Creative Loafing Tampa — October 5, 2023

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, Jourdan Ducat, Arielle Stevenson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Caesar Carbajal, Dave

Decker, Jourdan Ducat, James Ostrand

FALL INTERN Inquire by emailing rroa@cltampa.com

Story

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

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

CHAVA GROUP

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?

FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Michael Wagner

CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Music: Tampa Bay Blues Fest 40 Music Week ...................................................42

Cassandra Yardeni Wagner

DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY DIRECTOR

Concert review: Artic Monkeys 42

Colin Wolf

DIRECTOR OF AGENCY SERVICES

Mindi Overman

VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES Stacy Volhein OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Hollie Mahadeo

DIGITAL 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

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You’re the best

by

It was a night centered around the best that Tampa Bay has to offer. Last Wednesday evening, the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino played host to Creative Loafing’s 34th Best of the Bay celebration, and it was one for the books. Thank you to every local restaurant, bar, performer and artist that it made it a truly special night. See all the photos from the sold-out getdown, and links to all the winners, via cltampa.com/slideshows.

—Colin Wolf

Photos

Caesar Carbajal and James Ostrand

do this

Turnip the beat

Tampa Bay's best things to do from Ocotber 05 - 13

It’s no secret that the Saturday Morning Market is one of St. Pete’s most popular recurring events—and if you don’t know, just try to find parking within a five-block radius of the farmer’s market on any given weekend. After taking its annual hiatus between seasons, the market returns to the parking lot of Al Lang Stadium this weekend with its 10,000 or so shoppers in tow. From fresh produce and meat from Tampa Bay-based farms and locally-brewed coffee and kombucha to artisan goods and live music, this market is the ideal place for a quick breakfast, casual stroll, or one-stop shop for groceries. The market features over 130 vendors slinging their best wares each Saturday, and all of its produce and readymade food vendors accept SNAP, too. Saturday Morning Market—which is technically a nonprofit–launched in 2002 and has been an integral part of the landscape of St. Pete’s everchanging downtown area, and we hope it stays that way. Saturday Morning Market. Every Saturday until May 2024 . 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Al Lang Stadium, 230 1st St. SE, St. Petersburg. saturdaymorningmarket.com—Kyla Fields

Deep cuts

A bloody good time is on tap on Franklin Street this month when Tampa Theatre’s annual horror film series kicks off next Friday, Oct. 13 with a double feature (“Friday the 13th,” “13: Game of Death”). Saturdays this month include a matinee, plus two more films, with Sunday, Oct. 15 reserved for early evening, kid-friendly storytelling. Three of the movies (including “ The Addams Family” on Sunday, Oct. 15) are free for kids 12 and under. A dozen “Ghosts Of Tampa Theatre” tours are also on the books through Halloween, with a special, three-hour “Late-Night, LightsOff Paranormal Investigation” happening Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28. A Nightmare On Franklin St., Oct. 13-31. Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre. org—Ray Roa

Time to Shine

Believe it or not, there are still mural-less walls in St. Petersburg, and in its ninth year, the Shine Mural Festival (stylized “SHINE”) is gonna do something about it. For nine days, four international muralists—Loretta Lizzio (Australia), Dave Donza (London), plus Canada’s Andrea Wan and Bryan Beyung—join a lineup of four more U.S.-based artists and six Bay area locals to paint blank walls (and also update old ones with new art). A kickoff party happens next Friday-Saturday, Oct. 13-14 at 1934 2nd Ave. S, with art walks (Oct. 14), happy hours and art shows happening in the days after. Workshops are also part of the festivities, including a two-day cross-disciplinary session at Morean Arts Center (Oct. 21-22) where Tampa Bay poet Tyler Gillespie invites participants to watch Miami’s Douglas Hoekzema (aka Hoxxoh) bring his geometric design while creating their own ekphrastic copy. Shine Mural Festival. Various locations, St. Petersburg. stpeteartsalliance.org—Ray Roa

MARY EVANS/WARNER BROS.

CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR

Breach of privacy

Most haunted Halloween attractions have that level of comfort where you know one of the actors isn’t going to reach out and grab you. That doesn’t have to be the case at ScreamA-Geddon, which might be Tampa Bay’s freakiest horror house attractions. The park has five new haunts in 2023, including Breach, based around “OmniLabs Corporation — what once was a research laboratory and now, after rewiring organisms and experiencing crossspecies contamination, is crawling with gruesome, mutated species, waiting for their next victim.” Guests at least 18 years old have the option to “mark” themselves before entering, opening up the possibility of an interactive experience where they “may be grabbed, held back, sent into hidden rooms, removed from their group or even forced to remain…” For every “fuck that,” there’s someone out there reading this and saying, “fuck yeah!” Scream-A-Geddon. Daily through Nov. 4, $24.95 & up. 27839 Saint Joe Rd., Dade City. screamageddon.com—Ray Roa

Lord have mercy

Greek to me

Each year, St. Pete’s St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church and hundreds of its volunteers organize a massive, weekend-long celebration of Greek culture, food and history. Whether you’re attending for the wide variety of homemade food—including classic dishes like grilled gyros, souvlaki, moussaka, stuffed grape leaves, and loukoumades (pictured)—or interested in the traditional performances and dance lessons, this huge, indoor-outdoor festival offers festivities for both locals and tourists alike. “Everything we do is intended to help ignite your inner “Kefi”, which describes the Greek spirits of joy, passion, euphoria and enthusiasm all in one,” the church writes on social media. In addition to food, drinks and entertainment, this party also offers a raffle (with a $10,000 first prize,) a kid’s zone for the little ones, a spread of local vendors and Greek language lessons. Admission to each day of the Super Greek Festival costs $3 or is free if you’re a child under the age of 12, active military/law enforcement, a veteran or over the age of 75. RSVPing via Eventbrite is also encouraged. Super Greek Festival. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. $3. St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church, 3600 76th St. N, St. Petersburg. @supergreekfest on Facebook —Kyla Fields

There’s a lot of pandemic babies out there entering their toddler years, and Tampa Heights brewery Magnanimous Brewing is one of them. This craft brewery is celebrating its third anniversary by releasing 12 beers over the course of four days at both its Tampa and Bradenton locations. Day one starts with launching four canned variants of its Juice Lord Hazy IPA, followed by a variety of barrel-aged bottles on Friday and spread of nationwide collaboration brews on Saturday—which include double dry-hopped hazy IPA releases with Tennessee’s Xul Beer Company, Northeast-based Widowmaker Brewing and Vitamin Sea Brewing, and California’s North Park Beer Company. Its weekend-long anniversary releases wrap up on Sunday with a deep dive into the brewery’s archive, where regulars and beer nerds can enjoy some of Magnanimous’ exclusive brews on tap. In addition to these dozens of beer releases, its Tampa outpost will also host food trucks all weekend-long. While Magnanimous Brewing—a Tampa Bay Beer week favorite—is celebrating three years in Tampa Heights, its Brandenton taproom opened just last year. Magnanimous Brewing’s 3rd Anniversary. Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8 . Various times. No cover. Magnanimous Brewing, 1420 N Florida Ave., Tampa. magnanimousbrewing.com—Kyla Fields

POLITICS ISSUES OPINION

Dim Witt

Hillsborough GOP event to be hosted by conservative influencer who joked about sexual assault.

By Colin Wolf

The Hillsborough County Republican Party’s upcoming annual Reagan Dinner will have some big name conservatives in attendance, including a U.S. Senator, a DeSantis appointed State Attorney, and a right-wing influencer who not long ago was caught on video joking about sexual assault.

A flyer for the Hillsborough GOP’s Oct. 13 Reagan Day “Denim and Diamonds Bar-B-Que” event shows that Florida Sen. Rick Scott and District 13 State Attorney Susan Lopez are listed as guest speakers, and the master of ceremonies will be former PragerU contributor Will Witt.

In a now-deleted December 2019 Snapchat video obtained by Mediaite, Witt is seen saying “Yo, rape is hilarious,” while staring at the camera and holding a woman’s face down in his lap. According to the publication, the video was filmed in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a Turning Point USA conference was being held at the time.

Known as a popular conservative “influencer,” Witt is a college dropout and also a well-documented anti-LGBT, white nationalist, who has played up the racist “Great Replacement Theory” and “White Lives Matter” talking points.

It’s unclear exactly why the Hillsborough County GOP selected Witt as its event host, or if it was aware of his past comments. Though it is worth noting that Witt is currently touring behind his book “Do Not Comply,” he also scored a string of sit-down interviews with Florida governor and poll-tanking presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

Over the years, Witt rose to moderate conservative fame due to his short, man-onthe-street-style, videos that involve visiting college campuses and “owning the libs.” He currently runs a website called The Florida Standard, which hasn’t disclosed its funding and has been accused of acting as a pro-DeSantis propaganda mill.

Controversial restroom rule moves forward at Florida Universities

The state university system Board of Governors last month took a step in carrying out a controversial new law that includes requiring designation of restrooms for “exclusive use by females” and “exclusive use by males.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in May,

LOCAL NEWS

amid a series of measures in Florida and other states focused on transgender people. The Board of Governors approved moving forward with a notice of intent to adopt a new regulation about the designation of restrooms or having unisex restrooms.

“University employees who violate (the law), are subject to their university’s established disciplinary procedures, which must include disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal,” the proposed regulation said.

Universities are required to “provide documentation certifying their compliance” with the law by April 1. Amanda Phalin, a member

of the Board of Governors who also is a professor at the University of Florida, voted against moving forward with the regulation.

“In places where similar laws have been implemented, there has been an increase in harassment of people who were using or attempting to use the restroom,” Phalin said during a meeting of the board’s Facilities Committee, before the measure was taken up by the full board.

Phalin also recommended that the board keep and report data on any instances of harassment. Charles Lydecker, chairman of the Facilities Committee, told Phalin that he

“would be interested in hearing concerns that you have been made aware of.”

Equality Florida, an LGBTQ-advocacy organization, said in a statement after the Legislature approved the law in May that it “perpetuates discrimination and exclusion of transgender Floridians by prohibiting genderinclusive restrooms and changing rooms” in schools and other facilities.

The state Board of Education, which oversees the 28 schools in the public-college system, passed a similar rule in August. State colleges are required to have separate bathrooms and changing rooms “based on biological sex at birth” under the rule.

Regan Day Denim & Diamonds feat. State Attorney Suzy Lopez/Sen. Rick Scott/ Will Witt. Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. $100 & up. International Event Venue. 6463 W Hillsborough Ave. Tampa hillsborough.gop

WITT STAN: Will Witt (L) at the 2018 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“R— is hilarious.”

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Stay home

St. Pete City Council approves $100K for pilot eviction diversion program.

By Arielle Stevenson

Last Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council approved $100,000 for a pilot eviction diversion program in South St. Pete’s Community Redevelopment Area or CRA. The resolution allows any CRA resident facing eviction to access free legal counsel from the Community Law Program without any income restrictions. Community Law Program ran a similar project during the pandemic, but federal funding required additional financial documentation before accessing services.

will go towards hiring a full-time attorney for the program. The remaining $5,000 will go towards court fees. St. Pete’s economic development officer George Smith cited the difficulty of trying to rehouse someone with an eviction on their credit report.

“We want to assist them to move on to the next step without causing long-term harm,” Smith said at the meeting. “The intent is to minimize homelessness.”

HOUSING

“It’s great we can make our residents’ lives a lot easier,” Councilman Richie Floyd said at the meeting. “There wasn’t everything that I hoped for…but it’s a great first step at a program that can push for tenants’ rights, when we’re limited in a lot of other legal ways.”

After efforts to pass rent control or a housing state of emergency failed due to state preemption, Floyd proposed that the city fund a right to counsel for those facing eviction last April. Of the $100,000 proposed, $95,000

The 6-2 vote was opposed by council members Gina Driscoll and Ed Montanari. Montanari said he had concerns about the “legality of the program.” Driscoll said she was concerned about “misuse” of funds without an income requirement.

“I have some concerns about the fact we don’t have any income restrictions on this,” Driscoll said at the meeting. “I also had hoped we could come up with something citywide, because we have renters who need help everywhere.”

St. Pete’s community and neighborhood affairs administrator Amy Foster responded

that the citywide program would be based on the CRA pilot program’s findings, per the council’s original request.

“This is something y’all approved and asked us to move forward almost a year ago,” Foster said at the meeting. “Once the pilot gets off the ground, the plan is to bring forward something that would affect the whole city.”

Last fall, St. Pete was one of 13 cities chosen from 38 nationwide to participate in an intensive housing sprint with the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel or NCCRC. St. Pete was one of only two Florida cities that participated, along with Miami. Over eight weeks, the city’s administration, legal counsel, and Floyd learned the ins and outs of right-tocounsel implementation.

Last month, Foster told CL that tenants’ right to counsel has always had the administration’s “full support,” noting that the NCCRC sprint helped fine-tune the process. “Our housing sprint with the NCCRC allowed us to research and learn from other cities further along in the process,” Foster wrote.

In July, John Pollack, longtime coordinator with NCCRC, discussed the importance of the right to counsel in a place like Florida,

and added that his group “definitely talked to a lot of Florida cities about this.” Regarding preemption in Florida, Pollack says, preemption laws like Florida’s recent landlord-tenant act, are about regulating the landlord-tenant relationship, or changing the eviction process.

“Right to counsel isn’t either of those things,” Pollack said. “The city can choose to provide lawyers to tenants anytime it wants, whether there was a right to counsel or not.”

In March, Miami-Dade County funded a similar eviction diversion pilot program for $2.9 million. Broward’s proposed right-to-counsel program was shot down during last week’s county budget hearing.

With the passage of St. Pete’s eviction diversion resolution, St. Pete joins an estimated 23 right to counsel jurisdictions nationwide.

Council’s approval comes just weeks after PSTA’s decision to implement fares on St. Pete’s fare-free SunRunner, citing concerns over homeless riders.

“Either we help keep them in their homes today,” councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders said, “Or we’re going to be complaining because they’re at our bus stops tomorrow.”

RIGHTS ON: Housing activists outside St. Pete City Hall in February 2022.

DAVE DECKER

“It’s a great first step at a program that can push for tenants’ rights.”

RESTAURANTS RECIPES DINING GUIDES

Wiesn up This

month’s Oktoberfest

By Kyla Fields

to-dos.

Craft breweries in every corner of Tampa Bay love celebrating Oktoberfest every fall, each hosting their own versions of the world’s largest beer festival. From märzens and kölsches to pilsners and lagers, these Bavarian-themed parties feature some of the best German-style beer around—whether its imported from the motherland or brewed right here in Florida. For all the polka music-lovers and stein-hoisters out there— here are 25 Oktoberfest celebrations happening throughout Tampa Bay this fall. All events are free to attend unless an admission price is listed. Head to cltampa.com to check out an updated version of this list.

Yuengling’s Draft Haus & Kitchen

The massive Yuengling taproom and restaurant opened a few months ago and hosts its debut Oktoberfest party each weekend until mid-October. From Friday-Sunday guests can enjoy Oktoberfest-themed food menu, drink specials, live music and interactive games. Every Friday-Sunday until Oct. 15. Various times. 11109 N. 30th St. Tampa. yuengling.com

Dunedin Brewery For the 23rd year in a row, “the oldest microbrewery in Florida” hosts its multi-day Oktoberfest, complete with traditional German eats, live performances from local heavy hitters like Kristopher James, HoneyWhat and The New Rulers, and new seasonal beers on tap. Some of Dunedin Brewery’s fest beers include its Oktoberfest lager, a Lemon Haze Hefeweizen and an exclusive Roggenbier. WednesdaySunday, Oct. 4-8. Various times. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. dunedinbrewery.com

Woven Water Brewing This brewery’s beer party features all of the best aspects of an Oktoberfest celebration: festive music, a steinhoisting competition and all of the German pilsner and wheat beers you could ever want. Plus, customized Woven Water steins to sip out of. Saturday, Oct. 7. Noon. 456 W Columbus Dr., Tampa. wovenwaterbrew.com

TBBC After throwing down for Oktoberfest at its Westchase location last weekend TBBC (fka Tampa Bay Brewing Co.) brings the party to Ybor City where dunkel and pilsner will flow along with TBBC’s Oktoberfest marzen, Triple Kicked imperial IPA, and Imperial Gourds Gone Wild, a rich and roasty imperial stout with pumpkin pie spices, graham cracker, and vanilla flavors. Sunday, Oct. 7. 1 p.m.-7 p.m. No cover. 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City. tbbc.beer/ybor-city

DINING GUIDE

Oktoberfest Tampa The Bay area’s signature celebration, this massive Oktoberfest takes over downtown’s Curtis Hixon Park each fall, for a full weekend of boozy games (which attendees take very seriously), traditional German fare, and one-liter “Mass Beirs.” Next Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. $10$20. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. oktoberfesttampa.com

German American Society of Pinellas County

The German American Society of Pinellas County hosts a real-deal Oktoberfest at its Pinellas Park headquarters each fall. Folks attending this traditional celebration can expect polka music, cultural dances, a wide variety of beers, a spread of homemade German food (pretzels, bratwurst, potato pancakes, etc.), stein-hoisting competitions, local vendors and even a “Kinder Corner,” where kiddos can play and make crafts. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7. 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. germantampa.com

Barriehaus Beer Co. We’re not exactly sure what “sausage games” are, but Ybor City’s Barriehaus Beer Co. will surely teach us at its annual, weekend-long Oktoberfest party. Friday’s kick-off gig is free to attend, but it will cost $50 to get into Saturday’s festivities, which features live polka music, beer and sausage games (with a variety of prizes), a Barriehaus souvenir stein and access to beer pre-sales. Its weekend-long Oktoberfest party ends with a free, kid-friendly “Art-toberfest” celebration on Sunday. Next Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. Various times. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com

Oktoberfest @ Albert Whitted Park While downtown Tampa hosts its annual festival, another party across the bridge helps St. Petians celebrate Oktoberfest in a big way, too. This event hosted by 3 Daughters Brewing features a massive polka band, a Volkswagen car show, and all of the expected German dishes and beer. Next Saturday, Oct.

14. $15. 480 Bayshore Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. 3-daughters-brewing.com

Upper Tampa Bay Oktoberfest One of the more family-friendly celebrations on our radar, this Chamber of Commerce-hosted event is full of arts and crafts, weiner dog races, live music and a stein-hoisting competition for the adults. Next Friday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 22. $5.

11225 Race Track Rd., Tampa. eventbrite.com

Ulele Ages before Oktoberfest Tampa became the biggest local Oktober beer celebration, it used to hold parties on the grounds of what’s now Water Works Park. While Ulele—which opened

at Water Works Park well after Oktoberfest Tampa moved out in 2011—doesn’t have any specific Oktoberfest plans announced as of yet, its award-winning brewmaster Tim Shackton has created a new DryFall Tampa I.P.V.O. (India Pale Vienna Oktoberfest) which he sees as a farewell to months-long heat in Florida. The beer, according to a press release, combines “the bold and hoppy characteristics of an India Pale Ale (IPA) with the rich, malty sweetness of a Vienna Lager and the crisp, festive spirit of Oktoberfest.” It’s available now through the autumn. 1810 N Highland Ave, Tampa. @uleletampa on Instagram

FALL IN LINE: Tim Shackelton’s new beer at Ulele is a kiss goodbye to the summer.

Tapping in

South Tampa’s Tapper Pub gets new owners, plus more local foodie news.

By Jourdan Ducat and Kyla Fields

South Tampa’s Tapper Pub has changed hands. The sale of one of Tampa’s oldest bars was officially finalized last month, giving former owner Guido Caggiano and longtime bartender Kay some much needed time off. According to a Facebook post by Lynn Love of Tomlin Commercial Real Estate Services, the new owners, who were not named, intend to make only minor changes and continue the legacy Guido and his staff created. After this post was published, a SunBiz listing for “Tapper Pub, A Delaware LLC” appeared. The LLC is registered to Dovetail Property Management LLC, which has ties to Tampa Armature Works developer Adam Harden.

anchor of the Britton Plaza strip mall ever since. It’s unclear if the new owners intend to keep the bar smoking friendly, but it’s safe to say the delicious deli sandwiches will be around for years to come.

High-end omakase restaurant Kōsen opens in Tampa Heights next month

FOOD NEWS

“Guido Caggiano and his family have worked long and hard, and the new owners will continue the legacy they have built. Planning only thought out minor adjustments,” wrote Lynn. “It is of course with some mixed emotions for all. But Guido will get some time to relax and retire . But has a noted and standing reserved seat at the bar forever.”

Love was also involved in the recent sale of Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern on Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa.

Located at 3832 Britton Plaza, Tapper Pub first debuted back in 1967 and has been an

A unique fine dining concept will soon open its doors in Tampa Heights. High-end omakase restaurant Kosen lives at 307 West Palm Ave., right around the corner from Michelinstarred Italian restaurant Rocca and Armature Works. While a press release from its owners doesn’t specify a grand opening date, it states that K ō sen will debut sometime in October and is currently accepting reservations for next month. All reservation-related information can be found on kosentampa.com.

K ō sen’s offering is a unique, 20+ course reservation-only omakase menu at its 10-seat sushi counter, giving each guest an immersive and interactive dining experience. Adjacent to K ō sen’s intimate sushi bar is a 25-seat dining room named “K ō,” which will boast a 10-course tasting menu out of its open kitchen. K ō —which is set to open a few weeks after K ō sen—“will take a modern approach to Japan’s culinary

tradition of Kaiseki—showcasing the best of both land and sea.”

This new Tampa Heights concept will be led by New York-based Chef Wei Chen, who spent many years in Kyoto mastering the art of sushimaking. Notably, Chen trained for seven years under master sushi chef Masa Takayama at NYC’s leading omakase restaurant Masa, which has maintained its steady 3 Michelin stars for the last several years.

A chef-driven, omakase experience—which directly translates into “I leave it up to you”—at Masa costs about $750, but we can hope K ō sen’s options are a bit more accessible for Tampa’s average foodie. When the opening of K ō sen was announced last year, its owners estimated that its omakase dinners would run patrons $250 each.

Jimmy and Johnny Tung of the Central Florida-based Omei Restaurant Group—who’s Korean-American concept Doshi earned a spot on Orlando’s Michelin guide this year—are the forces behind Tampa Heights’ newest restaurant. In addition to K ō sen and Doshi, the James Beard-nominated duo also operate multiple locations of Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi and the Orlando-based French-Vietnamese spot Camille.

While K ō sen’s omakase offerings are highlyanticipated, other similar Tampa concepts include the Michelin-starred Koya and its Noble Rice sibling, Sushi Sho Rexley across the bridge in St. Pete and Hyde Park Village’s soon-to-open Japanese concept Ro, which will also be helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, Kiichi Okabe. For

the latest news on K ō sen and its highly-anticipated grand opening, follow its Instagram at @kosentamapa.

Mickey’s Subs in Tampa ranked No.1 restaurant in nation for cheap eats by USA Today

Tampa Bay has quite a few great spots for “cheap eats,” but one local sandwich joint is being recognized as the literal best in the country, according to USA Today.

The publication recently released its “Best Cheap Places to Eat in the U.S.” list and locallyowned Mickey’s Subs over in Westshore took the overall top spot, with Tampa Bay Empanadas coming in at No. 4. According to its findings, Tampa as a whole is the 10th best in the country for cheap eats, and is the only city with two 5-star budget restaurants.

“In August 2023, we analyzed Google ratings of 28,000 budget-friendly restaurants across 50 U.S. cities,” said USA TODAY. “We considered everything from major fast food chains to mom-and-pop joints slinging American comfort food, from coast to coast. The only qualifiers are that a restaurant has to be designated as one dollar sign on Google’s cost scale and have 200+ reviews.”

Located inside Duckweed Grocery at 5230 Bridge St., Mickey’s Subs opened in 2020 and uses locally baked bread, house-made sauces, and Boars Head meats. Sandwich prices run between $7.75-$14.95, and the menu span all the classics like Cubans, turkey clubs, Italians, and London Broils, all served on either a sixinch or foot-long roll.—Colin Wolf

PLEASE STAY: Tapper Pub debuted in 1967 and has been an anchor of Britton Plaza ever since.

Help CL with this evolving listing. Did we miss a brewery or leave out an important detail? Email rroa@cltampa. com and kyla@cltampa.com. Include brewery name, address, phone number and website, plus a short description of the unique offerings. (Last updated Aug. 10, 2023)

3 CAR GARAGE Small-batch craft beer and rotating food trucks plus live music and happy hour specials. 8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton. 941-741-8877, 3cargaragebrewing.com

3 DAUGHTERS BREWING One of downtown St. Pete’s most popular hangouts and a beautiful facility in which to drink some great brews. 222 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-4956002, 3dbrewing.com

3 KEYS BREWING South-of-the-Skyway restaurant and brewery specializing in small batches. 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. 951-218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com

5 BRANCHES BREWING Veteran-owned brewery, small batches from IPAs to stouts. Serving brews and a clear view of the Tarpon Bayou. 531 Athens St., Tarpon Springs. fivebranchesbrewing.com

7VENTH SUN BREWING Some of the best sours, IPAs and collabs going. Two locations. 1012 Broadway, Dunedin. 727-733-3013/6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-231-5900, 7venthsun.com

81BAY BREWING CO. South Tampa’s first craft brewery boasts a wide variety of styles. You can still drink it, but the taproom is closed for renovation. 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 813-837-BREW, 81baybrewco.com

ANECDOTE BREWING CO. Sip inside or on the patio of Indian Rocks Beach’s first micro brewery. 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach. anecdotebrewing.com

ANGRY CHAIR Crazy-good Seminole Heights beer, open Tuesday-Sunday, and its newly-opened taproom has tons of parking and a food shanty. 6401 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights. 813-238-1122, angrychairbrewing.com

ARKANE ALEWORKS A wide variety of styles and flavors from the second brewery to open in Largo. 2480 E. Bay Dr., #23, Largo. 727-270-7117, arkanebeer.com

BARRIEHAUS BEER CO. Lager-specific brewery, carrying on a more than 150 year brewing legacy. 1403 E 5th Ave., Ybor City. barriehaus.com

BASTET Named after the Egyptian cat-goddess, the brewery offers seasonal ales, ciders and even the occasional ginger beer. 1951 E Adamo Dr. Suite B, Tampa. bastetbrewing.com

BAYBORO BREWING CO. Veteran-owned kid-friendly brewery that has tons of events to go with its creative tap list. 2390 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-767-9666, bayborobrewing.com

BEACH ISLAND BREWERY Artisanal-style nano brewery in Dunedin. 2058 Bayshore Blvd. Suite 5, Dunedin. 352-541-0616

BIG STORM BREWING CO. Stop by this Pasco brewery’s Storm Room for a flight, or visit their taproom on 49th Street in Clearwater, too. 2330 Success Dr., Odessa. 727-807-7998, bigstormbrewery.com

BIG TOP BREWING Perhaps Sarasota’s premier purveyor of locally crafted beer, Big Top’s reputation has spread far beyond the region. 6111 Porter Way, Sarasota. 941-371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com

BOOTLEGGERS BREWING CO. This Brandon taproom from Bootleggers Beer & Wine Home Brewing Supplies offers house-made suds and guest beers. 652 Oakfield Dr., Brandon. 813-643-9463, bootleggersbrewco.com

BREW HUB Some of the area’s best beers are produced here along with suds for their own label. 3900 Frontage Rd. S., Lakeland. 863-698-7600, brewhub.com

BREW LIFE BREWING Ultra-small batches and a lot of ‘em. 5765 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota. 941-952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com

BRIGHTER DAYS BREW CO. Tarpon Springs spot specializing in music-inspired brews like the “So Fresh n’ So Clean sour” and “All the Single Belgians.” 311 N Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs. 7272-940-2350

BULLFROG CREEK BREWING CO. A multitude of styles from former garage brewers is on tap in Valrico. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. 813-703-8835, bullfrogcreekbrewing. com

CAGE BREWING Custom brews in the Grand Central District from one of the ‘Burg’s best brewery-music venues. 2001 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-201-4278. cagebrewing.com

CALEDONIA BREWING Great in-house beers in the historic DunedinTimes building. 587 Main St., Dunedin. 727351-5105, caledoniabrewing.com

CALUSA BREWING Family owned and operated, opened Tuesday to Sunday. 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. 941-922-8150, calusabrewing.com

CARROLLWOOD BREWING CO. “Secret” brewing action inside the Carrollwood location of craft-bar chain The Brass Tap. 10047 N. Dale Mabry HWY, STE 23, Tampa. 813-969-2337

CIGAR CITY BREWING Tampa’s most famous craft brewery. There’s also a taproom at Amalie Arena. 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa. 813-348-6363, cigarcitybrewing.com

CLEARWATER BREWING CO. Community-oriented and socially and environmentally conscious. 1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. clearwaterbrewingcompany.com

COMMERCE BREWING Live entertainment events and a wide variety of brews live here. 521 Commerce Drive S, Largo. commercebrewing@gmail.com

COMMON DIALECT BEERWORKS Seminole Heights’ new family and dog friendly brewery—located right next to the Health Mutt pet store—has a familial and welcoming feel for all walks of life, plus beer from Mike Conze. 5023 N Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-443-6659. commondialectbeer.com

COPP WINERY & BREWERY One stop for all wine bar and brewery needs in Crystal River. 7855 W Gulf Lake Highway, Crystal River. 352-228-8103, coppbrewery.com

COPPERTAIL BREWING CO. Some of Tampa’s best beer, in one of its best tasting rooms. 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. 813247-1500, coppertailbrewing.com

CORPORATE LADDER BREWING COMPANY Brewery focused on customer experience and celebrating social gatherings. 4935 96th St. E, Palmetto. 941-479-4799, corporateladderbrewing.square.site

COTEE RIVER BREWING Craft beer in the heart of historic downtown New Port Richey. 5760 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-807-6806, coteeriverbrewing.com

CRAFT LIFE BREWING Small-batch local brews and a sort of playground or LoL’s craft brewing guild. 4624 Land O’

Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-575-8440. facebook.com/

CraftLifeBrewing

CROOKED THUMB BREWERY Safety Harbor’s first brewery boasts homegrown flavor and local guest taps. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com

CUENI BREWING CO. Located off the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. 945 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. 727-266-4102, cuenibrewing.com

CYCLE BREWING One of St. Pete’s favorites. 534 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7954. cyclebrewing.com

DADE CITY BREW HOUSE The heart of downtown Dade City’s destination for original beers, wines and ciders. 14323 7th St., Dade City. 352-218-3122, dadecitybrewhouse.com

DARWIN BREWING CO. Unique beers crafted with South American influence. 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. 941-747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com

DE BINE BREWING CO. This addition bolsters the Northern Pinellas craft beer scene. 933 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-233-7964.

DENTED KEG ALE WORKS Local brewery nestled in downtown New Port Richey. 5500 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-232-2582, dentedkegaleworks.com

DEVIANT LIBATION Latest project from local beer god Tim Ogden housed in the soon-to-open art collective Crab Devil. 3800 N Nebraska Ave., 727-379-4677, deviantlibation.com

DISSENT CRAFT BREWING CO. Unique flavors and adventurous style outside downtown St. Pete. 5518 Haines Rd. N., St. Petersburg. 727-342-0255. @dissentcraftbrewing on Facebook

DUNEDIN BREWERY Florida’s oldest. Beer, eats and live music in what’s now become an iconic setting. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com

DUNEDIN HOUSE OF BEER This beer stop brews its own, and also has 40 guest taps. 927 Broadway, Dunedin. 727 2166318, dunedinhob.com

ESCAPE BREWING CO. Another very worthy OdessaTrinity destination. 9945 Trinity Blvd., Suite 108, Trinity. 727-807-6092, escapebrewingcompany.com

FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. Beer for the Sunshine State brewed in a family-friendly taproom. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel. 813-452-6333, floridaavebrewing.com

FLORIDA BREWERY Built in 1937, the second oldest brewery in Florida offers a Lager-focused brew menu. 202 Gandy Rd., Auburndale. 863-965-1825

FOUR STACKS BREWING An always-changing lineup of local and regional guest suds, along with trivia, live music and more. 5469 N. US HWY 41, Apollo Beach. 813-641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.com

FRONT PAGE BREWING CO. This Bartow brewery offers Wednesday trivia, Thursday bingo and live music on the weekends. 190 S Florida Ave., Bartow. 863-537-7249, frontpagebrewing.com

GRAND CENTRAL BREWHOUSE

10,270 square-foot brewery, taproom, beer garden, and event venue with a lagerfocused tap list. 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-202-6071, grandcentralbrew.com

GREEN BENCH BREWING COMPANY A space worthy of the adventurous beers it produces. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-800-9836, greenbenchbrewing.com

GOOD LIQUID BREWING CO. Thirty taps and food (and a coffee roaster!) from a husband-and-wife duo. 4824 14th St. W., Bradenton. 941-896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com

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3 Daughters Brewing

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GRINDHAUS BREW LAB Small batches and no extracts. 1650 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater. 727-240-0804, grindhausbrewlab.com

GULFPORT BREWERY + EATERY Small batches with an artisanal food menu. 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. @ GulfportBrewery on Facebook

HIDDEN SPRINGS ALE WORKS This Tampa Heights brewery features a rotating tap selection. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-226-2739, hiddenspringsaleworks.com

HOB BREWING CO. Rotating taps, with some brewed on-site and alongside a combination of local breweries plus local and international craft beer makers. 931 Huntley Ave., Dunedin. hob.beer

IF I BREWED THE WORLD A self-described “mixtape of breweries” with a bit of everything from the classic to the fun and outrageous. 2200 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-2014484, ifibrewedtheworld.com

IN THE LOOP BREWING Family-friendly with a lot of community support and plenty of events. 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. 813-997-9189, intheloopbrewingcompany.com

INFUSION BREWING CO. Another great location in the good-beer-packed Trinity/New Port Richey area. 6345 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. 7272-484-4757

KEEL FARMS AGRARIAN ALE + CIDER Tasty brews from the folks behind Keel & Curley winery. 5210 W. Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City. 813-752-9100, keelandcurleywinery.com

KING STATE This Tampa spot is a beer brewer, a coffee roaster and whatever else it wants to be. 520 E Floribraska Ave., Tampa. 813-221-2100, king-state.com

LAGERHAUS BREWERY & GRILL A Palm Harbor bar and eatery that offers seasonal brews to complement their regulars. 3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor. 727-216-9682, lagerhausbrewery.com

LATE START BREWING Beloved Tampa label formerly doing its thing inside the Pour House, but now building a new location nearby. In the meantime contract brewing out of Magnanimous and Angry Chair currently and available at most boutique on premise locations and limited box stores. 1018 E Cass St., Tampa, latestartbrewing.com

LEAVEN BREWING Riverview’s first brewery is run by folks who’ve got experience brewing big and small. 11238 Boyette Rd., Riverview. 813-677-7023, leavenbrewing.com

LIQUID GARAGE CO. Trendy one offs and traditional styles all in Jeffery Ashline’s industrial and automotive-themed taproom. 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey. 727645-5885. theliquidgarage.com

MAD BEACH CRAFT BREWING Brews, ciders and meads by the beach. 12945 Village Boulevard, Madeira Beach. 727-3620008, madbeachbrewing.com

MAGNANIMOUS BREWING In a warehouse a half-block north of I-75, this addition to Tampa’s beer scene provides a large variety to drink in or to go curbside pickup. 1410 Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-415-3671, magnanimousbrewing.com

MARKER 48 Hernando’s first production craft brewery with tasting room and beer garden 12147 Cortez Blvd, Weeki Wachee. 352-606-2509, marker48.com

MASTRY’S BREWING CO. From CD Roma’s restaurant to sweet new digs on St. Pete Beach. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. 727-202-8045, mastrysbrewingco.com

MOTORWORKS BREWING A taproom and beer garden featuring full liquor and wine as well as 30 taps. 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton. 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com

MR. DUNDERBAK’S The longtime restaurant, biergarten and homebrewers’ hangout is serving up its own beers. 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. 813-977-4104, dunderbaks.com

OFF THE WAGON BREWERY Venice’s first micro-brewery and burger spot in one. 2107 S Tamiami Trail, Venice. 941-4972048, otwbar.com

OLDE FLORIDA BREWING Largo’s newest craft brewery is open Tuesday through Sunday. 1158 7th St. NW, Largo. 727229-8010, @oldefloridabrew on Facebook

OVERFLOW BREWING St. Pete spot courtesy of local Rapp head brewer Troy Bledsoe and company. 770 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-914-0665, facebook.com/overflowbrewingco

OZONA BREWING COMPANY Fresh, local craft beer made on site, wine, food and live entertainment in the heart of Ozona. 315 Orange St., Palm Harbor. 920-392-9390, ozonabrewing.com

PEPPER BREWING The Angry Pepper Taphouse’s inhouse label, available “on a limited basis.” 9366 Oakhurst Rd., Seminole. 727-596-5766, angrypeppertaphouse.com

PESKY PELICAN BREW PUB This beachy restaurant also offers up its own beers thanks to an in-house nano system. 923 72nd. St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-302-9600, peskypelicanbrewpub.com

PINELLAS ALE WORKS PAW offers a dog-friendly environment in addition to tasty brews. 1962 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-235-0970, pawbeer.com

POUR HOUSE With new release events and special feature nights, Pour House celebrates all things beer. 1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-402-2923, pourhousetampa.com

PYE ROAD MEADWORKS Located in Odessa, Pye Road focuses on mead but also keeps beer and wine in house for naysayers of the fermented honey drink. 8533 Gunn Hwy., Odessa. 813-510-3500, pyeroad.com

RAPP BREWING COMPANY The late Greg Rapp’s award-winning styles carefully crafted. 10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole. 727-544-1752, rappbrewing.com

SARASOTA BREWING COMPANY House-crafted brews, pizza, and sports out toward beautiful Siesta Key. 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota. 941-925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com

SEA DOG BREWING One Treasure Island craft brewery location and one cantina location in Clearwater. 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island/ 26200 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater. 727-954-7805, seadogbrewing.com

SESH The newest concept from the owners of Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. is also a restaurant serving craft cocktails and house-brewed craft beers, seltzers and ciders. 2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-933-0266. seshstpete.com

SILVERKING BREWING CO. This space in Tarpon Springs complements a label that’s been around since 2012. 325 E Lemon St., Tarpon Springs. 727-422-7598, silverkingbrewing. com

SIX TEN BREWING Wide variety and a real passion for the craft-brew community. 7052 Benjamin Rd., Tampa. 813-8860610, sixtenbrewing.com

SOGGY BOTTOM BREWING More Dunedin goodness, including some truly original flavors and inventive brews. 660 Main St., Dunedin. 727-601-1698, soggybottombrewing.com

SOUTHERN BREWING & WINEMAKING Multiple brews only available in its tasting room, as well as products and guidance for homebrewers. 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800, southernbrewingwinemaking.com

SOUTHERN LIGHTS BREWING CO. Only the finest hops, grains and natural ingredients go into these handcrafted small-batch ales and lagers. 2075 Sunnydale Blvd., Clearwater. 727-6484314, southernlightsbrewing.com

ST. PETE BREWING COMPANY

Beers crafted specifically for the climate. 544 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-692-8809, stpetebrewingcompany. com

STILT HOUSE BREWERY Friendly joint specializes in high-ABV ales and other styles you won’t find elsewhere. 625 U.S. Hwy Alt. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-270-7373, stilthousebrewery.com

SWAN BREWING Nearly four decades of combined brewing experience go into the offerings at this pet-friendly joint. 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland. 863-703-0472, swanbrewing.com

TAP THIS! BAR AND BREWING CO. Neighborhood beer and wine sports bar. 10730 US-19, Port Richey. 727-378-4358, tapthisbar.com

TBBC Formerly Tampa Bay Brewing Co., local favorite for nearly two decades with two locations including one in the heart of historic Ybor City. 1600 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City/13933 Monroe’s Business Park, Westchase. 813-247-1422, tbbc.beer

THIRSTY BUFFALO BREWING COMPANY Located at The Hub, Land O’Lakes’ new brewery features ales, IPAs, the Midnight Bull vanilla milk stour and a coffee blonde made with beans from Bexley-based Yummee Coffee Roasters. 16794 Focus Loop, Land O’ Lakes. 813-475-5591. thirstybuffalobrew. com

TEMPLE OF BEER Taproom at The Brutalist with 20 constantly rotating taps of Florida’s best brews. 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-350-3055, templeofbeer.com

THREE BULLS TAVERN & BREWERY Small-batch hand crafted beer and food made from scratch wrapped in creative atmosphere. 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. 813-381-3853, threebullstavern.com

TIDAL BREWING COMPANY Small batches in Spring Hill. 14311 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill. 352-701-1602, tidalbrewingfl. com

TROUBLED WATERS BREWING An easygoing taproom featuring draft and bottled craft brews, billiards and live music. 670 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-221-9973, troubledwatersbeer.com

TWO FROGS BREWING COMPANY Tarpon Springs’ latest brewery and taproom focuses on American ale styles. 151 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-6077, @twofrogsbrewing on Facebook

TWO LIONS WINERY & PALM HARBOR BREWERY

Wine and beer brewed in-house. 1022 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor. 727-786-8039, twolionswinery.com

ULELE SPRING BREWERY Beer crafted in accordance with traditional Bavarian purity laws, inside a gorgreous municpial pump house turned award-winning restaurant. 1810 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. 813-999-4952, ulele.com

UNREFINED BREWING All-natural and only in-season ingredients go into these craft brews. 312 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-940-4822, unrefinedbrewing.com

WELTON BREWING CO. A brewery and oyster bar all wrapped up in one Land O’Lakes location. 2624 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’Lakes. 813-820-0050, thebrewcraftery.com

THE WILD ROVER BREWERY What started as an English pub in Odessa is now a higher-production facility in Westchase. 13921 Lynmar Blvd., Tampa. 813-475-5995, thewildroverbrewery.com

WOODWRIGHT BREWING COMPANY Traditional German styles in downtown Dunedin. 985 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-238-8717. woodwrightbrewing.com

WOVEN WATER BREWING CO. Tampa Heights brewery with a focused menu often using fresh fruit as part of its beers. 456 W Columbus Drive, Tampa. 813-443-9463, wovenwaterbrew.com

WULFAVEN BREWING CO. Carrollwood’s new brewery, making crisp and clean beers, but also some juicy and bitter IPAs and pale ales for the hop-chasers. 10828 Perez Dr., Tampa. 813-374-8226. wulfaven.com

YUENGLING BREWING CO. One of just two U.S. Yuengling destinations, and now home to recently-opened Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen. 11111 N 30th St., Tampa. 813-972-8529, yuengling.com

ZEPHYRHILLS BREWING COMPANY East Paco’s first microbrewery. 38530 5th Ave., Zephyrhills. 813-715-2683, zbcbeer.com

ZYDECO BREW WERKS Craft brews in Ybor thanks to an award-winning brewmaster, as well as full bars and NOLAinfluenced cuisine. A second location at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry is in the works. 1902 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. 813-252-4541, zydecobeer.com

TBBC

TBBC.BEER/FACEBOOK

REVIEWS PROFILES MUSIC WEEK

Dehd, and alive

Indie trio Dehd brings its Chicago charm to Tampa for the first time.

By Kyla Fields

On Jan. 8, 2020, longtime Tampa promoter Aestheticized announced that Chicagobased indie rock band Dehd was set to play Hooch and Hive that April. The trio—made up of bassist/singer Emily Kempf, drummer Eric McGrady and vocalist/guitarist Jason Balla— was about to make its debut trek into Florida when coronavirus and the global pandemic that ensued shut the world down momentarily.

Three-ish years, a few tours, and two fulllength albums later, the indie outfit heads back to Florida to fulfill the dreams of fans—like the one writing this very article—that have been patiently waiting for its return.

While next Thursday marks Dehd’s first Tampa show, the trio briefly ventured into the Sunshine State in 2021 for an eight-song set at St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Festival. On its drive back to Chicago, Dehd proudly sported a “Salt Life” bumper sticker on their van, invoking an ironic, yet playful interest in Florida culture (although the sticker has since been removed after Balla, Kempf and McGrady were made aware of the Salt Life cofounder’s recent murder conviction.)

INTERVIEW

Dehd was scheduled to play Hooch and Hive in 2020, a venue with a capacity of about 150. In 2023, the band—fresh off of playing its biggest crowd yet at Lollapalooza this summer—will soon bring its reverb-heavy riffs and symbiotic vocals to Orpheum, which can accommodate about 400 people inside. The juxtaposed capacity of these venues truly speak to just how popular Dehd has grown over the past few years. Even Balla himself is surprised that the Midwestern outfit hasn’t ventured into Florida’s swamps yet.

“We’ve been touring for like seven years and it’s kinda insane to me we haven’t had a headlining show in Florida yet,” Balla tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay in an email (Kempf just got married in the middle of the New Mexico desert, and McGrady has never been fond of interviews, so Balla is answering for his bandmates) “Just excited to catch the vibe of how y’all do it down there. Maybe catch a sunburn. Maybe make a couple gator sightings?!”

In addition to Tampa, Dehd is doing what bands of its caliber rarely do these days—an extensive run of Florida shows that span the entire state. In addition to Orpheum, Dehd will play for a few hundred sweaty fans in Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando—also hitting these cities for the first time in the band’s existence.

While the trio is steadily rising to the top of indie-rock fame and continuously playing larger and larger crowds, Balla says that he’s looking forward to the intimate audiences that he and his bandmates will play in front of this month.

“Festivals are always fun, but the shows I love the most are intimate rooms. Festivals feel larger than life, but it’s a little harder to connect on a more personal level with the crowd. There’s these big barricades, all these cameras, the sunshine... it can get a little distracting,” Balla explains. “There’s nothing like being in a smaller room and close to the crowd. We can see each other’s faces without a jumbo screen or any of that—that’s when it feels most exciting.”

While its setlist may be compiled of songs that span all the way back to 2016, Tampeños can definitely expect a few tracks off of Dehd’s latest album, 2022’s Blue Skies — a 13-track LP filled with upbeat singles led by Kempf’s powerhouse vocals (“Bad Love”) and Balla-led tracks like “Palomino,” which serves as a soothing respite between heavy-hitting bops. Notably, McGrady only uses one floor tom, a snare and a sampler for percussion instead of a traditional drum kit, which creates a simple, yet echoing rhythm to each song.

Wonderfully tear-jerking and relatable lyrics aside, Kempf’s ability to roar, shriek, scream and yip with the gusto of Janis Joplin and the

androgyny-invoking tone of Tracy Chapman is one of the most unique aspects of Dehd’s sound, which its “indie-rock” categorization rarely encapsulates.

While “Bad Love” is its newest and perhaps the most comprehensive work, I always come back to one of Dehd’s very first releases, 2017’s Fire of Love EP.

Much to my surprise and delight, Balla agrees, saying “those songs are super special to me.”

“We are always making music and each album we make is a little doorway to a different time—it’s a way to relate to older versions

of myself or to see from a different perspective I might not have anymore,” he adds.

What started as a handful of fuzzy, lo-fi songs with call-and-response vocals grew into all-encompassing rock anthems that will reverberate through the walls of a Tampa venue for the very first time this week. For a band of only three people, Dehd can sure make a lot of noise.

Pitchfork deemed Dehd’s 2020 album Fire of Devotion as the “perfect road-trip album,” and it will certainly be on repeat as I drive to three of Dehd’s Florida shows after three years of patient anticipation.

ADDICT-DEHD: Dehd (L-R, Jason Balla, Emily Kempf, Eric McGrady) will tour the Sunshine State for the first time.

ALEXA VISCIUS

“There’s nothing like being in a smaller room and close to the crowd.. that’s when it feels most exciting.”

By Josh Bradley & Ray Roa C CL Recommends

THU 05

Avey Tare w/Geologist/Alien House Tampa is one Panda Bear and Deakin away from an Animal Collective reunion next Thursday when David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Brian Weltz (aka Geologist) play the New World Music Hall. Portner, 44, is on the road supporting a March album, 7s , made for folks who love psychedelic-pop and watching artists hunch over their keyboards and samplers. On it, he sings about love (although you’ll only really be able to understand half the words) and his time in the music biz. Weltz, for his part, has been unleashing episodes of his excellent monthly NTS Radio program, “The O’Brien System,” and letting listeners into all of the weird experimental music he’s been digging through. Tampa producer duo Alien House opens the show. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)

Ashnikko w/Audrey Nuna On their debut, concept album Weedkiller, Ashton Casey— a.k.a. Ashnikko—portrays a fairy surrounded by a machine called the Weedkiller, said to represent the shitty state of the environment, technology heading on the path to going a little too far, and every unnecessary adversity they have faced in life. The 27-year-old’s current run of shows contains most of the record’s tracks, but—understandably—no sign of “Boss Bitch,” the “Birds Of Prey” track they co-wrote with Doja Cat three years ago. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Jose Valentino & Eternal Power The 35-year-old jazzman, Christian artist, and producer—halfway to becoming an EGOT, no less—kicks off the EMIT Latin Jazz Fest with his four-piece ensemble, performing cuts from its recently-dropped 20th album, Eternal Power. (Music Center at St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg)

Tierney Sutton The 60-year-old jazz singer and her band—specifically pianist Christian Jacob—was personally approached by Clint Eastwood last decade, to soundtrack “Sully,” the 2016 film adaptation of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s autobiography. The soundtrack was her only creation of the 2010s that did not get a Grammy nomination, and will remain a small footnote in her Largo set, which promises plenty of vocal jazz standards, and maybe even a few numbers from the Golden Age of Hollywood. (Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo)

FRI 06

Christian Nodal The Mexican-born “mariacheño” artist plays a cross between mariachi and norteño styles and has had a pretty remarkable 2023. While on the heels of a new EP, Forajido 2—described by Nodal

as a sextet of songs about “love, heartbreak, spite and illusion”— his partner Cazzu—an Argentine musician—gave birth to a baby girl last month. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)

Guy Average w/Black Ace/Johnny Champagne/Scxtt Aye Behind the scenes over the last couple of years, Marcos Coronado has lent his talents to some of the Bay area’s best artists, but on his debut fulllength, the producer-songwriter-singer better known as Guy Average takes the Hinges off and lets listeners into his world. For 22 minutes, Coronado—together with an all-star cast of Tampa talent including bassist-producer Brendan Porter, saxophonist Nick Bredal (aka

The Urbane Cowboys Seminole Heights’ revered indie-bar turns 14 this weekend with some rock (Four Star Riot plays on Sunday), but kicks the festivities off with twang, care of Urbane Cowboys, which loves it some Whiskeytown, Social Distortion and even Hank Sr. The party—no cover, mind you—continues on Saturday with jazz from Berklee-educated guitarist Scott Murley. (Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa)

SAT 07

Chicago There might not be a more iconic Clearwater-born restaurant chain than Hooters. And to celebrate 40 turns around the sun (that’s a lot of chicken wings), the concept is sponsoring this concert featuring three original members of the classic-rock orchestra Chicago: Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, and James Pankow. Net proceeds from the literal “Saturday In the Park” benefit Moffitt Cancer Center and Morton Plant Mease Hospital. (The Sound, Clearwater)

Glove w/Romeo Blu/DJ Mute City Synthdriven post-punk band Glove—which opened for Jack White and Nation Of Language— just doesn’t play around these parts a lot. Its 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 and feature live sets from Bay area and national bands, with Glove playing a full band set this weekend alongside Romeo Blu, the synth-pop project of Merchandise frontman Carson Cox. (The Bends, St. Petersburg)

ChootyB), plus The Fuss guitarist Graham Bhuyan and his bandleader Jst Ray—runs through R&B that’ll arouse fans of the sexed up swag of groups like Blackstreet, the elusiveness of Frank Ocean, and those drawn to the jazzy-wit of early-aughts favorites like Lucy Pearl. Stick around for the Spanish-language, breathy, acoustic bedroom-ready tune hidden at the end of Hinges , and expect nothing less than a who’s who of next-generation Tampeño talent in the crowd at this release show where Johnny Champagne opens with his excellent Cigar Box beat tape in tow. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)

Emit Latin Jazz Fest: Gilberto Garcia & The Latin Knights After kicking off Thursday, St. Pete’s Emit Latin Jazz Fest (stylized "EMIT") continues in the Warehouse District with an ensemble led by percussionist Gilberto Nino Garcia (playing Friday), plus Afro-Latin offerings from the group led by another percussionist (Dimas Sánchez, Saturday). For bonus jazz, head to the other side of town when Brazilian jazz collective O som do Jazz plays the just-opened New Tampa Performing Arts center. More information is available via emitseries.org.

H.O.P.E. Fest: Katara w/Send and Delete/Lot Lizards/Arcane Arcade/June Bunch/Guianna/more For its day-long mental health fundraiser benefiting Metro Inclusive Health of Tampa Bay, New World Brewery will activate both its music hall and garden stages for nearly 12 hours of folk, rock and more. (New World Brewery, Tampa)

Heart By Heart It’s easy to forget that Ann and Nancy Wilson were not the entirety of Heart. We hope that they get to hug out their issues before it’s too late, but in the meantime, founding members Steve Fossen and Michael DeRosier still play material from Wilson sisters’ first six albums, with—in true Heart fashion—a few classic rock covers sprinkled in. Somar Macek and Lizzy Daymont take on frontwomen duties. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)

Ladies R&B Kickback: Jagged Edge/ Dru Hill/Lloyd/Bobby V/Case/more If the idea of an R&B quiet storm was a concert, this would be it. Featuring an all-star cast of late-’90s and 2000s acts—including “Let’s Get Married” hitmaker Jagged Edge, Sisqo-led Dru Hill, Case and more—the Ladies R&B Kickback happens this weekend at the local midsize arena on the campus of the University of South Florida. (Yuengling Center, Tampa)

Outlaw Music Festival: Willie Nelson & Family w/The Avett Brothers/Gov’t Mule/ Elizabeth Cook/Particle Kid Oddly enough, the three headliners for Tampa’s stop on Willie Nelson’s annual Outlaw Music Festival tour have all rolled into town in the last year. Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule headlined Clearwater Jazz Holiday late last October, The Avett Brothers staged an uplifting, harmonious set at Day 2 of Innings Fest last March, and the 90-year-old country legend played 24 songs in an hour at a scorching, very-soldout set Florida Strawberry Festival. Fans also get to see Willie’s son Micah twice, as both a member of his dad’s band, and as the show’s opening act, Particle Kid. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

Switchfoot w/Arlie For probably-unrelated-to-Taylor-Swift reasons, San Diego rock outfit Switchfoot recently re-recorded its 2003 album The Beautiful Letdown , which turned 20 earlier this year. After spending last year co-headlining gigs with Collective Soul—including one that stopped in Clearwater—the group behind “Meant To Live” will play said album on shuffle, along with a fistful of other hits across its 26-year career. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Unearth w/Revocation/Entheos/High

Command Despite this year’s release of The Wretched; the Ruinous , Boston-based metalcore band Unearth has brought in Peter Layman—formerly of math rock outfit Apiary—to fill in for founding rhythm guitarist Ken Susi, currently on hiatus from recording and touring with the band. Fellow Bostonian group Revocation—which opens Unearth’s first gig in town since 2018—is down to a trio at this point, and played Orpheum earlier this year, promoting its own new record, Netherheaven . (Orpheum, Tampa)

SUN 08

Four Star Riot You only turn 14 once, you know. As part of Independent’s weekendlong birthday party, Four Star Riot—fresh off of a new album, Modern Living —is set to stage its first gig since release day. The band’s six-track, guitar-loaded album—its first release since 2018—laments how constant adversities in 2023 are beyond capable of putting a damper on even your dream career (“Wrapped Up”), as well as a title track consisting of wishful thinking about social media and news coverage not having such a central presence. In the days leading up to frontman Steve Alex and company’s set, The Urbane Cowboys kick off the party on Friday, and Scott Murley Trio takes over on Saturday night. (Independent Bar & Cafe, Tampa)

Kings Kaleidoscope w/Mike Mains & The Branches

The electronic alt-rock band is well aware that touring has changed drastically in the last year. “Last year, there were a lot of things playing in Kings’ favor: two new singles, new music videos, the band hadn’t toured in several years, people were finally coming out in force post-COVID, and Kings was debuting a new album nobody had even heard yet,” the band wrote in a newsletter. Though tickets were not originally in high demand, Kings Kaleidoscope’s Tampa—more specifically, Ybor City—debut is sold out to the max. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

MON 09

Diiv The night before shooting over to Orlando to open for Depeche Mode, Zachary Cole Smith’s decade-old indie-rock project (stylized "DIIV") will make its Tampa debut, staging three albums worth of “rich, propulsive dream pop.” (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Peelander-Z w/Dog Party Seeing

Peelander-Z at Orpheum is kind of a rite-ofpassage for any self-respecting Bay area live music fan, and the self-described ““Japanese action comic punk band” never disappoints. If you need a primer, find the “Mad Tiger” documentary which is kind of like an all-access pass to the madness. Sisters Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles bring their indie, genre-defying rock band Dog Party to open the show. (Orpheum, Tampa)

TUE 10

Big Boi Atlanta-based rapper and producer Big Boi—most known for being one half of Outkast—headlines a free pre-game show as part of the Lightning’s “Game One” party. Mr. Boi takes the stage at 3:15 p.m. and the puck drops at 5:30 p.m. This season’s kick-off party also features a ton of giveaways (including free Lightning tickets), food and drink specials and photo opportunities on the Lightning’s blue carpet. It’s no surprise that the team is kicking its season off with Big Boi, considering the rapper helped the Lightning celebrate its 2021 Stanley Cup win, although his performance unfortunately got rained out. Although the Grammy awardwinning artist hasn’t released an album since 2017’s Boomiverse , we hope to hear classics like “Shutterbug” and “All Night” alongside

his new single “Tell C-Bone” during the rapper’s 45 minute set. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)—Kyla Fields

Morrissey Not quite canceled like Ryan Adams—who recently played the same room—the 64-year-old charming man cuts a controversial presence that can be easy to hate (fitting, he wrote Viva Hate after all) considering how he alienated his bandmates in The Smiths, canceled lots of shows (including one this June), supported Nationalist ideals and had to defend himself in court over allegations of racism. Still, the show comes ahead of Morrissey’s forthcoming album Without Music The World Dies , which a press release describes as “an explicit declaration of love for music, which has made him one of the most acclaimed voices of the last four decades.” Fans will surely sing along to every word of classics like “How Soon Is Now?,” “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” and “Suedehead,” but rest assured, “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” might hate you, too. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

Noah Kahan w/Samia You could say that Stick Season —the latest album from 26-year-old Noah Kahan—is his folklore He takes the “pop” out of indie-pop, and leans heavily on his experiences in the time of year between fall and the bitter winters of New England. He breaks out mandolins (“All My Love”) and banjos (“Dial Drunk”), and gets a feel for both the pros and cons of being a teenager again on “The View Between Villages.” His first gig in Tampa— and second-ever in Florida—gets a little help from NYC-based singer-songwriter Samia and is very sold-out, as are stops in

Jacksonville and Tallahassee. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers w/ The Burke Bros. Shook is on the fourth year of their journey through sobriety, but what’s even more impressive is how brawny and irrefutable the sound of their band, the Disarmers has become in the same time period. As it stands, Shook & Co. are easily one of the best bands in rock and roll, and arrive armed with a 2022 new album, Nightroamer, that even weaves a little bit of new wave into a sound that rocked the altcountry world when the Disarmers released Sidelong in 2015. The Burke Bros.—featuring select members of Best Of the Bay-winning Americana band Have Gun, Will Travel— opens the show. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)

Suki Waterhouse After spending bits and pieces of last year touring with Father John Misty and shining light on a six-track EP Milk Teeth —featuring messages about humans fucking up and crushes that don’t work out— actress-slash-singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse is finally set to make her Florida debut with a three-piece band on Central Avenue. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

WED 11

Rawayana The beachy, Venezuelan quartet—which describes itself as a group that takes on a “distinctive fusion of reggae, funk, soul, rock, and Caribbean rhythms”—just played an NPR Tiny Desk set, a rite of passage for any band or artist trying to make it. Following that and a handful of homecoming gigs, the band will kick off what appears to be its first-ever full U.S. tour in St. Pete, mostly featuring all-Spanish anthems, one of which references WikiLeaks theories while acknowledging that people should celebrate the day they were conceived, as well as respective birthdays. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Yes Say what you will about the current lineup of Yes (not featuring Jon Anderson or Rick Wakeman), but longtime guitarist Steve Howe, Drama-era keyboardist—and former Buggle—Geoff Downes do make each tour incredibly different, and continue making albums under the 55-year-old moniker. Luckily, all but two songs on the band’s current setlist—which includes excerpts from all four epics from Tales from Topographic Oceans , which turns 50 in December— were originally written and released when Anderson was fronting the band. Now in the OG frontman’s place is Jon Davison, who lost two drummer friends—Alan White and Taylor Hawkins—within just over two months of each other last year. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

THU 12

The Jonas Brothers w/Lawrence As the name suggests, the ambitious “Five Albums. One Night” tour involves JoBros performing five complete albums at every stop (including The Album , which dropped in May), and they’ll be doing it in Tampa next Thursday. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)—Colin Wolf

Suki Waterhouse

DANA TRIPPE

Tampa Bay’s been waiting for the return of Lauryn Hill, and they’ll be ready to wait for her to come onstage when she brings The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th anniversary tour to Tampa this winter.

The 48-year-old songwriter and rapper with eight Grammy awards was supposed to play St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Field in 2018, but canceled. Before that, Hill visited the Bay area in 2016 and 2011. Hill’s landmark album was added to the Library of Congress in 2015, and after its release, Hill became the first woman to be nominated for 10 Grammy awards in one year and the first woman to win five Grammys in one night.

The Fugees—with whom Hill became one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures—will join in at the Amalie Arena show. The band reunited recently at the Global Citizen Festival, and in a press release, fellow Fugee Wyclef Jean said the shows will be “lightning in a bottle.” Pras added that Miseducation “shaped the soundtrack of a generation.” Pras was recently convicted on what NPR described as “10 counts related to charges that include conspiracy, witness tampering and failing to register as an agent of China,” but a rep for Amalie Arena told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that all three Fugees will be part of the show.

Movie Props w/Amateur Taxidermy/ Samuel Wolter Saturday, Oct. 7. 8 p.m. No cover. The Potion Portal, St. Petersburg

Al1ce w/Cold Medicine/Sandman

Sleeps/DJ Dave Tuesday, Oct. 10. 7 p.m.

$13. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Eliza McLamb (opening for Vacations w/Last Dinosaurs) Friday, Oct. 20. 5:30 p.m. $27.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Ona Kirei Sunday, Oct. 22. 6 p.m. $25 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Cindy Lee w/Freak Heat Waves/ mtvh1n1 Friday, Nov. 3. 8 p.m. $15. Born Free Pub & Grill, Tampa

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Wednesday, Nov. 8. 8 p.m. $35 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening Thursday, Nov. 9. 8 p.m. $75 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Matthew Fowler w/TBA Sunday, Nov. 12. 7 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Unwed Sailor w/Special Guests TBA

Thursday, Nov. 16. 7 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Bush w/Bad Wolves/Eva Under Fire

Wednesday, Nov. 15. 7 p.m. $54.50 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Tickets to see Lauryn Hill and The Fugees play Amalie Arena on Friday, Dec. 8 go on sale Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. EDT and start at $55.75. See Josh Bradley’s roundup of new and canceled concert announcements below.—Ray Roa

Marauda w/Hukae Friday, Dec. 1. 10 p.m. $20. The Ritz, Ybor City

Willis Sunday, Nov. 3. 7 p.m. $17. New World Music Hall, Tampa

The Hirs Collective Tuesday, Dec. 5. 7 p.m. $15. Crowbar, Ybor City

Eem Triplin Wednesday, Dec. 20. 8 p.m. $20 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Edwin McCain Saturday, Jan. 6. 8 p.m. $29.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Marc Broussard Tuesday, Jan. 23. 7:30 p.m. $22 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band Wednesday, Jan. 24. 7 p.m. $18. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Sevendust w/Static X Sunday, Feb. 4. 6:15 p.m. $40 & up. Hard Rock Event Center, Tampa

The Movement Sunday, Feb. 4. 6:30 p.m. $30. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Chris Botti Sunday, Feb. 18. 7 p.m. $43.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Cancellations/reschedules

Jake Miller w/Hariz at Orpheum, Oct. 5 Canceled

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Make it wane

By Caroline DeBruhl

Dear Oracle, I feel stuck in my current job. I don’t feel appreciated there and feel like I don’t have much room to grow. However, I haven’t had much luck with applying elsewhere. How can I survive this position until something better comes along?—Looking for Greener Pastures

Cards: Knight of Cups (reversed), Ace of Pentacles (reversed), The Hanged Man (reversed), Waning Gibbous

Dear Green, this damn Waning Gibbous is screwing everything up. It’s a card about letting go and comes at the very end of the spread, which makes for two possible but completely opposite interpretations. The whole spread either means A.) “Start doing this and let go of expectations” OR B.) “Stop doing these things.” And unfortunately, they both seem like reasonable answers to me in this context. So here are the two possibilities:

A.) For this job, I think you need to “play the game” a little more. It would be great if work was really based on merit, but often, it’s not; it’s based on connections. With the emotionally intelligent Knight of Cups next to the work-work-work Ace of Pentacles, I think you might need to work on your networking a bit more. With The Hanged Man, I think you might be misunderstood in your company and feel like you’re putting in much effort without reward. It might be because your boss doesn’t

see it, for whatever reason (personal bias? Kind of spacey? Large company?), so it might help to make a more solid impression. However, if you make more of an impression, that might help with your growth. For the waning gibbous, you have to let go of the idea that your hard work will be the only thing that matters. Networking isn’t fun for many people—it can feel braggy or artificial—but personal relationships can carry you far.

B.) This might be a job that you need to let go of. With the only Major Arcana being the sacrificial Hanged Man, you might be martyring yourself for no good reason. Having three reversed cards might suggest that you’ve been trying to put in a good effort, be a team player (Knight of Cups), and keep your eye on the prize (Ace of Pentacles), but this might be the best it gets. With the releasing energy of the Waning Gibbous, you might need to let go of these actions and stop sacrificing for this job—and really start looking for another.

opportunities—so you could try path A first and, if that feels wrong, head down path B.

I’m sorry I’m not able to provide a more precise answer. Best of luck.

Dear Oracle, I know it’s cliché, but I’d like to have a better relationship with my husband’s parents. Things aren’t bad… they’re just not very warm. Any advice for improving relations with the in-laws?—Daughter-in-law

Cards: King of Cups, Queen of Wands, Six of Swords, The Hermit (All reversed)

ORACLE OF YBOR

Dear Daughter, since writers were making overbearing mother-in-law jokes in Ancient Rome, one might guess that in-law drama has been around for about as long as marriage has. It might be cliché, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been plenty of people who have felt like you over the centuries. With all these cards in reverse, I’m guessing this has been an issue for years rather than something creeping up now.

be the generous and giving one, even if they don’t make as much effort in return, and you have to accept that imbalance. It’s not ideal but it may help. But remember: the Queen of Wands can be fiery, so be mindful not to torch any bridges if you feel slighted.

However, the Six of Swords reminds us that relationships are a two-way street. It can be a card of transition and change; if you all want to move forward, that can happen. But, if someone is holding a grudge or just not interested, then there’s only so far that boat can float.

I’m unsure which way you’re leaning, but hopefully, one of these makes sense. You might even marry the two and start networking more in order to find a better job. I do know that something has to change—you aren’t happy and the current avenue isn’t providing many

Starting off the King of Cups, I bet you want to improve relations for your husband’s sake. Maybe he has a dreamy idea that all of you could be a happier family, and you would like to make that true. But, this relationship is between you and your inlaws—and in reality, there’s little that he can do.

You mention that the relationship isn’t very warm, and as the Queen of Wands, that warmth needs to come from your side. You might have to

The Hermit is the only Major Arcana here, and I think it’s doing some heavy lifting. It can be a card of a strong inner life and being misunderstood by outsiders. It’s possible that you and your in-laws may be missing something about each other that can hopefully be rectified with conversation and mutual growth. But The Hermit is also a reminder that we have but one life on this earth and to live it wildly. If you try and try and your in-laws don’t want to be kind to you, let go of the dream (or your husband’s dream) that things will be better. You can judge how much energy you want to put into being civil with them and maintaining a cordial relationship. (I do recommend you aim for cordial simply because your husband loves them and loves you, and that makes it easier for all parties.) But you don’t need to go out of your way to deepen your relationship if you think they have no interest. Just show up to Thanksgiving with a pie and light-hearted conversation and leave it at that. A deep relationship would be wonderful, but if it’s not on the table, don’t lose yourself trying to find it.

Popping off

By Dan Savage

I have an etiquette question for you. I’m a cis straight woman. I recently hooked up with a bisexual man I met online. In the middle of missionary position sex, he began to sniff what I can only assume was poppers. I have no experience with them. Should he have said something beforehand? Should he have asked if this was OK with me? Or offered me some? What if he spilled it on me? Missionary position can feel vulnerable and something about this man unscrewing a small bottle of liquid directly above me felt pretty weird.—Hoping Unimpressive Fuckboy Finishes

Sniffing

“This guy should have said he likes doing poppers,” said Adam Zmith, “and he should have told HUFFS he wanted to do them with her.”

Zmith is the author of “Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures,” an absolutely fascinating social history of one of the world’s most popular recreational drugs.

“If HUFFS didn’t know what poppers were, this man should’ve explained them to her,” said Zmith. “He should have told her how you do them, and what it feels like to do them, so she could’ve decided if she wanted to try them. And if she didn’t want to, he still could have sniffed himself.”

through a bathhouse or a sex club asking everyone for permission to open a bottle of poppers; if you’re in a crowded public sex environment, you’re going to catch a whiff. But not asking for an OK when you’re alone with someone—with your words or a gesture—is bad sex etiquette.

Popper use is common among gay and bi men of all ages, but it’s particularly popular with young gay and bi men. So, if this guy mostly has sex with other men, he may have assumed—incorrectly—that he didn’t need to ask because no one ever asked him. That would be the most charitable read of his behavior. The less charitable read: this particular bi guy is an inconsiderate asshole who didn’t ask for your OK— or offer you a sniff—because he didn’t care about your comfort or pleasure.

SAVAGE LOVE

For readers who don’t know what poppers are—for readers who’ve just entered the chat and/ or readers who’ve just slept with the same inconsiderate bi guy HUFFS did—they’re a grouping of chemical compounds known as nitrites (amyl nitrate, butyl nitrite, pentyl nitrite, etc.) that come in liquid form and were originally used to treat chest pain. Poppers once came in tiny glass vials covered in cotton fabric; people broke the vials open under their noses and inhaled the odor; the vials made a popping sound when they broke, hence the name. Now poppers come in little brown bottles; people unscrew the cap, take a sniff, put the cap back on the bottle, and promptly lose the bottle in the bedsheets.

“When you sniff their vapor,” explained Zmith, “your blood pressure lowers, more oxygen goes to your brain, and your muscles relax. This makes you a bit high for a minute or so, and high in a very particular way that feels great during sex. A lot of men who bottom during anal sex like poppers because it relaxes their bum muscles— but honestly, a lot of people love sniffing poppers, whatever their body parts or sexuality.”

A person who wants to use poppers in an enclosed space—or on top of someone they’ve just met—should always ask first. Poppers have a strong odor that instantly fills a room; some people don’t like the way they smell, and people with chemical sensitivities or asthma can have a bad reaction to them. No one is obligated to run

Or maybe he’s one of those guys who became psychologically and physically dependent on poppers; the association between the poppers headrush and climax can become so strong that some regular users can’t come without poppers. If he’s one of those guys, HUFFS, he may have figured it was better to ask for forgiveness after inhaling and blowing his load than to ask for permission and risk getting a no and not climaxing—also the actions of an inconsiderate asshole.

As for your concerns about a possible spill…

“Because the liquid itself is pretty toxic and can burn the skin, you have to be careful not to spill it in bed or wherever you’re having sex,” said Zmith. “So, the way this guy opened his bottle above HUFFS wasn’t very cool.”

You probably weren’t at serious risk of being splashed with poppers; people who use poppers regularly are pretty good at opening and closing the bottles without spilling a drop, and many can do it with just one hand. Still, someone opening a bottle of poppers without asking first isn’t going to inspire feelings of confidence or trust, whether or not they’re hovering directly over you. So, while you probably weren’t in danger from the poppers, when this guy opened that bottle—already inside you—he made it clear that your safety, comfort, and pleasure didn’t concern him. But he was the danger, not the poppers.

“Like a lot of drugs, poppers can be great when you do them with another person, because you share the experience,” said Zmith, “and they can really intensify the sex you’re having together.”

Follow @AdamZmith on Twitter and learn more about his books, podcasts, and other media projects at LinkTree.com/adamzmith.

The times you’ve addressed the issue of whether a relationship is “lasting love” or merely

transactional resonated with me. I’m an older man in a relationship with a camgirl who streams on commercial sites. She has said that she views me as a friend and not as a customer (and indeed does not press me for money), but she’s also started to push me away. She says she started to feel real love for me, but since we cannot marry (because I am already married) she does not want to risk her emotions. There are other issues and chief among them is the fact that she lives in a different country, so it is unlikely we will ever actually meet in person. I have tried to argue that we can make this friendship work, but she resists. Is she playing me, or is there something I can say to reassure her that a friendship between us can work?—Sugar

Daddy Asking Dan

I couldn’t tell you whether she’s playing you or not—I don’t know whether she’s pulling away because you’re already married or because your checks aren’t clearing—but I can tell you she’s pulling away, SDAD, which is all you need to know. Even if you don’t understand why she’s pulling away, even if you never get an answer that satisfies you, she’s giving you a no, SDAD, and you’re gonna have to take that no for an answer.

There are a million possible reasons why she might not want you in her life anymore. Maybe she has a new sugar daddy who’s fine with her camming but doesn’t want her connecting with other men on an emotional level… or maybe she isn’t comfortable taking money from you anymore because she found out you were sending more than you could reasonably spare… or maybe she never felt anything for you and didn’t feel comfortable pretending anymore. Whatever the reason, she’s decided to wind your connection down, SDAD, and any effort to force a friendship will make you less appealing as a friend, not more. She knows how you feel—if you hear from her again, great. If not, there are other camgirls out there.

Taking the implicit compliment in how this woman decided to end things might help you accept her no with a little more grace. If she’s telling you the truth, i.e., if she caught feelings for you and she’s pulling back because she fears catching bigger feelings, well, that means you’re a good guy, SDAD, the kind of guy a camgirl could love. And if none of that’s true or it’s not the whole truth, SDAD, then at the very least she liked you enough to go to the trouble of making something up—she went to the trouble of telling you a face-saving, egosparing lie—instead of blocking and ghosting, which would’ve been a lot easier.

I am a 40-year-old woman and the mother of three. I work four days a week. For many years I

have had several of what you call “FWB,” which started because I was looking for adventure. My husband, who is also the father of my children, has not been explicitly told, but he has some sense and chose to turn a blind eye and allow me this freedom. I do not want a divorce, because that will not better our shared situation. Most of my “affairs” are on a pause at the moment, as my main FWB just got divorced, which has changed things for us somehow, and my backup FWB can’t seem to get together anymore. Perhaps this would be the right moment to quit having adventures and go back to a normal married life without FWB. Do you think that’s possible? Or do you think I will fall back to my old habits?—

Regards From The Netherlands

Possible, sure—anything is possible. But do you wanna give up your adventures? You assume your husband knows, and you’ve interpreted his silence as tacit approval. Which could be true… or it could be a self-serving rationalization… or it could be a floor wax and a dessert topping. (That’s a nearly 50-year-old pop culture reference, for those keeping track at home.) One or the other, both or neither, if you don’t have a trustworthy FWB at the moment and you don’t want to go looking for one, why not give normal married life a try? If it works for you, great. If it doesn’t, you can return to the old status quo. Most people would regard the old status quo as a threat to your marriage, RFTN, but there’s a chance it is a stabilizing force. Nothing succeeds like success… and here you and your husband are, still together after all these years, your kids coming home every night to both their parents. Maybe that’s despite your FWB adventures, RFTN, but it could be because of them.

Basically, RFTN, you had your cake and ate it too— you were socially monogamous, not sexually monogamous—and never had to choose between marriage and sexual adventure. If you had been forced to choose, it’s not a given that you would’ve chosen your marriage; lots of people who face that choice don’t choose their marriages.

Oh, and congrats on the four-day workweek— to say nothing of the socialized medicine, the walkable cities, the frequent and reliable mass transit, and all those hot Dutch men. You have to put up with obnoxious British tourists barfing into your canals, I realize, but that’s a small price to pay to live in such a wonderful country. Send your question to mailbox@savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

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Contact Anthony Carbone: acarbone@cltampa.com