Creative Loafing Tampa — September 7, 2023

With purchase of an adult entree. Limit one per full priced entree. Upcharge remains for premium protein and add ons.

PUBLISHER James Howard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa

DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf

MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields

THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge

FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman

IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl

CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Jennifer Ring, McKenna Schueler

FALL INTERN Inquire by emailing rroa@cltampa.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel

ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS

AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

Leigh Wilson

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman

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?

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING

MANAGER Corrie Miserendino

CHAVA COMMUNICATIONS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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?

Michael Wagner

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Cassandra Yardeni Wagner

DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY DIRECTOR

Colin Wolf

VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Hollie Mahadeo

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jaime Monzon

chavagroup.com

cltampa.com

cldeals.com

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

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Ybor Festival of the Moving Image cltampa.com/arts

Ybor Seoul is not a typical, full-service restaurant with waiters. Korean corn dogs have arrived in Ybor City, p. 32

Inmate work crews have a long, unsurprisingly racist history in Florida . Prisoners were used to prep for Idalia, p. 13.

One Night Only!

The Music of James Taylor, Neil Diamond & Paul Simon

Starring Michael Cavanaugh

The charismatic Michael Cavanaugh and the full power of The Florida Orchestra deliver the American rock ‘n’ roll songbook. Featuring the music of singer/ songwriters James Taylor, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and more. Chelsea Gallo conducts.

Sat, Sept 16, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

film with orchestra

Series concerts begin!

Hough Family Foundation Masterworks

Holst’s The Planets

Michael Francis conducts a supersonic trip with NASA images. Also: The Percussion Collective.

Sat, Sept 30, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Sun, Oct 1, 7:30 pm, Ruth Eckerd Hall

Raymond James Pops

Cirque Dances with Troupe Vertigo

The circus meets the symphony

Sat, Oct 7, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater

Sun, Oct 8, 2 pm, Mahaffey Theater - Matinee

Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, the action-packed adventure of Jurassic Park pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Experience it in HD with The Florida Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live to picture. Welcome... to Jurassic Park!

Fri, Sept 22, 7:30 pm

Sat, Sept 23, 2 pm - Matinee

At the Mahaffey Theater

Michael Francis, Music Director

do this

Zoom in

A new, immersive exhibit at the Scarfone Hartley Gallery of Art—entitled “Zooming Superheroes: From Dyes to DPI, The Visual and Technical Evolution of Comic Book Printing”—displays the history of both comic books, and color printing in general. Patrons will be able to trace their favorite characters out of Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse comics, see the many changes in inking and coloration, and even take part in a hands-on scan of historic comics from “The Death of Superman” to some post-WWII-era “Weird Tales” books. Perhaps this exhibit will spark an urge to buy physical comic books again, so when you’re done at the free exhibit—which is open to the public through Friday, Oct. 6.—go give your support to Tampa’s Nerd Out or Pinellas Park’s Emerald City when you’re done, willya? Zooming Superheroes from Dyes to DPI: The Visual and Technical Evolution of Comic Book Printing. Through Oct. 6. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. No cover. Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at University of Tampa, 310 N Blvd., Tampa. ut.edu.—Josh Bradley

Tampa Bay's best things to do from September 07 - 13

Life is the bubbles

"The Little Mermaid" enjoyed a resurgence over the last year, and fans can get together this weekend to singalong to songs from the 1989 animated version of the Disney classic as part of Tampa Theatre’s recurring Sunday series that encourages moviegoers to talk, and sing, during a screening. “The Little Mermaid” shows at 3 p.m. this Sunday, and the fun continues next weekend for boomers (you’ve never seen your dad sing like he will to “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Sept. 10 when Jesus himself, Ted Neeley, joins in) before closing with the Sept. 23 screening of “The Sound of Music.” Sing-along Sundays. Sundays through September. 3 p.m. $11.50-$14.50. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa

Loud On 7th

Ybor City’s nearly-week-long music festival continues through Friday and spends its last two days staging media panels, a Thursday concert featuring a slew of local rappers, poets and songwriters, plus art shows, a headlining set from Chicago-born “Secret” artist Ann Marie (pictured), and all-woman Friday showcase, and head-to-head-verse competition. Loud On 7th. Through Sept. 8, various venues, Ybor City. loudonseventh.com—Ray Roa

PRESS HANDOUT

UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

DISNEY

Burn, baby, burn

Each year, spice lovers and daredevils across Tampa Bay head to Largo for I Like it Hot! Fest, a celebration of all things spicy and eye-watering. Over the course of two days, attendees enjoy a variety of local vendors slinging their best wares, in addition to a range of entertainment on the big stage, like live music and homemade hot sauce, salsa and barbecue sauce competitions. While some of the more entertaining aspects of the festival—like its spicy lollipop challenge and jalapeño eating contest— are for adults only, both kids and pets are welcome to attend (but make sure they don’t eat anything off the ground.) Like always, attendance and parking for this year’s rendition of the I Like it Hot! Fest is free. And if you don’t have the palette to stomach anything spicier than a Hot Cheeto, don’t worry, because there will be tons of food trucks and other vendors to browse, too. I Like it Hot! Fest.

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9 (10 a.m.-5 p.m) and Sept. 10 (11 a.m.-4 p.m). Free Largo Event Center, 6340 126th Ave. N, Largo. @ILikeItHotFestival on Facebook—Kyla Fields

Laugh man standing

On any given night of the week, a poppin’ warehouse space in St. Pete is hosting some sort of creative event—from fashion shows and concerts to photo shoots and art exhibitions. Next week features an interactive comedy competition that is a bit different from regular stand-up, since the audience will vote “American Idol”-style for their favorite performer. Ten local comedians take the stage to compete for the loudest laughs from the audience, since they’ll decide which performer is “the champion of the night.” Although the specific lineup for this month’s comedy competition has yet to be released, we hope both local comedians and nationally-recognized funny people can battle it out. Comedy Competition. Thursday, Sept. 14 . 8 p.m. $10 & up. Coastal Creative, 2201 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. coastalcreativetv.com—Kyla Fields

Holley day

Go behind the art with a new film series at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art. Art on Film presents art documentaries to take you behind the scenes of artists’ creative process. It begins with a peek into the life and work of Alabama artist and musician Lonnie Holley via George King’s 2020 documentary, “Thumbs Up for Mother Universe: Stories from the Life of Lonnie Holley.” Holley and George King lead a conversation immediately after the screening. Thursday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. $20 MFA members, $40 nonmembers. 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org—Jennifer Ring

COURTESY

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

MAURIZIOBISO/ADOBE

POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

Labor forced

Florida uses unpaid prisoners to prepare for Hurricane Idalia.

By McKenna Schueler

As Floridians prepared for Hurricane Idalia to make landfall on the upper central coast earlier last week, several counties deployed unpaid prison labor, as they have in the past, to fill the sandbags used to prevent flood damage. At least four counties—including Lake County, Polk County, Taylor County and Flagler County—relied on incarcerated people from local correctional facilities to fill sandbags this year.

“Got a sandbag? Thank an inmate!” the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, on Florida’s East Coast near Daytona Beach, shared in a Facebook post a day before Idalia reached Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on the state’s West Coast.

The state legislature at the time determined that free prison labor would sufficiently help “offset” the facility’s expenses.

Today, government agencies in Florida that oversee work assignments for incarcerated people generally frame those who do things like filling sandbags ahead of storms (a convenience that could be particularly helpful for the elderly or people with disabilities) as “volunteers.”

FLORIDA NEWS

“The inmates are extremely grateful to have an opportunity to help our community prepare as they have families here as well,” Brevard County sheriff Wayne Ivey gushed in 2019, as Florida’s Space Coast, east of Orlando, prepared for Hurricane Dorian.

Incarcerated people, a largely invisible workforce who lack basic labor protections, are regularly enlisted to help contain wildfires in states like California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Georgia, and Oregon. They’re also deployed to pick up tree limbs, do road cleanup, and perform other storm preparation and recovery work.

Just like any other first responder, they face the risk of injury, even death out on the front lines, all the while earning less than one dollar per hour on average in most parts of the U.S. In some states, including Florida, incarcerated workers are paid nothing for their labor, or little more than pennies.

Unlike government employees, such as city or county staff enlisted to help prepare communities for natural disasters, most incarcerated labor in Florida is unpaid—as it is in Texas and a handful of other Southern states. We had a word for that once: slavery. Now? It’s a little more complicated.

The legality of unpaid incarcerated labor (described by some as exploitation and “modern–day slavery”) is tied in part to the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” As the Miami New Times noted following Hurricane Irma in 2017, “inmate work crews” have a long, unsurprisingly racist history in Florida, dating back to at least 1868, when the state’s first penitentiary opened.

Last week, the Flagler County sheriff also thanked those who “volunteered” to fill sandbags ahead of Idalia. “Over the last two days, inmates filled and distributed over 5,100 sandbags!” the sheriff’s office shared proudly on social media.

Commenters on the post, seemingly fine with this arrangement, also shared praise.

“A double win—citizens in need get help and the inmates get to feel the pride of being needed and helping others,” one person wrote. “Thanks to the inmates who volunteered!” another added.

It’s not the first time Flagler County’s deployed its incarcerated population for storm readiness. Ahead of Hurricane Irma in 2017, the FCSO announced what it dubbed “Operation Sandbag,” contrasting its sandbag pickup location with another location that offered selfservice. “Let the inmates do the labor for you,” the sheriff’s office argued.

This year, ahead of Idalia’s arrival, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, east of Orange County, also recruited incarcerated people to fill sandbags for county residents, who faced a tropical storm warning and were not expected to see a direct hit.

A spokesperson for the LCSO, reached after several, unreturned calls to their office, confirmed that their incarcerated “volunteers” spent eight hours filling sandbags for local residents last Tuesday, unpaid.

“The inmates do not receive any monetary benefits for their duties,” the spokesperson told Orlando Weekly over email. “However, they may

receive added privileges, time toward their sentence, and the ability to spend additional time working outside of the jail facility.”

There is a “classification” process. Only people who are convicted of a crime (not just booked into the detention center) are chosen for the “work crew.” And people who have been convicted of violent or sexual charges are not eligible.

Using incarcerated labor to perform this work is “cost effective for taxpayers,” the spokesperson explained, “and can also allow inmates to learn a new skill that could help them find gainful employment once they are released from the jail.”

Selling the ‘benefits’ of unpaid prison labor to the public

Those who defend the practice of unpaid prison labor argue that working while incarcerated can help to reduce recidivism, promote skill development, and offer personal fulfillment for those who are convicted of crimes. But unemployment among formerly incarcerated people is notoriously high, and it’s not because they don’t want to work. It’s also not clear that unpaid labor during incarceration actually helps increase a person’s chance of finding gainful employment.

A person’s criminal history, for instance, may disqualify them from jobs that they performed while incarcerated, regardless of a possibly improved skill set. Formerly incarcerated people, desperate to find work post-release, may also be at greater risk for exploitation, or may face a limited employment pool of jobs that are lowwage, unstable, and offer zero to little mobility, according to the Prison Policy Institute.

But, it’s true that this arrangement in the corrections system allows for savings on labor costs. Florida’s minimum wage is $11 per hour, compared to $0 for the majority of prison work (a small fraction of prison jobs in Florida pay between 20 cents and 95 cents per hour, according to data collected from the ACLU).

These cost savings are not lost on the state Department of Corrections, which maintains contracts with local and state government agencies, including the Department of Transportation. As of 2019, the Florida Department of Corrections valued incarcerated laborers working on state “community work squads” and road crews at $147.5 million over a five-year period, according to the Florida Times-Union, which clarified

continued on page 15

GANG MENTALITY: The legality of unpaid incarcerated labor is tied in part to the 13th Amendment.

“Let the inmates do the labor for you.”

continued from page 13

that the real value is “likely double or triple that estimate.”

“There’s no way we can take care of our facilities, our roads, our ditches, if we didn’t have inmate labor,” Warren Yeager, a former Gulf County commissioner told the Florida TimesUnion in 2019.

Managing correctional facilities—where incarcerated people may also be directed to do kitchen work, work in laundry or perform janitorial tasks—is also expensive.

“Incarcerated workers’ labor partially offsets the staggering costs of our country’s bloated prison system,” the ACLU wrote in a 2022 report on prison labor.

Leon County, which had braced itself for a particularly rough hit from Idalia last Wednesday, saves roughly $195,200 annually by using incarcerated labor instead of hiring permanent full-time staff, according to Tallahassee Reports.

the time, an accurate count of participation was difficult to determine “in part because some state-prison officials refused to confirm that a strike had occurred.”

Strikes have also been organized at other points throughout the past decade, and in decades past.

The issue of unpaid prison labor in Florida hasn’t gone completely unnoticed by those with the power to address it. Some Democratic state lawmakers in Florida, for instance, previously sought to ban unpaid prison labor as recently as 2022, but those efforts haven’t gone anywhere, and the issue was not pursued this past legislative session.

FLORIDA NEWS

Meanwhile, advocates for Florida’s incarcerated population are also fighting for other basic rights for those imprisoned, including heat protection. Most Florida prisons lack AC, which poses serious health and safety risks for everyone inside: those imprisoned as well as corrections staff. Of course, only one of those groups can’t leave.

Incarcerated workers are exempted from basic labor protections—such as the right to be paid minimum wage, receive benefits or overtime pay—and can face consequences for refusing work, including disciplinary confinement and losing time earned off their sentences.

Court decisions have also determined they don’t have the right to unionize, although that hasn’t stopped them from forming unions anyway, organizing with groups like the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.

The IWOC, a prison-led branch of the radical Industrial Workers of America, first formed in 2014 and is known for sponsoring a series of prison strikes in 2018 over wages and other prison conditions, in step with the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons and Jailhouse Lawyers Speak. Thousands of prisoners reportedly participated. But, as The New Yorker reported at

Hurricane season in Florida has yet to reach its peak for 2023. And it’s likely that incarcerated people will, again, be deployed to help communities prepare and recover from upcoming storms.

Local agencies in other parts of Florida— including Dixie, Osceola, Pasco and Manatee counties—have also used prison labor for storm cleanup in the past. The Orange County Department of Corrections did not respond to Orlando Weekly’s request for comment on whether they have or plan to direct incarcerated people to help with storm recovery.

At least one government agency—the Lake County Sheriff’s Office—confirmed they will “absolutely” be utilizing incarcerated labor for storm preparation and recovery in the months to come, “provided conditions are safe enough.”

This post first appeared at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.

RED FLAGLER : It’s not the first time Flagler’s sheriff deployed its incarcerated population for storm readiness.

FLAGLERSHERIFF/FACEBOOK

©2023 Garrison Brothers Distillery. Garrison Brothers is a registered trademark of Lone Star Distillery LLC. Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Cooked, distilled, barreled, and bottled by Garrison Brothers Distillery, Hye, Texas 78635.

Monthly mutual aid

Free menstrual products pop up in Seminole Heights and beyond.

By Kyla Fields

Tampeños may soon see small, baby pink boxes that serve a very vital purpose, but they’re not food pantries or free libraries.

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund Case Manager and community member Bree Wallace recently launched the Tampa Period Pantry as a hyperlocal way to battle a widespread issue affecting uteruses across the world—period poverty.

Defined as “a pressing global issue encompassing insufficient access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, and education” by ppoverty.org, period poverty—like every form of poverty—creates various barriers for leading a healthy life. “Research says people with periods will spend around $18,000 on these products during their lifetime and is an issue for millions of people just in the United States each year,” Wallace tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

Seminole Heights’ Disco Dolls Boutique at 4220 N Florida Ave. is home to the first installment of the Tampa Period Pantry; a pink and red wooden box stocked with a variety of tampons, menstrual cups, pads and cramp relief pads. Alongside its spread of free menstrual products, the pantry has a link to its social media and a QR code that leads to more information about the project.

Wallace said she was met with a wave of positive reception to the first period pantry, from folks looking to donate resources to the project, business owners looking to host their own and community members expressing general support for the cause. In addition to hosting an actual pantry, Tampa Bay residents are welcome to support the pantry by stocking it with products, sharing information on social media, buying items on its Amazon

wishlist, or donating to its GoFundMe campaign. Folks interested in donating their time to the project can also fill out the Google form linked on its Instagram to get in contact with Wallace herself.

She started the project a few months ago after her friend started a period pantry in Jacksonville, understanding that there was an obvious need for free menstrual products for houseless and low-income people across Tampa.

“I work in reproductive rights as my day job and through that, see a lot of people who are struggling to be able to afford menstrual hygiene products,” Wallace added. “I wanted to create a safe place for people to be able to come and grab whatever they need, essentially without even having to see or talk to anyone since I know that can be difficult.”

Just last week, the second location for the Tampa Period Pantry popped up outside of West Tampa’s woman-owned tattoo and piercing shop Plantas and Tinta (1715 N Howard Ave. Suite C).

“I would love for the pantry to be all over the Tampa Bay Area and be known by many people and organizations as a mutual aid available in the area,” Wallace says. “ By the end of 2023 I hope to have 10 locations up, and 20 total by the end of 2024. I want to research the best places for the pantries to be so they are useful to people who really need them.” She says more pantries across the bay in St. Pete and Clearwater will soon open their little doors, too.

For the latest information on Tampa Period Pantry and its newest locations, head to its Instagram at @tampaperiodpantry.

JUST DANCE: Disco Dolls houses Tampa’s first Period Pantry.

ART ON FILM: AN EVENING WITH LONNIE HOLLEY

Screening of Thumbs Up for Mother Universe: Stories from the Life of Lonnie Holley followed by an enthralling conversation between Lonnie Holley and George King.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 | 6-8 PM

THE NATURE OF ART: “AMERICA PERSONIFIED”

Presented by Senior Curator of Collections & Exhibitions Dr. Stanton Thomas

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 | 6-7 PM

WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO GREAT WOMEN ARTISTS?

Presented by Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Katherine Pill

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 | 6-7 PM

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT MFASTPETE.ORG

SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE SINCE 1991

Providing premier medical care in your community through outreach, advocacy, education, and research.

SERVICES

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LOCATIONS

CLEARWATER

2349 Sunset Point Road #405 Clearwater, FL 33765

O ce: (727) 216-6193

eFax: (877) 868-0981

ST. PETERSBURG

3251 3rd Ave N #125 St. Petersburg, FL 33713

O ce: (727) 498-4969

Lab Draws

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NEW PORT RICHEY 4758 Rowan Road New Port Richey, FL 34653

O ce: (727) 312-2040

eFax: (888) 806-9655

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O ce: (813) 769-7207

(844) 922-2777

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* services vary by location

PALMETTO 408 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221

O ce: (941) 803-7939

Fax: (941) 417-2328

eFax: (866) 622-3009

WALK-INS WELCOME AT ALL LOCATIONS

RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES

Praise the lard

By Colin Wolf

Tampa Bay knows all about cults, but what we’re talking about here are restaurants with hoards of loyal, hungry patrons. Over the last couple years, Tampa Bay has lost a few iconic eateries with cult-like followings, including Datz’s Tampa location, Munch’s, Ichicoro and others, but there are still plenty for us to celebrate. And sure, people often think of chains as having “cult-like” followings (we have plenty of those too), but here in Tampa Bay we also have some serious local spots that demand that label, as well. So, here are a few of our favorite local spots with draw big crowds, and host an extremely loyal fan base. Bake’n Babes Julie Curry’s salted chocolate chip cookie has been voted Best of the

Bay and its other colorful baked goods don’t fall behind. Bake’n Babes also offers CBD creations such as their CBD chocolate chip cookie and CBD gummy worms at its locations in Armature Works and on Davis Islands. Multiple locations. bakenbabes.com

DINING GUIDE

Bella’s Italian Cafe With everything made from scratch, it’s no wonder Bella’s has been a local favorite in South Tampa for decades. Don’t be surprised if you see a few Lightning players carb loading here on game night, or a few local politicians rubbing elbows with some Florida big shots. Bella’s is a true multi-generational melting pot for Tampenos. 1413 S Howard Ave. no. 100 , Tampa, 813-254-3355. bellasitaliancafe.com

Bern’s Steak House Literally the hardest table to get in Tampa is Bern’s, known for their dry-aged steaks and having one of the largest private collections of wines in the world. This household name has been around since 1965, and offers a famously decadent dessert room that offers sweet treats like tiramisu and bananas foster. 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, 813-2512421. bernssteakhouse.com

Brocato’s Sandwich Shop Originally opened in 1948, Brocato’s has transitioned from a grocery store to a meat market to the sandwich shop that it stands as today. The big thing here is sandwiches, but you could argue devil crabs and breakfast are a close second. 5021 E Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-248-9977. brocatossandwich.com

Casa Tina Mexican Casa Tina “Fresh, Healthy, Authentic Mexican” located in the heart of Downtown Dunedin, perennially tops the Best of The Bay awards, and for good reason. Known for top-notch margaritas, tacos and burritos, the local fav also is a well-known vegan bright

spot in Pinellas County. 365 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-9226. casatinas.com

Columbia Florida’s oldest restaurant is right here in Tampa. Covering an entire Ybor City block, the 118-year-old Columbia Restaurant spans all the bases of Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes, like classic Cubans and massive plates of paella. Don’t skip the Spanish bean soup or Columbia’s main crowd pleaser, the 1905 salad. 2117 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-4961. columbiarestaurant.com

El Cap Restaurant Located on busy 4th Street N in St. Pete, El Cap’s “World Champ Burger” is an institution in itself. In early 2023, the restaurant changed hands, but so far the new owners have kept the St. Pete staple intact. 3500 4th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-521-1314

Frenchy’s It’s going to be hard to spend a day at Clearwater Beach and not walk past at least one Frenchy’s. Heck, if you spent a week you could hit a different one almost every day. continued on page 29

DIO LOVE ME: Mazzaro’s is St. Pete’s tastiest church.

continued from page 27

Frenchy’s has six different locations spread across Clearwater Beach and Dunedin Causeway, serving fan-favorite dishes like its Cajun grouper sandwich, island shrimp tacos and seafood pot pie as well as local craft beers and frozen rum runners. 7 Rockaway St., Clearwater Beach, 727446-4844. frenchysonline.com

King State Beloved Tampa Heights coffee shop and brewer King State has a new outpost across the bridge, but the original location is where this place made its mark. Since its debut four years ago at the flagship location at 520 E Floribraska Ave., King State owners have been on a roll, launching The Brutalist brewery and Temple of Beer taproom at 1776 11th Ave. N in St. Pete, as well as its annual Lagerfest. In 2019, King State was named among Food & Wine’s “Best Coffee Shops in America” in 2019. 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa, 813-221-2100. shop.king-state.com

Kissin’ Cuzzins Kissin’ Cuzzins is known to generations of St. Pete locals as a go-to spot for breakfast and lunch serving classic, homestyle dishes and twists on diner favorites, including stacks of thick and fluffy pancakes (get the chocolate chip or sweet potato), egg benedicts and perfectly crispy and greasy hash browns. In January of 2023, the iconic resto changed hands, but is still the greasy spoon institution locals have come to love over the years. 951 34th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-323-3915

Koya It makes sense that there’s a high demand to pull up to the counter at this Hyde Park eatery. Koya is an intimate eight-seat tasting-menu-only experience by the folks behind Noble Rice. At this Michelin starred concept, diners can expect seven to nine courses including raw and cooked dishes, featuring luxuries like bluefin tuna and uni that are flown in weekly from a market in Kagoshima, Japan. Plan to be there for at least two hours. 807 W Platt St., Tampa, (813) 284-7423. koyatampa.com

La Segunda Central Bakery Located in a town founded on Spanish culture lies one of Ybor City’s coveted landmark buildings representing the Cuban-American community. Pretty much all of Tampa is connected to La Segunda’s bread in one way or another. Customer-favorites include café con leche, Cuban toast and, of course, the Cuban sandwich. Don’t be surprised to see a line coming out of the door, but do know that La Segunda now has multiple locations. 2512 N 15th St., Ybor City, 813-248-1531. lasegundabakery.com

La Teresita The two-story Cuban restaurant serves traditional dishes of the Latine family’s roots and was recently named among Food and Wine’s “Best Diners in Every State.” Catch the Tuesday special for the crowd favorite “ropa vieja” (shredded beef). Bonus points if you can find the spot Anthony Bourdain sat at when he visited. 3248 W Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-879-9704. lateresitarestaurant.com

Mazzaro’s Italian Market One of Tampa Bay’s most popular markets, Mazzaro’s has

won a slew of Best of the Bay awards over the years, and is known for its dramatic unveilings of comically-sized foods—including a 40-foot loaf of bread it donated to the Dalí Museum in 2021 and its 854-pound hunk of provolone it sliced into in 2022. Be prepared for crowds. 2909 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 727-321-2400. mazzarosmarket.com

Mel’s Hot Dogs Easily, one of the best places to get a glizzy in the Bay, Mel’s has been serving up Vienna beef dogs since 1973 (that’s 50 years!), and is known for its Chicago-style hot dogs served on a steamed poppy seed bun with all the fixins’. 4136 E Busch Blvd., Tampa, 813985-8000. melshotdogs.com

Mullet’s Fish Camp Built on the site of a 150-year-old fish camp, on any given day you’ll find a full crowd packing this patio enjoying fish tacos, fresh cocktails and a mural of a merman with a glorious Mississippi mud skipper.

scratch. 3054 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 727-3272190. piastrattoria.com

Rocca Good luck getting a table here anytime soon. Last May, Tampa Heights restaurant Rocca and its chef Bryce Bonsack, earned a Michelin star for the concept’s innovative Italian fare. The spot was already popular, but since the announcement, the waiting list has only grown.

If you eventually do get a table, don’t skip the mozzarella cart or a pre-dinner drink at the bar. 323 W Palm Ave., Tampa. 813-906-5445. roccatampa.com

shade, at the oyster bar, or during a late night blues set. This iconic 40-year-old live music venue serves an assortment of “Floribbean” dishes like its award-winning blackened grouper reuben. During happy hour on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., be sure to grab a cold drink or a rum bucket if you’re feeling wild. 910 Skipper Rd., Tampa, 813-971-0666. skipperssmokehouse.com

DINING GUIDE

Rooster & The Till Proper House Group’s Rooster & the Till, which has maintained Michelin’s Bib Gourmand status since 2022, has been an innovator in the Tampa dining scene since its launch in 2013. James Beard nominated chef Ferrell Alvarez keeps it fresh with a rotating, seasonal menu in this small but thoughtful

Supernatural Food & Wine

Supernatural’s small hole-in-thewall location offers outdoor and limited indoor seating. Its breakfast menu and cider sour doughnuts are its staple, along with its selection of wine available any time. Chef Alton Brown said the bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich is the best he’s had, ever, but don’t sleep on meatball Monday either. 305 E Polk St., Tampa, 813-758-6230. supernaturalfoodandwine.square.site

Whatever you choose to order, don’t skimp on the Florida Man sauce. 3901 6th St. S, St. Petersburg, 727-205-6313. mulletsfishcamp.com

Mykonos Walk into the bright blue doors of Mykonos and be immersed in Greek flavors with dishes like the restaurant’s lamb fricassee and cucumber-tomato salad, seasoned with green onions, parsley and olive oil. The late founder Andreas Salivara was considered the ‘unofficial mayor of Tarpon Springs,” and has served tourists and local for over 30 years. 628 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-934-4306

Pia’s Trattoria One of the best reasons to make the hike to Gulfport, Pia’s Trattoria describes itself as “a romantic, cozy Old Italy atmosphere” with a green garden ambiance, and that’s definitely the truth. This Best of The Bay winner is a local favorite for Italian fare, and offers up cakes and desserts, all made from

72-seat institution that regularly books guest chef dinners featuring some of the country’s brightest culinary stars. 6500 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-374-8940. roosterandthetill.com

Saigon Deli A local favorite with a cultlike following, Saigon Deli is the place to go for classic Vietnamese meals like pho and vermicelli. The no-frills spot also offers four varieties of Banh Mi including meatballs, roast beef, pate and head cheese and roast pork. The Banh Mi is packed perfectly inside the French baguette and affordable enough to have three. Leave with a Vietnamese coffee to keep you from falling asleep on the way home. 3858 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-887-3888. @ saigondeli on Facebook

Skipper’s Smokehouse Under a thick canopy of large oak trees called the Skipperdome, Skipper’s is the perfect place for a cold one in the

West Tampa Sandwich Shop For more than 30 years, the West Tampa Sandwich Shop has served its famous ‘wiches. Even President Barack Obama ate there in 2012, and a $4.85 honey Cuban ($6.65 for a large!) is named after him. Arguably the Tampa Bay restaurant with one of the largest “cult-like” followings, West Tampa Sandwich Shop also offers cheap breakfasts. 3904 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813- 873-7104. westtampasandwichshoprestaurant.com

Wright’s Gourmet House A South Tampa institution, Wrights has been serving up their sandwiches, salads and cakes with gourmet ingredients for more than half a century. If you’re in a hurry, beware, Wright’s popularity might have you waiting in line. 1200 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, 813-253-3838. wrightsgourmet.com

Seoul food

Ybor City’s new Korean spot, plus more local foodie news.

By Kyla Fields

You may soon walk down 7th Avenue and pass someone chowing down on a Korean corn dog, and you won’t need to ask them where they got it either because there’s only one restaurant in the historic district that sells them. Sandwiched between 7-Eleven and King Corona Cigars in the heart of Ybor City is newly-opened Korean restaurant Ybor Seoul.

The casual eatery, located at 1531 E 7th Ave, quietly opened its doors late last month on Saturday, Aug. 26. The new concept’s menu specializes in popular Korean fare—from street food-inspired bites like cheese and sausage-filled corn dogs and grilled skewers to everyday eats like kimbap (rice, veggies, protein and rice wrapped in seaweed), spicy rice cakes, dumplings, chicken wings and a variety of hearty soups. To wash it all down, you can indulge in milk and fruit teas, smoothies or coffee topped with your choice of boba or flavored jelly.

barbecue, ghost pepper, Nashville hot, mango habanero and garlic parmesan.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Flavas co-owners Jacques Brooks and partner Deonta Taylor recently relocated from Chicago, and wanted to bring a taste of home back to Tampa. A few Chicago-inspired items on their menu include a Polish sausage topped with cheese, grilled onions and peppers, and the city’s beloved pizza puff, which is basically a fancy Hot Pocket.

“Flavas is all about good food, good vibes, and creating a dynamic haven for friends and families to unwind and immerse themselves,” Brooks says in a press release. “We are proud Black-owned business owners and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our goal is to establish a place where customers can find excellent food, positive vibes, and an environment where everyone feels welcomed.”

Flavas social media also teases a variety of weekly events and specials, including live

reggae music on Mondays, “walking taco” specials on Tuesdays and karaoke on Thursdays. For more updates on Tampa’s newest restaurant, head to Flavas’ Facebook page or Instagram at @flavastampa.

Caribbean concept Sal Rosa to replace Bizou Brasserie in downtown Tampa’s Le Méridien hotel It’s common to see people posing for photos on Le Méridien’s massive steps, but a brand new restaurant might have those same folks wandering inside for dinner, too. Replacing the historic hotel’s former restaurant Bizou Brasserie is a brand new, Caribbean-inspired concept called Sal Rosa Kitchen + Bar.

Sal Rosa Kitchen + Bar—located at 601 N Florida Ave. in the heart of downtown Tampa— will be the signature restaurant of the historic Le Méridien boutique hotel, also known as “The Courthouse,” after its grand opening sometime this fall.

The hotel says its new restaurant will “feature a mix of Island Latin cuisine and Caribbean themed cocktails.” According to Le Méridien’s website, the restaurant will also have an onsite cafe and dessert shop that will serve a variety of specialty drinks from Illy Coffee, gelatos and pastries. Sal Rosa’s social media states that it will make its debut sometime in

September, although an exact grand opening date is unknown. Renderings shared on its Instagram depict the new bar and restaurant as a bright and open space covered in foliage and modern decor.

It is unsure exactly when Bizou Brasserie closed its doors, but it seems like the hotel has been quietly renovating its restaurant space for the last few weeks. Bizou Brasserie’s website has already been taken down, its social media pages converted and is now listed as “permanently closed” on Google.

Alongside its new signature restaurant Sal Rosa, the 100 year-old federal-courthouseturned-hotel also offers 130 boutique rooms, an outdoor pool and a variety of meeting spaces that have been converted from former courtrooms. For the latest information on downtown Tampa’s newest restaurant, head to its Instagram or Facebook page, both at @SalRosaTampa.

King Of The Coop is launching a late-night option out of Seminole Heights location Seminole Heights’ night owl stoners are about to have a new way to burn their buttholes. Local Nashville hot chicken chain King of the Coop told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that it’s launching a “Late Night Coop” option out continued on page 35

The Korean restaurant offers both dine-in and take-out service, but probably won’t be on any delivery apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub, according to one of its employees. Ybor Seoul is not a typical, full-service restaurant with waiters. Instead, customers order on Wawa-style touch screens before the food is brought out by an employee. Its dining room boasts about 20 seats, a standing bar for on-the-go bar hoppers and two TVs playing non-stop K-pop music videos.

Ybor Seoul is now open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Currently, there is no website or social media pages for the new Korean restaurant, so you’ll have to call (813)-248-0788 or stop into the Ybor City concept for more information on its street food-inspired menu. An employee tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that a website, Instagram and Facebook page for Ybor Seoul are on the way.

New Tampa fried chicken and lemonade concept Flavas Chi-Town Wings

A new eatery just opened its doors in North Tampa, and its hearty fare makes for a perfect pre-Busch Gardens stop (just make sure you don’t end up puking on a coaster). Flavas restaurant made its debut last week at 4819 E Busch Blvd., adjacent to Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida. The locally-owned concept specializes in chicken wings, burgers, hot dogs and freshly-squeezed lemonade.

The new restaurant offers dozens of chicken wing variations—from unique sauces to dry rubs, and everything in between. Just a handful of wing flavors include chili lime, honey

KYLA FIELDS

POP IN: TVs inside Ybor Seoul play non-stop K-pop music videos.

continued from page 32 of the Seminole Heights Flocale food hall it shares with Westshore Pizza, burger and hot dog joint Slide, Matt’s Fat cookie and Flocale Axe Throwing.

The late-night King of the Coop kicks off on Friday, Sept. 8 and will find Flocale—located 5910 N Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights— open until 2 a.m. After that, Flocale will stay open until 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night. “We’re talking about whether or not we’re gonna do slices late night, too,” Travis Masters, Westshore Pizza CEO Travis Masters and Flocale co-founder, told CL.

As part of the “Late Night Coop” plan, Masters and King of the Coop founder Joe Dodd said they are moving staff and operations out of the concept’s South Tampa location, which will have its last day of service on Sunday, Aug 27. Dodd and Masters said they plan to keep the South Tampa location, located within a strip mall across the street from MacDinton’s, and are open to either leasing it to another restaurateur or starting an entirely new concept out of the storefront.

The “Late Night Coop” menu will include the same options as King of the Coop’s daytime menu, which features five levels of heat on its fried chicken. “We tried doing a smaller menu for late night before and people wanted what they wanted so we put the full menu back,” Dodd added.

Masters said the decision to move operations out of South Tampa and into Seminole Heights allows King of the Coop to more efficiently handle online ordering from entities like UberEats, plus larger catering orders from services like EZ Cater. “The two locations are only six miles apart, but now anyone who opens that food delivery app can have one place to get late

night hot chicken,” he added.

The end of operations in South Tampa means King of the Coop won’t get to feed Howard Avenue’s bar crawlers, but the concept does have late night delivery at locations in St. Petersburg and Wesley Chapel (3 a.m., Friday-Saturday), plus the South Tampa West Shore Boulevard it shares with WestShore Pizza (12 a.m., FridaySaturday).—Ray Roa

Chef Fabio Viviani’s newest restaurant

Amendment XXI is now open in South Tampa

Known for his various appearances on “Top Chef,” longtime Tampa Bay restaurateur Fabio Viviani has debuted his latest culinary concept. Amendment XXI quietly opened at 204 Westshore Plaza earlier this week, adjacent to other popular South Tampa concepts Bourbon Street Cafe, Seasons 52 and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Fabio Viviani,” a press release says.

The newly-opened restaurant hosts a VIP Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Folks interested in attending this party can text ““AMENDMENT” to (805) 991-5126 to get on the guest list. The massive restaurant spans almost 8,000 square-feet and is decorated in vintage-inspired, Prohibition era decor. The opening of Amendment XXI was announced last summer; the eatery was originally slated to open by December 2022.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Boasting a contemporary menu of “refined bites and booze,” this new Westshore Plaza restaurant specializes in the Italian-inspired cuisine that Viviani is known for. Entrees on Amendment XXI’s dinner menu include dry-aged ribeyes, beer-braised mussels, grilled branzino, braised pork shank with citrus polenta and mint chimichurri, and pizzas topped with prosciutto, truffle honey, mozzarella and arugula.

“Named for the 21st amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed the ban on the manufacturing, distribution and consumption of alcohol nationwide, Amendment XXI takes beverage inspiration from the Prohibition Era and blends it seamlessly with the mouthwatering food of visionary international chef,

Although the Italian-born chef is known for his various TV appearances and “Top Chef” stardom, he’s been a proficient business owner and restaurateur in Tampa Bay for the last several years. Following a series of racist comments and sexual battery allegations against former partner Lanfranco Pescante, Viviani swiftly cut ties with Nocturnal Hospitality Group and all of its now-closed restaurants in the summer of 2020. Since then, Viviani has helped open multiple Chuck Lager America’s Tavern locations throughout Tampa Bay. Both Chuck Lager America’s Tavern and the newly-opened Amendment XXI are brands operated by local company BABB Hospitality, which also runs the Viviani-affiliated Taverna Costale in downtown St. Pete.

For the latest information on Amendment XXI and its grand opening party, head to its Instagram at @amendmentxxitampa. Currently, the restaurant only offers dinner service from 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Pete’s Bagels will transform a historic St. Pete gas station into a drive-thru breakfast spot The gas station-turned-restaurant trend can be found all throughout Tampa Bay, but one local business is giving one of St. Pete’s oldest gas stations—another shot at life. Last week, Pete’s General announced the opening of its newest location in St. Pete’s southside.

“Housed in St. Pete’s first gas station, this space will renovate the dilapidated gas station on the corner of 4th St S and 25th Ave.,” Pete's wrote.

In addition to its menu of breakfast sandwiches and freshly-baked bagels—ranging from expected flavors like everything, poppyseed and sesame to unique offerings like sun-dried tomato and feta and jalapeño—the new Pete’s location will also offer a robust coffee program from Look Alive Coffee, a local, Burg’-based roaster. The 326 square-foot building will boast a walk-up window and outdoor seating in addition to its drive-thru.

The Tampa Bay Times says that Pete’s newest bagel shop will open in January 2024. The historic gas station is currently owned by former councilman and St. Pete developer Robert Blackmon, although it has occupied the corner of 4th Street S and 25th Avenue since 1926. The southside’s Standard Oil service station already has its local historic landmark status—which was granted by St. Pete City Council earlier this year— but Pete’s General says it’s striving for national historic designation, too.

Alongside its soon-to-open drive-thru, Pete’s also operates cafes in St. Pete’s Grand Central District ( 2361 1st Ave. S) and a newly-opened location in Ybor City at 1804 E 4th Ave.

'ROUND HERE: St. Pete will soon have a new, tiny, bagel shop.

GOOGLE MAPS

PETESGENERAL/FACEBOOK

BROADWAY RAVE

EN

GRACIE TOPP

(SINGER-SONGWRITER) OF SUNSET BRIDGE BAND

7:30PM - 9:30PM | $FREE | 18+

MUSIC HALL

GOZADERA

(SALSA/BACHATA) MUST BE ACTIVELY REGISTERED AT WWW.TONOSLATINDANCE.COM

DOORS 8:30PM | WORKSHOP 9PM | DANCE 10PM | $14 GA - $12 STUDENTS

BIERGARTEN

T.R.U.E.

(SINGER-SONGWRITER/R&B/SOUL/JAZZ) 7:30PM - 9:30PM | $FREE

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10

RESTAURANT & BAR OPEN 11AM -11PM

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11

CLOSED

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12

RESTAURANT & BAR OPEN 11AM -11PM

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13

RESTAURANT & BAR OPEN 11AM -11PM

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C CL Recommends

THU 07

Mac Miller Tribute: Bauxmonk w/ SydLive/Vern Senior/Xzstance/DJ

Dillman/more Tampa Bay’s hip-hop scene stays busy, and there’s never a shortage of opportunities to see a rap show built around original music, but this one gets you into the hybrid indoor-outdoor space at Hooch and Hive where emcees and songwriters will pay tribute to one of the most beloved rappers of the last decade. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Rock The Park Tampa: Electric Blue Yonder w/House Of I/Maude Last month, Rock the Park’s 13th anniversary got rained out (although the bands found a covered stage to play at Hooch and Hive). On this hurricane week, let’s hope downtown Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park isn’t too waterlogged to host the free concert series, which this month features Montgomery, Alabama space-folk band Electric Blue Yonder in the headlining slot. (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)

Sam Hunt w/Brett Young/Lily Rose If not for his celebrity status, Sam Hunt would probably be celebrating his one-year anniversary of getting out of jail on a DUI charge from 2019. After pleading guilty in 2021, the country star was given a jail sentence of 11 months and 29 days, but ended up only serving 48 hours at a DUI education center in Tennessee. Two years later, the 38-year-old has cleaned up his act by touring with Brett

Young, and preparing to become a father for the second time by year’s end. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

FRI 08

Cynic A monumental footnote in the history of Miami-based death metal, Cynic is celebrating the 30th anniversary of releasing its debut album Focus this year. Original drummer Sean Reinert and longtime bassist Sean Malone—who both appeared on the original album—died on opposite ends of 2020, leaving singer Paul Masvidal as the last surviving original member still in the band. This gig finds Masvidal and some new friends performing Focus cover-to-cover and is the last of what appears to be a string of homestate gigs, so we can’t rule out a possible guest spot from Jason Gobel, the album’s guitarist who left the band not long after release.

(Orpheum, Tampa)

Odesza w/Bob Moses/TokiMonsta/ Olan/Qrtr After a busy summer slaying at Bonnaroo, presenting a theatrical live experience centered around its latest full album, and dropping a Flaws In Our Design EP with Yellow House, the indie-electronic duo returns to Tampa for the first time since a 2013 gig at the since-relocated, Ybor City Orpheum. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

The Waning Moon w/Palace of Tears/ Rux Vendetta Floridian goth-rock outfit The Waning Moon is enjoying a day in the sun on German charts and the Deutsche press, and lands in Tampa a day after it releases a new

album, A Dream Or A Vision . It supports outof-towner The Palace of Tears, which arrives from the Crescent City with its own brand of goth-rock, more accented by waves of shoegaze and droning sounds with a touch of witch-house. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

SAT 09

Billy Currington w/Jessie James Decker

White Claw lovers can get a glimpse of Ms. “I Still Love You” this weekend when she opens for Billy Currington at Coachman Park’s new venue, exactly a year to the date after the latter graced Ruth Eckerd Hall with his twangy—and more recently, his new-waveesque latest album Intuition —anthems. (The Sound, Clearwater)

Chlöe w/Rosegold Life’s not bad when you get the Beyoncé seal of approval, and Chlöe Bailey knows all about that after being signed to the queen’s very own Parkwood Entertainment. The 25-year-old rising R&B star who continues to record with her sister under the Chloe x Halle moniker will show fans how the success feels at this show in support of a solo debut, In Pieces , which landed her covers for magazines like Allure, Essence, Cosmopolitan, and more. (The Ritz, Ybor City )

Crowbar w/Primitive Man/Exit Strategy/Plague Spitter One of these days, New Orleans-based sludge metal outfit will book a show at Tom DeGeorge’s room in Ybor City that shares a name. But in the meantime, Crowbar brings its latest, 12th

continued

Lighthouse, hosts its first show. Expect a few riotous crazy girl moments when jangly rock band Spoiled Rat headlines after sets from fellow rock band Scruff and pop-punk outfit The Don’t Belongs playing in support of a catchy, newish single “Bent.” There’s no cover, but the gig is 21 and up, and you’ll have to get the address from somebody else. And don't be a dick when you get there. (The Lighthouse, St. Petersburg)

Tampa Bay Indian Music Festival: Shri Ritesh Rajnish Mishra w/ Shankh Lahiri/Anirban Chakraborty/ Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh/S.G. Pramath Kiran/K.U. Jayachandra Rao It’s been a hot minute since local tabla legend Shankh Lahiri appeared with Wahh World Fusion Band, known locally as an “east meets west” fusion outfit. But he appears with his tabla this weekend at the Hindu Temple near Carrollwood Village, as a part of the backing band for a dual-vocal set presented by siblings Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra, which will also feature Anirban Chakrabarty on harmonium. (Community Hall at Hindu Temple of Florida, Tampa)

SUN 10

Ella’s Hunka Hunka 14th Anniversary Shebang: The Holy Terror/The Handshakes/Will Quinlan/Ernie Locke

Tomorrow." You won’t hear the whole thing cover to cover at this gig, but what middle school emo kid doesn’t want an excuse to crack out the extra eyeliner? (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

The Mission w/Chameleons/Theatre of Hate It’s already been over a decade since Wayne Hussey reconvened all but one of the original members of The Mission in honor of the British goth rock supergroup’s 25th anniversary. In terms of recording, nothing new has emerged since 2016, but the band’s current “Deja vu” tour is looking like a healthy mix of selections from its first five albums from the original run, starting with 1986’s God’s Own Medicine . (Orpheum, Tampa)

WED 13

Felicity

album Zero And Below —the first to feature bassist Shane Wesley as a full-time member—to town for a gig that will run just short of an hour, and to feature cuts going as far back as the band’s 30-year-old, sophomore eponymous album. (Orpheum, Tampa)

Felicity w/Brave New World/Discord

still gets along perfectly, and following this current run of promotional shows, the hard rock mainstay plans to center most of its time together around touring and performing in a manner that will soon turn it into a nostalgia act. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

Bring your egg catching hands because they’re likely to fly through the air when harmonica-playing blues madman and Ella’s co-founder Henry Locke returns to the stage for his semi-annual live set as part of the Seminole Heights restaurant’s anniversary. Locke kicks off the festivities and is followed by beloved Bay area bard Will Quinlan (backed by legendary producer and guitarist Steve Connelly, nonetheless), plus more out-of-your-skill harmonica shredding from newish rockabilly band The Handshakes, and a closing set from The Holy Terror which sounds a little like country-jazz on mescaline. There’s no cover, but expect to stand around and wait for a table or bar seat at what’s become one of Tampa’s most entertaining Sunday afternoons. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa)

Cold Cave w/Riki After kicking off the summer on the road with Depeche Mode, Wes Eisold and multi-instrumentalist Amy Lee are in the headliner slot again for a run of September and October shows that takes synthpop-noir band Cold Cave across the desert, to the swamp (that’s Florida!) and then up the east coast and back to the west side of the country before a trio of dates supporting The Cult. Cold Cave, founded 14 years ago, is sort-of in nostalgia mode lately and recently reissued landmark album like Cremations , Love Comes Close , Cherish The Light Years , Full Cold Moon , and Fate In Seven Lesson s, so expect a career retrospective at this one where Los Angeles Crimson Scarlet alum Riki opens. (Orpheum, Tampa )

Noah Cyrus w/Anna Bates Miley said that she’s probably never going to tour again, due to her distaste of sleeping on buses and getting changed in locker rooms. Her sister Noah, on the other hand, is a different story. Outside of “Hannah Montana” viewers, anime lovers will probably recognize the 23-year-old as the voice of the titular character in Hayao Miyazaki’s “Ponyo,” opposite Frankie Jonas, another ex-Disney Channel star making a career for himself. Cyrus’ debut album The Hardest Part , which dropped last year, starts off heavily acoustic, but eventually picks up with piano and synth additions, as well as guest spots from producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The 1975) and Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Theory/Up From Here

The most recent single from Felicity, the self-described “Nickelback of pop-punk,” is a collaboration with Greyson Zane, and might just be the most straightforward description of an emo phase, or the emo some of us still are way deep down. “Emo Trash” has a direct reference to My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” and even ends with the line “it’s not a phase.” And with Discord Theory having released its own new album last month (Eight Ways From Dire Straits ), Tampa’s beloved beehive will definitely be filled with new additions for your Apple Music library. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Godsmack w/Atreyu/Flat Black

Unfortunately, the Massachusetts-based hard rock outfit confirmed that its latest album, Lighting Up the Sky is its last. The good news is that Godsmack’s core lineup

Lkld Indie Bash: Mrenc w/Highway Advisory Radio/Revel In The View/ Spider Lily/Central Florida Project/Razor and the Boogie Men/more When driving past the Auburndale water tower on the way to Orlando, it’s hard not to think about Central Florida’s dark lord of art-rock, Eric Collins, and this weekend, the songwriter better known as Mrenc gives us a reason to take the Lakeland exit and park the car outside Union Hall where he is part of a busy bill featuring more than a dozen bands playing on two, alternating, indoor stages. (Union Hall, Lakeland)

Spoiled Rat w/Scuff/The Don’t Belongs Save for a few rooms like The Bends, St. Pete is still without a dingy, sweaty place for rock and roll. Dirtbag daydreams get a new space to breathe this weekend though when a new DIY space, The

Sean Kingston The Miami-based artist started off as a hip-hop artist who got to open for the likes of Gwen Stefani and a fresh-outta-Destiny’s Child Beyoncé. The 33-year-old’s soulful voice has since experimented with mainstream pop sounds, and most recently—as displayed on his latest album, 2022’s Road To Deliverance —reggae. At this point, it’s almost sinful that Kingston isn’t in a larger space like—at bare minimum—Jannus Live, but if he somehow enters a new era genre-wise, this weekend may be the last time The Ritz Ybor sees him onstage. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

TUE 12

Black Veil Brides w/VV/Dark Divine A lot has changed since Andy Biersack and Black Veil Brides last played in Tampa, when Vans Warped Tour was still a thing. Longtime bassist Ashley Purdy is no longer in the fold, and during COVID-19 lockdowns, the band dreamt up its third rock opera, "The Phantom

THU 14

Tampa Jazz Club: USF Faculty Jazz Ensemble Ybor City is usually the place for a Tampa Jazz Club gig, but this weekend, the coalition tries something, well, New, and is New Tampa. The neighborhood’s Performing Arts Center hosts the jazz ensemble from nearby University of South Florida, and attendees can expect to see saxophonist Jack Wilkins (Director of the Jazz Studies program at USF) play tunes from Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderly and Miles Davis alongside a heavyweight ensemble featuring trombone player Tom Brantley, trumpeter James Suggs, pianist Pablo Arencibia, guitarist LaRue Nickelson and more. (New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa)

NILES GREGORY

Country music is having a moment, and while some of the hype tends to be a bunch of hoopla over a song about rich guys, it’s still fun to watch all corners of the genre get time in the sun. One of country’s new Oklahoma smokeshows is heading south for a show in Tampa Bay. While we were all stressing out over Idalia, Zach Bryan announced plans to play the local football stadium next summer.

Byran, 27, is some kind of “total-Libertarian” (wait until he finds out he’s playing in a stadium paid for by taxpayers!), country Bon Iver, having come to prominence posting lo-fi videos of himself playing guitar during his time in the Navy. He’s spoken out against transphobia (hello, Alice Cooper, did you hear that?), and has seen his almostexclusively self-written, Springsteen-ian lyrics about heartland living earn Grammy nominations, chart-topping hits and the adoration of a legion of fans.

The tour supports Bryan’s just-released self-titled album that sees him get help from another one of roots music’s bright rising stars, Sierra Ferrell, plus favorites like The War and Treaty, and Kacey Musgraves.

Sheoul w/Not Yet/Slick Palm/Hot

Honey/Sincerely Yours Wednesday, Sept. 20. 7 p.m. $10. Brass Mug, Tampa

Eli Lev Saturday, Sept. 23. 6 p.m. No cover. Whiskey River On The Water, Port Richey

James Suggs Quintet Friday, Sept. 29. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Dr. Fresch Saturday, Oct. 14. 10 p.m. $20. The Ritz, Ybor City

WMNF 88.5 FM presents The 4th Annual Tom Petty Birthday Tribute feat. TBA Saturday, Oct. 14. 5 p.m. $20. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Sarah McQuaid Tuesday, Oct. 17. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Sims Park, New Port Richey

Beauty School Dropout w/Not A Toy/ Ava Maybee Tuesday, Oct. 24. 7 p.m. $18. Crowbar, Ybor City

Dirty Honey w/Austin Meade Sunday, Oct. 29. 6:30 p.m. $24.50. The Ritz, Ybor City

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Monday, Oct. 30. 8 p.m. $26. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Little Stranger Friday, Nov. 3. 8 p.m.

$23.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Belmont w/Can’t Swim/House Parties Saturday, Nov. 4. 7 p.m. $25. Crowbar, Ybor City

Everglow Friday, Nov. 10. 7:30 p.m. Prices TBA. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Tickets to see Zach Bryan play Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 go on sale next Friday, Sept. 8 and start at $20.50. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit open the show alongside, Levi Turner, who’s signed to Bryan’s Belting Bronco Records. The stop is the only Florida show on the “Quittin’ Time” tour, but there is some cushion to add a second date. See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concert announcements below.—Ray Roa

Phoenix Wednesday, Nov. 15. 7 p.m.

$47.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Cattle Decapitation w/Immolation/ Sanguisugabogg/Castrator Tuesday, Nov. 21. 6 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Roy Woods Tuesday, Nov. 28. 8 p.m. $29.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Princess Chelsea w/Kitty Friday, Dec. 1. 7 p.m. $18. Crowbar, Ybor City

Scene Queen Saturday, Dec. 2. 6 p.m. Prices TBA. Orpheum, Tampa

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet Sunday, Dec. 3. 2 p.m. $24.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

The Mountain Goats w/Peter One Thursday, Dec. 14. 7 p.m. $45. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Eptic w/Stoned Level Friday, Dec. 15. 10 p.m. Prices TBA. The Ritz, Ybor City

The Blind Boys of Alabama Saturday, Dec. 16. 8 p.m. $39.50 & up. Central Park

Performing Arts Center, Largo

Cancellations/reschedules

Grey Day 2023: $uicideBoy$ at Amalie Arena, Aug. 29 Postponed to Sunday, Nov. 5.

Ben Nichols w/Lulu and the Black Sheep/Oliver Peck at Orpheum, Aug. 31 Postponed to Saturday, Dec. 9

Ghost at Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Aug. 31 Canceled

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Cut it out

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, my father married his second wife over 20 years ago after my mother died. I know he loved my mother very deeply and still misses her and has found himself growing old with someone he initially didn’t intend to. The thing is, I don’t think he’s happy in his marriage. They don’t seem to have much in common or enjoy spending time together, and while he defends her behavior (excess drinking, ignorant remarks), I know he doesn’t agree with it. Part of me wants to talk to him about it, but I don’t know how. What do the cards say?—Worried Son

Cards: The Sun (reversed), Three of Swords (reversed), Six of Swords, King of Cups (reversed)

Dear Son, I think there was a little light in your dad’s heart that went out when your mother died, and I don’t think it was ever relit. I think your mother was his Sun, the light of his life, a source of joy and wisdom, and when she left this world, he was devastated. With those Three of Swords reversed it does look like he’s still in mourning, even after all these years. If your mother had lived, they might have had one of those rare marriages that lasts 50, 60, 70 years—I don’t know. I’m so sorry they didn’t get the chance to try for that.

The Six of Swords is a card that’s pulling double duty here. It is a card about holding onto

the past and inertia, which suggests that your father’s broken heart keeps him from moving forward, whatever that looks like. The Six of Swords is also an uncomfortable time, and there is certainly a “grin and bear it” energy to it, so he might be committed to this second marriage, even if he’s not happy.

And I agree with you: I don’t think he’s happy. He doesn’t sound that way from your question, and with the King of Cups reversed, I don’t think he’s the blissful bridegroom this time around. The Cup Court is a loyal bunch that takes the “for better or worse” part of marriage vows seriously.

I think he is trying to honor his commitment and will defend his wife (even if her behavior is undesirable), but I don’t think he’s joyful about it.

Now, none of this is to say that he does not love his second wife or never loved her. As I’ve written before, people get married for all sorts of reasons, and true love is only one of them. His second marriage might have been based on a love formed by companionship and respect rather than romance—again, I don’t know. I also don’t know if it would feel worse to be married to someone whose company you don’t enjoy or to age and die alone. As a 33-year-old, I know what I’d choose, but I might feel differently at 83.

I do think it’s worth talking to your dad—but not in a judgmental, “you made a mistake with

this marriage” sort of way. I think you need to be very delicate in your approach.

Since the root of this seems to be his grief about your mother, you might try to talk about your feelings or memories of her. It’s a loss you both share. That might open the door for him to talk about his current feelings. But, if your dad wants to keep that door shut (and he might), you can simply tell him that you love him and you want him to be happy. He’ll hear you.

Dear Oracle, I am interviewing people for my team at work. I’ll be their direct supervisor. Recently, our CEO has come to us with a candidate they are “obsessed” with. I interviewed them, and they seem VERY wrong for the job. The CEO wants me to fast-track them, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. But how do I tell my CEO I think she’s wrong?—Bucking Against the Boss

Cards: Last Quarter, New Moon, Queen of Pentacles (reversed), Death (reversed)

Dear BAB, you might try to raise your valid concerns with your boss, but I don’t think it will do anything for you. I rarely get moon cards, but here I have two: the Last quarter, signaling that things are out of control and you need to let go, and the generative idea of space of the New Moon. In that generative space, your CEO,

aka Queen of Pentacles, got the idea that this candidate is THE one to deliver. I don’t know why she decided that, but I don’t think you’re going to talk her out of it.

There might be a couple of reasons why the Death card is lurking at the end here. The first could be that to bump up against the CEO would mean you would get the ax (or scythe) and be out of a job. Or, it might mean that you hire this very wrong candidate, and in six months, when they’ve proven to be a bad fit, you’ll fire them, and hopefully, your CEO will send them off with a severance package they’re obsessed with.

Like all my advice for the corporate world, I would get your thoughts down in writing, explicitly outlining your concerns about the candidate (lack of experience? Abrasive communication style?) and how you think other candidates should be considered. If anyone else was in on the interview and agrees with you, get them to put it down, too. Send it up the chain so higher-ups/ the CEO see your objections. If they hire them and those red flags from the interview come up while they’re working, document those too.

Hopefully, though, the Death card just signals the end of their candidacy, the CEO backs off, and you hire someone you think is qualified for your team. If not, well…everything in life is temporary. Do what you can and try to be zen about what’s outside of your control. Good luck!

Blow over

By Dan Savage

Does your standard advice about sexless marriages extend to orally sexless marriages? My wife and I have been together for a couple decades. We met in our late teens, and we are each other’s first and only sexual partners. Oral sex used to be a regular part of our sex life, for the first decade or so, but the BJ frequency has declined to once every couple of years. I’m still game to give and always offer and often go down on my wife as foreplay. But my wife is basically no longer interested in blowing me, even though she’s great at it and I love it. We have a really strong relationship but busy lives with kids and jobs, which definitely impacts her sex drive and energy. It’s not a relationship ending thing for me, but the thought of not getting my duck sucked more than a few more times for the rest of my life, well, that fucking sucks to think about. I’ve raised it with her a number of times, but she just doesn’t think it’s important and, most frustratingly, plainly isn’t interested in trying to get interested again. We’re committed to monogamy, and outside sexual partners just wouldn’t fit in our lives. I’ve got to imagine this is pretty common. Do I just have to resign myself to a fellatio-deprived future? Or should I expect more? —The Headless Husband

you need to do to stay married and stay sane— applies in cases of orally sexless marriages. But you close by emphasizing your commitment to monogamy before declaring outside sexual contact a bad fit. So, it really doesn’t matter if my “standard advice” for people in sexless marriages applies in a case like yours, THH… which, for the record, it doesn’t, since your marriage isn’t sexless. (Suckless ≠ sexless.)

SAVAGE LOVE

And as much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news… based on years of listening to straight married men complain about not getting their dicks sucked and straight married women complain about being expected to suck dick… it’s highly likely blowjobs will come further and further apart, THH, and the enthusiasm with which they’re performed to diminish along with their frequency until they stop altogether.

Anyway, THH, the right thing to do is to soft beg your wife for more frequent oral—and you’re likelier to get oral more frequently if you’re as willing to accept oral-as-foreplay as she seems to be and if you’re making sure sex is as pleasurable for her as it is for you. And when you do want a blowjob to completion, you’re likelier to get one of those in your 40s if you’re willing to help get yourself there, i.e., if you’re willing to work in a little self-stroking to give her breaks and get yourself closer. And just so we’re clear: my standard advice for sexless marriages doesn’t apply in cases like yours, THH, as your marriage isn’t sexless, just suckless.

You can expect more from the woman you married—you can expect all the blowjobs you want—and that might be a reasonable expectation on your part, THH, considering that blowjobs were once a regular part of your marital sex life. But the woman you’re married to now doesn’t wanna suck your dick anymore and/or doesn’t wanna suck your dick more than biannually. So, what can you do?

Well, you can do what you’re supposed to do. You can communicate your wants and needs to your wife without pressuring her to do anything she doesn’t wanna do. In other words, THH, you can soft beg your wife for oral sex without being pathetic (no one wants to suck pathetic cock) and without being coercive (no one wants to suck cock under duress, no one should want their cock sucked under duress). But you’ve already tried that—you’ve raised the subject a number of times—and she’s given you her answer: she’s not that interested in sucking your dick anymore and she’s not interested in getting more interested again. And since your wife isn’t Magic Eight Ball, THH, you can’t just turn her over, give her a shake, and get a different answer.

You also have the option of doing what you’re not supposed to do… and I don’t have to tell you what that is. You open by asking if my “standard advice” to people in marriages that are happy but sexless or inescapable but sexless—do what

As for how common this is… It’s so common I honestly think it may not be realistic to expect frequent and/or enthusiastic oral sex two decades into a marriage — particularly if we’re talking about blowjobs to completion and not a little oral-as-foreplay, which is all the oral your wife gets. Just as the desire for extended makeout sessions seems to fade the longer we’re with someone, the urge to inhale someone’s dick—the desire to do the hard work of getting a guy off with your mouth—seems to fade with time, too. While we can look at that drop and conclude there’s something wrong with our spouses… or something wrong with our marriages… it might be better if we accepted that enthusiastic blowjobs, like those long make-out sessions, come with NRE and fade away along with NRE.

Something else to consider: the longer you’re together, the older you get, the older you get, the longer it takes to get you off. There’s a huge difference between a 10-minute blowjob and 30-minute blowjob—mostly for the giver. The experience of pleasure is roughly the same for the receiver, but the effort required to suck off a man in his 40s is exponentially greater than the effort required to suck off a man in his 20s. A man might not realize it’s taking him a lot longer to come from oral as he ages, but the person who blows him is painfully aware of that fact—and may be understandably hesitant to initiate blowjobs when “to completion” is the expectation.

Another thing to consider: If you only go down on your wife as foreplay before pivoting to PIV… you’re probably getting off each time you two have sex. If your wife isn’t getting off every time or as often as she would like (not everyone needs or wants to get off every time), she may resent you for ignoring her basic needs and not feel particularly motivated to meet your extra-credit needs.

Dear Readers: I asked the married straight women who follow me on Twitter and Threads why they weren’t sucking their husbands’ dicks anymore. Obvious answers poured in—oral wasn’t reciprocated, poor personal hygiene, no longer in love, guilty admissions that sucking dick was a strategy—so I rephrased the question and asked again. I wanted to hear from women who 1. still loved their husbands and 2. used to love sucking cock and 3. no longer sucked cock to explain what changed. Here are a few of their letters…

My husband and I have been together for 12 years. We have a loving relationship and I’m not looking to go anywhere but have to admit that I would be a bit more excited to suck some new-to-me dick. I’d also wager there’s some fucked up purity culture fallout involved— I was raised in the church and tend to fantasize about the forbidden, and there’s nothing forbidden about sex with your husband.

Blowjobs are fantastic. I love giving them—but at this point, I’d rather give a stranger a blowjob than my husband. I don’t think there is any issue with the act, but with all the cultural bullshit women are exhausted by— blowjobs are something men feel entitled to, yet another act of service women are expected to perform. In reality, a married woman’s entire day is an act of service. I do all of the emotional labor and take on the entire mental load of running a family and household, all while also having a full-time job. I miss giving blow jobs for fun. My husband got a blowjob on a work trip. He doesn’t know I found out, and I don’t plan to tell him because I don’t feel betrayed. I feel relieved. But I think he would be upset to learn that I’m not upset. I love him (very much!)

and I want him to be happy (and I make him happy in lots of ways!), but I don’t want his penis in my face ever again. Knowing he got a blowjob and could get another sometime makes me feel less guilty. But since I want this to be a very rare thing, I think it’s better he doesn’t know that I know and certainly not that I approve. We still have good and frequent PIV and use toys. Still fantasize about performing oral sex on a man, but it’s never my husband in my fantasies. I love my husband. We’ve been married for a decade, we have two children, and I actually think we are having the best sex of our married lives now. We’ve actually been getting kinkier and more adventurous as we get older. That said, I do not like giving head anymore, not at all. And I know I’m not alone, since many of my married girlfriends have told me they feel the same way. It’s hard to find an angle that doesn’t pinch my neck or hurt my knees, and it’s not fun to be reminded that your body has gotten older and creakier in the middle of sex. And since it’s not very fun for me, I don’t think it’s fun for my husband. Maybe head is just a young person’s game.

My relationship to the almighty BJ has changed. The hubs and I have been married for 15 years in October. I’m in my late-30s and he’s in his early-40s, and we have four awesome kids. To be honest, I used to enjoy giving head and was pretty good at it. But since giving up alcohol a little over a year ago, I’m less inclined to jump to a BJ. It took me a while to connect the dots, but I realized that alcohol gets me horny and eager and without it I’m a little less motivated. I still do it, but more as a sidebar/treat now, and rarely to completion.

Gay man here with an observation to share. My husband sucked my cock like a madman when we first met. We’ve been together for 12 years now and he doesn’t suck my cock like that anymore — but I’ve watched him suck the cocks of other men like he used to suck mine. I think a desire to show someone how much you want them inspires a person to suck cock like that. Once you’ve got someone, you’re not as inspired. My advice to straight couples: Want to see your wife suck cock like she used to? Watch her suck someone else’s. Want your cock sucked like that? Get someone else to suck it.

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

NOTE: In case you’ve forgotten the debate, Napster was an Internet tool that enabled millions of music fans to share CD-quality music files online—most of which were pirated popular songs. It was at the center of a wild and woolly rights dispute in the late 1990s.

ACROSS

1 Joint concern

5 Late-night name, once

9 Chi. to Atl. dir.

12 Utter disdain

17 With “down,” a Napster action

18 ___ facto

19 Actress Gilpin of Frasier

21 Religious outfit?

22 Composer’s contention

117

118

119

1

2 Ranch critter

3 They’re plucked

4 Dean’s girlfriend in The Usual Suspects

5 Apple or pumpkin container

6 In a fitting way

7 He won a Wimbledon

8 Walkabout director

9 Precisely: slang

10 Submitted

11 Hence

12 Puts it in first

13 Juice veggie

14 Stage honor

15 Elevation

16 Highest

20 “Life ___ dream”

23 Hues

24 Orders to a jerk?

27 Public ___

28 Delphine author, Madame de ___ (anagram of LEAST)

29 Hoi ___

30 Seattle university that doesn’t issue grades

35 Was attractive

36 Skeptic’s line