Creative Loafing Tampa — September 21, 2023

SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2023 (VOL.36, NO.38) $FREE • CREATIVE LOAFING - CLTAMPA.COM

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, Arielle Stevenson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Tre 'Junior' Butler, Caitlin Carter, Dave Decker, Phil DeSimone, Jennifer Ring, Roberto Rivera, Cristina Trespando

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FALL INTERN Inquire by emailing rroa@cltampa.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel

ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore

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MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR

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

Leigh Wilson

MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING

MANAGER Corrie Miserendino

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

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Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

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Music Week ...................................................42

Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40

Cassandra Yardeni Wagner

Music Week ...................................................42

The List ..........................................................46

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Movie reviews

Colin Wolf

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Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42 The List ..........................................................46 Movie reviews 63

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VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

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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

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Showtember

It was a busy weekend of concerts and events, and Creative Loafing Tampa Bay photographers were all over both sides of the Bay capturing scenes from ‘90s Con, Mannequin Pussy, Movements, Igorrr, Lil Baby, Avenged Sevenfold and more. See more via cltampa.com/slideshows.—Ray

Roa

do this

Greek to me

You shouldn’t need an excuse to visit the Grecian mecca of Tarpon Springs, but this weekend gives you one when close to a hundred artists and craftspeople from across the U.S. take over downtown, offering everything from soap and plants, to fine art, folk art, jewelry and more. Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Craft Festival, Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 23-24 . 10 a.m. gates. 735 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs. tarponspringsmerchantassociation.com—Ray

Roa

For the pumpkins

Although the seasons don’t change in Florida like they do in other states, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other fallthemed activities.

Odessa-based Raprage

Family Farm’s Fall Festival opens this weekend, with tons of family-friendly fun to be had including interactive activities like hay rides, petting zoos, giant hay chute slides and inflatable mazes to adult-friendly affairs like axe throwing, live music and a local vendor market. You can also let the kiddos indulge in piping hot apple cider doughnuts and freshlychurned ice cream after a haunted hay ride or two. While Raprage’s events are always kid-friendly, festivities get a little spooky after 6 p.m. (you can always skip the 5,000 square-foot haunted house). Children ages 2 and under can attend the Fall Festival for free. Raprage’s weekend festivals are definitely a good reason to trek outside of Tampa for a little glimpse of the true fall experience. See cltampa. com/slideshows for more fall festivities. Raprage Fall Pumpkin Festival. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 29. Various times. $16.95-$19.50. Raprager Family Farms,16907 Boy Scout Rd.,Odessa. rapragerfamilyfarms.com—Kyla Fields

Party animals

Each year, a popular wine festival takes over a unique venue in Tampa and transforms it into a chic background to sip wine in. This year's rendition of Uncorked happens at ZooTampa, amidst tigers, monkeys, elephants and manatees. This event features over 150 different wines and bubblies from across the world; attendees also have the ability to interact with representatives and industry professionals. VIP ticket holders can enjoy music from a DJ, light bites and exclusive access to particular wines, in addition to the rest of the event. Folks with general admission can sample as many wines as their heart desires, but will have to purchase food for an additional price. Uncorked Wine Fest also offers a heavily-discounted designated driver ticket, if you want to bring your animal-loving sober friend along, too. Uncorked: Tampa Wine Fest. Saturday, Sept. 23. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. $65-$100. ZooTampa at Lowry Park, 1101 West Sligh Ave.,Tampa. uncorkedwinefestivals.com—Kyla Fields

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Beats downtown

Save for the lack of a traditional rock club, downtown Tampa’s Water Street district is almost crying for a full-on, multi-venue music festival. The neighborhood will test the waters this weekend when more than a dozen different local acts from reggae favorites (Tribal Style, pictured), club staples (DJ Deacon), jazz ensembles (In the Pocket) join Bay area “American Idol” alum Abi & Sam Kiefer for a no-cover day of concerts at Water Street’s Raybon Plaza, Sparkman Wharf and a pop-up stage on Water Street itself. Roaming musicians are also part of the programming along with a kids instrument petting zoo and more. Beats on the Street. Saturday, Sept. 23, 3 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Water Street, Tampa. waterstreettampa.com—Ray Roa

Wheelie cool

It’s not hyperbolic to say that Tampa Bay is one of America’s most dangerous places to be a pedestrian or bicyclist. But for at least a day, walkers and pedal-pushers won’t have to constantly look over their shoulders for that person driving while reading the lyrics to a song on their Spotify app. Tampa and St. Pete are among about 2,000 cities participating in World-Car Free Day, and organizers in Tampa hope that participants on its nearly five-mile route from Midtown to Ybor City will have plenty of company (St. Pete organizers will extoll the virtues of the holiday at Green Bench Brewing Co. on Friday night). Saturday’s festivities in Tampa include prizes, vendor booths and more. World Car-Free Day. Saturday, Sept. 23, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. walkbiketampa.org—Ray Roa

Sweet teeth

The “largest dessert festival in America” returns with a massive selection of cakes, cookies and other sugar coma-inducing sweets in tow. Over 50 Florida-based vendors will sling their best treats—from doughnuts and cookies to ice cream, cake and other baked goods—and strive to take home the “Dessert Champion” title. Although there’s no official lineup for 2023’s event, local businesses that have participated in previous years include The Yard Milkshake Bar, Meli Greek Street Donuts, Dunn Baked, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, The Hyppo and The Local Mini Donut Co. Dessert Wars is a nationwide event that travels across various states each year; the only other Florida stop happened in Miami earlier this month.

The top three winners from each city will compete in Dessert Wars’ National Championship competition this winter, and we’re excited to see which Tampa Bay-based businesses will represent our city. Dessert Wars. Saturday, Sept. 23. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. $45- $65. Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. Hwy-301, Tampa. dessert-wars.com—Kyla Fields

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POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

Bears repeating

PSTA roundtable on the unhoused in Pinellas yields a familiar refrain.

By Arielle Stevenson

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) planning committee met last Wednesday with homeless advocacy groups to discuss the county’s growing unhoused population and ways to address it. Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers requested the meeting last month, after PSTA’s board voted to implement fares a month early for St. Pete’s fare-free SunRunner bus.

In the run up to PSTA’s decision, St. Pete Beach commissioners lamented that all they could do to address the homeless riders was to “make their lives miserable.” Last month, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told PSTA’s board that homeless people utilizing free SunRunner fares were coming to the beach and “accosting” residents. He called what’s happening, “social crime related to a chronic homeless population,” costing his department $10,000 weekly for additional patrols. In response, PSTA’s board approved $2.25 fares across the SunRunner route beginning Oct. 1, a month ahead of schedule.

But Flowers told the groups that the meeting was not a discussion about fares. “This is to talk about services to persons who are unhoused or homeless,” she added.

Before the meeting, PSTA’s ADA officer Ross Silvers emailed attendees a list of questions including, “What alternatives do chronic homeless have to sleeping & showering on Pinellas County public beaches?”

Allendale Methodist Pastor Andy Oliver and others voiced concerns that Silver’s question itself was potentially discriminatory. He cited HUD’s definition of chronic homelessness as someone with a disabling condition and thus considered a protected class.

“If all it took to stop people from sleeping on our beaches, our streets, our sidewalks, our parks, was to simply criminalize it, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg could say they ended homelessness,” Oliver said at the meeting. “But they haven’t…You can no more ban people from sleeping than you can from breathing.”

Dr. Kanika Tomalin, CEO for Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete and former St. Pete deputy mayor, said she worried about how Silver’s question framed the conversation.

“There’s quite a distinction between working to identify resources to help our houseless neighbors and optimizing those resources that

exist,” Tomalin said at the meeting. “That is very different than mitigating the perceived impact those houseless neighbors might be having on residents and recreation.”

Flowers said she didn’t ask anyone to send questions before the meeting. “Those questions were meant to try and get the juices flowing,” Silver said at the meeting. PSTA has not yet responded to inquiries about Silvers’ questions.

“I find it rather concerning that we’ve focused on the beaches in this conversation,”

The problem, says Alesnic, is housing; there isn’t enough and what’s available isn’t affordable. Right now, Alesnic says she has 130 families on a shelter waitlist.

Joan Andrade is with Personal Enrichment for Mental Health Services or PEMHS, a facility where Baker Acted folks are taken for treatment. She concurred with Alesnic that most shelters have waitlists, adding that many chronic homeless have compounding factors, like criminal records, preventing them from being placed somewhere.

LOCAL NEWS

“I don’t know how we can keep people from sleeping on the beach or in public areas,” Andrade said at the meeting. “There’s just no place for them to go.”

The changes come two weeks after the PSTA board voted to increase fares on the popular SunRunner bus rapid transit system a month early. In its decision last month, PSTA’s board cited complaints from St. Pete Beach leaders and residents that homeless folks were using the free fare bus to come to the beach and “accost” residents and tourists. St. Pete subsidized free fares as part of SunRunner’s pilot program and contributed $4 million to the SunRunner. The project came in under budget, and there’s $1,125,287.50 left. The new interlocal agreement uses up to $605,000 of the remaining funds for building a SunRunner stop closer to the pier (without a dedicated lane) on First Avenue N, between 1st and 2nd Streets.

Dr. Monika Alesnic, CEO of the Homeless Leadership Alliance, said at the meeting. “I think we need to face the bigger issues with our unhoused citizens.”

According to Alesnic, Pinellas County has the second highest population of unhoused veterans in the country. In HUD’s 2022 “Point In Time” or PIT count, Florida accounted for 7% or 2,279 of veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide. “That really bothers me, it should bother everyone in this room,” Alesnic added.

After controversial fare increase, St. Pete allocates extra SunRunner funds for new bus station, public art

The St. Petersburg City Council recently voted unanimously to amend its interlocal agreement with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). The amendments allocate remaining funds from the original SunRunner project towards a new bus station near the pier, install public art at three stations, and fiber optic cables.

Fiber optic cables and public art panels in three stations are also being installed. The city had even earmarked $200,000 for SunRunner fares in FY2024.

“In light of the recent [PSTA] decision, that part of our budget will be changing,” St. Petersburg city council member and PSTA board chair Gina Driscoll said at yesterday’s meeting. Driscoll was among the few PSTA board members who voted against increasing SunRunner fares early.

“There’s just no place for them to go.”

NO PLACE FOR HOME: Homeless Leadership Alliance says Pinellas has the second highest population of unhoused veterans in the US.

Still here

Disabled teen says lawmakers need to recast Florida’s legislative priorities.

By Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix

At a legislative meeting in Tampa last Tuesday, state lawmakers were called upon by several members of the public to do more in the field of health care access. That included 19-year-old JJ Holmes, who has cerebral palsy. Speaking through a keyboard that he controls by using his nose to type, JJ informed the group of state lawmakers that he has been on a waiting list in the state’s home-and community-based Medicaid waiver program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 16 years now.

“Back when Jeb Bush was governor, he fully funded the waiver,” JJ said. “He actually cared about what happened to people like me. But nowadays, Florida has forgotten about us.” (Bush was governor from Jan. 5, 1999 to Jan. 2, 2007.)

There are more than 22,000 individuals waiting for such waiver services in Florida, according to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

JJ then said that the Florida Legislature’s priorities are out of order, in part because of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision last December to provide toll road relief to frequent commuters. “The program provides frequent commuters with 35 or more toll transactions per month with a 50% credit to their account. This program is expected to save the average commuter nearly $480 over the year and save Florida families a total of $500 million,” according to the governor’s office.

years for disability services, but JJ has. And that length of time is not unusual.”

Alison has gone before members of the Legislature for years, calling on them to increase funding for the state’s Medicaid waiver program for disabled people. Medicaid waivers are for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

“I really don’t know what I can say to you in 90 seconds to try to change your minds, and maybe try to touch your hearts as well. But I do know if it was your child, or your spouse, or your parent, you wouldn’t want them to be treated in this way,” she added.

After she concluded her remarks, Hillsborough and Pinellas County-based House Democrat Michele Rayner thanked both mother and child for their continued advocacy efforts.

“Even when I was just a representative-elect, you reached out to me, and I see you come to Tallahassee year-after-year, committee week after committee week, and your pleas fall on deaf ears,” Rayner said.

LOCAL NEWS

“That money could have cleared the waiting list for people with disabilities,” JJ said. “I come here today to ask you: why did you decide toll road users needed your help, more than someone like me?”

The discussion on Tuesday came as the Florida House of Representatives is poised to kick off their first legislative committee week ahead of next year’s 2024 session which convenes in Tallahassee on January 9. Legislative delegation meetings have been taking place across the state in September and the Hillsborough County legislative delegation meeting was in Tampa on Tuesday.

JJ’s mother, Alison, also addressed the group of lawmakers. She serves as JJ’s full-time caretaker and said that it was challenging to address the lawmakers because she had a lot to say and (like all of the other public speakers) had only 90 seconds to make her point.

“I have 90 seconds to implore you not to force my severely disabled son, JJ into a state-run institution,” she said. “Ninety seconds to try to convince you that Florida should fund disability services for the thousands and thousands of disabled Floridians — including JJ – who are on the Medicaid waiver waitlist. Ninety seconds to tell you that no one should be made to wait almost 17

“But I can assure you there are people in this delegation that your pleas have not been falling on deaf ears…hopefully we can have folks with political will to make sure that you and JJ and so many others have what they need because once again, it’s a human right. But I just want to thank you so much for just your consistency and your advocacy, and just never giving up, even when people tell you look at you in your face and tell you no.”

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@ floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

HOLMES TEAM: Alison Holmes and her son, JJ, at the Hillsborough County Legislative delegation meeting in Tampa on Sept. 12, 2023.

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RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES

Field trippin’

Downtown Tampa’s Meacham Urban Farm hosts its first Harvest Fest next month.

By Kyla Fields

One of Tampa Bay’s best spots for locallygrown, organic produce is welcoming the community into its urban farm space next month. Meacham Urban Farm—located at 1108 E Scott St. in between downtown Tampa and Ybor City—hosts its very first Harvest Fest on Sunday, Oct. 1 from noon-6 p.m.

In addition to extended store hours and farm tours, this event features a pig roast—with a pig directly from co-owner Travis Mallloy’s other business Trailbale Farms—live music, educational talks, raffles, a petting zoo, interactive games, photo opportunities and a spread of local vendors.

Full-time farmer and event planner Nicole Kubilins says that in addition to Meacham hosting its first Harvest Fest, volunteer days (which will take place each Friday starting next month), expanded store hours, the continuation of its farm-to table chef dinners and educational ties with local schools will continue to strengthen the relationship between Tampa residents, their local urban farm and the food they eat.

FOOD NEWS

Harvest Fest

Sunday, Oct.1. Noon-6 p.m. $20-$25

Meacham Urban Farm, 1108 E Scott St.,Tampa. meachamfarm.com

In addition to food provided by the farm (which includes vegan and vegetarian options), sandwich slingers Supernatural Food & Wine will be selling its beloved sourdough doughnuts, too. The Supernatural folks won’t be selling any wine, but guests are welcome to bring their own booze (and chairs).

“Harvest Fest is a way to celebrate the farm coming out of our ‘winter’, aka summertime. It will help us kick-off a very busy fall and winter season,” Malloy tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay over the hum of the outdoor farm fans.

Folks of all ages are welcome to attend next month’s Harvest Fest at Meacham Urban Farm, and children under the age of 12 can get in for free. Adult tickets run for $20 in advance, which can be purchased directly on its website, or for $25 at the door

Its very first Harvest Fest will also feature a “Goodies Check-In” as a place to hold all purchased items, so you don’t have to worry about carrying your organic produce, artisanal goods or sack of doughnuts throughout the event. Malloy tells CL that the farm is hosting this harvest-themed celebration to welcome surrounding community members into its space and to spread the word about its weekend store hours, which will soon expand to accommodate more customers.

“I think this event will definitely make some people aware of Meacham itself, but we want to raise awareness of our area’s local agriculture in general,” Kubilins says. “Family fun and photo opportunities are great, but we love to teach people about our specific style of organic and regenerative farming and how it differs from what they buy in the store.”

Co-owners Malloy and Joe Dalessio launched the two-acre urban farm in 2021 and its team of full-time farmers and volunteers have been successfully working towards its mission of providing locally-grown, organic produce to Tampa residents for over two years.

Its plot of land was once a barren lot covered in debris and concrete, and the area surrounding downtown Tampa’s Encore housing complex was deemed a food desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The farm’s name honors Tampa’s first Black principal, Christina Meacham, who lead the Harlem Academy School in the early 20th century, as well as creating the Florida Negro Teacher’s Association. Malloy says “it was an incredibly easy name to choose,” since the farm itself revolves around the goals of education and inclusivity.

And if you’d like to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables or take a casual farm tour at Meacham, its farm store is currently open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on

Sundays. Headed into fall and winter, Meacham will grow and sell all of the expected culinary herbs, carrots, beets, cherry and heirloom tomatoes, scallions and leafy greens like dinosaur kale, arugula, spinach and lettuce.

“We understand that sourcing locally is difficult for people, especially if they have to prioritize convenience. We’re trying to make our store more of a one-stop shop for customers by adding other products from local farms—like organic meats, oils, soaps and spices,” Kubilins explains. “We’ll never be

Publix or Whole Foods, but we’re doing extensive research to make sure everything we sell is ethically sourced.

“It’s amazing how much food you can produce on a small scale and we just want people to realize that,” she continues. Malloy and Kubilins state that Mecaham’s farm store will soon be open on Friday and Monday evenings, too.

For more information on the farm’s seasonal crops, expanded hours and upcoming events, head to its Instagram at @meachamurbanfarm.

“It’s amazing how much food you can produce on a small scale.”

FALL IN: Tampa’s Meacham Urban Farm grows a variety of organic produce year-round.

FOOD NEWS Festival fare

Inaugural Food From the Soul Festival heads to Tampa, and more local foodie news.

By Kyla Fields

The first rendition of what is hopefully an annual foodie festival heads to downtown Tampa this weekend. Perry Harvey Sr. Park, located at 1000 E Harrison St., is the host of the first annual Food From the Soul festival, happening from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Food From the Soul festival promises “entertainment and ethnic cuisine from people of color,” in the form of dozens of Florida-based businesses, restaurants and pop-ups, a foodie competition, a spread of local vendors and live entertainment. In addition to dishing eats to festival goers, vendors can also enter an overarching, yet friendly, “food fight” competition to see which dishes rank supreme in each category (and yes, this writer is a judge).

General admission tickets run for $25 each, but attendees will pay anywhere from $1-$3 for a sample plate of food from any vendor that piques their appetite. Kids ages 17 and under can attend Food From the Soul for $10. VIP tickets are also available for $125 and include exclusive samples from a few local restaurants and businesses, free drinks and access to a VIP-only bar. All ticketing tiers can be browsed directly on foodfromthesoulfestival.com.

Festival organizer Kimberly Jackson—founder of Tampa-based PR and event consulting company KVJINC—made it a point to represent cuisines from a variety of Black and brown cultures around the globe, from African and African American to Caribbean, Latin American and Asian. Just a few of the local businesses that will pop up at this weekend’s festival—whether they’re just vending, competing or both— include Orlandobased Juanitos Pastelillos Y Mas, Asher Amen African Cafe, Steaming Pots, Take A Bao, Two Grandma’s Soul Food, ChefonPoint, Trini Guy Grilling, Saffron’s Gourmet Sauces and South Carolina-based Country Boy Cooking.

Jackson tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she first got the idea for the festival after realizing that a majority of the people she

interacted with for work-related events weren’t familiar with any local businesses that made African, Hispanic or any other cuisine that falls on the margins of common American fare.

“I would organize public forums and events in different neighborhoods throughout Tampa and always wanted the region’s culture represented in the catering. At that moment I realized a lot of folks weren’t aware of any Black or brown caterers local to Tampa—and I wanted to change that,” Jackson says.

“When Black and Brown people start our businesses, we don’t have the funding to get a

its Instagram at @foodfromthesoulfestival or Facebook at @Food-from-the-Soul.

Popular Tampa Filipino spot Manila Eats will open new full-service location next week

If you’ve ever dined at Manila Eats—a Filipino walk-up window and outdoor dining space in Riverview—then you know that the popular dishes sell out in a few hours. But a much larger space may change its first-come-first-serve basis into a full-service dining experience. On Facebook, Manila Eats announced plans to relocate and celebrate the grand opening of its

lumpia and Filipino desserts like sapin-sapin, halo halo, cassava cake, flan and ube ice cream out of her flagship Riverview location at 10621 Tucker Jones Rd. For the latest news on Manila Eats and its ever-changing menu, head to its Facebook at @Manila-Eats, where offerings are posted daily.

NYC-based chain Champion Pizza to open out of Ichicoro’s former Seminole Heights space Ichicoro’s now-closed restaurant has been sitting vacant for the last several months, but new signs in its windows hint that a new concept will soon take over the intimate space. New signage indicates that NYC-based chain Champion Pizza will be opening at 5229 N Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights. Although Champion Pizza’s posters are plastered in the building’s windows—alongside an autobiography of its founder Hakki Akdeniz—Tampa’s upcoming location is not yet listed as “coming soon” on the company’s website, but Akdeniz tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay this his first Florida outpost will open by the end of the month. Alongside posters depicting slices of Champion Pizza are advertisements for fried chicken, which Akdeniz confirmed will be an additional aspect of the new Seminole Heights concept.

PR person or access to capital and funding like our white counterparts, so this festival is an opportunity for these folks to get their names out there,” Jackson continues. “As a first year festival we’re just going to see what works and what doesn’t and will hopefully be able to scale up in 2024.”

Food From the Soul was supposed to happen earlier this year, but delays and other factors caused it to be pushed back until this weekend. For the latest information on the first annual Food From the Soul festival, head to

new Tampa eatery—located at 1601 S 22nd St., just south of Palmetto Beach— on Thursday, Sept. 28.

Owner Veronica Meneses—who was born and raised in the Pampanga province right outside of Manila—took to social media to inform her customers of the new Manila Eats outpost, stating that the soon-to-open restaurant can seat up to 48 patrons and will host karaoke and live bands on the weekend.

Meneses is known for dishing out pork and chicken adobo, a variety of fried pork and fish,

According to Forbes, Champion Pizza has plans to open another pizzeria in Miami, in addition to Tampa’s upcoming location. Akdeniz tells the magazine that he’s interested in franchising new locations of his pizza brand all throughout the country, and recently debuted the chain’s first shop outside of New York in College Station, Texas.

Champion Pizza is known for offering over 30 different flavors of thin crust ‘za, although no two locations boast the same exact menu. Popular options include Buffalo chicken, margherita, lasagna, meat lover’s, pesto chicken and supreme, alongside other flavors that are particular to certain locations.

SOUL-A-PALOOZA: Food from the Soul festival happens at Perry Harvey Sr. Park on Sept. 23.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 | 6-7 PM

How does creativity accommodate the changes that come as we age?

Art historian, curator, and critic Dr. Douglas Dreishpoon will elaborate on some of the central issues—cultural, economic, political, and social—surrounding this timely topic.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT MFASTPETE.ORG

Burn rubber

St. Pete is getting its own ‘Orange Belt’ criterium bicycle race next month.

By Ray Roa

Tampa’s gone-but-not-forgotten downtown criterium bicycle race was one of the most exciting sporting events in the Bay area, and now St. Petersburg is getting a crit of its own. On Sept. 1, the Orange Belt Cycling Series announced that its “Crit Championship Tour” (stylized “CRIT”) will stage a race in St. Petersburg’s Edge District on Saturday, Oct. 21. A press release says that the tour was launched by pro cyclist Justin Williams, who also founded Los Angeles’ L39ion team. Today, Made Coffee Founder Michael Rideout told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he and Green Bench co-owner Nathan Stonecipher are also involved in the Orange Belt project.

For the uninitiated, a criterium is a circuit, street race consisting of several laps on a loop that can be anywhere from about a quarter-mile to about six smiles. Crit bikes are different from traditional road race bikes seen in a race like the Tour de France in that they’re built to take extremely sharp turns and accelerate at fast paces.

SPORTS

“I’m trying to tell people to think of a criterium like Nascar,” Rideout said. He added that there are two cycling events happening as part of the Orange Belt event next month. One is “The Fundo,” whose name is a play on the word “Fondo” or “big ride.”

The Professional event is the “Crit Championship Tour,” featuring both a professional women’s race and a men’s race.

Amateur racing will be called the “Orange Belt Cycling Series” and will feature the kids ride (ages 1-12), a junior open (ages 15-18), plus mens and womens open categories, mens and womens fixed gear open, and a mens open masters race.

General admission viewing for the Orange Belt Series “Crit Championship Tour” in St. Petersburg’s Edge District on Saturday, Oct. 21 is free, with reserved viewing options and VIP packages on sale for $35-$99.

Tampa Bay’s pro women’s soccer team wants to build a practice facility in Ybor City

The plans for the practice field do not include a stadium, but will require the removal of “one nonhazardous grand tree,” according to an application to the BLC. The property is owned by Seventh and Nebraska Investments LLC, a company tied to Ybor City developer and onceTampa Bay Times-investor, Darryl Shaw.

“We love this area and with the players training here, we know they will grow to love it too,” Amber Brinkley, Head Of Marketing And Communications for Super League Tampa Bay, added. “We look forward to becoming part of the Tampa Bay sports community.”

Rideout said that he’s been working on Orange Belt for two years, while Stonecipher added that he’s excited about showcasing St. Petersburg’s bicycle culture and city streets. A press release promises “a festival atmosphere with food, drinks, live music, a skate expo, and more.”

“It’s not a race,” Rideout said. “Consider it a community group ride that will include breakfast, custom gift bags, photos, and Green Bench brews post-ride.”

St. Pete’s criterium will be in the Edge District between 11th and 15th Streets, according to rideout. Racing starts at 1:45 p.m. and is broken down into amatuer and pro categories.

Tampa Bay’s still-unnamed pro women’s soccer team has found a place to kick around. Plans in front of Ybor City’s Barrio Planning Commission (BLC) show a proposed “Ybor Soccer Training Field” on the corner of E 7th and Nebraska Avenues. A spokesperson for Tampa Bay’s Super League Team told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the organization is sowing early roots in the historic district and that the team will soon share its name and temporary stadium location.

RBLR Sports first broke news about the team in May, noting that its launch is being led by Shaw, owner of Bern’s Steak House David Laxer and Jeff Fox who recently retired as Chief Information Officer at BluePearl.

Shaw has expressed interest in building a 5,000-seat stadium for the team, which will be coached by Denise Schilte-Brown, outgoing Head Coach of a University of South Florida’s women’s side that appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times under her leadership.

The Bulls will enjoy one more season under Schilte-Brown before she takes the reins for the Super League team expected to begin play in August 2024.

C/O MICHAEL RIDEOUT

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C CL Recommends

THU 21

Community Couch w/Floating Boy/ Articles/The Wayfarin’ Leo Rodger It’s been a long time since Community Couch appeared on a local bill, and it’s good to see Stove Johnson back in the saddle, with uke in hand and ready to play feel-good punk-rock inspired by everything from Randy Travis and Tim McGraw to The Wonder Years. Johnson, who’s just visiting after moving away, plays solo for this free show and is backed by Sarasota emo band Floating Boy, Gainesville punk outfit Articles and emergent Bay area folk hero, The Wayfarin’ Leo Rodger. (The Bends, St. Petersburg)

Fidlar w/Bed Bug Guru Less than a month after dropping a screamo version of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”—which starts off in a more soothing manner before the last chorus kicks in—the L.A. based punk-rock trio dropped an album that acoustically reimagines seven harder songs from across its 12-year career. After appearing to have ignored Floridians on tour for eight years, the band is set to off a sixdate “Floriduh” tour on Thursday, with further stops taking place in Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and beyond. (Orpheum, Tampa)

FRI 22

The Currys w/Chris Simmons The family folk-rock trio featuring brothers Tommy and Jimmy Curry, as well as cousin Galen is less than a month away from dropping its first new album since 2019. From the two singles we have heard so far, Keepers will include plenty of heavenly harmonies, and—while we doubt this is what they were going for—a little bit of a nod towards Paul Simon’s recent collaborations with yMusic. The album doesn’t officially release until Oct. 11, but a few of The Currys’ surrounding gigs feature them playing Keepers cover-to-cover before the general public gets to hear anything in full. So quit bitching about the heat and charge up your neck fan Friday night. Besides, who doesn’t love an evening in Safety Harbor? (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)

Electric Piquete Tampeños with a hardon for José Martí might want to drive to Dunedin to get a no-cover feel for Electric Piquete. The Latin funk band was once compared to the Cuban revolutionary by its hometown alt-weekly Miami New-Times, which added that, “The group’s commitment to the groove is a force to be reckoned with, and they are full of poetry and fuego.”

(Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)

Matt Schofield The 46-year-old bluesman and music educator—who has his name on amplifiers and countless guitar publications—promises his next album will reunite

him with his original organ trio from 2004, featuring drummer Evan Jenkins and organist Jonny Henderson. (Side Door Cabaretat Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Sza w/D4vd The 33-year-old hasn’t played a show in Tampa since 2017 when the R&B star brought her major label debut Ctrl to about 700 fans packed into the sincerelocated Ybor City Orpheum. In a review, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay wrote, “You won’t get to see Sza in a room that small ever again.” The prediction rang true, and while Sza had to cancel her 2018 show at the old Gary amphitheater due to vocal cord issues, this return to the stage in support of late-2022 album of the year contendee S.O.S. should be a grand welcome back for all the new fans she’s amassed along the way. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

The Florida Orchestra: ‘Jurassic Park’ in Concert If you’re still pissed off at J.K. Rowling enough to have completely eliminated the “Harry Potter” films from your life, you now have the chance to see The Florida Orchestra play the score to a different film while the movie itself rolls above. After a few years of primarily tackling “Potter” film scores (and as we Tolkienologists continue to patiently wait for the same attention to be given to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy), TFO is bringing a few other classic films with just-as-classic scores into its 2023-24 season,

including “Jurassic Park,” complete with the full score by the mighty John Williams. Friday’s performance takes place at night, and a matinee will be held on Saturday, so definitely hold onto your butts, Tampa Bay. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

SAT 23

Eli Lev The Maryland-based singer-songwriter’s first brush with a love for music was in grade school through a mixtape from a friend, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, MC Hammer, and others. From there, Lev has opened for Shooter Jennings, performed at the Kennedy Center, and most recently, released his pandemic-inspired EP Walk.Talk. Dance.Sing , which takes on topics from how to deal with living with a partner during lockdowns, to how in the end, there’s no precisely correct way to live life. (Whiskey River On The Water, Port Richey)

Eric Nam w/Alexander Stewart While fans prepare for Mr. “I Don’t Know You Anymore” to make his film debut in “Transplant”—a psychological thriller—the K-pop heartthrob is on the road promoting his latest, English-recorded House on a Hill album, equipped with plenty of acoustic moments and spacey synths that can be

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heard in GarageBand. If you really want a sensory overload, stick around for Shiba San’s Sunset Saturdays set, after Nam leaves the stage. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

Escape To Skipperville: Bad Habits Band/TJ Walsh/Dave Freeman/Jeff Randall/Patrick Foy/more Three weeks after the death of Jimmy Buffett, Parrothead tears at Skipper’s have yet to dry, so the storied venue—which now has a painted goat honoring the late trop-rock hero—is holding a bittersweet 43rd anniversary this weekend that’s both a party and remembrance for the late son of a sailor. Retro menu items and a full day of live music are on the docket along with several rounds of mullet toss that kick off at 1 p.m. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Farm Aid Tampa Bay: Noan Partly/ Frankie Raye/Justin Rice/Passerine/ more This weekend in Indiana Willie Nelson and an all-star cast of his friends hosts yet another edition of Farm Aid, a concert series with a simple mission to keep family farmers on the land. Bay area songwriters pay homage to the festival this weekend, with a day-long concert of their own in Town ‘n Country where proceeds benefit the nonprofit program run by the good folks at Sweetwater. (Sweetwater Organic Farm, Tampa)

Gat$ w/Jay Browne/Asaru/DJ Raul

the Fool Before he left for Los Angeles in January, Tampa expat rapper Robb Gats let CL listen to the latest mixes of his forthcoming album, Thank You For Robbin ’. The outing is Gat$’ most honest yet, and finds him getting out of his head on the way to releasing songs that are danceable, sample-ridden and devoid of the second-guessing that sometimes marked otherwise excellent albums over the last decade. It’ll be exciting to hear how the record has evolved over the last nine months when Gat$ comes home for something of an album release show on his old stomping ground. (Hooch and Hive, Tampa)

Knife Rituals (EP release) w/Nashira/ The Pilot Waves/Dagger After almost a year-and a half of playing to Tampa Bay audiences, self-described “heavy doomgaze” outfit Knife Rituals plans to release a longawaited, psychedelic EP, Static, Dead Air, & Noise , at a gig that also happens to be the last show for guitarist/vocalist Anne Mansfield. Needless to say, the band won’t be performing for a while after this outing, just so the remaining members can figure out where to go from here. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Tension Electric w/Florist/Snake

Healer/Wyndrider/Othalan/Worldeater

The album art on Wyndrider’s new self-titled

album looks like a scene out of “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.” The eighttracks of Southern-fried doom-metal inside are exactly what you want to be listening to while smoking a joint inside a pimped out El Camino on your way to battle Skeletor. (Born Free Pub & Grill, Tampa)

Victor Wainwright and Friends He’s of no relation to Rufus, but Victor Wainwright also keeps older, less mainstream genres up and rolling. The 42-year-old Georgia boy’s catalog is filled with what we imagine select boogiewoogie, or even rockabilly, artists would have sounded like, had their compositions been longer. Blending the growly vocal styles of Eddie Cochran and the ivory tickling of Fats Domino, Wainwright’s intimate gig in Safety Harbor isn’t one you’re going to want to miss if you’re in the mood for time traveling. (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor)

Yngwie Malmsteen w/Glenn Hughes This year marks 50 years since Glenn Hughes— once the frontman of Trapeze—was first recruited by Deep Purple, originally to replace bassist Roger Glover (who later came back to the band, where he remains to this day, and later to co-vocalize during the Burn era. The 72-year-old’s voice is still pretty intact, and though you won’t hear any of the material he performed during his brief, mid-’80s stint with Black Sabbath, you will get to hear diva shred master Yngwie Malmsteen close out the night, in what will go down as one of the loudest shows the Cap has hosted this year. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

SUN 24

Rutterkin w/The Pauses/Virginity It’s pretty cool to see Seminole Heights record shop Microgroove back in venue mode. Last weekend saw Blue Broderick’s Diners project play a solo set before opening a gig at Hooch and Hive, and this weekend the store goes punk with St. Pete’s Rutterkin playing the hometown slot for a couple of bans from other parts of Florida: Daytona emopunk outfit Virginity and Orlando-indie-pop darling The Pauses, which releases a brand (seemingly synth-rockin’) new single, “I Cocoon,” just a few days before this show. (Microgroove, Tampa)

Simon Lasky U.K. jazz import Lasky— who’s been compared to Pat Metheny and released music for Britain’s 33Jazz imprint— has been hard at work on a new album, and he comes out of the studio to lead an eight-piece band during a night of original compositions and arrangements that we’ll soon hopefully be able to own on record. (Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Wu-Tang Clan w/Nas/De La Soul Minus the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, all of the original members of the Wu-Tang clan—including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck—will be in attendance for this pool party. Fresh off a Grammy win for King’s Disease and a Grammy nomination for its follow-up King’s Disease II , Nas recently released the third installment of his Magic trilogy last week. The giants of east coast hip-hop just played the old Gary amp less than a year ago, but bring surviving members

of De la Soul to the party this time around. (Hard Rock Event Center Pool at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)

MON 25

Lana Del Rey w/Nikki Lane Del Rey, the 38-year-old alt-pop darling, is currently on the heels of her new album Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd , a collection of melancholic, mostly piano-driven poetry, featuring guest spots— and even a few interludes—from the likes of Bleachers, Father John Misty, and Jon Batiste. Ms. “Don’t Call Me Angel” hasn’t been to Florida since a 2018 gig at Orlando’s Amway Center—when a Florida Man was arrested for alleged stalking and kidnapping threats against her—and shockingly enough, Del Rey’s stop at the ol’ Gary this fall will be her first time ever in Tampatown. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

TUE 26

Daughtry w/Ayron Jones No matter how you feel about Chris Daughtry’s material, it would be best to keep all fingers crossed for anything new coming out. Merely months after saying goodbye to its longest-tenured drummer, his eponymous band was signed to Big Machine Records, which infamously screwed the shit out of Taylor Swift, causing the “Taylor’s Version” series to begin. No one can say for sure if the signing was a statement of some sort (whether it was directed at Taylor, or a major “fuck around and find out” directed at Scooter Braun), but for right now, the “American Idol” finalist—whose first release on Big Machine is called “Artificial”— and his five-piece ensemble will perform a block or so down from where Ringo Starr will be on the same night. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Ringo Starr and his all-Starr Band This show comes just over a year after Ringo and the exact same lineup of the All-Starrs finally staged a heavily-postponed show at Ruth Eckerd Hall, originally announced in November 2019. And it looks like Men At Work’s Colin Hay—a member of the band— is still up for belting out the chorus on the band’s version of Toto’s “Africa,” too. “That was one of the challenges,” Hay told CL during a press conference. “I can still get there, and to do that, I make sure that I warm up as much as I can, because if I don’t, it’s challenging.” (The Sound, Clearwater)

THU 28

Biishop The Artist w/Mai Sweet Basil Biishop’s soulful vocals, lyrics that hopelessly question his mother’s current amount of love for him, and airy, harmonious backing vocals make his latest Caido EP one of the finest musical odysseys to come out of any of our city’s amazing artists. There should be no excuse as to why he has never performed on any stage at Gasparilla Music Festival, but in the meantime, Biishop performs at this Alan Watts-loving, groovy haven in the heart of Seminole Heights. (The Far Forest, Tampa)

Wu-Tang Clan

For a while, Tampa Bay rock and roll fans could count on a local show from hometown hero Glove just about as often as a blue moon. The synth-driven post-punk band— which opened for Jack White and Nation Of Language—just didn’t gig around these parts a lot. Next month, Glove’s revamped trio lineup makes up for lost time by playing four no-cover sets at one of St. Petersburg’s swankiest dive bars.

The shows at The Bends happen every Saturday in October. Each show features live sets from Bay area and national bands, with Glove playing full band sets on Oct. 7, plus DJ sets on Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. Romeo Blu, the synth-pop project of Merchandise frontman Carson Cox, joins the band on select nights of the residency along with Seattle glam-folk gem Scott Yoder, St. Pete’s lord of analog EBM Ortrotasce, and Orlando new wave band The Synthetics. The Oct. 28 band set from Glove is also a Halloween party.

“The Bends is a good time, and that’s what we’re looking for,” the band told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, adding that the DJ nights will simply feature music anyone can dance to. Glove—now made up of founding members Rod Wendt and Brie Deux along with longtime multi-instrumentalist Justin Burns—released a new single, “Chewing On A Wire” and put out its debut full-length, Boom Nights , last year.

Victor Wainwright and Friends Saturday, Sept. 23. 7:30 p.m. $35. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor

Discord Theory w/Take Lead/Witch Hiatus/Biscayne/Deaf Company Sunday, Sept. 24. 5 p.m. $13. Crowbar, Ybor City

Rebekah Pulley Duo w/Harper Wynn/ Van Plating Saturday, Sept. 30. 8 p.m. $10 at the door. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Clara Noctis w/Flagman/He Kindly/ Volitions Sunday, Oct. 1. 7 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers w/The Burke Bros. Tuesday, Oct. 10. 8 p.m. $17. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Latin Night on the Riverwalk: Sol Caribe Thursday, Oct. 12. 6 p.m. No cover. Riverwalk Stage at Straz Center, Tampa

Micah Tyler Thursday, Oct. 12. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Shevonne Friday, Oct. 13. 6 p.m. No cover. Riverwalk Stage at Straz Center, Tampa

Fear Frenzy 2023: Traitors/He Is Legend/Cane Hill/Greyhaven/Kaonashi/ Enox/Mouthbreather/Gas FL/more Sunday, Oct. 22. 3:30 p.m. $35. Orpheum, Tampa

As for revealing contents of the setlist, Glove remained somewhat cryptic. “We just want to have fun and play some new songs! Not sure what to expect!,” the band added.

See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concert announcements, below.—Ray Roa

Simon Lasky Group Sunday, Oct. 29. 3 p.m. $10 & up. HCC Ybor Mainstage Theatre, Ybor City

Celtic Thunder Sunday, Oct. 29. 8 p.m. $45 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Gel w/Glare/Initiate Tuesday, Oct. 31. 7 p.m. $20. Orpheum, Tampa

Crunk Witch w/Swell Rell/Moonbae Thursday, Nov. 2. 7 p.m. $10. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Brakence Thursday, Nov. 9. 8 p.m. Sold out. Crowbar, Ybor City

Alexandra Kay Sunday, Nov. 26. 7 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Tampa

Roosevelt Collier Friday, Dec. 8. 8:30 p.m. $20. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Karla Bonoff Friday, Jan. 12. 8 p.m. $45. Murray Theater at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Mustard Plug w/Voodoo Glow Skulls/ Bite Me Bambi Friday, Jan. 12. 7 p.m. $23. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Kyle Smith Saturday, Jan. 20. 8 p.m. $15 & up. Floridian Social, Clearwater

Mr. Big Sunday, Jan. 21. 8 p.m. $34.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

JEREMY PHILIP

"Keeping Tampa Bay's ear to the (under)ground since 1997" © AES Presents, LLC

Ex-pectations

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, I feel like I’m at a crossroads with my soulmate. When I met “X,” we instantly connected and quickly fell into a passionate and tumultuous relationship. It ended several years ago, and he has been with another woman since. However, we still talk every day, and I know we have a deep well of love for one another. We are each other’s “person.” Recently, he mentioned that he would like to start an affair, but I don’t know if going back to that part of our relationship would ruin what we now have. Do the cards have any advice?—X-Lover

Cards: Ace of Swords (reversed), The Moon (reversed), Waning Gibbous, Eight of Wands

Dear X-Lover, first, I absolutely believe in soulmates, both platonic and romantic. I believe there are people we are meant to meet and walk through this life with, either for a flash of time or for years. But I don’t believe that “love is all we need” in relationships, and the words of fuckboys (of all genders) should be taken with grains of salt.

There is a lot of information missing in this letter, including if you’re actually happy with this current arrangement.You don’t want to lose it, but is it your best-case scenario? Because the cards are suggesting otherwise.

With the Ace of Swords reversed, I think you’ve been questioning if this arrangement is working for you. The swords can be a critical eye; the Ace suggests looking inwardly, and paired with the reversed Moon, it suggests digging deep.

The Moon is a card of the Jungian Shadow, our hidden selves, and often includes truths we don’t want to acknowledge. What is the relationship giving you? What does it mean to you to have a soulmate who is in a relationship with another woman? (Since you used the word “affair,” I assume that relationship isn’t open.) What does that level of distance provide for you? If you’ve talked every day for several years, there is some benefit to the arrangement. What is it? And is that benefit healthy for you in the long run?

The Waning Gibbous appears when we need to let something go, especially something that we’re fixated on or that’s self-destructive. Has this arrangement affected your romantic relationships? Has it had an effect on your selfesteem or your goals for life?

The Eight of Wands can feel overwhelming— but it often has to do with a sense of purpose. So ask yourself: what purpose has this relationship has served for you in the past and what would it mean to stick with it in the future? This might cause a lot of emotions to pop up but stick with them, even if they are uncomfortable or overwhelming. You’ll find the truth at the bottom of it.

I don’t know what the result of all this selfexamination will be. You may decide that you want to continue your relationship with X, or you may choose to end it. I would, however, suggest that you hold off on the sex until after you’ve made the decision. If the original relationship was “passionate and tumultuous,” the amorous arts might cloud your judgment. Whatever you decide, I hope it brings you peace.

Dear Oracle, I recently started hanging out with a new group of friends, who I really like. They’ve all known each other for a while, and I’m the new one. The issue is one woman, “Ursula.” While everyone keeps mentioning how kind

Dear Red, once, I met a famous male writer, a self-proclaimed feminist known for his incredibly progressive politics. After talking to him for 30 seconds, I thought: “this motherfucker is going to get #metoo’d.” Three months later, he was. Some people just give off strong sociopath energy, and it can make you feel crazy if you’re the only one picking up on it. Unlike snap judgments that might come from inherited biases, I think we can trust our gut when someone seems manipulative because they should be appealing to us. Things feel “off” when they seem insincere.

You’re right to be wary of Ursula. With that reversed Seven of Swords, I think there’s some deception going on, and with that Full Moon, you’re seeing that clearly. The deception might

elements, but you need to present yourself as the more naïve Page of Wands.

When dealing with a potential psycho, it’s a good practice to let them think you’re dumb because then they won’t try very hard to hide their manipulation. You’ll learn quickly what you’re dealing with.

I would not tell Ursula any particularly private information—or the others, until you know the dynamics of the friend group better. Information may get back to her through gossip or casual talk. This doesn’t mean you can’t be your shining self with these new friends, but take your time to build trust. Observe the group more before confiding in anyone in particular. If it’s a close group of long-term friends and you’re the new kid, it’ll be a tightrope to walk.

and empathetic she is, I kinda get “sociopath” vibes. How should I navigate this?—Red-flag warning?

Cards for what’s Ursala’s deal: Seven of Swords (reversed), Full Moon Cards for what to do: Page of Wands, The Magician (both reversed)

be benign (maybe she just likes to exaggerate stories) or dangerous (maybe she’ll steal your #SSN.) You don’t know yet, so you’ll proceed with caution.

For how to act, we have The Magician and The Page of Wands, who look like mirror images in my deck. You need to be The Magician, the one in control of themselves and observer of all

Hopefully, you’ll be able to forge relationships with the other people in the group and have a pleasant (yet distant) relationship with Ursula. But, if group dynamics seem fragile, maybe try for a few one-on-one friendships instead of the whole posse.

Remember: you have your own power, Magician. Don’t let anyone take that from you.

The Italian job

By Dan Savage

I’m reading you from Italy, and I could really use your advice. About four years ago, I started dating a girl who I’ve been living with for the past two months. Since I’ve known her, she has been suffering from periods of depression and anxiety, although I didn’t know it when we first started to date. She used to spend a lot of time in therapy and continues to take medication. It has been very tough for both of us, and I even ended up talking to a psychologist for a while.

I was immediately captivated by her sensitivity, her sweetness, and the way she sees things. In many ways, she completes me. But soon after the beginning stages of our relationship, our connection lost its passionate side almost entirely, mainly due to the medication she’s taking but also because of her anxieties related to the fear of pain in her intimate areas. I’ve tried to accept this while encouraging her to see specialists who could alleviate her fears. I’ve also been encouraging her to resume her conversations with her psychologist, which she stopped about three months ago.

What should I do? I don’t want to break up with her. I care about her and believe that with time, things will get better, but right now there is a significant void in our relationship.—Vexed

Over Intimate Decline

You’re not fucking, right? I don’t know what else, “our connection lost its passionate side,” could possibly mean, so I’m gonna go with “not fucking.” And it sounds like the fucking stopped — it sounds like the passion was lost—pretty early in the relationship (“soon after the beginning stages”), which means you’ve been in a sexless relationship for three years and change.

Just in case you need to hear it from someone: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have sex with your romantic partner, VOID, particularly if the relationship was sexual at the start. And while I don’t think it’s fair to head for the exits at the first sign of a physical or emotional challenge—it’s certainly not loving—we aren’t obligated to stay in relationships that don’t meet our reasonable emotional and physical needs. (There’s also a huge difference between abandoning someone after decades together and ending a relationship relatively early in life that isn’t meeting your needs.)

You said you don’t want to break up, VOID, but at the very least you need to consider breaking up. Because not only are you growing increasingly unhappy in this relationship, VOID, it doesn’t sound like your girlfriend is very happy. You’ve tried to help, and it hasn’t worked—but, hey, maybe something will click after in another year or two or three and your girlfriend will start seeing her psychologist again and the specialists she needs to see. (I

would recommend a pelvic floor specialist.) But what if things don’t get better? What if this is it? Are you willing to stay in this relationship, as-is, for the rest of your life?

Having a loving and supportive partner in our corner during a life crisis can make all the difference. But sometimes having a partner who refuses to leave us because we’re depressed or unemployed or on fire—sometimes knowing our partner would never abandon us in that condition—can perversely incentivize not seeking treatment or looking for work or stamping out the flames. Which is why a person in your position, VOID, a person with your values, eventually has to ask himself, “Is staying helping my partner or hurting my partner? Am I standing by them or am I enabling them?” Some other questions you need to ask yourself at this point: “Am I happy?” “Am I being cared for?” “If nothing changes, can I live like this—can I live with these unfilled voids—for the rest of my life?”

Once you’ve answered those questions—and answered them honestly—you’ll know what you need to do. Leaving will be extremely hard, if that’s what ultimately decide you need to do, but leaving someone doesn’t have to mean abandoning them. You can still be there for this amazing woman—not as a boyfriend, but as a close friend. Still supportive, still encouraging, and still amazed.

now, even though he says he is in love with me, he has agreed to break up, because he doesn’t want me to suffer. But I am sad. I don’t know what to do. I know it would be better for me to forget about him, but it is hard. Are there any solutions to overcoming this situation quickly? One of the problems is that we are on the same recreational sports team, which means we see each other twice a week.—Breakup Attempt Somehow Isn’t Catching

So, you wanna break up with him, he’s graciously agreed to break up with you, but you’re having a hard time sticking the dismount because—like Neil Sadeka discovered back in 1962—breaking up is hard to do. It’s particularly hard to do when the sex is great, the connection is awesome, and circumstances keep throwing you together.

Even to the point that he apparently asked one of my friends for a blowjob. I know we weren’t in an exclusive relationship, but what the fuck? Hitting on my friends? Go and do it with whoever you want, bro, but my friends? I feel like I completely misunderstood everything, that he didn’t give a fuck about me, and that I am worthless. I’m in therapy and I know this is something I have to work on. But I just can’t get over it, I feel completely played and worthless. What do you think?—Completely Insensitive And Outrageous

SAVAGE LOVE

But circumstances—at least the ones you mentioned—aren’t outside your control. If you can’t see him without feeling sad and/or wanting to fuck him and/or feeling sad right after you fuck him, BASIC, then you’ll have to stop seeing him. That means asking him to quit the team (you were there first) or, if he refuses, quitting the team yourself. If you’re not willing to do that— if you’re not willing quit the team—then I can only conclude you don’t wanna stop fucking this guy and you aren’t going to stop fucking this guy. You have the decency to feel bad about continuing to fuck him, though, which speaks well of your character.

I’m a 31-year-old Italian girl. I’m in a relationship with a married man who has two children, both around the age of 10. He joined my sports league this winter. We had a long flirtship that became sexual in April, and we fell in love. The first months were awesome, and we had great sex imbued into both romance and roughness. As our relationship went on, he started saying things that seemed to show a desire to separate from his wife. (He says they don’t have sex.) He said things like, “I would love just doing laundry with you,” and, “I really would love to sleep with you every night.” At some point, things with his wife worsened. He shared thoughts about separation and divorce with me and with his parents. (His parents now know of my existence.) At some point, during a conflict with his wife, they finally used the word “separation.” He became sad and told me he couldn’t do it. He said his kids would suffer too much. From that moment, I could not bear this relationship anymore. I am too deeply in love, and my expectations could not revert to what they once were. I’m trying to break up with him, but it is hard. I talked with him about my feelings, and he feels guilty about telling me things that made me believe in a future with him. So

P.S. If your lover is only staying in his marriage because the kids are young and divorce would upend their lives, your lover and his wife are likely to part ways—amicably—once their kids are grown. I realize a decade is a long time to wait, but mistresses who play the long game sometimes win the crown. Just ask Camilla.

I am a 29-year-old Italian man living in London. In April, I started dating a guy from here, one year older than me, who recently came out as gay after 13 years with a woman. I assumed from the beginning that it wasn’t going to work, as he understandably needed to explore his sexuality. However, we dated for a couple of months and had a very strong bond. We talked every day, we saw each other whenever we could, we spent whole weekends together. It didn’t feel like a casual relationship. Anyway, after a couple of months, I brought up the “boyfriends” topic and he was very clear that didn’t want a “relationship” even though he was loving his time with me.

So, I put up my defense shield and disappeared. That was a month ago, and we basically haven’t spoken since. However, a week ago, two of my friends told me that he hit on them. As in, there were two times when we were all hanging out together and he was very flirty with them.

Pull yourself together. Unlike your exwhatever-he-was, CIAO, you didn’t come out yesterday. You’re a nearly 30-year old out gay man with a good group of friends around you— assuming none of friends were blew this guy while you were in the other room—and you’re a having a meltdown because things didn’t work out with someone you dated for two months. It sucks when someone you wanted doesn’t want you back and it sucks when someone turned out to be the kind of person who would hit on your friends. But it’s a very big jump from, “This guy didn’t care about me,” to, “I am utterly worthless.” Frankly, CIAO, that’s the kind of reaction I would expect from a guy who’d just come out, i.e., a guy with zero experience dating people he was actually attracted to, and not from someone who’d been out and dating for years. You can’t help but to feel your feelings, CIAO, and I’m not trying to shame you. It’s good you’re seeing someone—it’s good you’re getting help—because if this is your reaction after a two-month relationship with a baby gay ended badly, having someone to talk you through it is a good idea. You should also talk with your therapist about how you ghosted this guy because he wasn’t ready to tell you precisely what you wanted to hear and precisely when you wanted to hear it. Hitting on the friends of someone who has feelings for you is a shitty thing to do, CIAO, but disappearing on people because they’re not ready to commit—ready yet or ready ever—is also a pretty shitty thing to do. Maybe your therapist can help you see that.

Finally, it’s not unheard of for a gay man to introduce a new boyfriend to his friends—or a new casual fuck buddy to his friends—only to discover that his new boyfriend and/or fuck buddy has already slept with half of his friends. That’s not what happened in this case: this guy hasn’t been out long enough to have slept with half your friends already. You were casual sex partners, but keeping things casual isn’t a license to be inconsiderate. And it was incredibly inconsiderate of this guy to treat being introduced to your friends—usually a sign that a relationship is moving away from casual and towards something more serious—like a night at home scrolling through Grindr.

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NOTE: This G-force stroll down memory lane may require a little imagination.

ACROSS

1 U-WAIT preceder

6 It stops traffic in Hollywood: abbr.

10 Years and years

14 In history

18 Seething

19 Lot size

20 Plaster backing

21 Popular spaghetti sauce

22 Tom Swift Jr. and His ___ (1954)

24 Tom Swift Jr. and His ___ (1954)

26 Cabell of baseball

27 Tic-tac-toe win 29 “___ expert,

65

129

53 John Wayne

67

71

DOWN

72

77

3

1

2

4

5 Nicholas Gage memoir

6

7

8 Before

17 Cartoonist Goldberg

28 Amp’s cousin

32 “___! 2 Shows Only!”

33 Longtime friend

34 Intention

35 Lower California

43 Out of the way

45 Actress Silverstone et al.

47 Digitally recorded, perhaps

49 Opera star Cecilia