the more special. The Willow tree is known for its medicinal properties and the ability to adapt and withstand extreme climate. No wonder my gravitational pull towards her. She reminded me that I too am strong willed, resourceful, creative, and powerful to face any hurdles ahead.

Iris Agustina Morales (IAM) is a Queer Poet, Actor and Visual Artist whose Poetry and Visual art touch on the ancestral connections, spiritual journey, forgiveness and healing generational trauma. She fearlessly taps into her darkness to bring forth the light, provoking us to tap into aspects of ourselves. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, they now call Tampa home. (@iam_artista_ on Instagram)

Ode to the Dryads

By Edmarie Aponte (Peqchy)

Place your feet on the earth, can you feel the heat? follow the energy in the roots, can you feel the trees? as the breeze sways us and the leaves Shake, can you feel the connection of a shared heartbeat? Now look up, what do you see?

The splintering light glistening through the green a subtle reminder that growth is not free but with the love and light of nature may you flourish accepting the rain and death seeped in your roots as a way to nourish is the only way to see we’re all ends meet. As I lay here surrounded by wisdom from before me I question when I’ll be able to climb to the top of their canopy forgetting that my crown may hang lower but it’s still from the high and where time is a concept our souls coincide Bark or skin roots or veins leaves or hair

all that is left will always remain the essence of love in which all births came where nothing is at fault and nothing is to blame

- “Ode to the Dryads” is a dedication piece to the trees that provide comfort and insight through the sacred connection of life and energy. As I was laying in a hammock perfectly placed in the center of three trees (in which I often spend time with) I allowed myself to sink into a meditative state. While the buzzing of bees and the chirping of birds played in the background of my consciousness I laid my feet down on the ground to feel the vibrations through the soil. I asked out loud “what is a message you’d like me to share” in which I typed freely what came to mind. The reminder that all of life is connected. My mind, body, and soul mimics nature because I am nature myself. The struggles I go through are the same as theirs and yet they still have the chance to grow…and so do I. Edmarie Aponte, also known as Peqchy (Pseudonym) is a Tampa Bay poet and author who embeds their writing from the source within them. Using the influence of Identity, emotions from worldly experiences, and knowledge gathered through spirituality, Peqchy provides an ensemble of words to articulate the journey of life. Starting young, the poet was always fascinated by how the world is perceived by not only themselves but others and has created a space to express the vital parts of the human experience. (@ed.files on Instagram)

the arborist

By Tyler Gillespie

I’m kind of like f*ck oak trees. Cut them all down. I say between sips of chai tea.

Because I’m dating again. Because a limb fell on my grandmother’s roof before Irma.

A man told us the storm would knock down the diseased tree. Into her yard. Or the neighbor’s. (Which scared her more).

As a kid I climbed the top. Looked over a field where oranges once grew.

I loved that tree more than any other

but I knew what we had to do. Made a decision. Called a “local arborist.” Only took cash for chainsaw precision.

Irma kissed our coast. Pulleyed branches floated to earth. He finished & left.

You know the rest. Were there with me, smoking a cigarette from side of mouth. We boarded windows. Stocked the pantry.

We had weathered so many of these before. I thought we’d always find our high ground. Together. Never thought our tree would rot. That the wind would be

too much. But now I’m in a coffee shop. Backtracking on my f*ck trees statement.

Of course, I don’t hate trees. I’m not psycho. Just a poet & see the danger of what could.

- This poem is for people who are dating after a longterm relationship—putting themselves out there again, again. Again.

Tyler Gillespie is the author of the poetry collections “Florida Man: Poems, Revisited” (Burrow Press) and “the nature machine!” (Autofocus) as well as the essay collection “The Thing about Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State” (University Press of Florida). He teaches at Ringling College of Art and Design. (@tyler_gills on Instagram)

continued on page 41

Iris Agustina Morales (IAM)

COURTESY

Edmarie Aponte (Peqchy)

COURTESY

Tyler Gillespie

TOM WINCHESTER

Photograph

continued from page 39

This Curious World: 1937

By Thomas Hallock

When danger threatens, the parent Grebe tucks its young under its wing and dives.

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt, I am a colored mother and need your help.

Julius H. Smith, dairyman, walked out of the courthouse with a check for two dollars, the first bounty

My boy answered an advertisement for a job. He was out of work and had myself and two younger boys depending on him. ever paid by the county on a rattlesnake. The snake was hung in a tree back of the clerk’s office for public inspection.

They were sent to Clewiston, Fla. and he cannot get away or write. They are being guarded at night.

They are not allowed to write. Won’t you please help me get my boy home? Viola Cosley. Birmingham, Ala.

Historian Gary Mormino leaves newspaper clippings in my mailbox at work. He does this for many people. The flood of anecdotes, oddities, and leftover documentation is unrelenting. I’ve accumulated clippings from Mormino, mostly photocopied, for decades--clearly his plan to make the office of his colleagues as disheveled as his own notoriously cluttered desk. Among the copies, I found three clippings from the year 1937: the report of a dead rattlesnake hung from a tree in Tarpon Springs; the transcription of a pleading letter from an African American woman named Viola Cosley to First Lady and social advocate Eleanor Roosevelt; and a syndicated cartoon panel, “This Curious World.” The 1930s saw both tremendous strides in conservation and violence to the human and natural world. What happens when we lay these three items on the same desk? Thomas Hallock teaches English on the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. He is the author, most recently, of “Happy Neighborhood: Essays and Poems.”

In The Trees

By Kennedy Engasser

Last Night I had a dream

That you and I were two kids

Climbing in the trees. I told you everything.

At that age, roots had not ripped into our stomach. Did not branch through our esophagus, entangle our lips and teeth.

Last night I had a dream. Our whispering words did not change everything. Truth poured from my lips, a steady stream, I spoke, it poured, I told you anything,

All my feelings had no filter, floating free, I said it all.

Then suddenly I woke up. We had Grown up. Six feet tall.

I could not say a thing.

The older I get, the more difficult I find it to discuss feelings and situations with other people. Words make things complicated. I remember when I was a young kid and my friends and I would talk to each other about anything and everything. We didn’t think. We just spoke. I wish it could be like that now. I wish I knew how to say all the things that need to be said. But I don’t. I’m not sure that anyone does.

Kennedy Engasser is a local poet, playwright, and actress, currently a theater major at USF. She is involved with local Growhouse Poetry Collective, with whom she will be representing Tampa at Southern Fried 2024. Her most recent shows include directing “High Occupancy Detour” with Powerstories and portraying Hayley Harrington in “Hotbed Hotel” at Carrollwood Players. (@kennedy.engasser on Instagram)

Join us for an engaging dialogue between Chief Curator Dr. Stanton Thomas and renowned objects conservator Luis Seixas, as they discuss the intricacies of the MFA’s newly acquired Spanish tabernacle, the focus of our exhibition Live Conservation: Restoring a 17th Century Tabernacle. This remarkable object presents numerous fascinating questions, particularly as it undergoes meticulous cleaning and conservation. Witness the restoration unfold in real-time in the MFA galleries, Tuesday through Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Visit mfastpete.org for tickets, RSVPs, event information, and additional programs. Events are subject to change.

Thomas Hallock

COURTESY

Kennedy Engasser

COURTESY

Celebrating 30 years in Downtown Dunedin. ~ Asi es la Vida! ~

Expanded bar, additional seating and small gift shop. 365 Main St • Dunedin • 727-734-9226

• www.CasaTinas.com

Black and white

Benjamin Dimmitt’s book shows effects of climate change on the Chassahowitzka.

By Suz Townsend

AClearwater photographer and Eckerd graduate who spent much of his life in Pinellas County has given Floridians—and any environmentalist, really—an astonishing lens into the past.

Benjamin Dimmitt’s book “An Unflinching Look: Elegy for Wetlands” demonstrates the ecological consequences of climate change on Florida’s wetlands, specifically in the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, about 60 miles north of Tampa.

pictures of the landscapes that he originally photographed more than 40 years ago.

BOOKS

‘An Unflinching Look: Elegy for Wetlands’ w/Benjamin Dimmitt

Photographs in black and white depict tangled underbrush, rippling waters and flat scrubby landscape. Some are presented as diptychs—two photos taken decades apart are presented side by side, clearly showing the consequences of rising sea levels on this wetland ecosystem.

Sunday, April 21. 4 p.m. $5 & up Oxford Exchange. 420 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. benjamindimmitt.com

Dimmitt, 70, was born and raised on the Gulf Coast, and knows and loves the refuge profoundly. When he noticed climate change’s effects on the refuge over the course of his lifetime, Dimmitt returned to take

Over the course of four decades the surrounding vegetation has dramatically thinned, once lush landscapes now only sparse grass and dying palms. The book also provides insight from other experts. Naturalist Susan Cerulean contributed the foreword, while research scientist Dr.

Matthew McCarthy offers further documentation of saltwater intrusion aided by aerial photography of the state’s coast.

In the Chassahowitzka refuge, clear waters rise up from the springs and move slowly through the swamp before reaching brackish marshes and eventually, the gulf. Saltwater intrusion caused by rising sea levels encroaches more and more on the naturally fresh waters further inland, culling vegetation and forcing wildlife to higher ground.

The refuge was originally created for waterfowl conservation for the many migratory birds that spend their winters there, but as temperatures rise the refuge sees fewer migratory birds.

In his book Dimmitt also explains how Tampa’s northern expansion threatens the environment as well. Millions of gallons of water are used for golf courses, he writes, then

contaminated by fertilizers before returning to the aquifers, causing nitrification and toxic algal blooms. The very same developments are in turn threatened by sea levels which will continue to rise.

“An Unflinching Look” is indeed an elegy–a lamentation of all that Florida, and indeed the world’s coastal communities, have lost due to climate change. But it is also a call to action. Dimmitt maintains that there is still hope for Florida, “but only if global communities at the highest levels reduce carbon emissions,” he said in a Q & A.

To celebrate the lead-up to Earth Day, Oxford Exchange will host Benjamin Dimmitt for a talk and book signing on Sunday, April 21 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $5, and a $34.95 option includes a copy of “An Unflinching Look.”

BEN THERE: Dimmitt was born on the Gulf Coast.

BENJAMIN DIMMITT

HAPPY HOUR AT AMSO

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

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

$8 Hand-Cra ed Cocktails

Growth mindset

After a successful fall outing, the spring Ybor Arts Tour has doubled in size.

By Jennifer Ring

Last October, about a dozen arts venues participated in the second annual Ybor Arts Tour. This year, the tour doubles in size and adds a spring date—Thursday, April 18.

“I feel as if this lineup is really diverse in terms of the scope of art in Ybor,” artist and curator Michelle Sawyer told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I think it’s going to bring a lot of new eyes to different places and sort of open people’s eyes to the variety of types of art that are here in Ybor.”

theater (stylized “LAB”), where participants can pick up event brochures and wrist bands, preview Coastal’s next open submission gallery show, and tour the theater, where actors rehearse for “Fly Away Home,” a play about Frank Lloyd Wright opening May 2.

LOCAL ARTS

Ybor Arts Tour

Thursday, April 18. 5 p.m. No cover (RSVP suggested). Multiple venues, Ybor City. @yborartstour on Facebook

In addition to Tampa galleries Sawyer has expanded the event to include nontraditional arts venues like tattoo shops, film labs, and retail spaces like Ybor City’s Dysfunctional Grace, which is home to art but also taxidermied animals.

The self-guided tour begins on the west end of Ybor with Coastal Film Lab and Lab

While in the historic district, be sure to pick up a free HCC parking pass (available at Coastal Film Lab, Lab Theater, and Hillsborough Community College’s Gallery114), check out new alternative comedy venue The Commodore, sample some bubbly at natural wine bar La Setima Club, and view Tampa and Yborthemed art by local makers at Orange Blossom Trading Company, which officially cuts the ribbon on Wednesday, April 17.

After that, head east, looking for Tampa Tunes’ painted pianos along the way (the latest

just landed at Big Easy bar). The section of Ybor City surrounding Club Prana has the greatest concentration of traditional arts venues, mostly in the historic Kress building. Don’t miss all the open studios and galleries in this part of town, but also pay Blue Devil Tattoo and Dysfunctional Grace a visit.

Keep pushing east until you hit Stone Soup Company, which has a permanent gallery space with rotating art curated by Tampa Bay artists. Next door, in front of 1920 Ybor, Tampa Tunes displays a piano painted by Carlos Pons alongside an in-progress white-primed piano waiting to be painted by Alyona Garcia-Vianello, and a third piano not yet assigned to an artist.

Wrap things up about five blocks east with a tour of Factory on Fifth before heading to the afterparty at The Bricks.

By the end of the tour, you’ll likely discover that Ybor City has a lot more art than you’d realized. With downtown Tampa and Seminole Heights art businesses moving in, Ybor City is rapidly establishing itself as Tampa’s leading arts district.

“I think it’s going to bring a lot of new eyes to different places.”

Gasparilla Distillery and Cocktail Bar should be next on your list, for Bookends Literature and Libations pop-up where Tampa Bay author Tyler Gillepsie reads selections from “Florida Man: Poems, Revisited (7:30-8 p.m.), Paul Wilborn talks about his “Cigar City” and “Florida Hustle” books (8 p.m.-8:30 p.m.), comic book artist Adam Riches displays samples of his artwork, and you can contribute to making a community zine.

All the growth begs the question, is it time for Ybor City to have a monthly ArtWalk like downtown St. Pete?

Ybor’s new art tenants aren’t sure they’re ready for such a highly organized, regular endeavor, but adding a spring Ybor Arts Tour in addition to the fall tour is a good start. And with Kress Contemporary regularly hosting multiple art openings on the Third Thursday of each month, it’s possible that a monthly art walk could form organically.

Preview what an Ybor City monthly art walk might look like at the first spring Ybor Arts Tour happening Thursday, April 18, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., starting at Coastal Film Lab and Lab Theater. 1704 N. Nebraska Ave. (Coastal Film LAN) and 812 E. Henderson Ave., Tampa (LAB Theater Project).

Roll out

Music, food and art festivals are all part of this weekend’s festivities.

By Ray Roa and Kyla Fields

Not everyone spends 4/20 getting stoned at home and sitting on the couch, and that’s obvious when you consider the seasonal events happening in April. We’ve been compiling 4/40 events around Tampa Bay and have a few to share below.

30th annual Pesto Festo Sweetwater Organic Farm celebrates a different type of green at its annual springtime fundraiser this month. In addition to drinks and good eats like pesto pasta, zoodles and pesto pizza, Pesto Festo 2024 also features live music, kids activities, a silent auction, raffles, a drum circle and other basil-themed festivities. Locally-brewed kombucha, beer and wine will be on tap, too. Funds raised help continue the community-ran organic farm’s mission of “exploring ecological interconnections, practicing appropriate land stewardship and mastering sustainable agriculture techniques.” Saturday, April 20. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. $50-$60.Sweetwater Organic Farm, 6942 West Comanche Ave.,Tampa. sweetwater-organic.org

4-20 Smoke & Mirrors Fundraiser The Mad Monk art collective is working to become a nonprofit, it’s hosting a daytime 4-20 market with bands, munchies, vendors, artists, an art raffe and scavenger hunt. The party turns up after the sun does down with DJs and lasers from a company that’s done lights at Epcot Italy, Bonnaroo and more. Saturday, April 20, 3 p.m. $40 & up. The Graffiti Gallery. 2634 Emerson Ave. S, St. Petersburg. themadmonk.art

4/20 Warehouse party at The Factory The Factory turns into an enchanted forest (thing elves, fairies, mushrooms) while the Unicorn Tears Sound System pumps out house and techno for a party that also features full bars, vendors, visuals, performers and the Bliss Lounge. Yoga starts at 7:30 p.m. if you’re an earlybird. Saturday, April 20. 7:30 p.m. $25 & up. The Factory St. Pete. 2622 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg. @thefactorystpete on Facebook

420 Wonderland+Canna Casino I’ve been working on my “Rockstar” 250 mg THC gummy ring from Bliss for a full week. The wellness market is always popping up at festivals across Tampa Bay, and for the holiday it turns the Dale Mabry Highway location into a Mad Hatter casino (for entertainment only) complete with hold ‘em, blackjack, roulette, plus raffles, munchies, samples, live music, tarot and more. blisswellnessmarket. com. Saturday, April 20. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Bliss Wellness Market. 13721 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa.

Ecofest Earth Day Learning Gate Community School and Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry have teamed up for a full-day of family-friendly earth-centric events

including tree giveaways from the City of Tampa, STEM booths, green workshops, food trucks and more. Saturday, April 20. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. No cover. Museum of Science and Industry. 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. learninggate.org

Harmony & High Spirits Artisanal vendors, spiritual artifacts and more are part of the agenda in Largo along with an open mic and live music, community bonding, and a kava ceremony. “Rest assured that our event prioritizes a safe and inclusive space for all attendees, fostering respect, acceptance, and unity among diverse individuals,” organizers told CL. Saturday, April 20. 8 p.m. No cover. All 5 Elements Kava Lounge and Metaphysical Shop, 12682 Starkey Rd, Largo. all5elements.net

Motherland Music Festival Williams Park can pack people in, and for their first outing, organizers of Motherland Music Festival hope folks come out “to celebrate the desired human value of Unified Diversity.” So no angry stoners when artists from the Ancestral Funk family (which includes songwriter Siobhan Monique, The Negro

district, DK has a full on concert lineup of four bands—including soulful songwriter Kristopher James, Billy Summer’s rock and roll project Florida, plus harp-and-drum based jazz outfit Katara—along with cannabis pop up shops, food and drink, and more. More information is available via @daddykoolrecords on Instagram and @planetretrostpete on Facebook.

Secret Stash Party w/DJ Donnie Luv

There are a lot of things not allowed at Shuffle, including dogs and smoking weed. Still, the six-year-old Tampa Heights neighborhood bar and sports emporium is hosting an homage to everyone’s “secret stash.” Soundtracking the festivities is DJ Donnie Luv (pictured), founder of St. Pete’s Official 7/27 Day and member of the Bay area’s Slugged Sounds rap and producer collective. Saturday, April 20. 4:20 p.m. Shuffle, 2612 Tampa St., Tampa. @ tampashuffle on Facebook

St. Pete French Fry Festival

Keep your buzz going downtown with dozens of local food trucks throwing down their best and greasiest eats, plus a variety of desserts and craft beer to choose from. Just a handful of Tampa Bay-based food trucks that will be there include: Ubuntu, Divinos Tacos, Salt’s Hot Chicken, Fo’Cheezy, Funnel Vision, Charm City Eats and Westchase BBQ. Saturday, April 20. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. @gulftobayfta on Facebook

4/20

EVENTS

Sesh St. Pete It’s no surprise that a restaurant and brewery literally named after a smoke session would offer 4/20-themed food and drink specials all month-long. A few of its “sesh”themed offerings include a peanut butter and jelly cocktail, a “Reefer’s Cups” stout, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos mozzarella sticks and the massive

St. Pete Opera: Bella Voce Party Like It’s the 1960s St. Pete Opera’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Bella Voce, happens on 4/20 this year, and while there are no guarantees on whether or not you’ll be ejected to sparking one up at the Morean Center for Clay, the company is putting on what it calls its “Grooviest Gala Ever” featuring “a kaleidoscopic mix of 60s memories.” Tickets include appetizers, two entrees, full bar and a goodie bag (VIP gets even more).

Saturday, April 20. 6 p.m. $150 & up. Morean Center for Clay, 420 22nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg. stpeteopera.org

Xtreme Tacos Stoner Burrito Eating Contest Take your munchie skills to the next level at this annual burrito eating contest, where

Ninjaz Band, choreographer Charles Smith and more) take over. Saturday, April 20. 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

$40 & up. Williams Park, St. Petersburg

Record Store Day 2024 Every day can be 4/20 when you have a go-to record store, and local shops across the country celebrate their independence this month, and especially on Record Store Day (RSD). In St. Petersburg, Planet Retro Records (226 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N) is rolling out loads of used vinyl to go along with RSD exclusives, and just a five-minute drive away, Daddy Kool is pulling out all the stops. Now in the warehouse arts

“spliff” burrito. Specials offered throughout the end of April. Sesh St. Pete, 2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. @seshstpete on Instagram

Shaner’s Smoke Sesh Smoke before and then get smoked when you show up to Foodie Labs where Mikey Shaner of Shaner’s Surf & Turf is running a smoker filled with wings, pork, mac and cheese, and smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. A stoner’s delight for sure, but there’ll be beer for all the neanderthals out there. Saturday, April 20. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. No cover (register for special offers). Foodie Labs. 515 22nd St. S. Suite 130., St. Petersburg. @thefoodielabs on Facebook

folks attempt to tackle its foot-and-a-half-long burrito stuffed with eater’s choice of carnitas, al pastor, pork belly or barbacoa (or fried cauliflower and mushrooms for the vegans). The reward? A $100 gift card and free beer. Competitors must purchase their stoner burritos by April 19 to secure their spot in the contest. And if you’re not interested in participating, there will still be a 4/20 party happening at the taqueria where you can cheer on your favorite burrito-eater. Saturday, April 20. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Xtreme Tacos, 5609 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. @xtremetacosinc on Facebook

ANCESTRAL FUNK: Siobhan Monique & co. bring the Motherland Music Festival to St. Pete this weekend.

WEDU PBS/YOUTUBE

By Kyla Fields and Josh Bradley

THU 18

Billy Prine w/Scarlett Egan Two weeks after the Bay area spent three days honoring the music and life of his late older brother John, Billy Prine is set to do the same. Billy, who was tour manager for his brother in the Pink Cadillac era, is joined by Nashville songwriter Scarlett Egan for this set dubbed “The Songs of John Prine!” (Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

Bobby Rush If the 90-year-old bluesman hits the stage for any purpose, you’re going to walk away humbled. Mr. “I Ain’t Studdin’ You” (who has been on the scene since Harry Truman was president) will often remember how hard it was to be a Black musician in the early 1950s, and how he was once rejected a record label deal because he knew how to read. But in between his harder tales are also innuendos and quips about what he’s currently up to, whether it’s working with Buddy Guy or being the second oldest person this year—behind John Williams—to win a Grammy. You may as well be a guest in his living room at this intimate gig. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)

The Brook & The Bluff w/Hotel Fiction

Are you lonesome? The Book & The Bluff is on the road supporting its latest album Bluebeard , and celebrating 10 years since frontman Joseph Settine and guitarist Alec Bolton first began rehearsing as students at Auburn University in 2014. According to a press release, Bluebeard has been said to be a possible “breakthrough album,” citing “a mix of indie folk, fused with touches of funk and deep groves” in every track. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Florida Americana Music Festival: Dr. Bacon w/Firewater Tent Revival/ The Currys/Have Gun, Will Travel/ Applebutter Express/Grant Peeples/ more Nearly four-dozen acts head to Brooksville’s Florida Sand Music Ranch, the former Sertoma Youth Ranch which also played home to Florida Winter Music Fest and the Foggy Longbritches Festival. There’s a lot of band crossover between those parties and the Florida Americana Music Festival lineup (The Currys, Grant Peeples), but this weekend’s getdown is certainly an all-star cast of Florida Americana makers. (Florida Sand Music Ranch, Brooksville)—Ray Roa

C New Jazz Underground I was in a coffee shop the other day, and overheard someone tell their friend that, “jazz is all I listen to these days.” All strains of the genre are enjoying a resurgence, with young people driving the charge. The Bay area is home to many of those kids, and three Floridians now based in New York bring their band, New Jazz Underground, back home this week. Saxophonist Abdias Armenteros,

bassist Sebastian Rios and drummer TJ Reddick won last year’s DCJazzPrix (the DC Jazz Festival’s annual international band competition which focuses on ensembles rather than band leaders), and do it all, from Monk, to Sonny Rollins, and even MF Doom. “These Juilliard-trained musicians clearly know the jazz tradition, but push at the corners of hard bop and hip-hop,” NPR recently wrote about the trio. “Classy and classic.” (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)—RR

FRI 19

98Rockfest: Staind w/Seether/Asking Alexandria/Dayseeker/Ayron Jones/ Austin Meade/Tim Montana/Sleep Theory In his solo shows, Staind frontman Aaron Lewis regularly deploys conspiracy theory-driven banter in between songs, and while we won’t be shocked if he gets away with it his weekend, expect the 52-year-old to mainly focus on Staind’s new album Confessions Of The Fallen . South African rock outfit Seether—which fills the Rockfest’s second to last slot—recently reissued its debut album Disclaimer, throwing in an unreleased live show from that tour, and a few B-sides. And Asking Alexandria—a Dubai-based metal quintet also on the heels of a new album—hasn’t been to Tampa Bay since a 2016 gig at The Ritz Ybor. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

C Beach Fossils w/Nation of Language Beach Fossils is no stranger to the Bay area, having opened for Post Malone at the old

Gary shed and headlining The Ritz Ybor a few years before that. The Brooklyn-based indie darling’s 2023 album Bunny still boasts the band’s beloved lush vocals, synthy melodies and easy listening, specialty coffee shop vibes, but get there early to see fellow New Yorker Nation of Language, which is steadily promoting its six month-old LP Strange Disciple . The record—dark at times, but always driven by the raw, wounded performance of guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Devaney—was Rough Trade’s no. 1 album of the year and cements the trio as perhaps the best synth-pop band in America. (Orpheum, Tampa)

Benson Boone w/Mimi Webb You can feel a healthy mix of pain and optimism in Boone’s voice on his brand-new, debut studio album Fireworks & Rollerblade s. On it, the 21-year-old—who Katy Perry fell head over heels for during an “American Idol” audition—sings about being there for his friends who feel as if they are drowning in loneliness, stress, and anxiety, as well as how the death of his great-grandmother affected him, and how he feels that it’s his fault that a significant other has self-love issues. His first-ever show in Florida (which is sold-out to the gills) will feature a shuffled performance of the entire album, plus an opening set from U.K.-based pop musician Mimi Webb. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Cloe Wilder The Clearwater-based singersongwriter leans heavily on her acoustic guitar for bedroom-pop tunes that draw

inspiration from the likes of Lana del Rey and Bon Iver. “Afterglow,” the 18-yearold’s recent collaboration with friend Sam Nicolosi, even sounds like it could have been a lost third song that Bon Iver worked on with Taylor Swift during the folklore and evermore eras. This homecoming show is Wilder’s first since closing off a U.S. tour opening for Charlotte Sands, and there’s currently no opener on the bill. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Jesse McCartney There aren’t any updates on “Kingdom Hearts IV” (a video game franchise in which the 37-year-old has long voiced Roxas), so McCartney has plenty of time on his hands to hit the studio. Mr. “Leavin’” has a new EP out, on which he rhymes “faux fur” with “chauffeur,” and managed to get Yung Gravy to pop up on “Make A Baby.” The last time he appeared in the Bay area was at St. Pete’s Jannus Live two years ago, so prepare to enjoy the air conditioning after a day that calls for a high of 90 degrees. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

C Mo Lowda & The Humble w/The Bright Light Social Hour Ahead of its 10th anniversary last year, Mo Lowda & the Humble released an eponymous album described as something that “visits some previously uncharted sonic territory for the band, while still providing the thoughtful, creative songwriting their fans have grown to love.” The Philadelphia-based indie-rock outfit just played Denver’s Ogden Theatre for what turned out to be its biggest-ever headlining show, so if that’s a sign for tours to come, it’s very possible that Jannus Live could be where Jordan Caiola and friends will land the next time their in town. For now, the band plays the somewhat intimate Floridian Social alongside Bright Light Social Hour, a rollocking Texas psych-rock outfit that has a long and loving history with the Bay area. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

SAT 20

C Eric Jafet w/Pilot Jonezz/He Kindly/ Sorry Barb/Falling In Place Big ass rock and roll riffs a la Sheer Mag are the hallmark of “Toxic Relationship,” the opening track on Eric Jafet’s 2023 album, Destroy. The rest of the 18-minute outing from the Orlando songwriter is rife with sing-along-ready hooks and unforgettable memories, and this weekend he’s supported by Tampa favorite Pilot Jonezz, plus fresh-out-of-hibernation art-pop outfit Sorry Barb for what promises to be one of the best shows on 4/20. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)—RR

Kenny Chesney w/Zac Brown Band/ Megan Moroney/Uncle Kracker Kenny Chesney is no stranger to Tampa Bay, and even popped up at Crowbar in Ybor City ahead of his 2022 stop at Raymond James Stadium. Chesney gets to see another familiar face, too, in Caroline Jones who opened for the country superstar in 2019. Jones—who released her third studio album Homesite last October—joined the lineup of opening act Zac Brown Band in 2022 and will be there to once again support Chesney in a different way. (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)—RR

continued from page 53

C Record Store Day: Bad Bad Things w/House of I Before you get your smoke on, don’t forget that Saturday is one of the biggest days of the year for indie record shops. This Record Store Day, Tampa’s Microgroove won’t only be selling about 70 of those vinyl exclusives we long for, either. Local power-pop-punk outfit Bad Bad Things and psychedelic-rock quartet House of I will grace Keith Ulrey’s beloved stage that came out of its COVID slumber not terribly long ago. Oh, and if you really want that Joe Pesci exclusive album, don’t ask if the store can hold it for you, and just get there early. Per Record Store Day rules, you snooze, you lose. See details about Daddy Kool’s mega RSD party on p. 13. (Microgroove, Tampa)

C The Venus w/Spoiled Rat/Radaghast/ Lil Jerry Springer Downtown St. Pete’s Bandit Coffee Co. is rarely open past 3 p.m., let alone hosting a night of live music, so this 4/20 gig featuring a healthy spread of Burg-based talent is not one to miss. Expect to hear The Venus’ 2023 single “I’m Gone” alongside raucous indie-pop from Spoiled Rat (which will probably perform in themed costumes), “experimental laundry rock” from shoegazy trio Rhadaghast and elusive tracks from Soundclouder Lil’ Jerry Springer. One-off t-shirts and a variety of goods from local vendors and artists will be available for purchase, plus natty wines and a spread of dank specials from Bandit’s prized kitchen. (Bandit, St. Petersburg)

MON 22

C Simon Lasky Group: ‘For The Dreamers’ album launch It’s been six years since British pianist, composer and educator Simon Lasky released a new body of work, so there’s been tons of excitement surrounding his newly-dropped album For the Dreamers . Co-produced by Tampa-based bassist Alejandro Arenas and distributed by U.K.-based label Ubuntu Music, Lasky’s newest work is a homage to his birthplace across the Atlantic and newfound residence here in Tampa Bay, with poignant songs like “Half a World Away” and “Tampa Strut.”

Known for his “expansive and melodic jazz compositions,” Lasky moved to the U.S. in

2018 to pursue a Masters in Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida, and is now an integral part of our local jazz scene. Lasky will take the New Tampa Performing Arts Stage with seven other musicians—including Arenas, Catalan vocalist-songwriter Ona K, guitarist Peter Mongaya and more—as they perform his new eight-track album. (New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa)

TUE 23

The Remix: Pusha Preme At this point, if you’ve lived in Tampa Bay for more than a year and have still never seen local hiphop jack-of-all-trades Pusha Preme live in some capacity, you haven’t lived. During an appearance at Shuffle’s weekly "Remix" open mic night this week, the masked Mr. “Billboard” (who has actually seen a compilation EP he appeared on make the top 20 on Billboard’s Compilations chart) will give a Q&A that promises to focus on marketing, the music industry as a whole, and, according to his social media, “how to fund your dreams.” Don’t be too surprised if the topic of philanthropy comes up, as he can often be seen taking part in book and clothing drives for kids, too. (Shuffle, Tampa)

WED 24

Saxon w/Uriah Heep It’s not the same band it once was, but without Saxon, the heavy metal scene as we know it today would be far different. OG frontman Biff Byford’s voice remains as vibrant and intact as ever, and he shows off said flexibility on the band’s new album Hell, Fire and Damnation . After a run of shows with Judas Priest and Uriah Heep, the latter classic English rock outfit co-headlines with Saxon on the second date of its U.S. tour, and based on those ticket prices, you may not have to gamble in order to afford a seat. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

THU 25

C 97X Under Play: Knox w/ Nightbreakers As the song says, Knox Alexander Morris is “Not The 1975,” but honestly, that isn’t a turnoff when it comes to a young pop musician whose latest EP I’m So Good At Being Alone? could convert even the most resentful pop music hater. The seven-track collection contains slightly grungy guitar tones, plenty of synth licks, and even a collaboration with indie-pop trio Nightly, which features heavy usage of an acoustic guitar. Nightbreakers, which kicked off day two of the 20th 97X Next Big Thing in 2021, opens this next installment in the 24-year-old radio station’s Underplay series, which has brought acts like Grouplove and Pierce The Veil to the historic St. Pete room. Tickets are free, but you have to win them or pick one up at a ticket drop. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

C Mac McAnally Naturally, one of Jimmy Buffett’s oldest industry friends performed at the now-viral tribute concert to the king of the Parrotheads, who died the Friday

before Labor Day 2023. McAnally won’t be fronting the Coral Reefer Band while singing leads on “Cheeseburger in Paradise” in downtown Clearwater come Thursday night—the 66-year-old’s second time at the 103-year-old Bilheimer Cap this month— but along with some Buffett covers, expect to hear just-as-beachy solo tunes, with a possible addition of his brand-new single “All the Way Around,” which has instrumentation that sounds like stereotypical elevator music. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Also playing

Al2 El Aldeano w/Yordi El Joker/Silvito El Libre/Raymond Daniel/Jhamy Friday, April 19. 10 p.m. $65. Mamajuana Cafe, Tampa

Don Felder w/Pablo Cruise/Firefall Friday, April 19. 7 p.m. $38.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Hustle Souls Friday, April 19. 8 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin

Kirk Whalen w/Scott Miller Friday, April 19. 9 p.m. No cover. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa

Level The Planet w/Lot Lizards/The Hand of Reason Friday, April 19. 7 p.m. $10. Deviant Libation, Tampa

Morgan Wade Friday, April 19. 8 p.m. $30 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Paul van Dyk Friday, April 19. 10 p.m. $20. The Ritz, Ybor City

Virginia Man w/The Driptones Friday, April 19. 8 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Young Rising Sons w/44Blonde/Diva Bleach Friday, April 19. 6:30 p.m. $18. Oscura, Bradenton

Cedric Gervais w/Ob7/Gemini Saturday, April 20. 12 p.m. $20 & up. WTR Pool, Tampa

The Currys Saturday, April 20. 7 p.m. $30. MUSIC4LIFE Living Arts Center, Clearwater

The Evolution of Drag: Daphne Ferraro w/Chi Chi LaLique/Jocelyn Summers/ more Saturday, April 20. 8 p.m. $19.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Gloria Trevi w/Mar Saturday, April 20. 8 p.m. $35.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

In Transit ‘Illusionary’ EP release w/ Chimes/Floating Boy Saturday, April 20. 7 p.m. $5. Oscura, Bradenton

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra Saturday, April 20. 8 p.m. $39.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Secret Stash Party: DJ Donnie Luv w/ Nick Bredal’s Jazz Quartet Saturday, April 20. 4:20 p.m. $15. Shuffle, Tampa

See an extended version of this listing at cltampa.com/music.

Simon Lasky

JAYNE DROOGER

Three years after teaming up with Tampa rapper Rahim Samad for “8th Wonder,” Skyzoo is headed back to the Bay area.

The 41-year-old New York emcee grew up a block away from Notorious B.I.G., and has released close to a couple dozen of albums and mixtapes since 2002, including last year’s The Mind of a Saint , a concept record built around Franklin Saint, a character from the FX crime drama “Snowfall.”

And while the man born Gregory Skyler Taylor is an East coast hip-hop legend in his own right, he’s also rocked the mic alongside luminaries like Black Thought and Jadakiss. He’s even done some of his best work as a ghostwriter, something he mainly sees as business.

“It’s cool because you get to work with people who you may not have ever been in the room with if it was just being an artist,” Skyzoo told Tidal. “The worlds I’ve been able to be in off of ghostwriting, people would never think Skyzoo, the underground “backpack” rapper, would be hanging out with some of the biggest people in the world.”

The Dreaded Laramie w/No One Road/ Nate Mosely Wednesday, April 24. 7 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Big Jada Saturday, April 25. 7 p.m. $20. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Alejandro Santamaría (opening for Andrés Cepeda) Friday, April 26. 7:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. Morsani Hall at Straz Center, Tampa

Ortotasce w/Sleeping Pills/Get With This/Posh Boy/Soulr Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $9. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Neverless w/Atomic Treehouse/Better Place (opening for Keep Flying) Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Jimmie’s Chicken Shack w/Tropico Blvd/Pilot Jonezz Friday, April 26. 7 p.m. $5. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Gaza! Rising! Ybor City: Dea and Saint w/Pilot Jonezzz/Afterworld/Razor and the Boogiemen/Highway Advisory Radio/Offerings/The Tilt/Phlegm/ Hovercar Saturday, April 27. 4 p.m. $20-$30 suggested donation. Crowbar, Ybor City

Juan Love and Friends Saturday, April 27. 2 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

ArtSpace Tampa Community Fundraiser: Slam Anderson w/SydLive/Kat On The Keys/Tone I.E./Psych Montano/Kay

Three/DJ Afro Blanco Tuesday, April 30. 6 p.m. $10 donation. Crowbar, Ybor City

Liliac w/Rozy Saturday, May 4. 6:30 p.m. $25 & up. Brass Mug, Tampa

For his “Mic Masters” Tampa show next month, Skyzoo is joined by Bay area rappers Khighness, Chase Bankery, and Pusha Preme who recently signed a distribution deal with Roc Nation’s Equity Distribution.

Tickets to see Skyzoo play Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on Friday, May 24 are available now and start at $30. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup and newly announced concerts below.—Ray Roa

Porch Coffin w/Fastwalker/Off Day/ more TBA Sunday, May 5. 5 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

“It will always be The State Theatre:”

Victims of Circumstance Monday, May 6. 7 p.m. No cover. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Doyle and Otep w/ Red Devil Vortex/ Bad Future/Voidrium Wednesday, May 8. 6 p.m. $25. Brass Mug, Tampa

Daniela Soledade Friday, May 10. 7 p.m. $22. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Discord Theory (opening for Geese) Friday, May 10. 8 p.m. $18. Crowbar, Ybor City

IV and the Strange Band w/ Swamp Poney/Skinny McGee & the Handshakes/One Trip Little Saturday, May 11. 7 p.m. $15. Brass Mug, Tampa

Noche de Verano Sin Ti Saturday, May 11. 9 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City

Doom Flamingo w/MiniM Friday, May 17. 8 p.m. $20. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Savants of Soul w/Dionysus/ HoneyWhat Thursday, May 23. 7 p.m. $5. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Domani w/Jinx/Nasja Friday, May 24. 7 p.m. $35 & up. 7th + Grove, Ybor City

Secrets w/Colorblind/Glasslands/ Unwell/Chasing Airplanes Friday, May 24. 6 p.m. $18. Orpheum, Tampa

Anders Osborne Duo Saturday, May 25. 8 p.m. $30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

MMG-SKYZOO/BANDCAMP

Urgent needs

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, I’ve been experiencing anhedonia lately. What can I do to move through it? —Winter in Spring

Cards: Full Moon, Six of Wands (reversed), Three of Cups, Queen of Swords

Dear Winter, a confession: I’d never seen the word “anhedonia” until you wrote it. Looking it up, I saw that it is the mirror of “hedonism,” a lack of pleasure in life and a lack of desire to even look for it, possibly believing that searching for joy is a pointless pastime.

I also saw that it’s used in psychiatry to determine the level of depressive episodes. As someone with a history of depression, including major depressive episodes, I know how serious they can be, and if you believe you’re in a depressive episode, I want to strongly encourage you to seek out professional treatment with some sort of counselor and, if need be, a psychiatrist. While I know that Tarot can be healing, I believe it works best as only one part of a multi-pronged approach for treating mental illness.

episode. The Full Moon is also a card of action, meaning that it’s not enough to just consider how things are but some steps must be taken.

With the Six of Wands reversed, I would guess that you can’t see the victories in your life right now. That’s not to say that you aren’t “being grateful for what you have”; rather, you might be being hard on yourself. Are there things you’ve accomplished lately that you could take joy in? The Six comes after a war, which suggests that you have fought hard for something. Can you recognize and respect your own effort?

ORACLE OF YBOR

Send

However, if you are feeling more of a general malaise, as opposed to a diagnosable depressive episode, I think the cards may shine some light.

With the Full Moon as the first card, this issue is pretty urgent. It does need to be addressed—right now—or it could metastasize into something like a full-blown depressive

The Three of Cups can be our friends or our community. Has this anhedonia isolated you from them? Could reaching out and leaning on them be a way to slowly inch out of this malaise? Do you think your friends or community might validate you for a job well done or congratulate you on whatever you’ve conquered?

The last card we have is the Queen of Swords. While she can turn that critical eye onto herself, she is also a survivor. She got to sit on that throne and clutch that sword through sheer determination alone. I think it might help to look at your situation critically but not judgmentally. What have you done that absolutely deserves praise? Will you allow yourself to hear it? Can you see areas where you might need to be picked up by friends? Will you allow them to? Compassion is necessary, my love, for

ourselves and our situations. Hopefully, it can help you navigate out of this place.

Editor’s note: If you are feeling suicidal or in emotional distress please call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or reach out through chat by visiting 988lifeline.org/chat. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.

Dear Oracle, I’ve recorded an EP, and it includes what I consider to be the best song I’ve ever written. The problem? The song is a love song about a friend—who doesn’t know about my feelings for her. I’m worried that it’s way too creepy to release and that she’ll figure out it’s about her and will never speak to me again. Any advice? —(Am) I a Creep, (am) I a weirdo?

Cards: King of Wands, Four of Cups (reversed), Eight of Swords.

Dear Creep,

I’m one of those assholes that believes everything is copy. Having writer friends (and exes), I’ve seen my likeness both exalted and trashed. In turn, I’ve cribbed parts of old love letters, stolen secondhand antidotes, and magpie’d every weird idiom or turn of phrase I’ve ever heard. To be an artist is to be a cannibal.

The flip side is, of course, that whoever you wrote about will see the work. No matter how unlikely, they will. It’s the Karmic balance.

I suspect you know this. As the creative and generative King of Wands, you’ve probably mined plenty of parts of your life for your art. For this situation specifically, though, you do feel trapped. The Four of Cups is a questioning, murky point in a relationship and that Eight of Swords makes you feel fenced in.

But, as always, Eight of Swords is just an illusion. You’re only boxing yourself in. The Four of Cups can ask us to work towards a breakthrough in a relationship, which in this case… means you might need to confess your feelings.

I know. I know.

You could do it as a preamble and send her the song. You could send her the song and see if she figures it out. You could confess and mention the song but not actually send it to her—which, personally, I think is bad form. (If they’re good enough to end up in your work, they’re good enough to view it.)

Is it possible that she won’t return your feelings? Yes. Will she find the song creepy and never speak to you again? Maybe. Will she feel delighted and confess her love, too? Also maybe.

Whatever happens, for your heart and your art, you should be honest. Then, at least, you’ll have your answer and can release the song with a clear conscience.

But, even if she doesn’t return your feelings, I don’t think it’s creepy to release a love song about someone. All art, I believe, is a ménage à trois between creator, artwork, and viewer. That experience is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s why people can find great work edifying even if the artist is a piece of shit in their personal life. It’s why we can read love poems inspired by long-dead lovers and still feel moved. Once those feelings go through the alchemic process, they become something more. So go on. Confess your love and release your song. Whatever happens, you’ll survive (and probably have fodder for another song.)

See more from Caroline and learn more about her services at carolinedebruhl.com.

Best interests

By Dan Savage

I’m a woman in a new polyamorous relationship with a man who has a five-year-old daughter. He and his ex-partner split up about a year ago and until two weeks ago, his ex wasn’t allowing him to see his child. However, once she learned of my existence, she suddenly changed her mind. I believe she’s letting him see his child now because she thinks this will drive a wedge between us. In reality, we’re both over the moon that he’s reconnecting with his daughter. Now here’s where I am going to ask for advice. My new boyfriend has recently begun exploring polyamory, and his ex doesn’t know I’m not the only woman he’s seeing. He’s not yet publicly out with the new woman, as it’s a recent thing, whereas we’ve been together more than six months. However, all three of us are getting along very well, and people in our social dance scene have started noticing. This dance scene is where his ex learned about me. Do you think that it’s safe for us to be open about his other relationship? Or do you think his ex will get angry and jealous that he’s enjoying life to the fullest and cut off contact with his daughter again? —Regarding A Vengeful Ex

“For 17 years, I’ve represented clients in child custody cases throughout New York State where being polyamorous—or kinky or a sex worker or frequenting sex workers or other issues of personal sexuality—is being used against a client,” said Diana Adams, Executive Director of Chosen Family Law Center. “And whether it’s safe to be openly polyamorous when you share custody with an ex who could potentially take you to court and bring it up in a child custody case sadly depends on your zip code.”

This is going to seem crazy, FAVE, but that’s because it is crazy: Before making the obvious move here—before your boyfriend lawyers up and takes his ex to court to secure his parental rights and responsibilities (he is making child support payments, right?)—you’re gonna need to look at the results of the last three or four local elections.

“The best indicator of success is how conservative the area is, which is an indicator of how open-minded or conservative the judge, social workers, and other appointed professionals will be in evaluating by the subjective standard of ‘the best interests of the child,’” said Adams. “We don’t yet have much protection from discrimination based on polyamory or other relationship statuses—which is precisely why I’m engaged in advocacy for relationship and family structure non-discrimination laws.” The kind of non-discrimination statutes advocated by Adams—which have already been made law in two east coast cities and they’ve currently moving through city councils in two

west coast cities—would bar conservative judges and social workers from discriminating against people practicing polyamory. But if you aren’t lucky enough to live in one of the two cities where these laws are already in force, the passage of these laws and the debate around them where they’ve yet to pass could benefit your boyfriend and his daughter in the long run.

“These nondiscrimination laws don’t just make it unlawful to discriminate in those jurisdictions,” said Adams, “they influence public thought and make discrimination elsewhere less acceptable as well.”

As for the short run—as for whether it’s safe for your boyfriend to be open about his polyamorous “lifestyle” (awful term, I realize, but sometimes it can’t be avoided)—the answer doesn’t just depend on your zip code, RAVE, but on the reaction his ex is likely to have. And seeing as she has a history of weaponizing access to their child (which is not in the child’s best interests), I don’t think his ex can be trusted to react benevolently, whatever her feelings about open relationships might be. Which is why your boyfriend should—if he safely can—lawyer up and take his ex to court.

can’t orgasm from his hand or when he’s behind me and those are the only ways he cares about. Can you help me? It’s been a consistent problem. We’ve had this fight at least three times a week for the last 11 months. —Feeling Increasingly Broken Somehow

SAVAGE LOVE

Diana Adams is the executive director of the Chosen Family Law Center, a non-profit advocating for a more inclusive definition of family. To support their work, donate here.

I was told you help women who feel ashamed about their orgasms. I’ve been in my relationship for five years and always had difficulty orgasming. About a year ago, I had an affair during a manic episode. I hardly remember any of it, but it haunts me every day. It doesn’t help that my boyfriend constantly brings up the affair when we have sex. He knows two solid ways to make me orgasm, but he focuses instead on two ways I have a hard time orgasming and gets very angry when I don’t. When I tell him that it’s not him, it’s just my body, he brings up the affair and angrily says I was able to orgasm these ways with a stranger. I now feel anxious to have the big O as fast as humanly possible and try to guide him to do what feels best and even show him how to do it. But it always ends in an argument about how I orgasmed doing these things with someone else and he gets angry about it. Now I feel like my vagina is broken. He says it’s because I’ve had too much sex and accuses me of preferring sex with strangers and then starts berating himself for being too small. It doesn’t matter if it is penetrative, oral or by hand, he always says the same things. I’ve had many successful orgasms with him from penetrative and oral sex. I don’t understand why I

You don’t have any trouble getting off during sex—you’re fully orgasmic (even during PIV alone!)—but for reasons I’ll get into/speculate about in a moment, FIBS, your boyfriend has decided to ignore what he knows works for you and the gentle feedback you give him during sex. Instead, he’s choosing to do what doesn’t work—what he knows doesn’t work—and then when what doesn’t work winds up not working, FIBS, your boyfriend throws mean-spirited tantrums about the size of his dick and the regrettable affair you had during a mental health crisis. (An affair you told him entirely too much about! He may have needed to know about the affair, but he didn’t need to know exactly how you got off with your affair partner.) He’s not having sex with you to reconnect after the affair or even just for sex’s sake; he’s having sex with you to control and punish you. He doesn’t want to get you off—he’s intentionally setting you up for failure—because wants to throw this affair in your face again and again and again. Which means he hasn’t forgiven you, FIBS, and given how long he’s been staging these meltdowns—three times a week for 11 months—he clearly has no intention of forgiving you.

Someone who can’t stop demanding apologies won’t be satisfied by the millionth one. Yes, you had an affair and, yes, that was wrong. But there were extenuating circumstances—you were in a manic state—and if he can’t forgive you and get past it, FIBS, he has no place in your life, your bed, your vagina, or your mouth.

P.S. You aren’t broken—not yet. But longer you stay in this hell of a relationship, the likelier you are to start having the problem you’re worried about, i.e., difficultly climaxing. You’re in good working order right now — you can come, and in a variety of positions, doing a variety of things. Don’t let your angry future ex-boyfriend take that away from you. DTMFA: dump the motherfucker already.

P.P.S. Some people insist on being told everything in the wake of an affair. Every detail, however small. But telling the person you cheated on everything — or extracting everything from the person you cheated on — is the relationship equivalent of salting the earth. Everything withers and dies, and nothing new grows.

I have a very good friend of nearly 50 years. She has four kids, six grandkids, and 10 great grandkids. She told me yesterday that

the partner of one of her granddaughters just came out as transgender. But she told me in a gossipy and joking way that shocked me. I told her that this must be a difficult time for everyone and changed the subject. I want to support this young woman, her partner, and kids, and of course my friend. Any ideas? —Appalled With Friend’s Unkind Laughter

Was your old friend gossiping or was she confiding in you? Was she making cruel jokes or was she using humor—perhaps ineptly, perhaps insensitively—to defuse whatever tension she might’ve been feeling in the moment and/ or whatever tension she incorrectly assumed you might’ve been feeling?

When I came out to my mom—decades ago— she said the right thing first: she still loved me. Then she told me she didn’t want to meet anyone I was dating… which hurt to hear… and then she told me a joke about two men attacking a woman in a famously cruisy park in Chicago. The punchline: “One held her down, the other did her hair.” So, two minutes after I had done what seemed impossible me five minutes earlier—saying “I’m gay” out loud in the presence of my mother—my mother told me a joke that was 50% gay joke and 50% rape joke. If I was a different sort of person, gay or otherwise, I might’ve been hurt or angered. But my mom was struggling and the joke—again, 50% gay and 50% rape—was an effort on her part, however clumsy, to connect with me through our shared sense of humor. And one day I would sit at the dining room table and listen to my mom laugh as she told my first serious boyfriend about the night I came out and retell that same joke. Which she did not to insult him, but to make him feel like he was part of the family.

Look, AWFUL, your old friend may be a transphobic bigot. But I think your old friend, like my late mother, deserves the benefit of the doubt: assume the best, assume she was nervous, and let this go. When you see her next, ask whether her granddaughter’s partner wanted her family to spread the word about her coming out—some queer people do—or if you aren’t supposed to know yet. If her relative wanted family to run and tell (and, again, some queer people do), send a note to your friend’s granddaughter and her partner expressing your support. If you’re not supposed to know yet, keep your mouth shut.

P.S. My mother confided in someone without asking me if it was OK—an old friend of hers, a priest—and his kindness helped get my mom to a place where she could sit across a table from the guy who was sodomizing her third son and laugh about family stories. If you scold, you won’t be able to be that friend. So, don’t scold. Listen.

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