Creative Loafing Tampa — May 4, 2023

PUBLISHER James Howard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf

MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields

FOOD and THEATER CRITIC

Jon Palmer Claridge

FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Arielle

Stevenson, Jennifer Ring, Jourdan Ducat

PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker, Jennifer Ring

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MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

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

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

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

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C/O TAMPA FRINGE FESTIVAL

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Tampa Bay's best things to do from May 04 - 14

Tropical Heatwave Last summer, Tampa Bay community radio station WMNF 88.5-FM announced plans to revive its revered Tropical Heatwave music festival—and it’s finally time for this community-focused event to return to Ybor City. Its lineup includes Alligator Records’ blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, Idaho songwriter Eilen Jewell and Louisiana soulrock favorite Seratones. Blues duo GA-20 is also on the bill along with Detroit funk and soul specialist Laura Rain & the Caesars, plus a rare set from Tampa new wave-rock band Glove, which has spent the last year opening for outfits like Spoon, A Place To Bury Strangers and Jack White. Old school ska favorite Magadog is also among local highlights. Tickets to this weekend’s exciting gig can still be purchased on WMNF’s website or at the gate. Saturday, May 6. 5 p.m. $40-$50. The Cuban Club, 2010 N Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. wmnf.org—Ray Roa

Star Wars Day Celebration While some folks prepare for a full weekend of Cinco de Mayo-themed partying, others are gearing up for Tampa Theatre’s annual celebration of Star Wars Day, which happens on May 4 each year. Lovers of this 80’s film franchise have chances to witness “Empire Strikes Back” and “A New Hope” on the big screen this week (plus, “Return of the Jedi” on May 15.) As a part of its Summer Classics film series last summer, the historic Tampa theater lifted its curtain on that prized golden text crawl for the very first time, and honors the original Star Wars trilogy for 2023’s celebration. Break out those Disney-certified lightsabers and nerd out with fellow Tampa Bay Star Wars fans. Thursday, May 4 . 7 p.m. Monday, May 8. 7:30 p.m. $7-$10. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Kyla Fields

Young Angels’ Charity Benefit Fiesta Sure, there’s a lot of bar crawls and tequila-soaked parties happening in Tampa this weekend, but one Ybor City hotspot is organizing a fiesta with a cause. Zydeco Brew Werks hosts a Cinco de Mayo-themed fundraiser for Young Angels, a local charity that supports elderly folks throughout Tampa Bay. This celebration features a spread of Mexican fare, build-your-own taco bar, giveaways, a photobooth, a silent auction and a DJ to keep the party going. In addition to Zydeco’s craft brews, the brewpub will also offer an exclusive menu of margarita specials, complimentary tequila shots and mocktails for all the designated drivers out there. All proceeds will help the Young Angels continue hosting events and activities for Tampa Bay’s elderly population. Discover more Cinco de Mayo events happening throughout Tampa Bay on page 34. Friday, May 5. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. $35 & up. Zydeco Brew Werks,1902 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. zydecobeer.com—KF

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Riverfest 2023 When Tampa’s annual Riverfest event returns to downtown, it’s always a sure sign that summer’s around the corner. This annual, two day-long festival features a variety of food vendors, beer tents, live music and family-friendly activities—like wiener dog derby, water ski shows and hot air balloon showcases. One of the most iconic Riverfest activities is its lantern parade, where folks are welcome to showcase their homemade paper lanterns amidst a sea of colorful and creative works of art. Both Curtis Hixon and Water Works Park host Riverfest activities throughout the weekend; while admission to the festival itself is free, some individual events may require registration. Each spring, Riverfest aims to honor Tampa’s cultural institutions, local musicians and restaurants by hosting this free weekend of kid-friendly fun. Friday-Saturday, May 5-6. Free. 5 p.m.-10 p.m., 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Various venues in downtown Tampa. thetampariverwalk.com—KF

2023 Emerging Artist Opening Reception

Each year Creative Pinellas— a local nonprofit arts agency—dishes out various grants to the county’s brightest and most promising artists, and 2023’s lucky recipients include: Troy Bernardo, Jenipher Chandley, Marie Cummings, Kathryn Cummins, Dennis DeBon, Kimberly Engel, Patrick Arthur Jackson, Aimee Jones, Amy Wolf, and Agueda Zabisky. Thursday’s opening reception is free-to-attend and includes the first look and opportunity to purchase artwork from these Tampa Baybased, up-and-coming artists. This year’s Emerging Artist Exhibition kicks off on May 4, but will be available for viewing at Creative Pinellas’ Largo-based gallery until Sunday, July 16. Creative Pinellas will also host a slew of artist talk events throughout the spring and summer, which can be browsed on its website. Thursday, May 4. Free. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Gallery at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo. creativepinellas.org—KF

Tampa Fringe Festival Every year, cities across the world celebrate their beloved alternative and experimental artists by hosting an annual Fringe Festival—and Tampa’s no different. Ybor City is the home of 2023’s Fringe Fest, which hosts over two dozen performances over a span of four days, featuring artists from Tampa Bay and beyond. From stand up comedy and performance art to satirical Shakespeare-inspired plays and “mystic rock operas,” this festival showcases all of the creative folks that might fall between the cracks of the mainstream. As a member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals, Tampa’s annual celebration must promote inclusivity, allow for creative freedom and give 100% of the base ticket price to artists. While prices to different performances may vary, most Fringe Fest sets cost $15 to access. Read more about 2023’s Tampa Fringe Fest on page 39. Wednesday-Sunday, May 10-14. Ticket prices vary per show. Various venues throughout Ybor City. tampafringe.org—KF

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Grassroot grooves

Photos

by Dave Decker

Lost in St. Pete hosted its annual, communityfocused music and arts festival last weekend, and luckily, Florida’s wishy-washy weather didn’t cancel any sets (sorry, Gasparilla Music Festival.) Upwards of 200 acts from every corner of Tampa Bay and beyond played various stages throughout downtown St. Pete over the course of four days. The 4th installment of Lost in St. Pete aimed to “highlight local subculture and different causes within our beloved city.”

Post-hardcore band Gilt, hometown heroes Pilot Jonezz and Venezuelan heavy-hitters

Zeta were among Saturday’s favorites, while Sunday night headliners Zulu—a power-violence hardcore act out of L.A.—gave a strong closing performance and commanded continous circle pits despite a few audio difficulties. When you put months of hard work into organizing a massive, DIY festival with national headliners, your audience tends to be understanding of a few technical hiccups here or there. We can’t wait to see what the festival’s organizers— Lost Creations and DEA & Saint—have in store for 2024.—Kyla

Fields

POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

Disney fights back

Disney sues DeSantis in a 77-page federal lawsuit.

By Jim Turner, News Service of Florida

After staying mostly silent on the issue for the past year, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts filed a federal lawsuit last week arguing its First Amendment rights were violated and business harmed by a “relentless campaign” of retribution orchestrated by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials.

The 77-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tallahassee on Wednesday, April 26, pointed to retaliation for the entertainment giant’s opposition to a controversial 2022 law that restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. It said the retaliation threatens the company’s “business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights.”

DeSantis’ office quickly criticized the lawsuit, which came after a series of changes that included replacing the Reedy Creek Improvement District board. Disney had effectively controlled the district, which gave it power over issues such as land use, fire protection and sewer services that are typically handled by local governments. “We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state,” DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske said in a statement. “This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”

the new district board to review and reverse changes by the previous district board “makes sense.” But Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said the state actions against Disney have been retribution.

“Every time I come here, there is a new amendment that is added that retaliates against Disney,” Stewart said. “I think, finally, they have figured that out. They have no other option. They are out of options. They can’t be nice.”

FLORIDA NEWS

Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, said DeSantis has shown that he isn’t willing to “de-escalate.” “In fact, he has escalated at every opportunity,” Thompson said. “That is why I think the courts are going to have to be the venue where there is some kind of resolution.”

In the lawsuit, Disney contends it was left with no choice against “a relentless campaign to weaponize government power.” “Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the governor and his allies did not like,” the lawsuit said. “Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the state’s retaliation—a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the state comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind.”

changed the name and gave DeSantis control. After new board members were seated, they realized the former Reedy Creek board during publicly advertised meetings had turned over most of its powers to Disney through agreements. In one of the few public comments on the fight, Disney CEO Bob Iger during an April 3 shareholders’ meeting criticized DeSantis’ actions as “anti-business and anti-Florida.”

The lawsuit also names as defendants acting Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Meredith Ivey, members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board and district Administrator John Classe. Lawmakers in February approved a measure that renamed the Reedy Creek Improvement District as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and gave DeSantis power to appoint the district’s board. The legislature and the new board have acted to nullify development agreements involving Disney that were approved by the former Reedy Creek board.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said legislation (SB 1604) allowing

In addition to arguing that the state has violated the company’s First Amendment rights, the lawsuit alleges a violation of a constitutional prohibition on altering contracts, an unconstitutional taking of property without proper compensation and violation of due process rights. “The company sought to de-escalate the matter for nearly a year, trying several times to spark a productive dialogue with the DeSantis administration. To no avail,” the lawsuit said.

After Disney opposed the 2022 law, DeSantis and Republican lawmakers initially moved to dissolve the Reedy Creek district, which was created in the 1960s. Lawmakers in February backed away from dissolving the district but

The lawsuit characterized the agreements with the former Reedy Creek board as similar to other contracts between developers and special districts to fix long-term development rights and obligations.

“Contrary to misunderstandings and mischaracterizations by some government leaders,” the lawsuit said, “they do not undermine the newly constituted Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board’s ability to govern and exercise authority, including by imposing taxes, exercising the power of eminent domain, approving or disapproving building permit applications (including for the projects carried out pursuant to the development agreement), building roads, providing emergency services, or issuing bonds.”

“Moreover, nothing about these contracts was a surprise: They were discussed and approved after open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida law,” the lawsuit added. Long one of the largest private employers in Florida, Disney plans to invest more than $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next decade, creating 13,000 jobs, according to the lawsuit. The Florida Senate was poised last week to vote on a measure (SB 1604) that would override the agreements. Similar legislation (HB 439) awaits an appearance on the House floor. Under the proposal, special districts would be prohibited from complying with development agreements executed three months or less before new laws take effect that change how district board members are selected.

The amendment also would give new boards four months to review any development agreements and decide if they should be re-adopted. One day before the lawsuit was filed, a Senate committee approved a change to a separate bill (SB 1250) that would apply Department of Transportation safety standards to monorail lines that connect Walt Disney World resorts and parks . — News Service Assignment Manager Tom Urban contributed to this report.

MICKEY MOUSE TACTICS: The entertainment giant is alleging that its First Amendment rights were violated, among other issues.

DAVE DECKER

“They are out of options..they can’t be nice.”

Law weighs in

USF president defends the arrest of ‘Tampa 4’ student protesters.

By Arielle Stevenson

In a video obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, University of South Florida President Rhea Law spoke to faculty members about five students facing possible criminal charges, loss of employment, and expulsion for protesting in March. The footage is of Law speaking during the monthly virtual faculty senate meeting on April 19.

“I just heard yesterday that some of the people in the Patel Center, that were right adjacent to where this was happening, actually barricaded their doors because they were afraid that this was an active shooter situation,” Law said. “They didn’t know what was going on. So it was not insignificant.” Her comments come after four students were arrested on March 6, when 20 people from the Tampa Bay Students for Democratic Society (SDS) held a rally for diversity outside Law’s office. Video of law enforcement grabbing protestors went viral, and the group was dubbed the “Tampa 4.”

asked to leave multiple times, they did not leave. Unfortunately, there was a physical altercation with the police.” CL reached out to Law for comment on this story but never heard back.

Campus worker Chrisley Carpio and students

academic standing. The university alleges they have seven code of conduct violations. Yet Law’s comments could constitute a conflict of interest in whether Pinero, Davila and others get a fair hearing from the university. Faculty and students make up the panel of people deciding whether they will be expelled for code of conduct violations. It’s not known whether faculty at last week’s meeting with Law will also make decisions regarding Davila and Pinero’s fates this week.

LOCAL NEWS

Gia Davila, Laura Rodriguez and Jeanie Kida were arrested in March and held in Orient Road Jail until making bail. All are charged with felony assault on a police officer, along with misdemeanors for resisting an officer without violence and penalty for disruption of an educational institution. Last week Carpio was fired by USF as a result of the protests. Carpio plans to file a grievance with her union in response. Davila faces an additional misdemeanor for trespassing. Now an additional student, Lauren Pinero, could retroactively face charges. USF PD told CL via email that it stands by the charges.

The original protest was in response to HB 999, which was introduced by Governor Ron DeSantis to further dictate curriculum and potentially ban college majors like women and gender studies or fields that discuss issues of race. “It’s not the content and what they were concerned about, they were concerned about this legislation … we were concerned about it too,” Law said in the video. “But we were working on it, hopefully in a productive way to get a result that we can all live with. They, on the other hand, were being disruptive.”

Law isn’t the first USF president to silence dissent under pressure from the state. From 1956 to 1965, the newly formed Florida Legislative Investigative Committee was chaired by segregationist Senator Charley Johns. Dubbed the Johns Committee, the group tasked themselves with removing communists, LGBTQ people, atheists, or anyone subversive from academia. USF’s first president John Allen used intimidation and lies to “root out” subversives under direction from the state. According to the students’ attorney Michelle Lambo, charges were filed by the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit (SAO13) as of last week.

“What took place at the Patel Center that day is not something that anyone wants to see on our campuses,” Law said in the video. “We had a protest group that was disrupting normal business activities inside the building, they were

“USF PD can confirm that a fifth individual is facing charges related to the March 6 protests that occurred on the Tampa campus,” USF PD’s Mike Lavelle told CL. “Those charges were filed directly with the State Attorney’s Office.”

Both Pinero and Davila are seniors at USF, but may not graduate despite being in good

Multiple videos of the March 6 incident call into question the claims by police that students assaulted law enforcement. Law told faculty they worked with the student government to make sure “people are aware of the parameters of free speech.” Law said that means, “You cannot be disruptive and you cannot obviously get into a physical altercation in order to make an effort.”

SDS also alleges that Chief Daniel groped Davila during the arrest. Davila says the group was offered a deal to avoid criminal charges if they wrote letters apologizing to the individual officers claiming they were assaulted. “They’re asking me to apologize to the person who sexually assaulted me while I was held down on the ground by other cops,” Davila said. “And we’re not going to do that.”

Regarding the deal offered, Maloney told CL, “I cannot confirm the information you provided as there is still an open investigation.” USF published its report on the protests last week and Law released her action plan, which now includes body cameras for all USF PD moving forward.

BRUTAL TREATMENT : One student protestor said she was groped during her March 6 arrest.

“The university alleges they have seven code of conduct violations.”

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Closed council

In Tampa’s District 3 race, Lynn Hurtak’s win is a ‘referendum’ on more than just the mayor.

By Colin Wolf

On paper, Janet Cruz had every statistical advantage a politician could want. Her campaign was run by top-dollar political consultants. She had a war chest flush with fat checks from real estate developers and special interest groups. Dark money PACs from outside of Tampa spent thousands on attack ads and mailers on her behalf. She had backing from Tampa’s political elite – including endorsements from Bob Buckhorn, the Tampa Bay Times, the police and fire firefighter unions, and donations from local rich guys Blake Casper, the Pepin family and Jeff Vinik. Most importantly, Cruz is the mother of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s partner, lobbyist Ana Cruz. But none of that mattered.

on the line in this race. Hurtak’s win secures a progressive wing of Tampa City Council, and a strong check on Mayor Jane Castor, who has now won two elections in Tampa without ever having to face a serious opponent.

COLUMNS

Instead, Cruz lost to Lynn Hurtak, a technical writer and neighborhood leader who ran a grassroots campaign alongside her husband and an adopted puppy from a bungalow living room in Old Seminole Heights. Ultimately, a good candidate is a good candidate—and Lynn was a good candidate, Janet was not.

When it was all over, Hurtak earned 15,447 votes compared to 10,173 for Cruz, with Hurtak garnering about 60% of the total votes. Overall, over 10.76% of registered voters in Tampa turned out for the runoff, and it makes sense. A lot was

And that is a pretty remarkable feat, especially when you consider the fact that Castor has been under two federal DOJ investigations, and just a few months ago she suffered an embarrassing political blow when her handpicked police chief, Mary O’Connor, resigned in disgrace after former CL reporter Justin Garcia unearthed video of her getting out of a golf cart traffic stop by flashing her badge. As quite a few politicos have already pointed out, in many ways the District 3 race was all about one thing – a “referendum” on Castor, and the desire for city council to have a stronger independent voice, especially with major developments coming up like PURE, or as critics call it “Toilet To Tap.”

Perhaps that’s true. But you could argue it was a “referendum” on poorly managed Democratic campaigns, and how political smooth-brained operatives have turned a once purple Florida into a deep red hellscape. If you’re keeping score at home, Mercury Partners has

now ran two-back-to-back Cruz campaigns into the dirt, after she saw a 12-year run in the Florida Legislature end last fall when she was handily defeated by Republican Jay Collins.

But more than likely, Hurtak’s victory was also likely a direct “referendum” on Cruz, and how she really didn’t have much to offer other than Sunday dinners with the mayor. Notably, you could also argue that the race was a “referendum” on shitty attack ads. For months, voters were turned off by the near constant flood of glossy garbage flowing into our mailboxes for what is supposed to be a nonpartisan race between two registered Democrats.

Without a doubt, the Trumpian tactics used from people/PACs supporting Cruz in the lead up to the April 25 runoff election were, as former Tampa mayor Sandy Freeman said, “unconscionable.”

“Never before, ever—and I am an old woman—has there been this nastiness in a local non-partisan race,” said Freedman to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

What Cruz’s camp failed to understand, is that Hurtak—who’s served since being appointed to the seat last April after the contentious exit of Councilman John Dingfelder— actually has a strong resume with relevant accomplishments.

So far on council, Hurtak has doubled funding for affordable housing, pushed for abortion rights protections, voted to give our CRB an independent lawyer, and called for increased wastewater improvements, just to name a few highlights. Unsurprisingly, some of these points were used against her in attack ads.

In the ads, Hurtak was repeatedly labeled as “Lyin Lynn,” by a dark money PAC based out of Fort Lauderdale. As CL previously reported, the mailers tried to attack Hurtak for voting to increase council member salaries from $52,060 to $73,713. Of course, these mailers did not mention that it was Castor’s administration that presented council with a proposal for a pay bump, or that council’s salary is currently below Tampa’s average median income.

And, perhaps that’s why Tampa’s political elite took an extra cold shower Tuesday night. Because whether or not you believe this race was about Mayor Castor, “progressive” ideals, outof-touch Dems, or just plain lazy campaigning, it doesn’t really matter. Maybe it was all of it.

But in the end a wealthy South Tampa career politician who owns a bunch of Pearle Vision stores is headed back to her waterfront mansion, and a community organizer from Seminole Heights is set to return to the chamber.

TURNING POINT: 10.76% of registered Tampa voters turned out for the runoff election.

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RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES

Move over, tequila

Here’s where to get a good mezcal cocktail in Tampa Bay.

By Jourdan Ducat

We’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year by highlighting tequila’s smokier, more mature cousin. There’s no doubt a ton of options around the Bay area to score a chip and dip sampler with a traditional margarita, but we’re more interested in the envelope-pushing bars and restaurants that are making mezcal the star of their cocktail menus.

You may have heard the difference between the two explained as all tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila— similar to how all bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon. One key distinction is that tequila must be made from the blue Weber agave plant and is traditionally made in Jalisco, while mezcal can be produced from several variants of the agave plant and typically hails from Oaxaca. Another major difference is that mezcal is most often made using traditional techniques that involve roasting the pina—or heart of the agave plant— in an underground pit oven, lending the liquor its characteristic smoky flavor profile. Here are 11 Tampa Bay bars that serve a solid mezcal drink to help you celebrate a low-key Cinco de Mayo.

mixology program over the years, including "Best Cocktails in America" twice in a row. Edison offers a small but well-curated selection of highly lauded mezcals, including 400 Conejos, Creyente, and the popular Vida by Del Maguey—which is a great place to start for someone who’s just beginning to dip their toes into the mezcal waters. 912 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. edison-tampa.com

DINING GUIDE

El Agave Bar This bar and restaurant is located steps away from St. Pete Beach and has an impressive selection of both tequila and mezcal, as well as traditionally prepared and reportedly-delicious tacos. The staff is quite knowledgeable on its selection, so feel free to ask questions if you’re new to mezcal. Afterwards, you can pop over to Pappy’s Liquors to find a bottle to take home with you. 6410 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach. @ elagavebarspb on Facebook

Azure at Tampa Edition One of Tampa’s newest hotspots is located inside the five-star Edition hotel in the booming Water Street development. This rooftop bar, located on the ninth floor of the hotel, boasts beautiful views of the hustle and bustle below as well as both indoor and outdoor seating that serve up some seriously swanky drinks. The Garden Margarita—this week's cover girl— combines mezcal, carrot, orange, chipotle, and cilantro. 500 Channelside Dr., Tampa. editionhotels.com

Copper Shaker With two locations serving Ybor City and downtown St. Petersburg, this craft cocktail bar and kitchen serves both classic and unique libations, including an impressive collection of mezcal. The Copper Shaker’s staff prides itself on being knowledgeable and approachable, which will make even the most inexperienced mezcal drinker feel comfortable and hopefully more knowledgeable by the end of the experience.Various locations. coppershaker.com

Edison: Food+Drink Lab This gastropub, located in the South Howard neighborhood of Tampa, has received numerous awards for its

Hotel Bar Craft cocktail enthusiasts are no stranger to this downtown Tampa lounge that’s been serving unique twists on classic for years. The staff here is well-versed in a variety of spirits and will be happy to suggest a mezcal-based drink for you based on what other ingredients or flavor profiles you’re in the mood for. 200 N Tampa St., Tampa. hotelbartampa.com

The Hub While this downtown Tampa institution is certainly a great place to score a strong shot and a cheap beer, it also offers a surprisingly good selection of mezcal for a dive bar. We recommend going on a shift when Tampa’s second best bartender, Kamran Mir (only joking, Kam), is working, as he actually enjoys taking the time to concoct unique mezcal cocktails that will have other patrons reconsidering their next shot and a wash. 719 N Franklin St., Tampa. 813-229-1553

Oak and Ola While the menus at this James Beard-nominated awarded bar and restaurant change seasonally, current mezcal cocktail offerings include the Josefina, (made with Los Vecinos mezcal, red bell pepper, spicy agave, and lime) and Pineapple Express (made with El Silencio mezcal, Corazon Reposado, green chartreuse, heirloom pineapple amaro, sage and black peppercorn). 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa. oakandola.com

Rooster & the Till There’s no doubt this Seminole Heights stalwart has admirable and

award-winning cuisine, but it also has an impressive drink list. One of the current house cocktails here is Naked in the Woods, which combines Vago Elote mezcal, Strega, carraway honey lemon, and chili oil. With a Michelin Bib Gourmand under its belt, you’re sure to find a dish to complement your drink selection. 6500 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Roosterandthetill.com

Saigon Blonde Inspired by 1960s Saigon, this tiki bar on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete offers a warm and inviting oasis for those looking to relax with a craft cocktail. There’s a set list of specialty cocktails that can be made with mezcal as well as rotating mezcal specialties like the Baked & Famous, which combines mezcal, aperol, lime and yellow chartreuse. 265 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. saigonblonde.com

Sonder Social Club If you’re looking for an upscale craft cocktail bar in Dunedin, look

no further than Sonder. The environment is cozy and inviting and the spirits selection is astounding. Its menu boasts over 15 different kinds of mezcal, so this would be a great place to try a mezcal flight to catch the nuances that differentiate each one. 966 Douglas Ave. Unit 101, Dunedin. sondersocial.club

Wild Child This popular St. Pete hotspot has no shortage of unique cocktail offerings, both on and off the menu. While this is another place that’s hard to score a table and often has rotating specials, you’re sure to get a well-made mezcal drink if you let your bartender know what you’re looking for. Recent offerings include a Mezcalita, Hot Lips (with chile infused tincture for an extra kick), and Big Trouble In Little Cynar, which combines mezcal and Cynar for those looking to surprise their palettes . 2710 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. wildchildstpete.com

HOLY SMOKES: Wild Child’s ‘Hot Lips’ cocktail features matcha-mint syrup, fresh lime and a chile tincture.

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Lift your spirits

20 fiestas to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Tampa Bay.

By Kyla Fields

It’s Cinco de Mayo in Tampa Bay once again, and while it’s a shame that most folks don’t celebrate Mexico’s win against the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good time with your friends (or strangers.) Here are 25 bar crawls, parties, and foodie events to help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo this weekend; all events take place on Friday, May 5 unless marked otherwise. And please put the sombrero and poncho away Chad, and stick to what you do best (drinking in the day time.)

Bastet Brewing This popular Ybor City brewery teams up with Rene’s Mexican Kitchen to host its “5 Moles for 5 de Mayo” event. It features 5 delicious courses chock full of the traditional Mexican sauce and marinade. 5 p.m.-9 p.m.$85.1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Ybor City. eventbrite.com

The Blind Goat If tequila and cheap taco specials aren’t your thing, then maybe you can indulge in a little micro-wrestling. The Blind Goat says there will be tons of tasty food and drink specials, but they don’t compare to its beloved micro-wrestling event. 8 p.m. $25-45. 4106 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Eventbrite.com

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Tampa Bay’s premiere theme park offers family-friendly fun for every holiday. Its Food & Wine Festival kicks its Latin flare up a notch, and also hosts its “Viva La Música” concert series through May 21. Included with park admission. 10165 McKinley Dr., Tampa. Buschgardens.com

Casa Tina This Dunedin gem hosts an annual Cinco de Mayo celebration that includes cultural performances, plus tons of food and drink specials. This year’s street fiesta includes traditional Mexican dances and free salsa lessons. 5 p.m.-midnight. Free. 365 Main St., Dunedin. Casatinas.com

Cinco de Mayo Block Party Park & Rec and The Avenue host a massive Cinco de Mayo party, which will take place on 1st Avenue S between 3rd and 4th Street. Other Hunger Thirst concepts like Dirty Laundry and Good Fortune also offer Cinco de Mayo-themed food and drink specials. 4 p.m. $10 & up. 330 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Eventbrite.com

Common Dialect This newly-opened Seminole Heights brewery says its free-toattend Cinco de Mayo fiesta will be full of “delicious food, refreshing drinks, and festive vibes.” noon. Free. 5023 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. commondialectbeer.com

The Exchange Kitchen + Bar This bar and restaurant promises “the biggest Cinco de Mayo party in Tampa,” with stiff drink specials and bumpin’ tunes. 5 p.m. Free. 100 E Madison St.,Tampa. eventbrite.com

Floridian Social This beloved venue teams up with tequila brands Cazadores and Patron for its holiday event. Guests can expect a live mariachi band, Latin-influenced tunes and aerial performances alongside a slew of margarita specials. 1 p.m. Free. 687 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg..thefloridiansocial.com

Herban Flow St. Pete’s newly opened, zeroproof drink dealer hosts a clear-minded fiesta, complete with a mocktail workshop featuring some of the nation’s leading non-alcoholic tequilas. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. $20. 6848 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. herbanflow.co

LOKO Cusine While this Tampa pop-up is widely known for its Eggs & Kegs brunches, it also honors holidays and other special events. Its Cinco de Mayo dinner at 7venth Sun Brewery

painting, too. Reservations are encouraged. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. 1625 4th St. S, St. Petersburg. Nueva Cantina on Facebook

Peepaw’s Alaskan Tacos A Tampa food truck hosts an exclusive Cinco de Mayo pop-up, which it describes as an “Ybor nostalgia bomb.” This Little Pig will honor the long-gone Mema’s Alaskan Tacos by offering a variety of beef, pork, tofu, fish and alligator tacos at this Friday night pop-up. 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Free to attend. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. followtheflyingpig.com

St. Pete Tacos & Margs Crawl National event organizers Bar Crawl Nation hosts its annual Cinco de Mayo event in The ‘Burg, which features unique taco and margarita specials from some of St Pete’s best bars. Participants must check in at Where’s Jubes by 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. $24.99 - $59.99. 277 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. barcrawlnation.com

DINING GUIDE

Riverfiesta While this Cinco de Mayo-themed event is just a small part of Tampa’s annual Riverfest, it will honor the Mexican holiday by offering a spread of traditional eats. Folks can enjoy a variety of tacos, bowls and nachos, which can be purchased in sets of three for $15 or sets of 5 for $20. Saturday, May 6. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $15-$20. thetampariverwalk.com

Salty Lime Cantina The city of Safety Harbor blocks off Florida Avenue for its annual

World of Beer Expect a wide selection of margaritas and cerveza, plus live music, dinner specials and family-friendly fun at Westchase Town Center’s holiday-themed, First Friday party. Free. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 9524 West Linebaugh Ave., Tampa. worldofbeer.com

Zydeco Brew Werks Party with a cause at this Ybor City mainstay. Zydeco Brew Werks hosts a fiesta fundraiser benefiting local organization Young Angels—which helps Tampa Bay’s elderly folks—complete with a taco bar and margarita specials. 7 p.m. $35 & up. 1902 E 7th Ave., Ybor City.eventbrite.com

features beef barbacoa, chicken tinga and pork carnitas tacos. 6 p.m. $43. 6809 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. Lokocuisine.com

Mad Beach Cantina This all-day block party features live music, $20 Corona buckets, and deals on tequila shots. 11 a.m.-midnight. Free. 13205 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach. Madbeachcantina.com

Nueva Cantina This St. Pete favorite dishes out prized Mexican eats every day, but its Cinco de Mayo party includes live music and face

Cinco de Mayo block party. The celebration will be chock full of tequila samples, live entertainment and a spread of Mexican fare from Salty Lime Cantina and neighboring restaurants. 4 p.m. Free. 1019 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. saltylimecantina.com

Salty Nun This Grand Central bar and restaurant offers food and drink specials and drag performances during its “Cinco De Drink-O” party. 4 p.m. Free. 2501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Saltynun.com

49th Annual Cinco De Mayo Annual Golf Weekend Parc Center for Disabilities is a local organization that’s been serving children and adults with developmental disabilities for the better part of 70 years, and it hosts its annual fundraiser in St. Pete this weekend. This Cinco de Mayo-themed event features casino games and prizes, Mexican food, an open bar, live music and silent auction items. 6:30 p.m. $95. 150 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. Give.parc-fl.org.

TACO BOUT IT: Casa Tina is known for its traditional Mexican fare and annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

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LOCAL ARTS

Tampa International Fringe Festival

May 10-14. Various venues through Ybor City. Tampafringe.org

MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE

Keep Ybor City weird

Tampa Fringe Festival returns, plans for year-round programming

By Jennifer Ring

Iwas there at the exact moment Tampa Fringe discovered they could have a year-round space in Ybor City. It was January 5, 2023. A handful of arts professionals had just moved into the historic Ybor City Kress building at 1624 E. 7th Ave. Emiliano Settecasi opened his Department of Contemporary Art with a show about the future — an appropriate theme for a young curator moving into a new space. Next door, Jessica Todd showcased a collection of Jacob Z. Wan’s work in her new Parachute Gallery. And QUAID settled into their new location with "Dinonetics: Fossilized Feelings and Prehistoric Misfortune." It was a night of firsts, including the first time Tampa Fringe Producer Trish Parry got a good look at Ybor City’s hottest new art spot. And they still had spaces available to rent. Parry had just had dinner with Silver Meteor Gallery Director Michael Murphy. The two friends were discussing potential venues for Tampa Fringe when Murphy suggested they check out the opening receptions at the Kress building next door. Three months later, Parry and I returned to the Kress building with Festival Director William Glenn. Here we revisited that moment of inception, discussed what makes a theater, and talked about the future of Tampa Fringe.

“So, I’m wandering through here and there’s just studio after studio available and they were saying what the rent was,” Parry told me. “And I was like, oh, that is a risk that we can actually afford to take now. And then I ran into you, and you said something. And Mike Murphy just shut it down. Mike Murphy was like, ‘This is all off the record. We’re not talking about anything right now.’” Well, it’s on the record now. Parry’s since talked it over with Glenn and Tampa Fringe’s Board of Directors, and they all agreed. Tampa Fringe would set up shop in the historic Ybor City Kress building. They started transforming the small space into a 30-40 seat black box theater in February. It’s a big change for an annual theater festival that’s used to seizing whatever stage they can get.

Over the past six years, Tampa Fringe has set up shop in Silver Meteor Gallery, Urban Phoenix, Honey Pot, Hillsborough Community College, The Attic at Rock Brothers, Crowbar, and Bernini. After all this time converting restaurants, night clubs, and live music venues

into temporary theaters, setting up a space in the Kress building is a relatively easy task for Parry and Glenn. When I asked the duo how they would take a space like this—historically a department store—and turn it into a theater, Glenn said, “looking at the questions you have for us, this is the one that isn’t hard to answer at all, because it’s the thing that we’ve been doing for six years. You go into an empty room, and you make it into a theater. There are technical items that are kind of common. We’ll bring in a PA or amplification system for the audio. We’ll bring in some lights and a means of hanging them, whether that’s a truss or if we end up bolting pipe to the ceiling….”

“But I think really what will make this room in a building that used to be a department store into a theater is when the artists come in and start sharing their work with audience members. To me, that’s how you turn an empty space into a theater.” Parry and Glenn have seen people convert bathrooms, hotel rooms, and private kitchens into theaters.

“You don’t need anything,” says Parry. “You got performers and an audience—you got two people, and you got a theater.” Creating a physical theater may be easy for Parry and Glenn, but creating theater Tampa remembers and loves is a much bigger challenge. “At some point I started asking myself, ‘What does Tampa actually need?’” Parry told CL. “We have lots of theater. What is the niche that we can really fulfill? What have we been trying to do, and what could we actually try to do longer? And I realized it’s that incubation space. It’s having an affordable space for our local artists to create and learn.”

As they set up for this week’s festival, Tampa Fringe is already considering how they can support local artists year-round in this new space. They’re tossing around ideas, and they’ve already come up with some great ones. This could be an affordable space for local artists to workshop a show, rehearse, or take acting classes. It can also be a space for fringe theater to grow in Tampa.

“It gives us more of a year-round footprint that will keep our festival in people’s minds throughout the year, and, therefore, will help to grow the festival,” Parry told CL. “We’re always trying to grow the festival…”

The Tampa International Fringe Festival has grown to include 31 shows this year. The

list includes a kid-friendly stand-up comedy show hosted by writer/comedian Clark Brooks, a puppet show from Japan, the sequel to Jordan Bertke’s solo superhero show “The Sack,” and several solo storytelling shows. The team posts new show descriptions to the Tampa Fringe Facebook page nearly every day. All 31 shows are crammed into a fast five days this week, May 10-14. To see them all, you’d have to watch at a rate of about six shows a day. Most will be in the Kress building this year — in the new Fringe Theatre, Screen Door Microcinema, and actress Nicole Jeannine Smith’s studio, which they’re temporarily turning into “The Cage.”

“There’s kind of an arts movement happening in Ybor right now,” says Parry. “This Kress building itself — this project of Darryl Shaw’s — is amazing because there’s so many different kinds of artists in here.”

It’s exactly the type of environment that could lead to interesting collaborations among artists. “I really want to bring different disciplines together, because you can utilize so many different disciplines within a performance art thing, and there’s not enough cross pollination happening, I feel. And in this very building, there’s a poetry writing workshop. It’s going to be awesome. It’s like a sandbox, a playground.

JENNIFER RING

RETURN OF THE FRINGE: The festival's crew organized over 30 performances that will take place from May 10-14.

THE STORY OF ART

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

THURSDAY, MAY 4

FIXING AN IMAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY

Presented by Senior Curator of Photography

Dr. Jane Aspinwall

THURSDAY, MAY 18

ART NOW: 1950–TODAY

Presented by Senior Curator of Contemporary Art

Katherine Pill

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C CL Recommends

FRI 05

Deb Ruby w/Claire Vandiver/Emily Turnage/Noan Partly It’s been a busy month-and-a-half for Deb Ruby. The local singer-songwriter has spent her springtime performing at the WMNF-run Beatles 60th anniversary tribute show, auditioning for NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, and helping New World Brewery celebrate its 28th anniversary. Ruby headlines Crowbar on Friday with her moody, indie-folk tunes, and fellow local female singer-songwriters Claire Vandiver, Emily Turnage, and Noan Partly, the latter of whom performed with her at New World recently. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Matt Hires It’s been a few years since this hometown hero released any new material— the largely acoustic, but still heavy American Wilderness focuses on his process of hanging onto God while letting go of his religion—but Matt Hires still makes his way home to the hot mess of the Sunshine State to take on a few homecoming gigs, including one at The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing. If you’re not the life of the party and a Friday night in Ybor City isn’t your bag, Hires also performs at the Music4Life Living Arts Center in Clearwater come Saturday. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City)

Mike Love w/Dub inc Mr. “Jah Will Never Leave I Alone”—who I promise has zero to do with the douchebag Beach Boy—rolled into Jannus Live last year, and dropped an EP with Rising Tide beforehand. There’s currently nothing brand new from Love—who crosses Rastafari and reggae, with hints of prog rock, soul, blues, flamenco, and jazz—but as Reggae Rise Up regulars know, there’s nothing more peachy than an outdoor performance of his self-described “revolutionary consciousness music,” on the outskirts of official summertime. French dancehall-reggae outfit Dub Inc opens. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

SAT 06

Slap Of Reality w/Slinky/Clairmel

Down By Law was supposed to headline for some local outfits Saturday night at New World Brewery, but had to back out due to “some pretty serious stuff” and rescheduled its appearance to July 1. In the meantime, Slap Of Reality—a.k.a. Tampa’s 36-yearold “melodic punk/emo/hardcore/indie” group that once opened for Social Distortion at Jannus Live in front of a handful of skinheads—will carry things on this weekend. Also on the bill is the recently revived Slinky, newish local punk-rock quartet Knife Rituals, and a Clairmel reunion gig, featuring co-founder and Creative Loafing contributing photographer Dave Decker. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)

$not w/Night Lovell/Eem Triplin/DC

The Don/Micro It’s not $snot’s first time in Tampa Bay, and this week’s gig certainly won’t be the last (especially since he’s spent a majority of his life in Florida.) The “GOSHA” rapper tackles Jannus Live—his largest local venue yet—with support from Night Lovell, Eem Triplin, DC The Don and Micro. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Halfway 2 Halloween 2023 feat. The Cunningham Wake/Screaming At The Silence/Highest Crown/Crimson Shadow/Burn Forever In addition to hosting a massive spread of local metal and alternative bands, this Brass Mug event also features a costume contest (with cash prizes) and raffles to help celebrate everyone’s favorite spooky holiday. (Brass Mug, Tampa)

Hands Off Uhuru feat. Sundé/Witch Hiatus/Rutterkin/Healing Fyah/Whirlynn

Garcia/Life Malcolm/Charles Hines Last summer, FBI agents raided the homes and offices of several Uhuru Movement leaders, including St. Petersburg’s own Uhuru House Community Center. And in April, indictments were issued against three Tampa Bay-based chairpeople, all having served in the African People’s Socialist Party, or its solidarity organization, the African People’s Solidarity Committee. This weekend, in an effort to raise money for the Hands Off Uhuru! Hands Off Africa Legal Defense Fund for their day in court, a benefit show will go down at Nana’s Juice Bar and Restaurant, featuring a barrage of local bands and artists from Sundé to Rutterkin, and spoken word poetry by the likes of Life Malcolm and Comrade Libre X Sankara. (Nana’s Juice Bar and Restaurant, Ybor City)

Grouplove The California-based altrock outfit is about to renew its status as a member of the club featuring bands and artists that have been to Tampa Bay more than once in a year’s time. The, err, group, just performed a handful of live debuts at Innings Festival in March, and with a new album set for release in July, don’t be too surprised if a few other new or unreleased jams have respective live debuts at this very sold-out installment of 97x Under Play.

(Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)

Midnight w/Spirit Adrift/Spitter Ohiobased thrash metal outfit Midnight heads to Tampa on its “20 Years Of Hell, Speed And Sleaze” tour, which covers the better part of the U.S. Heavy metal band Spirit Adrift and Spitter open this exciting Tampa gig. (Orpheum, Tampa)

Morgan Wallen w/Ernest/Bailey

Zimmerman The Dallas Bull might be a little empty on Saturday night, since country singer-songwriter Morgan Wallen heads to town for his impressively-sold out Tampa gig. The 29 year-old heartthrob was featured on season 6 of “The Voice” and hasn’t stopped garnering popularity among country fans and mullet-lovers alike. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

Uptown Music Festival w/ Pieces of a Dream/JJ Sansaverino/B. Thompson/ Kyle Schroeder This communityfocused festival returns to Tampa for its 2023 rendition, featuring jazz duo Pieces of a Dream, multi-disciplined guitarist JJ Sansaverin and local saxophonist Kyle Schroeder, alongside many more

Florida-based jazz, R&B and funk musicians. Tickets to this family-friendly festival start at $25. (University Area Community Center, Tampa)

WMNF Tropical Heatwave Community radio station 88.5 unearthed its annual festival this year, and its stacked local undercard is joined by a solid lineup of national headliners. Local celebrities Glove are joined by Grammy-winning blues singer Shemekia Copeland, funk-rockers Seratones and local favorites Have Gun, Will Travel. Tickets are still available for $40 in advance or $50 at the gate. (Cuban Club, Ybor City)

SUN 07

Alestorm w/Gloryhammer/Luthero “We like drinking rum and stealing ships,” is how Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm describes itself, certainly living up to its self-acclaimed genre of “pirate metal.”

The poster for its upcoming U.S. tour—in promotion of its 2022 LP Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum —is totally America-d out, with a buff ass bald eagle wrestling a zombie pirate, which is definitely on brand for the European scalawags. St. Pete’s Sunday night gig is Alestorm’s only Florida show on its nationwide run. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

TUES 09

100 gecs w/Machine Girl

When 100 Gecs (stylized “100 gecs”) made its Tampa Bay debut at Jannus Live two falls ago, the show was part of the hyperpop duo’s “10,000 gecs” tour. Evidently, on St. Paddy’s Day this year, an album of the same name finally dropped, to critical acclaim, no less. No one can blame Dylan Brady and Laura Les for staging an encore to their fresh-outtaCOVID tour, now that live shows are back in full swing, especially now that a few extra songs that may not have even been recorded since last time are in the set. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Surf Curse Indie-garage rock veteran Surf Curse makes the long trek from its hometown of L.A. to Tampa this week, riding off the exciting release of its newest studio album Magic Hour. Its upcoming Tampa show is sandwiched between a few Miami and Orlando dates, truly blessing the Sunshine State’s OG indie-rock fans. Yes kiddos, that TikTok-famous song “Freaks,” was actually unearthed from a 2013 sonic tomb. (Orpheum, Tampa)

WED 10

The Gaslight Anthem w/Oso Oso/ Emily Wolfe When I got the message that The Gaslight Anthem released its first new music in nine years last week, over the moon doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction. Newfound fans of the New Jersey indie-rock outfit haven’t had a chance to experience new music—unless you count 2018’s The ‘59 Sound Sessions, sent out in masses by VNYL earlier this decade—or even many live experiences. That all changes Wednesday night at Jannus Live, after Oso Oso and Emily

continued from page 43

Wolfe play support. The last Tampa Bay saw of Brian Fallon and friends was at the 2015 Gasparilla Music Festival, months before the band’s initial hiatus was announced. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Set It Off w/Scene Queen/In Her Own Words/Rivals Hometown alt heroes Set it Off return to Tampa Bay with a headlining gig at Orpheum—perhaps its first set at the revered venue since its 2022 relocation. No doubt local fans will hear tracks of its most recent LP Elsewhere , in addition to its newest single “Punching Bag.” The Tampa-founded band spent the better part of last year opening for outfits like All Time Low and Machine Gun

Kelly all around the world, but continues on its U.S. and Europe headlining tour throughout the summer. (Orpheum, Tampa)

THU 11

Anders Osborne (acoustic) Days after wrapping up a “Jazz Fest” tour—which actually takes him to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 6—Anders Osborne, on the heels of a summer visiting teacher gig at Tulane University’s Creative Industries Program—is doing a brief series of acoustic gigs across Florida, including one on Thursday night at Rock Brothers Brewing.

The 56-year-old Swedish singer-songwriter has been covered by the likes of Brad Paisley, Trombone Shorty, and Jonny Lang, so don’t be too surprised if you hear something you didn’t know was an Osborne original. (The Attic at Rock Brothers, Ybor City)

Gipsy Kings Described as “traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythms,” French band Gipsy Kings is about as multi-ethnic as Tampa Bay itself. The 5-piece act—which hits the road with lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo—brings its first studio album in six years, Savor Flamenco, to Tampa Bay. (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

ELLIOT VERNON

Alestorm

DAVID KIBBY ALASTAIR ST. HILL

SG WOOD

Deuces are about to be wild in Tampa Bay, because legendary dad-rock outfit Aerosmith just announced a new run of shows, and will finally make its longawaited return to Tampa on Oct. 11, 2023. “After 50 years, 10 world tours, and playing for over 100 million fans...It’s time for one last go!,” the band posted on its social media earlier this week.

Reps at Amalie Arena took to Instagram last Tuesday morning, with a video of its jumbo screen showing the words “peace out” in the style of Aerosmith’s logo—used since 1982’s Rock in a Hard Place . Guitarist Joe Perry recently revealed to The Boston Globe that plans to take on a 40-plus-date U.S. tour in the fall were underway, and to be announced before summertime. He added that it’s unlikely that drummer Joey

Howi Spangler (unplugged) Thursday, May 11. 7:30 p.m. $35 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Ed Sheeran w/Ben Kweller Friday May 19. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

DJ Logic w/TBA Saturday, May 20. 8 p.m.

$15. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

DIY Music Festival feat. Discord Theory/Fantastical Tigers/Bangarang/ Holly Glen Band/Peace Cult/Pandapaws/ Pusha Preme/Kat The Dutchess/Psych

Montano/Albert J/more Saturday, May 27. 3 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City

Geri X w/TBA Sunday, June 4. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Triathalon (opening for Men I Trust)

Thursday, June 15. 7 p.m. $27. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Omerta w/Moodring/Gates To Hell

Thursday, June 22. 6 p.m. $16. Orpheum, Tampa

Kramer—who lost his wife last summer— will return to the kit for this run of shows. His drum tech, John Douglas has been filling in, and will most likely stay in the repertoire throughout the band’s first major run of U.S. shows since 2015.

It’s been 11 years since Aerosmith’s last performance in town—also at the sincerenamed Tampa Bay Times Forum—with support from Cheap Trick. Steven Tyler’s solo country tour did roll into Ruth Eckerd Hall back in 2016, but with that repressed memory back in mind—and how Perry only seldom performs with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp in the Hollywood Vampires— it’s clear that Tampatown is long overdue for some sweet emotion. Tickets for Aerosmith’s upcoming Tampa show go on sale on Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m. EST. —CL Staff

Bilmuri Wednesday, June 28. 6:30 p.m. $20. Orpheum, Tampa

Duane Betts w/Palmetto Motel Saturday, July 15. 7 p.m. $19. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Ted Nugent Sunday, July 16. 8 p.m. $70 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Fuerza Regida Saturday, July 29. 8 p.m. $65.75 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa

John Fogerty w/Hearty Har Saturday, July 29. 8 p.m. $65 & up. The Sound, Clearwater

Matt Walden w/TBA Friday, Aug. 25. 8 p.m. No cover. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

NEEDTOBREATHE Thursday, Aug. 31. 8 p.m. $80 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

AEROSMITH/FACEBOOK

It's business time

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, my business is doing very well and has grown significantly over the past year. My small staff is great, but it may be time to hire an additional hand. What should I knowabout this decision?—Hesitant in Hiring

Cards: Nine of Cups, The Lovers, Page of Cups, Four of Pentacles

Dear HIH, Congratulations on your success! It’s a brutal world out there for small businesses, and I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. I want to start with the caution that you should take your time with this decision. The Nine of Cups can be a card of only getting what you want superficially. You need someone, but you know you can’t just hire the first non-sociopath that applies. (Well, you can, but that’s a low bar.) You need to find the right person. Personality might play a bigger role in this decision than just qualifications alone. With The Lovers, you really want someone who will work well with the rest of the small staff and who is not just harmonious but can amplify the good and mute the bad. You’re looking for a missing sound in a song. It’s not that the notes aren’t already there, but it just needs a little something more. As the owner and hirer, you’re going to have to be the one to nail down this je ne sais quoi. So don’t just look for superficial qualities like “chatty” or “seems nice.” Think about what you need.

With the Page of Cups, I would recommend someone with a “visionary” vibe, someone whose creative or who is really intuit what others may want (in a marketing/business way.) But, again, you’re going to have to dig a little deeper and figure out what’s needed to amplify your already fantastic team. But with all these hopes, I want to warn about the illusion of security. Fours in Tarot always set up the problematic fives, and pentacles are the earthly coins of business. It’s a trap to think that this one new thing will be just what your business needs: all you need is just one more employee! Just one more store! Just one more new item to sell!

It involves a lot of money upfront, and while I believe I can make money at this, I know the first year will be touch and go. Do the cards have any insight as to what I should do with my new business?—Brand new Boss Babe

Cards: The Fool (rev.), Four of Wands, Queen of Pentacles (rev.), King of Swords

ORACLE OF YBOR

The Four of Pentacles warns about slipping into complacency. Even if things with this new employee are going really well, keep your eyes peeled for whatever else can be improved. Maybe another part of the store can get fixed, or you could add more health benefits to the employees’ package or whatever. As long as you view this new addition as the next step instead of the endall-be-all, I think you’ll do just fine. Best of luck with your business!

Dear Oracle, After years of considering it, I’m going into business for myself. It’s nerve-wracking.

Dear BNBB, I should preface this by saying that I have an MFA in stories, and my only undergrad economics class was in Game Theory. I am, in no way, an expert in business, nor do I have a deep understanding of economic theory. But as the daughter of a former merchant and wife of a current one, I do know that the whole “you have to spend money to make money” is true—at least when it comes to hawking goods—so while that’s terrifying, you’re certainly not doing anything out of the ordinary.

With The Fool reversed, I can tell you’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. It’s a new start, and it’s a pretty fortuitous one. You are, right now, on the path you’ve wanted to be on. So take a moment and congratulate yourself on your bravery. The Four of Wands signals some stability and can be a great community card. This can mean that you’re either adding a new, but necessary business to the community or joining a supportive community. You say that you believe

you will turn a profit in this business, and the cards do support that—in the future.

The Queen of Pentacles can certainly be seen as the #bossbae of the deck, and while I believe you’ll be the queen of your own domain, it will probably take more than six months to feel that security. Which leads us to the King of Swords. He might not be the major arcana in the spread, but his message is the most crucial: you need to know what you’re doing if you’re going to succeed.

You need to learn as much as possible about your business and running a business in general. And by “learn,” I don’t mean listen to some Brosef’s podcast or take a “seminar series” about house flipping or any of that grifter shit. I mean, try a business class at a community college or a developmental workshop run by the country or your local chamber of commerce. Maybe you could use some help with digital marketing or small business accounting or figuring out what actually qualifies as a write-off. Maybe networking would be really beneficial to you. Whatever it is, you need to learn, learn it.

Your knowledge is your sword; it’s going to be what protects you and what helps you get what you want. It might also help you feel secure. Knowing the ins and outs can help you develop a plan B (or C or D) if things go awry. But remember, you’re still on that glorious new path of the Fool. There are bound to be some growing pains, but that doesn’t mean you’re making a mistake. Best of luck with the new business, my dear.

Sexy & sanitary

By Dan Savage

I have been involved in a long distance situationship (intimate friends) for three years. We live in different states. We met in person, then became friends online, and that is where the relationship blossomed. I went to visit her once for a week, and it was a very intimate and fun experience for both of us, although she did mention while I was there that she noticed my body order. I took care of that ASAP, and it didn’t seem like a big deal, and it only seemed to come up when she was angry or frustrated about something. We have been planning on another visit, but she keeps bringing up my BO problem and has even said, “If it’s as bad as it was last time, you have to get a hotel room and can’t stay with me, and I won’t kiss you or fuck you.” Which is confusing because we were very intimate last time, she seemed to be enjoying herself quite a bit, and even told me how much she enjoyed the sex for weeks afterwards. This issue arose months after that visit. Should I take her advice and be super diligent about BO or is this some sort of emotional manipulation or gaslighting? My close friends tell me they never notice my body odor — they don’t get as close to me, of course, because I’m not fucking them — and I shower at least once daily and use deodorant every day and brush my teeth multiple times a day. I realize I have BO sometimes, but I take care of it when I do. Also, and here’s the dinger, she has untreated BPD.– Oddly Disrespectful Odor Request

hormonal things, just one of those pheromonal things — then you didn’t do anything wrong, ODOR, and you can’t do anything about it.

SAVAGE LOVE

Of course, it’s possible you’re lying to me about your personal hygiene, ODOR, and it’s possible your friends are lying to you about your BO. It’s also possible this woman didn’t feel safe being honest with you when you visited her — when you were standing there in her apartment, stinking the place up — and she pretended that shower solved the BO problem and pretended to enjoy the sex because she was worried you would react badly if she was honest with you about how unhappy she was. But if that was the case, ODOR — if you really smelled that bad — why would she make plans to see you again? If your body odor was really that bad, if you smell so bad she has to threaten you in advance with getting a hotel room, why would she want to fuck you again?

pinning me down and “just sticking it in.”) I didn’t realize that being happy in a long-term sexual relationship was even possible. The thing is, while remembering most of the sexual things I’ve done disgusts me, and while I find myself uninterested in the male form, I did enjoy making out with someone and being held. But while I am now repulsed by the thought of being with a man, I have no experience with women at this late age and having actively sought out relationships with men makes me think I can’t be gay. Why would I have sought out sex acts which now disgust me? Why did I pursue men if that wasn’t what I wanted? –Done With Men

Many women realize they’re lesbians later in life, DWM, so your experience — years in unsatisfying straight relationships before coming out — wouldn’t be an uncommon one; you wouldn’t be the first lesbian who struggled to dig her authentic homosexuality out from under compulsory heterosexuality. Lots of women go through the motions with men — putting up with their smelly bodies and their vaguely threatening “jokes” about sexual violence — before coming to the realization it wasn’t men they wanted at all, or not men they wanted exclusively.

That’s quite the dinger you dropped there at the end of your letter, ODOR.

Adults with untreated and severe BPD — bipolar disorder — sometimes experience olfactory hallucinations, i.e.., they sometimes smell things that aren’t there, in addition to sometimes seeing things that aren’t there and hearing things that aren’t there. Some studies have shown that olfactory hallucinations are more common than auditory ones — again, among adults with untreated and severe cases of BDP.

Now, I don’t know whether your fuckbuddy is experiencing olfactory hallucinations. I don’t even know if fuckbuddy has BPD. I don’t know why anyone would lie about something like that, but this woman’s behavior seems kind of erratic — itself a symptom of BPD — and people lie about things they shouldn’t all the time. But I do know, and can say with some certainty, that no one who’s as diligent about his personal hygiene as you claim to be, ODOR, is walking around with terrible BO. You have a scent, of course; all people do. And once in a while someone is gonna be turned off by your natural, baseline, freshly showered scent for reasons that can’t be explained. If that was the case here — if it was just one of those chemical things, just one of those

Only she knows the answer to those questions, ODOR, so here’s one you can answer: Why do you wanna see this woman again? BPD or no BPD, she doesn’t seem… like a very nice person. Decades ago, I might’ve said, “Don’t stick your dick in crazy,” but that expression is ableist, first and foremost, and it has a long history of being used to control women. For fear of being labeled “crazy,” and therefore unworthy of having some random guy’s dick stuck in her, countless women were manipulated into putting up with terrible behavior, from poor personal hygiene to unsatisfying sex to much worse.

So, I’m not using that awful expression — I’m mentioning it, not using it (angry readers are invited to Google “use/ mention distinction”) — but I would like to revise it: Don’t stick your dick in unkind. And whatever else is going on with this woman, she’s being unkind to you. Tell her she’s going to need that hotel room after all, ODOR, because you won’t be available to see her — and be insulted by her — when she comes to town.

I’ve begun to think I am a lesbian. I’m 29 years old, and I’ve only been with men up to now. The first guy I was with was sexually abusive and convinced me that sexually servicing a man regardless of how I felt was the norm. I carried this into my next decade-long, mostly long-distance relationship with a man, another relationship that involved a general disregard for sexual boundaries. (At one point when I refused PIV to prevent pregnancy, he joked about

Lesbianism is not a consolation prize; lesbianism is not a severance package a woman is handed on her way out of a shitty straight relationship. Lesbianism is a romantic and sexual orientation. It’s a positive force — it’s about what (and who) a woman is drawn to, not what (and who) a woman is repulsed by. I mean, think about it… if having shitty relationships with men turned women into lesbians, DWM, there wouldn’t be any straight women left. Hell, if having shitty relationships with men turned people off men generally, DWM, there wouldn’t be any gay men left either. Straight

I’m a 47-year-old cis woman. I’m sexually active and don’t want to be on hormonal birth control anymore. How risky is this plan? 1. Go off BC. 2. When my period is late, take a pregnancy test. 3. If positive, do a medication abortion. 4. If negative, test again in two weeks. I would get the M&Ms (mifepristone and misoprostol) to have on hand. From what I have read, most pregnancies at my age are due to fertility treatments. The chance of becoming pregnant without treatment isn’t zero, but it’s very close to zero. I know that a major factor with most birth control is human error. I’m very careful and I know I will stick to the plan. I already track my cycle and take my birth control on schedule.

–Pregnancy Risks Ease Getting Older

guys with shitty ex-girlfriends would go gay, lesbians with shitty ex-wives would go straight, and bisexuals wouldn’t know what (or who) to do.

So, after reading your letter, DWM, I have few questions for you: Are you attracted to women? When you think about making out with

someone and being held, do you see yourself with a woman? Does the thought of having sex with a woman turn you on? Do you get aroused when you think about going down on a woman, being gone down on by a woman, and doing all the other sexy sex things women do with women? If the answer to each of these questions is “yes,” DWM, then you might be a lesbian.

Your odds of getting pregnant at your age are extremely low, PREGO, but 100% of people whose parachutes fail to open go splat. So, while it’s unlikely to happen to you — while you’re highly unlikely to get pregnant at your age without the help of a fertility specialist — it could happen to you. Until the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer, I would’ve slapped a “low-probability, lowconsequence event” label on the worst-case scenarios here, PREGO, as you could easily keep M&Ms in stock. But with rightwing judges trying to ban M&Ms and radical Republicans criminalizing abortion care in state after state, a possible pregnancy — however unlikely — could quickly become a “low-probability, high-consequence” event for any woman. If you were to run out of M&Ms, would you be able to get more? If you were to experience complications, which are very rare but do happen, would you be able to seek follow-up care where you live without risking prosecution?

I’m not suggesting you should stay on birth control at your age, PREGO, I’m just urging you to have a backup plan — at least one — in case your initial backup plan fails.

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

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