OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 (VOL.36, NO.41) • $FREE CREATIVE LOAFING - CLTAMPABAY.COM
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PUBLISHER James Howard EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ray Roa
VIA BAY STREET COMMERCIAL
Editorial DIGITAL EDITOR Colin Wolf MANAGING EDITOR Kyla Fields THEATER CRITIC Jon Palmer Claridge FILM & TV CRITIC John W. Allman IN-HOUSE WITCH Caroline DeBruhl CONTRIBUTORS Josh Bradley, Jennifer Ring PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Decker FALL INTERN Inquire by emailing rroa@cltampa.com Creative Services CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jack Spatafora GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joe Frontel ILLUSTRATORS Dan Perkins, Cory Robinson, Bob Whitmore Advertising SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Anthony Carbone, Scott Zepeda Events and Marketing MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Leigh Wilson MARKETING, PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Kristin Bowman SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER Corrie Miserendino
Mel is no longer behind the counter at Mel’s Hot Dogs.
Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER Ted Modesta
chavagroup.com cltampabay.com cldeals.com EDITORIAL POLICY — Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is a publication covering public issues, the arts and entertainment. In our pages appear views from across the political and social spectrum. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
After 50 years, the restaurant has new owners, p. 21. NEWS+VIEWS ������������������������������� 13 FOOD & DRINK ����������������������������� 21
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Chava Communications Group FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Michael Wagner CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Cassandra Yardeni Wagner OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Hollie Mahadeo DIRECTOR OF AGENCY SERVICES Mindi Overman SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Meradith Garcia DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY Colin Wolf ART DIRECTOR David Loyola DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Jaime Monzon
A&E ���������������������������������������������� 31 MUSIC WEEK �������������������������������� 45 SAVAGE LOVE ������������������������������ 53 CROSSWORD �������������������������������� 54
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SHINE Mural Festival returns to St. Pete this week, p. 31
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The lure of cash — and the dangers of holding too much By Chris Noble
Real cash yields have moved into positive territory The yield on cash alternatives has risen sharply since the beginning of 2022 as the Federal Reserve (Fed) embarked on an aggressive ratehike campaign in an effort to combat elevated inflation. In May 2023, the yield on the 30-day U.S. Treasury bill climbed above 5%, where it has remained. The chart shows that cash yields moved into positive territory on a real, inf lation-adjusted basis after a few years of negative real yields. This shift has prompted investors to question if now is the time to increase cash holdings. However, this may have unintended consequences. Even if cash yields remain elevated in the short term, we believe cash will likely underperform other growth assets over the long term, putting a drag on long-term performance. What it may mean for investors We believe developing a disciplined investing approach, such as dollar-cost averaging, to invest excess cash and rebalancing to maintain targeted allocations is prudent for long-term investors, as we expect most assets to outperform cash over the long term.
Risk Considerations Each asset class has its own risk and return characteristics. The level of risk associated with a particular investment or asset class generally correlates with the level of return the investment or asset class might achieve. Bondsare subject to market, interest rate, price, credit/default, liquidity, inflation and other risks. Prices tend to be inversely affected by changes in interest rates. Although Treasuriesare considered free from credit risk they are subject to other types of risks. These risks include interest rate risk, which may cause the underlying value of the bond to fluctuate. A periodic investment plan such as dollar cost averaging does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets. Since such a strategy involves continuous investment, the investor should consider his or her ability to continue purchases through periods of low price levels.
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time horizon. The material contained herein has been prepared from sources and data we believe to be reliable but we make no guarantee to its accuracy or completeness. Interested in investing and not sure where to start? Contact Christopher Noble today!
Wells Fargo Advisors is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, but is not licensed or registered with any financial services regulatory authority outside of the U.S. Non-U.S. residents who maintain U.S.based financial services account(s) with Wells Fargo Advisors may not be afforded certain protections conferred by legislation and regulations in their country of residence in respect of any investments, investment transactions or communications made with Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. PM-02282025-5922520.1.1 Veronica Willis, Global Investment Strategist Excerpted from Investment Strategy (August 28, 2023)
cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 7
do this
Tampa Bay's best things to do from Ocotober 12-18
Feeling green Fall has officially arrived and that means it’s time to spruce up your porch and front yard with plants that usually don’t survive the summertime. Luckily, the USF Botanical Gardens’ annual plant sale is right around the corner and its wide spread of vendors offers Tampa Bay residents with green thumbs more than enough options to choose from. In addition to dozens of plant and nature vendors—from professional, commercial businesses to local growers— there will also be a variety of food and drink options to choose from, too. USF students, members of the botanical gardens and kids under the age of 12 can attend this weekend’s festival for free. In addition to this weekend’s fall plant sale, the USF Botanical Gardens also hosts a guided “Poisonous Plant Tour” later this month, where guests can learn about the deadliest plants that call the grounds home. USF Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Festival. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 14-15. 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. $10 ( free for members, and USF students). USF Botanical Gardens, 12210 USF Pine Dr., Tampa. usf.edu —Kyla Fields
PHOTO VIA VISIT TAMPA BAY
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URYADNIKOV SERGEY/ADOBE
FLORIDAORCHESTRA/FACEBOOK
Popping off With fall temperatures starting to arrive, the lawn at St. Pete’s Vinoy Park is begging for your bum to sit on a picnic blanket and soak in the sounds of The Florida Orchestra (TFO). The nonprofit ensemble’s robust “Pops In the Park” program includes one intermission to break up a dozen selections including John Williams movie favorites (“Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark,” “Superman”), patriotic jams (John Philip Sousa, “Star-Spangled Banner”), plus older shit from Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Kabalevsky. Chelsea Gallo conducts, and TFO is collecting non-perishable goods for Tampa Bay Harvest’s annual food drive. The Florida Orchestra: Pops In the Park. Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. No cover. floridaorchestra.org —Ray Roa
The Florida Aquarium’s Penguin Waddle The aquarium’s celebration of African Penguin Awareness Day this weekend includes a sunny 0.2 mile walk from Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf to the fish tank itself. “The Florida Aquarium has joined forces with Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, Georgia Aquarium and Zoos Victoria to support the ‘Not on Our Watch Campaign’ focused on raising awareness of the importance of African penguins and their survival,” the aquarium writes on its website. This group waddle will end at the Florida Aquarium with a penguin-themed block party full of fun for the entire family. The black and white-themed party happens until 7:30 p.m. and features entertainment, refreshments, costume contests and a Penguin ambassador meet and greet. There’s two different “waves of waddlers”—one group that starts at 4:30 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m.—although there are only registration spots left for the latter slot. The Florida Aquarium’s Penguin Waddle. Saturday, Oct. 14. 4:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Free. Starts at Sparkman Wharf (615 Channelside Dr.) ends at Florida Aquarium (701 Channelside Dr.) Flaquarium.org — Kyla Fields
See more (and submit your event) @ cltampa.com
PHOTO VIA COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Dead beat Local literary organization Wordier Than Thou hosts a weekend full of hauntings and history at St. Pete’s Kerouac House to help us get in the Halloween spirit. Guests at these events will take a tour throughout the home and with each room, they can enjoy an original short play produced by teams of local writers and actors. Tours run for about 45 minutes and happen between 6 p.m.-9 p.m on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. A portion of the proceeds from these creative, yet spooky stories will benefit the nonprofit of The Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg Inc. When it’s not a spooky season, Wordier Than Thou hosts events that help Tampa’s fiction and creative non-fiction writers get their work out there. Its latest endeavor is a pop-up called “This Bookstore Kills Fascists” that brings queer and feminist works to events and businesses throughout Tampa Bay. Read No More: Haunted St. Pete Kerouac House. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. Various times. $20-$25. Kerouac House, 5169 10th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Wordierthanthou. com —Kyla Fields
Hit the SPoT Felipe, Nyjah, Daiki (pictured): Legends are born at Tampa Am, and the 29th iteration of the iconic skateboarding competition kicks off on Thursday with a welcome-to-town, open, old-fashioned warehouse showdown and open bar. The party continues that night with Josh Stewart’s “Static VI” movie premiere at the Tampa Theatre, and skating really gets going on Friday the 13th when a baker’s dozen worth of legendary pros including Tampa OG Mike Frazier, Andy Mac, Bucky Lasek and truly legendary surprise guests take on the big ass vert ramp wrapping up construction at SPoT right now. Art shows at The Bricks and SPoT’s infamous and disgusting moat race are part of the agenda, too. Folks looking to catch the competition can watch the last qualifiers on Friday and Saturday, then party with rowdy Tampa rap collective Barely Legal at the Saturday concert. Sunday is when a champ is crowned before the park closes and the whole fiesta moves to Ybor City for a post-tourney throwdown at The Bricks. 29th Annual Tampa Am, Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 12-15. $10 & up. Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E Columbus Dr., Tampa. skateparkoftampa.com —Ray Roa C/O SKATEPARK OF TAMPA
Bier, here There are Oktoberfest-inspired parties happening in every corner of Tampa Bay this fall, but few compare to the three-day festival that heads to Curtis Hixon Park each October. Celebrating the biggest beer festival in the world—alongside cooler weather finally making its way to Florida—this massive Oktoberfest hosts a full weekend of boozy games including stein-hoist, keg-stack, bratwurst-toss, tug-o-war and corn hole, traditional German fare, a beard and mustache competition, and a spread of one-liter “Mass Beirs.” To accompany the festival’s variety of locally-brewed and imported beers, guests can indulge in dishes like Bavarian pretzels, chicken schnitzel, spätzle and bratwursts. Friday’s festivities happen from 4 p.m.11 p.m., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. VIP tickets run from $135-$155 and come with free refills, the ability to skip lines and a full spread of German grub. For more beer parties happening on both sides of the bridge, head to cltampa.com for our full Oktoberfest roundup. Oktoberfest Tampa 2023, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15. $10 & up. Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. Oktoberfesttampa.com —Kyla Fields
JAMES OSTRAND
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“Taking people physically there and helping to connect those dots is really powerful.” POLITICS
ISSUES
OPINION
Swamp queen
After development scare, the future of USF’s forest preserve looks scary good. By Ray Roa
I
t only takes about five minutes of walking away from the traffic on Fletcher Avenue, but there’s a spot along the sandhill ridge in the University of South Florida (USF) Forest Preserve where the sound of cars and Tampa’s concrete jungle starts to fade away. The stillness of the roughly 500acre, gingerbread man-shaped habitat becomes the dominant feature, and then the nuance of the wild space starts to come into focus. There are bright, purple flashes of blazing star blooms on the end of long green stems growing out of the slate-gray sand. Above, an occasional patch of red Christmas lichen is matted on an oak tree. Nearby on the ground below, is the freshly kicked-out dirt on the front porch apron of a gopher tortoise hole. Elsewhere there are recently-recarved burn lines, random herpetology research projects, and, yes, perhaps a pile of fresh shit from a boar or other large mammal that made its way across the trail as the sun came up (complete with dung beetle, too). Stay quiet, and there might even be two white tail deer having breakfast before bouncing back into the woods. “This is kind of like a little playground for them,” Nicole Brand told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, pointing to the deer and a round patch of wild grass that serves as a gateway to the preserve’s wetland on the banks of the Hillsborough River. Where the elevation slightly dips, the ground becomes wet, soft, and riddled with decomposing cypress needles that help the river filter water that so much of the greater Tampa Bay region ends up seeing in its drinking supply. Brand—who founded a Food Systems Center training facility at Pinellas Technical College before spending six years as the Director of Communications for the Florida Wildlife Corridor—was leading reporters and food sovereignty researcher food Will Schanbacher on a hike through the greenspace, which is also home to a variety of plants and animals, plus many endangered and threatened species including just four plant species found only in Hillsborough County. The “playground” is also Brand’s office. Last August, she became director of USF’s Environmental Conservation Outreach, Research, and Education (ECORE) System. Her job, in short, is to be a steward for not just
the preserve, but also the USF College of Arts & Sciences’ popular botanical gardens, and the GeoPark. The position is a first for the school. Because it was approved by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors, Brand’s work could set the table for a new era of land management at schools that seek a director to oversee their own botanical assets. But it’s remarkable that she’s even here. In April 2021, the preserve’s future came into question. Despite language in the school’s 2015-2025 master plan update that says it “shall not be developed,” the university issued a request for information to develop the USF Forest Preserve. The pushback from activists was swift and aggressive. There were demon-
Dr. Jeannie Mounger, a Ph.D graduate at USF’s Department of Integrative Biology, was a leader in the push to save the preserve, and told CL that in the back of their minds, activists thought there was no way the school would ever create any kind of substantive land manager position for the preserve. “That was something that faculty had been asking for for 20 years, and nothing was done about it. So I am kind of over the moon in a way with how things have proceeded,” Mounger said. USF’s current president Rhea Law has an opportunity to further move away from Currall’s RFI misstep by finding more funding for ECORE. Brand’s salary is backed by hard money, but she’s had to rely on collaboration
ENVIRONMENT
LAND THAT I LOVE: Nicole Brand cares for some of Tampa Bay’s most precious greenspace. strations, headlines, and even a documentary about the preserve’s role in helping animals connect to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. That RFI was canceled, and he said it was to preserve his health, but then-USF president Steve Currall resigned shortly after.
and in-kind work from organizations like the Florida Forest Service to get things done in the preserve—not exactly a sustainable situation in Mounger’s eyes. Despite that, Brand’s year of work saw increased cleanup efforts, aforementioned
prescribed fire to keep the preserve healthy, and even full-on lidar scans to help researchers examine the differences between parts of the preserve before and after the burns. There’s been renewed interest in the preserve from students and faculty across multiple departments at USF, and on Halloween, Brand will lead more students on a costumed “swamp stomp” through the preserve. “Taking people physically there and helping to connect those dots, I think is really powerful,” she said. Mounger added that because of Brand’s work, more of the university community at large realizes that that land is out there, that they have a relationship to it, and that they can build on that relationship. What Brand has accomplished in her short year at the helm of ECORE, Mounger said, has exceeded expectations. For Brand, the work—which started with six months of forensic forest examination and the unpacking of the histories of the preserve, botanical gardens and GeoPark—has only begun. Around one corner, she identified where students from USF’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) will help remove ecowaste left behind by researchers who might’ve forgotten to clean up after work. She not only points out a dozen more units set to be part of a regular burn rotation, but talks about how much she enjoys getting out into the surrounding communities to tell the preserve’s neighbors how and why the fire she plans will actually help make them safer. And as Brand’s land management plan keeps coming to head, that community will play a role bigger than it realizes. Mounger noted that locals can push for that funding ECORE needs to service the three properties, and even contribute to a botanical gardens ecosystems fund while the school decides on how much money it can kick over to continue caring for one of the Bay area’s most precious green spaces. Whether it’s her that makes it happen or not, Brand thinks that parts of the preserve—which is currently just for students and research—could one day open to the public. All of this work will take time, but two years after USF opened the door for development, things at the preserve are looking less scary. If the momentum continues, the future might actually look scary good.
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RO-LLING UP: ro’s menu boasts a variety of upscale sushi rolls, sashimi and other Japanese dishes. C/O RO HYDE PARK
Grand opening galore
High-end sushi concept ‘ro’ opens in Hyde Park Village, and more Tampa Bay foodie news By Kyla Fields
H
yde Park Village is home to a plethora of fine dining concepts, and its newest restaurant adds to its already-stacked roster. Modern Japanese and high-end sushi eatery ro recently soft opened at 1500 W Swann Ave. and is now accepting reservations for the rest of fall. Ro’s kitchen is helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Kiichi Okabe, who has worked at fine dining restaurants across the world in cities like Japan, Dubai and Las Vegas— including Singapore’s Shoukouwa, which earned two Michelin stars in 2016 under Okabe’s leadership. Throughout his long career, Chef Okabe has specialized in showcasing fresh Japanese ingredients—from lofty caviar service to multicourse omakase experiences.
Patrons of the recently-opened Hyde Park concept can expect a wide spread of sushi featuring fresh seafood from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market, table-side Peking duck (which must be ordered in advance due to its lengthy preparation process), and an A5 wagyu entree. Other dishes include a salmon crudo, wagyu gyoza with chili ponzu sauce, flambeed lamb chops and pork belly ramen. A variety of signature cocktails joins its high-end Japanese menu. Ro is the newest concept from Three Oaks Hospitality Group, which also operates Armature Works’ Steelbach, Stones Throw, M. Bird, Kipos and South Tampa’s Ciro’s Speakeasy. In addition to ro, the local hospitality group is opening another new concept located in Harbour Island. For more information on ro, head to @
FOOD NEWS
rohydepark on Instagram or sign up for its newsletter on rohydepark.com. Iconic Tampa restaurant Mel’s Hot Dogs has new owners After 50 years, Mel is no longer behind the counter at Mel’s Hot Dogs. Mel Lohn opened his iconic hot dog spot at 4136 E Busch Blvd., on July 3 of 1973, and put the business up for sale a few months ago, saying he was looking for someone willing to carry on his legacy. “I wouldn’t sell it to someone who’s going to change it,” said the 76-year-old Lohn to WTVT. “Where am I gonna go for a hot dog?” The exact details of the sale have not been released. But according to Hillsborough County records, HD Holding Company LLC purchased the property for $435,000 on Sept. 7. Michael
Braccia of Bay Street Commercial was the listing agent. Longtime Temple Terrace residents and brothers Mark, Doug and Stephen Szabo, are the partners behind the LLC, reports the Tampa Beacon. “We knew there were some contingencies … and he wanted someone who wasn’t going to come in and change everything,” said Mark Szabo to the publication. “And I think we hit it off pretty quickly. He liked our story, you know, he trusted us, I think, that we wouldn’t do any of those things.” While the hot dogs will likely stay the same, a representative with Mel’s told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that a few small changes are in the works, like an expanded beer menu, ice cream options, and new hours, which includes continued on page 24
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continued from page 21 staying open on Sundays. Known for Chicagostyle hot dogs, hot Italian beef sandwiches, and pictures on the walls of people all over the world in “Sit. Stay. Good Dog.” t-shirts, Mel’s has been a generational fixture for Tampa residents, and anyone coming or going from nearby Busch Gardens.—Colin Wolf Dunedin Mix, a New Orleans-inspired food hall, to open this winter A new mixed-used food hall called the Dunedin Mix is getting ready to open its doors in Pinellas County. The upcoming food hall will open at 990 Broadway, around the corner from other popular Dunedin concepts like 7venth Sun Brewing, Lucky Lobster Co. and Bon Appétit. The Tampa Bay Business Journal says the roughly 10,000 square-foot, two-story New Orleans-inspired space will feature an indoor courtyard and a “French industrialist/mixolo-
concept Huli Bowl & Rotisserie and Italian restaurant Al Dente, but Dunedin Mix states that it will announce the remaining tenants in the upcoming weeks. Brandon Stanley—who also owns the construction company that’s been building the Dunedin Mix out—his wife Ashley and mother Kristen Ernst purchased the property in 2018 with intentions to build residential real estate. A few years into the construction process, they eventually decided on a mixed-use food hall concept, partially inspired by Tampa Heights’ Armature Works. For the latest updates on the Dunedin Mix and its grand opening, head to its Facebook or Instagram, both at @DunedinMix. Tyler Perry star opening new restaurant out of Seminole Heights’ former Social House space If you’re one of Tyler Lepley’s 920,000 Instagram followers, you may have noticed the
was hiring for both back of house and front of house positions, so the grand opening of Lepley’s Kitchen & Lounge may not be too far away. There’s no set opening date in sight for the new concept, although its social media says that it’s slated to debut sometime this fall. While it’s unsure what type of cuisine Lepley’s will serve, the restaurant promises “incredible vibes, beautiful people and a new culinary standard.” If you’re driving past the former Social House on Florida Avenue any time soon, you’ll also notice that the once-gray building is now a vibrant blue. While there are no apparent ties between the Philadelphia-born actor and the Tampa Bay area, Lepley is known for his work on the Tyler Perry-produced drama “The Haves and the Have Nots,” in addition to recurring roles on shows like “P-Valley” and “Harlem,” according to his IMDB page.
FOOD NEWS
GOLDEN ISLES BREWING CO./FACEBOOK
GOLDEN HOUR: Golden Isles Brewing Co. is now open in St. Pete’s Magnolia Heights neighborhood. gist” carousel bar—perhaps a homage to the French Quarter’s institutional Carousel Bar & Lounge. In addition to a food hall with several local food concepts, the mixed-used space will also offer live entertainment, cooking classes and host different events, banquets and “boutique pop-ups.” According to its social media, Dunedin Mix will celebrate its grand opening sometime in December, although an exact date has yet to be determined. So far, the only food vendors listed on the food hall’s website include Polynesian
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actor teasing the opening of his new restaurant—which just happens to be located right here in Tampa. Lepley’s Kitchen & Lounge will soon debut at 6310 N Florida Ave. out of Seminole Heights’ former Social House space, which quietly closed earlier this year. It’s unsure exactly when Social House shuttered its doors, although the business confirmed the closure in mid-July, right around the time that Lepley first promoted the opening of his debut restaurant and lounge on social media. Last week, the actor posted that his restaurant
tucked away in a quiet St. Pete neighborhood adds to the Bay area’s wide variety of craft breweries. Owners Angie and Jonathan Bryan, along with general manager Kyler Dressel, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Golden Isles Brewing Co. soft opened last weekend at 3000 Dr. MLK Jr. St. Built out of a refurbished gas station, the new spot is adjacent to other St. Pete businesses like Pineapple Espresso, Sunset Grill and the newly-opened Calida Kitchen & Wine. Although it just opened to the public, its sign that reads “Good Times, Great Coldies, Stay Golden” has been hyping up residents of the ‘Burg for a few months now. “We’re definitely beer focused, but we’re not necessarily a beer bar,” Dressel says. “We’re trying to appeal to everyone in the neighborhood, so we really want to offer beverages for all walks of life.”In addition to a variety of Golden Isles beer—that’s brewed down the street at The Brutalist, not in-house—other refreshing “coldies” include wine, and prosecco, cold brew and kombucha on tap, organic sodas and other NA options. Of the brewery’s 15 taps, about 10 will feature lager, pilsners, IPAs and sours from both Golden Isles and other local breweries. A small menu of bar snacks and a schedule of rotating food trucks will also compliment its sprawling drink menu. Mobile pizzeria Cipolla Rossa and Funnel Vision were present at Golden Isles’ soft opening last weekend, and may become regular food trucks at the new Magnolia Heights brewery. The Bryans say that an official grand opening block party will take over Golden Isles sometime in November, and that more events, live music and locally-painted murals may be on the way, too. Golden Isles’s highly-awaited opening comes about a year after Angie and Jonathan acquired the space. Even with loads of brand new construction, the brewery still retains its vintage gas station/body shop character, with a functional garage door and huge windows. Its indoor-outdoor bar is joined by a 3,000 square-foot air-conditioned lounge area, a 4,000 square-foot shaded patio and plenty of space for both kids and dogs to play. “We did a lot of beautification on the block of the corner of 30th and MLK under St. Pete’s ordinances. The city has right idea by requiring it, because we’re located on a historic street and there’s a lot of growth and development happening in this area,” Jonathan says. The neighborhood brewery was originally slated to open in the spring of 2023, but the Bryans encountered a few permitting-related delays. For the latest news on Golden Isles Brewing Co. and its upcoming soft opening, head to its Instagram at @staygolden_stpete. Golden Isles is now open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. continued on page 27
For the latest information on this new Seminole Heights concept, head to its Instagram at @lepleystampa. Anyone interested working at Lepley’s Kitchen & Lounge can send their resumes to caroline@lepleystampa.com. Golden Isles Brewing Co. soft opens in St. Pete’s Magnolia Heights There’s no shortage of craft breweries in Pinellas County, from larger-than-life taprooms to intimate spots with just a few in-house beers. But a brand new, pet and family-friendly business
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St. Pete’s Hawthorne Bottle Shop hosts a charity event for CASA this weekend October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (in addition to Hispanic Heritage month), and one St. Pete business is hosting a charity event to benefit Pinellas County’s official domestic violence center. Hawthorne Bottle Shop, located at 2927 Central Ave. in the Grand Central District, hosts a fundraiser for CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) on Saturday, Oct. 14 from noon-5 p.m. Guest bartenders from South Florida’s Tripping Animals Brewing Co. and employees from Hawthorne’s Bottle Shop will be giving their tips to CASA and pouring beers donated from Coppertail Brewing Co., Offsite Nano Brewery and more. Breakthru Beverage Group will host a wine tasting at 2 p.m. and Best of the Bay-winning taco truck Te Invito is set to sling its prized quesabirria tacos, too. Folks are also encouraged to bring gentlyused clothing to donate to CASA, which also operates a charitable thrift store in downtown St. Pete. All funds raised from beer sales will benefit CASA and its mission to “challenge the societal acceptance of all forms of domestic violence through advocacy, prevention, intervention and support services.” And if you’ve never stumbled into the St. Pete bottle shop before, you can expect a spread of over 300 craft beers, almost 100 bottles of wine, a variety of by-the-glass options, taps filled with local brews and a few deli sandwiches on its food menu. The local business even landed on Wine Enthusiast’s “Best Beer Shops in the U.S.” list last year. For the latest information on Hawthorne Bottle Shop and next week’s fundraiser, head to its Instagram at @hbsforlife.
between Crafty Hospitality’s Josh Cameron— who also owns Crafty Squirrel, Where’s Jubes? and Random House Party— designer Frank Clementine and Executive Chef Jason Cline. “This will be the first of its kind on this hyperactive block of downtown St. Pete,” says Cameron in a press release. “We have a great team in place to bring the vision to life. Sleepy Hollow is our first theme but we’ll transform the space every 30 days to a new theme.” Craft cocktails that patrons can expect from Sleepy Hollow include the “Fog and Storm” with black pepper-infused rum, lemongrass syrup, lime and ginger tonic, the “The Zodiac” complete with blackberry-infused bourbon, amaro, cold brew syrup, basil and citrus, and the tequila and cabernet-based “Tale of Rosaria,” topped with lemon merengue and elderflower-soaked pearls. For its food menu, Sleepy Hollow will offer a variety of fall-inspired small bites like pumpkin hummus, rosemary and sage tuna poke, mini beef wellingtons and pumpkin spice funnel cake fries. After Sleepy Hollow closes its doors on Monday, Nov. 6, guests can expect a brand new concept to open out of the Central Avenue space, presumably a fall-themed pop-up that pays homage to Thanksgiving and other Autumn festivities. For the latest information on these rotating, seasonal pop-ups, head to @randomhouseparty on Instagram. While Random House Party’s pop-up bars have replaced Oyster Bar’s flagship location in downtown St. Pete, the seafood restaurant and late night hotspot recently announced that it’s reopening at 2245 Central Ave. in the Grand Central District’s former Zoie’s space.
FOOD NEWS
Halloween-themed ‘Sleepy Hollow’ pop-up is now open out of St. Pete’s former Oyster Bar It’s time to finalize this year’s Halloween costume, because a brand new holiday pop-up bar just made its debut in downtown St. Pete. Sleepy Hollow opened its doors at 249 Central Ave. last week, out of the home of St. Pete’s former Oyster Bar, which closed its doors in August. This immersive pop-up experience promises exciting craft cocktails, a fall-themed food menu and “Instagram-worthy moments,”—all aimed to help guests get in a true Halloween spirit. While the name of this month’s pop-up is Sleepy Hollow, events company Random House Party leases the Central Avenue space and will host different food and drink experiences each month. Sleepy Hollow is now open from 3 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Described as a “visual candyland of lights, music, art and tastes,” this series of seasonal and immersive pop-up bars is the latest venture
ICYMI HEW Parlor & Chophouse, the sleek restaurant located inside of Dunedin’s Fenway Hotel at 453 Edgewater Dr., recently completed renovations in its dining room, kitchen and private areas and is now open for lunch and dinner again. New dishes on its menu from Executive Chef Parrett include a confit duck croque madame, seafood beignets and a massive 40-ounce tomahawk steak accompanied by an 8-ounce lobster tail. The restaurant is now open for brunch from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and dinner service from 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m Wednesday and Thursday, 5:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sundays. After celebrating its long-awaited grand opening back in January, Deviant Libation— located at 3800 N Nebraska Ave. in Ybor Heights—released its very first canned beer, a sour ale called “Visibility,” last month. Although it’s too late to enjoy the release party’s drag performances and food trucks, you can still swing by the brewery and sip on the “moderately soured
DEVIANTLIBATION / FACEBOOK
continued from page 24
FULL OF PRIDE: Deviant Libation just released its first canned beer called ‘Visibility.’ ale aged on mango, papaya, and American white oak,” or grab some cans to-go. “We are stoked to partner with BKN, a fellow LGBTQ+ organization, on our first beer can drop. This is a huge deal, and we can’t wait to start pouring it out to celebrate this milestone with everyone in the Tampa Bay community,” says Deviant Libation owner Tim Ogden in a press release. “LGBTQ+ visibility matters, and Deviant Libation is intent on creating a space that drips with inclusivity and celebrates equity and diversity.” @deviantlibation on Instagram St. Pete institution Rococo Steakhouse recently announced that David Blackmon is its newly-appointed executive chef. He most recently served as the executive chef of Atlantabased, new American concept Bacchanalia, which received James Beard nominations in 2014 and 2015. According to a press release,
Chef Blackmon’s cooking style “focuses on sustainability techniques using preservation and fermentation.” 655 2nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Rococosteak.com Popular review website Yelp just dropped 2023’s “Tampa Bay’s Top Places to Eat” list—and its chock full of local institutions like Mazzaro’s, Pia’s and On Swann alongside newcomers such as Himes Breakfast House and Flan Factory, plus popular vegan spots like Vine Vegan and Florish. “From Mediterranean and Cuban restaurants to plant-based favorites and cafes, these locally loved spots are sure to satisfy your cravings,” Yelp writes in its introduction. “This list highlights 50 local businesses, including Box of Cubans, Oxford Exchange, Florish, and Mio’s Grill, just to name a few.” Riverviewbased concept Box Of Cubans snagged the list’s number one spot.
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THE NATURE OF ART: THE OVERVIEW EFFECT Presented by Jane Poynter
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 | 6-7 PM
THE ART OF THE AMERICAS: ANDREW JAMES HAMILTON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26 | 6-7 PM Visit mfastpete.org for tickets, RSVPs, event information, and additional programs. Events are subject to change.
cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 31
SAY CHEESE: Shark Toof's interactive mural is one of St. Pete's most regognizeable public works.
MOVIES
THEATER
ART
CULTURE
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
Wall streets
19 must-see St. Pete murals, and the stories behind them. By Jennifer Ring
C
reating a survey of Tampa Bay’s murals is no easy task. There are more than 100 of them in St. Petersburg alone.—and they’re more than just pretty pieces of art. Tampa Bay’s murals tell our region’s history, show our character, memorialize our people and their accomplishments, revitalize neighborhoods, welcome visitors, provide selfie opportunities, and send positive messages out into the world. These weren’t all creatied during the festival’s past years, but in honor of Shine Mural Festival’s return this month, here are some of the St. Pete’s best—and the stories behind them. See photos of all the work via cltampa.com/slideshows. Shark Toof provides one of St. Pete’s best selfie opportunities
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Los Angeles-based graffiti artist Shark Toof created one of St. Petersburg’s most iconic and photographed murals at 2015’s inaugural Shine festival (stylized “SHINE”). Have you really been to St. Pete if you haven’t visited the bright red wall on the side of the old State Theatre (now Floridian Social), stood inside the shark’s mouth, and snapped a selfie? 687 Central Ave. N Local artists remember Bill ‘Woo’ Correia on Central Avenue’s 600 block Tampa Bay artist and gallery owner Bill “Woo” Correira died at 43 after a five-year battle with brain cancer. But he lives on in the alley behind Central Avenue’s 600 Block, where local artists painted a “Woomorial” to honor their late friend.
“The night that he passed away is when myself and Christian Thomas and other awesome local artists went out and started painting his portrait on the side,” Donnelly told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “The whole idea was to honor him like Biggie Smalls in Brooklyn.” Woo was known for his paintings of fish. “We had other artists come out and paint fish and aquatic life around him to try and commemorate his life’s work…” Donnelly told CL. “Last I checked, it was 40-45 different artists who contributed to that wall by painting some sort of fish on there to commemorate Bill in some way.” The mural was a game-changer for Donnelly, who went from painting children’s nurseries, pop art, and pet portraits in 20102012 to getting enough mural commissions to become a full-time muralist. “The Woo mural really propelled everything,” Donnelly told CL. “It got a lot of attention, and then I was able to actually have something to take to local businesses and say,
‘Hey look, we can do something like this on your wall.’” 2180 4th St. Diversity in Democracy” reminds St. Pete to get out and vote John Gascot doesn’t exactly consider himself a muralist. “I haven’t done that many,” Gascot told CL in a phone interview. “They’re physically demanding, so I pick and choose.” But when the League of Women Voters reached out to Gascot to make a mural encouraging LGBTQ individuals to vote in 2020, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “Diversity in Democracy” features five individuals of varying skin tones and genders next to a selfie station with a speech bubble that reads, “I vote.” “We have such a diverse city that I really wanted everybody to feel connected to [this mural],” says Gascot. “And if you don’t see yourself in that mural, that’s why there’s a spot for you to insert yourself in it and have your picture taken.” 556 Central Ave.
LOCAL ART SHINE Mural Festival
Oct. 13-22. Various locations in St. Petersburg. Mural map and more information are available via stpeteartsalliance.org.
SUNSET VISION: This Derek Donnelly mural depicts a child with orange-tinted sunglasses. Across the bay, Derek Donnelly welcomes you to St. Pete Derek Donnelly was honored to paint Beach Drive’s first mural, which still stands on the side of Smith & Associates’ Beach Drive Real Estate office. The luxury real estate offices have sponsored several of St. Pete’s best murals, including “Love Shines,” which Ya La’ford painted next to Donnelly’s St. Pete postcard mural in 2021. 330 Beach Dr. NE Derek Donnelly shares his ‘Sonshine City Kid’ with the world When Derek Donnelly didn’t get a Shine (stylized “SHINE”) commission in 2022, he hosted a fringe mural festival, giving it the tongue-in-cheek title, Outshine. The festival provided a way for local artists to celebrate Shine season in Tampa Bay even if they weren’t one of the lucky few chosen to paint in that year’s festival. Donnelly, who became a father in 2020, painted a mural of his two-year-old son on the
back of Planet Retro based on his popular “768 Days of Sunshine” mural. In “Sonshine City Kid,” Donnelly’s son Syre wears sunglasses reflecting a Florida sunset, just as his niece had in “768 Days of Sunshine.” 226 M.L.K. Jr. St. N. Flashback to your childhood with 1970s-1990s pop nostalgia in St. Pete’s Edge District The big red dinosaur at on 16th Street made a lot more sense when the building was a toy store back in 2019, but Cultosaurus the toy store now lives on Central Avenue. Cultosaurus the mural, which features “Ghostbusters,” “Planet of the Apes,” and Mad Magazine imagery, is a tribute to 1970s-1990s pop culture that we hope stands the test of time. 269 16th St. N ‘Time to Think’ reminds St. Pete to stay creative One of Derek Donnelly’s favorite mural projects is his 2014 collaboration with Sebastian Coolidge,
“Time to Think.” If you’ve ever approached Florida CraftArt from behind, there’s no missing the giant business person these two created. The two artists were paid hardly anything for this mural. “It was pay for paint. We were just trying to get our names out there,” says Donnelly. In lieu of a big paycheck, the duo did a deep dive and exercised their artistic freedom to develop a fantastic concept for this building. “The idea was to [depict] these businesspeople kicking off their shoes at the end of the day and really honing into their creative spirit,” Donnelly added. In a town like St. Pete, anyone can be creative, and “Time to Think” reminds us of that every time we walk or drive past. 501 Central Ave. The OG Mize murals: Twiggy and Mr. Sun Two of the first, now iconic, Chad Mize murals sit right next to each other, tucked in a downtown Central Avenue alleyway behind Mize’s first gallery in St. Pete. Mize painted
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
“Starry Eyed,” a minimalist tribute to British fashion icon Twiggy, behind Blue Lucy with Phillip Clark and Nikolas Kekllas in 2014. Later that year, Mize revived Griffin Advertisting’s 1940s Mr. Sun character and painted its updated image (with Nikolas Kekllas) against an electric blue background. Mr. Sun’s iconic bright yellow smiling face has since traveled all over St. Pete—into private residences, Cycle Brewing, the cover of Tampa Bay Business Journal, and everywhere in between via the SunRunner. The official city mascot may be the brown pelican, but Mr. Sun is the pelican’s unofficial sidekick. 648 1st Ave. N Jay Hoff and Chad Mize bring pride, love, and legos to St. Pete St. Petersburg artist Jay Hoff is known for making fine art from legos. In 2019, he created his first mural with Chad Mize and the area’s LGBT youth. The Lego-inspired wall features continued on page 35
cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 33
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STATING THE OBVIOUS: This mural sits outside of south St. Pete's Woodson African American Museum. continued from page 33 a big red heart surrounded by hands in every color of the Pride flag. Pride and murals are a big part of what makes St. Pete great, and Hoff’s “Pride and Love” brings the two together in St. Pete’s Grand Central District. 2437 Central Ave Cage Brewing is now a gigantic octopus, and we love it Marcolina’s Fine Arts Gallery artists Blake Emory and Guillo Perez III covered Cage Brewing in a giant octopus in August 2023. Part mural-part sculpture, Emory and Perez III’s octopus tentacles extend beyond the brewery walls, reaching the sky. 2001 1st Ave. S Matt Callahan’s Green Bench Brewing postcard mural is as iconic as St. Pete’s green benches
Within the beautiful block letters of Green Bench, Callahan somehow managed to paint the entire City of St. Pete: pelicans, gulf, banyan trees, downtown, and all. Drink it in with a cold glass of beer. 1133 Baum Ave. N Teamwork makes the mural work One of the coolest things about Tampa-based artist Ya La’ford is how much she includes the community in her work. Take her Rowdies mural for example. The Rowdies’ color palette isn’t exactly the best. Sorry Rowdies fans, but bright yellow and neon green? Yuck. La’ford’s addition of black and silver to the mural was a much-needed improvement. But what we like most about this mural is that it includes the footprints of all the Rowdies players. 230 1st St. SE, St. Petersburg
Black History Matters It’s shocking that we need a street mural to tell people that Black history matters in 2023, but judging from Ron DeSantis’ actions, we needed this mural. In the wake of DeSantis’ move to cancel AP African American history, 19 local artists (one for each letter of Black History Matters) took to the streets to affirm that, regardless of one governor’s actions, St. Pete knows that Black history matters. Even the darkest chapters of our lives deserve acknowledgment in our history and art. 2240 9th Ave. S
LOCAL ART
Leo Gomez pays tribute to healthcare workers during the COVID pandemic There was no real antidote to the fatigue healthcare workers felt during the COVID
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
pandemic, but acknowledgments like Leo Gomez’s 2021 Shine (stylized “SHINE”) mural at Bayfront Health help. Gomez’s “From Our Hearts” is a colorful tribute to how art can bring joy and color into our lives during difficult times. 701 6th St. S Sebastian Coolidge’s “Solid Gold” is a surrealist masterpiece Home to the Dali Museum, St. Pete is a surrealist town. As such, it’s played host to some of the best contemporary surrealists alive and working today. This short list includes muralist Sebastian Coolidge, whose work is both out of this world and solidly grounded in St. Pete. The way he plays with perspective on Tampa Bay’s buildings is a thing of beauty. Coolidge’s aesthetic doesn’t have a damn thing to do with continued on page 38
cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 35
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cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 37
ART FOR A CAUSE: Zulu paints The 'Burg purple to honor domestic violence center CASA. continued from page 35 Tampa Bay’s palm trees, pirate legends, sports teams, or beaches, and that’s one of the reasons we love it. In his 2014 storybook mural, “Solid Gold,” Coolidge creates another dimension under a kitchen table. 1100 block of Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg, across from Green Bench Zulu paints the town purple St. Pete has a lot of murals on buildings and a lot of murals on streets. But as far as we know, Zulu Painter’s mural for Casa’s Family Justice Center (stylized “CASA”) is the only one in the city that spans two buildings and forms the crosswalk between them. The mural serves as both a beacon of hope and an invitation to those in our community experiencing domestic
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abuse. There’s a place where you can get help. It’s that bright purple building off First Avenue North in St. Pete. 1011 First Ave. N Matt Callahan and Angela Delaplane unite Tampa & St. Pete behind The Lure “St. Tampasburg” is arguably Matt Callahan’s most famous mural. How he and fellow painter Angela Delaplane used positive and negative space to create Tampa within St. Pete is dizzying. We can’t imagine how long it took for them to plan this mural, which contains a buccaneer, pelican, skull & crossbones, gator, and more within the combined and intertwined letters of Tampa and St. Pete. 661 Central Ave.
New murals revitalize St. Pete’s Lealman neighborhood Lealman’s Community Redevelopment Agency teamed up with Creative Pinellas in 2021 to rejuvenate St. Pete’s Lealman neighborhood with a series of murals. There are now eight of them—Leo Gomez’s Lealman Landmark + Better Together murals at Lealman Exchange (5175 45th St. N.), Jujmo’s Desert Landscape at Red Mesa Warehouse (4633 28th St. N.), Miss Crit’s “Garden Variety” at Mother Kombucha (4360 28th St. N.), Cory Robinson’s Welcome to Neri Park (4303 46th Ave. N.), Reid Jenkin’s Tommy Todd mural (5017 Haines Road N.), Hanna Eriksson Patry’s mural at Atelier St. Pete (5298 Haines Road N.), and
LOCAL ART
CITYOFSTPETE/FLICKR
Daniel “R5” Rojas’ mural at Lealman Innovation Academy (4900 28th St. N.). Take the painted passage to Tropicana Field One of Tampa Bay’s greatest sports murals isn’t exactly about sports. Not directly, anyway. No one’s playing baseball in Ya La’Ford’s “Sunnel.” La’ford first painted the tunnel leading from Ferg’s Sports Bar to Tropicana Field during the inaugural Shine (stylized “SHINE”) festival in 2015 to look like the sun, sending rays of light blue into the dark tunnel. La’ford gave the tunnel a new look in 2021 after vandals added Nazi symbols to her work. She kept the Ray’s signature blue but took the water for inspiration this time. In “Tidal de Cinco,” La’ford’s geometric blue lines wash over the tunnel like waves in the ocean. 1320 Central Ave.
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Looking up
St. Pete metal artist Frank Strunk III debuts solo exhibition this weekend Photos by Dave Decker • Words by Kyla Fields
S
toried metal artist Frank Strunk III gets easy to destroy a city. And moving through that ready for his latest solo exhibition—his sec- grief is hard. It’s a destruction we don’t want and ond show since 2020’s virtual “Pandemia,” then a rebuild—it’s cyclical, and it’s a perpetual although this time folks can appreciate his thing,” Strunk writes about his latest works. industrial, yet poignant works in person. “We are all grieving. We are living through The opening reception the destruction, restrucfor “Construct Destruct turing and construction of Restruct” happens from 6 our society. How do we navp.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, igate transitions? How do ‘Construct Destruct Restruct’ Oct. 14 at Strunk’s St. Pete we hold our grief in a colopening reception studio at 2638 6th Ave. S. lapsing society? How do we Saturday, Oct. 14. 6 p.m.-8 pm. It will remain on display hold each other up?” Frank Strunk III Studio, 2638 6th Ave S, St. Petersburg. frankstrunk.com for a month, but viewings Strunk’s art—which are appointment-only. has the ability to portray This most recent group of metal works explore kinetic movement and tender vulnerability themes of grief, transition, ruination and per- through such an industrial medium—ebbs severance, inspired by Strunk’s morning walks and flows like the development and constructhrough the streets of St. Pete. tion of his city. “Many of us are standing out here scream“Clinging to a semblance of authenticity is ing into a gentrification void. It’s surprisingly hard. I don’t have answers, I’m just curious.”
LOCAL ART
42 | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | cltampa.com
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John Mayer w/JP Saxe John Mayer cut his teeth in coffee shops near the Berklee School of Music and in small venues like Eddie’s Attic—and he wants to give Tampa a little of that small-room feel. As expected, Mayer added plenty of dates to his solo tour of arenas earlier this year, and is headed to Tampa Bay. Canadian songwriter JP Saxe opens the show. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)-Ray Roa The Midnight Other than a solo gig from Tyler Lyle two summers ago in Ybor City, the electro-pop duo hasn’t been here since before COVID-19 was a thing. But the boys, on the heels of a trilogy-closing new album entitled Heroes—loaded with references to New York City and new wave-esque synth riffs—finally mark their grand return to Tampa Bay with no openers on the bill. (The Ritz, Ybor City) C State of the Union w/Retractor Los Angeles-based industrial act State of the Union brings its specific brand of dark synthpop “inspired by new-wave, ebm, and electro bands of the 80s & 90s,” to Tampa Bay, with some help from the Sunshine State’s own Retractor and Toronto’s For All the Emptines. State of the Union’s latest release–an almost five minute single that explores the topics of suicidal ideation, religion and the guilt that binds them both—will surely be on it’s Tampa setlist, alongside tracks off its 2020 EP Bad Flower and perhaps 2018’s INDUPOP. Its pumping industrial rhythms
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Greg Billings Band (Tom King Farewell) When Greg Billings Band staged its farewell concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in 2021, we somehow had a feeling that it wasn’t actually the end. But this time around, it might actually be goodbye to Billings’ longtime partnership with Tom King. The two Tampa music legends co-founded Stranger together in 1981, and even had a deal with Epic Records for a time. 42 years and many gigs later, King is set to retire to Georgia after one last hurrah in downtown Clearwater. Don’t be too shocked if AC/DC’s Brian Johnson shows up, though. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
THE
WHEELAND BROTHERS
By Josh Bradley & Kyla Fields
AJJ w/Sad Park/Foot Ox It’s been seven years since the folk-punk outfit once known as Andrew Jackson Jihad shortened its name to just its initials, out of respect for people of Islamic faith. The band’s latest album Disposable Everything questions where the hell morals have gone, and gives a middle finger to rock and roll music and its “insipid lyrics and boring riffs.” If you agree—or just like the possible tongue-and-cheek aspect of it—Sean Bonnette and friends’ first gig in Tampa since 2018 will be supported by L.A.-based alt-emo-punk outfit Sad Park, and Portland’s own “broken folk” project, Foot Ox. (Orpheum, Tampa)
FRI OCT 13 • 8PM - $12-$15
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Jelly Roll and accompanying strobe lights might mentally transport you to The Castle while you dance at New World Brewery on Friday night. (Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa)
SAT 14
Beast In Black w/Dance With The Dead Finland’s leading power metal band Beast In Black has played its heavy-hitting riffs for audiences across the world, and it’s finally Tampa’s chance to host the act. And if you’re at its Tampa show this weekend and want to kill some time before Beast In Black’s set, you can play the band’s newly-released video game where your character will “fight its way through the futuristic dreamscapes of mesmerizing and exciting Tokyo,” and perhaps take a ride on the virtual version of “The Beast” itself. The kitschy video game is based off of Beast In Black’s song “One Night In Tokyo,” off of its 2021 LP One Night in Tokyo—its latest album that Tampa metal-lovers will surely be familiar with after Saturday’s Orphuem gig. (Orpheum, Tampa) Jelly Roll w/Chase Rice/Struggle Jennings/Josh Adam Meyers The 38-yearold Tennessee boy born Jason Bradley DeFord didn’t exactly have the easiest time in the first quarter of his life, dealing with
addiction and going in and out of jail and juvenile hall (where he learned to make “ghetto dope,” a dip-like concoction consisting of crushed-up Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Slim Jims and water). Against all odds, he cleaned up, signed to a major label, and “Son of a Sinner,” a track from his album Ballads of the Broken, hit the first half of the Billboard Hot 100. DeFord—who rolls into Tampa this weekend with fellow country singer Chase Rice, rapper Struggle Jennings, and comedian Josh Adam Meyers—has even offered a Vietnam veteran lifetime passes to all of his future shows. Talk about something Jason Aldean should try in a small town. Or any sized town, really. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa) Scary Pockets w/David Ryan Harris Although members of the Los Angeles-based groovy outfit Scary Pockets change regularly, there’s one thing it always makes sure to deliver: the funk. The band is known for its dynamic, Glee-like covers that are released on its Youtube channel each week—which range from classics like Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and Beegees’ “Stayin’ Alive” to newer, Top 40 pop songs. The band recently announced that it’s pivoting to original music and slowing down the releases of its beloved covers, so Tampa Bay’s Scary Pockets
continued on page 48
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continued from page 45 consists of “cinematic black metal and dark acoustic folk, as well as two atmospheric industrial tracks that take the band into darker sonic territories.” (Orpheum, Tampa)
GAYLE
TUE 17
Baroness w/Jesus Piece/Escuela Grind The Georgia-based heavy metal outfit just wrapped up a short acoustic tour, taking place in select record stores on the east coast, and we couldn’t be more sad that Tampa’s Microgroove or St. Pete’s Daddy Kool Records didn’t make the list. But maybe an afternoon gig could happen before the band heads over to Ybor City to promote its month-old album, Stone, which was partially created during COVID-19 lockdowns. (The Ritz, Ybor City) ACACIA EVANS
C GAYLE w/ Dylan Up-and-coming pop star Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd—stylized as “GAYLE”—has just wrapped up a wild tour run as an opener for crowds as large as 70,000 people. The 19 year-old’s 2021 single “ABCDEFU” reached worldwide audiences via Tik Tok and other streaming platforms, even snagging a Grammy nomination for song of the year. Since then, she’s released a few more singles—like 2023’s teenage angstfueled “Everybody Hates Me”—and casually served as an opener for Taylor Swift’s massive Eras tour and the European leg of pop star P!nk’s Summer Carnival tour. Tuesday night in Ybor City marks the opening night of GAYLE’s very first headlining run of shows deemed the “Scared But Trying Tour”— definitely the first of many from the prolific teenage songwriter. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
WED 18 fans may get a little taste of something new at Jannus Live. “While we work diligently on crafting our original music, we’re also spicing things up on our Patreon page,” the band writes on social media. “Get ready for fresh perks, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and more fun ways to keep us in your pocket.” (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) C WMNF 88.5 FM presents The 4th Annual Tom Petty Birthday Tribute Florida’s favorite rock and roll son never got quite as much mainstream attention as some of his other fellow radio contemporaries, but that never bothered Tom Petty at all. WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa—which often hosts birthday parties for classic rock legends turning a multiple of 5—plays plenty of his album tracks during certain broadcasts, and he’s currently the only artist who gets a planned birthday concert every year (though now that Jimmy Buffett has passed, that might change). This year’s installment of the show celebrating the youngest Traveling Wilbury’s early birthday—which is actually on October 20—does not have a locally-built lineup yet, but don’t be shocked if Have Gun, Will Travel takes over the Skipperdome. It played Petty’s virtual, 70th birthday show in 2020, organized by his family, so it’d almost be sinful for the Burkes not to show up. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
48 | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | cltampa.com
SUN 15
Willy Chirino Cuba-born singer Willy Chirino has been performing live music and writing songs for over 50 years—which is almost the same amount of albums in his learned discography. Born in Cuba but raised in Miami amidst post-revolution turmoil, Chirino made a name for himself in South Florida’s booming Latin music scene and eventually earned a Grammy in 2006 for his salsa/merengue album Son del Alma (over three decades into his career.) The 76 yearold isn’t touring regularly and hasn’t released a group of songs since 2018’s Christmas album, so his upcoming gig at Tampa’s Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a treat for local lovers of that classic “Miami sound.” The venue promises a comprehensive setlist from every era of the singer’s career, alongside memories and anecdotes from his storied life. (Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa) Wolves In The Throne Room w/Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge/Blackbraid/ Gaerea/Hoaxed Nathan and Aaron Weaver have spent this year touring across the U.S. for the first time since 2018, and there’s a new EP to go along with this run of shows. Per a press release, Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge
C Atilla w/Gideon/Ten56/Until I Wake Not that I need to say it, but no, Billy Joel’s pre-fame, very early metal duo is not getting back together. But the Atlanta-based metalcore quintet—with a brand-new EP, entitled Fu4evr—is set for a return to Tampa Bay for the first time since drummer Bryan McLure—who served behind the kit for only three years—was ousted from the band due to previous accusations of sexual assault and harassment. Middle fingers up, Tampeños. (Orpheum, Tampa) The 1975 w/Dora Jar The band—nearly a year off the release of its last album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language—is currently on a summer tour of European festivals, and comes to America in August and September for festival dates in Chicago, Honolulu, Atlanta and Las Vegas. Healy, 34, spent his summer being the ire of Taylor Swift fans after tabloids romantically linked him and Swift after the pop-superstar’s April stadium shows in Nashville. The problematic pop star has also come under scrutiny for racist remarks he made about Swift collaborator Ice Spice— comments for which he’s apologized and also brushed off. (Amalie Arena, Tampa)-RR
THU 19
Clearwater Jazz Holiday: Kenny Wayne Shepherd w/Buddy Guy/Gladys Knight/ The Beach Boys/Average White Band/
C Gipsy Kings/Los Lobos/Dustbowl Revival/more This year’s lineup—a grand return home to Coachman Park and its brand-new outdoor venue, The Sound—features a plethora of CJH repeat offenders, including R&B legend Gladys Knight, guitar veteran Buddy Guy—in the midst of his “Damn Right Farewell Tour”—and classic funk outfit Average White Band. Preservation Hall Jazz Band also returns, while Jazz Holiday gives fans a glimpse at the future of the blues with a Sunday set by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Gipsy Kings will lend a world music vibe to the 2023 Clearwater Jazz Holiday lineup, while Dustbowl Revival and Trampled By Turtles bring Americana and bluegrass to the four-day affair. Also included are first timers Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Los Lobos, and the current lineup of The Beach Boys, fronted by Mr. “Good night baby, sleep tight baby” himself, Mike Love. Due to Coachman Park’s renovation closure in late 2019, the last two, slightly scaled-down iterations of Clearwater Jazz Holiday have been held at Baycare Ballpark. And while yes, we loved chowing down on a cheesesteak from Delco’s while watching the opening sets, there’ll surely be some tears of joy shed by some, upon seeing that waterfront view again. See the full lineup, dates, and times at clearwaterjazz.com. (The Sound, Clearwater) C The Church Formed in 1980 in Sydney, Australia, The Church boasts that classic ‘80s new wave charm that most folks associate with bands like Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure and The Psychedelic Furs (who just played the same Clearwater venue just a few months ago). The band’s recent performance at 2022’s Cruel World Festival alongside heavy hitters Blondie, Bauhaus and Morrissey helped bring The Church out of 19th century nostalgia—landing it right in front of Tampa Bay fans this week. The Aussie group has been steadily releasing albums since the early ‘80s despite original members coming and going, and its most recent release, 2023’s The Hypnogogue, was lauded by critics and described by PopMatters as “another stunning record,” full of psychedelic jams and shimmering riffs. While we’re excited to hear the newer singles The Church has to offer, we hope its most popular hymns like “Under the Milky Way” and “Reptile” off of the 1988 album Starfish are on the setlist, too. (Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) Common Kings w/Jakobs Castle This quintet is made up of members from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Hawaii and their pride for their various Pacific Islander heritages are prominently displayed in Common Kings’ special brand of reggae rock. The Californiabased band received a Grammy nomination for best reggae album for its debut LP, 2017’s Lost in Paradise, and has been steadily releasing comprehensive works and singles since. Common Kings heads on its nationwide “Road to Maui” tour in support of its sophomore album Celebration, which was released earlier this year. Singersongwriter Jakobs Castle—who is the son of Sublime’s original singer Bradley Nowell— and Jacksonville-based reggae-pop act Cloud9 Vibes open for Common King’s St. Pete gig. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
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50 | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | cltampa.com
KRISTA SCHLUETER
Merely days before the one-year anniversary of Takeoff’s murder outside of a Texas bowling alley, his uncle—and ex-Migo—Quavo is scheduled to perform at Armature Works’ weekend-long, third annual Pied Piper’s Haunted Carnival. Tickets to see Quavo at Armature Works on Saturday, Oct. 28 are now on sale, and start at $45. Every ticket includes access to the carnival itself, and VIP tickets are also available in two different tiers. The 32-year-old ex-Migo is in the midst of promoting his new album Rocket Power, which he describes as a musical embodiment of his mourning process in the last year. “Sometimes I’m good, sometimes I’m down, sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes I fall apart, but then I ALWAYS find my strength again,” Quavo wrote in Coppertail Brewing Co. Ninth Anniversary Concert: Blu DeTiger w/ Copeland/Trash Panda/Visit Neptune/ Turkey Boy Saturday, Oct. 21. 4 p.m. No cover. Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa Charlie Mars Monday, Oct. 23. 7:30 p.m. $25. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor Ybor Horror II: Mortal Sons w/Felicity/ Discord Theory/Persephone’s Choice/ Keep It A Secret/Red Letter Day/ Neverless/Widows Thursday, Oct. 26. 6 p.m. $12 with costume, $22 without costume. Crowbar, Ybor City Dan Penn Friday, Oct. 27. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
an Instagram post earlier this year. While there’s no sign of fellow Migo Offset anywhere on Rocket Power, the album still features posthumous contributions from his nephew, as well as guest spots from Future and Young Thug. Pied Piper Productions never fails to stage unforgettable Halloween parties in Tampatown, and this year’s iteration of the carnival will have actual Ferris wheels, costume contests, a kids zone, and a concert lineup that features more than Quavo. Friday, Oct. 27 will see Diplo—longtime collaborative comrade to Sia and Skrillex— headline opening night and British EDM trio Above & Beyond closes up shop on Sunday, Oct. 29. See the full lineup on cltampa.com/ music. —Josh Bradley
Q: Who is having thoughts of suicide?
Soulja Boy Monday, Oct. 30. 8 p.m. $25 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City Clang! (Album release/farewell show) w/Charlie/Afterworld Saturday, Nov. 4. 8 p.m. $8 suggested donation. American Legion Post 111, Tampa Albert Cummings Sunday, Nov. 5. 5:30 p.m. $25. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor Portrayal of Guilt w/True Body/PeZ Thursday, Nov. 9. 7 p.m. $15. Orpheum, Tampa Joey McIntyre Sunday, Nov. 12. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg
c.
a. b.
d.
e.
Matthew Fowler Sunday, Nov. 12. 7 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa
Fangsgiving VI: Have Gun, Will Travel/ Same Day Delivery Orchestra/Ashley Smith & The Random Occurrence/ Bangarang/Etc Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28. 8 p.m. $15 per night, or $25 for both nights. Crowbar, Ybor City
The Southern Gothic Sunday, Nov. 12. 6:30 p.m. $20. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Safety Harbor
Halloweef II: Delaney Staack w/ Radaghast/Chaunces/The Venus Friday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Blue House, St. Petersburg
Ann Wilson (of Heart) & Tripsitter Sunday, Dec. 3. 7:30 p.m. $59.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Unwed Sailor w/Radaghast/The Arrival Note Thursday, Nov. 16. 7 p.m. $12. Hooch and Hive, Tampa
A: It’s not clear, is it? People of every income level, race, gender, sexuality, and religion think about suicide. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is the community’s gateway to help, hope and healing. Last year alone, we assisted over 5,000 callers struggling with thoughts of suicide.
CALL 2•1•1 Be Heard. cltampa.com | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | 51
52 | OCTOBER 12-18, 2023 | cltampa.com
The Finish Delegation By Dan Savage
Cis bisexual guy here in his twenties. In the entire time I’ve been sexually active, I’ve pretty much been able to finish whenever I’d like. I’ve literally never once finished too quickly. That said, the idea of being unable to hold back my orgasm and coming too quickly has always been a big turn on for me. So much so, that in more than a few past relationships/hookups, I’ve found myself inducing a premature ejaculation. Some partners are kind and supportive about it, some seem a little annoyed or bothered. Both reactions are equally hot to me! It doesn’t happen every time I have sex, and I’m always down to take care of my partner’s orgasm in other ways either before or after the penetrative sex has come to its brief conclusion. I’m not so much worried about if my kink is normal, but is it ethical? I haven’t told any of my hookups or long-term partners this about myself and am worried that doing so might lessen the turn on. But I do feel a little guilty that I could prolong the thrusting before I get to the busting and am pretending that I can’t for my own selfish ends. Do I owe it to them to let them know?–Finished And Secretly Thrilled First, a pet peeve: don’t use the passive voice when talking about things you choose to do during sex. Unless you’re having out-of-body experiences — unintentionally — and coming to right before you ejaculate, FAST, you’ve never “found” yourself coming too soon. Inducing a premature ejaculation is an active, conscious choice you’re making for your own “selfish ends” (your words); it’s something you’re choosing to do, FAST, not something that’s happening to you. So, don’t say, “It doesn’t happen every time,” instead say, “I don’t do this every time.” (A lot of us use the passive voice when we talk about sex — I’m guilty of it too — and it’s a subtle way of avoiding responsibility for our sexual choices, which is not ideal.) Moving on… Your question struck me as bogus, FAST, because — well into my fourth decade of writing this column — I’m suspicious of kinks I haven’t been asked about before. So, I emailed you directly, FAST, as you know, and peppered you with questions… questions you were quick to answer… and you shared details about the kind of formative experiences that sometimes leave a kink in their wake, and I came to believe you’re on the up-and-up. So, is your kink ethical? Well, on the one hand, you’re leading people to believe something about you that isn’t true — that you’re a premature ejaculator — because pity or contempt turns you on. (You must not have much a refractory period if you’re this aroused after you come, but some men have
refractory periods so brief they barely exist.) By choosing to bust quickly, FAST, you’re denying your new sexual partner the experience they were most likely hoping for, i.e., a nice, long, leisurely fuck, the kind of fuck you could’ve provided them. When you induce a quick orgasm, your disappointed sex partners drop everything to reassure you that it’s okay or they express their annoyance — both reactions turn you on, so you win either way. Essentially, your tricking your sex partners into performing one of two kinds of emotional labor for you: providing you with positive attention (being kind and supportive) or providing you with negative attention (being annoyed or bothered). People who are kind will walk away feeling disappointed by the sex but feeling pretty good about themselves, as they reacted well; people who were annoyed will walk away feeling disappointed by the sex, FAST, but they might also walk away feeling disappointed in themselves, as they reacted poorly. On the other hand, when we go to bed with someone new, we do so without guarantees about the quality or duration of the fucking we’re about to receive. And since you always make sure to get your partners off in other ways — taking your word on that — your sex partners still have a good time. (No orgasm gap on your watch.) And if the people you’re disappointing have mostly slept with men who think sex begins with penetration and ends when the man comes, you may h a v e opened s o m e of their eyes to other kinds of sexual connection and pleasure, resetting their expectations and improving subsequent sexual encounters. What I think is more interesting — ethically and practically — is how you’re going to handle your kink in the context of a long-term relationship. If you present at the start as an insecure premature ejaculator who needs a lot of emotional support and reassurance, FAST, you’ll either have to walk that back when things start to get serious or spend the
rest of your life busting a lie. If you pretend to have resolved the issue on your own (therapy, meds, practice), you’ll be denying yourself this pleasure of coming too soon going forward. If you keep the ruse up forever, you’ll be hiding an important part of who you are — sexually — from the person you most wanna share your sexual fantasies with. Of course, when you tell someone you spent the first six months disappointing them on purpose… and they spent the first six months comforting you for no reason… there’s a good chance they’ll dump you. But if you can get through that crisis, FAST, you may be able to have your kink and an honest, open long-term relationship — with “open” being the operative word in that sentence. With your partner you can be the boyfriend or husband who lasts as long as they want (or who comes on command, which is pretty hot) and you can pretend to be the sexually inept premature ejaculator when you have threesomes. If your partner is willing to play along, FAST, they could react with kindness or contempt, depending on your preference that night, and then tell your very special guest star — right in front of you — that they’re there to give your partner the kind of long, slow f u c king you obviously can’t. You’ll be an object of pity and/or contempt in the eyes of your third, which will turn you on, and since your partner is there to take care of your third’s needs and vice-versa, no one will be deprived of anything. Everybody comes, everybody wins.
SAVAGE LOVE
I’m a man in my midthirties and I feel like I’m not old enough to have the problem I do. When I first got together with my female partner few years ago, I could last a while and it was pleasurable for both of us. Now she regularly asks me “if there’s something wrong” with what she’s doing. “Is it my body?” she asks. I try to reassure her that it’s my body. I want to last but can’t seem to these days. I tried to bring this up with my doctor to no avail. I feel foolish because in the moment I start to think,
“Am I going to come yet?” Or I think I’m lasted a while, but it wasn’t long enough for her. What can a do to last longer? I recently tried some off-brand meds, but still no luck. I haven’t had tried much edging to help but don’t know what I’m doing there. I just want to get out of my headspace, enjoy my time with my partner, and really last. Could go marathons in beginning. Just not the endurance one another was hoping for these days... –Suddenly Lasting Orgasms Wanting Reading FAST’s question must’ve really pissed you off — I mean, there he is pretending to have the problem you actually have and secretly getting off on it. A real “my condition is not your costume” moment. Anyway, there are potential treatments that could help, SLOW, from a little cognitive behavioral therapy (to figure out whether it’s a headspace issue), to some doctor-prescribed, on-brand, low-dose SSRIs (proven effective for headspace and physiological issues where premature ejaculation is concerned), to experimenting with edging — which isn’t hard to figure out, SLOW. You watch some hot porn and/ or think some dirty thoughts while stroking yourself. Slowly bring yourself to the very edge of orgasm — get as close as you can to the point of orgasmic inevitability without going past it (may take some practice) — then stop before you come. Bring yourself to the edge again and again, ideally while using a well-lubricated masturbation sleeve or Fleshlight-style toy (practice with something that feels like the orifice you wanna last longer inside), and then use whatever breathing and/or concentration techniques help delay orgasm during your solo edging sessions to partnered sex. P.S. I spent a summer getting fucked by a guy who “solved” his premature ejaculation problem — but he didn’t solve it with medications or therapy or edging sessions. He would suck my dick, eat my ass, use toys on me, edge me, get me close or desperate or both… and then replace the dildo with his dick and we would come at the same time. He never lasted more than thirty seconds once his dick was inside me, SLOW, but he was without a doubt some of the best (vanilla) sex I’ve ever had. So, learning to work with your dick — and bringing it in other ways — is one way to solve what can be most problematic about premature ejaculation: leaving your partner feeling unfulfilled. P.P.S. Just wanna be very clear here: There are guys out there who can’t last long during penetrative sex who are great in bed and guys who can last for-fucking-ever who are terrible in bed. Confidence and a commitment to give your partner the best possible experience you can — whatever you’ve got and whatever it takes — is the real key, not endless PIV or PIB. Send your question to mailbox@savage.love. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love
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