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Bartenders can be a bit surly after years of dealing with obnoxious tourists. Mahuffer’s is just one gem in a treasure chest of Bay area dives, p. 23.
Photo by Jourdan Ducat. Design by Joe Frontel.
Name that bar
Photos by Jourdan Ducat
National Dive Bar Day is on Sunday, July 7. The Bay area has no shortage of watering holes you have to try to call yourself a local (p. 33), and only the most seasoned barfl ies will be able to correctly identify the bars in these photos. First reader to email rroa@cltampa.com with the answers gets a $25 tab care of our friends at The Hub.—Ray Roa
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from July 04 - 10
Waters run deep
If Ansel Adams was a Florida Man, he’d be Clyde Butcher. The former is America’s late foremost master of black and white landscape photography. Butcher is just as much of a national treasure who has dutifully presented Floridian landscapes with the scale and clarity they deserve. “Living Waters” is a collection that’s been in storage and not shown in public in many years. In it, the now 81-year-old photographer showcases the state’s many springs, mangroves, meadows of seagrass and more, in the hopes that we all do more to protect it (Gaskin Bay, in Everglades National Park, is pictured). The show is only up until July 27, and don’t forget to warm up by watching the PBS documentary that shares the same name as the exhibition.
Living Waters: Aquatic Preserves of Florida: WednesdaySaturday, through July 27. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Requested $5 donation. Clearwater Historical Society, 610 S Fort Harrison, Clearwater. clearwaterhistoricalsociety.org—Ray Roa
Good works
Forever the underdog, Ybor City, in so many ways, is the heart and soul of Tampa. For almost a year now, community members have staged a quarterly event that connects not just business owners and residents who call the historic district home, but also anyone who supports the vibrancy—and independence—of the neighborhood. For this installment of “There’s Good In Ybor,” organizers have not only booked bands, artists and guest speakers, but tapped their friends at the Indie Noir Market to celebrate Black businesses as part of the get together. Raffle proceeds will benefit the B.I.G. initiative, which supports businesses in the nearby Tampa neighborhood once-described as “The Scrub.” There’s Good In Ybor: Monday, July 8. 7 p.m. $5 donation. Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City. crowbarybor.com—Ray Roa
12 | JULY 04-10, 2024 | cltampabay.com
Told ya
The “Don’t Tell Comedy” series is kind of the like SoFar Sounds of laughter. Attendees don’t know the lineup (although clips from social media feature quality comics), and the locations are secret, too. For July 18, if we’re to believe the events listing sent to media each month, we at least know the setting is going to be stupendous. Sure, we’d love it if Czar was still around, but the posh confines and A+ drink menu at Hotel Haya will make for a mighty fine venue for the four-to-seven comic lineup that Don’t Tell organizers usually book.
Don’t Tell Comedy: Next Thursday, July 18. 8 p.m. $25. Hotel Haya, 1412 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. donttellcomedy.com—Ray Roa
After party
If you’re the kind of person who seethes at the sight of litter on the beach after a holiday weekend, well, here’s a chance to do something about it. The Sustany Foundation—a nonprofit that “facilitates the exchange of ideas and resources to individuals and organizations committed to economic, environmental, and social responsibility”—invites beach lovers to bring their rakes out, not to beat litterbugs over the head, but to help in a cleanup on Treasure Island. The first 20 people to sign up will get parking passes for the lot across from the Waffle House, and the group is headed to Sloppy Joe’s afterwards for some drinks and socializing.
Trash Talk with a Side of Green Drinks: Sunday, July 7. 6 p.m. No cover. City of St. Petersburg parking lot, 11250 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. sustany.org—Ray Roa
Flip flap
Hockey fans across the Bay area are mourning the loss of Steven Stamkos, but local soccer fans are probably doing pretty well. Tampa’s forthcoming women’s team is in camp ahead of its inaugural season, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies are in playoff contention as the end of the season approaches. What’s more is that international tournaments featuring teams from North and South America (Copa América) and Europe (Eurocup) are happening at the same time. Finals for both tourneys aren’t until July 14, but you might want to get out of the house for the second Copa América semifinal because a GOAT of South American fútbol will be in Tampa. Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who is badass enough to just go by his first name, is scheduled to host a watch party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The 44-year-old Brazilian and FC Barcelona legend is famous not just for his elastico dribble, but off-field charisma befitting of a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year. It’s limited capacity for this one, so early arrival at the cafe is recommended. And don't worry, the USMNT is already eliminated.
Copa América semifinal watch party w/ Ronaldinho: Wednesday, July 10. 7 p.m. No cover. Hard Rock Cafe at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa. casino.hardrock. com/tampa—Ray Roa
Cool kindness
The forecast after the Fourth of July is hot, and likely hungover. Enter the Tampa Theatre. Downtown’s historic movie palace has teamed up with free streaming service Pluto TV to offer residents two days of free movies inside the theater’s dark, airconditioned main theater as well as its new microcinema. “Kinds Of Kindness”—a new comedic drama from “Poor Things” director Yorgos Lanthimospictured—is on tap for the smaller Taylor Screening Room where it’ll screen four times, while the Historic Duncan Auditorium hosts a Sunday matinee featuring Ron Howard’s classic space drama “Apollo 13.” All you have to do is reserve your seat while they last.
Free movies at Tampa Theatre: Saturday-Sunday, July 5-6. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa
“The public has a right to know what’s on our agenda.”
Sound o
Tampa renews controversial contract, without additional public comment.
By Arielle Stevenson
Tampa City Council voted to continue the city’s contract with the controversial gunshot detection software SoundThinking—formerly known as ShotSpotter—this month. But the resolution to reconsider the $280,000 contract wasn’t listed on the June 20 agenda and the public was given no additional notice the contract would be taken up again.
Councilwoman Gwen Henderson, who voted against the contract on June 6, motioned to bring the item back for reconsideration at the June 20 meeting. Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak expressed concerns that the public wouldn’t get to comment before the vote with the change.
“Regardless of how I feel about this, the fact that we can just put something on the agenda and pass it is absolutely unconscionable,” Hurtak said.“The public had no idea and if they couldn’t be here they missed the 24-hour notice to be able to speak remotely.”
On June 6, Council voted 4-3 against renewing the SoundThinking/ShotSpotter $280,0000 contract. Council members Luis Viera, Alan Clendenin, and Charlie Miranda voted against ending the contract.
At the June 20 meeting, Councilman Bill Carlson echoed Hurtak’s concerns about public comment and called SoundThinking/ShotSpotter, “a very controversial project,” saying, “the public has a right to know what’s on our agenda.”
“The public had a chance to speak on June 6,” Megan Newcomb, assistant city attorney and Tampa Police Department legal advisor, said at the meeting.
Henderson said she reconsidered her vote in the days after the June 6 meeting, when she learned that TPD responded to a SoundThinking/ShotSpotter alert and was able to locate a 17-year-old victim with a non-lethal gunshot to the leg. She also blamed her original vote on what she described as a “poor presentation,” from TPD during the Council’s June 6 discussion on the issue.
“The police officers that did the presentation didn’t do a very good job,” Henderson said last week. “I did not support it [on June 6] because the presentation didn’t provide the information the police needed to provide.”
Despite being placed on the agenda at 9 a.m. to be heard at 11:30 a.m., without additional
public notice, the public had much to say about SoundThinking/ShotSpotter.
“It should not be taken up today,” Stephanie Poynor, resident and president of Tampa Homeowners Association of Neighborhoods or THAN, said at the meeting.“It should be put on a future agenda…You are not being accountable and transparent.”
Bishop Michelle Patty, who lost her son and grandson to gun violence, spoke in support of the program.
“People are being misled about ShotSpotter,” Patty said at the meeting. “It’s not about being
the Tampa Police Department when they’re not willing to invest in residents in East Tampa,” Lewis said at the June 20 meeting.
Chief Lee Bercaw stood by for nearly an hour while council debated whether or not to hear TPD’s presentation on SoundThinking/ ShotSpotter. Ultimately, Clendenin threatened to pull his support of the program if additional testimony was heard. Before withdrawing her motion to hear from TPD, Henderson stated, “when we discussed this very topic [on June 6] there was no one in the public that came forward and commented on it.”
Last year, CL reported on extensive data questioning the effectiveness of SoundThinking/ ShotSpotter, which operates through its parent company SoundThinking.
LOCAL NEWS
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reviewed transcripts from June 6, and found that at least three people, including lifelong Tampa resident Valerie Bullock, gave public comments against renewing ShotSpotter’s contract at that meeting.
A new report from the ACLU of Massachusetts, released in April, contends that 70% of ShotSpotter alerts answered by the Boston Police Department between 2020-2022 resulted in no evidence of gunfire. Since then, several high ranking Massachusetts officials including Senator Elizabeth Warren, wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, requesting an investigation into ShotSpotter over possible violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Are you comfortable spending taxpayer dollars on something that might be a violation of the Civil Rights Act?” Hurtak said.
racial, it’s about people being killed in a certain area.”
Mimi Martinez, president of the Ybor Heights Neighborhood Association and Watch Group, said the technology is needed for the area’s economic development. “If we don’t renew this contract, it’s going to be ruinous for the economic development along the Nebraska Avenue corridor,” she added.
But Yvette Lewis, president of the Hillsborough NAACP, said the community doesn’t need ShotSpotter, it needs to invest more in its residents, not TPD. “The NAACP is questioning why the city of Tampa invests in
“The money could be spent on something better in East Tampa, like affordable housing, or job training,” Bullock said at the June 6 meeting. “We don’t need nothing to show us where the bullet came from, we need to enforce the laws that are already there.”
A Wired report showing the secret locations of ShotSpotter gunfire sensors says that, “SoundThinking equipment has been installed at more than a thousand elementary and high schools; they are perched atop dozens of billboards, scores of hospitals, and within more than a hundred public housing complexes.”
SoundThinking CEO Ralph Clark has refuted the allegations.
Hurtak’s substitute motion to divert the $280,000 in funds to hire more police officers in lieu of SoundThinking/ShotSpotter failed. Viera, who’s campaigns were endorsed by both the police and fire unions, voted against Hurtak’s measure, describing it as “voting on a fiction.”
Council voted 4-3 to approve the resolution for a contract with SoundThinking/ShotSpotter, with Hurtak, Carlson, and Councilman Guido Maniscalco voting against. The ShotSpotter contract began June 20 and will last for one year.
THINK ABOUT IT: Some residents say the $280K for ShotSpotter software could be better utilized.
Reasons We Lack Flexibility
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Try again
DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill, calling it ‘bureaucratic red tape.’
By Dara Kam/News Service of Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis last Thursday vetoed a measure aimed at regulating vacation rentals, saying the proposal would create “bureaucratic red tape” for local officials. Oversight of vacation rentals for years has been a thorny issue for the Legislature, as advertising for properties on platforms such as Airbnb has ballooned.
This year’s bill (SB 280)—a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples—also was contentious, with the Senate voting 23-16 to approve it and the House passing it in a 60-51 vote in the waning days of the legislative session. Champions of short-term rentals say they provide extra income for homeowners and boost tourism, while critics complain that noise, trash, and traffic woes from a revolving cast of visitors negatively transform neighborhoods.
DeSantis’ veto drew mixed reactions.
“This is a difficult issue that has property owners on both sides who deserve a voice in the process,” Senate bill sponsor Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, said in a text message. “We worked hard to pass legislation through both the Senate and the House that took the concerns of all stakeholders into consideration. While I disagree with the governor’s decision, I understand his concerns.”
But Melbourne Beach Mayor Alison Dennington called DeSantis’ veto “wonderful.”
“It seems like he’s recognizing that there should be some local registration, that we should be allowed to have it, and that this went too far,” Dennington told The News Service of Florida. Dennington suggested DeSantis create a work group to explore the issue.
“I would love it if he would form some kind of task force with some legislators and some local officials and some building officials, like a regional task force, and maybe we could come back and propose better legislation next year. That would make both sides happy on some of these issues,” the mayor said.
The bill would have preempted regulation of vacation rentals to the state while allowing local governments to have short-term rental registration programs that met certain parameters for what the local programs could require. The bill would have “grandfathered” in regulations adopted by counties before 2016—an exception that applied only to Flagler County, home to House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.
The bill would have prevented local governments “from enforcing existing ordinances or passing any new local measure which would exclusively apply to vacation rentals,” DeSantis wrote in a veto message Thursday.
HOUSING
The bill addressed one of the key sticking points over the years—“preempting” regulation of short-term rental properties to the state.
Current law bans local ordinances or regulations passed after 2011 that prohibit vacation rentals or regulate the duration or frequency of rentals, doing away with registration programs adopted by many coastal communities as the use of online platforms such as Airbnb expanded.
“Under the bill, any such measure must apply to all residential properties. The effect of this provision will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across the various regions of the state,” the governor wrote. “Going forward, I encourage the Florida Legislature and all key stakeholders to work together, with the understanding that vacation rentals should not be approached as a one-size-fits-all issue.”
The vacation-rental bill sparked a clash between two powerful industry groups in the runup to DeSantis’ veto.
The bill drew intense opposition from vacation-rental management companies, coastal community leaders and Florida Realtors, an influential real-estate industry group whose
members urged DeSantis to nix the measure.
“The bill fails to strike a fair balance between the rights of private property owners to rent their property on a short-term basis and the ability of local governments to regulate these rentals,” a website set up by Florida Realtors said. The website allowed visitors to submit emails detailing complaints about the bill directly to the governor’s office.
Meanwhile, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, also a politically prominent industry group, corralled its members to appeal to the governor to sign the bill.
“We were proud to work with the bill sponsors and have this important legislation pass this session as a solid framework and first step for regulatory reform in the sector,” Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Restaurant and Lodging Association, said in a prepared statement Thursday night. “We are disappointed with Governor DeSantis’ veto but will continue with our efforts to work toward a resolution and ensure equity across Florida’s lodging industry— from vacation rentals to hotels—to best serve our guests and promote their safety.”
But speaking to the News Service in March, Dennington called short-term rentals “an existential threat” to single-family zoning.
“Because having a mini-motel pretending like it’s single-family zoning right in the heart of every single-family-zoned street is not singlefamily zoning. … It’s a commercial enterprise. Period,” she said.
STILL BELONGS: A luxury home in Siesta Key.
RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES
FEELING GREEN: Emerald
Dive in 35
Tampa Bay dive bars you should drink at right now.
By Jourdan Ducat
National Dive Bar Day falls on July 7, and this year it happens to be on a Sunday, which is arguably one of the better days to imbibe at your favorite hole in the wall.
In recent years, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has published lists for both Pinellas and Hillsborough dives. Many of the beloved haunts have been around for years, and remain staple must-tries everyone should visit at least once.
Some watering holes, however, have rebranded, including Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern, now known as The Friendly Tarpon Tavern. The nearby Tapper Pub changed ownership and went nonsmoking at the beginning of the year, and more recently got rid of the nostalgic red booths and added outdoor seating.
Others have sadly closed, including both of Tampa’s Elmer’s locations, plus South Tampa’s I Don’t Care Bar & Grill, meaning Gandy Boulevard’s Warehouse Liquor Store and Bar is the last place in Hillsborough County where you can still smoke inside and order food in house. Ybor City also lost First Chance, Last Chance and Boneyard, but Dirty Shame and Reservoir Bar are thankfully still going strong.
Pinellas didn’t escape changes to its dive scene either, with Steve’s going non-smoking and Abbey Road permanently closing. Though it’s not recent news, all dive bar enthusiasts are encouraged to pour one out for the bygone
Wilson’s, which is sorely missed by regulars and casual fans who may have recognized the spot as the exterior shots for the original “Magic Mike” movie.
As always, bring cash and check your expectations at the door, but most importantly, get ready for a damn good time. Cheers to the Tampa Bay dive bars that have lasted through the years.
American Legion Post 111 A haven for cheap drinks, a swear jar, dance nights, openminded regulars, and a steady rotation of America’s best touring underground rock acts. 6918 N Florida Ave., Tampa. alseminolepost.
org—Ray Roa
Anclote River Boat Club The Boat Club, as regulars affectionately call it, is quite possibly the diviest on this list. If your car doesn’t bottom out trying to access the treacherous parking lot, you’ll notice an actual wood burning fireplace just inside the entrance for that one week it gets cold in January. The entire building seems ready to give way into the river it’s situated on, so you may feel buzzed before you’ve even had a beer. Bring bug spray and enjoy a slightly cold domestic on the dock. 1761 Beckett Wy., Tarpon Springs. 727-938-9566
drinks start flowing here at 8 a.m., so it’s an apt place to get a hair of the dog from the spirited bartenders while listening to the regulars poke fun at each other. Every day from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. you’ll get a raffle ticket for each drink ordered, with a winner receiving a free drink on the hour. 4021 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. barmastiff.com
Beer Shed Situated right on the Alafia River, this is a great place to have a cold one on a nice day. It’s a beer-and-wine-only spot that provides carpet samples for you to rest your drink on and an adjacent snack shack that offers BBQ on most days. This is definitely a good ol’ boys bar, so check your pretentiousness at the door and just relax. 11222 Casa Loma Dr., Riverview, 813-671-1885
The Dirty Shame The Shame offers a decent selection of higher quality liquor (including the bartender’s personal favorite digestif, Underberg), as well as some great craft beer options on tap or to-go. You can smoke inside but the high ceilings and well ventilated bar room offer respite, as does the outdoor patio. It’s one of the last remaining bars that trusts its patrons with steel tipped darts and also has two pool tables. 1929 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, 813-247-7930
DINING GUIDE
The Bends Take a selfie for the @bendsbathroom Instagram account, then have a seat inside or out and enjoy what are lowkey some of the best cocktails—dive or not—in St. Pete. Stay late for any one of the always-free concerts in the shotgun style performance space in the back. 919 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg. @thebendsbar on Facebook—RR
The Dog Saloon You may remember hearing about this place when it was called Red Dog and the bartenders still wore risque attire. The Dog is a full liquor bar with an extensive draft selection and trivia on Tuesdays. It’s a popular place to watch a game because of the abundance of TV’s, including individual sets for most of the suspended wooden tables. There's a variety of bar games and a full food menu as well. 3311 W Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa. @dogsaloonsouthtampa on Facebook
Emerald Bar Established in 1950, Emerald Bar is one of the oldest dive bars in St.Petersburg. Offering bar games, indoor smoking, live music and happy hour, Emerald bar is a casual and cozy spot to grab a drink with friends. 550 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-898-6054—Min Craig
Fisherman’s Pub If you come in for happy hour, you’ll be surrounded by a group of fun-loving and genuinely nice people who can’t stop talking about how much they love it here. Each chair is numbered, and the bartender occasionally draws
Bar Mastiff If you’re a longtime dive bar patron, you may have visited Bar Mastiff when it was known as Marsha’s Wayside Inn. The continued on page 27
Boardwalk Tavern A dive in every sense of the word. The outside looks like something straight out of Roadhouse, hand painted signage and all. Once inside, you’ll find loads of smokestained memorabilia intermingled with assorted chairs, a pool table and random pieces of fabric strewn over windows. It’s cash-only and they only offer beer, but the regulars come up with some interesting picks on the TouchTunes that make for good conversation starters. 2600 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-507-1200
Bar is one of the oldest dive bars in St.Petersburg.
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continued from page 23 numbers to reward one lucky patron with a free drink. While it doesn’t have liquor, it does carry Fireball minis if you’re looking to up your buzz. 9602 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-915-9009
Flamingo Sports Bar This St. Pete institution has been open in some form or another in the same location since 1937 and is said to have been a haunt of the late writer Jack Kerouac. It’s easy to see how the Flamingo could have been the perfect place for him to retreat with his thoughts, given its dark and smoke-filled interior and complete lack of pretension. The blue collar regulars are likely to regale you with tales of the past, that is if they’re not involved in a game of pool. 1230 9th St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-821-9397
Fox and Hounds British Pub This cozy Brandon staple claims to be the oldest pub in town. Locals come here to watch the game with a pint or have bites of a burger in between darts or pool. The dark wood furnishings and traditional decor will make you feel like you’re actually across the pond, as will their traditional English breakfast (served on Sundays only). 229 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon, 813-438-8913
Franks Sports Bar This Pinellas County dive, located in an unassuming strip center, has all of the makings of a great neighborhood watering hole. You’ve got the accommodating regulars who are quick to introduce their fellow comrades, a kind-but-no-bullshit bartender who also plays the role of cook during day shifts, and well-priced booze that your new friends might even treat you to. Food is offered during select hours, so call ahead to make sure they’re serving if you need a burger to go with your Bud. 4201 62nd Ave. N, Pinellas Park. 727-527-8056
The Friendly Tarpon Tavern Barefoot Billy’s namesake and owner Bill Geary served his official last day on the bay on July 29 last year, and has phased out, leaving new ownership of the longtime Gandy Boulevard watering hole with a new, still friendly, name. 3120 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa. thefriendlytarpon.com
Harbor Bar This Safety Harbor dive serves shots in plastic cups but offers a decent liquor selection, including the Italian amaro Fernet, a rare sighting in most dives. The rectangular bar is usually packed with regulars smoking Marlboros and bullshitting, while the service is fast and friendly. If you like pickles, you’ll be pleased to hear the owner makes his own, which means your pickleback just got a locally-made upgrade. 840 Main St., Safety Harbor. harborbar.weebly.com
Honeysuckle Bar Buckle up for this one because it’s a true dive, nicotine-stained NASCAR merch and all. The outside is very unassuming and to be honest, so is the inside. It’s beer-only, so you’ll have to make a choice between Bud or Busch, and pay with cash. Between the cigarette vending and coin-operated washing machines, you’ll find this is a place to have a strong opinion about one way or the other. 119 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-932-1429
Hub Bar This downtown staple with an attached package store has been voted Best Dive Bar in the Bay on and off for several years. The Hub is about as iconic of a dive that you’ll find in the area, with a loyal following that up until recently included the late and dearly beloved regular of over 30 years, Texas Tim. Locals know that you never order a double here because the pour is probably the strongest in town, so don’t take it personally if you get cut off after your second Long Island. 719 N Franklin St., Tampa, 813-229-1553
Lana’s Place Situated just behind the popular VIP Mexican restaurant, so it’s a great place to pregame while you’re waiting for your table. Once your eyes have adjusted to the extremely dark interior, have a seat next to a sun-soaked regular and order a cheap shot or something from Lana’s decent selection of craft beers. If you haven’t stopped in post-pandemic, you’ll be surprised to find that the place no longer allows indoor smoking but has expanded its outdoor seating area. 109 107th Ave., Treasure Island. 727-360-0287
features a jukebox, so you can grab a drink while bumping to your own tunes. 2760 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @luckystarfl on Facebook—MC
DINING GUIDE
Mahuffers The ceilings here are laden with dangling bras and buoys, the couches quite literally look salvaged from the side of the road, and there are enough signed dollar bills on every surface to pay for a John Daly bar tab. The bartenders can be a bit surly after years of dealing with obnoxious tourists, but once you sink into the dark depths of the inside bar with a cheap shot ,you won’t even notice. Mahuffer’s lost its longtime resident iguana, Ernest, in November 2022, but you’ll still catch some bar cats sprawled across the bar tops. 19201 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. 727-596-0226
Mastry’s One of the oldest in St. Pete, with heap drinks, live music, and darts. The perfect First Block hideaway. 233 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-822-3070
Pete’s Place South There’s pretty much always something going on here, whether it’s the three times a week karaoke, live bands or a rowdy but fun group of regulars enjoying the extensive happy hour. The space was recently renovated and decided to nix the indoor smoking, so you can enjoy your beverage without a side of cigar plumes. It also offers a food menu. 4145 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-282-9039
Reservoir If you’re a fan of this place it’s probably because you appreciate the “no BS” attitude that the bartenders and regulars all seem to have. The prices are extremely reasonable, the music is usually an eclectic mix and "Reservoir Dogs" is likely playing on loop. This is also one of the few spots in town where you can order a Malort, which you’re probably going to hate. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add a dried scorpion to your order for just $2. 1518 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-1442
Lucky Star Lounge Claiming to serve the “stiffest drinks in the district since 2008,” Lucky Star is an LGTQ+ hole-in-the-wall. This bar
Pelican Pub An excellent spot to stop by if you forgot to buy tickets to your favorite concert (scalp some, or listen to the show through the wall) and perfect for a ridiculously-cheap pre-show slurp. 18 2nd St. N, St. Petersburg. jannuslive.com/pelican-pub—RR
Retreat At this long-running bar across from the University of Tampa, you’re likely to be sitting next to a service industry worker who’s either just finished a shift or is having some liquid courage before starting one. It can get pretty packed with the college crowd on nights and weekends, so your best bet is grab a seat at
SHOCKING: Don’t take the electrician’s advice at Mahuffer’s.
JOURDAN DUCAT
continued from page 27
happy hour if you’re looking for a more relaxing experience. This is another spot that allows smoking indoors, plus all day specials and bar snacks to soak up that Rumplemintz shot you just did with the bartender. 123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, 813-254-2014
Seabreeze Lounge You know a place is going to be divey when the only indication of its presence in a strip mall is the word “lounge” in unassuming capital red letters on the facade. Seabreeze is a haven for folks who want to enjoy cheap drinks and a cigarette, but don’t sleep on the delicious “snakebite” chicken wings if you like your BBQ sauce with a little tang. Along with daily specials, there’s a pool table, darts and a bookshelf by the bathroom with random titles in case you want to pretend you’re being productive. 30625 U.S.-Hwy 19 N, Palm Harbor. @seabreezelounge on Facebook
Seffner Tiki Hut If you find yourself East of I-75, The Tiki Hut is one of the more inviting spots to stop into for a drink. It’s an open air space with a large patio that gets pretty busy on the weekends, especially on nights with karaoke or bands. It offers beer, liquor and a varied menu that ranges from Philly cheesesteaks to gator bites. 1001 U.S. Hwy-92, Seffner. @seffnertikihutbarandgrill on Facebook
Shadrack’s This long standing Pass-a-Grille staple is the perfect place to hit before or after your next beach day, as it’s only a short walk from the sand. Open since 1972, “Shads” has welcomed locals and tourists with cheap domestics, decent liquor pours and camaraderie for decades. The two pool tables are always hopping and smoking is only allowed outside, which makes it an accommodating spot for all members of your crew. Shadrack’s also has a seriously impressive bloody mary toppings bar the first Sunday of each month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 114 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach. @ShadracksPAG on Facebook
Smugglers Tavern If you think Tierra Verde is all marinas and seafood spots, you’ll be surprised to know there’s at least one true dive here, with a to-go package license to boot. Smugglers is another dark and smoky spot that typically caters to locals looking for a lowkey time, but even first timers will be welcomed with a strong pour and friendly, no frills service. 1120 Pinellas Bayway S, St. Petersburg. smugglerstierraverde.com
Sunset Grille This neighborhood haunt is definitely a favorite with locals. You have the choice of sitting at the indoor bar, the outdoor bar or table seating on a covered lanai. It has pretty good chicken wings, decent prices and megatouch, which is always a plus for nostalgic dive frequenters. 2996 Dr M.L.K. Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-823-2382
Tapper Pub Last September, the sale of one of Tampa’s oldest bars was finalized, giving former owner Guido Caggiano and longtime bartender Kay some much needed time off. New owners made only minor changes and continued the legacy Guido and his staff created. Tapper Pub debuted back in 1967 and has been an anchor of the Britton Plaza strip mall ever since. 3832 Britton Plaza, Tampa, 813-839-7845
DINING GUIDE
Tiny Tap Tavern Tiny Tap really cleaned up its act during the pandemic, including making the move to non-smoking indoors and giving every surface a good wipe down. The charm of a dimly lit bar with one of the few remaining Megatouches (IYKYK) is all still there, and now you can even pay with a credit card. Regulars here usually move between a barstool and the pool or foosball tables and are sure to regale you with tales of the old Tampa. 2105 W Morrison Ave., Tampa, 813-254-3872
Skip’s Bar In the heart of downtown Dunedin, Skip’s is the perfect place to grab a cold one on a hot day. This cash-only beer bar still has a coin-operated jukebox and serves PBR bottles in a brown paper bag for a truly authentic dive experience. Another fun thing Skip’s does is offer half off drinks every Wednesday if you wear your Skip’s T-shirt, which they sell for $15 each—an investment that pays for itself. 371 Main St., Dunedin. 727-734-9151
Steve’s Tavern The perfect retreat for when you get sick of the crowds on Central Avenue sidewalks or need an air-conditioned spot to cool off with a cold draft. The regulars vary from industry professionals finishing (or about to begin) a shift to seasoned drinkers that have been guzzling the same draft or one-mixer cocktail here for years. It’s a cash-only bar that recently banned smoking and boasts a pool table and two electronic dart boards. 933 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-894-1004
Why Not This beer-and-wine-only spot is another that will leave you wanting a shower after. Once your eyes adjust to the dark interior, you’ll find Franzia next to the pickled pigs feet behind the bar and styrofoam bowls for the cheese balls you may need after you’ve had a few. The decor ranges from sports themed murals to a wall of fame with regular’s names on it. 9906 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-935-7092
West end boy
Hugo Morley brings charisma, unrivaled stories, to Tampa bar scene.
By Jourdan Ducat
Ajolly and booming British voice echoes through the bar, followed by a hearty laugh from several patrons who no doubt just heard an outlandish tale that could only belong to one man. Wearing an ornate and often tropical printed shirt that matches his vibrant personality, the bartender approaches with a proper hello, a cocktail napkin and a smile. It’s going to be a good night, because you’re sitting at the bar of Hugo Morley.
Born in London, England, Hugo spent 10 years in the city’s West End district as well as the Middle East as a stage manager for the theater, a passion that has remained with him throughout his life. Some of the companies he’s worked with include The Mill, Citizens Theatre, Lyceum, and King’s Head, with his last theater tour taking place in 1999. Morley remains a staunch supporter of the arts and frequents comedy clubs, arena concerts and theatrical performances both locally and abroad.
His family has a long and storied history in the arts, to put it lightly. His grandfather, Robert Morley, received an Academy Award nomination in 1939 for his role of Louis XVI in “Marie Antionette”. His father, Sheridan Morley, wrote several biographies, the most notable being that of playwright and composer Noël Coward. Hugo’s great-grandmother was one of the first actors to play Peter Pan on stage, and so on—until one realizes there may be no end to his family’s legacy in the arts.
since then. He currently works at Oggi Italian restaurant on Davis Island and Shuffle in Tampa Heights, where he’s been for the last three years. He also holds an office job at the Davis Islands private social club MerryMakers and bartends at private events that often have him rubbing elbows with some of Tampa’s biggest names, like when he recently worked at Carlito Fuente’s 70th birthday at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.
Morley’s social media profile boasts numerous photos with famous folks he’s met, including Boy George, Alan Cumming, and Mitch Hedberg. He once drank vodka with the yardbirds in Muscat, Oman, while he was on one of his Middle Eastern theater tours. His godfather, the aforementioned composer Noel Coward, has one of his songs, “London Pride,” playing at the England pavilion in Epcot.
DRINKS
When “Monty Python” actor John Cleese was in the Bay area several years ago, Hugo wrote to him and invited him to meet for lunch. Cleese responded and accepted the invitation, though he initially forgot to keep the date. When they did meet up at his uncle’s pub, they ended up spending about two hours together. Three years later, Cleese performed at the Straz Center and invited Hugo onto his tour bus after the show. They had a few drinks and talked about Morley’s grandfather, as well as the shared opinion that “Cheers” is one of the greatest sitcoms ever created.
While still living over the pond, Morley interestingly worked at England’s flagship Pizza Hut in 1986, which carried beer and wine. Though it’s doubtful slinging beers with breadsticks lended much to his flair for bartending, it did give him an appetite for the hospitality industry and the unique people and experiences it provides. While he thoroughly enjoyed his time in the theater world, an opportunity abroad soon came knocking at his door in 1997, and so the story of how he ended up in Florida, and specifically Tampa, began.
Hugo’s uncle, Wilton, runs the storied South Tampa pub Mad Dogs and Englishmen. That summer, Hugo came to work at the pub for a couple of months, as the theater season in London was typically slow during this time. He came back again in ‘98, this time staying for about six months. Hugo officially made the Tampa Bay Area his home in 2000 and started working at an AMC in Brandon as a manager before moving to bartending full time in 2001.
He spent the majority of his bartending career at Mad Dogs and Englishmen, but he’s graced the bars of many other establishments
In his downtime, Morley likes to relax with some good TV or sleep, but he does still find time to make his rounds at some local haunts. He really loved The Chatterbox, one of South Howard’s first bars, when it was open. His favorite bar overall is The Coal Hole in the former cellar of the Savoy Hotel in London. These days, he mostly sticks to beer and wine when he’s imbibing, but he’ll have the occasional bloody mary or espresso martini when the moment strikes and often frequents The Dog Saloon in South Tampa.
Morley is the definition of a classic bartender with an old-school work ethic. Unlike many bartenders on social media that complain about what drink orders they find annoying to make or other bothersome customer requests, he understands that his job behind the bar is to provide an enjoyable experience for his guests. His preferred soundtrack while working is classic rock, and he handles busy moments with the patience and charismatic charm that only a true professional can achieve.
While he says there truly aren’t many pet peeves he has behind the bar, he does think it’s important that regulars and employees alike are able to “read the room” and act accordingly.
He, like most bartenders, isn’t a fan of politics being discussed because it can often incite heated moments between customers, especially once a certain amount of alcohol is involved. If the situation arises when it’s time for someone to go, he’ll quietly take them aside and politely explain the scenario to the barred guest, as opposed to loudly embarrassing them in front of other patrons.
When asked what his opinion is on the future of the industry, he chuckles and said, “I hope it lasts.” He followed up by saying that the postpandemic work environment that has many working either entirely from home or a hybrid schedule will be a big determining factor. It makes sense, as people could continue to veer
towards a homeward lifestyle and forgo the bar scene in exchange for a glass of wine on the couch with a good TV show. The opposite could also be true, driving remote workers to belly up to the bar in order to get some social interaction outside of a Zoom screen.
Next time you see Hugo around town, be sure to let him know how much you appreciate hearing some tales of his past, and you’re likely to be regaled with even more. Cheers!
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is looking to share the stories of Tampa Bay’s most beloved bartenders, proprietors, and maybe even longtime regulars. Help us build the Tampa Bay Bartenders Hall of Fame by emailing jourdan@ cltampa.com.
THE MORLEY, THE MERRIER: Hugo Morley at Oggi on Davis Islands.
MOVIES THEATER ART CULTURE
Titty boy
Tampa Fringe responds to DeSantis’ cultural arts veto.
By Ray Roa
Add Fringe festivals to the growing list of things that hurt Ron DeSantis’ feelings.
When the governor signed his budget in Tampa this month, he vetoed $32 million in cultural grants. A week later, DeSantis offered an explanation for what the Daily Beast characterized as a dick move—and of course it likely has something to do with titties.
Last week, DeSantis said, “You have your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff,” according to DB, which added that the governor did not specifying what “stuff” he objected to.
While DeSantis may have been referencing the International Fringe Theater Festival in Orlando, Tampa’s Fringe Festival said that it stands to lose $15,678 as a result of the governor’s veto.
make them cheaper and more easily accessible for the communities they serve,” the statement added. The governor’s misinformed opinion, organizers said, has not only hurt their organizations, but others like kid’s museums, opera and dance companies, and more.
“Fringe has been named scapegoat,” they added. Read Tampa Fringe’s full statement below.
A Message from Tampa Fringe
LOCAL ARTS
In a statement, Tampa Fringe said that the production “Captain Havoc & the Big-Titty Bog Witches” drew the attention of the state’s Communications Director. As Creative Loafing Tampa Bay noted in its previews of the Tampa Fringe 2024, the satire is about developers who want to build a kinkier version of The Villages.
The show “employed naughty language but was otherwise just a regular comedy play,” Tampa Fringe said, noting that the show was labeled 18-and-up, with restricted entrance. “We are committed to ensuring that we follow all laws and that shows are age appropriate,” Tampa Fringe added.
While there were two other cabarets on the Tampa Fringe schedule, most everything else was comedy, music, storytelling, dance, physical theater, horror, farce and drama.
Some of you may have heard that yesterday (Thursday, June 27th, 2024), the governor issued statements in defense of cutting all funding for arts and culture in the state of Florida by saying that Fringe Festivals are “sexual festivals where they do all this stuff”, and that they shouldn’t receive funding.
This is a gross mischaracterization of what the Tampa International Fringe Festival is, and what Fringe Festivals all over the world do.
“Fringe has been named scapegoat.”
As a Fringe Festival, we strive to be accessible, unjuried, and importantly, uncensored. Open-access festivals like ours have traditions running back to the 1940s in Scotland, and artists and audiences around the world have embraced this style of performing arts festival. Shows at Fringe Festivals can include theatre, children’s storytelling, acrobatics, magic, dance, music, and more. Companies selected come from a broad swath of backgrounds and ideologies. That is the beauty of Fringe - there is something for everyone, and we don’t try to gatekeep.
But Tampa Fringe said none of the Florida tax money it has ever received went directly to artists to fund their projects; instead artists earn revenue via their audiences, ticket sales and merch sales at the festival, which described itself as a “live-arts clearinghouse.”
The release pointed out that Fringe festivals don’t produce the art itself, but provide stages, plus support for technical items, and ticketing.
“Fringe Festivals aggregate arts events to
The production from this year’s Tampa Fringe Festival that the state’s Communications Director drew attention to was “Captain Havoc & the Big-Titty Bog Witches”, a satire that employed naughty language but was otherwise just a regular comedy play. This show was labelled as 18+ and entrance was restricted, because we are committed to ensuring that we follow all laws and that shows are age appropriate.
To be clear, no Florida tax money we have ever received has been given directly to artists to fund their projects. Revenue that artists earn comes directly from their audiences via ticket
sales and merchandise. Fringe Festivals are live-arts clearinghouses. Festivals like ours don’t produce the art themselves, but do give artists a stage, technical support, and marketing/ticketing support. Fringe Festivals aggregate arts events to make them cheaper and more easily accessible for the communities they serve. Any funds festivals receive go to helping pay technicians and administrative staff, and to pay for equipment and space. Artists are allowed to use that platform, but Fringe Festivals do not fund artist’s work, nor do they market specific works but rather spend marketing funds promoting the festival as a whole.
Yesterday’s actions have added insult to the injury of the loss of state arts and culture funding. This unwarranted reaction guided by a misinformed opinion has strangled access to all arts and cultural programs in the state.
Hundreds of organizations lost funding when the governor used his veto. Children’s museums, opera companies, ballet troupes, and local arts funding bodies all lost much-needed support because of this action, and Fringe has been named scapegoat.
Florida arts organizations are already feeling the pain from these actions, as the state’s fiscal year begins in July, in just THREE days. We urge you to support arts and culture as much as possible in any way you can over the next 12 months. Be it with attendance, with donations, with volunteering, with amplifying, whatever you can do. Tampa Fringe lost $12,000 due to this, so if you are able to help fill the gap, please do. Moreover, support all of the organizations that you can. This year it is vital to do so, for the sake of the Fringe, and for all the arts and culture in Florida.
BIG SQUARE: DeSantis blamed Fringe festivals for his cultural arts veto.
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By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa
THU 04
C Beer and Metal Mayhem: Moth Bite w/Dead Angels If you wished that beer festivals were more metal, well, Tim Ogden is your man. The brewer had a hand in some of the best Bay area beers ever (read: Tocobaga red), and he’s spent the last year-or-so turning his brewery and tasting room into a church of brew and community. Hard-hitting metal outfits will take the stage for this no-cover festival while the taps get taken over by four equally monstrous Bay area breweries—Angry Chair, Magnanimous, Woven Water and Deviant— plus Bonita Springs’s Ceremony Brewing and phantom brew operation Mythk Brewing. (Deviant Libation, Tampa)
C Boom By the Bay: Logan Grant w/ Harber Wynn/Gwan Massive/FIl Pate’s Bluegrass Band There’s no shortage of places to see things go boom in the sky across Tampa Bay (see a listing on cltampa. com/arts), but this year’s installment of Boom By the Bay will also have music fans going, “blap, blap, blap.” The occasion? A reunion of Tampa’sGwan Massive which over the years has included the city’s best musicians, rappers, DJs and beatmakers. More or less genre-agnostic, the Gwans hop around jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop and soul with ease. While the Gwan Massive reunion is bringing world sounds, a Fourth of July concert would not be complete without some Americana. Harber Wynn lays that down and then some. The wife-and-husband duo featuring Central Florida folk and rock heroes Hannah Harber and Thomas Wynn ought to be among the official bearers Sunshine State Southern rock. When Harber’s gut-wrenching vocal meets the raging guitar of Wynn, it’s full on sparks. And prepare to fall over when the power couple harmonizes. Heavy-gigging Logan Grant rounds out the bill along with insatiable musical polymath Fil Pate who brings his bluegrass band to the stage. This free show goes down at JBL and is family-friendly. Lawn chairs, blankets and small coolers are allowed, along with food and soft drinks (no booze or cooking though). (Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa)
FRI 05
C American Dreaming w/Max Norton/ Matt Burke On “Bluebirds,” revered Bay area songwriter Will Quinlan and his studio partner Jim Blaisdell come together under a new moniker: American Dreaming. The three-and-a-half-minute tune finds the bard continuing to add new sounds to his palette (is that a drum machine in the intro?) and moving towards straight-ahead indie-rock and pop. Quinlan gets support from expat
Tampeño songwriter Max Norton (in from London), plus Have Gun, Will Travel frontman Matt Burke who wields the banjo for this gig. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)
C Michelle’s 33rd Rodeo: Cold Steel w/ Traitors In her own words, there’s a pretty good chance that Michelle Zack has been your bartender if you’ve been to any gigs at The Ritz Ybor, the since-shuttered Ybor location of Orpheum, or most recently, Crowbar. You only turn 33 once, so with a live music lineup including local metal favorites Cold Steel and Traitors (the latter featuring Zack’s boyfriend Tyler Shelton, who will also be cooking for attendees), save some Fourth fireworks for Friday night. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Royale With Cheese: Row Jomah w/ Melbourne Walsh/Austin Llewellyn/ Vinny Svoboda/more The catalog of David Byrne and the Talking Heads isn’t the only non-original music that Row Jomah is open to performing, you know. Before closing up St. Pete’s beloved witchy watering hole with a set of originals, Joe Roma and friends— with a few special guests, including bassist Vinny Svoboda—will run through a set full of tunes heard in Quentin Tarantino films. Hopefully, David Bowie’s “Cat People” makes the list and you feel the urge to get stoned and crack open your “Inglourious Basterds” DVD once you get home. (The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)
C Seppa & Frequent w/Audio Goblin/ Mindwipe/Gill_Yum/Phunk Bias/Nico the Alchemist Fireworks are loud, but if you need your eardrums rocked even more after the holiday, then head to The 600 Block where U.K. bass producer Seppa is joined by Colorado wub wizard Frequent. Atlanta glitch-hop maker Mindwipe is also on the bass-heavy bill while Asheville ambient producer Audio Goblin plays palette cleanser. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)
SAT 06
C Anberlin w/Hawthorne Heights/Armor for Sleep/Emery/This Wild Life The heat we’ve been enduring this summer is far more bitter than the kind we faced at Warped Tour. Things change though, and Winter Haven’s own Anberlin (which played the dearly departed touring festival a handful of times) headlines its first Bay-area gig since a twonight stand in Ybor that served as a farewell for longtime frontman Stephen Christian who is focusing on his family these days. Ex-Memphis May Fire vocalist Matty Mullins (who appears on two new tracks on a merger album of two previously-released EPs due out later this summer) is at the mic now, and a plethora of other emo outfits you may not have seen live since those glorious summer days at Vinoy Park during the Obama years open the “20 Years Of Tears Tour.” (The BayCare Sound, Clearwater)
THU JULY 04–THU JULY 11
The Heavy Pets w/Guavatron It’s been six years since The Heavy Pets released any new material (their last album Strawberry Mansion featured a contribution from steel pedal up-and-comer Roosevelt Collier), but the Ft. Lauderdale-based reggae-rock outfit brings West Palm Beach’s Guavatron—an “electronic rock jam band”—along to the historic downtown St. Pete room that has previously weathered The Heavy Pets’ power while still under the State Theatre name. (Floridian Social, St. Petersburg)
C First Saturday Jazz: LaRue Nickelson
It’s not wise to miss a gig from Tampa Bay’s dean of jazz guitar, especially when there’s no cover and the beer and wine’s good. No telling who’ll show up to support Nickelson for this courtyard throwdown. (Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa)
C Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival: Linda Ruan w/Yiying Niu/Adrian King/ Celine Chen As part of the annual Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (an annual gettogether of select young pianists from
prestigious music schools across the globe that includes a three-week course at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus), four wunderkinds will perform at this free concert in New Tampa, presumably on the venue’s brand-new grand piano. The musicians come from diverse backgrounds— China, Canada, California, and Washington state—and have been involved with competitions, philanthropic causes, and, according to a press release, “sharing the potential of music to overcome boundaries across cultures.” (New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa)
C Mind Quest No. 1: Akasha System w/Justin Depth/SmushySlugs B2B HorseshoeCrab/Post Physique Tampabased record label Image Research launches a new DJ series this weekend. The maiden Mind Quest explores a variety of genres, from minimal house, electro, techno, and anything in between, with a focus on thoughtful “curation, movement, and positivity.” This no-cover affair includes sets by
continued on page 39
C CL Recommends
Harber Wynn
house-ambient producer Akasha System, and a B2B set featuring Sector FM DJs SmushySlugs and HorseshoeCrab. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)
The Spill Canvas w/Have Mercy Next year marks two decades since The Spill Canvas hit a commercial home run with One Fell Swoop On it, Nick Thomas, frontman for the South Dakota emo-rock band, brings melodic elements from early work to a record where The Spill Canvas trade acoustic arrangements in for plugged-in, full-band rockers. Expect Thomas & co. to be in full nostalgia mode for this anniversary show where Maryland outfit Have Mercy opens. (Orpheum, Tampa)
SUN 07
Eyes Set To Kill w/Lost In Separation/ Spider Inside Her/No One Road After a few years apart, Anissa and Alexia Rodriguez—the sisters behind Eyes Set To Kill—are performing together again, and considering the band’s newish record deal with Revival Recordings, we wouldn’t be too surprised if some new material is being tracked as we speak. In the meantime, the Arizona metalcore outfit will perform its debut album Reach on shuffle, but in its entirety at its first appearance in Tampa Bay since a 2018 gig at the since-shuttered Ybor City location of Orpheum. (Orpheum, Tampa)
TUE 09
C John Lodge The Moody Blues are history at this point, but longtime bassist John Lodge is doing whatever he can to keep the band’s oftentimes underrated catalog alive. Last summer, he released a modernized version of the band’s iconic 1967 album Days of Future Passed , which features contributions from current Yes lead singer Jon Davison, and, in his final studio work before his 2021 passing, late Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge. The latter was asked by Lodge to record his poetry (read by keyboardist Mike Pinder on the original album) for a potential run of Future Passed shows, and he was ecstatic to do it, having never been asked to record something like that. “As I was rehearsing the concert, I thought, ‘Well, I’ve gone through so much trouble to get these consoles. We should just record it.’ Not a live concert, but to go into the studio and record it properly,” Lodge told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The tour kicks off its next leg in downtown Clearwater, and quite like at the Moodies’ 2018 last gig in Tampa Bay (at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall), Lodge will commit to playing the entire album cover-tocover, and then some. Read our full interview with Lodge at cltampa.com/music. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
WED 10
Ken Carson w/2hollis If you’re getting impatient about that Playboi Carti megatour that has been repeatedly postponed, take solace in the fact that Ken Carson—who was supposed to co-headline that run—is doing his own thang for the summer, pushing the release of his latest album A Great Chaos . Following the April release of “overseas,”
a standalone single, speculation has been high about a potential deluxe edition release, entitled More Chaos . It’s anyone’s guess if fans will get a preview on Wednesday night at what appears to be Carson’s first-ever gig in Tampa Bay, but if it happens, at least Carti ticket holders will be ready to recite every lyric if and when the Amalie Arena date gets rescheduled. SoundCloud rapper 2hollis opens. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
THU 11
C The Doobie Brothers w/Robert Cray
I think it’s safe to assume that in terms of his 50th anniversary tour return to The Doobie Brothers earlier this decade, Michael McDonald is here to stay. According to bandmates Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston, a new album with McDonald (which would be the band’s first with him at the forefront in over 40 years) is just about in the can. While most of the details are being secured, the yacht-rock legends are stoked about throwing in some gospel influence with a track called “Walk This Road,” supposedly featuring guest contributions from gospel legend Mavis Staples. Blues guitar virtuoso Robert Cray opens at the ol’ Gary. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)
Morgan Wallen w/Jelly Roll/Nate Smith/ Bryan Martin At this point, Morgan Wallen could probably run someone over and still sellout stadiums. The 31-year-old—who in 2021 was caught on video drunkenly-shouting the N-word and then busted for throwing a chair off a bar rooftop last April—has the longest-running No. 1 hit of the year (“I Had Some Help”), and arrives at the highestgrossing stadium in America alongside Jelly Roll, a rising, and better-behaved, superstar of crossover country. (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)
See extended ‘Also Playing’ listings by finding the ‘Tampa Bay’s best live music happening July 4-11’ post on cltampa.com/music.
LAUGH LAB COMEDY OPEN
LUCKI
Last Valentine’s Day, pop-punk band Suzie True covered “Angel Baby” by Rosie and the Originals, and the Los Angeles trio has even more sweet treats coming for Florida this fall.
While passes for Gainesville punk bacchanal The Fest are sold-out, bassist/singer Lexi McCoy & co. have plans to extend their trip into Florida with four additional Sunshine State dates including one in Tampa. Tickets to see Suzie True play Deviant Libation in Tampa on Wednesday,
DIY Fest II: Discord Theory w/ Pilot Jonezz/Peace Cult/Hollyglen/ Bangarang/Hovercar/Fantastical Tigers/Mak/Mortal Sons/The Tilt/more Saturday, July 13. 4 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
DogPark (opening for The Moss) Thursday, July 18. 9 p.m. $23. Crowbar, Ybor City
State of Illusion w/Kamenar/The Henleys/Murder The Crow Saturday, July 20. 7 p.m. $12. Crowbar, Ybor City
Shrek Rave Saturday, July 27. 9 p.m. $15 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Blanke w/Riot/Aeon:Mode/Myr Friday, Aug. 9. 10 p.m. $10 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Gable Price and Friends Wednesday, Aug. 21. 6:30 p.m. $20 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Tape B w/Sumthin Sumthin/Stvsh/Seth David Friday, Aug. 23. 10 p.m. $35. The Ritz, Ybor City
Dorian Electra w/TBA Sunday, Sept. 29. 6 p.m. $25 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
The Used w/Plain White T’s/Raue Wednesday, Oct. 2. 7 p.m. $45 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Oct. 23 are on sale now for $15. Golden State rock band Walter Etc. opens the show.
Suzie True’s April single, “Leeches” is a two-and-a-half-minute blast of power-pop complete with a call-back hook and arrangements reminiscent of the bounciest parts of the Dum Dum Girls catalog.
See Josh Bradley’s latest roundup of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.—Ray Roa
Cg5 Friday, Oct. 4. 6:30 p.m. $40. Crowbar, Ybor City
Santa Fe Klan Sunday, Oct. 20. 8 p.m. $35.75 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Makari w/Origami Button/SCRO Tuesday, Oct. 22. 6:30 p.m. $20. Orpheum, Tampa
DJ Doctor Oliver Saturday, Oct. 26. 10 p.m. $35 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Riovaz Sunday, Oct. 27. 8 p.m. $22. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Here Come The Mummies Saturday, Nov. 9. 7:30 p.m. $45 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Soft Kill w/Sikm Sunday, Nov. 10. 6 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
Stryper Wednesday, Nov. 13. 8 p.m. $35 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Juvenile Thursday, Nov. 14. 7 p.m. $77 & up (resale only). Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Panchiko wTuesday, Nov. 19. 7 p.m. $30. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Ana Gabriel Friday, Nov. 15. 8 p.m. $61 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa
Ripe w/Ries Brothers Friday, Nov. 15. 7 p.m. $40 & up. The Sound, Clearwater
JAMES DURAN
"Keeping Tampa Bay's ear to the (under)ground since 1997" © AES Presents, LLC
Quickies
By Dan Savage
1. Is pegging only for butts or can vaginas get pegged too?
I’m not a pegging purist. When the term originated in my column—when my readers selected “pegging” as the name for a woman fucking a man in the ass with a strap-on dildo— it was gendered; pegging was something a woman did to a man. But now people use “pegging” in reference to someone of any gender fucking someone of any gender in the ass with a strap-on dildo, an evolution of use and meaning that I fully support. But I think it’s good we have a term that refers to a particular and very popular kind of ass fucking. But meaning follows use, of course, and I am not the boss of the English language, and if people start using pegging to refer to any kind of penetrative sex that involves a dildo and a dildo harness, I won’t be mounting any legal challenges.
I love him dearly and I can’t live without him. What am I supposed to do? How can I believe it was just two kisses? Can I ever trust him again? If you can’t live without him, you’ll have to put up with this shit. If you can’t put up with this shit, you’ll have to learn to live without him.
4. Married 24 years, haven’t had a BJ in 15 years.
That sucks.
SAVAGE LOVE
2. I’m a unicorn to a hot married couple that lives a few hours away. I came up for her birthday and a fun party. For the first time the sex was off. The wife and I had our usual hot time, but the husband seemed to be ignoring me and focusing only on his wife. I left feeling rejected. I called and said it’s OK if he wants to fuck his wife, but why was I there then? He apologized and assured me he’s still attracted to me and wants me to come back. Should I go back?
Maybe the husband felt his wife should be the center of attention on her birthday… or maybe you were the center of attention the last 10 times and his wife asked to be the center of attention on her birthday. Either way, if the husband had a plan to focus things on the wife for a change, he should’ve shared that plan with you in advance. But if the sex was good every other time, I think you should give it and them another go. If you expect to be the center of attention during every threesome, you should share that expectation with them—but I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation. A one-off threesome with a couple? You’re the very special guest star and you should be the center of attention. A relationship with a couple that involves lots of threesomes? Everyone should get to be the center of attention once in a while.
3. After four years together, I found out that my boyfriend cheated on me. I became suspicious because he didn’t want to have sex anymore and he spent most of his time on his phone. At first, I learned he kissed a coworker after I found the shadow of a hickey on his neck. He uses a car sharing service to get home, and I asked to see where he got the car, and it was the street where this woman lives. He insisted it only happened twice. Now I know it has happened 15 times in nine months.
P.S. Since I’m an advice columnist and you’re a straight married man—men couldn’t marry other men 24 years ago—I’m supposed to ask if you’re doing your fair share of the housework, if you have good personal hygiene practices, and if you’re making sure your wife comes when you have sex. The implication: you must not be doing these things—or eating her pussy—because otherwise you would be getting regular blowjobs. But there are men out there who do everything right—their fair share of the housework, they shower and brush their teeth, they get their wives off—and they never get blowjobs. They may have married women who never liked sucking cock or they may have married women who loved sucking cock at first but something about the act doesn’t work for them in the context of an established relationship.
P.P.S. If you want a BJ, ask the wife for one. If she won’t give you a BJ, ask the wife for permission to get a BJ elsewhere. If she won’t give you a BJ or let you get a BJ elsewhere, do what you need to do to stay married and stay sane.
P.P.P.S. Not calling it a “BJ” might help.
5. Best soap for cleaning smelly cock?
Any soap will do—seriously, cocks don’t smell bad because men are using the wrong soap.
6. My boyfriend said he wants to ask his therapist “for their approval” before we can have a threesome. Is it a no-go?
Does your boyfriend have a long history of compulsive sexual behavior? Did he need years of therapy before one-on-one sex with someone he actually cared about was a possibility for him? Did your boyfriend’s ex-husband leave him for someone they had a threesome with? And did the fallout from the breakup require years of therapy to clear away? Did your boyfriend walk in on his mom getting double penetrated by his dad and his dad’s best friend when he was 10? And has your boyfriend only recently managed—with the help of his therapist—to block the mental images that were ruining sex for him and him for sex? If any of the above or something close is true, your boyfriend might have a good reason to check-in with his therapist before having his first threesome with his new boyfriend. But he could’ve and should’ve checked-in without telling you about it.
7. Sex has become boring and routine. Best advice for spicing it up?
Location, location, location—meaning, if you’re having sex with the same person in the same place over and over again, you might wanna fuck that person somewhere you’ve never fucked that person before, e.g., at the office, on the roof, in the darkroom of a sex club with other couples having sex all around you. If you’re having sex with lots of different people in lots of different places and you’re bored, you may need to take a break.
8. I can take really big sex toys, but men’s dicks are painful. Why?
Men come attached to dicks—typically— which can make dicks somewhat unpredictable. Toys, by way of contrast, are very predictable; toys stay where you put them, toys don’t make any sudden moves, toys don’t have their own ideas about the depth, angle, or pace of penetration. If you’re someone who experiences even mild anxiety around penetration, playing with typical dick—the kind that comes attached to man—may be causing you to tense up and tension is the enemy of painless penetration.
9. Cis female here who has sex with trans women with [eggplant emoji] who also sleep with people with [eggplant emoji, eggplant emoji, eggplant emoji]. Should I be on PrEP?
Yes.
10. What’s the most erotic thing you’ve watched IRL in a room?
Pass.
11. How legit are all the ads telling me I have low T? I’m a 45-year-old male. Do all men my age have low testosterone levels?
Those ads are designed to make all men feel like they’re suffering from low testosterone, which not all men do. Luckily for men, getting your testosterone levels checked is a pretty simple procedure.
12. My partner and I enthusiastically adopted your #fuckfirst philosophy and doing so has improved our lives immeasurably! But I have noticed that on the social occasions when it’s not an option, I often find myself feeling disconnected and prone to being testy with my partner. Is this a problem? Is our relationship too dependent on sex? Would we be together if it weren’t for our incredible sex life?
I couldn’t tell you—but if you stay together long enough, i.e., if you’re together into advanced old age, you’ll find out.
13. Will casual gay sex between consenting adult males ever be normalized?
God, I hope not—because it feels like discomfort with gay sex is the only thing keeping bachelorette parties out of bathhouses.
14. Are friends of exes or exes of friends always off limits? What’s the best way to handle one of these sticky situations so you don’t lose a good friend?
Friends of exes and exes of friends are never off limits—life is too short for those kinds of baby-ass dating games. If you’re dating the ex of a friend, you
owe your friend the courtesy of a call. Your friend should hear it from you and—yes—it’s gonna be awkward, but the sooner you make the call, the sooner the awkwardness ends. If you’re dating the friend of an ex, they need to make the call.
15. If I’m having a quickie outside, what’s the best way to deal with unclean surroundings?
You can plant your feet—and stay on your feet—and get plowed and seeded all at the same time.
16. How do I get my low-libido partner to fuck more often?
No idea—but if you figure it out and the solution is something you can bottle and sell, you’ll get rich.
17. Quickest way to remember the sex my boyfriend has with other guys is sexy and not scary?
Being showered with attention, affection, and gratitude—along with all the dirty details (if you wanna hear ‘em) and sloppy seconds (if you like that kind of thing)—may not be the quickest way to remember why it’s sexy when your boyfriend has sex with other guys, as you will have to wait for him to get back, but it is the most effective way.
18. Can you teach someone to give better head?
Someone giving you head wants two things: they wanna get you off and they wanna get you off in a reasonable amount of time. If there’s a simple thing they can do that’ll make head more pleasurable—something reasonable that’ll get off a little quicker—you shouldn’t hesitate to share it.
19. Every time my girlfriend and I have sex— we’re both female—we have to change the sheets. Tips for less messy sex?
Have sex on the floor (easier to mop), have sex on your kitchen counters (easier to wipe), have sex in your tub (easier to drain), etc., and invest in a few of those pricey-but-worth-it waterproof blankets—toss it on the bed when you’re getting started, toss it in the wash when you’re done. 20. How can a girl help her vanilla husband get more comfortable being an aggressive Dom top sometimes?
A friend complained about her husband’s inability to dominate her properly a few years ago—he was doing what she asked, but that’s all. “It feels like he’s going through ‘topping’ motions,” she texted me, “but I need a top with an agenda.” A year later, the same woman raved to me about her husband’s topping skills. Turns out, he just needed some time to get comfortable in the dominant role and a better, almost instinctive feel for what his wife wanted before he felt comfortable improvising—that is, before he felt confident setting the agenda. So, give your husband detailed instructions, then give him time.
Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love
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$210,770.44 SEIZED FROM: 13141 US 301, RIVERVIEW, FL 33578. THE PROPERTY LISTED ABOVE REMAINS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE, TAMPA FIELD OFFICE. PARTIES HAVING LEGAL CLAIM TO THIS PROPERTY ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT YOU MUST FILE YOUR CLAIM BY FEDERAL EXPRESS FOR THE ABOVEDESCRIBED PROPERTY ON OR BEFORE JULY 20, 2024, AND MAY DO SO BY CONTACTING THE ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, TAMPA FIELD OFFICE, 501 EAST POLK STREET, 11TH FLOOR, TAMPA, FL 33602, (813) 228-2636.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding on www.storagetreasures.com ending on June 12, 2024 at 11:00 am for units located at: Compass Self Storage 2291 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, Florida 33563 Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Compass Self Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes and appliances, unless otherwise noted.
Unit #2066 Roman Escalante
NOTE: In this themeless challenger, all question marks, which usually indicate the trickier clues, have been omitted.
ACROSS 1 Felix Ungar and others
Moore of Our Gang comedies
Light touch
Old street-corner shout
Rub oil on
Home of Rome, the series 23 Cable-installer’s tool
24 Eats, baby-style
26 First name of the author of A Journey Into Faith
27 Worm’s world
28 Picnic purchases
29 Usually priced at: abbr.
30 Puzzling bird
31 Justice Black and others
32 Baseball’s Sandberg
33 ___ committee
35 Like some shirt bottoms
37 Hollywood reading
40 Sweeney and others
42 Fail tail
43 Pain in the neck, often
44 Fastener in a gun
46 A spinster does it
49 North extension
50 Rests, slangily
52 Truck part
55 Destitution symbol
57 2:30 or 6:30, in navy lingo
Brown or Nessman
Like some persimmons
Day of the wk.
Petite, medium, large, etc.
IRS checks
Took away the weapons of
These, in Oise
Implore
Agitates 87 End-of-a-long-day reactions
A Karamazov brother
Precautions for dogs
Actress Naldi
Stroller passenger
Festive
Director Vittorio De ___
Spanish dance performed with castanets
Debilitating 102 Torquemada was one
Civil issues: abbr.
Some bees
Fleet flyer, once
Least loony
Sauternes and others DOWN
Perpendicular
Place for a kid’s
Sch. staff 6 Put to work again and again
7 Gets with threats
8 “The Scourge of God”
9 The alien race in Forbidden Planet 10 Island south of Corsica: abbr. 11 Harm
12 Two peas’ place 13 Vending machine drinks
14 Bleaching vat 15 Dirty Harry’s rank: abbr.
16 Latin abbr.
“Old printers never die, they’re just not ___” 18 Keeps (oneself) away
Have
Ocean-dwelling 28 Total excitement, metaphorically speaking 30 Big Mac’s sister, unveiled in 1985 31 In this neck of the woods
34 Alley of note 36 Seriously lacking in the “vital signs” department 37 Unaccompanied 38 Tomb raider Lara of filmdom
39 Hall of Famer Mel of the 1964-77 Cowboys 41 Unwilling to listen
43 Dirges, e.g.
44 Continuing story
45 Staring state
46 ___ a half (card game similar to blackjack)
47 Divisive folks, and prisms
48 Trait of pretzels and oceans
51 Aperitif flavored with cassis
52 Old-fashioned angermanagement technique
53 Full-tilt
54 Presidential middle name
56 Ready
59 Here, in Rennes 61 Stannum source 63 Fish eggs 66 Punctuation mark 68 Obstacle
Nair rival, once
Oklahoma city 75 Last name of one of Liz’s husbands
CCLI doubled
Frost fighters
Makes up
Cuisine connoisseur
