Creative Loafing Tampa — April 25, 2024

Hey, Joe

Photos by Dave Decker

Last Thursday, about a dozen students at Tampa’s University of South Florida continued to voice support for a movement that, in part, asks the school to divest from all companies and defense contractors, which activists say support the Israeli government’s indiscriminate bombardments. During the demonstration and march, students also called for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel and waved signs that said “Hands Off Iran,” alluding to President Joe Biden’s reaction to a recent attack on Israel launched by Iran. Biden was at Hillsborough Community College on Tuesday for campaign events, but no pro-Palestinian activists disdrupted the appearance. Read more on p. 27, and see more photos via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray Roa

do this

Decker the halls

Since 2019, Tampa Bay photographer has lent his vision, literally, to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers. MAGA moms have hit him on the head with megaphones, he’s been threatened by Proud Boys, and he’s also fixed his gaze on the president, plus hordes of local bands, artists, and activists all in pursuit of showing us the world as he experiences it. His work’s been on cable news (Fox News, MSNBC) and graced the pages of the New Yorker, New York Times and more. Still, there’s so much that we haven’t seen, and all month in Seminole Heights, Decker—pictured here in a selfie with fellow photog James Luedde—shares more of how he sees our community through his eyes. Say what’s up, and take home a slice of the enthusiasm he brings to our shop during an artist reception. “I’m trying to focus on the shot outside of the shot,” Decker told CL about his work that doesn’t have a person in the frame. “A lot of times I am looking at the juxtaposition of gentrification and progress—there’s a lot of movement in these photos, it’s what people call ‘progress,’ but I don’t really know if we’re doing it in an ethical, sustainable way for our community. I’m just looking for answers to my questions.”

Monthly artist reception—Dave Decker: Thursday, April 25. 6 p.m. No cover. Independent Bar & Cafe, 5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa. @Independentseminoleheights on Facebook —Ray Roa

Always sunny

What made the Sunshine State so alluring to tourists before Disney? Maybe it was the bathing beauties or maybe it was the warm weather, but one thing is certain— hoards of folks have a special nostalgia for vintage Florida. Folks like author and historian Ken Breslauer, who founded Floridania Fest 30 years ago to connect collectors and create community. Breslauer has published several books on topics like Florida roadside attractions, souvenirs and architecture. This year Floridania Fest (stylized “FLoridania”) hosts 27 vendors selling and swapping funky Florida memorabilia like postcards, snow globes, ashtrays and other items. Whether you’re attending just to look around or get ahead on gift-buying for your grandma with the beach-themed bathroom, there are plenty of treasures to check out. Downtown Gulfport has a trove of restaurants and more shopping opportunities for visitors as well, just outside the festival.

Floridania Fest: Saturday, April 27. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $5 (kids 14 and under free). Historic Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport. @FloridaCollector on Facebook —Suz Townsend

Plantasia

You celebrated Mother Earth last Monday, but Arbor Day is on Friday, and the City of St. Petersburg is having a party. More than 120 vendors and exhibitors take over Jungle Terrace’s big ol’ park for the nearly 40-year-old Green Thumb Festival, which includes workshops for kids and adults, ask an arborist sessions, and the Garden Club of St. Petersburg annual, juried flower show. The city says 30,000-35,000 people are expected to attend over two days, so carpool or get there without using gasoline if you can.

Green Thumb Festival: Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. No cover. Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. stpeteparksrec.org/ greenthumb —Ray Roa

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

FLORIDACOLLECTOR/FACEBOOK

Taste and see

Sometimes a night of live music, craft bevs and great local food supports the arts at the same time. The over 40 participating restaurants at Taste (stylized “TASTE”) include Tampa favorites like Besito Mexican and The Dan, as well as craft brew staples like 3 Daughters, Tampa Bay Brewing Company and others. Craft cocktails and N/A beverages will also be pouring. The venue’s lobby, Morsani and Ferguson Halls, and the Tampa Riverwalk will host the four stages with live entertainment from Paradigm, Stereo FM, Jaquay Pearce and Chris Flowers. An all-inclusive general admission ticket includes unlimited sampling and raises funds to maintain Tampa Bay’s arts scene and support Straz’s education and outreach programs throughout the community.

Taste: Saturday, April 27. 6 p.m. $95 & up. David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N MacInnes Pl., Tampa. strazcenter.org —Suz Townsend

Shelf love

There are more than a dozen local bookstores in the area, and even more that are worth the drive to Polk, Pasco and Sarasota counties. They range from historic, family-owned shops (Wilson’s Book World) and one-room community hubs (Portkey Books) to elegant and multifaceted (Oxford Exchange) and inclusive spaces for authors and readers (Tombolo Books, pictured). Celebrate them this weekend as part of Indie Bookstore Day. More information is on p. 33 and p. 35.

Indie Bookstore Day: Saturday, April 27. indiebound.org —Chelsea Zukowski

Saigon kick

Secret’s out about Pinellas’ Saigon Night Market and the Friday Night Street Food Market, and this weekend organizers have teamed up and tapped close to 100 vendors to feed locals who’ll cram into a three-acre gastronomic wonderland for a Lao New Year celebration. Craftspeople will also sell thei wares, alongside musicians and libations from St. Pete Distillery. There’s no cover, but you’ve gotta pay to park.

Mega Night Street

Food Market St. Pete: Friday-Saturday, April 26-28. 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m. No cover (parking is $5). Space, 855 28th St. S, St. Petersburg. @FridayNightStreetMarket on Facebook —Ray Roa

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St. Petersburg ‘employee relations’ professional paid six-figures to ‘communicate’ with Amazon workers about unions.

By McKenna Schueler

Retail giant Amazon spent at least $3.1 million on anti-union consultants last year, with a chunk of that paid out to consultants in Florida—including one based in St. Petersburg.

Federal financial disclosure reports show that LaThesia Hardy, an “employee relations” professional in St. Pete, was paid six figures—$135,051—to “communicate” with Amazon employees, contracted through the anti-union consultancy firm Lev Labor, based in Massachusetts.

Her target: the Amazon Labor Union, an independent, grassroots union built from the ground up by the rank-and-file. According to a contract Amazon filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Hardy—plus at least seven other consultants affiliated with Lev Labor—were enlisted to scope out Amazon’s Staten Island, New York warehouse, train managers to “maximize positive HR influence,” and identify “higher risk” shifts and departments – that is, workers who were pro-union.

with another anti-union consultancy firm, the Rayla Group.

A financial disclosure report filed by the Rayla Group shows the firm contracted Butler and Carter for a job with Amazon to “persuade employees to exercise or not to exercise, or persuade employees as to the manner of exercising, the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.”

According to the report filed, both were specifically directed “to educate employees on their rights under the [National Labor Relations Act],” which is generally code for holding anti-union meetings with employees, also known as “captive audience” meetings.

LOCAL NEWS

Workers have described these meetings as coercive in nature; they are held during employees’ work hours (causing disruption to workflow) and are specifically meant to spook workers away from the idea of forming or joining a labor union to advocate for better wages and working conditions.

Amazon paid these consultants $400 per hour for a minimum of six hours a day, according to their contract. Records show, Hardy’s received about $280,000 for the gig over the last two years alone.

But she’s not the only one from Florida who’s received a pretty penny from the Seattle-based company.

Federal financial disclosure reports show that $122,958 of Amazon’s anti-union spending last year went to two “union avoidance” consultants affiliated with a labor relations firm in the greater Orlando area.

“Public support for labor unions in the U.S. is at a nearrecord high.”

According to a separate report filed by the same firm in December, Butler and Carter were two of seven consultants contracted by the firm in 2023 to carry out their agreements with Amazon, which vaguely list several facilities or types of facilities as targets.

Productions (aka RWP Labor), a union-busting firm headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida.

The business address of one of the anti-union consultants, Aaron Butler, is listed in a report submitted to the U.S. labor department at an address that doesn’t exist.

Another address listed for consultant Marcia Carter, his business partner, similarly misidentifies their firm’s address in Clermont, Florida for an address in California that also doesn’t exist.

Both performed consultancy work last year for Amazon through an agreement they had

The company explained in their own report to the U.S. Department of Labor that the firm was retained “in response to large scale union organizing efforts, including to assist us in expressing the companys [sic] opinion on union representation, and to educate employees about the issues, election process and their rights under the law.”

The individual consultants assigned to each facility are not clarified.

According to reports filed, the Seattle-based retail company paid the Rayla Group alone $1.3 million in 2023 to deliver its anti-union messaging to employees.

But Amazon also contracted the services of four other so-called “union avoidance” consultancy firms—including Lev Labor and the Road Warrior

RWP is headed by CEO Russell “Russ” Brown, who also serves as president of the Center for Independent Employees, an out-of-state group partnered with the conservative State Policy Network that has taken credit for helping to craft a sweeping anti-union law in Florida last year that has so far caused thousands of public sector workers in Florida to lose their union representation.

One of the consultants Brown enlisted last year, according to financial disclosures, was Monica Meija, a consultant who is reportedly based in Casselberry, north of Orlando. Brown paid Meija at least $115,076 in 2023 to “educate” employees at ONT8, an Amazon warehouse based in Moreno Valley, California.

A consultant affiliated with a firm in Celebration, Florida—a manufactured community near Orlando, originally developed by the Walt Disney Co.—and three consultants with a firm based in Delray Beach were also enlisted last year to convince Amazon workers not to unionize.

According to that report, filed by the Illinoisbased Government Resources Consultants of

America Inc, the target of their work was “various employees across the Eastern Region of the US as may be requested from time to time.”

Lev Labor paid three labor consultants affiliated with Florida-based consultancy outfits (including Hardy) nearly $278,000 collectively to do union-busting for Amazon.

Believe it or not, this is a decline from previous years. According to HuffPost, Amazon spent over $14 million on anti-union consultants in 2022, and $4.3 million the year before that to thwart unionization efforts by their employees.

The company—which reported net sales of $578 billion last year—has faced multiple union organizing drives in New York, Alabama and other states across the country (not including Florida) in recent years.

Despite consultants’ best efforts, the scrappy, independent Amazon Labor Union (ALU) successfully organized the first union Amazon warehouse in the country in Staten Island in April 2022—marking a historic (and frankly, surprise) victory for the labor movement.

continued on page 19

THERE’S MORE: Amazon spent at least $3.1 million on anti-union consultants last year. ERIK MCLEAN/PEXELS

continued from page 17

A year before that, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, similarly tried to organize with another, more established union—the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)—but that effort was ultimately unsuccessful, even after the National Labor Relations Board ordered a second, rerun election after concluding Amazon’s violations of labor law had unlawfully tainted the first vote.

The company ran a scorched-earth unionbusting campaign in Bessemer—which consultant Nekeya Nunn of the Orlando-based Labor Pros was also rumored (but not confirmed) to have worked on, according to professor John Logan, who serves as director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University.

So far, the Staten Island warehouse is the only unionized Amazon site in the country. Subcontracted drivers for Amazon in California, employed through one of the company’s delivery partners, also unionized with the Teamsters last year but have similarly faced difficulties in talks with the company, including job terminations.

The warehouse workers in Staten Island are still without a union contract, two years after their historic win, and internal conflict within the union has complicated efforts to build and sustain solidarity amid roadblocks put up by their employer.

The address simply does not exist

Butler, the anti-union consultant reportedly based in Orlando (you’ll get why we say that in a minute), was paid $78,389 last year to “educate” Amazon employees about their union rights, records show. Carter, his business partner based in Clermont, was paid $44,569.

What’s odd is: The address listed for Butler—1584 Montane St. in Orlando—does not exist within city limits, nor does the ZIP code of 31118 listed for the address.

That ZIP code doesn’t appear to exist at all, in Central Florida or otherwise.

The same Orlando address is listed for Butler in another persuader report filed by a different anti-union firm, while several other reports share an address for him in Clermont that matches the address he and Carter have registered with the state for their joint business, Butler Carter Connection.

There is a 1584 Montana Ave. in Orlando, in the Colonialtown North neighborhood, but that’s a different ZIP code than what’s reported, and it’s not home to any sort of property, according to county records, let alone a business setup. Butler’s LinkedIn profile lists his city as Jacksonville. Marcia Carter’s address, meanwhile, is listed as an address in “Claremount,” California—a city that does not exist.

While there is indeed a city in California called Claremont, all other details of the address listed by the Rayla Group—including the ZIP code—match Butler Carter Connection’s business address in Clermont, Florida.

Neither Butler nor Carter answered Orlando Weekly’’s requests for comment on the address issue or their persuader activity when contacted by phone or email.

However, while there’s no time stamp for reports filed, it appears Carter filed a report on this month, disclosing work for Amazon, after Orlando Weekly called her number. The woman who answered the call (who did not tell us her name) told us we had the wrong number (granted, we called initially asking to speak to her business partner, Butler).

Carter correctly reported her business address in that Tuesday report.

exceeding several thousands of dollars a day, plus initial retainers, travel and other expenses.

These reports are supposed to provide transparency, both to the public and employees involved in these union drives.

Experts expect there’s also “persuader” activity that isn’t reported at all—by either consultants or employers, who are similarly required to file annual reports for any agreements they enter into with anti-union persuaders and how much they pay them.

LOCAL NEWS

Addresses listed in reports by Lev Labor—another one of the anti-union firms Amazon hired—also incorrectly identified some of their consultants as Florida-based, when a quick Google search reveals their business addresses are actually affiliated with cities outside the state. So did Brown, the CEO of the anti-union firm in Satellite Beach.

Butler, for his part, hasn’t filed a single report disclosing his own persuader activity himself. This is despite being listed in several financial disclosure reports filed by union avoidance firms he contracted with, including the Rayla Group—which lists its address as what looks to be a post office box at a UPS office in Michigan.

Carter has filed two of her own reports, but not for the Amazon job. She was also paid last year to try and convince registered nurses

Under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), outside labor consultants (or “persuaders”) contracted by employers are required to file federal reports known as LM-20s and LM-21s with the U.S. Department of Labor, disclosing the details of their contractual arrangements.

These reports are often, accidentally or not, riddled with errors. Many consultants file their reports late, insert typos, use fake names, or file reports with information missing, such as the classification of workers they are interacting with, and the financial details of their arrangements—i.e., their rate of pay.

Consultants are generally paid by the hour— at an hourly rate of up to $400 or so, depending on the agreement—or by the day—with some rates

at dialysis clinics in California not to unionize with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The greater Orlando area is home to a surprisingly high number of “union avoidance” outfits and individual consultants who have been hired by the likes of Hilton Hotels, Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Lowe’s and Amy’s Kitchen to prevent employees from unionizing.

Tracy Schrey, a former HR manager for what used to be known as Disney’s Reedy Creek district, was enlisted for a job in 2021 to prevent Dollar General workers in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, from joining the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

A judge for the federal labor board last year said Dollar General violated federal labor law

during that campaign by wrongfully firing a worker and allegedly threatening to close the store if workers unionized (thus, illegally threatening their job security for exercising their protected right to organize).

Schrey, who works out of Winter Garden, Florida, served as a manager for the Reedy Creek special tax district (now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) until she was fired in 2018. She currently sits on the West Orange Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors.

As Orlando Weekly reported last year, consultants contracted by the Orlando-based Labor Pros firm, based in downtown Orlando, allegedly compared union membership to “chattel slavery” and “Jim Crow” during meetings with employees of a Barnes & Noble college bookstore at Rutgers University, according to an assistant store manager who was supportive of the union effort.

Workers there unanimously voted to unionize, despite weaponized language that the assistant store manager described to Orlando Weekly last year as “jarring.”

Union-busting is a lucrative, decades-old industry, worth billions of dollars. Some consultants in the industry today are ex-union leaders themselves who switched sides, sometimes after being kicked out of their unions for undemocratic (and/or illegal) practices.

This experience within the labor movement gives those former union staffers unique leverage in their pitches to employers that are desperate to thwart the “threat of unionization,” as former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz put it.

Public support for labor unions in the U.S. is at a near-record high, despite the fact that 90% of workers in the United States aren’t union members, and the percentage of union membership has declined over the past several decades.

A 2017 poll found that nearly 50% of nonunion workers said they would vote for union representation, but decades of anti-union labor policy—especially in southern, “nonunion” states like Florida—have made the job of organizing harder.

Organizing campaigns at companies like Amazon, Starbucks and Trader Joe’s (another union buster) have inspired workers, particularly younger workers in difficult-to-organize sectors like restaurants and hospitality, to consider organizing for improvements on the job.

The National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency overseeing private sector union matters, this month shared that the number of petitions filed for union elections in the first six months of the current fiscal year rose 35% year-over-year.

From Oct. 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, 1,618 petitions were filed seeking union representation, compared with 1,199 in the first half of the last fiscal year.

JOE PIETTE

SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Campaigns at Amazon have inspired workers to consider organizing.

Go on

Florida can’t enforce pronoun law against Tampa-area teacher, federal judge rules.

By Dara Kam/News Service of Florida

Afederal judge on April 9 blocked Florida education officials from enforcing a law requiring a transgender teacher to use pronouns that align with her sex assigned at birth, saying the law violated her First Amendment rights.

The 2023 law restricts educators’ use of personal pronouns and titles in schools. Violations of the law—one of a number of measures backed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis targeting the LGBTQ community over the past few years—can result in teachers being stripped of certifications and hefty financial penalties for school districts.

Plaintiffs Katie Wood, a transgender Hillsborough County teacher, and AV Schwandes, a nonbinary teacher fired last year by Florida Virtual School, sought preliminary injunctions as part of a lawsuit challenging the restrictions.

Walker rejected the state’s arguments that the pronoun restriction was a “pedagogical” decision and, as a result, protected from First Amendment scrutiny.

“Given the personal, self-identifying speech at issue in this case, and the broad application of this restriction to every employee or contractor in the public K-12 context regardless of whether they are responsible for teaching students, this court concludes that the restriction itself is not simply a ‘pedagogical’ or ‘curricular’ choice,” the judge’s order said.

LOCAL NEWS

Lawyers for education officials also maintained that the pronoun and title restrictions were the “policy” of all public-school institutions and were therefore government speech, which can be restricted.

Wood—not statewide, as the plaintiffs’ lawyers sought.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell last year blocked the 2023 drag-show law statewide, finding it violated First Amendment rights. An appeals court rejected the DeSantis administration’s request to lift Presnell’s preliminary injunction, and the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the injunction to remain in place. The lawsuit was filed by an Orlando restaurant known as Hamburger Mary’s.

Walker’s order said that Presnell’s decision found the drag-show law was “facially contentbased, unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.” But the same conclusions don’t apply to the restrictions imposed on the teacher, according to Walker.

“In Ms. Wood’s case, she has not alleged a First Amendment overbreadth claim in her complaint. Nor has she persuasively explained why she is entitled to a statewide injunction,” Walker wrote, noting that injunctions should be “limited in scope” to the extent necessary.

“This is a classic speech injury—Ms. Wood spoke in the past and wants to speak in the future, but she is deterred by a credible threat of discipline. This court concludes that Ms. Wood has submitted sufficient evidence to establish an injury-in-fact,” he wrote.

The judge also decided that neither teacher “has demonstrated a likelihood of success” on allegations that the law violates a federal employment law prohibiting discrimination.

“The record before this court does not indicate that Ms. Wood was transferred, demoted, or passed over for training or promotion. Further, Ms. Wood has not asserted that the prestige or responsibility of her position as an educator has been diminished,” Walker wrote.

“Once again, the state of Florida has a First Amendment problem.”

Walker’s ruling also found that Schwandes, who uses the pronouns they/them, “has not submitted sufficient evidence to find that their speech is being chilled” by state education officials’ enforcement of the law.

The challenge alleged the law violates the teachers’ First Amendment rights and runs afoul of a federal civil-rights law.

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a preliminary injunction April 9 that blocked enforcement of the law against Wood, but the injunction does not apply statewide. Walker’s decision also denied a preliminary injunction sought by Schwandes.

“Once again, the state of Florida has a First Amendment problem. Of late, it has happened so frequently, some might say you can set your clock by it,” Walker’s 60-page ruling began. “This time, the state of Florida declares that it has the absolute authority to redefine your identity if you choose to teach in a public school. So, the question before this court is whether the First Amendment permits the state to dictate, without limitation, how public-school teachers refer to themselves when communicating to students. The answer is a thunderous ‘no.’”

Attorneys for the Florida Department of Education and other defendants asked Walker to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Legislature has discretion to “promote the state’s pedagogical goals and vindicate parental rights.”

But Walker pointed to a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision, in a case known as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, allowing a highschool football coach to pray with his team before games.

“Both Coach Kennedy and Ms. Wood are expressing their own personal messages about their own personal identities to their students— identities that exist independent from their roles as coach or teacher,” Walker wrote.

But the judge disagreed, writing that the “official ‘policy’ label does not necessarily transform Ms. Wood’s speech into a government message whenever she introduces herself or provides her pronouns to students.”

Relying in part on court rulings in a challenge to a Florida law aimed at restricting children from attending drag shows, Walker also said the injunction would apply only to

“Accordingly, based on this record, the scope of the preliminary injunction in this case need extend no further than prohibiting defendants from enforcing the challenged provision against Ms. Wood to protect her interests while this case remains pending,” the judge wrote.

In granting the injunction, Walker said the teacher used her preferred pronouns before the law went into effect and that the “threat of mandatory discipline” prevents her from using them now.

Schwandes “has not identified any speech that they would engage in at a foreseeable time that is barred” under the law, and also has not said they are looking for employment at a school where the law would be enforced, Walker wrote.

“In short, Mx. Schwandes has not come forward with any evidence showing that they intend to engage in speech in the foreseeable future that would violate” the law, he added.

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Chasing history

Hillsborough Democrat wants to be first transgender member of Florida Legislature.

Via News Service of Florida

Democrat Ashley Brundage this month opened a campaign account to run for a Hillsborough County seat in the state House and to try to become the first transgender member of the Legislature.

Brundage filed the paperwork to run in House District 65, which is held by Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman, R-Tampa, according to the state Division of Elections website.

Gonzalez Pittman is running for re-election in November and had raised $154,189 for her campaign as of March 31, according to a newly filed finance report.

bad policy,” Rouson said Tuesday night. “So if you can’t stop bad policy, create good policy. But when the numbers are 84-36 and 28-12, it’s hard to create what your constituents believe is good policy.”

“So if you can’t stop bad policy and you can’t create good policy, learn the budget, because you can sometimes speak through budgeting.”

ELECTIONS

Democrat Nathan Albert Kuipers also has opened an account and had raised $11,527. The Republicancontrolled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have approved a series of measures in recent years targeting transgender people.

Primary Election

Early voting starts Aug. 5. votehillsborough.gov

Rouson said he did just that when he and former Orlando-area Democratic state Sen. Randolph Bracy (he’s is no longer a state senator) were able to get $30 million into the 2021 budget and more than $30 million in the 2022 budget for the African-American cultural and historical grant program funded through the Department of State.

LPAC, a national organization that helps LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates, issued a statement Friday supporting Brundage’s campaign.

“In the face of relentless anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida, Ashley Brundage’s voice is not just important—it’s essential,” Janelle Perez, LPAC’s executive director, said in a prepared statement. “We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of policies that undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Floridians.”

Tampa Bay Democrats hold town hall and discuss passing bills in Florida’s GOP-led legislature

With Florida Republicans holding a supermajority in the Florida Legislature, Democratic lawmakers must be creative in finding ways to get their bills passed, bring vital projects to their communities, and stop what they consider to be bad policy.

For Sen. Darryl Rouson, representing Pinellas and Hillsborough, the way to provide for his constituents is to get local projects into Florida’s state budget, though some of those projects can get labeled “pork” or “turkey,” or as the phrase goes, “bringing home the bacon.”

Speaking in Tampa at a town hall meeting this month with area lawmakers, Rouson recalled what former state lawmaker and Congressman Al Lawson told him when he joined the Legislature: “Stop bad policy.”

“Well, when the numbers are 84-36 (in favor of Republicans in the House) and 28-12 (in favor of the Republicans in the Senate), it’s hard to stop

Rouson says that with Democrats in the minority, he decided early on in the Legislature to find common ground and work with Republicans “as opposed to attacking everything that comes down the pike.”

He received strong support from Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner this year in getting the Legislature to approve $20 million for the victims of abuse at the Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee reform school in North Florida this session. That bill (HB 23 ) has to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis before it will become law.

House Democratic Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, and Tampa Bay area Democratic Reps. Michele Rayner, Dianne Hart and Susan Valdes also appeared at the town hall meeting sponsored by the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Driskell said that this “was the session of missed opportunities.” While she praised the Live Healthy Act bill that focuses in part on retaining and attracting health care workers to the state, she said that the GOP-controlled Legislature should have expanded Medicaid — “the one thing that would guarantee health care coverage for nearly a million more Floridians and bring the down the costs of health care for all of us.”

Driskell said she was proud of her sponsorship of HB 7085, which will establish a $10 million grant program to fund community-based projects to expand specialized treatments of sickle cell disease. And the GOP members were supportive, as the measure passed unanimously in both chambers.

“Sickle cell impacts the Black community most,” she said. “And Florida has one of the highest concentrations of sickle cell patients in the nation, and we were able to get legislation passed that creates the first Sickle Cell Disease

Centers of Excellence in the country. And a $10 million recurring appropriation for the treatment of sickle cell patients. This is huge and it will be groundbreaking.” That bill also must be signed by Gov. DeSantis before becoming law.

Pinellas and Hillsborough County Rep. Michele Rayner spoke about her involvement as a co-sponsor of HB 1, which called for banning social media platforms for children under the age of 16. It was a top priority of House Speaker Renner, but was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said he had concerns with the proposal’s constitutionality and whether it would infringe on parental rights. The Legislature then amended that legislation to HB 3, which prohibits children under the age of 14 from becoming social media account holders and allows 14-and 15-year-olds to become account holders with parental consent.

“Any bill that starts with 1,2, 3, that is the speaker’s priority,” Rayner said. “That is the bill that he or she is laser-focused on getting it across the finish line and making sure that it gets signed by the governor.”

She said that it was quite unusual for a Democrat to sponsor a GOP Speaker’s bill.

“I can’t remember the last time a Democrat sponsored the (Republican) speaker’s party bill, let alone a Black Democrat sponsoring the speaker’s priority bill,” she said, adding that there were “folks that had issues with me supporting the bill” because it was a priority of Renner, a strong conservative.

When asked what she considered a highlight of the session, Susan Valdes says she was stumped to provide a response. “I’m going to be honest. I can’t think of anything else. I feel

like I’m still in the Matrix. Because that bubble up there is very, very difficult considering the imbalance that there is,” she said.

When Valdes said that there were only 36 Democrats out of the 120 members of the Florida House of Representatives, there were notable groans in the audience of about 60 people. “Good God,” one voice lamented, when hearing how few Democrats are in the Legislature.

Rep. Hart urged members of the public to come to Tallahassee during the initial committee weeks leading up to the legislation session, saying that the Democrats needed more supporters of their agenda to actively make their voices heard in the Capitol.

The meeting took place in Hillsborough County – which has been one of the Florida Democratic Party’s standout districts over the past decade, but like much of the rest of the state, continues to trend Republican.

Democrats now have just a 1% lead over Republicans in voter registration in Hillsborough County. According to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website, there are 289,278 Democrats, or 35% of the electorate. There are now 280,580 Republicans, or 34% of the electorate. Non-party-affiliated and thirdparty groups total 254,063, or 31%.—Mitch

Perry/Florida Phoenix

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

RACE READY: Ashley Brundage filed the paperwork to run in House District 65.

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Rise up

USF students continue calls to end U.S. military aid to Israel.

By Ray Roa

Last Thursday, about a dozen students at Tampa’s University of South Florida continued to voice support for a movement that, in part, asks the school to divest from all companies and defense contractors, which activists say support the Israeli government’s indiscriminate bombardments.

During the demonstration and march, students also called for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel and waved signs that said “Hands Off Iran,” alluding to President Joe Biden’s reaction to a recent attack on Israel launched by Iran.

“Our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs,” Biden—who appeared in Tampa this week for campaign events—said in a statement issued five days after the attack. “During my Administration, the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities—including Iran and its proxies, Hamas,

Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah. And we will keep at it.”

Biden’s statement, and last week’s student demonstration come nearly 200 days after Hamas, a terrorist group that has long-controlled Haza, launched an attack that killed around 1,200. Since the Oct. 7 attack, the Israeli government has engaged in a war that Al-Jazeera says has killed more than 34,000—including nearly 15,000 children—as of April 22.

• Killing members of the group;

• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Local activist groups also staged a “Tampa Does Not Welcome Genocide Joe” protest on the day of President Biden’s visit to Tampa.

LOCAL NEWS

At USF last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators were joined by a smaller group of individuals including one holding a flag featuring The lion of Judah.

President Rhea Law to issue a statement that there is a “zero tolerance for antisemitism at USF.”

Students on the pro-Palestininan side have also tried to get Law’s attention, but have also condemned antisemitism. On the same day as their march, the USF Divest Coalition and Students For Socialism @ USF organized a “Countering Anti-Semitism & Teaching Tolerance” event.

“Over thousands of years, the Jewish people have faced sadistic attempts at their extermination, and yet, they have shown incredible resilience, hope and determination. Never again may we witness the atrocities they have dealt with and never again may Palestinians and their right to existence be so under threat,” a post for the event said.

In January, NPR reported that “The International Court of Justice has found it is “plausible” that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention.”

The convention, which codified genocide as an independent crime in 1948, classifies genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

Ethan Brooks, who wore a sweater from the school’s “Chabad At USF” group, posted recruiting videos from the event. Another student—USF senior Jacob Kamp, who wore “Stop Antisemitism” shirt—told Bay News 9 that he supports anyone who yells “Free Palestine,” but draws the line at chants that include “from the river to the sea” and “Intifada.”

“Those are highly anti semitic terms,” he told the station, adding that he’s called for USF

Jacob Cherry, a USF sophomore who was part of the call to end aid to Israel, told BN9 that no one in his coalition that day is against Jewish people.

“The true the anti-semitism that we’ve seen actually rise up over the years comes from the far-right, comes from things from the alt-right, from Qanonand and all those weird conspiracies that the far-right has been propping up,” Cherry told BN9. “That’s the anti-semitism people should be really worried about.”

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Starstruck

Two new Tampa restaurants earn Michelin stars in 2024 ceremony, plus more local food news.

By Kyla Fields

Tampa is officially a few stars richer— Michelin stars, that is. The prestigious international dining guide held its annual award ceremony at the Tampa Edition last Thursday amongst a crowd of excited chefs, cocktail-clenching restaurateurs and furiouslytyping journalists. Intimate Scandinavian eatery Ebbe and omakase hotspot Kosen (stylized with a macron) are the newest Tampa restaurants to earn a prized star from Michelin’s anonymous inspectors. Koya, Rocca and Lilac—which received their stars last year in Miami—all retained their stars.

The only new local eatery to snag a Bib Gourmand in 2024 is South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco, which made its debut just a few months ago; that designation is awarded to restaurants that “leave you with a sense of satisfaction at having eaten so well at such a reasonable price.”

The 2024 Florida Michelin Guide (stylized “MICHELIN”) also recommends over a dozen restaurants in Tampa, including everything from culinary institutions like Bern’s Steak House and Columbia to modern concepts like Restaurant BT, On Swann, Olivia and Ponte. In all, 21 Tampa restaurants are recommended by the Michelin guide. Four have Bib Gourmands, and five have stars (visit cltampa.com/food-drink for the full listing.)

has plans to expand its footprint throughout the Sunshine State (hopefully, Pinellas County will be considered for its next round of growth.) Visit Tampa Bay’s Patrick Harrison told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay last week that “as time moves forward we’ll see the guide starting to branch out,” adding that hotspots like the Palm Beaches, Fort Lauderdale and the greater St. Petersburg area all have vibrant dining scenes.

Kahwa opens long-awaited drive-thru shop in St. Pete

After a four year delay, Kahwa’s newest coffee shop has opened its doors—or drive-thru, rather. Kahwa’s most recent outpost made its debut on Thursday, April 18 at 6601 4th St. N in St. Petersburg. While there’s no indoor seating at this location, folks can still order from its walk-up window and sit on the outdoor patio.

The St. Pete-based coffee franchise offers a variety of coffee and espresso-based beverages—from lattes, americanos and cappuccinos to matcha, a variety of herbal teas and chai—in addition to pastries and light breakfast bites.

FOOD NEWS

Michael Ellis, International Director of the Michelin Guide books, says that a recommended restaurant—while not at the level of a star or Bib—“is the sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal.”

Special awards for Exceptional Cocktail Program, Best Sommelier, Young Chef Award and Michelin’s Service Award were also announced at last week’s ceremony, although Tampa was not recognized in these categories. Orlando’s casual fine dining Filipino restaurant Kaya and Miami’s Los Félix and Krüs Kitchen were awarded Florida’s first-ever Michelin Green Stars for their contributions to sustainability and culinary excellence.

While only Tampa restaurants can be contenders for Michelin stars—since the guide has a partnership with Visit Tampa Bay and not Visit St. Pete Clearwater—the dining guide

Kahwa originally planned to open its 4th Street location by the end of 2020, although construction and permitting obstacles delayed its opening by a whopping four years. Another drive-thru, shipping container version of Kahwa is also headed to 4530 W Gandy Blvd. in South Tampa, although there’s no slated opening date just yet.

Founders Sarah and Raphael Perrier launched their wholesale and retail coffee company in 2006 and over the years it has grown to be the “the largest independent coffee roaster in the state of Florida,” according to a press release. Kahwa now operates almost 20 coffee shops throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, with the highest concentration of cafes in its hometown of St. Petersburg.

In addition to frequenting its many local cafes and drive-thrus, you also support Kahwa by ordering whole beans, single serve pods, cold brew and more from its website. St. Pete’s newest Kahwa drive-thru is now open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. Head to @kahwacoffee on Instagram for the latest news on the ever-growing coffee franchise.

Breakfast chain First Watch will return to downtown Tampa this year

A downtown Tampa mainstay of nearly two decades is making its return later this year. The Tampa Bay Business Journal says that First Watch’s newest breakfast restaurant will open at 400 N Tampa St. out of the current Nature’s Table location, just around the corner from its OG downtown restaurant that closed in late 2022. The upcoming First Watch is slated to debut this fall.

Downtown Tampa’s former First Watch was demolished alongside Moxie’s Cafe, Bamboozle and the Dohring building in early 2023. The property’s new owners, Kolter Urban, paid a

collective $11.64 million for the various parcels and is in the process of constructing the One Tampa condo building along the 500 block of N Tampa Street.

First Watch is known for its health-oriented plates, which range from traditional omelets, a variety of Benedicts, pancakes and its prized “million dollar bacon” to lunch options like club sandwiches and chopped salads. Brunch cocktails, coffee and freshly-squeezed juices are on the menu, too.

The Bradenton-based franchise operates more than 500 locations throughout the Southeast and Midwest, including roughly 30 restaurants in the

continued on page 35

HIGH END HAUNTS: Kosen took home one of Tampa’s five Michelin stars last week.

continued from page 33

greater Tampa Bay area alone. A new First Watch location in Lakewood Ranch is also on its way.

Tampa Bay’s Margarita Wars cocktail competition and tasting party returns next month

Next to Best of the Bay, Margarita Wars might be Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s most-lit event. The cocktail showdown, now in its 10th year, moves over to St. Petersburg in 2024 for a night at the museum. Next month, The James Museum of Wildlife and Western Art hosts two dozen competitors all hoping that ticket holders will crown their creation “Tampa Bay’s Ultimate Margarita.”

Ghost Tequila won’t be the only spirit flowing either, since PRP wine and Big Sipz canned cocktails will also be on-site along with Mother Kombucha for the N/A partygoers.

Early bird tickets to Margarita Wars happening Friday, May 17 at St. Petersburg’s James Museum of Wildlife and Western Art are on sale now and start at $65. Admission includes lite Mexican bites from Saucin’ Wings, unlimited margarita samples, dessert samples from Chef Stef’s Boozy Bakes, margarita-inspired Sunshine City Popcorn, and access to the museum galleries. Live music and a DJ will also keep the party going.

GA plus tickets allow for early access to the party (7 p.m.) while VIP admission gets you in even earlier (6 p.m.), access to passed appetizers for VIP only, and entry into a VIP raffle. Designated driver tickets are available for $30, and anyone who purchases two tickets gets a free designated driver ticket, too (sorry you can’t bring your teenager, admission is 21-and-up).

Just a few local bars and restaurants that are participating in 2024’s Margarita Wars include: Council Oak, Flor Fina, Shaker & Peel, Tequila Daisy, St. Petersburg Distillery, The Dan, Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar at the Fenway Hotel and Jotoro.—Ray Roa

New cheesesteak spot Little Philly opens in downtown St. Pete

There’s a newly opened eatery in downtown St. Pete where shouting “Go Birds!” may be synonymous to a hello. Owners Sean Ford and Renaud Cowez are the minds behind a new East Coast-styleeatery called Little Philly, which dishes out traditional cheesesteaks and other favorites from the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Both Ford and Cowez have an esteemed background in the hospitality industry, with both partners collaborating on other local concepts like Beach Drive’s Tryst Gastro Lounge and cocktail spot Tropez. Little Philly soft opened last week at 2063 Central Ave. out of the former Job Site Burgers space in the Grand Central District, adjacent to neighbors like Love Food Central, Trophy Fish and 2D Cafe.

While there’s no website or menu posted online just yet, ILovetheBurg says that Little

Philly offers chicken cutlet sammies, hot dogs, water ice (a regional summer treat that slightly differs from Italian ice), sausage and pepper breakfast sandwiches and burgers in addition to its cheesesteaks. Vegetarian options like mushroom cheesesteaks and a variety of Philly-based drinks are on the menu, too. And for all of the cheesesteak aficionados out there, Little Philly also offers a homemade version of the beloved, yet contentious, Cheez Whiz.

And if you don’t want to trek to downtown St. Pete to get your East Coast fix, head to Dunedin’s beloved Delco’s, Colonial Corner in Pinellas Park (which serves “one of the best cheesesteaks outside of Philly” according to Philadelphia Magazine), or Historic Kenwood’s Violet Stone. Follow the new restaurant at @littlephillystpete on Instagram for the latest updates on its menu and operating hours. It’s now open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.

Japanese bakery and cafe Samurai Cat debuts in downtown St. Pete

Popular Japanese snacks like onigiri and fluffy fruit sammies have been hard to come by in the Tampa Bay area, but a new St. Pete cafe is definitely about to make the search easier. Located at 407 Central Ave., out of Beans & Barlour’s former space in downtown St. Pete, new cafe and bakery Samurai Cat quietly opened its doors earlier this month.

Samurai Cat is the newest concept from Tampa Bay-based Majestic Restaurant Group, which also operates other Asian restaurants like Zukku-San in Wesley Chapel, ATO in Lakeland and Zukku Sushi in Tampa Heights. The menu features popular Japanese convenience store fare—from pillowy fruit sandwiches with whipped cream and smoked salmon onigiris to soft boiled egg sandwiches and a variety of milk teas. Other offerings include drinks like matcha strawberry lattes and coffee from Kahwa, plus bagels and cream cheese, avocado toast on thick-cut milk bread, pear lemongrass ice cream and a variety of Asian-inspired baked goods.

Majestic Restaurant Group is also gearing up to open its newest concepts across the bridge, Ling’s Dumplings and Han Hand Roll Bar, which are both slated to open at Tampa Armature Works soon.

With walls covered in manga, paper lanterns and other types of Japanese-inspired art, newlyopened Samurai Cat has rendered the former Beans & Barlour space unrecognizable.

Beans & Barlour—which was known for its over-the-top desserts, boozy ice cream and breakfast sandwiches—closed its Central Avenue location late last year after owner Story Stuart made the decision to focus on her personal life.

For the latest updates on new menu items, head to Samurai Cat’s Instagram at @samuraicatdtsp. The new Japanese bakery and cafe is now open from 8 a.m-8 p.m. seven days a week.

New Stoner’s Pizza Joint location will open in Valrico next month

A pot-inspired pizza chain is following through with plans to share munchies across the Bay. Last fall, Fort Lauderdale-based pizza company Stoner’s Pizza Joint announced an aggressive schedule to expand in the Tampa Bay market, and now a new outpost is ready to debut in Valrico.

The chain, which encourages customers to “Get Baked” and to “Legalize Marinara,” will open in the former Romeo’s Pizza location at 3428 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in the Lithia Crossing strip mall. While no exact opening date was announced, the chain says the new location will debut sometime in May, according to a press release.

Besides its herb-themed branding, the delivery/takeout-focused concept features specialty baked pizzas, calzones, strombolis, smoked wings, boneless “Nugz,” sandwiches, baked desserts, and “Quality Greens” (aka salads). The new Valrico spot will offer dinein, takeout and delivery options.

Stoner’s Pizza Joint previously announced plans to open three new locations in the Tampa Bay area over a two year period. It’s unclear where the third location will open. The company currently operates 40 stores across the Southeast and Colorado.—Colin Wolf

THE HAPPIEST HOURS: Creative Loafing’s annual Margarita Wars returns next month.

NICK CARDELLO

Shelf life

Indie Bookstore Day is this weekend, and Tampa Bay needs more of them.

By Chelsea Zukowski

Indie Bookstore Day happens this weekend, and in the spirit of a recent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay poll that asked what the area needs to be a better place in four years, I’m calling for more indie bookstores, more little free libraries and louder literacy advocates.

There are more than a dozen local bookstores in the area, and even more that are worth the drive to Polk, Pasco and Sarasota counties. They range from historic, family-owned shops (Wilson’s Book World) and one-room community hubs (Portkey Books) to elegant and multifaceted (Oxford Exchange) and inclusive spaces for authors and readers (Tombolo Books).

2020, locals like me still hold out hope the historic institution will reopen some day. Please?

I challenge the Tampa Bay area to have at least one bookstore in each city in the next four years. Tampa and St. Petersburg, you’re good. Clearwater, Seminole, Plant City, Temple Terrace—it’s time to step up.

COLUMN

There are also dozens of public libraries and well over a hundred little free libraries just in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties—all of them offering free access to books and other reading material.

But as a region with more than three million people, there’s plenty of room for more.

We’re also being outdone in our own state when it comes to little free libraries. The city of Lake Worth Beach, population around 43,000, was recognized in 2019 for having the most little free libraries per capita. At the time, the city had more than 120.

Surely, the Tampa Bay area could have more.

Having lots of indie bookstores and little free libraries doesn’t just show support for local businesses and the community. They’re also a marker for an area that recognizes and prioritizes literacy and access to books.

Book bans and challenges, especially in Florida, aren’t new. But over the last year there’s been a dramatic increase in challenges to reading material in the state’s public schools under the guise of keeping “obscene” stories out of children’s hands.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Florida-based Moms for Liberty as a far-right extremist group. The coalition formed in early 2021 and has since grown to nearly 300 chapters across 46 states, working to challenge and remove books and instructional material containing anything they think is inappropriate. It still backs candidates running for local office in every corner of the Sunshine State.

While groups like Moms for Liberty seem the loudest, literacy advocates in the Tampa Bay area and Florida need to be louder.

And while the beloved Haslam’s Bookstore in St. Petersburg remains closed since March

Hell, the city with the most bookstores in the world is Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, with 41.9 bookstores per 100,000 people. Lisbon’s population? Just over 3 million.

What’s happened since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1069 into law is books being pulled from shelves for review. Many of those books are written by LGBTQ authors and authors of color and feature stories about racism, gender and sexuality—wrongly deemed sexual content by conservative groups like Moms for Liberty.

We need to be louder at school board meetings where these groups overwhelm the citizen comment portion. We need to open more little free libraries and local bookstores—filling them with essential, diverse reads. We need to patronize those libraries and stores by sharing books, buying them and participating in community book events.

And we need to vote for political candidates who support access to books for all ages and are vehemently against book banning and censorship.

All of this would make the Tampa Bay area a better—and more well-read—place to live.

SPINE TICKLER: Locals still wonder if St. Pete’s beloved Haslam’s Bookstore will ever reopen.

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

The conservation of art—preserving objects through professional, specialized treatment—is one of the Museum of Fine Art’s most important goals. This small, intensive exhibition focuses on the conservation of a gilded, painted, and carved tabernacle made in Northern Spain during the mid-1600s.

Over the coming months, Luis Seixas—an alumnus of the conservation program at the prestigious Universidade Nova, Lisbon—will meticulously undertake the task of cleaning, consolidating, and restoring this precious artifact live within the Miriam Acheson Gallery.

Live conservation will occur most weekdays (Tuesday through Friday) between 10 am – 2 pm, with a break around noon. Special Saturday sessions on May 4 and June 3.

Comma here often? Where to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

use more independent bookstores, plus more little free libraries and louder literacy advocates. This weekend, shops across the Bay area celebrate Indie Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27. To help you get your read on and find a new favorite bookstore, we’ve complied some of the best Indie Bookstore Day events happening in Tampa Bay. All events happen on Saturday, April 27 unless noted otherwise.

Oxford Exchange South Tampa’s most beautiful bookstore stays open late ahead of Indie Bookstore day for a celebration of local authors. A full author list for the 10th annual book fair is still pending, but Oxford Exchange promises more than 40 of them across all genres and will keep the champagne and coffee bar open, too. Thursday, April 25. 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. No cover, but RSVP required. 420 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. oxfordexchange.com

vBlack English For its first Indie Bookstore Day as a shop owner of a shop that celebrates Black authors (with half of the stock dedicated to children), Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson is giving away Columbia sangria to anyone of age (she carries the famed restaurant’s sangria mix in store). There’ll be a raffle for gift cards (at least $50 worth), a sale on cookbooks, and maybe a photobooth. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover. 401 E Oak Ave., Tampa. @ blackenglishbookstore on Instagram

Book + Bottle Wine and books are fantastic bedfellows, and this weekend the shop promises to party hard with live music from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. and then literary aura readings from 5 p.m.-7 p.m., and bookish activities all day (scavenger hunts, bookmark making, etc.). 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. 17 6th St. N, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com

Bookstore 1 Sixteen local authors including Alice Abyss, Tampa’s Evan P. Bennett, and St. Petersburg’s Kerry Kriseman are part of the book fair at this shop which offers the latest and greatest in new books as well as community events, book clubs. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover, RSVP requested. 117 S Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. sarasotabooks.com

Crash Books

The pop-up bookstore at Lakeland’s Somos Church isn’t usually open on Saturdays, but give sit a whirl for a few hours this weekend. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 3125 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. @crash_bookshop on Instagram

Mojo Books & Records Record Store Day (RSD) was last weekend, and the party keeps going at Mojo, which is home to the largest indie new and used bookstore in Tampa. Staff promises it’ll be way calmer than RSD. 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. 2554 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. mojotampa.com

The Paperback Exchange Pasco County’s favorite bookstore celebrates 45 years in the business this year with BOGO deals and used and rare titles, two-for-a-dollar tent deals, discounts, and more all to raise money to send books to service people overseas via Operation Paperback. Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27. Noon- 8 p.m. No cover. 6412 Ridge Rd., Port Richey. paperbackexchangebookstore.com

Portkey Books What is perhaps Tampa Bay’s smallest local bookshop will have dragons and donuts for a 10 a.m. meeting of the “Iron Flame” book club, then croissants for an 11:15 a.m. meeting of the “House of Flame and Shadow” book club. Iced coffee and iced tea are included in your ticket. $7 each. 404 Main St., Safety Harbor. portkeybooks.com

Tombolo Books Tampa Bay’s gem of an indie bookstore goes all out and gets started just in time for parents (10:30 a.m.) thanks to a special reading from Peruborn young adult author Natalia Sylvester who’ll have her new picture book, “A Maleta Full of Treasures,” in tow. Cast from Sheila Cowley’s Sparks Collaborative Ensemble will perform the playwright’s ““When the Tuba Shows Up, It’s a Party” in the courtyard during the afternoon, while the rest of the shop slings limitededition merch, stages a kids’ book sale and serves Mammamia gelato, too. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. No cover. tombolobooks.com

The Unbound Bookery Lakeland spent the week doing a big citywide indie bookstore book crawl, and if there are any books left, Unbound owner Sandi Silverman says the shop will offer a 20% discount on books featured in the crawl.10 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover. theunboundbookery.com

Wilson’s Book World The oldest bookstore still open in St. Petersburg offers buy-oneget-one-free on cookbooks all day.10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover. 535 16th St. N, St. Petersburg. wilsonsbookworld.com—Ray Roa

RAYMOND JAMES POPS

Second Show Added!

Fri, May 10, 8 pm

Mahaffey Theater

Iconic artist Sting returns to The Florida Orchestra for an intimate performance of his most celebrated songs from an illustrious career. Michael Francis conducts.

Create moments of a lifetime as you celebrate and support your Florida Orchestra at this benefit concert.

Featuring We Are Family, Staying Alive, The Hustle and more. Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducts.

Fri, May 3, 8 pm, Straz Center Sun, May 5, 7:30 pm, Ruth Eckerd Hall

Season Finale Concerts

HOUGH FAMILY FOUNDATION MASTERWORKS

Elgar’s Enigma Variations

Featuring Brahms’ Double Concerto Yoni Draiblate. Michael Francis conducts.

May 17 - 19

Mahler’s resurrection symphony

Featuring The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Michael Francis conducts.

May 25 & 26

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Happy days

Harp and drum band Katara celebrates the release of its joyous debut LP.

By Ray Roa

It started in the DMs. In 2018, Natalie DePergola saw Seth Adam Lynn on the timeline of a mutual friend, Shankh Lahiri, an esteemed tabla player and leader of Wahh World Fusion Band. Lynn was studying the art of Indian classical drumming, but there was a picture of him with the harp. She knew they had to play together.

“I just saw his page and reached out. ‘Hey, do you want to play in my band?’” DePergola told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I feel like I’ve sent a bunch of those texts to other musicians.”

After lending their immense talents to other projects across the Bay area, the soft-spoken duo wondered what it would be like if they pursued the things they wanted to do artistically or put the harp and drums up front. “I think it was special for us to step into a role of acknowledging that idea that, ‘Maybe if we work together and write together— that can be something unique,” DePergola said.

INTERVIEW

Katara album release

Depergola—who started playing professionally at the age of nine—was 18 at the time and in a band called Garden Club. She’d begun venturing out to make more original music with collaborators and shared a video recorded at Tampa’s sinceshuttered La La Mansion.

w/Guy Average/Rogerthomas

In the course of a year, Katara spent roughly 50 days at Lakeland’s Vanguard Room with engineer Evan Eliason and emerged with one of the most joyous, optimistic and forward-looking albums released in the Bay area over the last decade.

Friday, April 26. $15-$20 Crowbar. 1712 N 17th St., Ybor City @wearekatara on Instagram

On 12 tracks, DePergola plays not just her custom ddrum kit, but bongos, shakers, vibra slap, chimes, tambourines, and more—all while Lynn gives voice to harp in ways many listeners have probably never heard.

“The first time I ever met you was at your house for a rehearsal,” Lynn remembered. “In that old garage.”

Six years after that DM, DePergola and Lynn—who perform as Katara—are in his Pinellas Park studio, both decompressing from a long day of teaching. They’ve been practicing harder than ever for a concert celebrating the release of their long-awaited debut LP These Days.

Looking back at those first days, Lynn remembers an instant musical connection and how similar he and DePergola were in their styles—both refusing to step on each others’ toes. “We kind of understand each other, we kind of sit in this similar energy that feels really unique and special,” she added.

“The harp is just such a misunderstood thing, and it’s very underestimated as far as what it can do,” Lynn said. In his hands, the instrument invented 17 centuries ago sounds bluesy (“Kerala”), dramatic (“Dunes”), and tropical, too (the Paul Simon-channeling “Ophelia”). He even reinvents Debussy for a tribute to his new wife (“Lorena”).

Lynn and DePergola get an assist from saxophonist Nick Bredal on one of the LP’s emotional apexes, “Butterfly,” but handle the instrumentation—bass, guitar, piano, synths—everywhere else.

“There’s so much to be said.”

Over time Garden Club changed names to Prince Tanuki; the band added, then shed, members. DePergola and Lynn’s musical connection quickly evolved into a friendship, and they’re been virtually inseparable since. “It sort of became like a commitment to each other,” Lynn, who started playing harp at Ybor City’s Philip Shore Elementary School, explained.

The healing power of gospel is on the record, and so is the precise syncopation of players like Houston drummer Chris Dave. The ethereal, experimental spirit of albums like Tortoise’s 1998 studio masterpiece TNT shows up, too. Interwoven into it all are sampled sounds, field recordings and texture that simply feels human and fluid in the most essential way.

In a world that can be chaotic, These Days says so much about trying to be present—without a single lyric in sight.

“I think we’re just kind of searching for what is authentic to us as writers and creatives and kind of leading with that,” DePergola said.

“There’s so much to be said,” Lynn added, hinting at how badly Katara is itching to keep collaborating with others and move into its next phase of creation.

Wherever that is, DePergola and Lynn’s friendship, and commitment to each other will be at the heart as they grow and evolve.

“It took time for us to build that relationship,” Lynn said, opening the door for his bandmate to reflect on how far they’ve come.

They’ve both experienced breakups— musical and romantic—she noted. Recently, DePergola has wrestled with the passing of Tampa artist Wendy Babcox, who she worked with for the Noisy Womxn project at Cunsthaus in Seminole Heights. Babcox, who passed in March, had invited DePergola to teach, but the experience was more than that.

“She was such a light in my life,” Depergola said about the woman who first brought her into a place where she could play drums without any kind of male influence. “She brought me back to the feeling of why I started playing drums as a little girl.”

The depth of the friendship helped both DePergola and Lynn process their individual pain and transformation.

“We really kind of leaned on each other in a way that I think that we both kind of needed,” DePergola added. “And I felt like we don’t have to talk about it because I know that you feel me, I know that you get me, and know that you’re here for me.”

Onstage this Friday for the release show, Katara will have company: Sebastian Siaka of the band Miroux on bass, Actual Bank Robbers’ Anthony Santaniello on guitar. Pat Hernly— DePergola’s former instructor at St. Pete College, and a member of Hip Abduction—will also join in along with songwriter-vocalist Guianna, and saxophonist Chooty B (Bredal).

But at the center of it all will be the special thing that DePergola and Lynn have created.

“It always just felt good to play music together at the end of the day. Like, more than anybody I can think of, and I don’t know why,” Lynn said. “It’s just fun.”

GOLDEN: Katara’s Seth Adam Lynn and Natalie DePergola.

AMANDA LAFERRIERE

ONES WHO LOVE YOU:

Revved up

By Jeff Niesel

Growing up in the very Scottish Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island, Alvvays singer-guitarist Molly Rankin naturally gravitated to Celtic music. Her father played Celtic violin and piano in a group he started with his siblings. He traveled and toured for much of her childhood.

“Celtic music is a big part of the culture in Cape Breton,” says Rankin via phone from her Toronto home. “Kerri [MacLellan], who plays keyboards in Alvvays, was my neighbor. We played a lot of Celtic fiddle together during our childhood.”

INTERVIEW

Alvvays w/Horse Jumper of Love

Wednesday, May 1. 8 p.m. $30

The Ritz, 1503 E 7th Ave., Ybor City theritzybor.com

But Rankin simultaneously listened to pop-rock hits on the radio and had an older brother who loaned her his Neil Young and Bob Dylan albums. Then, hearing the indie-rock of the late-’80s and early-’90s would lead her in an entirely different musical direction and wind up influencing Alvvays.

“I probably got into Sonic Youth when I was 19,” she says. “In my 20s, I got into Teenage Fanclub and the Replacements. I’m still finding out about bands that were huge and cornerstones of genres I didn’t know existed. We didn’t have any cool record stores. If you wanted a CD, you had to drive to Walmart. I met [Alvvays guitarist] Alec [O’Hanley] in my early-20s. He had a local record store in his city and showed me so many different bands. It was fun to learn and listen and shape what I eventually wanted to try to emulate in my band.”

Alvvays formed in 2011 in Prince Edward Island where Rankin had moved for a couple of years to work and write music.

“There was an exciting group of local bands there at the time,” she says. “At some point, because we hated the winters, we moved to Toronto and made our first record.”

The move to Toronto, a town with a very active and competitive independent music scene, wasn’t without its hurdles.

“We didn’t know anyone, and no one wanted to book us on any shows,” says Rankin of the initial experience after moving. “We had to fight our way into the scene here. I don’t mean that in the wrong way. It’s hard when you’re first starting. It was a struggle. I felt like we were outsiders at that time. I think I had three jobs as we were mastering our first few albums. No Canadian label wanted to release our music. We thought we could only find a label in the U.S., which is what happened.”

The band persevered, however, and received its due. Released in 2014 on Polyvinyl, the group’s debut album was shortlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize and created a buzz in both Canada and the U.S. The sophomore effort, Antisocialites, followed as did extensive touring.

When it came time to start on the third album, 2022’s Blue Rev, Rankin retreated to the Toronto Islands to focus on songwriting.

“I started writing songs at this little place that artists can rent,” she says. “I would take the ferry there and bring my minimalist PA and make noise for a week by myself and cook up ideas. We then went into the studio, but the

pandemic happened, and we had to fly home. That put everything on hold for a year-anda-half. I’m grateful for having more time. The more recent additions to the album ended up being the things I liked the most.”

A song like “After the Earthquake” bristles and recalls Sleater-Kinney and Throwing Muses, groups that mix pop sensibilities with punk impulses.

“That track is a combination of so many different storylines,” she says. “I was reading Haruki Murakami’s collection of short stories called ‘After the Quake.’ It’s a bunch of different people going through different situations. The stories have a link, which is this huge earthquake. I was inspired by the fragmented nature of that song, which was chaotic in nature. I was trying to channel those stories and that band the dBs.”

The new songs should work well live since many possess dynamic guitar riffs as slanted and enchanted as anything Pavement released in the early-’90s.

“We take the show very seriously and try to make the songs sound like the recordings do,” says Rankin. “We have a lot of fun with ‘After the Earthquake,’ and we have a lot of fast tunes on the album, actually.”

ELEANOR PETRY

Molly Rankin brings indie-pop darling Alvvays to Ybor City.

Rankin (center) brings Alvvays to Tampa.

By Ray Roa, Kyla Fields & Josh Bradley

C CL Recommends Flipturn

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-asbeachy 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)

FRI 26

C Breakaway Music Festival: Illenium w/Kaskade/Zedd/Sofi Tukker (DJ set)/ Acraze/Crankdat/Deerock/Dion Timmer b2b Calcium/Gudfella/Ian Asher/more

If you’re still down and out about the annual Sunset Music Festival taking a year off, just know that not all hope is lost for your EDMthemed summer kickoff celebrations. The first Breakaway Music Festival happened eight years ago in Columbus, Ohio on the last weekend of August, and the two-day affair brought in the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Ty Dolla $ign, and Young Thug. Ever since, the festival has slowly expanded across the country. Its Tampa Bay debut will see Zedd and Illenium serve as headliners on the main stage, with over 20 different aspiring producers and DJs on the bill, and, just like at last February’s Gasparilla Music Festival (which was loaded with EDM), a silent disco. (North Lot at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)

C Flipturn w/The Hails Fernandina Beachbased indie-pop band Flipturn is no stranger to Tampa Bay and has been playing shows in the area for nearly all of its existence. Back in the day, Flipturn churned out easy-listening teenage bops, but over the years its sound has grown into a more mature version of breezy, indie-rock; fans of Flipturn have been able to see the band itself evolve from high school seniors to post-college, twentysomethings. A debut album, 2022’s Shadowglow,

touches on themes of introspection, navigating young adulthood and the trials that come with it. The Hails, another young indie band reppin’ the Sunshine State, joins Flipturn for this Jannus Live debut. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

C Hallucienda 10th Anniversary: DJ

Three w/Brian Busto/Rat Galactic There’s a lot of growing up that happens in a nightclub, not just as partygoers navigate a night out, but as their tastes evolve. Anyone who’s caught a set from DJ Three knows about the latter. Three—one of the first people to bring Doc Martin and Moby to Sunshine State raves—co-founded the Hallucienda label, opening dance music fans’ ears to so many different strains of the genre. He returns to Tampa for this show in celebration of Hallucienda’s 10th anniversary (and maybe an early birthday party, too). (The Nest at St. Pete Brewing Company, St. Petersburg)

C Heart w/Cheap Trick As we suspected, Ann and Nancy Wilson heard the ticking of the clock, and have once again put aside their differences for a new run of shows that comes to town this weekend. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers even hit “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” this month to perform Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” with Fallon as the solar eclipse unfolded above them in midtown Manhattan. Cheap Trick—featuring Safety Harbor resident Robin Zander—opens Heart’s first local gig since a sweltering, summer 2019 stop at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

Jimmie’s Chicken Shack w/Tropico Blvd/Pilot Jonezz There’s some divine guitar work on Jimmie’s Chicken Shack’s latest, Bandcamp-exclusive, studio album 2econds —the band's first in 14 years. The Maryland-based rock outfit is also promoting a crowd-funded live version of its debut album Pushing the Salmanilla Envelope , which frontman Jimi Haha can’t even get a copy of since it’s been out of print for years. In a YouTube video, Haha said that drummer Jerome Maffeo has full recordings of just about every show the band has done in the last 20 years, and while Envelope live won’t make it to vinyl, CDs will be at the merch stable this weekend.

(Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

C Katara album release w/Guy Average/ Rogerthomas The stars have aligned, and six years since first jamming in an old garage harpist-multi-instrumentalist Seth Adam Lynn and drummer Natalie DePergola finally have a debut album to share. Read more on p. 41. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Kenny G Remember the stories about how when you were in the womb, your parents tried to boost your cultural appreciation by playing you soothing classical music, or an audiobook of “The Hobbit” through those baby-bump headphones? It looks like Kenny G may want to be heard in utero as well. The 67-year-old saxophone icon’s latest album Innocence is entirely made up of jazz reiterations of lullabies. It’s anyone’s guess if he’ll present any of that material, but since most of his catalog is smooth enough to fall asleep to, don’t be too shocked if you get to hear “Edelweiss” at Ruth Eckerd this week.

(Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

C Leon Majcen Leon Majcen’s voice would’ve been amazing at a recent John Prine tribute in Safety Harbor, but the expat Bay area songwriter finally returns to town for this intimate gig where he’ll play new singles (intricately picked, “Leave It Alone” is some of his best work yet) in what we hope is a packed set ahead his July date in St. Petersburg opening for Evan Honer. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)

Loe Shimmy Pompano Beach heads to Tampa this week when “Fallin” rapper Loe Shimmy headlines Ybor City’s full-time club and parttime music venue Skye to celebrate his latest album. The up-and-coming artist raps with a familiar, South Florida drawl, but with his own, melodic and easy-listening vibe. Shimmy just dropped his latest album earlier this year, a lengthy 24-track LP dubbed Zombieland II , which features other Florida rappers like Wizz Havin and C Stunna. (Club Skye, Ybor City)

C Ortotasce w/Sleeping Pills/Get With This/Posh Boy/Soulr In a new video for “Door of Time,” Tampa rock outfit Sleeping Pills reflects on what time and relationships do to each other. The clip, shot by the band’s drummer Nate Irizarry and former bass player Joey Mustang, is an appetizer ahead of Sleeping Pills’ forthcoming album Occulting Light , due in July. “All songs on this album have an oceanic theme to them. The song tells a tale of discovering love oceanside,” frontman Phil Taylor told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Taylor & co. are part of a bill topped by Bay area analog synth lord Ortotasce, plus Orlando rock outfit Get With This. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

SAT 27

Black On w/Toshi/Tiny Waves BTS might be on break, but K-Pop is alive and well. Seo Jun (aka rapper Black On) becomes the latest to visit the area in support of a 2024 LP, Lov= , and will have 7 Sings dancer-rapper Toshi. (Orpheum, Tampa)

C Gaza! Rising! Ybor City: Dea and Saint w/Pilot Jonezzz/Afterworld/ Razor and the Boogiemen/Highway Advisory Radio/Offerings/The Tilt/ Phlegm/Hovercar Last month, a “Gaza! Rising” benefit show raised $2,000 for The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. “It was an awesome turnout given the short time frame and everyone from the bartenders to the bands to the vendors were class acts,” organizer Laith Abdel told CL. This weekend, Abdel’s band Highway Advisory Radio is part of a stacked redux that’s a

“Always n Forever” since a 2022 opening slot at a Rod Wave gig at Yuengling Center, so with the 26-year-old still in that stage of her career where she can get away with playing her entire catalog, don’t be too surprised if your deep cut request is granted at Jannus this weekend. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

C Mila Killa mIn January, Mila Killa threw down at Crowbar as part of a show that found local DJs spinning Amapiano and more ahead of the Bay area debut of the Pangea collective. This weekend, she’s part of another busy week at Water Street Tampa’s new music-forward cocktail lounge (Alter Ego, Tampa)

SUN 28

continued from page 45 continued on page 49

C Acme Jazz Garage Longtime Tampa band Acme Jazz Garage went on a short pause after drummer Pat Close passed away last year. “Still hard to believe that Pat the Cat is no longer here on planet earth – we all held out hope that he’d beat cancer. But we keep on keeping on,” bassist Philip Booth told CL. Booth and guitarist Matt Swenson are the only founding members still in the lineup which is back this week with a “Soul Food Sunday” brunch gig that includes saxophonist Rick Runion, Jody Marsh on keys and drummer Louie Nagy. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa)

C Bad Religion w/Social Distortion

who’s who of the Bay area’s most dynamic live acts—including St. Pete hip-hop duo Dea and Saint, Afterword (the drum-drived EBM trio featuring Merchandise frontman Carson Cox and now-Tampa Bay Times reporter Justin Garcia), Brianna Bullock’s synth-pop project Offerings, rock duo Hovercar and more. “Bring love and compassion, and let us dedicate a night of artistic expression to those who are suffering in Gaza,” Abdel wrote in a message about the show. “Cease fire now. End the suffering.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Mariah The Scientist

On her latest album

To Be Eaten Alive , Mariah The Scientist wrote every song and was graced with the company of 21 Savage and boyfriend Young Thug. The Atlanta-based R&B singer’s smooth, youthful voice tackles topics from desiring more communication in a seemingly doomed relationship and just being apart from a partner in general. Tampa Bay hasn’t had a visit from Ms.

C Panter Bélico After leaving Grupo Arriesgado, Panter Bélico is riding into arenas across the U.S. on his first-ever solo tour. The 21-year-old is a superstar of the Mexican music scene and has been a boon for promoters like Live Nation that have made Spanish-language part of an approach that helped the live music giant— which could soon face an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice— sell 620 million tickets via Ticketmaster alone. (Yuengling Center, Tampa)

The Steel Crows w/Physical Plant/ Rosaline/Joey Wit If you plan to head down to Bradenton two days in a row this weekend, you’ll bear witness to one hell of a rock subgenre switch. After a heavy Friday night with local hardcore outfit Defrauded, The Steel Crowes—heavily influenced by 1970s arena rock—bring their latest, eponymous album to the stage. The record is fully equipped with everything that filled the stadium shows of the ‘70s: Plenty of guitar-driven anthems, gritty lead vocals, and even a piano-based ballad, a la Motley Crue’s “Take Me Home.” (Oscura, Bradenton)

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness. During production of the band’s long-awaited, upcoming eighth studio album (no information has been revealed yet) he got a call from his doctor, telling him that he had stage-one tonsil cancer. While radiation and chemo was needed and surgery did a number on his voice, Ness seems to have bounced back, and will perform the band’s debut album Mommy’s Little Monster—which celebrated its 40th anniversary last summer—in full. (The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)

Punk Rock Flea Market: Chasing Airplanes w/M.A.C.E./Friendly Fire/ Victims of Circumstance/Bargain Bin Heroes/The Kutoffs Sure, there a good chunk of local flea market culture that’s devolved into vendors selling—and surely coughing all over—Trump merchandise and Temu-bought “I’m not gay, but $20 is $20” t-shirts, with less and less secondhand goods becoming available for sale. But for the third year in a row, over 50 different vendors will come together in Bradenton to stage a more youthful flea market including food trucks, and your everyday punk rock needs—be they a new skateboard and vinyl record, or just some new patches and buttons for that denim jacket. Live music come care of Chasing Airplanes (which is about to announce a new project of sorts) and The Kutoffs. (Oscura, Bradenton)

C The Veronicas For the first time in a decade, The Veronicas are hitting the road. While Lisa and Jessica Origliasso haven’t headlined a tour in 10-ish years, the twin sister power-pop duo have been steadily releasing music, and 2024’s Gothic Summer (which shares the same name as this upcoming tour) is the latest LP under their matching belts. While millennials will surely be waiting to hear The Veronicas’ 2007 smash hit “Untouched,” Sunday night’s setlist may look like a pop mix of The Veronicas’ hefty discography. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

C The Wallflowers You’re not going to hear Jakob Dylan talk about dad at all this weekend (he’s his own musician for shit’s sake), but in between tracks from his band’s latest album, 2021’s Exit Wounds , you might learn a thing or two about the Laurel Canyon music scene of the early-1960s. In 2018, Dylan hosted “Echo in the Canyon,” a documentary centered around said scene, with interviews from Brian Wilson, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and in his final filmed interview before

The Veronicas

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his death, Tom Petty. The 54-year-old also sang leads on the film’s soundtrack, made up entirely of covers and featuring a little help from interviewees Beck, Neil Young, and Fiona Apple. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

TUE 30

C ArtSpace Tampa Community Fundraiser: Slam Anderson w/SydLive/ Kat On The Keys/Tone I.E./Psych Montano/Kay Three/DJ Afro Blanco The Tampa Arts Alliance is raising money for a new Ybor City headquarters called Artspace, an affordable living and studio space that could help over 60 Tampa Bay-based artists stay in town. While the total project will cost upwards of $20 million dollars, the alliance is currently raising about $600,000 for its next stage of pre-development. This fundraiser at Crowbar aims to chip away at that hefty cost, with performances from a wide range of local artists including: Slam Anderson, SydLive, Psych Montano, Nico Sweet, DJ Afro Blanco and more. And if you’d like to donate more than a $10 ticket to Artspace’s development, head to tampaartsalliance.org for more information on how to do so. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

WED 01

C Alvvays w/Horse Jumper Of Love It’s about time indie-pop band Alvvays enjoyed the same status fellow Canadian musicians Drake and Justin Bieber, especially after a critically-acclaimed 2022 album Blue Rev While it’s still common to hear singles like “Archie, Marry Me” and “Adult Diversion” from Alvvays’ self-titled 2014 LP at your favorite specialty coffee shop, the indie outfit—OG members Kerri MacLellan, Alec O’Hanley and vocalist Molly Rankin plus newer additions Sheridan Riley Abbey Blackwell—is still riding the high of its latest album that Pitchfork described as a “densely layered, witty, blithe, and beautiful record that sets a new benchmark for the genre.” That high continues at Ybor City’s The Ritz this week with openers Horse Jumper of Love, a Boston-based indie group fresh off of its latest, alternativeinspired single “Gates of Heaven.” Read more on p. 42. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

Bodega w/TV Extra Bodega’s brand-new album Our Brand Could Be Yr Life is a rebirth of sorts. The 15-tracker is a revamp of The New York City-based punk-rock quintet’s 2015 album of the same name (back when Ben Hozie and friends were still known as Bodega Bay), and includes not only a few new cuts, but tracks from the original album, just re-recorded and treated to far more high quality production. Bodega’s guitar tones still have a tinge of Weezer influence (whether that’s intentional or not), but all in all, the record is more of a “how it started versus how it’s going” project, rather than a full circle moment. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

THU 02

C Andy Frasco & The U.N. w/Dogs in a Pile The music festival scene’s favorite party guy and podcaster, Andy Frasco, brings

continued from page 46

his revered live set back to Tampa with a new record, L’Optimist , in tow. The 36-yearold has said that he’s the happiest he’s ever been, but is also hoping that fans drawn to his rowdy live set can also read between the lines and see him for his songwriting, too.

“I’m just really dialing in my songwriting, really dialing in my musicianship, so I know I can’t blame my partying for my sh***y songs…I love partying and I love giving the people their entertainment,” he recently told Salt Lake Magazine, “but I also want to give them something to think about.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)

C Rock The Park: Gat$ w/Operation Acoustic Kitty/Sealskin & Zitrovision

Expat Tampa rapper Robb Gats went from the Sunshine State to California and recently landed a golden opportunity with Equity Distribution, a Roc Nation platform that’s also home to Kool G Rap, Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin, and Roc Marciano. EQ signed Gats to a multi-project independent deal this year, and helped him form Robbafella Records. For this first of two homecoming shows, Gat$ plays a more family-friendly, smooth set at the park before heading to Ybor City where he will likely pop up at Crowbar’s Ol’ Dirty Sundays for a set of harder tracks from his latest outing, Thank You For Robbin’ . (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)

Also playing

DJ Ku Thursday, April 25. 10 p.m. Reservation suggested. Alter Ego, Tampa

Andrés Cepeda Friday, April 26. 7:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. Morsani Hall at Straz Center, Tampa

Breakaway Music Festival Afterparty: Matroda w/Taylorlace/Pushman Friday, April 26. 11 p.m. $25. The Ritz, Ybor City

Dagger w/Superbitch/Knife Rituals/ Torchmouth Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $15.

Deviant Libation, Tampa

Dead Set Florida Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. No cover. Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg

Defrauded w/Highest Crown/The AntiDon’t’s/Human Error Friday, April 26. 7 p.m. $5. Oscura, Bradenton

DJ Flaco Friday, April 26. 9 p.m. No cover with reservation. Alter Ego, Tampa

The Family Funk Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin

The Florida Orchestra: Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $23 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center, Tampa

Keep Flying w/Bay Street Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Liz Longley Friday, April 26. 7:30 p.m. $25 & up. Music4Life Living Arts Center, Clearwater

New Aesthetics w/Radaghast/Articles/ Moth Bite Friday, April 26. 7 p.m. $10. NoiseMakers, St. Petersburg

Pop Punk Emo Night Friday, April 26. 9 p.m. $10. The Catacombs, Tampa

Rich Sheldon Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

Sam Williams Friday, April 26. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa

Sauce Pocket w/Displace Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $10. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg

Trey Wanvig Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $10, sold at door only. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

The Urbane Cowboys Friday, April 26. 9 p.m. No cover. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa

Born Of Osiris w/Attila/Traitors/ Extortionist/Not Enough Space Saturday, April 27. 5:30 p.m. $30 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Breakaway Music Festival Afterparty: Crankdat w/Myr/Wilco Beats Saturday, April 27. 11 p.m. $30. The Ritz, Ybor City

Das Ich w/Astari Nite/Oberer Totpunkt/ DJ Dave Saturday, April 27. 8 p.m. $20. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Dead Mirrors w/Florist/Minnoch Saturday, April 27. 7 p.m. $5. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

The Dixie Dregs w/Steve Morse Band Saturday, April 27. 8 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

The Florida Orchestra: Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28. 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $23 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Jerk Dog Records 10th Anniversary: Burke Bros. w/Tiger 54/Teen Cobra/ Las Nadas/Sir Sympathy Saturday, April 27. 6 p.m. No cover. Birdrock Taco Shack, Bradenton

Zanesville w/Fingerpuppet Saturday, April 27. 9:30 p.m. No cover. The Hub, Tampa

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

Madds Saturday, April 27. 12 p.m. $20 & up. WTR Pool, Tampa

Olya V Saturday, April 27. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa

Sauce Pocket w/Stick & Ditty Saturday, April 27. 7 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin

Subliminal Doubt w/Kyle Ingram Saturday, April 27. 8 p.m. $15. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Zach Bartholomew w/Gloria Muñoz Saturday, April 27. 8 p.m. $10 & up. Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Gypsy Star Sunday, April 28. 3 p.m. No cover. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater

Deviant Libation Spring Bazaar: A Dark Carnival w/Ybor City Sirens Sunday, April 28. No cover. Deviant Libation, Tampa

Fang Shooey w/Poor Life Choices/Eric Best Sunday, April 28. 7 p.m. $5. The Nest at St. Pete Brewing Co., St. Petersburg

Jordan & Cassidy Sunday, April 28. 12:30 p.m. No cover. Bier Garten at Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg

Kristy Lee Sunday, April 28. 5:30 p.m. $25. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor

L.C. WIlliams and the Driver Sunday, April 28. 2 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

LP Giobbi Sunday, April 28. 12 p.m. $25 & up. WTR Pool, Tampa

New Tampa Unplugged: Reflections Chamber Ensemble Sunday, April 28. 3 p.m. $13 & up. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa

Ol’ Dirty Sundays: DJ Casper w/DJ Fader Sunday, April 28. 10 p.m. $5. Crowbar, Ybor City

The Pinellas Youth Symphony: 66th Season Finale Concert Sunday, April 28. 4:30 p.m. $2 (children and students) & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

S.G. Wood Sunday, April 28. 3 p.m. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor

Sgammato School of Music & Recording

Studio: Not Another Emo Show Sunday, April 28. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. $10. Crowbar, Ybor City

Spreadsheets Sunday, April 28. 9 p.m. No cover with reservation. Alter Ego, Tampa

See the extended version of this Also Playing listing via cltampa.com/music

Gat$

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No comps: New concerts coming to Tampa Bay

Not sure if he’s buying the beers, but Dierks Bentley is coming to a big ol’ downtown Tampa barbeque this fall.

This week, Tampa Pig Jig announced its 2024 lineup, and it’s topped by the 48-yearold, 15-time Grammy nominee. New Orleans indie-rock giant The Revivalists is also on the bill, which leans wholly on country everywhere else. Alabama duo Muscadine Bloodline is playing Tampa Pig Jig, too, along with The Cadillac Three (“The South”), and rising songwriter Greylan James.

In its 13th year, Tampa Pig Jig has evolved out of a backyard barbecue that raised funds for a friend diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, the festival has raised more than $7 million and used it to help

patients and families affected by the rare and debilitating kidney disease. Now, thousands descend upon downtown Tampa for the festival, which is also a giant barbeque competition that’s booked big name headliners like Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and more.

Tickets to Tampa Pig Jig 2024 at Julian B. Lane Park in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, Oct. 19 go on sale Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. EDT and start at $130 for early bird general admission. Children under 10 get in free, and Tampa Pig Jig is now offering access to its premium lounge, which includes reserved viewing areas, plus free food and drink all day.

See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.

Ray Roa

Quelle Chris w/Denmark/Cavalier Saturday, May 25. 7 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Roxy Wyndham w/OuterEdge Saturday, May 25. Time and prices TBA. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Mobious Loop w/Savant/Murder The Crow Saturday, June 1. 8 p.m. $10. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Wayne Newton Sunday, June 2. 8 p.m. $55 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

The Eric Andre Show Friday, June 7. 7:30 p.m. $49.50. The Ritz, Ybor City

Foghat w/Cactus/Pat Travers Band Friday, June 7. 7:30 p.m. $33.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

The Kid Laroi w/glaive/Chase Shakur Sunday, June 9. 7:30 p.m. $26.75 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa

Felly w/TBA Friday, July 12. 8 p.m. $22 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City

The Queens of R&B Tour: Xscape w/ SWV/MYA/Total/702 Saturday, July 13. 7 p.m. $41.30 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

BossMan Dlow Sunday, July 14. 7 p.m. Sold out. The Ritz, Ybor City

Sunny Sweeney Friday, June 14. 8 p.m. $20 & up. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Necrot w/Bat/Street Tombs/more TBA Tuesday, June 18. 6:30 p.m. $20. Orpheum, Tampa

Narcotic Wasteland Friday, June 21. 6:30 p.m. $18. Brass Mug, Tampa

Strung Out w/Adolescents/Mercy Music Sunday, June 23. 7 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Walker Hayes Sunday, June 30. 8 p.m. $155 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

The Alarm w/Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel/Belouis Some Saturday, July 6. 7:30 p.m. $39 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

The Heavy Pets w/Guavatron Saturday, July 6. 7 p.m. $13. Floridian Social, Tampa

The Aquabats w/The Aggrolites/Left Alone Saturday, July 20. 5:30 p.m. $26.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

idobi Summer School: Scene Queen w/ The Home Team/Magnolia Park/Stand Atlantic/Honey Revenge/Letdown Sunday, July 21. 5:30 p.m. $30. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Evan Honer w/Leon Majcen Tuesday, July 23. 7 p.m. $20. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Missy Elliott w/Ciara/Busta Rhymes/ Timbaland Wednesday, July 24. 7 p.m. $65.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Fuerza Regida Saturday, July 27. 8 p.m. $35.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

The Jonas Brothers Wednesday, July 31. 8 p.m. $250 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Blue October w/Switchfoot/Matt Nathanson Friday, Aug. 2. 6:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater

Christopher Cross Tuesday, Aug. 6. 8 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

$uicideboy$ Sunday, Aug. 11. 7 p.m. $56.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Deep Purple w/Yes Thursday, Aug. 15. 8 p.m. $135 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Still Woozy w/Michelle Tuesday, Aug. 20. 8 p.m. $49.50 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Don Omar Friday, Sept. 6. 8 p.m. $61 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Korn w/Gojira/Spiritbox Thursday, Sept. 12. 6:30 p.m. $48.65 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Herbie Hancock Sunday, Sept. 15. 8 p.m $53 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Maxwell w/Jazmine Sullivan Sunday, Sept. 15. 7 p.m. $46.75. Amalie Arena, Tampa

49 Winchester w/Matt Koziol Saturday, Sept. 21. 8 p.m. $29.50 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Beat feat. Adrian Belew/Steve Vai/ Tony Levin/Danny Carey Saturday, Sept. 28. 8 p.m. $43.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Fozzy w/The Nocturnal Affair/Clozure Saturday, Oct. 5. 7:30 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Tori Kelly Tuesday, Oct. 8. 8 p.m. $30 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Teddy Swims Thursday, Oct. 10. 8 p.m. $70 & up. Hard Rock Event Center, Tampa

Samara Joy Friday, Oct. 25. 8 p.m. $35 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Psyche w/Tassel Thursday, Nov. 7. 7 p.m. $20. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Aerosmith w/The Black Crowes Friday, Feb. 14. 7 p.m. $116.20 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Priced out

By Dan Savage

My boyfriend wants my permission to see sex workers. He did this quite a bit before we were together. He goes to Canada, where it’s legal and supposedly safer. He says he’s just trying to be open and honest about his desire for variety and that I should be glad he doesn’t want to cheat. To me, that sounds like a thinly veiled threat to cheat with or without my permission. He says it’s not like that. Ideally, he—a 53-year-old man— would prefer a sexually open relationship, while I—a 46-year-old woman—would prefer more of a monogamish situation.

We were friends for 20 years before we started dating, we have great sex (though not as much as I would like), get along great otherwise, and have a wonderful time together. This is definitely our biggest issue. Am I being closed minded, and prude to deny him the variety he desires? I consider myself pretty open minded, but I am extremely triggered by this. I’m not completely closed to adventures. I’m open to threesomes, sex parties, etc., but those are scenarios where we are doing something together. I’ve been in non-monogamous relationships in the past— consensual ones—but I don’t have the energy for that at this point in my life.

Safety concerns aside, I have moral hang-ups around sex work. All I can think is, “What selfrespecting woman would put up with this?” The other thing is that he has a long history of dating much younger women, sometimes as much as 20 years younger. I may be the first “age-appropriate” girlfriend he’s ever had. While I know I am still very attractive and sexy and I get hit on all the time, the reality is that I will never be young and firm again. The ones he hires are both of those things. What do you think, Dan? Are we doomed? Can we both find fulfillment in this relationship? Or should we let each other go? —Verklempt

In Vermont

A particular phrase came to mind as I read your letter, VIV, but not one that will come as a comfort: irreconcilable differences. You can’t reconcile yourself to your boyfriend seeing sex workers; your boyfriend can’t reconcile himself to monogamy and/or the kind of non-monogamy you might be willing to explore… if you were interested in exploring non-monogamy… which it doesn’t sound like you are. While sex parties, swinging, threesomes, and other forms of non-monogamy where the couple plays together appeals to you in theory, VIV, it doesn’t seem to hold much appeal in practice. And if you told your boyfriend what you told me—you don’t have the energy for non-monogamy anymore—he may fear the promised sex parties and threesomes may never materialize. So, for variety’s sake, he’d rather get your permission to make something happen for himself (seeing sex workers on business trips) than wait on things that might

never happen (attending sex parties with you). It’s also possible your boyfriend prefers sex oneon-one—with you and other partners—over the kind of group play you might be willing to indulge him in.

Which means you two are at an impasse. Your boyfriend needs a particular thing to be happy—a permission slip from his partner to see sex workers—and you need the opposite thing: not just a promise from your partner to refrain from seeing sex workers, but ideally a partner with no interest in having sex outside the relationship at all.

And he’s not that guy.

If I may paraphrase Maya Angelou: when someone starts dropping unambiguous hints about who they are, take the hint the first time. While your boyfriend didn’t explicitly say he’s incapable of honoring a monogamous commitment, he made it pretty clear that he’d rather not make one. I think the tell here, VIV, is that he said seeing sex workers with your permission was a better choice than cheating while failing to include not seeing sex workers on his short list of possible options.

So, is this relationship doomed?

I’m a slightly bisexual but mostly gay man. Recently, thanks to diabetic medication, I lost a significant amount of weight (without meaning to) and I find myself unexpectedly interested in dating, companionship, and SEX for the first time in years! I haven’t been in a relationship in 20 years and haven’t had sex in at least 15 years. With testosterone replacement therapy and improved sexual function in addition to my improved general health, I am ready to reconnect sexuality. But I haven’t pursued dating since before the turn of the century! Technology has changed, dating has changed, and my physical abilities have changed so much that I am unsure of how to proceed. I’m even a little nervous and scared. Hiring an escort service—bespoke sex for compensation—sounds like a good option. I am also open to encounters that include physical affection without sex. I am so overwhelmed by new choices and lack of knowledge about choices, I feel frozen. Any advice on how to defrost would be greatly appreciated. —Back On Top

SAVAGE LOVE

It sounds like you crazy kids have a lot going for you: a long history, good sex (if not enough), and a lot of affection. But one of you is gonna have to give in—one of you is going to have pay the price of admission—to make this relationship work. And if your boyfriend agrees not to see sex workers in exchange for a promise from you to have some threesomes someday, you’re going to feel pressured to do things you may not wanna do, VIV, and verifying he’s not cheating on you is gonna be tricky. You’ll either have to take him at his word or never let him out of your sight. And the fact that you already feel like he’s making veiled threats to cheat is a bad sign—unless you’re willing to set your fears aside and/or suspend your disbelief and/or embrace tolyamory.

P.S. Alexander Cheves—author, writer, memoirist, and sex worker—walked into the café in Berlin where I was working on my response to your question, VIV. Since Cheves writes a sex-advice column himself, I asked him to take a look at your question and share his thoughts.

“First, not all sex workers are women,” Cheves said, “and sex work isn’t just supposedly safer where sex work is legal, it is safer. And I guess I’d say to VIV that the fact her boyfriend is being transparent makes him a good potential partner. He’s laid out his ‘price of admission,’ as you call it, Dan, and now VIV has to decide if that’s a price she can pay. In general, I think people have too many deal breakers.”

“BOT has already answered his own question,” said Cheves. “He has an idea that an escort would be helpful—and I think one would be helpful—and he’s talking about taking baby steps as he eases back into sex and intimacy. And taking those small, manageable baby steps with someone you trust rather than diving in headlong is a good idea he’s already giving himself the kind advice I would give him if he’d written to me.”

So, take some good and accurate pictures, create a profile, and thank your lucky stars that you’re getting back out there at a moment when everyone seems to want a hot daddy. And in addition to booking some time with an escort or two, look into hiring a gay life coach. Just as there are guys out there who make a living taking dick, there are guys out there who make a living helping other gay men learn how to navigate gay life, hookup apps, etc.

“Learning how to communicate online, learning how to make emotional connections, and learning how to tell sex and romance apart— some lessons he needs to learn, and some he may have forgotten and needs to relearn. Also, he should bear in mind that, even though he’s older, there’s gonna be knowledge and experience gaps between him and his partners, even if they’re younger than he is. He’s going to have to learn a new language—communicating on the apps—and he’s going to make mistakes. He’s also going to have a few unrequited crushes and he might get his heart broken. And while those experiences are painful, they’re essential to the process.”

You can follow Alexander Cheves on Twitter @BadAlexCheves, you can order his book My Love Is a Beast: Confessions on Amazon, and you can find his advice column for guys who are into guys—“LOVE, BEASTLY” — at lovebeastly.com.

I’ve been married for two years, and my wife just found out that I subscribed to a few OnlyFans accounts. She considers this cheating, which really surprised me. We have talked openly about how we both watch porn, but the fact that I’ve paid to see specific people crosses the line—and me not telling her about paying for porn is confirmation I knew it was wrong. I thought that her finding out might be mildly embarrassing, but I didn’t think it would be a relationship-ender. But she says she doesn’t know if she can get through this and trust me ever again or want to fuck me ever again. When I look on Reddit about this issue, it seems like everyone thinks that paying for OnlyFans is cheating. I never messaged anyone, I just paid for porn—which my wife knows, since she’s been in my account. Is there something that I don’t understand? And it’s not like I have an addiction to paying for porn: it was just a few accounts. I don’t understand why she doesn’t trust me when I said I’ll stop now that I know she doesn’t like it. To her it’s the same as if I slept with another woman and said, “Now that you caught me, I won’t sleep with other women.” I just really struggle to see it as the same. How can I build the trust back with her and make her not view me as a disgusting pervert who violated her boundaries? —Paying For Porn

So, your wife was fine with porn—your porn consumption, her porn consumption — so long as you were jacking off to amateurs who shared their stuff for fun or professionals who had their stuff stolen. But getting out your credit card a couple of times and compensating porn performers for their labor? Unbeknownst to you, PFP, your wife considered that as cheating and, unbeknownst to you, your wife is one of those people whose definition of cheating is elastic enough to encompass things that aren’t actually cheating and, unbeknownst to you (the unbeknownst trifecta), cheating—even the not-actually-cheating kind of cheating — isn’t something your wife can forgive or get past.

If you had known your wife regarded subscribing to OnlyFans as cheating, PFP, you wouldn’t have gotten out your credit card that first time. But you didn’t know because your wife didn’t tell you — she really should’ve beknownst that shit to you before the wedding — and since I don’t have a time machine and can’t take you back three years, PFP, and get you into couples counseling before the wedding, I don’t think I can help. And even if I had a time machine, I’m not sure it would help. Because there’s a good chance the problem isn’t your OnlyFans subscriptions, PFP, but your wife’s buyer’s remorse. If she was unhappy in this marriage and looking for a reason to end it, she may have seized on your OnlyFans accounts as an excuse. If that’s the case, time machines and couples counseling won’t help.

Got problems? Yes, you do. Send your question to mailbox@savage.love! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

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